Boom Boom Boooom! A Grand Battle!

Hey, Ineffa!

Hello. I appreciate you looking after Aino these past few days.

Oh, it was nothing. A promise is a promise, right? Anyway, is Jahoda here? She probably has a bunch of new clues for us.

...Let me explain.

After I got back from the Frostmoon Scions, I started doing some digging into that merchant, Asikko. The fact that he outright tried to buy Aino's bot definitely makes him suspicious, but...

Even after asking around my boss's circle, I couldn't find any evidence that connects him to this mess. Out of all the merchants we met, he has the cleanest record.

I checked all the other merchants too, but the trail came up cold each time. Most of 'em didn't even know about our trip to the Frostmoon Scions.

Whoever's behind this thing is extremely clever. Covered their tracks perfectly...

Tracking down a person like that is gonna take a lot more than two days...

So, you're saying...

Summarizing intel.... Condensing main points... Conclusion: Over the past two days, Jahoda has found no useful information.

Did you have to make it sound so pathetic? How am I gonna explain this to the kid...

So there's really nothing we can do?

I mean, short of rounding up those merchants, interrogating them, and searching their private warehouses for ourselves... Nope.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

That wasn't a suggestion... These aren't the type of people you mess with on a whim. I'd turn all of Nod-Krai upside down searching before I went after a man like Asikko.

"Turning all of Nod-Krai upside down"... That is indeed Aino's backup plan.

Okay, well, I wasn't serious about that suggestion either.

If that is what Aino decides to do in the end, then I will support her.

I've been thinking things over a lot since I got back, and the truth is... I can see why Krum-Clank's technology is being targeted by those chumps.

But that means... Any of my bots could be next, including Ineffa.

If we don't get Krum-Clank back, if we don't show them we're not an easy target, then there's nothing stopping them from coming after the rest of my robo-friends.

So, even if I really do have to turn all of Nod-Krai upside down, I will save Krum-Clank, no matter what it takes.

Aino...

You said Asikko was the biggest suspect, right? Let's start with him, then!

Beep beep... Bee-eep.

...Someone sent a letter. It appears to be for you, Traveler.

Really? Let's take a look.

Paimon would recognize that tone anywhere... It's her, isn't it?

Yep. It's Dori.

Seems like she has a way to help us!

Dori's services... are usually a bit more complicated than that.

Ah, I've heard of her... She's got quite a... unique reputation around Nod-Krai.

Hm... Alright, I'm down with that! You're in charge of the workshop, Ineffa! This time, we'll get Krum-Clank back for sure!

Very well. Please continue to look out for Aino in my stead.

Oh, you're coming too, Jahoda? You care too much about Aino to let this go, huh...

*sigh*... More like, you're not the only one who's got a stupid robot asking you for favors.

Huh, looks like that old man isn't here this time...

Ah, look what the cat dragged in! Traveler, Paimon... I see you got my letter.

Dori! So it was you!

My assistant told me about your little visit two days ago.

Rumor has it, some terrible thief broke into the Krumkake Craftshop and ran off with one of Miss Aino's most treasured companions!

Yes! That's exactly right!

You must know how much I value you as a customer, Traveler. So, I thought, if you've set out to help Miss Aino, I should do my part, too.

I did some digging, and I do believe I've come up with the perfect plan!

There are too many merchants targeting that bot to root out the thief by going after them one by one. So, how about approaching this from a different angle?

Maybe the question we should be asking isn't "who stole the bot," but "where the thief took it in the first place"!

Huh, she has a point...

Hehe! And lucky for you, I happen to know just the expert to help us out! She's been working smuggling cases for years. If you need to track down stolen merchandise, she's your gal!

Of course, a professional of her caliber demands quite a high retainer.

But, not to worry! I can offer you a twenty percent discount!

How about this... You give me the funds in advance — discount applied, of course — and I'll contact the expert. See if we can't bring that price down a little. I'm all about client convenience, as I'm sure you all know!

And, if she sympathizes with our cause and ups the discount, we'll call the difference... a little something for my trouble. Sound good?

Just tell us how much you want.

Twenty percent off would be... 800,000 Mora. Do we have a deal?

800,000... Can't you go any lower?

If only I could... But there has to be room for me to take a cut, now, doesn't there?

