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EP 13.9 Longitudinal Strain

EP 13.9 纵向应变

92 chapters · 5580 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

1 Train Timetable 1 列车时刻表

"This is a miracle that connects the Eurasian continent, spanning thousands of kilometers." "As a mega engineering project that has been going for three centuries, it is no gift from nature, but the amalgamation of mankind's ingenuity." "War, pollution, pain, and suffering have ravaged it and left their scars."“这是一座奇迹，它连通亚欧两片大陆，横跨近万公里。 作为绵延三个世纪的超级工程，它绝非自然的馈赠，而是人类智慧的结晶。 战争、污染、痛苦与哀嚎将古老的它折磨得千疮百孔。

"But the human race never gives up. As our crimson flag lights up this vast piece of land, it shall infuse it with new life." "The proud aorta of the Siberian Lifeline—the Future—starts running again!" "And you are the greatest witnesses of this miracle!"但人类决不放弃，当鲜红的旗帜点燃这片土地，它将重新焕发活力。 昂扬在西伯利亚生命线上的大动脉——未来号，重新扬帆起航！ 而您，就是这座奇迹上最伟大的见证者！”

Warszawa Centralna Railway Station, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 华沙中央车站

As the chimes of the old clock ring throughout the empty platform, the PA system makes its friendly report.随着古老的摆钟摇晃的钟声响彻了空荡的月台，公示用的广播也开始亲切地进行汇报。

BroadcastAttention, all departments. Attention, all departments. Service EN440-13M to Berlin will be arriving shortly on Platform 6. Please prepare to receive the train. Good evening, dear passengers. The EN440-13M service to Berlin, the "Future", has arrived...各部门请注意，各部门请注意。 EN440-13M次，由莫斯科开往柏林方向，即将驶入6号月台。 请做好接车准备。 各位乘客，晚上好。 您乘坐的，开往柏林方向的，EN440-13M次“未来号”列车已经到站……

Rumble... As the friendly female voice drones on, a moving fortress steadily slows down at the platform.轰轰…… 在亲切的女声中，一辆移动的堡垒稳稳地停靠在了车站的边缘。

Whoosh... Once the train comes to a stop and the carriage doors slide open with a pleasant sound, a group of law enforcement officers in uniform disembark from the train, followed by a Doll stewardess. Standing by the door, the stewardess gives the officers a friendly smile.沙沙…… 在列车停稳之后，随着悦耳的舱门打开的声音，一群神情严肃，身着制服的执法人员率先从车上走了下来，旁边跟着一位乘务员人形。 在执法人员们齐齐整整地下车后，乘务员站在门前，对他们露出亲切的笑容。

Stewardess SusannaThank you for your hard work. I will pass on the subsequent duty roster to the Bahnpolizei under the German Ministry of the Interior.这一路过来辛苦几位先生了，后续的值班表我会转交给德国内政部铁路警察的。

Traffic Law Enforcement Team LeaderWhatever, it's not like anyone will look at it. I'm heading off for some mead. Anyone with me?随你的便，反正也不会有人看。 我要去喝几杯蜂蜜酒，其他人呢？

Enforcer AI'm coming.走。

Enforcer BI'll pass. I have to catch the next train back to Moscow. I agreed to spend my son's birthday with him last month. Can't be late.我就不去了，我打算搭下一班回莫斯科。 上个月就答应了儿子要陪他过生日，不能迟到。

Enforcement Team LeaderAlright, off you go then.嗯，你去吧。

The team leader waves his hand, and the group disbands. Then he turns back to the stewardess and offers some casual advice.领头的长官摆了摆手，挥散了下属们。 说着，他回身看了乘务员一眼，有些随意地叮嘱了两句。

Enforcement Team LeaderKeep your eyes peeled before the Krauts get on in Poznań, Susanna. There have been a lot of disturbances at the border lately.在波兹南那群德国佬上车前，不要出什么意外，苏珊娜。 最近边境也不大太平。

SusannaUnderstood.明白。

The stewardess named Susanna nods and watches as the team leader takes his leave. Meanwhile, her work has just begun.名为苏珊娜的乘务员点了点头，目送对方扬长而去，而她的工作，才刚刚开始。

Carriage F02, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02车厢

The aroma of high-quality coffee permeates the air. Impeccably dressed passengers have settled in their own seats. There is barely any interaction between them—they all respect the unspoken rule of maintaining social distance. But this doesn't make the stewardess' job any easier. Sometimes, uncommunicative passengers are particularly hard to deal with.弥漫着高级咖啡香气的空间里，衣着精致的客人们各自坐在自己的位置上，互相之间几乎没有任何交流，他们彼此都深谙距离的分寸。 但这不意味着乘务员的工作就简单许多，有的时候，不爱说话的客人往往更为难缠。

SusannaGood evening, and welcome aboard the Future. This modern high-speed intercontinental train is most definitely the best mode of transportation for traveling from Moscow to Berlin. I am your stewardess Susanna. It is my pleasure to serve you on your journey. Is there anything I could help you with?晚上好，欢迎乘坐“未来号”洲际列车。 高速的现代化洲际列车，是您从莫斯科到柏林的最佳选择。 我是乘务员苏珊娜，竭诚为您服务。 请问有什么可以帮到您的吗？

In the aisle of the first-class carriage, the smartly dressed stewardess leans down to address a rich woman sitting in a wheelchair that is blocking the aisle.衣着款款的乘务员站在一等车厢的过道间，伏低了姿势，对过道中间一位坐在轮椅上的贵妇人低声询问道。

The old woman gives no response. She does not even look at Susanna. Still, Susanna can't wait all day. She can't just leave her blocking the aisle either. There are other passengers who will need to pass through, and she cannot afford to antagonize any one of them.老妇人没有回应，甚至没有朝苏珊娜看过来一眼。 尽管如此，苏珊娜却不能就这样等待下去，更不能放置不管。 过道上还有其他来往的乘客，这之中的每一个她都无法得罪。

SusannaMs. Valeriya, may I move you to your seat at F02-A18?瓦列里娅夫人，请问我可以将您带到您的F02-A18座位上吗？

???...Get away from her.……滚开。

As Susanna tries to talk to the woman again, someone suddenly shouts at her angrily from behind.就在苏珊娜再次对身前的人问询的时候，她的身后突然传来了一声暴躁的喝声。

A large man shoves her aside as if she is the one blocking the aisle and walks up to the wheelchaired woman while the other passengers watch on.仿佛是因为她导致了通道堵塞一样，身材高大的男人一把将她推开，在周围人避之不及的目光中走到了轮椅贵妇人身边。

Before Susanna can protest, the man suddenly bows and kisses the old woman's hand reverently. The old woman opens her eyes and gazes tenderly at the man.就在苏珊娜即将出声前，男人忽然恭敬地弯下腰，捧起贵妇人的手虔诚地亲吻了她的手背。 而同时，贵妇人也睁开了眼睛，一脸慈祥地看着面前的男人。

Ms. Valeriya...Thank you, Danil. Get me out of here so that I'll stop bothering the others in the carriage.……你辛苦了，丹尼尔。 将我带离这里，不然车上的各位该为难了。

Big ManThey should be honored to be in your company.能够为您献上几分钟的时间，是他们的荣幸。

Susanna lets out of a sigh of relief as she watches the big man push Ms. Valeriya slowly to her seat. She mentally shakes herself and turns around, only to find someone else standing behind her. She immediately apologizes to the woman. She quickly pulls up the passenger's info card.眼看着身材高大的男人将瓦列里娅夫人缓缓推回座位，苏珊娜松了口气。 随即，她调整一番状态，又转过身去，才发现身后还有另一个人。 她连忙对面前的女人一脸愧疚地表达了歉意。 赶紧翻到该乘客的资料卡。

SusannaSorry to have kept you waiting, Instructor Lyudmila.抱歉让您久等了，柳德米拉教官。

Lyudmila...No problem.……无妨。

SusannaI will hand you today's menu shortly.稍后我将为您准备今日的菜单。

The woman known as Lyudmila checks her watch, then nods and heads to her seat down the aisle. Susanna watches her as she walks away and can't help but grumble to herself.被称为柳德米拉的女人抬手看了看手表，微微点头便顺着让出来的通道回到了自己的座位上。 看着她的背影，苏珊娜叹了口气，心中不由得嘀咕起来。

Susanna...We're both Dolls, but she gets to travel in the first-class carriage. While I can only pour wine for people... Such different fates.……大家都是人形，人家就能坐一等车厢。 我就只能给人倒红酒……真是同人形不同命。

In the workroom in the first-class carriage, Susanna is busy preparing the passengers' red wine.一等车厢工作间，苏珊娜准备着乘客们的红葡萄酒。

Just then, an untimely call interrupts her.此时，一道通讯不合时宜地响了起来。

???My dearest Susanna, it's your suuuuuper bestie Maggie. I need to be in Carriage 9 later, so please get me a short-trip ticket. I can get off at Poznań.最亲爱的苏珊娜，我是你最最最亲密的好友玛姬。 晚点我要去趟9号车厢，等下麻烦你给我补张短程票，到波兹南就好。

SusannaMaggie Ponzi? Still not dead then?玛姬•庞兹？你还没死呢？

MaggieDon't worry. Only the good die young. Won't be my turn any time soon.放心，祸害遗千年，我死不了。

SusannaCarriage 9... Isn't that the dining carriage? You're making another "deal", huh? I pity the unfortunate souls.9号车厢……那不是餐车？又去餐车搞你那个“交易”是吧？ 这次又有不少人倒霉咯。

MaggieMy, my... What if I give you 30% of our profit this time?哎呀，这次交易利润分你三成，怎么样？

SusannaFine. I won't say no to Sardis Gold. ...Are you using the same electronic info card?行吧，看在萨狄斯金的份上。 ……还是用上次的电子信息卡？

MaggieYeah, just use the one I've been using. Someone will be taking me to Carriage 2 for a meeting later. Don't check my ticket.嗯，用之前的就好，等下有人会带我去2号车厢见个人，你别查我票。

Susanna frowns and considers it.苏珊娜皱着眉头，沉吟了一会。

Susanna...Got it. I'll be preparing dinner in the workroom for some time.……知道了。 接下来有一段时间，我会在工作间准备晚餐。

Click. The transmission ends.滴。 通讯挂断。

In the first-class carriage, the man who almost caused a commotion has returned the rich woman to her seat. He helps her settle in fastidiously, then he whispers softly.一等车厢内，此前险些引发骚动的男人已将贵妇人带到了她的座位上。 他虔诚地替老妇人整理好了座位，随即站在位置边上，低低地出声。

Big ManThe goods are ready.货物已经安排妥当。

Ms. ValeriyaGood... Thank god for you Danil. Where are the others...? Nikolai... Where is he?好的…… 丹尼尔，还好有你。 其他人呢…… 尼古拉……他跑到哪里去了？

The man's grimaces awkwardly at the question.听到老妇人的这一问题，男人的脸色变得有些尴尬。

DanilNikolai... has boarded the train. But he moved to Carriage 9 on short notice. He reserved a seat there as well.尼古拉……他已经登车了。 只是临时改到了9号车厢，他在那里也给自己留了座位。

Ms. ValeriyaIs he alone?他一个人？

Ms. Valeriya...Humph. He never learns.……哼。 永远不长记性。

The woman's features immediately harden. Even the burly Danil shudders at her displeasure.妇人脸上温和的表情一瞬之间变得冷漠了不少，看到她的神色，高大的丹尼尔也不禁打了个冷战。

Ms. ValeriyaSummon him.叫他来见我。

Danil...Right away.……是。

As if afraid that the woman's wrath will spill over to him, the big man bows and scurries off.像是畏惧老妇人的怒火会烧到自己身上一般，高大的男人躬身，随即慌不择路地退开了。

The carriage soon settles down. The passengers feel comfortable with walking about again, so nobody notices the two people entering from another carriage.车厢内渐渐又恢复了常态。 来往的乘客们回到了原本的状态，在这样的情景下，没有人在意从其他车厢内移动过来的两人。

A young man leads his companion up to the old woman. He sits down opposite her casually, like he knows the woman very well. His female companion stands to his side with her head lowered, looking very demure.携伴而来的年轻男人坐到了老人的对面，他的态度表现得十分熟稔和自然。至于身边的女伴，则低垂着头站在一边，似乎非常温和顺从。

NikolaiI'm very sorry. I would've come and paid my respects the moment I came aboard. But I was delayed by some other matters... Please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean any disrespect.非常抱歉，我本来应该一上车就来向您打招呼的。 只是有些事耽搁了一下……请别误会。 我绝没有半点对您不尊重的意思。

The old woman gazes at him with narrowed eyes. She seems very displeased, but she remains silent. She does not so much as glance at the female companion next to Nikolai; it's as if she didn't even exist.老妇人眯眼看着他，似乎相当不悦，但也并没有说些什么。 她的视线半点没有看向尼古拉身旁的女伴，就好像那女人根本不存在一般。

Ms. ValeriyaI don't blame you... Nikolai.我没有责怪你……尼古拉。

The old woman's tone is soft, but the man tenses up immediately.老妇人说话的语气很轻，但男人却绷紧了神经。

NikolaiO-of course... it was not my intention to slack off. Miss Tareus is a client that I've been in contact with, and it is my duty to convey her gratitude to you.当，当然……我绝没有懈怠工作的意思。 塔亚柔斯小姐是我负责联络的客户，她的谢意我得向您传达。

He promptly signals to his companion, who respectfully places the box she has been holding onto the table.忙不迭地，他赶忙对身旁的女伴示意，后者恭敬地将手里捧着的盒子放到了桌上。

Nikolai smiles tentatively as he opens the box for the old woman to show her its contents. Ms. Valeriya looks at the flowers that have just started to bloom.尼古拉陪着笑，当着老妇人的面打开了盒盖，向她展示里面的内容物。 瓦列里娅夫人看了看那个盒子里微微绽放的花。

Ms. Valeriya...Alright.……我知道了。

Nikolai continues cautiously.尼古拉的语气变得小心翼翼。

NikolaiMaggie is working as Tareus' representative. It's bad form to turn her away.玛姬这次是替塔亚柔斯小姐办事。 我们不好拒之门外。

Ms. ValeriyaNo, you mean YOU don't want to turn her away.不是我们不好拒之门外，是你不愿意拒之门外。

The old woman reaches out to put the lid back on the box and sets it aside.老妇人伸手盖住了盒子，然后将它收了起来。

Ms. ValeriyaTen minutes, no more. I always get the ick whenever a certain woman appears before my eyes.最多十分钟。 某个女人只要出现在眼前，就会让我感觉非常倒霉。

The woman next to Nikolai tips her hat wordlessly. Ms. Valeriya still hasn't looked at her even after all this time.尼古拉身旁的女人无言地压了压帽檐。 即便到了现在，瓦列里娅夫人的目光依旧没有落到过她的身上。

Nikolai...I understand.……我知道了。

Ms. ValeriyaNow go. I need to rest.去吧，我要休息了。

At that, Nikolai immediately takes his companion's hand and drags her off.闻言，尼古拉立刻拉起了自己的女伴。

It takes him less time to disappear from the old woman's view than to give her the box full of flowers.从结果上来看——从他起身到自老妇人的视野内消失，这过程里耗费的时间，恐怕比他递出那盒花用的时间还要更短。

Outside the door of the first-class carriage, Nikolai takes out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and plucks one out. The woman immediately lights it for him.一等车厢门外，尼古拉从口袋里拿了盒烟，用手指夹了一支出来，边上的女人立刻帮他点燃。

Nikolai...Why did you have to antagonize her? And why did you have to get on this train now of all times?……你说你怎么就非要得罪她，得罪了还非得这个时候上这辆列车。

MaggieHm? I thought you're the one I antagonized.嗯？我得罪的人不是你吗？

NikolaiNot everyone is as forgiving as me, Maggie. I enjoy a challenge, but I hate losing control. This train is our business.不是每个人都跟我一样不计较，玛姬。 我喜欢挑战，但我讨厌失控。这辆列车是我们的生意。

MaggieWe can each mind our own business. You have yours, and I have mine. Besides, it's not like we haven't worked together before.我们互不影响啊，你有你的生意，我也是为了我的生意。 再说了，难道我们是第一次合作吗？

NikolaiI still remember the way you looked when you absconded with my money like it was just yesterday.你卷款携逃的英姿，现在还历历在目。

MaggieOh, you make me blush.这样夸奖我，我都有点害羞了。

NikolaiYou're still as naughty as ever. But I like that, which is why I'm letting it slide this time. I'm getting off with you in Poznań.你的嘴巴还是那么调皮。 不过我喜欢，所以，这次我容忍你。 到波兹南的时候，我跟你一起下车。

MaggieIf I had known, I would've asked you to get me a ticket. A ticket for this kind of train is too much for me.早说我就让你买票了。 这种列车的车票，对我来讲负担也太沉重了。

NikolaiJust the daily interest of the money you scammed off me would be enough to pay for all the seats in the VIP-class carriage.从我这里骗取的钱，光每日利息就足够支付整整一节特等车厢票价了。

MaggieOh, come now. Considering our relationship, how could you call that a scam...哎呀，我们的关系，怎么能说骗……

Beep-beep-beep!!!! Beep-beep-beep-beep!!! Warning! Warning!滴滴滴——！！！！ 滴滴滴滴——！！！警报——警报——

MaggieHm? What's going on, Susanna?嗯？发生什么事了，苏珊娜？

NikolaiWho's Susanna?谁是苏珊娜？

MaggieThat's...就是……

Before Maggie can finish, the stewardess named Susanna comes over from the workroom with a metal tray in her hands.玛姬话音未落，名为苏珊娜的乘务员就从工作间里走了出来，手里端着一个金属托盘。

She shoots Maggie a slightly dirty look, but her face does a complete 180 the moment she turns to Nikolai. She offers him the metal tray reverently, beaming ear to ear.她瞅了玛姬一眼，脸色有些难看，但转向尼古拉时则立刻变了模样，恭恭敬敬地微笑着露出八颗牙齿，将手里的托盘递了出去。

SusannaMr. Nikolai, this is Ms. Valeriya's lunch.尼古拉先生，这是瓦列里娅夫人的午餐。

Nikolai...Oh, so you're Susanna.……喔，你就是苏珊娜。

SusannaI am the stewardess on this service. If you need any help, please let me know at any time.我是本次列车的乘务员。 如果您需要任何帮助，可以随时差遣。

MaggieI'm sure it will make Ms. Valeriya very happy if you take the lunch to her, Mr. Nikolai.这份午餐如果由尼古拉先生带过去的话，瓦列里娅夫人想必会十分高兴。

Nikolai...You have a point.……有道理。

Nikolai nods. He gives Maggie one last look, then he takes the tray and returns to the first-class carriage. Maggie secretly sighs in relief, while Susanna rolls her eyes at her.尼古拉点了点头，看了玛姬一眼，接过托盘，转身返回了一等车厢。 玛姬悄悄松了口气，对面的苏珊娜则翻了个白眼。

MaggieYou really are my bestie!不愧是我的好友！

Maggie gives Susanna a thumb-up, but Susanna only rolls her eyes harder.玛姬冲她竖起了拇指，对方的白眼却翻得更高了。

SusannaI don't have time for your nonsense. I've already reserved your seat in the dining carriage. Don't forget my cut. You'd better make sure I'm happy.别跟我废话，你要的餐车位置，我给你留好了。 记得我的那份，你最好是能让我满意。

MaggieOf course... Why wouldn't I give you your due? You're my very best friend. Still... are you just gonna keep ignoring this alarm in the second-class carriage? We can hear it all the way from a dozen carriages away. Kinda noisy.当然……我怎么会亏待你呢？你可是我最好的朋友。 不过……二等车厢这警报声你就一直放着不管吗？从那边传到这里得经过十几个车厢呢。怪吵人的。

SusannaIt keeps going off once we enter the Red Zone. Just leave it. It's just the second-class carriage anyway. The passengers are either paupers or Dolls. It's fine as long as nobody dies.只要进红区，那玩意就会一直响，不管它就没事。 反正是二等车厢，里面除了穷鬼就是人形，死不了就成。

MaggieHow heartless. Aren't you also a Doll? Can't you show some more compassion to your kind?真是残忍，你不也是人形？就不能对同类亲切一点？

Susanna...Ew, you're making my skin crawl. If that had come from anyone else, fine. But YOU? How can you of all people say that? Oh, the irony.……我都要起鸡皮疙瘩了。 别人也就算了，你？你也说得出口？ 简直像个讽刺笑话。

MaggieHey, that's uncalled for.讨厌，你真是过分。

Maggie winks and grins wickedly.玛姬眨了眨眼，露出狡黠的笑容。

Transcendental Études 超技练习曲

Congratulations, you have completed all stages in this event on Hard Mode.恭喜你攻略完毕了此次活动的所有困难难度关卡，此处为结算奖励。

Études-Tableaux 音画练习曲

Congratulations, you have completed all stages in this event on Nightmare Mode.恭喜你攻略完毕了此次活动的所有噩梦难度关卡，此处为结算奖励。

3-α1 Waltz in A minor 3-α1 A小调圆舞曲

Statesec Advanced Training Facility, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 安全局 改进训练队基地

In the surveillance room. Rectangular monitors take up an entire wall, but they are barely bright enough to illuminate the room. Each monitor shows a different CCTV feed. Through the feeds, multiple tactical teams can be seen carrying out their respective missions.监控室内。 方正的屏幕铺满了眼前的整整一面墙，仅是画面的闪光就足以照亮整个房间。 每一个不同的屏幕都对应着一个不同的镜头，而在这些镜头下，数个战术小队正激烈地执行着各自的任务。

Overseer A...Team A-12 is exchanging fire with the training target, firepower stable. Damage at 28%, 1 casualty so far, mission has a 41% chance of failure.……A-12组与训练目标发生交火，火力等级设置稳定。 战损比28%，人员缺损1，任务失败率41%。

Beep. One of the monitors emits a blinding red light.滴—— 其中一个屏幕发出了刺目的红灯。

Overseer BTeam C-07 has encountered a trap and gone unresponsive. 4 casualties. Failure in carrying out the mission objective confirmed. Dispatching rescue team.C-07组遭遇陷阱，快速反应失效。 人员缺损4，已确认无法执行目标。 正在派遣救援小组。

Beep.滴。

Overseer AA weak point has emerged in Team A-02's offensive. They are taking more casualties—A-02组出现火力缺口，人员缺损率正在上升——

Beep.滴——

Beep. The monitors on the wall start flashing red one after the other, overloading the warning system and sending the overseers into a panicked frenzy.滴—— 墙面上的白色屏幕接二连三地开始转换为警示的红灯，一时间，过载的警报令台前负责监控的监测员变得手忙脚乱。

The auditor standing in the center of the room shakes his head as he watches the monitors flash red.作为审核官的男子站在房间中央，看着不断闪红的墙面，摇了摇头。

AuditorThat's the best they can do...已经到达极限了……

Behind him and off to the side, another man standing in the corner keeps his eyes fixed on a monitor, seemingly oblivious to what the auditor has just said.仿佛没听到他的话，在他身后的侧方，一位男性站在角落里，目不转睛地看着眼前的投屏。

???...Monitor 03 in Zone B—which team is that?……B区的03号屏幕，是哪支小队？

The auditor directs his attention to that particular monitor.审核官闻声向指定的方向看去。

Auditor...It's Team Я, Chief.……是“Я”分队，首长。

Even as the men converse, the wall turns red at the speed of an avalanche.就在两人说话之间，原本白色的墙面几乎是以雪崩般的速度迅速被红色替代。

Overseer ATeam A-04 has been wiped out. Rescue party dispatched.A-04小队全灭，已派遣救援人员。

Overseer BTeam C-01 has been wiped out. Rescue party dispatched.C-01小队全灭，已派遣救援人员。

Overseer CTeam B-06...B-06小队……

As the disastrous situation unfolds, the auditor can't help but peek nervously at the man behind him, trying to discern his emotions.面对着狼狈的情况，审核官不禁有些紧张地偷窥起了身后男人的表情。

But the man pays him no mind. He slowly strides out from the shadow and stops next to the auditor.而男人就像没有察觉一样，缓步从阴影中走出，站到了他的旁边。

???Maximize monitor B-03.把B-03屏幕放到最大。

AuditorYes, sir... A handful of other teams are still hanging in there. Do we stop watching them?是…… ……还有几支小队也在坚持，不用再看了吗？

???The outcome will become clear soon enough.马上就有结果了。

With a sigh, the auditor nods at the overseer, who promptly operates the system. The small monitor immediately takes up the entire wall. At that moment, the feed just so happens to capture a face.叹了口气，审核官对身旁的监测员示意了一下，后者忙不迭地操作，原本只占一席的小屏幕瞬间占据了整个墙面。 而此时，画面刚好摄中了一张正脸。

???Who is she?她是谁？

AuditorThat is Instructor Я.她就是“Я”教官。

Training Ground 8, Training Facility.改进训练队基地 八号训练场

OTs-44Instructor, infrared devices and gravity triggers confirmed. No abnormalities detected. Should we proceed?报告教官，红外线设备和重力触发装置已确认。 没有发现异常，是否通行？

Instructor ЯNegative. Execute protocol ETO-10242064112021.否，执行方案ETO-10242064112021。

A-545Acknowledged.收到。

The clear-cut command immediately removes the tension and unease that surfaces in the team for a brief moment.得到确切的指令后，一瞬产生的不安和紧张瞬间从几人的脸上一扫而空。

OTs-39Deploying magnetic sensor.磁感应装置正在布置。

A-545...The sensor has stopped working.……装置停止运行了。

Instructor ЯActivate Plan C.启用第三备案。

A-545Looking Glass.窥镜。

OTs-44Understood.是。

Prompted by the cue, the team members spread out efficiently and spring into action, each of them carrying out their assigned duty. All hidden traps are carefully neutralized, and their advance route is optimally planned; they are even avoiding unnecessary confrontations... By anyone's standard, their performance is practically "perfect". However...得到提示的队员们迅速排开了队列，井然有序地按照各自的岗位开始了行动。 隐蔽的陷阱被谨慎地排除，路线的规划也达到最佳的水准，甚至回避了不必要的交火…… 任谁来评论，都只能给予她们的表现以“完美”的评价。 但……

