HXH 409 tl
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No.409 Negotiation ③
[opening blurb]
A sudden declaration-!!
A chaotic information war!!
[Ship announcement]
Special Martial Law Declared!!
Special Martial Law Declared!!
This is not a drill!!!
I repeat!!
This is not a drill!!!
Passengers on the 5th layer must continue to act as usual under the instructions of the military police and labor supervisors!!
Issues occurring in the upper layers have absolutely no impact on the 5th layer!! Rest assured!!
The same applies to the fourth layer!! The closure of the communication passage is a measure taken to ensure that any issues in the upper layers will not, under any circumstances, spread to the lower layers!! Comprehensive safety measures have been implemented, and there is absolutely no impact on the fourth layer!!
Attention to all citizens of the third layer!! Kneel before the nearest wall!! Place both hands on the wall and remain in position!!
Do not move until further instructions from the Royal Army!! Remain in your position!! Those who fail to comply will be shot!!!
[Borksen]
Special Martial Law Declared!!
In the face of a national crisis, the highest level of alert has been declared...!!
With this broadcast, all Royal Army soldiers are granted the right to 'shoot suspicious individuals on sight without warning' and the duty to 'eliminate armed civilians, meaning the immediate execution of any dangerous elements'...!!
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[Borksen]
Even Morena is feeling a bit tense...
That's only natural.
Even I, who was in the first layer not long ago, hadn't anticipated this at all.
But now, this narrows down the location quite a bit...!
Announcements from the upper areas are never broadcast to the lower layers...!
Therefore, it’s confirmed that this place is above the third layer!!
If the announcements continue, the location can be narrowed down even further...!!
I'll choose the 'D' card.
[Morena]
......Huh?
[Borksen]
It's my turn, right?
I'll go with the 'D' card.
[Ship announcement]
All citizens of the second layer, return to your rooms immediately!!
Remain in position without any accessories or belongings of any kind!!
Keep all doors open!! Sit on a chair with your hands spread out on the table or raised above your shoulders, and stay in that position!!!
[Morena]
You’re staying calm even in this situation.I’m impressed.
Very well, let’s continue the game as is.
I never expected our side’s risk to surface at this timing, though.
[Borksen]
With the volume of this announcement, she should have been able to hear me clearly if she were focused on my words...! Asking me to repeat myself means:
① She was distracted by the broadcast, or
② She was buying time to reorganize her thoughts.
Either way, this emergency broadcast is a favorable wind for me, as I’m looking to break through the current situation...!
First, she acknowledged the significance and danger of the broadcast and still chose to continue the game...!!
This means she either believes this hideout won't be discovered or is confident that even if it is, it won't be subdued...!
For me, this isn't much of a disadvantage either... As long as the game proceeds without interruption…
there shouldn’t be any disputes over the 'results’.
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[Borksen]
Of course, the best-case scenario would be for the Royal Army soldiers to storm in and subdue them... However, in that case, there’s the risk of me being hit by a stray bullet and killed...
Or worse, being mistaken as one of their allies and shot dead...
Even if I avoid being shot, there’s still a high chance of prolonged detention, interrogation, or even torture...!
To navigate through this extraordinary situation as peacefully as possible, my only option is to use the 'X Card' and withdraw from the game...!!
[Morena]
The 'D' card, huh.
If you fulfill my 'small request,'
I'll allow you to return one card from the graveyard.
The request has already been decided
You'll kiss me.
[Borksen]
Uh... well, that might be a bit uncomfortable
[Morena]
Mouth to mouth. It’s French kiss
One time enough, but until I am satified.
I'll let you know in advance, since this is related to my abilities.
Kissing is one of the conditions for me to grant you my abilities as a comrade."
[Borksen]
!
[Morena]
There are three conditions I must clear in order for you to become my comrade...
The conclusion of the negotiation game must be 'Yes.'
You must kiss me to transmit my abilities.
You must be present at the scene where either I or my comrades commit murder.
The order doesn't matter, but all three conditions must be met for you to become my comrade, so don't worry.
Please decide whether or not to fulfill my request, keeping these conditions in mind
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[Ship announcement]
Everyone in the first layer, please return to your respective rooms and wait for the military's investigation!!
Once the investigation progresses, we will guarantee the same level of freedom in daily activities as before the state of martial law!!
[Borksen]
An emergency broadcast for the first layer...!!
An announcement that will never reach the lower layers...!!
Which means this is the first layer...!!
Somewhere on the luxury liner...
Is it possible to kidnap me from the third layer and transport me to the first layer...?
No... that's wrong!!
She’s the boss of the Aï-I group...!!
She disguised herself as 'Nisen Mono' and took that position...!!
Which means, on the royal family’s side, she must have originally had a residential area as a first-layer resident...!
If it was tampered with in advance so that the announcement, which should only be broadcast to the upper layers, could be heard even in the hidden hideout...
It wouldn’t be strange if this was any layer...!!
[Morena]
It's understandable to be confused... But don't worry.
I promise that we will not force any of the three conditions on you.
[Borksen]
There are things I need to know... and I must retrieve 'X'...!!
I have no choice but to do this!!
I'll accept...!
[Morena]
Well then,
come here…”
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[Morena]
Uh... well,
I'm sorry about something...
[Borksen]
Huh? What for?
[Morena]
No, I just... I didn’t expect it to be the first time for you.
[Borksen]
Why would you know...