800,000 Mora is worth it if it means we get Krum-Clank back! It's fine, I'll cover it!

Splendid! I'll contact the expert right away!

Well, if you're okay with it, Aino, then the sooner we talk to this expert, the better.

Great news! The expert is already in the area! I hope you have a productive conversation!

Wait, a Melusine? That's Sedile from Merusea Village!

Traveler? Paimon? Fancy seeing you here!

Wait, a Melusine?

Traveler? Paimon? I've heard so much about you, but I didn't expect Nod-Krai to be the place we'd meet. I'm Sedile.

So, the expert is a Melusine? I've heard about these creatures before. They have special senses, right? They can pick up on things humans would never even notice.

Really? That sounds amazing!

With her help, we'll get leads on Krum-Clank for sure. Guess the price of the retainer was worth it, after all!

Um, there's something you should know about Dori...

Retainer? What retainer?

Traveler is a hero to the Melusines. It's an honor to help him out! I would never ask for even a single Mora in return.

Oh, wow! I didn't realize this expert idolized you so much, Traveler! Well, since she won't accept payment, I suppose there's no choice but for the entire 800,000... to go to me!

Hehe, as always, I appreciate your patronage! Although, I guess this turn of events is all thanks to your past heroics...

In that case... I'll give you a generous fifty percent off the next time we do business!

And the swindler claims another victim... Anyway, what are you doing in Nod-Krai, Sedile?

Well, one of the Melusine agents from the Marechaussee Phantom followed the trail of a smuggling case straight to Nod-Krai, but she still hasn't made it back to Fontaine.

We all started to get worried, and I happened to have some time off, so I'm here to check up on her.

But enough about that for now. This merchant told me you needed help tracking down your missing companion?

Could you describe them to me? The more details, the better. Then, would it be possible to take me to the last place you saw them?

Sure thing!

Alright, this is the last place we saw Krum-Clank. I remember that the recon bot disappeared right over there.

Hm... I've learned a little about those flying machines since I've been here. Their battery life isn't very long. Flying all the way out here is probably their limit.

So, someone must have been in the vicinity to pick it up. We should ask around. Maybe someone saw something.

Oh, there's a group of people over there! Let's ask them!

Hello! We wanted to ask something...

Looking for trouble, kid? No? Then scram.

Not a good start...

What's the matter?

Legally speaking, even suspects have the right to remain silent. We can't force them to answer our questions.

That's what you're worried about? Well, it's your lucky day. There's no law in Nod-Krai.

Clink Clank Legion, attack!

Fine, fine! If you wanna talk, then let's talk! Ask me anything you wanna know!

Ahem... Have you seen a group of people carrying a heavy object pass through here? If so, which direction did they go in?

I see that pretty much on the daily, and multiple times at that...

Hmm... If we think about when they started the look-out versus when they managed to get away...

It would have been two days ago, between 4:00 and 10:00 PM. We're looking for anyone in the vicinity who left with a heavy object in tow.

Huh, when you put it that way... I did see a group like that. Real shifty looking. Came in the afternoon, left at night... I'm pretty sure they were heading in that direction.

That direction... Hmm. If they knew that their cargo was being targeted by other merchants, they were probably trying to get out of here without being seen. That limits their options. Not to mention how cumbersome it would have been...

I think I know where they were heading.

So this is the place? But there's no one here.

Assuming their stamina is within the range of a normal adult, if we factor in the weight of their cargo, they would have had to stop here and rest.

Which means there should be quite a few traces around here.

Traces? What kind of traces? This place just looks like a random stretch of wilderness...

Oh, there's a whole bunch! Here, and over there... Oh, it might be hard for you humans to pick up on. If I point them out, could you help me investigate?

We were right! There's a camp here! But I don't see Krum-Clank anywhere. Maybe he's inside?

With this many people standing guard, breaking in seems out of the question...

I'm sorry, everyone, but I think this is as far as I can go. There's not much I can help you with in there.

Don't be sorry, Sedile! You've been such a big help, I wouldn't even mind sharing some of my secret dessert stash with you!

And, anyway, you probably shouldn't be here for this part, because I'm about to do something bad, and you're too good for that.

Hm... Okay.

Aino?

Like I said before, I'm the boss of the Krumkake Craftshop, and I'm gonna save my friend no matter what it takes!