In the surveillance room.监测室内。

Overseer A...Team B-03 has reached the target location. Test completed.……B-03小队，确认抵达任务目标地点。 测试结束。

Overseer BTraining results of the 35 participating teams all confirmed. ...Team B-03 is the only team to have completed the mission objective. They have taken no damage or casualties. 91.7% of traps eliminated. Confrontation avoidance rate 57.2%. Suppressive fire grading...已确认参与试训的35支小队的训练结果。 ……仅B-03小队完成目标，无战损，陷阱排查率91.7%。 交火回避率，57.2%。 火力压制评分……

The auditor turns slightly and looks at the man next to him. Such results aren't exactly brilliant, but... that's not the point of the team.审核官侧过身，看向了身旁的男人。 这样的成绩绝说不上好，但……也绝非训练小队的原因。

The man ignores the auditor's probing gaze and walks straight up to the console.男人没有直接回答审核官的问题，而是径直走向了控制台。

Auditor—?——？

To the auditor's astonishment, the man reactivates the training program that has just been terminated.审核官惊愕地看着对方毫无顾忌地将已然关闭的训练程序重新启动。

Auditor...Chief! The training is over!……首长！ 训练已经结束了！

???No, it isn't.不，还没有。

He gazes unblinkingly at the woman surrounded by her teammates on the monitor, then trains a weapon on her wordlessly.他目不转睛地看着屏幕上，被通过训练的队员们簇拥在中央的女性，无言地调准了武器的准星，对准了她。

A-545Secure signal received. We have completed the mission.已确认安全信号。 我们完成任务了。

OTs-44At last... They really dialed the difficulty up to eleven, didn't they?终于……这次的训练难度是不是太高了？

A-545We're not in the position to question that. Right, Instructor?那不是我们应该考虑的问题。 对吧，教官？

OTs-39I just hope we can catch a breather. We've been training way too much lately...希望之后能稍微休息一下，最近的训练量太大了……

Instructor Я...Stop jabbering. Compile a mission report and prepare to pull out.……别废话了。 整理任务简报，准备返回。

A-545Yes, ma'am.是。

A-545 turns on their training console to check their combat statistics.A545打开了训练平板，准备查看她们的统计数据。

A-545...This is strange... How come they haven't sent in the numbers?……奇怪？ 任务简报没有发送过来？

OTs-44—An electronic attack! Watch out, Instructor!——是电子入侵！教官小心！

Instructor Я—?!——！？

OTs-44 lets out a sharp cry at the sudden onslaught, but it has already hit Instructor Я.骤然响起的警报令Ots44发出了尖锐的呼声，然而等到她发现的时刻，攻击早已命中了“Я”教官。

OTs-39Instructor Я! ...Oh no! Her neural cloud is breaking down!“Я”教官！ ……糟了！教官的心智崩溃了！

A-545Stay calm! Have faith in the Instructor, she's got this! We must first do our part!别紧张！相信教官，她会有办法的！ 先做好我们自己的事！

OTs-44Heat signatures approaching—it's an ambush! Get back into formation!热源反应正在靠近——有埋伏！整队！

AuditorUh...这……

???Problem?你有什么疑问吗？

AuditorNo, of course not, Chief. It's just... there has never been a precedent of launching an attack within the safety zone.不，当然没有，首长。 只是……我们从来没有在安全区域发动攻击的先例。

???There aren't any safety zones on the real battlefield. I want to know what they will do when confronted with a truly unexpected emergency.真正的战场没有任何安全区域。 我想知道，在面对完全出乎意料的紧急情况时，她们会怎么做。

Auditor...But isn't this a bit too extreme?……但是，做到这种程度，是不是有些夸张了？

???I will be the judge of that.这由我来判断。

AuditorYes, sir... My apologies!是……非常抱歉！

Overseer...Look at her!……你们看她！

The overseer's exclamation draws the men's attention back to the monitor.监测员惊讶地发出了呼声，将两人的注意力又重新带回到屏幕上。

The man raises an eyebrow. He seems rather surprised by what he is seeing.看着画面上内容，男人的眉头轻轻一挑，似乎有些意外的样子。

AuditorInstructor Я...“Я”教官……

Training drones rushing in from all directions quickly have Team Я cornered.四面八方涌入的训练机器人迅速将“Я”分队压制。

The Doll frame lying unresponsive on the ground suddenly starts moving.躺在地上已经失去信号的“素体”突然动了起来。

Rustle... Three wandering drones swivel in the direction of the small movement.唰唰唰—— 仅仅是一点微小的动静，上一秒还在徘徊的三名机器人便同时转向了同一个方向。

Bang, bang, bang!!!! Their barrels come to life again, raining bullets into the ground and sending sparks flying.呯呯呯——！！！！ 刚刚冷却下来的枪管瞬间重新转动，他们的子弹在地板上倾泻如注，溅起一阵鲜明的火花。

Instructor Я?...A category-3 scenario?……3类情景？

Instructor Я kicks down one of the drones viciously, then raises her gun and shoots down another with deadly accuracy.“Я”教官猛地一脚踹向了其中一架机器，同时抬起枪口，精准地击倒了另一人。

Bang! The remaining drone throws its downed comrade aside but before it can react, Instructor Я has already drawn close and shot it right through its core.嘭！ 仅存的机器人刚刚将同伴移开，还没来得及做出任何反应，便被迅速贴近的“Я”教官一枪打爆了核心。

Beep—滴——

Ignoring the alarm that is still going, Instructor Я picks up another firearm from the ground.随着仍在大作的警报声，“Я”教官拾起了掉落在地面上的武器。

Instructor Я?It's always like this... every time I get dragged out...每次叫我出来……都是这种情况……

She dashes through the closing gate, all the while complaining under her breath at a volume too low to be picked up.以监控无法收录的低音，她抱怨着，冲入了即将关闭的大门。

3-α3 Raindrop 3-α3 雨滴

Training Ground 8, Advanced Training Facility.改进训练队基地 八号训练场

All training droids have been eliminated.所有的训练机器人全部阵亡。

After pausing for a second to make sure all the threats have been neutralized, she finally lowers her weapon and looks up at the surveillance camera.等待了半晌，确认威胁已经扫清之后，她才终于放下武器，站起身来，抬头看向了监控。

Instructor Я?Are we done yet?到此为止了吧？

Clap, clap, clap. In the surveillance room, the man claps admiringly as he studies the resolute face on the monitor.啪，啪，啪。 监控室内，男人看着画面上那张坚定的脸，赞赏地鼓起了掌。

???...This one it is.……就是她了。

The auditor pulls up the Doll's profile on his tablet.审核官拿起手中的平板，调出了画面上的人形的资料。

AuditorChief, I don't wish to question your decision... But this unit possesses certain risk factors... some flaws.首长，我并不是要质疑您的决定。 但“Я”身上存在一些不可控因素……一些，缺陷。

The man tilts his head and reads Я's profile.男人偏过头，看向了“Я”的资料。

Occupation—Instructor of Advanced Combat Training Team Я. Ratings—Nil; this unit possesses certain risk factors. Note—Unit 180 of the Human Intelligence Research Project headed by Arthur Hume. Risk factors include...职介——改进作战训练队”Я“分队教官。 评级——无，该人员存在危险因素。 备注——“人类理智研究计划”第180号机体，由亚瑟•休谟主导完成，其不可控因素……

The auditor looks up apprehensively.审核官抬起了头，脸上的表情显得有些一言难尽。

AuditorShe makes an outstanding commander, but we can't send a Doll like this to the frontlines. ...Perhaps you should consider some of the other Dolls on the list?作为指挥她的确出彩，但我们不能把这样的人形派上前线。 ……不如再考虑一下名单上的其他人？

The man glances at the eye-catching "Risk Factors" section and shrugs.看着资料上醒目的【危险因素】标识，男人耸了耸肩。

???None of the others are up to the task. She is needed for Operation Eclipse.其他人都不够格。 “日蚀”需要她。

Auditor...Understood.……明白了。

Doll Maintenance Center, Statesec, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 安全局 人形维护中心。

Whoosh...唰——

The door of the repair pod slowly opens. The engineer in charge of the maintenance is logging the repair data into the system off to the side.修理仓的盖门缓缓打开，负责检修的工作人员站在一旁，正在记录维修数据。

EngineerBoth your body and neural cloud have been optimized, Instructor Я.您的素体和心智都已经调整回最佳状态了，“Я”教官。

Instructor Я slowly sits up inside the repair pod. She inspects her own hands, her gaze lingering on her wristwatch.缓缓从修理仓中坐起，“Я”教官检查了一下自己的双手，目光静静地落在了腕表上。

Instructor Я?Thank you.谢谢。

EngineerI'll be off working on other things then.那么，我先去做别的事了。

After making sure there's no one else around, Instructor Я sits down on a chair and fiddles with her timepiece.在确认周围已经没有其他人之后，“Я”教官坐在椅子上，拨动了手腕上的腕表。

Click... The hand starts ticking on the watch face.咔…… 腕表上的指针开始朝着原位转动。

???...Is it done?……任务完成了？

As the watch ticks on rhythmically, the Doll suddenly starts talking to thin air.在富有韵律和节奏感的指针摆动声中，她忽然对着一片空气低低地出声。

Instructor Я?You were too careless, Instructor Я.你太大意了，“Я”教官。

Instructor ЯI expected the training to be challenging, but I'll admit I did not anticipate the surprise attack at the end.我预想了训练的难度，但的确没有预料到他们会在最后设下埋伏。

The same Doll is having a dialogue while speaking through the same mouth.在同一张面孔上，用同一张嘴，她说着两套不同的话语。

Instructor Я?Congratulations on securing your place in the operation. Even though you'll be taking part as a soldier and not an instructor.恭喜你，终于得到了选拔资格。 是以士官的身份，而不是教官的身份。

Instructor Я...You already know about the mission?……你已经知道任务内容了？

Instructor Я?No, but I do have something to say about that. Let me participate in the operation from start to finish. I don't want to swoop in at the last minute to save your ass like I did today.还没有，但我的确有事要说。 我这次要全程参与行动。 而不是像今天这样，只在最后为你兜底。

Instructor Я...That has always been the plan.……这本来就在我的计划内。

Instructor Я?What?什么？

Instructor ЯCombat performance is an extremely important factor when it comes to being selected for Operation Eclipse. As is the ability to maintain secrecy. You managed to pass the final test for one reason—I had the wrong tactical intel.这次“日蚀”的选拔，和战斗能力同样重要的。 还有保密能力。 而你能通过最后测试的原因还有一点——我得到的战术情报是错误的。

Instructor Я?But I didn't know that, so I passed. No wonder you were so confident about the selection process.但我不知道，所以我通过了。 难怪你对这次选拔有信心。

Instructor ЯWhich is why this operation will only work on one prerequisite—I must handle all the planning. You don't need to take part in that, and you don't have to know anything about the mission. You simply have to obey my orders.所以这次行动有一个前提——所有的计划都必须由我来设计。 你不需要参与，也不需要了解任务内容。 你只需要服从我的要求。

Instructor Я...How am I supposed to undertake the mission without knowing anything about it?……我不知道任务，要从何开始执行？

Instructor ЯI will give you a preset assignment. If we succeed in doing our part, you will remain completely oblivious to the entire mission even as you perform your task. That will ensure absolute—我会给你一个预设任务。 如果我们能做到，你在执行任务的时候，也对任务内容一无所知。 就是真正的——

Instructor Я?Absolute "secrecy". ...I've got to hand it to you, Instructor Я.就是真正的“保密”。 ……不愧是你，“Я”教官。

Instructor Я...This is the only method that is truly "fail-safe".……只有这样，才算得上真正的“万无一失”。

Instructor Я?Fine. I have nothing against this arrangement as long as I get to take part.可以，只要能参与任务，我没有意见。

Instructor ЯGreat. Then one last question—what alias do you want to use?很好。 那么最后一个问题，你想用什么假名？

Instructor Я?Lyudmila Pavlichenko.柳德米拉•帕夫利琴科。

...Click. The ticking hand comes to a halt. The Doll's demeanor also stops changing back and forth.……咔。 不断走动的指针在这一刻抵达了头。 而她的面孔也终于不再拥有两幅模样。

Instructor Я...Lyudmila? What a fitting name.……柳德米拉吗？ 真是适合你的名字。

3-α4 Little Prelude in G minor 3-α4 G小调小前奏曲

Belorussky Railway Station, Moscow, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 莫斯科 白俄罗斯车站

SusannaInstructor Lyudmila, here is your ticket. Please make sure you don't lose it. I wish you a pleasant journey.柳德米拉教官，您的票证，请收好。 祝您旅途愉快。

Instructor Я...Thanks.……嗯。

Instructor Я nods. She takes her ticket and drops it into the kraft paper envelope she is holding. She double-checks her own carriage calmly, then as if arriving at a scheduled meetup, she taps her wristwatch.“Я” 教官点了点头。 从对方的手中接回自己的票据，塞进了手里的牛皮纸袋。 她用平静的目光确认了自己的车厢，然后如同约定的一样，抬手敲了敲腕表。

Tick... The hand starts turning as "Lyudmila" slowly opens her eyes, her gaze still lingering on the watch.啪嗒—— 指针转动，“柳德米拉”缓缓睁开了闭上的眼睛，目光仍停留在腕表上。

She flicks her wrist lightly and pulls her sleeve over the wristwatch. Then her eyes fall on the paper envelope in her hand.她轻轻甩了甩手，将腕表藏进衣袖，目光落在了手中的羊皮纸袋上。

After taking stock of her surroundings, she gives her sleeve another tug and slips quietly into the crowd.环顾了一下四周，她拉拢了衣袖，无声地遁入了人群之中。

Lyudmila...Hm, let me see what plans you've made, Instructor Я.嗯……让我看看你都安排了些什么，“Я”教官。

Lyudmila locks herself in a restroom at the train station. She opens the envelope and pulls out the things that she is supposed to read through.躲在车站的厕所内，柳德米拉拆开了牛皮纸袋，从里面翻出了她应该确认的东西。

First is a profile of the persona that she is adopting. After confirming her false identity, she puts it back into the envelope and pulls out another piece of paper.她先是浏览了一番自己需要扮演的身份信息，随即将确认完毕的身份文件放回纸袋，又取出了另一张纸条。

Lyudmila...Sheesh, what year is this? We're still passing paper notes? I suppose it's only wise. We wouldn't have to resort to such antiquated methods if it weren't for enemy infiltration.……都什么年代了，还用纸条传递消息。 也对，如果不是被渗透到这种程度，也不会用这么复古的手法。

She unfolds the note with a sardonic grimace and skims through it, then promptly tears it to pieces.她的脸上挂着难以掩饰的嘲弄，在翻开纸条，并且确认了上面的内容之后，她迅速地将其撕碎。

Whoosh...咻……

Splash... Lyudmila sets fire to the torn up piece of paper using a discarded cigarette in the ashtray, carefully scoops up the ashes, and flushes them down the toilet.哗啦啦—— 纸条的残渣被灭烟处的火苗点燃，柳德米拉小心地将灰烬抓起，然后冲入了下水道。

She washes the ashes off her hands under the faucet. She only puts on her gloves again after drying her hands meticulously.她对着龙头，洗干净了手上的黑灰。 又在擦拭之后，才将手套重新戴回到手上。

Carriage F02, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02车厢

Lyudmila enters the carriage and takes the seat written on her ticket.柳德米拉走进车厢，来到了车票上写好的位置坐好。

Then she pulls out an invitation card from the envelope. Soon after she settles down, a friendly stewardess comes up to her.随后从牛皮纸袋里取出了一张邀请函。 在她坐下的瞬间，一位亲切的乘务员便恰是时候地凑了上来。

SusannaHello, would you like something to drink?您好，请问要喝点什么吗？

LyudmilaTea, please.红茶。

She glances up at the stewardess and gives her a brief nod. Upon receiving a reply, the stewardess immediately takes the hint and walks away.她抬头瞥了她一眼，点了点头。 得到回应，乘务员也不多加打搅，立刻便离开了她的座位。

Lyudmila reaches out and takes a newspaper from the rack next to her seat.柳德米拉转手从座位旁的架子上拿下了一份报纸。

LyudmilaSeven... eight...7……8……

She opens the newspaper and seems to be reading the headlines, but is in fact counting in her head.她将报纸展开，目光仿佛在阅读着头版的新闻，心中却在默数。

LyudmilaThere are 50 seats in total. 28 passengers are currently on board - eighteen men, seven women, and three children. As for Dolls... There are six.总共50个座位，现有乘客28人，男性18名，女性7名，儿童3名。 其中人形有……6名。

Lyudmila12 of these passengers came on board in Moscow.其中在莫斯科站上车的……12名。

Lyudmila quietly commits all the passengers' appearances to memory.柳德米拉不动声色地记下了所有乘客的长相。

SusannaHere's your tea. May I help you with anything else?您的红茶。 还需要别的服务吗？

LyudmilaNot for the time being, thank you.谢谢，暂时不需要。

SusannaAlright. If you need me, just press the button at your seat. I'll be with you right away.好的，如果您需要我，只需要按下座位上的按钮。 我会立刻赶到。

Lyudmila puts down the newspaper and takes a sip from her cup of tea. Her gaze follows the brisk and efficient stewardess as she leaves.柳德米拉放下报纸，端起茶杯抿了一口。 她的目光追着毫不拖泥带水离开的乘务员。

LyudmilaThere are four train attendants... all Dolls.工作人员4人……都是人形。

Rumble... The gargantuan beast named "Future" suddenly produces a low rumble, interrupting her thoughts.轰…… 思虑间，庞大的巨兽“未来号”忽然发出了沉闷的轰鸣声。

Ding-dong...叮咚……

Welcome on board the Intercontinental Railway Train EN440 13M, "Future". This train is about to depart. For your personal safety, please keep your seatbelt fastened while the train is in motion. Thank you for your cooperation.欢迎乘坐EN440 13M次“未来号”洲际列车，本次列车即将发车。 为了您的人身安全，列车行驶期间请系好安全带，感谢您的配合。 谢谢合作。

LyudmilaRetired instructor Lyudmila Pavlichenko, your mission is to infiltrate the underground Doll trafficking hub known as the "Colt Express" and investigate its manager as well as her affiliation.退役教官-柳德米拉•帕夫利琴科，任务为进入黑市人形交易中心“柯尔特快车”，并查出背后的主理人以及隶属势力。

LyudmilaAs expected of Instructor Я... Even the most superficial mission is so carefully thought out.不愧是“Я” 教官，连第一层任务都做得细致万分。

5-α5 Moonlight Sonata 5-α5 月光奏鸣

On a special operation in the Tserkov Special Administrative Region, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 特沙科夫特区 一次特别行动

It is nighttime. Stifling winds that carry a nauseating smell are blowing over the fields of Tserkov.是夜，浑浊的风夹杂着令人反胃的气味，在特沙科夫的荒野上吹拂。

An armored vehicle drives across the yellow sand, dyeing the occasional tufts of weed brown with the dust that it kicks up.一辆装甲车行驶在黄沙之间，卷起的尘土将地面上不时冒出的杂草染成了棕色。

RPD...So I told that son of a bitch... "You'd better screw right back to your reserve team and train another two, three years if you wanna stand a chance against a Doll."……所以我就跟那个王八蛋说。 想跟人形较劲，还是滚回你的预备队再练个两三年吧。

PP-2000We are all comrades fighting for our motherland. You didn't have to be so harsh.同样是为祖国母亲战斗的同伴，你犯不上那么严苛。

RPDOh, please. I wouldn't have said that to actual warriors. Those losers have only fired their guns in a training facility.省省吧，如果都是战士我也不会这么说。 但那些人这辈子打过最多的枪，都是在训练场里。

RPD is lying on top of the vehicle with her weapon cradled in her arms.RPD躺在车顶的护栏上，抱着自己的枪。

RPDSuch demoralizing work. They leave all that to us, don't they?真有这种糟心的工作，不都是我们来做？

PP-2000That said...话是这么说……

Instructor Я—Enough chit chat. We're getting close to our target destination. Ash, send out the "hawk".——别聊了。 接近目标位置，阿舍，把“老鹰”丢出去。

An authoritative voice coming from inside the driver cabin interrupts the conversation.从装甲车的舱室内传出一个不容置疑的声音，打断了两人的闲聊。

The Doll who has been sitting wordlessly in the corner gets to her feet and takes a drone out of its case with practiced ease.一直蜷缩在角落闷声不说话的人形闻言站了起来，熟练地从一旁的箱子里取出了一台无人机。

RPD...What's our job again?……我们这次的活是什么来着？

PP-2000According to reports, a mysterious religious sect that has suddenly become all the rage in Tserkov is holed up in the village just ahead. Because of the earlier massacre, the brass has officially identified them as an extremely dangerous entity.根据报告，特沙科夫最近突然兴起的神秘教会势力就在前面的村子里盘踞着。 因为之前的屠杀事件，上头已经把他们判定为“极端危险势力”了。

RPDTsk... These scumbags.切……这群垃圾。

Whirrrr... ASh-12.7 adjusts and confirms the drone's flight path through her visor then launches the drone. RPD and PP-2000 also cease talking and huddle around the tablet to watch the camera feed.咻咻咻…… ASh-12.7用目镜确认并调整了飞行轨道，随即抛出了手中的无人机。 RPD和PP-2000也停下了聊天，凑到手提电脑前观看起了拍摄的画面。

Creak— The vehicle grinds to a halt.咔—— 这时，车子也停了下来。

Instructor ЯYulia, prepare to set up a temporary camp here.尤莉亚，准备布置临时营地。

PP-2000Yes, ma'am.是，教官。

PP-2000 gets up and hops off the top of the vehicle. Meanwhile, RPD and ASh-12.7 study the monitor with a frown.PP-2000起身，从车顶上一跃而下。 而RPD与ASh-12.7看着屏幕，不禁皱起了眉头。

RPD...Why isn't there any movement at all?……怎么一点动静都没有？

ASh-12.7 fiddles with the controls and switches the image to infrared mode.ASh-12.7操作了一番，将画面调整为热成像镜头。

ASh-12.7...Still nothing.……还是没有。

RPDHold on!我看得见！

RPDHey, Instructor! The village is completely deserted!喂，教官，村子里没人！

She leans against the railing to speak to the two Dolls busy setting up shop outside the vehicle. PP-2000 has just pulled up the reflective cloth, while Instructor Я is already sitting at the conference table.她转头趴到栏杆上，冲着车下仍在布置的两人说话。 PP-2000刚刚拉好反光布，而她身边的人已经落座在了会议桌前。

Instructor Я...Ash, set up the equipment. Sergey...……阿舍，把设备装好。 谢尔盖……

RPDYeah?在！

Instructor ЯShut your mouth.闭上你的嘴。

RPD...Yes, ma'am!……是！

In the temporary camp on a field only 3km away from the target village, the soldiers' solemn faces are lit up by the yellow light.在距目标村镇仅有三公里的野地中，临时搭建的营地里，昏黄的灯映照着士兵们沉寂的面庞。

Click... By the sand-colored vehicle, the newly set up equipment starts running.滴…… 沙黄色的装甲车旁，已经安装好的设备开始了正常运转。

RPD...The drone has circled over the village several times. We haven't spotted any unusual activity.……侦察机已经绕了几圈。 没有发现任何异常情况。

PP-2000Maybe they've already moved somewhere else.他们可能已经从这里撤走了。

Instructor ЯWith all the villagers?连村民一起吗？

PP-2000Well...这……

Instructor ЯThe drone hasn't detected any human activity at all. But this is a village, not a military base. That alone is ominously unusual.侦察机没有发现任何人员活动的迹象。 但这里是个村落，不是军事基地，这本来就是最危险的异常了。

Instructor Я turns around and points at the map on the whiteboard with her cane.“Я” 教官侧过身，用手杖指了指白板上的地图。

Instructor ЯThe village is encircled by our line of defense. The direction in which we came from is the only opening. They have nowhere to run unless they want to risk a direct confrontation with us. They're right here, and they knew we're coming.这里刚好位于我们的防线包围区。 我们来的方向是唯一的豁口，除非和我们正面碰撞。 否则他们无路可逃——他们就在这里，而且已经知道我们来了。

ASh-12.7...So what do we do?……该怎么办？

Instructor ЯAs per our original plan, we enter the village. We search for the targets and eliminate them. If they have somehow given us the slip, we must still collect evidence that they've left behind.照原计划，我们进入村落。 搜索目标，然后清除他们。 如果他们真的消失了，也要收集遗留的踪迹。

TrioYes, ma'am!是！

Pzzt... Pzzzt...呲…… 呲呲……

Instructor Я has her headset on. The comms system and radar are both running at full capacity. The seconds tick on as her nerves become more and more frayed and her headache grows in severity. But even so, she keeps running her computations.“Я” 教官戴着耳机。 面前的所有通讯工具和雷达全部处于工作状态。 每一分，每一秒，她的神经都越加紧绷，她的头疼都在不断加剧。 即便如此，她依然在保持运算。

This is a special operation assigned to Advanced Combat Team Я under the 7th Directorate of the Neo-Soviet Ministry of State Security. Following orders from the headquarters, the elites of Team Я have made for the frontlines without any question. As the field commander, she must take responsibility for the mission objective as well as her subordinates. But she cannot be on the frontlines herself. ...Which is probably why she is looking so grave right now.这是新苏联国家安全部第七总局下属改进作战训练队“Я”分队的一次特别行动。 受总部的命令，“Я”分队的精英们毫无疑虑地前往了前线。 而她作为战地指挥员，要对任务目标，以及自己的下属负责。 但她无法亲临前线。 ……或许也正是因为这个理由，此时此刻，她的脸色非常沉重。