On what basis can you say something like that?!
No, you don’t have to answer!
[Morena]
Shall we... take a short break first?
[Borksen]
Are you mocking me?
The card to return is the 'X' card! Now, let's continue!
[Morena]
You don’t have to push yourself, you know?
[Borksen]
I really don't need that kind of thing!
Wait a minute…!
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[Borksen]
These two cards...
Is it okay to turn them over and look at them?
While I’ve been responding to your little request,
I’ve completely taken my eyes off these cards.
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[Morena]
As I’ve said earlier,
I haven’t cheated.
Even so, do you still want to see them?
Do you think both cards are 'X' or something?
[Borksen]
Well, if you haven’t cheated, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?
[Morena]
No,
It’s not a problem. But it’s a bit lonely, you know?
There are people who want to look at their partner's phone with the strange logic of 'If you have nothing to hide, it’s fine,' but I can’t accept that logic.
I’d just think, 'Oh, so I’m not trusted,' and my feelings would instantly cool down.
Is that still okay?!
[Borksen]
Well,
Can I open them?
[Morena]
It’s sad... we were supposed to be close after kissing...
[Borksen]
Shut up! That wasn’t a kiss!! Got it!? I’m opening them now!!
[Morena]
...Right?
'No' and 'R,' right?
[Borksen]
Yes.
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[Morena]
Well then,
go ahead and draw.
Page9
[Morena]
Oh, that's too bad.
Would you like to check the other two cards again?
……Now, choose
the last one...
By the way, if you only have one question, you can skip the 'QA' card and choose the 'QB' card instead.
[Borksen]
I'll choose the 'QA' card.
[Morena]
OK... with this one, I’ll answer as many questions as you want.
Now...
let's begin.
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[Borksen]
This hideout is somewhere on the fifth layer.
[Morena]
No.
[Borksen]
This hideout is somewhere on either the fourth or the third layer.
[Morena]
No.
[Borksen]
This hideout is somewhere on either the second or the first layer.
So it's the first layer after all...!
[Morena]
No.
[Borksen]
...Huh…?
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[Borksen]
You're lying.
[Morena]
No.
[Borksen]
This hideout is inside B・W.
[Morena]
Yes.
[Borksen]
This hideout is created using nen abilities.
[Morena]
Yes and No.
[Borksen]
……
What does that mean?
Where exactly...
No... way...
This hideout is…
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[Borksen]
between the second and third layers!!
[Morena]
Yes.
[Borksen]
This was planned from the very beginning...!!
From the manufacturing stage of B・W...!
The current vibration is the sound of the central gate connecting the second and third layers being completely shut.
The hideout is probably around this area...!!
[Borksen]
...The entrances and exits of this hideout are located in places accessible to the general public.
[Morena]
Yes and No.
[Borksen]
There are multiple entrances.
[Morena]
Yes.
[Borksen]
There are two entrances.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
Three entrances.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
Four entrances.
[Morena]
Hmm... No.
[Borksen]
Five entrances.
[Morena]
Hmm... Yes.
[Borksen]
At this point, there was a pause in her answer...
It wasn't hesitation, but more like she double-checked in her mind to give the truth.
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[Borksen]
Oaths and restrictions... I'll make full use of them.
After I leave here, I’ll make sure they won’t be able to lay a hand on us
Currently, the number of comrades is 23, including you.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
22, then.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
21.
[Morena]
Yes
[Borksen]
If I manage to get out of here... I intend to erase everything, including the information I’ve obtained...
But, of course, you will keep the promise after I leave.
[Morena]
Yes
[Borksen]
If the 'No' card is the last one left,
you will kill me.
[Morena]
Yes
[Borksen]
Out of the 21 comrades, you are the only one with a specialization.
[Morena]
Yes
[Borksen]
You know the abilities of the other 20.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
Currently, there is one comrade with a reinforcement ability.
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
I will... extract as much information as possible…
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[Borksen]
...This is the last question.
I'm glad I could talk to you and learn so many things... I can say that now.
If... a card to leave here is left,
I think I'll try to change Kakin in my own way...
But you...
You have no intention of changing your 'purpose.'
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
No matter what happens, you have no intention of changing your 'purpose.'
[Morena]
No
[Borksen]
...Maybe, just a little, if there’s even a slight chance
that something... might provide an opportunity to meet halfway...
[Morena]
No.
I won’t.
I won’t change my purpose.
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[Borksen]
I understand
[Morena]
Now,
put the card you’re going to discard in front of you
and make your decision.
The last one...!
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[Borksen]
Let’s
open them at the same time.
If yours is 'R,' I’ll die.
If mine is 'R,' I’ll forget everything that happened here and leave.
[Morena]
Fine.
...Then, let’s open them on 0.
3.
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2
1
0
!!
[Borksen]
I
did it...!
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[Morena]
Congratulations.
It’s unfortunate, but it can't be helped.
Now, let’s exchange the 'R' card with the desired card and end the game
[Borksen]
Ah...
um... I’m sorry,
I ended up gripping the 'R' card too tightly... and it got all crumpled.
[Morena]
Hehe, it’s fine.
We always exchange the cards for new ones anyway.
[Borksen]
Well, that’s a relief.
[Morena]
...But,
isn’t that... wrong?
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[Borksen]
Nope.
It's not wrong
[closing blurb]
Her choice is "YES"!?
What is the reason behind it-!?