Track 6

And now we’re switching scenes to the back alley! The perfect hideout to shake off those pesky Searchers... if you're lucky, that is…

Whoa! Hold on, what do we have here...!?

Ehehehehehheh……. Pwehehe…. O’ Sweet sweet reward……

Our boy Yachiyo Fuefuki from HAMA Tours Team is just... lying there, wrapped up like last week's sushi, left in the ditch! And... he has a dopey smile on his face.….!?

……..

(That should do it.)

(Tch….. They’re still on us.)

Back off, Fuefuki.

NO!!! Absolutely not! I have to make sure nothing ever happens to you, Big Boss, even if it means sacrificing my own life—

WATCH OUT!!! I hear something….!

Ah.

Ugh……!

S-I’M SO SHORRYYYYYYY! I didn’t mean to trigger the fire extinguisher like thisssssssss!!

Enough. Just stay still——

HWEEEEEE!?

Awahgdj#%**¥@$, the wall collapsed! Huh, Searchers? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF THEMMM!? Big Boss, please go on without me! I WILL HOLD THEM OFF FOR YOU WITH EVERYTHING I HAVEEEEE!!!!

I’m sorry, that’s the backstage area! Please don’t go in there!

…..

(With this approach, I can minimize the risk. I’ll take care of the mission alone...)

And arriving at Mission B—it’s Liguang from Team HAMA Tours! He’s facing the “Clockwork Tin Bomb Disposal” mission!

This is…..

It’s a two-part mission, split between the “Defuser” and “Analyzer” roles!

It’s a mission meant for two! There’s no way to attempt it alone! Now, how will you fare!?

Nuh-uh! Big Boss is NOT alone ‘cause he’s got me! M-Me, right here with him! Ehehehehhe!

When did you……!?

I’ve returned after thoroughly savoring my reward! Just in time for our mission, hwehehee!

(Maybe I should have tied him up tighter.…. no, that’s too much.)

Just don’t act out. Maintain at least one meter between us.

Roger that! You’re the coolest, Big Boss!

In this mission, the “Analyzer” will relay the manual’s instructions, and the “Defuser” will follow them to disarm the bomb!

This mission demands absolute teamwork and shared focus between the two roles!

The bomb timer started the moment they stepped in! Just one minute left—can they make it!?

You handle the instructions. I’ll defuse the bomb.

O-O-O-OF COURSE! I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you from exploding, Liguang-san!!

…….

(……Others are a mirror that reflects our own image. I need to trust and rely on him.)

Fuefuki. Listen closely; I’ll only say this once.

Stay calm, no matter what. Keep a level head. I know you’re more than capable.

…D-Did Liguang-san just… encourage me...?

Let’s start. Give me the directions.

Y-Yessir! First, we open the lid……

Everything in here’s all gooey and slimy, and..… we should steer clear of the red and kinda white-looking cords on top… Uh, is this blue? Or green? I dunno.….

But anyway! Please cut the cord!

……Are you serious?

Oops! My mistake, I missed a line! I just… I wasn’t expecting you to cheer me on… Ehehehe…… Alright, the red switch first! Disabling it here—

Please hold on! There’s a white button and a yellow button here! White is… oh, that’s after the wire… so yellow!

YEEOOWW, I got so excited I tore the manual!

…….

Oh dear… An unfortunate update for you all! Liguang and Yachiyo of Team HAMA Tours… have been captured!!

Off they go to the cage, and a penalty goes out to all of HAMA Tours! And brace yourselves—extra Searchers are being released!!

Wh….. Liguang, is he alright!?

N-Not that I care! Ha! Serves him right! Man, I feel bad for Yachiyo!

Uhh let’s see, so this is the penalty, huh. Your body just starts glowing randomly.

Yeah. And when it happens, the Searchers are more likely to find us…..

Oh, look at that, a call from the boss, right on time.

Hello!? Kafka!?

<Everyone, did you all hear about the news just now?>

Yeah… they said Liguang and Yachiyo got caught……

<To win this game, we need to have the most people escape without getting caught by the Searchers.>

<But there’s something more we’re aiming for here, right, Renga?>

Uh, oh yeah, the True Clear!

<Good. Let’s go over what True Clear requires—there are three conditions.>

<First, every team member must make it out without being caught. Second, all cooperative missions must be a success. And finally——>

<For the third condition, we have to solve the mystery hidden in the park, identify the Searcher in command, and turn the wind-up key on its back to stop it……, if I remember correctly.>

So far, we’ve got two members captured, and one co-op mission failed. Isn’t a true clear already kinda impossible?

<We’re not out of options yet. Look at your phones.>

A rescue mission….!

Treasure chests scattered across the park hold keycards to the cage. Find their locations and obtain the cards…..

<However, each chest is heavily guarded by powerful Searchers. This is going to be a tough hurdle….>

<Exactly. We’ve got one retry for the team mission, and if we pull off this rescue, we’ll still be on track for a True Clear!>

Ehhh, wouldn’t it be easier to just surrender?

……I mean, yeah, it’s true that if we surrender, we can still earn prize money based on the time we’ve lasted, but……

Yeah, exactly. Though we probably can’t run a commercial, if we put everyone’s prize money together we’ll at least be able to pull off an advertisement.

<This isn’t about the money, Ten.>

<I refuse to let this end with our team broken up like this. That would be a betrayal to our teammates.>

<I’m not letting go of that True Clear just yet. And honestly——>

<I’m not one to back down when the goal’s right in front of me ♪>

<…..I’m with Kafka on this. We may be facing some difficulties, but let’s first make the rescue mission a success.>

<And while we're at it, we also need to look for clues for the mission to find the Searcher in command if we want the True Clear.>

<I’ve managed to collect some of the codes we’ve come across up till now……>

<During all of that chaos? That’s impressive, Kafka.>

<Renga, if you spot anything suspicious, let me know. And keep track of it, okay?>

G-Got it! I’ll note down anything I notice…… Just like Yachiyo would!

<For now, we’ll make a move toward the True Clear mission.>

So our job right now is to focus on the rescue mission, right?

Okay…… time to hunt down those chests, Ten! We’re gonna rescue Liguang and Yachiyo!

…Sigh, here we go.