Instructor ЯSitrep.汇报情况。

PP-2000We have entered the target area. No enemy units detected so far.我们已经进入目标区域，暂时没有发现敌方单位。

ASh-12.7There are bodies of civilians inside the buildings... We are still searching for survivors.建筑内已确认平民尸体……我们在寻找生还者。

RPDDammit... Ash, inspect the bodies. There's something off about the wounds...该死的……阿舍，做一下尸检。 伤口好像不太对劲……

PP-2000That's...!这是……！

Instructor ЯYulia, what's the situation?尤莉亚，什么情况？

PP-2000Ma'am, we've found some familiar-looking injuries on the bodies. ...These executed civilians were gunned down. The enemies were armed with a variety of hot weapons, but we can't determine their numbers.报告教官，我们在尸体上发现了熟悉的伤口。 ……这些被处刑的平民是被枪杀的，敌人拥有不同型号的热武器，数量不明。

ASh-12.7There is visible silicification on the bodies of the deceased. They were all ELID patients.死者体表有明显硅化。 他们都是辐射病患者。

ELID patients...辐射病患者……

Having come to some sort of realization, Instructor Я lowers the altitude of her drone.“Я”教官似乎意识到了什么，操纵着无人机降低了飞行高度。

Instructor ЯThe radiation readings at your location are unusually high. Be careful not to overload your air purifiers.你们所在位置的辐射量异常超标。 注意空气净化荷载量。

PP-2000Radiation levels are much higher than outside the village...辐射值比村外高很多……

Instructor ЯProbably the handiwork of those cultists.有可能是那些邪教徒的杰作。

The instructor deliberates as her gaze remains fixed on the map on the table. Even though they aren't carrying much electronic equipment, she still has a complete bird's-eye view. It's all inside her head.教官沉吟着，目光一刻也不敢离开桌面上的地图。 尽管她们没有携带足够的电子设备，但即使是在纸面上，她也能还原出完整的俯瞰视角。 就在她的脑中。

...A mysterious cult armed with hot weapons, inexplicably high levels of radiation, and massacred civilians.……持有热武器的神秘宗教团伙，莫名升高的辐射浓度，还有被残杀的平民尸体。

Instructor ЯWho could they be...? What's their motive...?她们到底是什么人……究竟有何目的……

Instructor Я flips through the intelligence report by her side. All that's known about them is... white seems to be their color.“Я” 教官顺手拿起了一旁的情报资料。 现下，唯一知道的，她们的特征……就是以“白色”为主色调。

PP-2000Instructor... Something feels really off here.教官……我觉得情况不大对劲。

On the other end of the comms channel, PP-2000 seems just as apprehensive. The trio stop their advance as she voices her concern.而这时候，在通讯的另一头，PP-2000似乎也感觉到了什么。 三人前进的脚步随着她的声音而短暂地停止了下来。

Instructor ЯWhat do you mean?什么意思？

PP-2000The situation is even more complex than what we've learned from the initial recon. Should we still proceed with the original plan?现场比我们侦察的结果要更加复杂。 我们还要按原计划前进吗？

Instructor Я...According to the command handbook, when information is lacking... Advancing recklessly would be a big mistake. Prepare to withdraw.……依照指挥手册，在信息情报不明朗的情况下。 冒进是战场大忌，准备一下，撤出来。

ASh-12.7Hold on...等等……

Instructor ЯWhat's the problem?有什么问题？

ASh-12.7Although... the target area is indeed a lot larger than what was indicated in our intel... We can still carry on.虽然……目标区域的确比已知情报要大很多。 但我们的状态可以继续任务。

PP-2000I'm in tip-top form; I can keep exploring. ...Instructor, if we let them go this time, it will be very difficult to catch them again.我状态绝佳，可以继续探索。 ……教官，这次如果放跑他们，下一次想要再抓住，机会可就渺茫了。

Instructor Я weighs her choices for a little while.“Я”教官思考了一会。

Instructor ЯNo... Under these circumstances, withdrawing is the safest choice.不行…… 现在的情况，撤退才是最稳妥的选择。

ASh-12.7Understood...明白了……

Pzzt...呲呲……

RPD...What was that?……什么声音？

Just then, a strange noise suddenly comes through the comms channel.这时候，通讯的另一侧突然传来了异常的声响。

Instructor Я looks down to check the channel with a frown.“Я”教官皱了皱眉，低头检查了一下通讯频道。

Instructor Я...Comms interference! Get out of there! Right n—……通讯频道被干扰了！ 从那里撤出去！立刻马——

BOOM!!轰！！

Pzzzzt...呲呲——

Instructor ЯYulia!尤莉亚！

Instructor Я's furious cry rings over the deafening boom.“Я” 教官发出的怒吼声将足以刺破耳膜的轰鸣压了下去。

PP-2000We're under attack! Dammit! They're showing themselves! They're coming in... Everywhere I look... There's white!我们被攻击了！ 该死！他们冒出来了！四面八方……到处都是…… 白色！

Beep! Beep! The Geiger counter starts blinking red and shrieking to warn about the lethal amount of radiation.滴，滴。 辐射仪亮起了红灯，对致死量的辐射率开始发出哀鸣。

Instructor ЯCalm down. Follow our tactical plan and set up a defensive position!冷静下来，按照战术摆好防御阵型！

Pzzzt...呲呲……

PP-2000We're surrounded! Their firepower... far surpasses what's indicated in the intel report!我们被包围了！她们的火力——远超情报预料！

RPDThe hell?! Is this really just a cult? I would believe you if you told me they're the Military!靠！这真是宗教团伙？ 你说她们是正规军我也信了！

Instructor Я's heart sinks.“Я” 教官的心猛地一沉。

ASh-12.7Calculating our escape route... ...We should make a break for it to the northwest right now.正在计算突围路线…… ……我们应该立刻从西北方向突围。

Instructor ЯBut that's the direction from which the enemy is attacking you. How did you come to that conclusion?袭击你们的火力源头就在西北角。 你是怎么做出这个判断的？

ASh-12.7I'm banking on the hypothesis that such firepower cannot be sustained perpetually... An opening will probably come up soon.我认为那样的火力不可能无间隙覆盖……现在的话，说不定会有中空期。

Instructor Я...That's way too risky.……风险太大了。

BOOM!轰！

PP-2000We're in defensive formation... Incoming fire from the east, west, and southwest. We're trapped!防守阵型完成……东边，西边，西南边均有火力覆盖。 我们被困在这了！

Instructor Я takes a deep breath as she desperately tries to remain calm.“Я”教官深吸了一口气，力图令自己保持冷静。

Instructor ЯDon't panic. We're the ones going after them here. Prepare to make a stand. They'll call off the attack sooner or later!不要乱了阵脚，我们才是追击的一方。 做好坚守准备，她们迟早会放弃进攻！

RPDBut...但是……

Instructor Я can tell just from the silence of her subordinates just how dire the situation is.即便队员们不说，“Я”教官也从现场的回音中，感受到了状况的严峻。

Think... She's got to think. There must be something...思考……她必须思考，有什么能够……

Beep...滴……

Bang!呯！

PP-2000W... what?什……什么？

Instructor ЯWhat was that? Report!那是什么声音？立刻汇报！

RPDU-um... Fire is being exchanged in the northwest. There's now an opening in the enemy's attack!报，报告……西北方向出现火光。 敌方火力出现空白区域！

ASh-12.7A signal beacon! We've got friendlies!信号灯！是我们的人！

Pzzt... A burst of static suddenly comes through the comms channel.呲—— 通讯信号内忽然传出一阵杂音。

???Keep calm. Reinforcements are in position. Keep fighting, don't lose your cool.冷静下来，支援已经就位。 继续战斗，不要自乱阵脚。

Instructor Я...?!……！？

An unfamiliar but assertive female voice suddenly interrupts the conversation. Following her appearance, the exchange of fire grows even more intense on the frontlines.响起的通讯中，一个不容置疑的陌生女声突然插入了几人的对话。 伴随着她的出现，前线的战火声也变得愈加混乱。

Instructor ЯWho are you?你是——？

AngeliaI am Angelia, commander of the "Wolf Pack". I'm now taking command over here, Team Я. Execute defensive formation 13 and stand your ground. Reinforcements will get to you very soon.我是“狼群小队”的指挥官安洁莉娅。 现在这里的指挥权由我接手——“Я”分队。 启动13号防御阵型，坚守阵地，援兵很快就到。

ASh-12.7...Roger that.……了解。

5-α6 Chaconne 5-α6 恰空舞曲

AngeliaYou're the instructor of Team Я, yeah? I'll be taking command of the team from now on.你就是“Я”分队的教官吧？ 现在这里由我接手指挥。

Instructor ЯPlease show your authorizations...请出示权限……

AngeliaThis is an order. You committed a grave error as the field commander.这是命令。 你已经失职了。

5-α7 Winter 5-α7 冬

On a special operation in the Tserkov Special Administrative Region, Neo-Soviet Union.新苏联 特沙科夫特区 一次特别行动

Bang, bang! Thunk!呯呯！ 咚！

...So this is the fabled "Wolf Pack". Instructor Я watches them on her monitor with raised eyebrows. Their movements are orderly, efficient, and practically flawless.……这就是，闻名遐迩的“狼群”小队。 “Я” 教官挑动着眉，凝视着眼前的屏幕。 井然有序，动作迅速，行动几乎挑不出半点瑕疵。

In just a matter of minutes, they have easily captured the area where Team Я have not been able to penetrate. They're almost like...短短的十几分钟，侦测信号所不能触及的空白区域便被她们轻而易举地一一攻克。 简直，就像是……

The entrance flap of the command tent is suddenly pulled open. Instructor Я immediately reaches for her gun on the table out of reflex.指挥帐篷的门帘突然被人掀起，“Я”教官下意识地抓住桌上的手枪。

Instructor Я...Captain Angelia.……安洁莉娅上尉。

Several Dolls follow Angelia into the tent.随着安洁莉娅的脚步一起，从她的身后，几名人形也跟着走了进来。

The two Dolls in the lead are carrying the injured members of Team Я. They deposit them safely on the ground inside the tent.领头的是两名白色的人形，她们搀扶着身负重伤的“Я”分队成员，将她们放置到了帐篷内的空地上。

PP-2000Sorry... Instructor...对不起……教官……

RPDUgh...呃……

AngeliaContact HQ to call in a chopper. Tell them to transport these injured Dolls back to base and send someone to take over...联络总部，我们需要一架直升机。 把这些受伤人形都送回去，另外，需要有人接手现场……

Angelia...You look like you've got something to say?……你好像有话想说？

Instructor ЯI would like to know what grave error I have committed as a field commander.我想知道，我的指挥究竟哪里失职？

AngeliaYou still haven't figured that out?你还没有意识到吗？

Instructor Я...Please enlighten me.……我想要请教。

Instructor ЯI have been giving orders according to the training that I've received. I gave the order to withdraw as instructed by the command handbook. Judging by the result, it was a sound decision.我的指挥完全遵从了我所接受的训练。 根据指导手册，我下达的撤退命令，从结果看，也是正确的。

AngeliaWhy didn't you go with your subordinates' recommendation?你为什么不相信她们的突围方针？

Instructor Я...The risks were too great.……风险太大。

AngeliaThere, that's your grave error. Your judgment is too by-the-book.这就是你的失职。 判断过于依赖教条。

After making sure that the injured Dolls are alright, Angelia nods and turns to leave. Before she exits the tent, she pauses and looks back at Instructor Я.在确认伤员情况已无大碍之后，安洁莉娅点了点头，转身准备离开。 在走到出口的门帘前时，她顿了一下，又回头看向了“Я”教官。

AngeliaAll real "commanders" are forged in the fire of the frontlines. Tactical handbooks are only just the summation of past experiences.真正的“指挥官”无一不是从前线磨砺而来。 战术教材，永远只能总结过去的经验。

She glances at the three battered Dolls.她看了看伤痕累累的三人。

AngeliaIf you keep doing what you did, you're gonna lose a lot more teammates.再来几次，你会害死更多队友。

Instructor Я clenches her fists. She watches as Angelia's figure disappears from view, her retorts stuck in the back of her throat.“Я” 教官握紧了拳头。 她看着安洁莉娅的背影，反驳的话语卡在喉咙里，最后什么也没说出来。

Rumble... The helicopter carrying the injured members of Team Я slowly takes off. Instructor Я remains rooted to the spot at the extraction point, watching in silence as the helicopter slowly recedes into the distance.轰隆隆…… 缓缓升起的军用直升机载走了“Я”分队的伤员。 “Я”教官站在回收点下，仰着头看着逐渐远去的飞机，依然在沉默之中。

???Don't let that get to you.别太在意了。

Just then, a voice suddenly speaks up beside her.这时候，一个声音忽然出现在了她的身边。

Instructor Я...AK-12.……AK12。

AK-12My boss has never been one to mince words. I hope you don't take offense. She's always like that, always demanding too much from everyone, human or Doll.我家老板说话很直，希望你别见怪，她总是这样，无论对人类还是人形都要求太高。

Instructor Я...She was right. The others can't be blamed for not expecting that to happen. But I have no such excuse. It was indeed a grave error on my part as the commander.……她说得没错。 “没有预料到”这样的借口，对她们适用。 但不应当对我适用，这是指挥官的失职。

AK-12There's no harm in accumulating more experience on the frontlines for Dolls like you.补充点前线经验，对你这样的人形没坏处。

The pale Doll gave Instructor Я a pat on the shoulder.白皙的人形笑着拍了拍“Я”教官的肩膀。

AK-12I look forward to seeing you again. Best of luck.希望下次见面，合作愉快。

With that, AK-12 turns and walks away. Instructor Я remains where she is, mulling over AK-12's words.说着，AK12转过身，离开了。 而“Я”教官依然站在原地，不住地沉吟。

Instructor ЯExperience on the frontlines...前线的经验……

LyudmilaSome day, I will fight on the frontlines...总有一天，我会踏上前线……

Silence fills the entire toilet cubicle.洗手间内只有一片沉默。

ErmaThen... I'll do as you say.那……我听你的。

LyudmilaRight.嗯。

The two Dolls exchange a long look and nod at each other.两人彼此对视了一眼，互相点了点头。

Then Erma follows Lyudmila's instruction and climbs up with great agility. Her movements are so neat that she disappears in the blink of an eye, leaving only Lyudmila in the narrow space... and a sudden burst of commotion outside the door.随即，艾尔玛便利落地按照柳德米拉的指示向上方爬了起来。 她的动作相当利落，没一会，狭窄的空间里就只剩下柳德米拉……和门外猛烈的喧哗声。

Lyudmila...I suddenly remember something, Instructor Я. You once asked me, "Lyudmila, why are you so obsessed with fighting on the frontlines?"……我想起一件事，“Я” 教官。 你曾经问过我一个问题——“柳德米拉，你执着于前线究竟是为了什么？”

LyudmilaYou may not remember, but I do—very clearly. "All real 'commanders' are forged in the fire of the frontlines."也许你不记得，但我却记得很清楚。 “真正的‘指挥官’无一不是从前线磨砺而来。”

LyudmilaI have always remembered—always. And now... I am on the frontlines.我一直都记得，一直。 而这次……我就在前线。

After making sure that Erma has made a smooth exit, Lyudmila takes a deep breath.在确定艾尔玛顺利离开之后，柳德米拉深吸了一口气。

Then she walks up to the cubicle door and opens it with great determination.随即，她走向洗手间的门，毅然决然地推门而出。

She runs straight into a burly man the moment she is out.刚一出门，柳德米拉便迎面撞上了一位壮汉。

He is aiming an M500 right at Lyudmila's face. Lyudmila recognizes this man. He was in the first-class carriage. The man gazes at her with narrowed eyes.他的手里拿着一把枪，型号是M500，枪口正对着柳德米拉的脸。 柳德米拉认识这个男人，他曾出现在一等车厢。 男人看着柳德米拉，眯了眯眼。

Danil...T-Doll? You're the retired military instructor in the first-class carriage.……战术人形？ 你是一等车厢的退役教官。

Danil watches Lyudmila with distrust, his grip tightening on his gun.丹尼尔警惕地看着柳德米拉，手里握着的枪的力道都变得更紧张了些。

Danil...You're alone? There's no one else with you?……就你一个？没有其他同伴了？

Lyudmila...It would seem so.……看起来的确如此。

The man has been checking their surroundings even as he questions her. Throughout the conversation, he has been keeping a safe distance away from Lyudmila, and his gun has never once wavered.尽管看起来像是在询问，但实际上，男人在问出口前就在自行检查了。 而在这个过程里，他始终与柳德米拉保持着距离，同时枪口也半点不敢怠慢。

DanilYou must be armed, aren't you? Hand over your weapon. Don't play any tricks.你身上有武器吧？交出来，别耍花样。

Keeping her hands completely visible, Lyudmila removes her pistol from its holster and hands it over to Danil with the muzzle pointed at herself.在保证自己的手始终在对方的视线内的前提下，柳德米拉摸出了自己枪套内的手枪，反着递向了丹尼尔。

DanilPut it on the floor and kick it over to me.丢到地上，用脚踢过来。

Lyudmila...Alright.……好。

Clack.啪。

Danil promptly picks up the pistol and rises back to his full height in the same second, his gun still trained on Lyudmila.丹尼尔迅速将手枪捡起，随即又起身用枪指着柳德米拉，整个过程不到一秒。

His stows the confiscated pistol away, then tells Lyudmila to put her arms in the air and searches her. After a very thorough pat-down, he is finally satisfied.他把手枪塞进腰里，再次警告柳德米拉举起双手，并再次搜身。 一番谨慎地检查之后，他才好像终于放下了心。

DanilMove. We're leaving the restroom. You go first.走，我们出去——你走前面。

Lyudmila walks out of the restroom. These people have seized complete control over the dining carriage. Several humans held at gunpoint are kneeling on the floor to one side with their hands in the air.柳德米拉走出了洗手间。 眼前的餐车已经完全被这群人控制了。 一边是人类，他们在枪口的威胁下，跪在地上，高举双手，保证自己的无害。

The hostages... seem to be safe for the moment. Everyone is accounted for. A total of six vory are guarding them, two of which are armed.人质……看起来没有出现伤亡，人数也对得上——负责看守的律贼总共是六人，其中两人持有武器。

On the other side... ...are the Dolls with their comms and movement modules removed. They are also being held hostage by a few retired Military droids. Four of them, all obsolete and decommissioned. Looks like they got sold on the black market... In principle, their fire control core should have been removed, and yet they are all armed, so better not count on that.至于另一边…… 则是卸除通讯模块和行动模块的人形，被一些退伍的军方人形看押着。 总共是四台，都是老早被淘汰的旧型号，看样子有人把它们卖了出来……理论上他们的火控已经被拆除了，但每一台都持有武器，还是做最坏打算为妙。

Lyudmila's gaze falls on an old woman. She has seen her in the first-class carriage earlier. Right now, she is sitting in the most prominent seat, surrounded by the other gangsters. Lyudmila's eyes narrow. ...This is Baba Lyuba.收回视线，柳德米拉的目光又落在一位老妇人身上。 她曾在一等车厢里见过这个老妇人，而此时，她受着剩下的律贼们的簇拥，坐在最显眼的位置上。 柳德米拉眯了眯眼…… ……她就是柳芭老妈。

DanilDon't get any silly ideas, Madam Instructor. It's best to be cooperative. We're just here to procure some goods. Surely you won't do anything stupid.别耍小心思，教官小姐。 最好配合一点，我们只是购买一点理财产品，相信你不会做蠢事的。

Danil pushes Lyudmila over to the tied up Dolls by the window and forces her to sit down.柳德米拉被丹尼尔强迫着送到了靠窗的捆绑人形的位置，迫使着坐到了座位上。

She turns her head to look at a young man standing on the other side. Unlike his gleeful companions, he has a rather dour look on his face.她偏过头，看向了另一边站立着的青年——后者此时的脸色十分难看，似乎不像他的同伴那么喜悦。

Nikolai scoffs at Danil's cautious movements.看着丹尼尔小心谨慎的样子，尼古拉不禁发出了嗤笑的声音。

NikolaiDo you have to be so careful handling a woman? You make a show of every little thing you do, don't you?押一个女人还需要这么小心？ 一分的功劳你也能做成十分啊。

DanilA gentle reminder that this is a T-Doll.友情提示，她可是战术人形。

Danil...Cuff her. I'm reporting this to Baba.……把她拷上，我去向老妈汇报。

Nikolai...You giving me orders now?……你没资格命令我。

Danil...Could you please help me cuff her, Mr. Nikolai?……请尼古拉先生帮我拷上。

Nikolai takes the handcuffs reluctantly. He glowers bitterly at Danil's back as he walks towards Baba Lyuba.尼古拉不情不愿地接过了手铐。 看着丹尼尔背身向柳芭老妈的方向走去，尼古拉的表情十分难看。

Nikolai...How dare he talk to me like that. He's treating me as if I were a Doll...……他居然敢这么跟我说话。 对我居然跟对一个人形的态度差不多……

Nikolai now redirects his anger at Lyudmila.尼古拉将火气转到了面前的柳德米拉身上。

NikolaiT-Doll... What's the big deal? You don't even have fully bionic skin.战术人形……也没什么特别的。 你甚至没有完整的仿生皮肤。

Lyudmila's intense gaze only further fuels Nikolai's irrational rage.看着柳德米拉刺眼的目光，尼古拉蔓延到她身上的无名火烧得更旺盛了。

Nikolai—Stay still!——别乱动！

With a flick of his wrist, Nikolai slaps the metal cuffs around Lyudmila's wrists roughly and is just about to engage the locking mechanism...尼古拉甩手，粗暴地将金属镣铐拷在了柳德米拉的手腕上，并准备上锁……

Lyudmila—You know, you should really listen to him.——其实，你应该听他的。

Nikolai...?!……！？

THUNK!咚！

NikolaiWha—Huh?!什——呃！？

Baba Lyuba...!……！

It all happens in the blink of an eye.一切只发生在眨眼的瞬间。

Bam!嘭！

With a thrust of her arms, Lyudmila draws blood by bashing her metal cuffs into the back of Nikolai's head.柳德米拉猛一抬手，戴在手上的金属镣铐便将尼古拉的脑袋砸出一朵血花。

As Nikolai cries out in pain, she wraps the chain tightly around his neck and starts strangling him.在尼古拉痛呼的刹那，柳德米拉便用锁链紧紧绞住了他的脖颈。

NikolaiGuh... argh...呃……啊……

His bulging veins form a web on his neck. His face turns an angry red; even his eyes become bloodshot.他粗壮的血管瞬间突起，在脖颈上凸出了一片蛛网。 涨红的脸，连瞳孔都充满了血丝。

The vory have all raised their weapons, but no one dares pull the trigger—because Lyudmila is completely obscured behind Nikolai. Baba Lyuba's features darken as she takes in the scene. Gazing at Lyudmila, she speaks in a sinister whisper.律贼们已经高举起了手中的枪，但没有一个人敢扣下扳机——因为柳德米拉完全将自己藏在了尼古拉的身后。 注意到这场闹剧，柳芭老妈脸上的表情非常的难看。 她看着柳德米拉，声音低低地，带着狠毒的阴沉。

Baba Lyuba...Let him go.……放开他。

NikolaiD... don't shoot...别……别开枪……

Nikolai squeezes out these words with great difficulty as he looks fearfully at his companions.尼古拉涨红了脸，惊恐地看着自己的同伴们，艰难地喊叫着。

Baba Lyuba watches as Lyudmila slowly backs away using Nikolai as a shield. Her eyes gleam ruthlessly.柳芭老妈眯着眼，看着借着尼古拉的掩护缓慢后撤的柳德米拉，眼中闪过一丝狠毒。

She wipes away an non-existent tear from her right eye with a finger.她用食指轻轻擦过了右眼底下的皮肤，擦拭着根本不存在的眼泪。

Baba Lyuba—Fire.——开枪。

The old woman's soft command is completely drowned out by Nikolai's pitiful howls. However...老妇人的声音很轻，轻到几乎完全被尼古拉的哀嚎盖过。 但……

Bang, bang, bang!!!呯呯呯——！！！

Rat-tat-tat!!! All the vory pull their triggers on Baba Lyuba's command.噗噗噗——！！！ 所有的律贼都在这一声令下，扣动了扳机。

NikolaiArgh!啊——！

Just then, Lyudmila takes off her handcuffs and shoves Nikolai away.而就在同时，柳德米拉松开镣铐，一把将手里的尼古拉推了出去。

Bang, bang, bang! The hail of bullets hit the liquor cabinet, the walls, and the ceiling. Nikolai rolls quickly across the floor and somehow remains completely unscathed.呯呯呯——！ 倾泻的子弹敲击在酒柜，墙壁和天花板上，尼古拉迅速翻身在地上打了几个滚，竟一枪也没有打中他。

Without making any superfluous movements, Lyudmila dashes towards the carriage past the bar counter.柳德米拉没有多余的动作，迅速朝着吧台方向的车厢奔去。

Baba LyubaAfter her!追！

Baba Lyuba gives the order through gritted teeth as she glares at Lyudmila's receding figure.柳芭老妈的视线直直地瞪着柳德米拉的背影，最后的一声喊叫咬牙切齿。

5-α8 Stradivarius' Magic 5-α8 斯特拉迪瓦里魔法

The middle part of the carriage is patrolled by numerous powerful enemies, making it hard to get through. It may be a better idea to target the security guard on the side instead.车厢的中部有大量强力敌人巡逻很难直接突破，从边上的保镖入手或许更合适。

16 Concerto Grosso in A minor 16 A大调大协奏曲

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢

Lyudmila and Erma are walking at the end of a queue... They both seem to have something on their mind.柳德米拉和艾尔玛行走在队列的末尾……两人似乎各有心事。