(Who took down these branches? Did someone start a fire?)

Phew, we're in! Wait, what's that?

*rumble*

Whatever it is, it doesn't look friendly. Hold on...

This hunk of metal has Krum-Clank's core! The thief already took him apart!

Haha, quite the improvement, don't you think? My creation is ten times more powerful than your little toy. Can't say I'm surprised... That's what a true genius can do.

Wait, you're that guy from the black market! The one at the front desk! You're the one behind all this?

If your goal is to accomplish something that will shock the world, you're better off working behind the scenes.

I must admit, though... I'm rather surprised you made it this far. I expected you to spend more time fixating on those merchants...

You deliberately tried to steer us in the wrong direction!

What, you never questioned the fact that the first notice you found just so happened to have the clues you were searching for?

The front desk is where people go to exchange information. But I get to decide what to put front and center. The person who controls the information controls the people who seek it.

So, you're the one who stole Krum-Clank... both times?

So what if I am?

There's only one rule in Nod-Krai — winner takes all. With this prototype, the Mora I earn will put me on equal footing with the other factions. Then, no one — not even you — will be able to say a word against me!

Just using a piece of tech you stole from Aino?

Stole? No, rescued! I'm taking advantage of its wasted potential!

Ever since learning about kuuvahki, I knew there was huge potential for machine integration! But no one saw my vision...

I came all this way, but the stubborn natives refused to even entertain my ideas. It didn't go any better with the Fatui and their monopoly on kuuvahki research.

But then this stupid girl who spends all her time making useless toys opens a workshop, and all the factions of Nod-Krai practically grovel at her feet!

She's the one who gets to make a ground-breaking machine that has the potential to reshape the entire market...

That role... should have been mine!

Right, cause it's definitely not embarrassing to have beef with a kid...

That's enough! Give Krum-Clank back to us, right now!

We'll see about that!

I'll keep watch over the workshop. Once again, I leave Aino to you.

Hum... Hum...

What's happening? I... I need an engineer over here! Quick, fix it!

I... The core stopped working. It's supposed to concentrate kuuvahki, but it looks like it needs a specific transmission medium to operate...

What kind of medium?

Judging by the smell, I'd say some kind of... dessert?

What was that!?

Don't sound so surprised. Krum-Clank is a dessert-baking robot, but I always thought it would be too sad if he had to watch other people eat all the time without joining in.

So when I designed Krum-Clank, I gave him the ability to eat desserts too, not just bake them.

I think I understand now. The consumption of a cake-like dessert is required to keep the core's kuuvahki concentration function operating.

If cake-baking is the goal, that kind of system is sustainable.

But, to use it as a weapon, not even Nod-Krai's entire flour and sugar production would be enough to generate the required amount of power...

And you're just noticing this now? Well then, get rid of that stupid function! Make it run on something else!

Boss, it's embedded into the system. I'm not skilled enough to change something like that. I didn't even notice it at first...

See? Krum-Clank isn't a war machine. Now, give him back.

This technology could have been revolutionary. It was supposed to be my big break! And now it's trapped in some useless kitchen bot all because of your stupid, childish idea!

No. The prototype stays with me. I just need to hold out until I can secure an investment... Someone, get back the prototype!

Try me, you stupid...

Ineffa!

Whoa! What are you all doing here!?

Protecting the Krumkake Craftshop is a job for all who call it home. Activating annihilation mode...

(A stove? Looks like someone did start a fire here to cook something...)

No! He got away!

Let him run for now. Nod-Krai doesn't have laws, but it does have rules. Once word starts to spread about what happened here, he'll get what's coming to him.

Is everyone alright? Apparently, Nod-Krai doesn't have a police force, so I contacted your friends for help.

Wow, way to think ahead, Sedile!

Wait, what about Krum-Clank?

...Miss Aino, during the altercation, my brethren and I retrieved the core from that construct. It should go to its rightful owner. I apologize for thinking otherwise before.

This technology needs safekeeping, and I think... No, I know that it's safest in your hands.

And I know you're not the bad guys I thought you were, so... Enough with all the mushy stuff, alright?

Let's go home, Ineffa. Oh, and when we get back, I want dessert! I think my monthly quota deserves to be reset, don't you?

Hehe, sweet, sweet Mora... Oh, ahem! Thank you for your patronage!