“Where’s Charlie?”
If that was how things stood, there was no way the Federation Government hadn’t been involved in Charlie’s disappearance as well.
“Charlotte Arisaka Anderson’s father is a Federation Government official. He has the right to put his blood relatives on the Ark.”
Ice Doll had finally used that word: Ark. The idea was exactly as Siesta had said. However, there was a reason the detective had come up with that deduction in the first place.
“I see. So Charlie’s here,” Siesta said, pointing at the floor. “In the giant Ark known as the Mizoev Federation.”
The Mizoev Federation—this country we were standing on, a section of the continent of ice—was itself an enormous oceangoing ark.
“Stephen left something behind by chance. A blueprint for part of this country.”
At a glance, it had looked like the sketch of a town, with parks and theaters and blocks of apartment buildings. However, the fact that the town was floating on the ocean had bothered Siesta. Some of the buildings in town had looked like towers, which the detective had thought looked like the masts of a ship.
Why had Stephen had that blueprint? Had he been involved somehow as the Inventor? Either way, we’d gotten the message.
“We’re on Noah’s Ark right now.”
A brief silence fell.
“Yes, that’s right.”
The detective’s deduction had been correct.
“We members of the Federation Government and leading figures of the public political world; titans of industry, aristocrats, those from special bloodlines—we’re taking our time and selecting those who will be passengers.”
“…Aristocrats. Is the Lupwise family on that list?”
That was why Noel de Lupwise had been given a nominal position as a government dignitary.
“We must select the seeds and determine who will live on in the world after it collapses.”
I knew it. Their goal wasn’t to stop the Great Cataclysm—but to escape it. They had no intention of saving the world.
“Is that why you tried to kill Stephen?”
And the Revolutionary, and the Hero? Because they’d come close to revealing this plan?
“No. We had nothing to do with that matter.”
“Liar,” I said, drawing my gun. I’d ended up doing that just a little ahead of schedule, but it was probably fine. “You people have more than enough of a motive to kill Stephen.”
What were they trying to pull by pretending they didn’t know about the Tuner hunt, after confessing about this joke of an Ark project and Charlotte’s kidnapping?
“Wait, Assistant.” Unexpectedly, Siesta put a hand out in front of me. “That’s the one incident I’m not completely sure about yet.”
“You’re kidding me. Look, I already pulled my gun. I can’t back down now.”
“That’s not my problem. Think about it, though: If the Federation Government had really been behind that attack, don’t you think they would have retrieved the blueprint Stephen left on his desk after attacking him?”
That…was a good point, actually. So we couldn’t conclusively say the Federation Government had been involved in the Tuner hunt?
“Besides, there’s another thing I don’t understand.” Siesta grimaced slightly. “Say you do board this Ark of yours. Will you really be able to escape the destruction of the Great Cataclysm? Where is this ship bound for?”
They hadn’t just randomly decided to choose that name based on the myth. What grounds did they have for believing that this gigantic Mizoev Federation ship could escape the end of the Earth’s lifespan and Yggdrasil’s invasion?
“If you wish to know that, you’ll have to agree to our proposal first.” Finally, Ice Doll revealed why they’d allowed this meeting. “If you swear obedience to us, we’ll officially invite you aboard the Ark as well.”
Several images were projected onto the walls of the great hall, and I saw some familiar faces.
“Mia, Rill…!”
“Yui and Noches are there, too…”
Siesta and I stared at the images. They were back in their respective hometowns, and a masked dignitary stood in front of each pair of girls, barring their path. I was pretty sure I’d seen those two officials before. Their code names were Doberman and Odin.
“…! Is this a threat?”
“If you accept our terms, we’ll save them as well.”
Ordinarily, this would have been a chance we couldn’t even dream of. The world was doomed, but if I didn’t resist and went quietly, I’d be given a place on the ship created by God. Not only that, but I could also bring my friends. I might never get an amazing deal like this again. —And yet.
“Sorry, but I can’t agree to that.”
Siesta pointed her musket straight up and fired at the ceiling. It was a shot that shook me out of my sweet dreams.
“After all, it’s my job to save the world.”
That was what she’d vowed on that salt plain.
The girl or the world? In order to ensure that the choice I’d made ended up being the right one, the girl was choosing to save the whole world, not just her friends.
“We’re not giving up on the planet.”
Siesta took off running, holding her gun in both hands.
There was no way defenseless Federation Government dignitaries could beat the Ace Detective. In the blink of an eye, Siesta was right in front of Ice Doll.
“—Take care of this for us, Enforcer.”
There was a harsh metallic clang. Siesta had swung her musket, and it had been deflected by a huge sickle. The man wielding the sickle wore a dark suit and had his hair combed back.
“Ookami.”
The Enforcer Ookami, former detective’s assistant and current member of the Security Police, was blocking Siesta’s path. So this was why we hadn’t been able to contact him?
“They’ve taken Nagisa hostage, then?”
“……Forgive me.”
Ookami’s face twisted. It was clear that he was being forced to fight.
“What do we do, Siesta?” I asked the detective, who’d fallen back to join me. “Do we fight Ookami or go save Charlie and Nagisa?”
“Why don’t we split up? Which do you want to be in charge of?”
“Personally, I’m pretty pissed off at Ookami. Thrash him good for me.”
“Oh, I’m the one doing the thrashing? …Well, all right then.” Siesta smiled.
I turned my back to Ookami, leaving Siesta to deal with him.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“By the time you’re back, Kimi, it’ll all be over.”