After a brief moment of silence, Lyudmila stops and leans heavily against the wall.沉默了半晌，柳德米拉停了一下，将有些沉重的身体倚靠在墙壁上。

Erma...You must've taken quite a hit when the train crashed...……还是列车撞那一下伤得太重……

Erma offers Lyudmila a hand, but instead of taking it, Lyudmila just stands up straight again after leaning against the wall for a while.艾尔玛伸出手，柳德米拉没有握，而是靠了一下墙之后又站了起来。

LyudmilaI'm alright. Let's go.没事，走吧。

Erma props Lyudmila up with her own shoulders and refuses to let go.艾尔玛不由分说地上前撑住她的胳膊。

Erma...Let's go.……走吧。

Lyudmila lets out a sigh.柳德米拉忍不住叹了口气。

Lyudmila...Your neural cloud could really use some repair. Don't ever try to activate the Summer Garden again if there's no one else with you.……你的心智，确实应该去修理一下了。 以后没有别人在身边的话，不要试图唤醒“夏园”。

ErmaI've given you the key...我给你钥匙了……

It takes Lyudmila a moment to understand what Erma is implying.柳德米拉愣了一下，才理解了艾尔玛的意思。

Lyudmila...We probably won't meet again once this operation is over.……执行完这次任务，我们应该不会再见面了。

Erma is just about to protest when...艾尔玛警觉起来，正打算提出抗议……

Lyudmila grabs her by the shoulder and puts a finger against her lips as a warning to stay quiet.柳德米拉一把抓住她的胳膊，将手指竖在嘴边，示意嘘声。

Erma looks around and only then does she realize something doesn't seem right... ...It's too quiet.艾尔玛环顾四周，这才发现出不对劲来…… ……太安静了。

ErmaWhere are the others...?其他人……？

She turns around to look toward the front of the carriage— The line of passengers have left them behind and are nowhere to be found. Not a single person is around, and not a single sound can be heard... How is this possible?她扭头看向了车厢的前面—— 行进的人群不知什么时候把她们甩在了后面，此时已经看不见也听不到半点踪影。 一个影子也见不到，一丁点声音也听不见……怎么可能呢？

Erma—!!——！！

The carriage in front of their eyes is completely torn apart the next second.眼前的车厢眨眼间变得支离破碎。

The second carriage that suffered a massive crash earlier comes into view once again.取而代之的，早前冲击中伤痕累累的2号车厢又一次出现在了两人眼前。

ErmaLyudmila!柳德米拉！

Erma calls out softly. Her voice echoes around the empty carriage.艾尔玛轻轻地呼唤着，空荡的车厢内，充斥着她自己的回声。

LyudmilaHere...这里……

Thank goodness she's still here. The sounds of chatter and rainfall have all been replaced by a deafening silence.还好，还好她在。 喧闹的人声，淅沥的雨声，这一刻都归入了沉静的空气之中。

Lyudmila...We got dragged into Level II. A neural space modeled exactly like the "Future".……我们被拉进二级平层了。 跟“未来号”一模一样的心智平层。

Erma...I didn't notice at all.……完全没注意到。

Erma gulps nervously. Even the Colt Express didn't make her so uncomfortable.艾尔玛咽了咽口水。 即便是之前的柯尔特快车，也不曾像这般令她感到不适。

Tap.哒。

Just as the two Dolls are on high alert, footsteps interrupt their rapid breathing.就在两人高度戒备的时刻，空旷中响起的脚步声，插入了两人呼吸的节奏。

Whoosh— At almost the same moment, Erma darts forward to position herself in front of Lyudmila.唰—— 几乎是同时，艾尔玛闪身挡在了柳德米拉的前面。

But Lyudmila takes a more direct approach.而柳德米拉的反应更加直接。

Bang! She raises her weapon and fires at the end of the carriage without the slightest hesitation.呯！ 她抬起手中的武器，毫不迟疑地对着车厢的尽头扣下了扳机。

A graceful but sinister woman saunters towards them.在两人肉眼可及的地方，一个曼妙的女人，带着刺骨的寒意，款款而至。

Lyudmila's bullet is frozen in the air. She can see it spinning in slow motion along its trajectory. Her target—the woman that has appeared out of nowhere—simply raises a hand.柳德米拉的子弹凝固在空中。 她甚至可以看着那发从自己枪膛射出的子弹在空中缓慢回旋的样子。 而她的目标，那个不知何时，用什么方式降临此地的女人，只是轻轻抬了抬手。

Clack...啪嚓……

Lyudmila...Paradeus.……帕拉蒂斯。

Her low breathing sounds unusually loud in the empty carriage. It's as if she is breathing right into Lyudmila's ear.低沉的呼吸声被空荡荡的车厢放大了无数倍。 仿佛近在耳边。

ErmaWho... are you?你是……什么人？

Erma keeps her gaze firmly fixed on the woman. She can sense instinctively a malevolence that far surpasses the Vorys emanating from the woman. —She has never seen her before, but she knows with certainty that no matter what, she must not let her anywhere near Lyudmila.艾尔玛紧紧地盯着那个女人。 她本能地感受到，对方身上散发出的那股远超律贼的恶意。 ——这是她第一次见到这个人，但她非常清楚，她无论如何，绝不能让她接近柳德米拉。

Crash!啪嚓——！

With a white flash, two spherical objects smash a carriage window. The white flowers on the window sill flutter softly in the wind.白影一闪，两个球状的物体撞碎了车窗，摇曳的风将窗台上的白花吹拂着摆动起来。

The two spheres hovering in the air are aiming straight at Erma as they glow with a blue light—在碎玻璃的反射中，悬在空中的两颗球体凝聚着蓝色的光芒，直直地对准了艾尔玛——

No. Erma studies the two ominous hovering cannons. The woman doesn't seem to even register her presence... Their target is Lyudmila!不对。 艾尔玛凝视着那两台散发着危险的浮游炮。 仿佛那女人的眼中，自己根本就不存在……它们的目标是柳德米拉！

Pzzzzt!! The moment Erma comes to this realization, blue light beams slice through the air, emitting temperatures so high that they create visual distortions.呲——！！ 在艾尔玛意识到这一事实的刹那，蔚蓝的光束射线瞬间迸发出连视觉上的空间都为之扭曲的高温！

LyudmilaErma! Move!艾尔玛！闪开！

ErmaNo!不！

Erma's body is trembling. But she refuses to budge... She plants herself firmly in front of Lyudmila... And braces for the laser beams to hit herself...艾尔玛的身体颤抖着。 但她没有挪动…… 依然紧紧地挡在面前…… 任凭那些射线穿透自己……

Whum...嗡——

The two cannons are still hovering mid-air.两颗浮游炮依然在空中漂浮。

The ultra-hot beams simply give a brilliant flash and do not even penetrate Erma's clothes. If not for the smashed window, it could have all been just a dream.激热的光束仅仅发出了一道璀璨的光，却连艾尔玛的衣角都没能擦破。 除了窗户上迸发的白色碎裂花纹外，刚才发生的一切就像梦境一样。

Erma...Electronic attack—neutralized. Loading—……电子攻击——无效化处理。 模块加载——

Erma takes a deep breath and glares at the woman standing before her.艾尔玛深呼吸了一口气，瞪着眼前的女人。

???Say, boss, it's buy-one-get-one-free this time. Happy?我说老板，这次买一送一。 你还满意吗？

A familiar voice jabs at Erma's ears like a sharp needle.一道熟悉的声音就像一根尖锐的银针，扎进了艾尔玛的耳朵里。

ErmaYou...你……

Tap, tap, tap. Footsteps can be heard once again. The pupils of Erma's eyes, which are locked on the woman in white, contract sharply. What she is seeing is far more shocking than this strange woman.哒哒哒。 脚步声再一次响起，艾尔玛定格在白色女人身上的目光骤然收缩。 眼前的光景，远比起这个陌生的女人为她带来的震撼还要更胜千筹。

Erma...Maggie?……玛姬？

Erma's breath grows increasingly short. Her chest rises and falls rapidly. Her nerves seem to have snapped the moment Maggie appeared.艾尔玛的呼吸变得急促了起来。 她的胸腔剧烈地起伏着，脑中的某根象征理智的线，在玛姬现身的瞬间便彻底断裂。

MaggieI suppose... this spells the end of the show, Erma.意思就是……演出到此结束了，艾尔玛。

Strolling out from the white and blue gleam, Maggie walks up to the woman with a taunting smirk.由一片白蓝相间的光子闪烁中踱步走出，玛姬背靠着车门，站在那个女人身后，嘴唇戏谑地扬起。

LyudmilaErma... Stay calm.艾尔玛……冷静。

Lyudmila tries to think of something to say... But Erma has already let out a furious shout.柳德米拉张了张嘴，像是想说什么。 但艾尔玛激烈的声音已经嘶吼了出去。

ErmaYou liar!你这个骗子！

Maggie bows and tips her hat.玛姬低垂着眼，压着自己的帽子。

MaggieOh my, that's generous praise for a con artist.哎呀，这真是对欺诈师的褒奖。

Erma...You played me like a fiddle... You must find this very funny.……被你耍得团团转的我…… 就像个笑话一样。

MaggieOh yes. The way you're standing so protectively in front of Lyudmila is very amusing.的确。 你现在挡在柳德米拉身前的模样，确实就很可笑。

MaggieDon't you remember the question I asked before? Which of you is the agent on a secret mission?忘了我曾经问过的那个问题吗？ 你们二位，谁是那个秘密执勤的特工？

ErmaSo it's you... I knew she's a Soviet agent...原来是你…… 我早就知道她是苏联特工……

MaggieOh? Oh right, you're a little girl with amnesia. There's something I've been meaning to tell you—哦？我忘了你是个失忆的小姑娘。 有个信息忘记告诉你了——

MaggieThe Doctor Hume that you've been trying to find is dead. He died at the hands of a Soviet agent long ago.你一直在找的休谟博士，早就死了，而且就是死于苏联特工之手。

MaggieWho knows? This Instructor Lyudmila behind you could be the very same agent.对了，说不定就是你身后的这位柳德米拉教官动的手呢。

The corners of Erma's lips twitch as she looks back at Lyudmila.艾尔玛的嘴角抽搐，下意识地回头看向柳德米拉。

Behind her, Lyudmila looks down and gives no response. She neither admits or denies the allegation.而在她身后，柳德米拉低垂着头，并没有给出任何反应。 她既没有承认，也没有否认。

Erma...Lyudmila?……柳德米拉？

???...Humph.……哼。

Maggie...What is it, Miss Tareus?……怎么了，塔亚柔斯小姐？

The Nyto named Tareus gazes at the two silent Dolls and slowly speaks up.被称作塔亚柔斯的涅托抬眼看着陷入沉默中的二人，缓缓开口。

Tareus...You take care of the short one. I want both neural clouds.……你负责矮个子，心智，两个都要。

She says matter-of-factly with narrowed eyes.她眯着眼，声音不容置疑地从唇边逸出。

TareusShe's in the way.碍事。

Maggie straightens up languidly and shrugs.玛姬晃晃悠悠地站直了身体，随即摊了摊手。

MaggieAs you wish.一切如您所愿。

Tareus raises her hand wordlessly.塔亚柔斯无言地抬起了手。

The two hovering cannons immediately stop drifting aimlessly and start charging.一瞬间，空中的两颗浮游炮立刻脱离了漂浮不定的模样，再次进入蓄能状态。

Whoosh—唰——

Just then, Lyudmila suddenly lifts her eyes from behind Erma.而就在这一刻，艾尔玛身后的柳德米拉突然抬起了头。

Tareus...Hm?……嗯？

Tareus pauses for a second.塔亚柔斯停顿了一瞬。

Lyudmila's hand is resting on her wrist watch.只见柳德米拉的手按在腕表上。

Snap. Meanwhile, Maggie snaps her fingers from behind Tareus.啪。 与此同时，她身后的玛姬打了个清脆的响指。

Tareus?？

BOOM! A laser beam that is even more powerful than the ones before shoots out from Tareus' head, melting everything in its way.轰！ 威力甚至远胜刚才的光束瞬间自塔亚柔斯头顶射出，将路径上经过的所有物品尽数融化。

—However, its chief target has already disappeared before the attack even started.——然而，最重要的目标，却在攻击之前，就已经失去了踪影。

Erma, Lyudmila... and even Maggie behind her. They have all vanished without a trace before she attacked.艾尔玛，柳德米拉……甚至是她身后的玛姬。 全在她攻击的那一刻，消失地无影无踪。

Beep beep— Signal search—Lyudmila. Searching...滴滴—— 信号检索：柳德米拉，信号检索中……

...Search failed.……检索失败。

Signal search—Maggie Ponzi. Searching...信号检索：玛姬•庞兹，信号检索中……

...Search failed.……检索失败。

TareusDammit...混账……

Instructor Я...So this is the judgment call you made "on the frontlines"?……这就是“身在前线”的你做出的判断吗？

LyudmilaYes, I believe now is the perfect time to execute Plan B.是，我认为现在是执行第二方案的最佳时机。

Instructor ЯBut you do not have the full picture. I'm afraid I do not agree. There has never been a precedent. Please stop this right now.但你所知信息并不全面，我无法认同你的判断。 这种做法史无前例，我希望你立刻停止。

LyudmilaNeed I remind you that I'm the one on the frontlines? All strategies have no precedent before someone comes up with them. Surely you must've anticipated this back when you selected me for this mission.我需要提醒你的是，我站在前线。 所有战术在被开发出来以前，都是史无前例。 你当初选择我执行这个任务，不也考虑到了这种可能吗。

Instructor Я...How certain are you that this will work?……你判断成功率有多少？

Lyudmila100% certain.百分之百。

17 Brahms Intermezzi 17 勃拉姆斯间奏曲

Special Operations Conference Room, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Moscow, Neo-Soviet Union. A week before Operation Eclipse.新苏联 莫斯科 内务部大厦 特别行动会议室 “日蚀”行动 一周前。

In the dimly-lit room, the projector's light is the only source of illumination. Standing on the podium with her hands clasped behind her back, Instructor Я sweeps her fierce gaze over everyone sitting below. Team Я is comprised of 24 members—six Tactical Dolls and 18 Statesec combat personnel. These are the ones who will be undertaking Operation Eclipse.昏暗房间中，仅有投影的光作为照明光源。“Я”教官负手站立在讲台上，目光如炬地扫视了一圈台下坐着的人。 ……“Я”分队所属战术人形6名，新苏维埃联盟安全局直属作战人员18名，共计24名。 眼前这些，便是将要执行“日蚀”计划的人员。

Instructor ЯI won't repeat myself.我只说一次。

Instructor Я turns to the side and switches to the next slide using a remote control.“Я”教官侧过身，用遥控切换了投影屏幕上的画面。

Instructor ЯThis operation will be carried out on two fronts. The first is the official front. Route A on this front is codenamed "Morning Star"... Our agents will take off in a military helicopter at Smolensk Air Base and make for Gatow Airport in Berlin.行动共有两种路线。 第一种：官方路径。 路线A：代号“晨星”。 将从斯摩棱斯克空军基地乘坐军用直升机起飞，目标为柏林的加图军用机场。

She observes the present humans' expressions. They are simply listening intently.她观察着座位上那些人类的表情。 他们只是仔细地听着。

Instructor Я...Upon arrival, they will head to the target destination by military truck.……抵达之后，将转乘军用卡车前往目标地点。

Click. Another slide appears on the projector screen.唰。 屏幕上的画面又换了一张。

Instructor ЯRoute B—codename "Evening Star". This team will depart from Voronezh Air Base with land-based armored escorts. They will rendezvous with the other side upon arriving in the Berlin suburbs.路线B：代号“暮星”。 从沃罗涅日军事基地出发——我们会派遣地面装甲部队进行护送。 在抵达柏林市郊之后，再由对方进行接应。

The humans' faces still betray no emotion.他们的表情依然没有任何变化。

But someone raises a hand.但有人举起了手。

Soldier AWe will be undertaking our missions on an official basis following both of these routes?这两条路线，我们都将以官方身份出发，对吗？

Instructor ЯCorrect.是的。

Soldier ASo can I assume the true objective of these two teams are to be bait and decoys to draw attention away from something else?也就是说，这两条路线的实际任务，是作为“诱饵”和“疑兵”吸引注意吗？

Instructor Я...That's not exactly the case.……并不全是。

Instructor Я turns and points at the screen.“Я”教官转身指向了屏幕。

Instructor ЯThe second front is the civilian front. Route C—codename "Noonday Star". As you have correctly surmised, unlike the aforementioned routes, Team Noonday Star will be operating undercover. They will be moving via civilian channels.第二种：民间路径。 路线C：代号“正午星”。 和你们推测的一样，与前两条不同，正午星小队将隐蔽身份。 通过民用渠道进行转移。

Instructor ЯThis operation is classified as top secret. But even so, we cannot guarantee the security of our intelligence network, which is why both fronts are very much real.本次行动拥有最高保密等级。 但即便如此，我们仍然无法确保信息的安全——因此，每条路线都是真正的路线。

Soldier B...The official front will definitely be met with the toughest obstacles.……官方路线，肯定会受到最大力度的阻碍。

Instructor ЯIndeed. Our enemies will be hidden while we will be fully exposed.不错，我们的敌人是未知的，但我们自己几乎是透明的。

The soldiers fall silent beneath the podium. Despite Instructor Я's assurance that every route is of utmost importance, the seasoned veterans all know full well... that under such severe conditions, the ones operating in an official capacity will no doubt draw the strongest fire. In other words, they will be the likeliest to fail and die.底下瞬间陷入了一阵沉默之中。 尽管“Я”教官保证了每一条路线的重要性，但作为身经百战的精英，他们当然清楚……在如此严峻的条件下，以官方身份出发，无疑将吸引最大的火力。 换言之，失败率和死亡率也是最高的。

ZoyaLet us handle the Morning Star route. Noonday Star shouldn't have a problem on the Intercontinental Railway.让我们去执行“晨星”路线吧。 “正午星”路线从洲际铁路入手应该会非常稳妥。

Instructor ЯI will be the one to decide who does what.由谁执行哪一条路线，我会做出最适合的安排。

ZoyaBut our Doll squad has the highest combat capability. So we should be given the most dangerous task.但我们人形小队的作战能力最高。 理应适配最危险的任务。

Soldier A...No, that's all the more reason you should go the clandestine route! We must save the best steel for making the blade. Or are you pitying us?!……那才应该让你们去执行隐蔽路线！ 好钢要用在刀刃上，还是说，你是在可怜我们？

Zoya—! I didn't mean it like that!——！ 我没有这个意思！

Instructor ЯQuiet!安静！

Instructor Я reprimands the restless crowd.“Я”教官喝斥了躁动起来的众人。

Instructor Я...I will handle the job assignment. You just have to worry about the execution.……人员的安排由我决定。 你们只需要考虑执行就够了。

ZoyaYes, ma'am...是……

Soldier B...You're the one in charge, and we defer to your judgment. But no matter what your decision is, please make it quickly. We need time to prepare.……您是负责人，我们听从您的安排。 但不论如何，请务必尽快决定。 我们需要时间做好任务准备。

Instructor Я nods lightly.“Я”教官轻轻点了点头。

Instructor ЯThat's it for today. Dismissed. There's no need to conduct your daily training from now on. Get ready to deploy at any time.今天先到这里，可以散会了。 回去之后不需要进行日常训练，随时做好出击准备。

AllYes, ma'am.是。

At night, in a Doll's dormitory.夜晚 人形宿舍内。

Other than a simple bed, a desk and whiteboard take up almost all the free space in the room. Intelligence reports and a myriad of tactical handbooks are scattered all over the place. Instructor Я has been standing in front of the map hanging on her wall for over three hours.除了简陋的床铺以外，房间内几乎所有的空间都用于摆放办公桌和白板，遍地都是资料和各类战术手册。 “Я”教官站在墙面上挂着的地图前，已经维持同样的姿势超过了三个小时。

Going down three separate routes for Operation Eclipse is the solution with the highest probability of success after running vigorous calculations. But to Instructor Я, it is far from a completely fail-safe method.“日蚀”计划的三条路线，是经过计算之后得出的最具可能性的方案。 但对“Я”教官而言，这一切还不足以称之为“万无一失”。

Instructor ЯMorning Star and Evening Star will be operating on an official basis... Regardless of whether they are acting as decoys... They will need to be able to draw the enemy's attention... In other words, they need to be sufficiently strong.“晨星”和“暮星”以官方身份出发……不论是作为疑兵，还是出于实际执行的考虑。 都需要足够的吸引力……即战斗力。

Her gaze wanders along the routes traced by pieces of red strings on the map.她的视线在红绳模拟的路线上游走了一番。

Instructor ЯThey'll need ample firepower... and they'll have to be ostentatious. Making their way in with brute force.他们需要足够充足的武力……大张旗鼓，不必加以任何掩饰。 就从正面进行突破。

There's no way the German government would greenlight this operation, so the troops at her disposal are very limited. How big of a force will the enemy deploy to intercept them? Judging by the extent of enemy infiltration, they will certainly try to stop the "Grand Duke" from reaching Berlin at all costs. Which means...这次行动不可能指望德国官方大开绿灯，她能实际调用的部队非常有限。 对方会派出多少拦截力量？以目前我方被渗透的程度，对方必然会不惜一切手段阻止“大公”抵达柏林。 也就是说……

Instructor ЯWhich means...也就是说……

...Whether Noonday Star can remain completely in the shadows is the true deciding factor of Operation Eclipse's success.……事实就是，正午星能否完全隐藏，才是“日蚀”行动真正的关键。

Instructor Я rubs her temples in mild frustration. This is precisely... where the biggest problem lies.“Я”教官有些头疼地揉了揉太阳穴。 这恰恰……就是最大的问题所在。

Instructor ЯIt means nothing even if I'm the only one aware of the whole plan. The more logical a plan is... The more predictable it is... At this stage, there's no telling how much the enemy knows and what they can do with the intelligence they have.即便计划内容只有我自己知道，也没有用。 计划的内容越是符合常理，越是符合逻辑。 就越是容易被推测……现阶段，根本无法得知敌人的情报手段能够做到什么程度。

She doesn't have any better alternatives. In fact, she doesn't have ANY alternatives at all. Operation Eclipse HAS TO succeed 100%.她没有更好的选择，或者说她已经几乎没有选择。 “日蚀”计划必须100%成功。

Instructor ЯThere's only one way...隐蔽身份的方案……

...to keep Noonday Star hidden.……也就只有这个办法了。

Instructor Я turns around and walks up to her desk.“Я”教官转过身来，走到了自己的办公桌前。

All the documents on the desk are sealed and labeled "Top Secret".办公桌上每一份文件都经过密封，打上了“绝密”的标签。

She sits down in her chair and rotates the face of her wristwatch. ...Now that all the routes are decided...“Я”教官坐到椅子上，抬起手腕，旋转了一下腕表。 ……既然所有路线已经做好了准备。

Lyudmila...Is it time then?……到时间了吗？

Instructor ЯPick two out of these missions. One of them will decide Noonday Star's route. The other will be yours to carry out. No matter which mission it is... I need you to undertake it as if it is the real mission.放在这里的任务，挑选两个。 其中一条，会决定正午星的行动路线。 另一条，将由你来执行——不论你看到的任务是什么。 我要求你必须把它当作真正的任务来执行。

LyudmilaUnderstood. It's the safest to let someone unaware of the real mission choose, hm?明白。 不知道真正任务的人来选择，这样才万无一失，对吧？

Instructor ЯIndeed...没……错……

Instructor Я's voice trails off slowly.“Я”教官的声音慢慢沉寂了下去。

Her body slumps. A few seconds later, she stands up straight again. ...But her eyes are now different.几秒之后，原本慢慢倒下的身体又一次恢复了站姿。 ……唯独产生变化的，是她的眼睛。

No one knows Instructor Я better than Lyudmila. Likewise, no one knows Lyudmila better than Instructor Я. If, as a Doll, Instructor Я is a pure and simple soldier, then Lyudmila is the only one who is privy to her sentimentality as a "person".柳德米拉是这世上最了解“Я”教官的人。 反过来，“Я”教官也是最了解柳德米拉的人。 如果说，作为人形，“Я”教官是纯粹的军人，那么，柳德米拉便承受了她作为“人”的感性。

LyudmilaNever thought we'd work together like this one day.真想不到，我们居然有一天能用这种方式合作。

Lyudmila trusts Instructor Я implicitly. She has no doubt that her planning is carefully and thoroughly thought through. So her job... is to perfectly execute Instructor Я's plan and make the best judgment call out in the field.柳德米拉非常信任“Я”教官。 她毫不怀疑，“Я”教官所指定的计划，一定经过了最周全的考虑。 而她……她会完美地执行“Я”教官的计划，并做出最好的现场判断。

Lyudmila... Is this the price of getting to use my body "freely"?…… 这就是“自由”使用身体的代价吗？

Lyudmila reaches out and picks up the nearest file from the desk. She unseals it without hesitation and starts reading.柳德米拉伸手从办公桌上，拿走了最近的那一份文件。 她毫不犹豫地将其拆开，并立刻开始浏览。

The contents are clear and straightforward, but she still can't help but furrow her brow.文件上的内容清晰易读，但还是令柳德米拉皱起了眉头。

LyudmilaThe Intercontinental Railway...洲际列车……

Board the Intercontinental Railway train "Future" and track down the manager of the Colt Express. This is the mission that Lyudmila has picked out.登上“未来号”洲际列车，寻找柯尔特快车的主理人。 这便是柳德米拉接到的任务的全部内容。

Instructor Я...There's no more pretense.……伪装已经结束了。

LyudmilaOur fate has been sealed from the moment I've made my choice. Now tell me my real objective. I'll get started right away.从我做出决定的那一刻起，就已经没有别的选择了。 ——告诉我任务的真正内容，我会立即执行。

