Kindness is Rare

Endmin, these are the pieces of evidence we've gathered so far.

Hartmann's employee ID... Aleksandr's document holder...

Endmin, don't you think this document holder is a little too old?

Clavis TGCC Trading actually updated their corporate logo early this year. But this particular document holder is printed with the old logo from last year.

Aleksandr said he recently took this contract from his company. If that were true, the contract should be presented with the latest document holder.

I also saw something suspicious. I noticed wounds on Aleksandr as well.

Was he also attacked by Landbreakers?

The wounds look more like lacerations... I don't think he was attacked by anyone.

I saw him nearby a couple of times. If it's too much for you, I can go and shadow him.

I got a question too!

Did any of you see Aleksandr's employment ID? Hartmann's got one from his company. I'd assume Aleksandr has one too.

From what Aleksandr told us, he probably plans to show us his ID after he's ready to tell us the truth.

Oh... I just thought that I found something...

Chen raised a pretty good point. I actually asked Aleksandr about his ID after our last meeting. He said he lost it and they're making a new one.

That's where the problem lies — Employees need their employee pass or ID to log into the Clavis TGCC Trading Intranet.

He's not pretending to be someone from Erikssohn! He's pretending to be someone from Clavis!

HAHAHAHAHA! I knew I was smart!

So ... he was a Clavis employee... And Hans wasn't just an ordinary passer-by...

And that recording tells me that Aleksandr was part of the attack on Hartmann.

But he doesn't sound like the one who organized the attack... Someone else was giving him orders.

I've submitted clues and intel collected from the site to Fiona. Our tech people will analyze them and share their findings with us.

Let's head back to where Hartmann was attacked and see if we can find anything.

Endmin, we have results from the analysis!

I sent the data on the crossbow bolt and coordinates to our ballistics expert Mr. Krad. He calculated the bolt trajectory and triangulated the sniper's firing position!

I'm syncing the data to you right now!

It seems the truth has finally been revealed.

Let me see... Hmm. Mendez Manufacturing? Sounds really familiar to me... Hey, isn't that the third dude in the negotiations? HANS?!

I knew this was no mere coincidence! Talos-II is a big place, you know. Yet somehow all four parties involved with the deal showed up at that weird, isolated place.

Yeah... We got a team of four people as well, but you know what I mean, Perlica!

According to the recordings, someone from Mendez sent Hans. And apparently he's not even a real sales agent.

We should study potential conflicts of interest. Chasing a messy trail of clues may be tiresome, but conflicts are never coincidental.

We know for certain that Hans is from Mendez Manufacturing and they planned the attack on Hartmann. Their aim was to let Aleksandr carry out his plans.

I believe the time has come to settle our accounts.

Greetings, everyone. We've acquired some information.

......

You ... you searched my car? Do you have a warrant?! I'll take you to court —

Wow. Did the legendary Viper get the boot? Who would have thought? HAHAHA! And I was wondering why you're out here in the frontiers trying to steal my puny deal!

Justice has been served! Cartel agents like you had your way in the Band! You bullied small-timers like us and nabbed our deals! The layoff is exactly what you deserve! HAHAHAHA!

What?! Are you crying?! Come on, man. I only said a few harsh words!

I'm sorry ... I ... I really need to get this deal... I...

If I pulled this off, I might...

I'm out of options, Endministrator! You might as well kill me here! I can't even face my family anymore —

I know I've stepped on many toes with the way I do things... You were my victim as well, Hartmann.

I'm already being punished! I'm facing my retribution! I just ... want Papa to wake up again! Just ... help him live and I'll do anything for you! ANYTHING! I swear!

...

People like me ... we've probably been left in the dust by the changing times. The old practice we once used ... no longer works in the TGCC.

Corporations are all about efficiency, civility, and etiquette nowadays... But I'm just ... a low-level thug who collects rents on the streets.

But I refuse to give up... Just help me out this time, please! Help me survive this...

By Talos, Aleksandr. You weren't supposed to expose us.

Well ... we actually found all this on our own. I hope that makes you feel better.

Tsk...

Whatever, I haven't lost anything from this. My aim is to prevent Erikssohn from securing this deal. And it seems I've achieved my goal.

Of course, it would be the icing on the cake if I were to get a cut myself.

Either way, we demonstrated both our commitment and initiative, Endfield. Perhaps you should consider signing a contract with Mendez. Hahahaha!

...Am I the only one laughing? Hurhur. Suit yourself... I'll be taking my leave!

Wha?! Are we really letting him run away like that? He's like the worst guy in this entire deal.

We have crucial evidence. If we submit a report to the TGCC, Mendez Manufacturing will lose people's trust and become discredited.

The influence of TGCC covers the entirety of the Civilization Band. Everyone knows what being discredited means.

Hmph. Of course he had to run. Dallied a bit longer, and he'd never get away.

Uh... Yeah... Our company ... might need a while to straighten things out.

Sorry, Endmin. I wasn't being entirely truthful with you. Erikssohn has problems and a single contract won't turn things around for us...

So, I've found peace with myself. If you decide to drop us ... I guess I wouldn't be too upset! And I won't blame you for anything!

Huh?! But you've put in so much effort into this deal!

I saw what happened to the Viper, and I felt that ... no one should be forced to go to such extremes.

This is just another job! And I stopped caring about winning. I spent days driving up and down the place and what did I get? I got mugged, knifed, and even lost my verification key... It was a never-ending string of bad luck. Now fate does not wish to close the deal. Nothing I do will change that.

Ooohhh... It seems he suddenly figured it all out...

I guess this is it! You already know what's really going on at Erikssohn. The choice is yours.

Oh yeah, Endmin. I don't know why. Maybe my horoscope for today emphasized "mercy and forgiveness", or maybe it's something else ... but I suddenly feel a spike of sympathy for Aleksandr.

I definitely don't want to end up like him. So I'll just focus on my share of work and keep myself safe. Should I fail to make ends meet... I guess I'll just move here and start over as your neighbor!

Hey! Just move here and start over? Puh-lease, stop treating Valley IV as your backup plan!

Hahaha! I was just joking! So, I guess we won't be closing the deal today. I'll be heading back. Call me if you're still interested! I'm always available!

An internal letter of Clavis TGCC Trading titled Notice of Corporate Restructuring.

Summary of the contents: The business and sales department failed to achieve the expected figures, and shall undergo corporate streamlining and downsizing.

A letter notifying Aleksandr that his employment has been discontinued.

An empty bottle. The mouth is giving off a strong, sour smell. The quality of the contents suggests that its buyer did not care about taste.