18 The Swan 18 天鹅

On board the Colt Express.柯尔特快车内

Ding-a-ling.叮铃。

Catherine, who has been lounging languidly in her seat, jumps to her feet at the chime.随着车铃的响动，百无聊赖地躺在座椅上的凯瑟琳一下蹦了起来。

CatherineYou're back!你回来了！

Catherine...Wait, where did this kid come from?……等等，怎么带了个拖油瓶？

Maggie has appeared inside the carriage out of nowhere with a small girl in her arms. She blinks at Catherine.凭空出现在车内的玛姬冲着凯瑟琳眨了眨眼，手里还抓着一个娇小的少女。

MaggieThis is a by-product of the transaction.这是买卖的副产品。

ErmaLet go of me! Liar! Traitor! Scumbag!放开我！ 骗子！叛徒！混蛋！

CatherineWe have enough alarm clocks as it is!家里的闹钟够多了！

Maggie chuckles as Erma squirms desperately in her arms. She dumps the girl into a seat.面对拼命挣扎的艾尔玛，玛姬苦笑着，直接把她丢到了座位上。

MaggieStay put!不要乱动！

Erma turns around and eyes Maggie distrustfully.艾尔玛瞬间转过身来，警戒地看着玛姬。

Erma...Are you keeping me locked up on this train?……你要把我囚禁在这辆列车上？

ErmaThe way I was locked up in the Summer Garden?就像把我囚禁在“夏园”一样？

She glares at Maggie with a complicated mixture of emotions—not just anger, but also resentment.此刻，她看着玛姬的眼神非常复杂，不仅有怒气，更多的还有一种愤恨。

CatherineSummer Garden? What Summer Garden?夏园？什么夏园？

Maggie...Your level of intellect is making communication very difficult. But I have no intention of imprisoning you. I just need you to stay out of mischief.……以你的智力我觉得我们很难沟通。 不过，我没打算囚禁你，你只要老实一点就行了。

Erma...Liar! Who are you trying to fool...?……骗子！ 谁要相信你……

CatherineThen by all means, keep shouting! No one will come to your rescue even if you scream your head off!那你叫啊！ 你叫破喉咙也不会有人来救你的！

Maggie... Maybe you should lay off watching your trashy soap operas.…… 你就不能少看点垃圾电视剧吗？

Catherine...Can't you just humor me and let me say some badass lines?……我们的地盘还不让我演一把？

Erma shoots Catherine a disdainful look before flinging the window open and jumping out.艾尔玛冷漠地看了凯瑟琳一眼，随即转身掀开窗户跳了出去……

Bam!嘭！

CatherineThe heck?!喂！？

Instead of trying to stop her, Maggie simply watches in amusement as she walks over to the bar and opens a bottle of tequila.玛姬好笑地看了一眼，也不拦，径直走向酒柜拿了一瓶龙舌兰。

Maggie...Let her jump. If she dies, it's on me.……让她跳。 死了算我的。

Thud!咚！

Erma drops from the overhead luggage rack back into the same seat.艾尔玛从行李架上又弹回了座位。

MaggieIf jumping out of the window isn't fun enough, try hanging yourself. I've never seen a Doll die from hanging, but you can certainly give it a go.跳窗不过瘾的话，可以选择上吊试试。 不过我没见过被吊死的人形，你可以尝试一下。

Leaning against the table, Erma gets to her feet. She seems oblivious to Maggie's mockery as she scans the carriage with narrowed eyes.艾尔玛扶着桌子，从椅子上站了起来。 玛姬对她的嘲弄，她好像充耳不闻，只是虚眯着眼睛，仔细地扫视车厢。

CatherineYou're not actually giving that serious thought, are you?你不会真打算尝试上吊吧？

Erma...This carriage means a lot to you, yeah?……你对这个车厢很宝贝吧？

MaggieYou're lucky that you get to see such a tasteful carriage.能见识到这么有审美的车厢，你赚了。

ErmaI did say, "I'll tear your precious Colt Express apart," remember? You think I was kidding?!你还记得我说过“要拆了你的柯尔特快车”吗？ 难道你以为我是跟你开玩笑吗？！

ErmaCompared to the Summer Garden, your attempt to disguise your Level II platform as a train is practically cotton candy.跟“夏园”比起来，你这辆列车形态的二级平层简直像个棉花糖。

Catherine...What kind of weird metaphor is that...……这什么破比喻。

ErmaIt's flimsy as hell!漏洞百出！

With that, Erma suddenly stands ramrod straight. Maggie and Catherine look on in confusion. They are just about to wonder aloud when all of a sudden—说着，艾尔玛突然在原地站得笔直，身体整个成了端正的立正姿势。 玛姬和凯瑟琳困惑地看着她，正要开口，忽然——

Bam!嘭！

Erma's small body starts shifting backwards rapidly in the direction opposite to the one in which the train is traveling. She knocks a table away and crashes straight through a wall, creating a gaping hole in the retro-looking carriage.她的身体突然快速地向着列车行驶的反方向平移，直接将沿途的桌子撞飞出去，紧跟着撞破墙壁，复古的车厢被她幼小的身体撞出了一个大窟窿。

CatherineW-what the hell?! Maggie... your train!什，什么鬼啊！？ 玛姬……你的车！

Maggie...I saw that!……我看见了！

Maggie immediately goes running after Erma. She hasn't even got around to sipping her tequila.玛姬立刻跑向艾尔玛，连刚倒好的龙舌兰都来不及抿一口。

MaggieHey... I just renovated this place not long ago! It cost me a freaking fortune!!!喂……我这里才装修没多久！ 超昂贵的！！！

Bam! No matter how many times Erma is forcibly deposited back in her original position, she immediately resets her own coordinates to an absolute point in this virtual space.嘭！ 不论艾尔玛被强制返回多少次，她都会立刻将自己的坐标重新锁定在一个绝对位置。

CatherineAh! My digital cat!啊我的电子猫咪！

Catherine shrieks.凯瑟琳惨叫起来。

MaggieErma! Stop! Stop it now!艾尔玛！停！住手！

ErmaYou'll have to beg properly!那你求我！

The whole carriage starts shaking. The glasses on the table and paintings hanging on the wall all come crashing to the floor.整个车厢都开始了颤动，摆放在桌上的玻璃，挂在墙上的画，纷纷都掉到了地上。

Maggie...I beg you! PLEASE STOP IT!!!……我求求你！ 快住手！！！

Erma...Wow, don't you have any shame at all?……你是不是太没节操了？

MaggieMy god, your idiotic ladyship!!! Can't you see I'm trying to rescue you?? I rescued you from Tareus, alright?! This is all Lyudmila's fault! Seriously, what am I getting out of this stupid deal?! Aaaaaaaaaaaah, my Irish whiskeys!!!天啊我的笨蛋大小姐！！！ 你没发现我在救你吗？？ 是我把你从塔亚柔斯手里救出来的好吗？ 都怪柳德米拉，这是跟我交易了个什么鬼东西啊啊啊啊啊我的爱尔兰威士忌！！！

Erma stops. Maggie watches as the Colt Express slowly stabilizes. She takes in the glass bottles lying in broken pieces all across the floor with a pained look.艾尔玛停了下来。 玛姬看着渐渐恢复稳定的柯尔特快车，和碎成一地的玻璃瓶。 语气变得无比沉痛。

Gangway connection between carriages F01 and F02 on the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F01/F02车厢连接处

Some time ago, an encrypted communications request suddenly appeared in Lyudmila's private channel.一段时间以前，一条加密通讯突然闯进了柳德米拉的私密频道。

Maggie...Madam Instructor. I hope you haven't forgotten your role and mission?……教官小姐。 你没忘记自己的身份和任务吧？

Lyudmila...Getting rid of you on the spot isn't all that difficult, you know.……在这里顺手解决掉你，并不是件难事。

MaggieNow, don't be hasty. Remember what I said—we can have a deal as long as you name the right price?别冲动嘛，还记得我说过——只要价码合适，我们也可以交易吗？

LyudmilaThe way I see it, you're more of a con artist than a businesswoman.在我看来，比起生意人，欺诈师更适合用来形容你。

MaggieIt's just a matter of perspective—extortion is still a kind of transaction. In fact, aren't all transactions at least a little extortionate? We all use whatever means necessary to obtain what we want for a cheaper price. I don't see how I'm any different.这只是我们观点上的小小分歧——欺诈当然也是一种交易，或者说交易难道不就是一种欺诈？ 我们都在想方设法地用低于市场价的金额，来获得想要的东西，我不觉得两者有很大的区别。

LyudmilaYou silver-tongued devil.巧舌如簧。

MaggieSo... Madam Instructor. Would you like to do business with me?那么……教官小姐。 你是否愿意和我做个交易呢？

Lyudmila—You'll need to show some sincerity before you start pitching.——向我兜售商品，需要先看到你的诚意。

MaggieI know you're part of a top-secret mission. Your destination is Berlin. Your associate is a commander under the employment of a PMC named Griffin. From what I've heard, this commander has been causing quite a stir in Berlin lately.我知道你参与的是绝密任务，终点站是柏林。 接手人是一位安全承包商的指挥官，承包商公司叫做格里芬。 据我所知，这个人最近在柏林叱咤风云。

Lyudmila...You're certainly very well informed.……你的信息不少。

MaggieNot many can go toe-to-toe with Paradeus. This is the only person who's known to have grappled with those white monsters and not only survived, but also managed to corner them.能跟帕拉蒂斯掰手腕的家伙可不多。 这个人是现在已知的，唯一一个多次与这些白色怪物交手，不仅活到现在，而且把他们逼到狗急跳墙的人。

Lyudmila...So?……所以？

MaggieI'm looking to work with a different contractor. What do you think?我想换个甲方，你看可以吗？

LyudmilaYou're part of the Fox Sisterhood. That makes it very hard for me to trust you.你是福克斯姐妹会的人。 这很难让人信任。

Maggie...Fair enough, but that's why I've spent the last two years preparing for my next client. After all, it is a dangerous world we live in, and there are too many unscrupulous villains around.……的确，所以我为自己接下来的雇主做了整整两年的准备。 毕竟现在社会那么乱，坑蒙拐骗的可太多了。

Lyudmila...The Fox Sisterhood's work is unscrupulous by nature.……福克斯姐妹会的核心工作就是坑蒙拐骗。

MaggieMy, such generous praise! In any case, just write me a reference letter. I'm sure I'll be able to convince that commander to work with me. In return, you can name your terms.真会夸人！ 总之，给个中介信呗，我有能力说服那位指挥官接纳我。 为此，你可以提出你的要求。

Lyudmila...With the Fox sisters now missing, aren't you finally free? Why are you shackling yourself again?……福克斯姐妹失踪了，你们不是获得了自由么？ 为什么还要给自己找个枷锁？

MaggieA Soviet agent questioning me about shackles? How quaint.苏联特工提到枷锁，真是神奇。

LyudmilaAbout as quaint as you talking about "unscrupulous villains" in this "dangerous world".就像在你嘴里听到关于这个社会坑蒙拐骗的问题一样神奇。

MaggieIn the eyes of other Dolls, it may look like I'm living the high life. The same goes for you.也许在其他人形看来，我过得挺好。 但就像在其他人眼里，你过得也很好。

Maggie sighs deeply on the other end of the comms channel.通讯的另一头，玛姬深深地叹了口气。

MaggieLook, let's use the Future as an example. You get to travel in the first-class carriage, sipping the best red wine served to you by Susanna. While I can only risk my life and be a stowaway.你看，就拿未来号来说。 你能乘坐一等车厢，让苏珊娜给你开最好的红酒。 而我只能蹭票，还得搭上赔命的风险。

Lyudmila...You must've made a fortune in this business by now. The money should be enough for several new bodies.……你在这上面捞钱捞得还少？够换好几次素体了。

Maggie...Spoken like a true member of the upper class. You are a Doll in the Military. Maintenance and overhauls are a walk in the park for you. But drifters like us aren't so privileged.……你这真是不知人间疾苦。 你是军方人形，维修换素体都是吃饭一样的简单。 对于我们这些无归属人形，这些都很难。

LyudmilaIf it were up to me, I might actually prefer your lifestyle.如果有得选，说不定我宁愿过你的生活。

MaggieHaha.哈哈。

Maggie lets out a bark of laughter.玛姬笑出了声。

MaggieAs if I'm living like this by choice.就好像我有得选一样。

MaggieYou see, most people don't get to choose the circumstances they are born into—you don't, and neither do I. Which is why I cherish every single choice that I DO get to make.你看，这世上大多数人都没得选出身，你没有，我也没有。 所以我才珍惜我能选的每一个机会。

MaggieThe choices that have passed us by, the ones that we never had in the first place... There's no point in beating ourselves up over them. It's not my fault that I didn't get to choose. But now I have a choice, and so do you, Madam Instructor.那些我们已经错过，或从来不曾拥有的选择权。 就算抠破脑袋，也不会给我们带来半点好处的。 没得选，不是我的错。 但是现在，我有选择，你也有，教官大人。

Lyudmila... I'll think about it.…… 可以考虑。

MaggieI look forward to doing business with you!那么接下来，合作愉快！

LyudmilaBut I have an extra condition. Take Erma with you to Griffin's base.我有一个附加条件。 带上艾尔玛，一起前往格里芬的基地。

Maggie looks out of the window into the distance.玛姬下意识地将目光投向了车外。

MaggieIf I remember correctly, that goes directly against your Official Secrets Act, no? ...She's a Doll created by Doctor Hume in private.如果我没记错，这应该违反你们的保密法吧？ ……她可是那个休谟博士私下制造的人形。

LyudmilaWe problematic Hume Dolls aren't likely to have happy endings. Since I now have a choice, I'm choosing Griffin for her.我们这些休谟博士生产的问题人形。 结局就那么几个，既然我有选择权，那我替她选择格里芬。

Maggie...Huh, you Soviet Doll agents are equipped with surprisingly sophisticated emotion modules.……看不出来，苏联人形特工装配的情感模块还挺细腻嘛。

Lyudmila...The vory will be storming this place soon. You don't have much time left.……律贼就快要冲进来了。 留给你的时间不多了。

MaggieFine... We have a deal.好吧……成交。

25 Ruslan and Lyudmila 25 鲁斯兰与柳德米拉

Click—滴——

Erma...I thought you wouldn't pick up.……我以为你不会接。

Lyudmila... I'll hang up when I have to. Still, we've got one last bit of time.…… 必要的时刻，你的通讯会被切掉。 不过，还有最后一点时间。

ErmaDoes Professor Hume count as my "mother"?休谟博士算是我的“妈妈”吗？

LyudmilaWhy are you so fixated on this question?为什么执着这个问题？

ErmaIf he's my "mother", then that makes us sisters. And if he's not, then wouldn't I be a big joke?如果他是“妈妈”，那我们就是姐妹。 如果他不是，那我岂不是个笑话？

Lyudmila...Am I crazy?……我是个疯子吗？

ErmaNo, of course not.不，你当然不是。

LyudmilaThen you're not a joke.那你就不是个笑话。

LyudmilaArthur Hume. That was his real name.亚瑟•休谟。 这是他的真名。

Erma freezes, as though she doesn't know how to reply. However, she's not willing to let time tick by just like that.艾尔玛愣了一下，似是不知道应该接一句什么。 但她不舍得让时间就这样流逝。

Erma...You will always have a key to the Summer Garden.……夏园里永远有属于你的钥匙。

LyudmilaYeah, I know.嗯，我知道。

Click— Lyudmila hangs up, and then she sighs heavily. ...For some reason, what little nervousness she had left is completely gone now.滴—— 柳德米拉挂断通讯，她长出了一口气。 ……不知为何，她仅存的那些许的紧张，也在此时彻底消散。

She suddenly plants her hand on the wall of the train carriage.她的手突然攀上了车厢的边沿。

A moment later, her athletic frame launches itself upward and lands on the roof of the carriage.下一秒，矫健的身姿轻身一跃，稳稳地落到了车厢顶上。

The meandering train is like a great rotting serpent. The air is filled with the gloom of night, and the moon hanging on the edge of the sky is faintly tinged with a lonesome red. Crouching on top of the carriage, Lyudmila scans the sky around her with eagle eyes. At this moment, she is like a hawk, gathering strength for a power dive. She studies her prey mercilessly.蜿蜒的列车如同腐朽的长蛇，空中流淌着沉重的夜色，而天边的月亮则挂染几分寂寥的红。 柳德米拉登上车厢头顶，犹如鹰隼般锐利的目光正环伺着周遭的天空。 此时此刻，她如同一只蓄势待发的雄鹰。 正无情地审视着自己的猎物。

Whoosh—! She retrieves a couple of IR beacons from her waist pouch and tosses them to either side of the train. This small movement is enough to alert the patrolling troopers.咻——！ 她从腰包里取出了IR标识灯，并抛向了列车的两侧。 而这个微小的动作，惊动了那些游走中的士兵。

Soldier AThere's someone on the roof!车顶上有人！

Bang-bang-bang—!!!!呯呯呯——！！！

Soldier A"Scheelite" hailing "Chlorite", suspicious target sighted escaping on top of the long snake!“白钨”呼叫“绿泥”，发现可疑目标，正在长蛇上方逃窜！

A hail of bullets throws up a shower of sparks on the train roof in an instant.倾泻的子弹瞬间在金属的车顶擦出耀眼的火花。

Whoosh— Meanwhile, Lyudmila's athletic form instantly fades from view.唰—— 而柳德米拉矫健的身躯则瞬间从原地消失。

Bang-bang-bang—呯呯呯——！ 她用手中的武器还击，同时在拉开距离后，继续将IR标识灯丢向两侧。

Soldier ASuspicious target is rapidly heading in the 3 o'clock direction!可疑目标朝3点方向急速靠近！

Bang!呯！

Soldier BNo, it's 6 o'clock!不，在6点方向！

Bang-bang-bang! Showers of bullets fill the air above the train.呯呯呯！ 两侧倾泻的子弹在列车上空无情地交击。

Thunk, thunk, thunk—! A gray silhouette darts nimbly through the barrage of rounds.咚咚咚——！ 灰色的影子就在这枪林弹雨中穿行。

Starting from the roof of carriage 2, Lyudmila has been making a mad dash all this while, and in just about a dozen seconds, she's reached the end of her course. Or rather, she's like a carnivorous beast with claws bared. She's ready to plunge them deep into her enemy's throat.从2号车厢的车顶，柳德米拉一路狂奔，仅仅只花了十余秒，便抵达了这条跑道的尽头。 或者说，她已经如同猛禽的利爪。 深深刺入敌人的咽喉。

LyudmilaWhew...呼……

Lyudmila stands firm on top of the train.柳德米拉站定在车头的顶端。

The bullets ricocheting off the metal exterior of the train nearly graze her on the temple.从金属车皮上弹起的弹头几乎从她的眉角擦过。

She looks up, and her blazing eyes seem to burn through the scant clouds in the night sky.她抬起了头，灼灼的眼神几乎洞穿了夜空中已逐渐稀薄的乌云。

Lyudmila...Ten minutes, exactly.……刚好十分钟。

Her stick is like a scepter, establishing a hero's throne for her. The ruined serpentine bulwark acts like a divine beast under her command and helps her banish the annoying disruption.手杖如同权柄，为她奠定英雄的王座。 蜿蜒的断壁残垣，如同匍匐在下的神兽，为她驱赶邪魔的侵扰。

Right now, she is bathed in firelight. She holds her head high atop this mass of steel.此刻，她沐浴在火光之中。 此刻，她昂首于钢铁之上。

LyudmilaAllied region has been marked. Safe zone is 150-200 meters out—cleared to open fire.友军区域已标识。 安全区范围外150米-200米——准许开火。

Following her crisp yet sonorous statement, the communicator beeps in response.随着她清脆而掷地有声的话语，通讯器发出了滴滴的声响。

???...Roger that.……收到。

Whoosh—! A deafening explosion erupts in mid-air directly above Lyudmila's head, sparking a frenzy of violent activity.唰——！ 随着掠走空气的响声瞬间在空中炸裂，自柳德米拉的穹顶，骤然一阵爆动。

The panicked soldiers all raise their guns, but in that extremely brief opening—惊慌的士兵们齐刷刷地重新抬起枪口，然而，就只是这一刹那的空隙——

Whoosh— Boom!咻—— 轰——！！！！

Beyond the two flanks Lyudmila has established are tanks, clearly visible in the distance. A moment later, ethereal flames and the smell of metal roll out on waves of heat. A tank weighing several dozen tons is thrown into the air before crashing heavily back to the earth.柳德米拉所立之处的两侧，远处树林清晰可辨的坦克。 顷刻间，燃烧的磷火与铁锈的味道在热浪中滚滚而来。 数十吨重的装甲战车整个被掀飞到空中，又重重地砸落在地。

Soldier—AIRSTRIKE!!——敌方空袭！！

26 Thus Spoke Zarathustra 26 查拉图斯特拉如是说

Squad Hydra is immensely powerful. It is better to coordinate with Lyudmila and avoid a direct confrontation.九头蛇小队相当强力，建议配合柳德米拉灵活攻略，避免正面交战。

27 Ride of the Valkyries 27 女武神的骑行

15 minutes ago.十五分钟以前

Click... Comms established.滴…… 通讯接通。

???State your coordinates, Midnight Star. We need to double-check them.汇报你的坐标，“子夜星”。 我们需要进行二次确认。

LyudmilaLatitude 52.2495, longitude 19.0118. Coordinates sent.纬度: 52.2495, 经度: 19.0118。 坐标已发送。

???Coordinates confirmed. We'll be there in 15 minutes.坐标已确认，我们将在十五分钟内抵达。

LyudmilaPlease be ready to take in civilians.请做好接收平民的准备。

???Understood.了解。

Click. Call ended.滴。 通讯挂断。

A fiery blaze engulfs everything the eye can see. Even the filthy earth is being burned to pale ashes.焰火眼前的一切都尽数吞噬，连同肮脏的大地，一同焚烧成白茫茫的灰烬。

Ruslan IIMidnight Star, this is Ruslan II. Fire adjustment completed, now awaiting further instructions. I have no eyes in the air. I need some help with spotting. Over.子夜星，这里是鲁斯兰二世。 校射已完成，等待后续指令。 我没有空中视野，需要指引，完毕。

LyudmilaThis is Midnight Star. Preparing spotting drone. Over.这里是子夜星。 准备指引无人机，完毕。

A UAV hovers over Lyudmila's head... Like a falcon circling its falconer... Searching for traces of the enemy.一架重型无人机盘桓在柳德米拉的头顶。 宛如老鹰盘旋在猎人附近。 侦查着敌人的痕迹。

Lyudmila...Midnight Star, commencing first pass. Over.……子夜星，指引第一次，完毕。

The white phosphorus bomb dropped from mid-air instantly ignites the woodland. Amidst the roaring blaze, a tank is blasted into the sky and instantly turned into a pile of scrap metal. The rain has stopped, but the dark clouds in the night sky have not dissipated. It is time for Ruslan to hunt—空中抛下的白磷弹瞬间将林地点燃，冲天的火光中，被轰上天的坦克瞬间变成了一堆废铁。 夜雨停歇，但乌云还未散去，这正是鲁斯兰的狩猎时刻——

Boom!轰！

Lyudmila...Midnight Star, commencing second pass. Over.……子夜星，指引第二次，完毕。

...That can't be all of the enemy's armored units. They definitely have other artillery positions, but the question is... where? The circling UAV whisks swiftly over the woods while staying low.……装甲部队的数量绝不可能只有这么一点。 他们肯定还有别的炮击阵地，可问题是，在哪？ 盘旋的无人机在夜空中迅速地低空掠过林地。

LyudmilaIt has been one minute and 30 seconds since the first bombing run... If they have other artillery positions, why aren't they attacking...?距离第一次校射已经过去了一分三十秒…… 如果他们还有别的炮击阵地，为什么没有发起攻击……

Lyudmila raises an eyebrow.柳德米拉的眉头一挑。

Having reached a realization, she brings the UAV further down to an even more dangerous altitude.她似乎意识到了什么，将无人机的高度又降低到了更加危险的低空。

Lyudmila...Midnight Star, commencing third—……子夜星，指引第三——

Whoosh—咻——

Here it comes.来了。

Lyudmila immediately assumes a defensive position.柳德米拉瞬间切换为防御姿势。

Boom!!轰——！！

A shell fired from a distance hits the front carriage squarely from the side, overturning it directly. The mighty explosion generates a wave of smoke and dust, mixed with flying dirt and blood. Lyudmila, who was originally standing on top of the front carriage, is blown away by the huge impact, and her broken body smashes heavily into the mud like a dying eagle.从远处打来的炮弹直直地命中了车头的侧舷，巨大的冲击直接将车头掀翻。 飞起的土浪与血混杂在一起，又卷起了一阵烟尘。 而原本站在车头顶端的柳德米拉被巨大的撞击掀飞，她残破的身躯宛如垂死的雄鹰，重重地砸在泥泞中。

Buzz...嗡——

She stumbles to her feet unsteadily. The tablet that she has been desperately trying to shield from the blast is showing nothing but static. ...The spotting drone has been destroyed.柳德米拉踉踉跄跄地从地上爬起。 她拼死护住的平板上，画面已经丢失，只留下一屏幕雪花。 ……用于指引的重型无人机被击毁了。

Click. Ruslan II speaks again through heavy static on the communicator as it begins to circle around for its second pass.滴。 通讯器内，带着严重的杂音，已经开始二次回旋的鲁斯兰二世发来了讯息。

???Drone signal lost. Midnight Star, I can't fire blind.失去无人机信号。 子夜星，我需要指引。

Lyudmila...Copy that. Keep circling.……收到，保持盘旋。

While she searches for the enemy, they are also looking for her drone. Now they are both aware of each other's location.在她寻找对方的同时，对方也在寻找她的无人机。 现在，他们彼此都知道了对方的位置。

Lyudmila...That's probably the last of their heavy artillery.……那应该是最后的重火力了。

She must make the most out of Ruslan II before support arrives. She can still give directions from the ground even without eyes in the air.支援还没有赶到，她必须将鲁斯兰二世的作用发挥到极限。 没有空中引导，还可以由地面部队进行指引。

After making sure that her body is functional, Lyudmila reaches into her waist pouch and fishes out all of her remaining IR beacons.重新整顿身形，柳德米拉从在腰包里摸索，抓出了她剩余的所有IR识别灯。

Left hand, right hand, shoulders, forehead... She ties the beacons all onto herself, knowing they will be easily spotted by Ruslan. The infantry units nearby are scattered and defeated. She can even see stragglers hastily trying to retreat. ...She cannot afford to fall here.左手，右手，肩膀，额头……她将这些在鲁斯兰的眼中最为显眼的标识全都绑在了身上。 近处的步战小队已经溃不成军，她甚至还能看到匆忙撤退的残兵败将。 ……她绝不能在这里倒下。

LyudmilaRuslan II... I will light up your target with moving beacons. Prepare to fire.鲁斯兰二世……我将以移动友方标识为你提供指引。 做好区域打击准备。

Pilot...IR beacons sighted, moving target confirmed. Firing command acknowledged, weapons hot. Launching four Piorun Grom missiles at target G41507.……已确认IR识别灯，确认移动目标。 火力控制命令确认，即刻打击。 发射单位 佩伦闪电 四枚，目标号G41507。

Whoosh— Boom!咻—— 轰——！

Boom!轰——！

Pilot...Second strike completed. Moving target disappeared. Confirming with ground unit.……二次打击结束。 丢失移动目标，正在向地面确认。

Click...滴……

Click...滴……

PilotFO signal lost. Now returning to base.丢失FO信号，即将返航。

PilotMission accomplished.任务完成。

Rumble... The sounds of gunshots and explosions have subsided on the desolate earth. The fire still blazing in the woods crackles every now and then, lighting up the otherwise dark and indifferent night sky. At last... Silence reigns here once more.轰轰…… 茫茫的土地上，枪声，爆炸声，都已经息鼓偃旗。 林地间熊熊燃烧的火焰，时不时噼啪作响，成为黯淡夜幕中的零星无聊点缀。 此夜，此地，此时。 终于真正的安静了下来。

MBV "Elmo", in the Red Zone to the east of Poznań.波兹南以东 红区 “艾莫号”

Lee Enfield...The target's coordinates seem off.……目标方位出现偏差。

Kar98kInformation provided by Midnight Star is accurate.子夜星信息无误。

Lee EnfieldELT is still transmitting.ELT持续传输信号中。

Kar98k...Then that leaves one possibility. The ELT signal has been tampered with.……那只剩下一种可能了。 ELT信号被篡改了。

Lee EnfieldReport the signal variance to the Commander. The enemy may be interfering with our systems.准备通报指挥官，地图信号有误，对方疑似存在设备干扰。

3-β1 Gene Takes a Drink 3-β1 吉恩喝了一杯

Late at night, Gene's Bar, Moscow.深夜 莫斯科 吉恩酒吧

Boisterous underground rap fills the entire hall. The barkeeper joins in on the lively conversations around him as he meticulously polishes wine glasses.躁动的地下说唱充斥着整个大厅，酒保专注地擦拭着酒杯，时不时加入到一些闹腾的话题之中。

Barkeeper...Hm?……嗯？

Pzzt—the feed of sexy women dancing that is playing on the hanging screen suddenly grows blurry and distorted. Then it completely dissolves into static.兹——悬挂的显示屏中，辣妹热舞的画面突然扭曲模糊起来。 画面彻底看不清了，只剩下雪花屏了。

The customers boo and voice their discontent, but the barkeeper simply smirks to himself.在顾客的一片哀嚎和抱怨声中，酒保却低头笑了起来。

BarkeeperMaggie, it's been a while.玛姬小姐，好久不见。

MaggieMhmm.嗯哼。

A woman has appeared out of nowhere. She sits down at the bar counter and seems completely at home.一个女人不知道从哪里出现，旁若无人地坐在了吧台前。

BarkeeperIf you keep toying with my screen, you'll end up killing it for good.我的屏幕再被你这样玩几次，怕是要报废了。

MaggieHaha, don't worry. I never make any bad deals.哈哈，放心。 赔钱的买卖我可不干。

Maggie taps the signal jammer on her waist with a finger, and the sexy ladies resume their dirty dancing on the screen.玛姬的手指轻轻叩击着腰上的干扰器，身姿曼妙的辣妹重新在屏幕中热舞起来。

MaggieYou know the drill. Same place, same order.老样子，老位置，老单子。

BarkeeperAlright.好的。

Maggie walks over to an inconspicuous corner and waits for her drink.玛姬走入一个不引人注意的角落，等待着属于自己的那杯酒。

The barkeeper soon serves up a shot of tequila and a small plate with salt and lemon slices.酒保默契地将盛着龙舌兰的酒杯和放着盐、柠檬片的小碟端上。

MaggieThanks.谢啦。

Maggie places a pinch of salt on the crook of her left thumb, then she picks up the delicate shot glass with her right thumb and index finger together with a slice of lemon in between her middle and ring fingers.玛姬搓起一小把盐撒在左手虎口，右手的拇指和食指轻捏住小巧的酒杯，同时用中指和无名指夹起了柠檬片。

After licking the salt, she knocks back the tequila.在舔舐掉虎口的盐之后，她一口闷掉了酒。

MaggieAh—Fantastic!啊——舒服！

Maggie lets out a long sigh, then slumps into the table head-first.玛姬长舒一口气，随即一头栽倒在了吧台上。

The barkeeper keeps polishing his wine glasses while the other customers keep chattering loudly about nothing in particular. Nobody pays any attention to a Doll getting drunk here. After all, this is a bar. Such places have no shortages of drunkards.酒保继续擦拭着手中的酒杯，周围的顾客也继续大声讨论着毫无营养的话题，没有人在意一个人形在这里买醉。 毕竟这里可是深夜酒吧，最不缺的就是烂醉如泥的家伙。

"Colt Express", inside Maggie's neural space.玛姬的心智空间 “柯尔特快车”

Gaslights, oil paintings, a wooden table—this place is a practically perfect recreation of a western locomotive from the last century. Even the view outside the window shows a savannah at night stretching as far as the eye can see. If there were any real cowboys left, they would feel right at home on board the Colt Express. That's right, it's even named after the most beloved revolver of all cowboys.煤油灯，油画，木质桌面——这里几乎完整复刻了上世纪的西部列车，连窗外不断后退的风景也是一望无际的草原夜色。 如果真正的西部牛仔依然存在，一定会在“柯尔特快车”找到回家般的感觉。 是的，连名字也选用了牛仔们最爱用的左轮手枪的名字。

MaggieSomething seems to be missing.感觉缺了点什么。

Maggie snaps her fingers, and a glass of whiskey appears on the table as an apéritif.玛姬打了个响指，一杯加冰威士忌就如开胃前菜般出现在了桌上。

Maggie...Mhmm, now we're talking. Let's get to work, Catherine, Quimby.……嗯哼，这才有点工作的感觉。 可以开始工作了，凯瑟琳，昆比。

CatherineHold on, Maggie. Where did you leave your body? At that bar?等等，玛姬，你把你的素体扔在哪里了？那个酒吧？

MaggieYeah, there's so much to do, I couldn't wait for you to get here.对，有太多事情要处理，等不及你过来了。

CatherineYou may be a regular at the bar... but it doesn't feel very safe leaving your body unguarded...虽然你是那里的常客……但总感觉没人帮你看守素体不太安全……

MaggieStop fretting. The barkeeper won't let anyone drag me off.别瞎操心了，酒保不会随便让人带走我的。

CatherineI know he can be trusted, but...我知道他很靠谱啦，可是……

MaggieBut what? Who are you to question my security awareness? My body has gone missing on your watch at least three times.可是什么，你哪来的底气质疑别人的安保意识？我在你手上起码丢了三回。

CatherineHey, we agreed—no raking over the ashes!喂，我们说好的，不准翻旧账！

MaggieWhere's Quimby?昆比呢？

QuimbyI'm ready, Mistress! Transaction data have been refreshed.主人，我好了！ 交易数据已经更新完成。

MaggieHow long will it take to convert all the credits into Sadis Gold?还要多久才能把信用点全部换成萨狄斯金？

QuimbyGold is a very popular commodity these days. I suppose everyone is sick of having every single transaction logged by the credit system. I just ran some calculations. It will take 15 working days to convert all the credits, especially those from your stocks and real estate.熔铸黄金的交易最近很热门呢，可能大家都受够了每笔交易都要被信用点系统记录吧。 我算了下，还需要十五个工作日才能全部转换，特别是股份和房产这两块。

MaggieRight. Starting from today, all funds invested in Tequila Manufacturing can only be traded in cash.行，从今天开始，所有入股龙舌兰制造公司的资金，只允许现金交易。

QuimbyNo problem. Next up is the latest ledger.好的，然后这是最新的明细。

MaggieLet me see.我看看。

CatherineHow many digits is this... Maggie!!! We're absolutely loaded!!!让我先数数几位数…… 玛姬！！！我们发了！！！

Maggie...Don't get ahead of yourself. The money is only ours after it's completely transferred to our personal account.……别高兴太早，我们得先把资金全部转移到私人账户上，才能让这笔钱完全属于我们。

CatherineTsk, you don't give me my bonus in advance, and now you don't even let me celebrate ahead of time?嘁，奖金不准预支，连快乐都不让提前？

MaggieWell, let me give you even more good news. Someone keeps paying us big money. While we've been chattering away, a private solicitor working for an aristocratic family just contacted me.那我再告诉你个好消息，现在还有人在不断给我们送大钱。 就在我们聊天这几分钟，又有公爵级别家庭的私人律师联系我。

CatherineHahahaha, you're a genius for coming up with this idea!哈哈哈哈，想出这个点子的你真是天才！

Maggie...I can't take credit for the idea. I simply like reading up on history. People are very bad at learning from the past.……不是我发明的主意，只是我喜欢阅读历史而已。 而人们又恰恰最不擅长吸取教训。

Ring— Maggie's private communicator comes to life.叮叮—— 玛姬的私人通讯响起。

MaggieWhat is it, Nikolai?怎么了，尼古拉？

NikolaiMaggie, pay me the dividends for this month two days earlier. I need to take a trip to Germany.玛姬，这个月给我的分红提前两天，我需要去一趟德国。

MaggieIt's alright, the jammer is on. You can see him, but he can't see you.没事，我开了屏蔽，你们看得见他，他看不见你们。

CatherineSo what is this idiot trying to pull this time?!所以这个傻子又要干嘛！

MaggieWatch your attitude, Catherine. Whoever gives us money is our boss. Fend him off using my comms. Make some conversation and try to change the subject. Oh, and don't accept any invitations to balls or parties. Right now, every minute wasted is money wasted.注意下态度，凯瑟琳，给钱的都是老板。 你用我通讯应付一下他，随便聊点什么别的扯开话题。 对了，不要随便答应去什么舞会，现在对我们来讲，浪费每一分钟都是浪费钱。

CatherineRight, I'll do my best.行，我试试。

MaggieQuimby, keep working.昆比，继续处理工作。

QuimbyYes, ma'am.是。

NikolaiMaggie?玛姬，怎么不说话？

MaggieI was just checking our accounts. You should've asked earlier. We just finished putting our books in order this month. We'd have to start all over again if we made any changes.我刚刚去确认了情况。 你怎么不早说呀，我这边刚刚结完这个月的账单，再改的话又要从头算起了。

NikolaiThen just shift some funds from someone else. It's an emergency.那从别人那里挪一点给我应个急。

MaggieBut we've already invested everything on hand...可是我们已经投进去了……

Nikolai's face darkens with obvious displeasure.尼古拉的脸色明显不悦了几分。

Maggie...Never mind. Catherine, go sort out the issue with the account that I told you about. It took me way too long to patch things up the last time you started an argument with him.……算了，凯瑟琳，你去忙我之前交代你的账户问题。 上次你跟他吵起来害我多花了几倍时间去修复关系。

CatherineUgh, I'm really no good at dealing with morons like him. Which account was it again? Give me the address. Seriously, why do we still need to authenticate large transactions offline? What era is this?哎，我真的不擅长应付傻子啊。 你说的那个账户是在哪条街来着？把地址发我，都什么年代了大笔交易还得线下认证。

QuimbyI've sent you the address!地址我发好啦！

Catherine shrugs helplessly and starts sorting out the account with Quimby. Maggie turns to address Nikolai through the comms.凯瑟琳无奈地耸耸肩，转头去跟昆比处理账户问题了。 玛姬面向尼古拉的通讯。

MaggieAs you know, your affairs are always a priority here. But settling the accounts took a great deal of effort this time. It would be a massive headache if we had to start from scratch. How about this? I'll transfer 200 shares in the venture capital company that you've got your eyes on to your name. Think of it as a subsequent investment.你也知道，你的事我总是放在第一位的。 但是这次的账单好不容易才理清，再打乱就很麻烦了。 这样吧，我把你上次看上的风投公司的两百股转到你名下好不好？算作你后续的入股。

NikolaiThank you for the suggestion, but I urgently need the cash right now.谢谢你的提议，但我现在有急事需要现金。

Maggie... Do you mind telling me why the urgency? Let me see if I can come up with other alternatives.…… 方便透露是什么事情吗？我看看有没有其他的办法。

NikolaiI need to set up a new branch in Germany.我需要去德国成立新的分部。

MaggieCongratulations! Speaking of Germany... I've got an idea. I will transfer part of the gold stocks from Germany to you. That way you won't need to worry about the exchange rate when you cash out over there.恭喜啊！说起来，德国…… 我有办法了，我将德国那边的一部分黄金股票抵给你，这样你过去换算还不用考虑汇率。

Nikolai...Fine. Then I'll be waiting for the transfer. This is the account I'm using. I've sent you the details. Take a look.……行。那我等着你，我现在用这个账号。 发给你了，你看看。

MaggieCatherine, get on it.凯瑟琳你处理下。

CatherineOkay.好的。

Catherine starts typing away at her console, but then she freezes and looks up.凯瑟琳利索地操作着，一个不经意的抬头，她手上的动作停了下来。

CatherineHold on a sec— Maggie, something's wrong...等等—— 玛姬，不对劲……

Pzzt— Catherine's screen suddenly dies.兹兹—— 凯瑟琳的画面陡然中断。

Maggie...Quimby, wipe all the data.……昆比，立刻开始销毁资料。

QuimbyYes, ma'am!是！

Quimby immediately executes the data destruction protocol, but the system notification sounds are all choppy and garbled.昆比紧急执行着销毁指令，理应流畅的系统提示音在玛姬这里听起来断得破碎支离。

Quimby...protocol... initiated.……命令……已执行。

MaggieIs there a system malfunction...?今天的系统是不是出什么故障了……

QuimbyM-Mistress... y... you are breaking up...主、主人……你……你在消失……

MaggieMe? ... ...I got... disconnected...我？ …… ……我的进程……被终止了……

QuimbyMag... gie...!玛……姬……！

The hardwood flooring in the carriage becomes soft like a giant marshmallow. Maggie watches as her surroundings dissolve into a puddle of nonsense and gradually loses consciousness...车厢中硬挺的木质地板软塌得像棉花一样，玛姬看着身边扭曲的一切，意识渐渐远去……

Maggie opens her eyes and finds herself slumped over a table in the corner of the bar.玛姬睁开眼，自己正趴在酒吧角落的桌面上。

She can clearly sense a cold metal object pressed against the back of her head.能够清晰感知到，后脑勺被一个冰冷金属制品抵住。

BarkeeperMaggie...玛姬小姐……

Maggie looks up and sees that the barkeeper, who currently has his arms in the air, is being held hostage by a few armed goons.玛姬稍微抬了抬眼，看见了酒保正举起双手，被几个持械壮汉控制着。

MaggieWhat's going on?这是什么情况？

A self-important man strolls casually behind the bar counter. He picks up a transparent shot glass and pours himself a vodka.一个头目模样的男人慢悠悠地走进吧台，取出一个透明的酒杯，给自己倒上了一杯伏特加。

Vicious ManAllow me to explain. Maggie, Baba Lyuba sends her regards.还是让我来说吧。 玛姬小姐，柳芭老妈让我向你问好。

Maggie tilts her head and spots the tattoos on the man's arm. In fact, every inch of exposed skin on the man's body, not just his arm, is covered in tattoos. A myriad of skulls, the stars on his knees, the smoking man with a scar...玛姬稍微侧了侧头，看清了这个人手臂上的文身。 准确地说，不只手臂，这个人裸露在外的皮肤几乎全部被文身覆盖。 形态各异的骷髅头、膝盖上的星星、抽烟的疤面男人……

Maggie...Vory v Zakone.……律贼。

Cold liquor pours from above and splashes onto Maggie's face. The "thief in law" watches as the vodka flows out of the bottle in his hand with amusement.冰冷的烈酒从天而降，自玛姬的脸上漫过。 一旁的律贼若有兴致地看着手中的伏特加流淌着。

When the bottle is empty, he hurls it straight at the barkeeper.等到瓶空了，就随手扔在了酒保的身体上。

Maggie... I don't believe I've made your acquaintance.…… 我不记得我们有打过交道。

Thief in LawNikolai Vasilyevich. I gather you know that name?尼古拉·瓦西里耶维奇。你应该不陌生吧？

MaggieHe's my client, nothing more.他是我的客户，除此以外没有任何关系。

Thief in LawSo transferring your clients' personal assets is your way of doing business?那么私下转移客户资产，就是你的经营之道？

The Vor leans forward with a friendly smile—律贼保持着和善的笑容，倾身向前——

Slam—then he grabs a wine bottle and breaks it over Maggie's head. The burgundy wine mixes with Maggie's blood and drips down her face, but she retains her alluring smile.砰——然后抄起了一个酒瓶砸在了玛姬头上。 红色的酒液混合着玛姬的血液从她脸上流淌而下，但她依旧挂着迷人的微笑。

MaggieSince this is the first time you're doing business with me, there are a few things that you may not be aware of.鉴于你是第一次来找我交易，所以，有些事情你可能不清楚。

A coin is suddenly flicked out of Maggie's hand.从玛姬的指尖，一枚硬币不合时宜地抛了出来。

MaggieThere's only one rule in my shop— No credit.本店只有一个规则—— 概不赊账。

Snap—the dimly-lit bar is plunged into utter darkness.哐——昏暗的酒吧骤然陷入漆黑。

Thief in LawCatch that bitch! Don't let her get away!抓住那个女人！别让她跑了！

54-EXT-B1 3-β2 C大调第二交响曲

Some enemies in this stage can move multiple times in a turn. The number of small figurines in the buff icon of a unit indicates the number of additional moves this unit can make in a turn. Make sure you strategize accordingly.本关卡中存在可以多次行动的敌人，BUFF图标上的小人个数表示该单位每回合能额外行动的次数，请谨慎攻略。

3-β3 Symphony No. 3 3-β3 第三交响曲

Late at night, in a safe house three blocks away from Gene's Bar, Moscow.深夜 莫斯科 距离吉恩酒吧三个街区的安全屋

Pzzzt—兹——

SystemWarning—neural core overheating. Disable the following functions immediately and head to the nearest repair station for maintenance.警告，心智核心温度已超出正常范围，请立刻关闭以下功能，并前往最近的维修站进行检测。

MaggieRepair stations are no place for a Doll like me.……维修站，可不是为我这样的人形准备的。

Maggie barely manages to keep herself upright by leaning heavily against the wall. She manually disables the modules that are generating the most heat.靠着墙壁才能勉强维持站立的玛姬手动关闭了发热最严重的几个模块。

As expected, it's too taxing for a body of such specs to support the operation of so many high-powered modules all at once.以她的素体性能，想要同时运行这么多高功率模块，还是太勉强了。

MaggieCatherine...凯瑟琳……

Catherine...Dear customer, the user you are trying to reach is busy making money. Please do not disturb.……尊敬的用户您好，您所连接的用户正在赚钱中，请勿打扰。

MaggieQuimby.昆比。

Quimby...Yes, Mistress.……主人，昆比在。

MaggieCan you locate Catherine?能定位到凯瑟琳的坐标吗？

QuimbyGeolocation failed. I only have the coordinates of where she made her last communication...定位失败，只能查询到最后一次通讯时的定位……

Maggie...Looks like she's also targeted by the Vory.……看来她也被律贼锁定了。

Maggie punches the wall in frustration.玛姬恼怒地用手肘撞向了墙壁。

QuimbyMistress!主人！

MaggieHow could I have made such a rookie mistake?! I didn't bother to run a background check on Nikolai... A thief in law... I didn't expect him to be a Vor...我怎么会犯这样低级的错误？！ 竟然没有去核验尼古拉的背景……律贼……他那样的人居然是律贼……

QuimbyMistress... What do we do now?主人……那现在该怎么办？

MaggieThe Vory has Catherine... People who end up getting captured by those thugs don't tend to get out alive. I've got to hurry...凯瑟琳还在那帮律贼的手里…… 一旦落入那些家伙手里，很难再活着出来了。 我必须尽快……越快越好……

Maggie's nails dig into her palms.玛姬的手指一寸寸掐进皮肤。

Maggie...I'm out of options. This is a risk I'll have to take.……没办法了。 只能冒险搏一搏。

QuimbyWhat are you planning to do?您要做什么？

Maggie makes a call.玛姬拨通了另一个人的通讯。

Maggie...Hey, I'm taking the anonymous case that you told me about.……喂，上次说的那个匿名黑单我接了。

???Maggie? I told you, ALL of the Dolls who took the case disappeared! I thought you had enough self-preservation instinct to steer clear of this mess...玛姬？之前不是说过了很多尝试接单的人形统统消失了，以你这么惜命的个性应该不至于蹚浑水啊……

MaggieHa, I certainly have self-preservation instinct. I made this decision BECAUSE I want to preserve myself. I'm betting on my ability to handle the case.呵，我当然很惜命。 我现在做出的决定，正是惜命的体现。 我只能赌我有接下这个单子的能力。

???...Fine. I'm just the middleman with a small profit margin, after all.……行吧，我只是中间商，赚个差价而已。

MaggieI have a request that I'd like you to relay to the client for me.替我向对方提一个要求。

???A request before you've even officially signed the deal? You've got some nerve.还没接下委托就敢向对方提要求，该说你怕死还是不怕死啊。

MaggieI need personal protection.我要申请人身保护。

???...You must be in quite the pickle. Alright, I'll relay your request. Good luck, Maggie.……看来你遇到了更紧急的事情，行吧，我会转达的。 玛姬，祝你好运。

MaggieI have faith in my luck... and my betting sense.我相信自己的运气，和赌技。

Late at night, in the basement of a Vory v Zakone lair, Moscow.深夜 莫斯科 律贼据点之一 地下室

...Meanwhile. Catherine's body is sealed in concrete from the neck down. Her comms are completely jammed; there's no way of contacting Maggie.……与此同时。 凯瑟琳肩膀以下的素体被封在水泥中动弹不得，信号也被完全屏蔽，无法联系上玛姬。

All she can do is sigh in the empty basement. Water drips from the damp corner of the dark and oppressive ceiling.她只能对着空无一人的地下室叹了口气，黑压压的天花板上，潮湿的屋角滴落着水滴。

Catherine... Huh, that explains the sense of déjà vu. This looks a lot like the place I saw when I first opened my eyes after I came out of the factory.…… 难怪有种熟悉的感觉，和我出厂睁眼看见的地方很像啊。

A drop of water lands on her forehead.一滴水砸在了凯瑟琳的额头上。

CatherineDon't tell me this will be the last thing I see before I die... That's kinda poetic, I suppose?这不会就是我心智里最后的画面吧……这样我的人生算不算首尾呼应？

Catherine chuckles derisively.凯瑟琳苦苦地笑了下。

CatherineI hope Maggie got away. Then there's still some hope for me. The 80 backups I've made had better not be in vain.希望玛姬能逃得掉，这样我还有救。 但愿我那八十个备份不是白费功夫。

A bout of boisterous laughter suddenly comes from above, causing dust to flake off the fragile ceiling. Catherine shudders. The violent blows that she had taken earlier were accompanied by such sickening laughter as well.上方传来了一阵夸张的哄笑声，震得脆弱的天花板都在颤抖着落灰。 凯瑟琳也不由地跟着颤抖起来，刚刚那些落在自己身上的拳脚，也是伴随着这样夸张的笑声。

Catherine... Maggie... I may not see you again...…… 玛姬……我可能见不到你了……

She can't help thinking pessimistically. Even if Maggie hands over all the funds, the Vory may still just kill them both. These are thieves in law. They have enough weapons to pulverize them a thousand times over.凯瑟琳忍不住悲观地考虑起来，就算玛姬将全部的资金交出，换来的恐怕也只会是灭口。 对方可是律贼，手里的武器够碾压她们几百个来回了。

CatherineThere's so many things that I still wanna do... I was gonna buy the electronic kitty that I've had my eyes on for a really long time after we finish this job...我还有很多事没来得及做…… 相中好久的电子猫咪还想等这一笔交易完成了去买的……

Creeeeak... The basement door opens. Heavy footsteps follow. They probably belong to a large and muscular adult male. Catherine can almost feel her heart in her throat.嘎吱——地下室的门开了。 紧接着是沉闷的脚步声，应该是一位成年男性壮汉。 凯瑟琳的心高悬起来。

CatherineDid they get Maggie too...? Or are they gonna interrogate me about Maggie's whereabouts because she got away...?难道抓住玛姬了……还是玛姬逃跑了要逼问我她的行踪……？

The burly tattooed man towers silently over Catherine. His presence alone is extremely intimidating.满脸横肉的文身壮汉光是沉默地站在凯瑟琳的面前，就已经是莫大的压迫。

Catherine...You... you won't get anything out of me...……我……我不会屈服的……

The more frightened Catherine is, the more bravado she has. Words can sometimes be a source of strength.越是紧张，凯瑟琳反而越是嚣张。 言语有时候也可以作为护盾。

Catherine...You nasty thieves! Bullying people by virtue of your numbers! If you're so tough, release me and fight me one-on-one!……你们这些臭律贼！ 仗着人多势众欺负人！ 有本事放开我，一对一来公平地打一架啊！

The Vor bends down and stares at Catherine with his small beady eyes. Catherine's neural cloud almost crashes from sheer terror.律贼弯下腰，纹在刻满疤痕的脸上的细小眼睛死死地盯住凯瑟琳，让她的心智都快要恐惧到停滞。

Whoosh—the Vor lifts the drum containing Catherine and makes for the stairs.唰——律贼扛起了装着凯瑟琳的桶，转身朝着台阶走去。

CatherineCrap, crap, crap... I'm done for I'm done for I'm done for I'm done for I'm done for...完了完了完了…… 我要死了我要死了我要死了我要死了我要死了我要死了……

Fear is like a flock of birds circling over a corpse floating in the sea. Catherine can already picture her own body being tossed into the sea and sinking helplessly into the murky depths.恐惧像盘亘在海上浮尸边的鸟群，凯瑟琳已经看见自己被抛尸海中，绝望地沉入黑暗的海底的情境了。

Thud... thud... The ominous footsteps reach the top of the stairs.哒——哒——沉闷的脚步踏上台阶顶端。

Creeeeak... The door opens, and the light in the hall pierces Catherine's eyes.嘎吱——门开了，大厅中的光刺疼了凯瑟琳的眼睛。

A dozen Vory are eyeing her balefully and waving all kinds of weapons with impatience.十几个律贼正满脸不爽地看向她，手中的各式武器烦躁地敲击着。

CatherineYou've got to be kidding me... Does it take so many people to dispatch me?! I won't even get the chance to fight...不是吧……抛尸也要十几个人？！ 那我不是连挣扎的机会都……

The hall is bright, but Catherine's eyes are dull with despair. She knows that it won't be long till she dies in the crushing depths of the ocean...望向大厅外的光明，凯瑟琳的眼底却一片晦暗。 她知道，这意味离葬身大海的结局不远了……

Beep. Catherine's comms are back online once she is out of the basement.嘀——走出地下室后，凯瑟琳的通讯也恢复了。

Maggie has left a message.是玛姬的留言。

MaggieWait for me. I'll think of a way...等我，我会想办法……

CatherineThank goodness... At least Maggie got away... Don't come for me... It's too dangerous...太好了……至少玛姬逃掉了…… 别来这里……太危险了……

Catherine thinks back on the days she's spent with Maggie and her eyes fill up with tears. She decides that she must do something for her in her final moment. She logs onto the bank account that she has only ever put money into and never taken anything out of. She gazes at the figure of her hard-earned savings.凯瑟琳眼含热泪，回忆着和玛姬的过往。 她决定，最后为对方做点什么。 她打开了向来只肯进账、完全没舍得花销的小金库，看着自己辛苦攒下的数字。

CatherineLive a good life... For my sake...要好好活下去…… 替我的份也……

The figure becomes zero, but Catherine feels only relief. The Vory brandishing their rods and bats are closing in on her. She squeezes her eyes shut.小金库的数字清零，凯瑟琳却感到一阵轻松。 提着棍棒的律贼已经近在眼前，凯瑟琳闭上了眼睛。

The Vor who is carrying her does not stop walking. He marches right past the other Vory and out into the sunlight.扛着她的律贼没有停下脚步，径直经过其他的律贼，走向阳光正好的户外。

Thunk! Clang! He hurls Catherine out through the door as if he were taking out the trash.砰——哐当—— 像扔垃圾一样，律贼将凯瑟琳甩出了门外。

CatherineWhoa—呜啊——

Catherine, still trapped in the drum, rolls out onto the center of the road.被装在桶里的凯瑟琳咕噜噜地滚向了马路中央。

Bam—the Vor slams the door shut.砰——律贼狠狠地将门摔上。

Catherine...Huh?……哈？

Catherine's mind still has not registered the fact that she survived.凯瑟琳还待在桶中，没有从劫后余生中回过神来。

CatherineWhat's happening...? I'm... I'm saved?怎么回事…… 我…… 得救了？

Honk, honk—the sharp sound of a car horn tears through the air.嘀嘀嘀——汽车尖锐的鸣笛声。

CatherineCrap! I'm still in the center of the road! I... I can't move! Help!糟了！我还在马路中央！ 我……我动不了！救命啊！

Screeeeee—A car brakes just before it hits her drum.吱——一辆汽车刹在了她的桶前。

The car door opens. A pair of long, slender legs stride out of the car towards Catherine.车门打开，一双修长的腿走下车，向凯瑟琳走去。

CatherineS-stay back!别、别过来！

Immobilized by the concrete, Catherine cannot see who it is.被固定在水泥中，凯瑟琳无法抬头看清是谁在向自己走来。

???Catherine, it's me.凯瑟琳，是我。

Catherine(Sobs) MAGGIE!!!呜……呜呜……玛姬！！！

The familiar voice sounds like Ave Maria to her ears.亲切的声音传来，如同圣母玛利亚的晚安曲。

MaggieThat must've been a terrible ordeal. We can go home now.辛苦你了，现在我们可以回家了。

CatherineYou sorted it out? How?你竟然搞定了，怎么做到的？

Maggie... Let's get you in the car first.…… 上车再说吧。

Maggie hauls Catherine and her drum into the car with great effort.玛姬费劲地将桶装凯瑟琳搬上了车。

Two years later, Warszawa Centralna Railway Station.两年后 华沙中央车站

Maggie cheerfully makes a call while lying low in a crowd.混迹在人群中的玛姬微笑着发起通讯。

MaggieCatherine, change of plans.凯瑟琳，计划有变。

CatherineHm?嗯？

MaggieWe have to board the train ahead of schedule. Get into position in your carriage now.我们得提前登车了，现在就去车厢就位。

Catherine...Gotcha. What about Quimby?……行，昆比呢？

MaggieSomeone has to stay behind and guard our colossal fortune.总要有个人替我们看管亿万家财啊。

CatherineWhy couldn't it be me?!为什么这个人不能是我！

MaggieThe job requires someone who's 100% dependable.亿万家财需要绝对靠谱的管家。

Catherine... Maggie, we can retire after this job, right?…… 玛姬，要是能干完这票，我们是不是就可以退休了？

MaggieThere's no retiring for Dolls, just endless reincarnations.人形哪来的退休？只有无尽的轮回罢了。

Catherine hangs up. Maggie pulls the brim of her hat lower and blends in with the crowd. The long intercontinental train is parked at the platform, waiting patiently for the curtain to rise.凯瑟琳挂断了通讯。 玛姬按低了帽檐，将自己融入人群之中。 长长的洲际列车停靠在站台边，耐心等待着戏剧的开幕。

5-β4 Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso 5-β4 引子与回旋随想曲

At a safe house in Moscow.莫斯科 安全屋

After going through several buckets of concrete dissolver, Maggie finally manages to get Catherine out of the drum.费了几桶水泥溶解剂后，玛姬终于成功把凯瑟琳从桶里捞了出来。

Catherine(Sobs) My skin feels like sandpaper...呜……感觉自己皮肤像砂纸一样……

MaggieBe glad that you got out in one piece.能完整出来不错了。

CatherineCouldn't you have gotten some better dissolver, you miser?你这抠门鬼，就不能买点好的溶剂？！

MaggieHuh. I bought it with your money though. I thought you'd appreciate my thriftiness.哦，用你打来的钱买的，还以为你会希望我省着点花。

CatherineOh yeah, my money! Give it back!对哦，我的钱！全部还给我！

MaggieHuh? But you attached such a heartfelt message to the transfer. "Farewell, my dear Maggie..."诶？明明转账的留言说得那么深情…… “永别了，玛姬……”

CatherineSHUT UP! I thought I was going to die back there!闭嘴啊！！！我那个时候真以为自己要死了！！！

After pummeling Maggie for a bit, Catherine gives herself a healthy dose of machine oil.狠狠地对玛姬施加打击后，凯瑟琳坐在地上给自己上了一堆机油。

After that, she lounges in satisfaction on the sofa.然后心满意足地坐躺在沙发上。

CatherineHey, so what's the job?喂，所以那个委托到底是什么？

Maggie... I don't know yet.…… 还不清楚。

CatherineYou accepted it without even knowing what it was?还不清楚你就敢接？

MaggieIt's not going to be easy, that's for sure. The client was willing to save us from the Vory just because we accepted the job.总之不会是容易的事情。 光是接下这个委托，对方就敢把你我从律贼手里抢下命来。

Catherine...I'm pretty sure our client isn't going to let us rip them off just like that. I get the feeling we'll have to pay it back soon enough.……委托人肯定不会就这样让我们占便宜的，总感觉很快就会还回去。

MaggieRelax, we've always managed to make it onto Noah's Ark in the past. It won't be different this time.放心，每一次我们都爬上了诺亚方舟的甲板，这次也不会例外。

CatherineThat's true. So, when do we start working on the job?也是。 所以从什么时候开始做那个单子？

MaggieRight now.现在。

CatherineAh... So how should we begin?啊……那该怎么开始？

MaggieWe'll know tomorrow. So far, our client has only given us a name for the job, "Casino Royale", and an anonymous call.明天就知道了，目前为止对方只提供了单子名称“皇家赌场”以及一个匿名通讯。

Click— Maggie replays that untraceable call.嘀—— 玛姬重现了那个无法溯源的通讯。

СерыйYour interview will be at 9am tomorrow at the following coordinates.你的面试我将安排在明早9点，坐标如下。

CatherineIt really is untraceable...确实完全无法溯源……

MaggieWe haven't come up against someone like this in a long time.很久没有遇见这样的对手了。

CatherineAnyone who can take care of the Vory that easily... is definitely no pushover... Good grief, out of the frying pan and into the fire.能轻易搞定律贼……一定不是什么简单的角色…… 真是刚出虎穴，又进狼窝。

MaggieNo, it's more like driving a tiger to devour a wolf.你错了，这叫驱虎吞狼。

CatherineStill, we're not entirely without clues. Серый means "gray" in Russian.不过，倒也不是完全没有线索，серый这个词语，是俄语中灰色的意思。

MaggieGray... I guess there must be some other meaning behind that word, so we need to peel it back, layer by layer... Reminds me of old times, though the people we dealt with weren't nearly as troublesome as what we have on our hands right now.灰色…… 我猜这个词语背后还有着其他含义，需要我们去一层层剥开…… 这让我想起了很多旧时光，只不过那时候的客人，远没有现在的难缠。

Several days later, at the Flora Institute in Bremen.几天后 不莱梅 芙洛拉研究所

Maggie arrives at a big building in the middle of the city, in keeping with the place and time on the invitation. She is guided to a waiting area by a receptionist.按照面试邀约上的时间地点，玛姬按时抵达了这座位于市区中心的大厦，并在前台小姐的引领下，走进了等待区。

Once the receptionist leaves, Maggie is left alone in the lavishly-decorated waiting lounge. Maggie notes that some of the signboards read "Galatea", but a further search proves inconclusive.装潢豪华的等候大厅，在前台小姐离开后，只剩下玛姬一人。 玛姬注意到部分立牌上有“迦拉提亚”的字样，但搜索之后什么结果也没有。

???Miss Maggie?玛姬小姐？

A door opens and a woman in a white uniform beckons at Maggie.一扇门打开，身着白色制服的女性对玛姬招了招手。

???This way, please.请来这边。

Led by the woman in white, Maggie enters an office and takes a seat on a cushy sofa.在白衣女人的带领下，玛姬走进了办公室，坐在了柔软的沙发上。

The woman doesn't wait for Maggie to settle in before she begins.不等玛姬坐稳，女人就冷淡地开始了流程。

???Let's begin the interview, then.那么面试就开始了。

MaggieAlright.好的。

???Name.姓名。

MaggieMaggie Ponzi.玛姬·庞兹。

???Job.职业。

MaggieEr... Social engineer.嗯……社会工程师。

The other person aloofly notes down Maggie's information.对方冷漠地敲下了玛姬的信息。

MaggieIn exchange, tell me who you are?作为交换，你的身份？

ClientI am the client from "Casino Royale". I called you before, and now you must pass my test before I give you the assignment.“皇家赌场”委托人。 我之前通过通讯联络过你，你现在要通过我的考验，才能拿到我的委托。

MaggieUnderstood. Let's begin, then.了解，那么请开始吧。

ClientThe test has already started. Miss Maggie, use any means to convince me to hand the assignment to you.考验已经开始了。 玛姬小姐，请用你最擅长的方式，让我自愿把委托交给你。

MaggieHm? ANY means?嗯？什么方式都可以吗？

ClientYes.当然。

MaggieBefore I begin, please clarify one thing for me— Only the client can decide if I'll get the assignment, right?在开始前，请让我先明确一个问题—— 只有委托人才可以做出将委托交给我的决定，对吗？

ClientCorrect.没错。

MaggieSo there's no way I can pass this test.那么这个考验根本就是不可能完成的。

Client... Why do you say that?…… 为什么这么说？

MaggieBecause you're not the client.因为你不是委托人。

ClientAre you trying to gain the assignment by angering me? How rude.你是想通过激怒我的方式来获取委托吗？ 未免也太失礼了吧。

MaggieI have no intention of taking you lightly, Miss Leone.我完全没有轻视你的意思，雷奥妮女士。

MaggieIt was easy enough to learn your true identity by analyzing your voiceprint and verifying it with your appearance. Incidentally, the annual report you published for the Flora Institute last year was quite interesting. Still, while this may cause some offense, I do not think you are qualified to be our mysterious client. After all, our amazing client helped me resolve quite a sticky problem yesterday.通过对你的声纹进行稍微的解析，还有你的外貌作为验证，很容易找到你的真实身份。 顺便一提，你去年发布的芙洛拉植物研究所的年度报告非常精彩。 不过，可能这么说有些冒犯，我不认为你够格做这个神秘的委托人。 毕竟昨天这位厉害的委托人替我解决了不小的麻烦。

ClientHuh?哈啊？

MaggieJudging by how you're hiding your name tag, did you think I read all this information off it? That would show a tremendous lack of craft and it isn't in keeping with the tone of your company.看你藏起名牌的动作，该不会以为我是偷看了这上面的信息吧？ 那可太没技术含量了，和贵司的调性不够匹配。

Client... Very well.…… 很好。

After recovering from her shock, Leone slowly leans back and the calm returns to her face.从惊诧中回过神来的雷奥妮缓缓靠向椅背，冷淡又回到了她的脸上。

MaggieIn that case—那么——

Clap, clap, clap—啪啪啪——

A round of applause reaches her ears, and the power within the room briefly cuts out. By the time Maggie acclimates to the darkness, Leone is gone. In its place is a three-dimensional hologram that glows in the dark.一阵掌声传来，随之而来是室内电力的短暂切断。 等玛姬快速适应黑暗之后，雷奥妮已经不见了。 取而代之的，是一个在黑暗中亮起的三维形象。

СерыйGreetings, Miss Maggie.初次见面，玛姬小姐。

MaggieMrs. "Gray", I presume?“灰色”女士？

СерыйAren't you going to use the same trick on me? Analyze my voiceprint and use my appearance to verify my identity?不打算对我使用同样的招式确认一下吗？ 稍微解析下我的声纹，加上我的外貌？

MaggieNah. I doubt it'll work on you anyway. Or rather, the "Mrs. Gray" I'd find wouldn't be the real you.不必了。 想必这些方式对你来说并没有用。 或者说，查出来的“格雷女士”并不是真正的你。

СерыйI like intelligent people who know their limits, Miss Maggie Ponzi. Or should I say, Miss Maggie Ponzi's Doll assistant?我喜欢懂得分寸的聪明人，玛姬·庞兹小姐。 或者该说，玛姬·庞兹小姐的助理人形？

The finger Maggie is lightly tapping on the sofa freezes.玛姬轻轻敲击沙发的手指僵住了。

СерыйDon't worry, your background is to your advantage. At first, I had my doubts about the deception skills of a Doll, but after learning you were one of the Dolls working for the Fox Sisterhood, I began looking forward to your performance.别担心，这个背景是你的优势。 我本来对人形的欺诈术还尚存疑虑，但在得知你是福克斯姐妹会的下属人形之后，对你的表现才有了期待。

MaggieI thought nobody remembered the Fox Sisterhood anymore.我以为已经没人记得福克斯姐妹会了。

СерыйHumans have forgotten too many things that they should not have. I heard they vanished after WWIII. To think I'd get to meet someone from that organization today.现在的人类遗忘了太多不该忘记的东西。 听说福克斯姐妹会在三战之后就走向消亡了。 没想到今天还能见到那个组织的人。

MaggieNo wonder you agreed to rescue Catherine so readily.难怪你这么爽快地答应救出凯瑟琳。

СерыйI have always been generous to people of worth.我对有价值的人一向很慷慨。

MaggieSo, what else is there, other than my background as part of the Fox Sisterhood? What is it about us that you find worthwhile?除了福克斯姐妹会的背景呢？ 我们身上真正让你觉得有价值的，到底是什么？

СерыйI can always rest easy when speaking with intelligent people.和聪明人交谈真让人省心。

Mrs. Gray rises slowly and steps away from the camera before returning shortly afterwards with a cup of coffee.灰夫人缓缓起身，离开了镜头前，过了半晌才端着一杯咖啡回来。

СерыйThat would be the Project Tequila you're helming, or let's be frank here, would it be better to call it the Tequila Scam?你主导的龙舌兰项目，还是让我们坦诚点，称作龙舌兰骗局好呢？

СерыйThat's why the Vory chased you all over the city, isn't it?正是因为这个，才让律贼追着你们满城跑吧。

MaggieOh dear, we've been found out.啊呀，被发现了。

Maggie chuckles and makes a show of leaning back against the sofa and crossing one leg over the other.轻笑几声，玛姬故作轻松地仰靠在沙发背上，翘起了腿。

СерыйI have to admit, the idea of the scam does fascinate me. Although Ponzi schemes are a relatively old ruse, you made them flower again, Miss Maggie.我要承认，这个骗局的想法让我眼前一亮。 虽然庞氏骗局已经是相对古老的骗术了，但玛姬小姐确实做到了让它再度开花。

MaggieYou flatter me, but that particular project has been wrapped up. If you're interested, I could rehash that idea and—谬赞了，这已经是个完结的项目，你要是感兴趣的话，我可以按照这样的思路再——

СерыйNo. I want this project.不。 我就要这个项目。

Maggie...Please elaborate.……愿闻其详。

The subject keeps shifting beyond her expectations, Maggie can't help but sit up straight again.话题的走向一再出乎玛姬的意料，让她不由得再一次坐直了身体。

Серый"With the frequent outbreaks of wars, a well-known scientist hides behind the scenes, using the power of Relics to develop dirty bombs." The reason why Project Tequila is a scam is because none of that is true.“战争频发，知名科学家隐居幕后，使用遗迹力量研发脏弹”。 龙舌兰项目之所以是骗局，是因为上述的宣言没有一个是真的。

СерыйBut I can make it come true.但我可以让它变成真的。

Maggie ponders Gray's words. Just the funds and resources needed to make that scam come true is enough to send a chill down her spine.玛姬思索了一阵，光是让这个骗局成真所需要花费的资源和资金就已经让她后背发冷。

MaggieYou're going to such great lengths just to make a shell company legit?这样大的投入，只是为了让一个皮包公司转正吗？

СерыйThis is only the beginning. From now on, there will be no Tequila Manufacturing, only a subsidiary of Galatea Corporation.这只是一个开始。 从此不再有龙舌兰制造公司，只有迦拉提亚下属子公司。

MaggieGalatea... So you were interested in the list of investors for Project Tequila.迦拉提亚…… 原来你看中的是龙舌兰项目的投资名单。

СерыйThat is only the first step of the assignment.这只是委托的第一步。

Maggie... Let me guess, here comes the important part of the job?…… 我想，接下来才是这次委托的重点，对吗？

Mrs. Gray smiles.灰夫人笑了笑。

A hitherto-dormant screen lights up in front of Maggie.一块原本休眠的屏幕在玛姬面前亮了起来。

On it is the entire Eurasian landmass. Apart from national borders, the only thing it displays is a legend showing regions of ELID contamination intensity. The map is covered in red, yellow, and green, with the occasional bit of black speckled on it.上面出现了整个欧亚大陆的地图，除了国界线以外，地图上只有ELID污染区浓度的标识。 红色、黄色、绿色铺就了整个地图，间或有黑色点缀其中。

СерыйBefore 2030, this world was tightly linked.这个世界，在2030年以前，是紧密连接在一起的。

MaggieIndeed, the Beilan Island incident changed everything.的确，一场北兰岛事件，改变了一切。

СерыйAfter that, mankind split into two factions, those who supported the reunification of the world, and those who opposed it and wanted to preserve the status quo.那之后人类分为两派，支持世界重新连接在一起，或是拒绝重连保持现状。

MaggieHumanity loves to argue, and where there is an argument, you have people taking sides.人类很喜欢发生争议，有争议，就会有立场。

СерыйWell said. However, taking sides is a privilege of those in power. Most people, like myself, for example, simply wish to make the biggest profit we can.说得不错。不过表明立场是当权者施下的霸权。 大部分人，比如我，只想要谋取最大利益。

MaggieYou are a shrewd businesswoman.您是高明的生意人。

A point of light travels from one end of the continent to another, a meandering line that penetrates all of Eurasia. The contaminated zones in its way do not hinder it in the least.一个光点从大陆的一端划到另一端，一条蜿蜒的线条就这样贯穿了整个大陆。 沿途的污染区都无法阻挡分毫。

СерыйAnd now, a great profit lies before us. The Siberian Lifeline is reopening, and I need an agent.现在，有一份巨大的利益就摆在眼前。 西伯利亚生命线正在重启，我需要一个代理人。

MaggieYou mean... the Intercontinental Railway is starting up again?您是说……洲际列车正在重启？

СерыйYes, the Intercontinental Railway that spans all of Eurasia, passes through the contaminated zones and connects Germany and Russia.对，横跨欧亚大陆，穿越污染区，接壤苏德的洲际列车。

Maggie...What a grand miracle. So, what do you need me to do for this massive engineering project?……真是伟大的奇迹。 那么在这样的超级工程里，您需要我做些什么？

СерыйI need another miracle.另一个奇迹。

Mrs. Gray smiles dangerously.灰夫人绽开了一个危险的笑容。

СерыйA miracle on par with the Intercontinental Railway, but for Dolls.一辆比肩洲际列车的奇迹，针对于人形的奇迹。

At night, in a Bremen safe house.夜晚 不莱梅 安全屋

CatherineMaggie?玛姬？

Maggie is seated on the floor with her back against the main door and gives no response.玛姬背靠大门席地而坐，没有回应。

After a while, she looks up at Catherine.过了半晌才抬起头，看向凯瑟琳。

CatherineYou're looking all serious.你的表情很沉重。

MaggieThis is one hell of a job we're taking on.这次的生意真是不得了。

Catherine... But it doesn't look like we're in any position to refuse.…… 但我们好像没有拒绝的权力了。

MaggieWe've been caught up in it. There's no way back for us.已经被卷进去了。 没有退路。

Catherine walks over to Maggie and sits down with her in front of the door.凯瑟琳走到玛姬的身边，跟她一起坐在了门前的地板上。

MaggieIf we're still alive after we finish this job, let's look for a quiet place with great scenery and hide out there for a bit.干完这一票我们还活着的话，找个风景清幽的地方隐居一阵子吧。

Catherine...Sure. How much longer until then?……好。 那还得需要多久啊？

MaggieSeveral months, if it goes quickly. Several years if it doesn't.快的话几个月，慢的话几年。

CatherineWe'll survive, no matter how long it takes.不管多久，我们都会活下来的。

Catherine and Maggie lean against each other on the cold floor. This silent companionship has been their unique way of comforting each other for a very long time. From dark basements to run-down séance rooms, all the way until now. Until forever.坐在冰冷的地板上，凯瑟琳和玛姬靠在了彼此的身上。 这种无言的陪伴从很久以前，就成为两人特有的安慰方式。 从漆黑的地下室，破败的通灵鬼屋，一直到今天。 一直到未来。

5-β5 Danse Macabre 5-β5 骷髅之舞

The next day, at the Gray Institute of Biotechnology in Berlin.翌日 柏林 格雷生物科技研究所

Maggie and Catherine enter the research institute with their invitation in hand. The marble floor and the clean white walls are almost dazzling as they reflect the internal lights.拿着邀请函，玛姬和凯瑟琳准时进入了研究所。 洁白的大理石，洁白的墙壁，在明亮光线的反射下，散发出有些炫目的光泽。

CatherineThis place certainly has a very human feel to it. We're totally out of place here...真是充满人类气息的高级研究所。 和我们是多么格格不入啊……

Maggie...We don't need to blend in. It's not like we'll be working here anyway.……不需要融入，这又不是我们将来的工作场所。

CatherineOh? I thought we'd be spending a lot of time here.嗯？我还以为接下来会大部分时间在这边。

MaggieDolls have places where Dolls ought to be.人形该有人形的去处。

There is nobody at the front desk of the research center. The two of them exchange looks and then walk in like it was the most natural thing in the world.研究所的前台没有人，两人相视一眼，自然地走了进去。

Catherine"Idunn"... What's that behind it?“伊登”……后面的是什么？

MaggieI think we're in the ELID medicine development area.这里应该是研发辐射症药物的区域。

???...Excuse me, who might you be?……两位是？

A woman in a lab coat approaches Maggie and Catherine with a curious look on her face, her wary gaze carefully examining them.一位身着制服的女性疑惑地走向玛姬和凯瑟琳，机警的视线在两人身上仔细搜寻着。

Maggie produces her invitation.玛姬出示了邀请函。

???Ah, you're Teacher's guests. Hello, my name is Nele.啊是老师的客人，你们好，我叫奈乐。

NeleDid the receptionist run off again? In that case, please come with me, Miss Maggie. I'll take you to Teacher's room. I'm afraid your companion will have to wait outside.前台又不见了吗？ 那么，“玛姬”女士，请随我来，我带你去老师的办公室。 另一位需要在外面等候哦。

MaggieVery well.好的。

CatherineYou have a teacher, Miss Nele?奈乐小姐的老师？

NeleHm? Didn't you read it carefully?嗯？你们没有仔细看吗？

Nele adjusts her glasses and points at the sender's name on the invitation.奈乐扶了扶眼镜框，指了下邀请函的落款。

Nele"Lady of Ashes", or Mrs. Gray—my teacher.“灰夫人”，就是我的老师——格雷女士。

Maggie smiles in amusement.玛姬玩味地笑了笑。

Gray is seated behind a desk, enjoying a fragrant cup of coffee.格雷坐在办公桌后，正在享用一杯香气四溢的咖啡。

GrayWe meet again, Miss Maggie.又见面了，玛姬小姐。

MaggieHello, Mrs. Gray.你好，灰夫人。

GrayAre you getting used to Berlin's weather?柏林的天气，还适应吗？

MaggieI'll have to get used to it sooner or later.以后总是要适应的。

GrayWould you like something to drink?你想要喝什么？

MaggieI like whiskey and tequila myself.我喜欢威士忌和龙舌兰。

GrayUnfortunately, this is a lab, and to ensure everyone is clear of mind, we typically only stock caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee.可惜这里是办公室，为了保持大家的清醒，一般只有茶或者咖啡这类富含咖啡因的饮品。

Maggie smiles.玛姬笑了笑。

MaggieAnd what drinks do you like, Mrs. Gray?格雷女士喜欢什么酒？

GrayA dry martini, shaken, not stirred.一杯干马天尼，摇匀，不要搅拌。

Maggie nods, then gracefully extends her hand in invitation. There is a little coin there, and Gray naturally grabs it.玛姬点了点头，行了个优雅的邀请礼，将自己的手心朝上，伸到格雷的面前。 那里放着一枚小小的硬币，格雷自然而然地握住了它。

The line between reality and fantasy blurs, and the lights grow misty.现实与虚幻之间，从灯光变成了白雾。

An engine roars and wheels churn noisily over metal tracks.轰——哐哐哐——

The sound of a clamorous train washes over her.喧嚣的列车奔驰声涌来。

Gray is seated inside a retro-style train carriage. She quirks up an eyebrow.格雷坐在复古车厢里，微微挑眉。

Maggie is already working with practiced skill. A moment later, the high-stemmed glass before her is filled with a translucent liquid.玛姬已经熟练地操作起来，片刻之后，面前的高脚杯中已经斟上了清澈透亮的液体。

A plump olive then plops into the glass.一颗饱满的橄榄紧随其后地落入杯中。

MaggieYour martini. Please enjoy.请享用，专属于您的马天尼。

With a smile, Gray brings the wineglass to her lips and takes a sip.格雷露出些笑意，端起了面前的酒杯，递到唇边浅抿一口。

GrayJust right.刚刚好。

Gray downs the entire martini in one gulp. To have an entire drink finished in a single swig with nothing left over is the highest accolade a bartender can receive.话音未落，格雷就将整杯干马天尼一饮而尽。 在这杯干马天尼最好的状态，一滴不落地喝光，正是对调酒师最好的嘉奖。

MaggieThank you for your largesse, Mrs. Gray.感谢格雷女士的赏脸。

GrayI like this welcome gift very much.这份见面礼，我很喜欢。

The stiff drink brings a flush of pink to Gray's cheeks. She puts the glass down and looks at Maggie again.烈酒微微染红了格雷的双颊，她放下酒杯，再度望向玛姬。

GrayIs this also a legacy of the Fox Sisterhood?这也是福克斯姐妹会的遗产？

MaggieOh yes. Things like this rarely survive to the present day in such good condition.是的，是难得能维持全貌到今天的东西了。

GrayStill, it's a bit old, much like your jammer. Hiding one in a coin is an old trick that isn't too commonly seen nowadays.可惜有些陈旧了，和你的干扰器一样。 把干扰器隐藏在硬币中的古老戏法，已经很少见了。

MaggieIt is a little behind the times, but a new iteration of the system would require a lot of money and equipment.确实有些跟不上时代了，但要升级迭代新的系统，离不开昂贵的资金和设备。

GrayIs this an indirect request for funding and technical support?你这是拐弯抹角地在跟我申请资金和设备吗？

MaggieMhm. This is a necessary expenditure for the project.嗯哼。 这是应当付出的项目成本。

GrayI told you, I've always been very generous to people of worth. Another martini, please.我说过，我对待有价值的人一向是很慷慨的。 再来一杯马天尼吧。

MaggieNo problem.没问题。

In an instant, Maggie has made another dry martini.片刻间，玛姬又做好了一杯干马天尼。

MaggieEnjoy.请用。

Gray smiles and reaches out toward the glass, but her hand makes no effort to take it—格雷的唇角染上一抹笑，她向着酒杯伸出手，但手却直直和酒杯错开——

Instead, her slender fingers gently brush the strands of Maggie's hair.纤细修长的手指轻轻点了点玛姬的头发。

Maggie reflexively tries to avoid her, but after a brief pause, she decides to stay put.玛姬下意识想要躲开，顿了一秒，还是保持了不动的状态。

GrayAre you afraid?你很害怕？

Maggie...A servant should not look a goddess in the eye.……仆人不应当直视神明。

GrayAre all the Dolls from the Fox Sisterhood smooth talkers like you?福克斯姐妹会的人形都像你一样会说话吗？

MaggieIt's basic upbringing for a social engineer.这是社会工程师的自我修养。

GrayRelax, I'm just examining your body. It really is quite a mess. Is this the level of modified civilian Dolls nowadays?别紧张，只是看看你的素体。 不过你这具素体还真是乱来，这就是现在民用人形的改装水平吗？

MaggieThat's why I need your support.所以才需要您的支持。

GrayThat makes sense.有道理。

Gray's presses her palm against where Maggie's heart would be.格雷的手掌打开，抵住了玛姬心脏的位置。

It sinks into her chest, inch by inch, until her entire hand is within Maggie's ribcage.一寸一寸地没入，直到整个手掌都进入了玛姬的胸膛。

GrayYou ought to clear out your neural cloud, you know.心智空间，也该好好清理了。

Maggie... Thank you.…… 多谢。

The keen sensation of pain makes Maggie realize that Gray has already taken control of her neural cloud...清晰的痛感，玛姬意识到格雷已经开始控制她的心智……

When she comes to, she finds herself still sitting on the same soft seat and looking at the same view out the window. However, Gray has vanished from her place opposite her.回过神来，柔软的座椅，窗外的风景依旧如常。 但是对面的格雷不见了。

Pzzt... A lifeless face appears in the train window.兹——车窗上映现出了一张毫无生气的脸庞。

White NytoPlease wait inside the cabin until the upgrade is complete.请待在车厢内，直到改造完成。

MaggieCould you at least tell me what you're doing to my neural cloud?至少让我知道，你们要对我的心智做些什么吧？

White Nyto... We will be upgrading your antiquated systems and temporarily opening an information system interface.…… 升级你老旧的系统，对你暂时开放了情报系统的接口。

Maggie...An information system?……情报系统？

White Nyto"The Bee Sting". It goes everywhere. I will repeat it for the last time, stay inside the cabin and do not leave, or you will be considered trash and eliminated.“蜂针”，无孔不入。 最后重复一遍，待在车厢，不要出来，否则会被当做废品一起清理掉。

The girl's face vanishes from the window.少女的面庞从车窗上消失了。

Maggie conjures a glass of lemonade, but it does nothing to soothe her unease.玛姬伸手唤出一杯柠檬水，但依然安抚不了躁动不安的情绪。

MaggieWait a minute...等等……

She suddenly jumps to her feet and pulls open the cabin door. As expected, there are unusual changes in the corridor outside.她唰地站起来，拉开了车厢的门，走廊外果然出现了一些不寻常的变化。

The long, narrow corridor that would usually be there is gone, replaced by a dark, spacious hall.往日狭长的走廊消失了，取而代之的，是一个阴暗宽阔的大厅。

Several girls in white carry candles as they wander through it, like pale specters gathering before the bed of the deceased.几个白衣少女手持蜡烛，在其中游走，犹如苍白的幽灵，前往死者的床榻前。

The Ouija board on the table spins wildly, and the air is filled with fluttering poker cards.桌上的通灵板胡乱地转动着，漫天的扑克牌飞舞不休。

Maggie...So these are the modifications she's making.……原来是这样的改造啊。

In a spacious and nearly-lightless basement, a single girl stands in the corner.几乎没有光源的地下室，空旷的房间中，只有一个少女站在角落。

Whoosh— Poker cards fly out from her hands like spirit butterflies.唰—— 像灵动的蝴蝶般，扑克牌在她的手中翻飞着。

???The practice begins.练习开始。

Whoosh—Whoosh— The poker cards fly out with flawless precision, landing at their indicated locations.咻——咻—— 扑克牌精准地飞出，落在了标定的地点。

Maggie listens carefully. These girls in white are completely unaware of this basement. She smiles faintly in relief.玛姬仔细听了听，那些白色少女完全没有发现这间地下室。 微微露出一点安心的笑容。

MaggieYou just don't understand me well enough, Mrs. Gray... I'm not going to just sit here and await my fate!格雷女士，你还是不够了解我啊…… 我可不是……会坐以待毙的人！

5-β7 Cavalleria Rusticana 5-β7 乡村骑士间奏曲

In a lab at the Gray Institute of Biotechnology, Berlin.柏林 格雷生物科技研究所 实验室

Maggie comes to her senses on an operating table. She is the only one left in the vast room.玛姬睁开眼，从手术台上醒来，偌大的房间，只剩下她一个人。

Maggie... Is... the modification complete?…… 改造……已经完成了吗？

The room is so big that even her words seem to echo a little.出口的话语甚至在这空荡荡的房间中隐约有了回音。

Maggie touches the place where her neural cloud is stored.玛姬摸了摸心智存放的位置。

MaggieWell, she really is a famous "doctor". The best kind of feeling is when you feel nothing.不愧是知名“医生”。 什么感觉都没有，就是最好的感觉。

MaggieWait a minute... What about the contents of the job?等等……委托的内容呢？

Maggie... Hello? Is anyone there?…… 你好？有人在吗？

Nobody answers her, and Maggie's gaze wanders through the room until it finally settles on the computer at the desk. The computer screen is in sleep mode, and after ensuring nobody is around, she walks towards it and taps the touchscreen lightly...始终没有回应，玛姬的目光在房间中四处转悠，最终落在了书桌上的电脑。 电脑屏幕是休眠状态，确认没人后，她走向电脑，手轻轻地覆盖在操控屏幕上……

Whoosh—The computer instantly lights up again. A girl in white appears on the monitor.唰——电脑瞬间恢复亮度。 一个白衣少女出现在了电脑屏幕上。

White NytoThe assignment details have been sent to you through the "Bee Sting" system. The serial number is AS54876323025412.委托内容已经以档案的方式通过“蜂针”系统发送给你了。 编号为AS54876323025412。

MaggieWhat about Mrs. Gray?格雷女士呢？

White NytoBig Sister Gray has other important matters to attend to.格雷姐姐还有其他重要的事要处理。

Maggie tries to open the file in her neural cloud. Decrypting ■FILE■ AS54876323025412...玛姬尝试着在心智空间里打开那份档案。 ■档案■ AS54876323025412解码中……

Maggie...So this Tareus will be my contact?……对接人，是这位塔亚柔斯吗？

When Maggie looks up again, the white-haired girl is already gone.玛姬再抬头时，白衣少女已经不见了。

After Maggie leaves, Gray pours herself another cup of coffee.玛姬离开后，格雷给自己新泡了一杯咖啡。

NemhranWe only managed to scan less than 90% of this Doll's neural cloud data.这个人形的心智数据，我们只扫描了不到90%。

GrayMinor deviations are fine as long as they don't affect the big picture. In other words, if she can evade your system, it means she's capable of handling the job.只要不影响大局，一点小动作就随她去吧。 换言之，能躲过您的系统，说明这份工作她应该足以胜任。

NemhranAs you wish. However, I do not like the presence of potential risks.随便你。 不过，我不喜欢隐患的存在。

Gray walks over to the record player and gently places the needle on a spinning record.格雷走到唱片机的边上，将唱针轻轻放在旋转的唱片上。

Slow music fills the air.悠扬雅致的音乐响起。

GrayDon't worry, big sister Nemhran. I guarantee your "Bee Sting" will take control of that Lifeline.别担心，尼梅兰姐姐。 我会保证您的“蜂针”，占领那条生命线。

In the last carriage of the Colt Express.柯尔特快车 最后一节车厢

A pair of poker cards lie quietly on the table— A queen of hearts and a king of hearts. They sit before Maggie and Catherine respectively.两张扑克牌静静地躺着—— 分别是红桃Q和红桃K。 而牌前各自坐着玛姬和凯瑟琳。

CatherineIt's finally over.终于结束了。

MaggieNo, it's only just begun.不，才刚刚开始。

CatherineWhat did she do to you?她对你做了什么？

MaggieA major performance upgrade.极大的性能优化。

CatherineSo you won't have to worry about your body not being able to handle your neural cloud operations anymore?那你以后是不是就不用担心素体承载不住心智运算了？

MaggieThe problem isn't completely solved; they just expanded the capacity of certain parts. What a sweatshop it is. Every cent they give you has to be paid back twofold.并没有完全解决，只是扩充了部分容量。 哎，真是血汗工厂，花的每一分钱都要加倍收回。

CatherineCare to demonstrate?展示一下？

Maggie waves her hand and brings up a blue system interface in front of Catherine. The interface is extremely minimalistic. There is only a single entry field for her name.玛姬伸手一挥，将一个蓝色的系统界面展示在了凯瑟琳面前。 界面非常简洁，只有一个输入姓名的搜索框。

Maggie inputs her name.玛姬在其中输入了自己的名字。

Catherine...So this is the latest tech of the 21st century...……这才是21世纪的新技术……

MaggieWith enough money, we could install the newest toys into ourselves whenever they come out.……只要足够有钱，我们每次都能装上最新的东西。

The pop-up pages list all kinds of information about Maggie in exacting detail. No distinction is made for how important or trivial the information is—even every word that Catherine said while she was griping about Maggie in the pantry earlier has been logged.随之跳出的页面中清晰地列出了有关玛姬的情报。 事无巨细，连刚才凯瑟琳在茶水间吐槽了多少句玛姬都被记录在内。

MaggieThat's the "Bee Sting", and it gets in everywhere...“蜂针”，无孔不入……

Maggie now realizes what she meant by that.玛姬现在理解了这句话的含义。

CatherineThis is scary... I can feel countless eyes staring at me...这太可怕了…… 我现在感觉有无数双眼睛在盯着我……

MaggieWell, at least we're not their enemies... for now.至少现在，我们还不是他们的敌人。

CatherineThe noise that I heard when I was sitting out here scared me to death. But after you showed up, it seemed to have stopped too.我刚刚坐在这里，听到外面的声音怕得要死。 不过等你出现之后，那些声音似乎也停下了？

MaggieYup. I made some changes to keep them in the dark.嗯，为了避免被他们发现，我做了点小手脚。

CatherineAnd here I thought...我还以为……

MaggieYou thought I'd give this up for the sake of the deal?你以为我为了完成交易，连这些东西也会放弃？

CatherineYeah...嗯……

MaggieNo way. I wouldn't be me if I gave up on something like this.不会的。 如果连这些东西也放弃，我也不再是我了。

CatherineIt almost feels like... you've hit up a loan shark to pay off a ruthless creditor...感觉像是……为了摆脱无良债主，借了一屁股高利贷……

MaggieIt's just how things are for Dolls that don't belong anywhere. We need to be careful every step of the way, because we have no room for error. One false move and we'll plunge into a bottomless abyss.无归属人形就是这样啊，每一步都需要无比谨慎，我们的容错率太低了。 只要一步错，就会落入万丈深渊。

Catherine...I hope we backed the right person this time.……希望我们这一次押对了人。

MaggiePerson? I couldn't sense anything like that from here. All I can tell is that she wasn't human, but I've never seen a Doll like her before. I get the feeling that something big is going to happen—big enough to change the entire world.人？我从她身上什么都感觉不到。 只能大概判断，不是人类，但我从未见过这样的人形。 感觉有什么重大的事件要发生了，足以改变整个世界的格局。

CatherineAnother Great Flood?洪水又要淹没整个世界了吗？

MaggieWell, we're insignificant specks compared to the Flood and the world. But don't forget that only the tiniest ants can crawl through the gaps and onto Noah's Ark.对这个世界和滔天的洪水而言，我们真是再渺小不过的存在了。 不过别忘了，只有那些渺小如蝼蚁般的存在，才能从缝隙爬进诺亚方舟。

CatherineYup! The only creatures which survived all the way from the past until now are rats and cockroaches!没错！能从远古活到今天的生物，只有老鼠和蟑螂！

Maggie...Use a different metaphor. I hate cockroaches.……下次换个形容。 我讨厌蟑螂。

Two years later, in the workroom of the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".两年后 “未来号”洲际列车 工作间

Maggie slips Susanna a card discreetly.玛姬不动声色地递了一张卡给苏珊娜。

MaggieThanks for your help, Miss Susanna.这是这次的报酬，苏珊娜小姐。

SusannaHumph. Get off once you reach Poznań. Don't let them find you.哼，到了波兹南赶紧下车，别让人发现了。

CatherineGot it.明白。

Susanna takes the card casually. Maggie checks her own neural cloud data just as casually.苏珊娜自然而然地接过了卡。 玛姬则同样自然地检查了她的心智数据。

After copying the information on all the passengers, she heads over to the bar within the dining carriage and takes a seat. She raises her glass.在复制了所有的乘客信息后，她走到了餐车内的吧台处坐下，端起了酒杯。

MaggieTonight the tequila is on me.今夜的龙舌兰，我请了。

The Colt Express is open for business.柯尔特快车交易开启。

Inside the Colt Express, on board the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 柯尔特快车内

Maggie walks through the various carriages making deals while also sifting through the security camera feed for the various parts of the train "Future". The dining carriage... The first-class carriage... The second-class carriage... The restroom...玛姬一边游走于各个车厢交易，一边开始挨个搜寻未来号内的监控。 餐车…… 头等车厢…… 二等车厢…… 卫生间……

And then the Colt Express starts shaking violently.直到柯尔特快车猛烈摇晃起来。

MaggieCrap, that old hag! When she said she was only giving 10 minutes, she really meant it! Dammit, everyone out!糟了，那个老妖婆！说给十分钟，还真就只给十分钟啊！ 该死的，全部脱出！

All the Dolls making trades on the Colt Express are forcibly logged out.正在柯尔特快车中交易的人形被全部强制下线。

Maggie lifts her head from the table, and Catherine watches with a fearful look on her face as Baba Lyuba rushes in from outside the carriage.玛姬从桌上抬起头来，凯瑟琳正一脸惊恐地看着从车厢外冲入的柳芭老妈。

CatherineBaba Lyuba's making a move!柳芭老妈动手了！

MaggieI know that! Keep guarding my body! ...I'm about to find the objective! If we withdraw now, we'll have a hard time finding another lead!我知道，继续看着我的素体！ ……我就快要找到目标了…… 在这里撤退的话，之后就很难再摸到线索了！

Catherine... Got it! I'll think of a way to buy you time...…… 知道了！我会想办法帮你拖延的……

Bang!呯！

A thunderous gunshot rings out, shattering the neat rows of crystal and glassware on the counter.一声巨大的枪响，引得吧台上拥挤的水晶玻璃杯碎了一地。

SusannaAhhhhh—!啊——！

Even Susanna, who's seen it all, can't help but scream.即使是见识甚多的苏珊娜，都忍不住尖叫起来。

Meanwhile, the passengers, who can't keep their terror in check, let out another scream. However, this perfectly harmless reaction is enough to draw the ire of the burly thug named Danil, who immediately trains his gun on them. As the vacuous black muzzle sweeps over them, the weeping men and women swallow their whimpers and wails.而压抑不住恐惧的乘客们再次发出尖锐的喊叫声。 但这连反抗都算不上的反应刚刚冒头，名叫丹尼尔的壮汉便调转了枪口。 被那黑洞洞的枪口顺着扫了一圈，流着眼泪的男人和女人都把哭泣的声音咽了回去。

DanilDolls to Carriage 10; humans to Carriage 8. Leave all your jewelry on the tables and open your luggage.人形往10号走，人类往8号走。 所有首饰全部摊开摆在桌椅上，行李箱则全部打开。

Once Susanna overcomes her initial shock, she suddenly comes to a horrifying realization. She looks up at the old woman before her and stutters incoherently.苏珊娜在最初的惊慌之后，突然意识到了什么，抬起头看着面前的老妇人，惊诧地连声音都开始颤抖。

SusannaBa-ba-ba... Baba Lyuba?! The last of the Neo-Soviet Union's V—柳、柳、柳……柳芭老妈！？ 新苏联最后的律——

Baba Lyuba...The botrytized wine that you prepared was to my taste. You should know what to do next, right?……你准备的贵腐很对我的胃口。 接下来的事你应该明白该怎么做了吧？

Susanna gulps and swallows the words she's about to say. She only speaks again after a long moment of hesitation.苏珊娜咽了咽口水，又把将要出口的话咽了回去。 半天后迟疑着开口。

Susanna... The passenger manifest is in the workroom.…… 乘客信息表在工作间。

Baba LyubaVery good. You're a clever girl.很好，你的确是一个聪明的小姑娘。

The fragile-looking granny seems to have undergone a complete change. Standing on the armrests of her own wheelchair, she pulls out a frightening gun in each hand and cackles. Her ghastly laughter, so utterly discordant with the elegant background music, sounds almost like a dirge.孱弱的老妇人此时完全变了个人，她踏着自己的轮椅，一手抓着一把骇人的枪，与优雅的音乐格格不入的惨烈笑声就像某种催命的乐符。

Behind her, armed gangsters enter the room in an orderly fashion.从她身后的大门里，手持武器的匪徒井然有序地走了出来。

Catherine, who has remained motionless ever since the Vory barged in, is cowering in front of the bar with her head lowered.从律贼进门就一动不敢动的凯瑟琳颤颤巍巍地坐在吧台前面，低着头，连动也不敢动一下。

CatherineMaggie... What should I do...?怎么办……玛姬……

Maggie remains slumped over the table, completely still.玛姬依然趴在桌面上，一动不动。

The Vory begin the work of tying up the passengers and rifling through their belongings.律贼们有条不紊地进行捆绑和搜索工作。

Catherine tries to drag Maggie's body behind the bar to hide it while rejoicing at the savior she's found.凯瑟琳一边拽着玛姬的素体向吧台后躲藏，一边欣喜地发现了一个救星。

—Nikolai.——尼古拉。

Beep-beep—It's the sound of a transmission.滴滴——通讯在响。

He knows who it is even without picking it up. When Catherine saw him, he also caught sight of her. That means Maggie must be pretty close by.不用接通也知道是谁。 在凯瑟琳看向他的时候，他当然也看见了凯瑟琳。 并且知道玛姬肯定在不远处。

NikolaiYou dumb bitch! I helped you delay them for 15 minutes already!蠢女人！都帮你拖延到十五分钟了！

DanilIs something wrong?有异常？

Danil, who's standing beside Nikolai, notices his unnatural stiffness.在尼古拉身边的丹尼尔注意到了尼古拉的不自然。

Nikolai...Most of them are regular Dolls. What could possibly be wrong? You don't have to be such a try-hard around me. Save it for the old lady.……这里大部分都是些普通人形，能有什么异常？ 想邀功也该换个硬茬。

Danil...There are still several more carriages. We had best set up the jammers ASAP.……还有好几节车厢，我们最好尽快布置干扰器。

NikolaiYou aren't the only one working here. Take care of the restroom side. I'll handle the bar side.不是只有你一个人干活，你负责洗手间那半截，我负责吧台这半截。

Beep-beep... His communicator keeps vibrating. Nikolai silently cuts it off.滴滴——通讯持之以恒地响动。 尼古拉默不作声地掐掉。

Then he slowly ties up the Dolls who have ducked off to one side.然后缓缓地给自觉躲到一边的人形们慢慢地捆绑。

Three minutes later.三分钟之后。

Danil...I've taken care of it.……我已经处理好了。

Nikolai has only tied up four of the Dolls.他才绑了四五个。

Baba Lyuba...Danil, you help him.……丹尼尔你帮他一起。

Nikolai...I...……我……

Danil ignores Nikolai and heads over to the bar.丹尼尔无视尼古拉直接来到吧台。

Behind the counter, he finds a trembling Catherine and an unconscious Maggie on the ground. Danil reports it with a strange look on his face.吧台下是瑟瑟发抖的凯瑟琳和躺在地上的玛姬。 丹尼尔脸色古怪地向柳芭老妈汇报。

Danil...Baba, Maggie Ponzi is here too.……老妈，玛姬·庞兹也在这里。

She glances at Nikolai.她看了尼古拉一眼。

Baba LyubaIt's been more than ten minutes.十分钟早就过了。

Baba LyubaWe've made enough concessions for Tareus.我们已经足够给塔亚柔斯面子了。

Nikolai...Yes.……是。

Baba LyubaYou know the drill.如常处理。

DanilYes, Baba!是！

Click—Catherine hears a clear, crisp sound. The sound of a safety latch disengaging.咔哒——凯瑟琳听见头顶传来一声清脆的响声。 那是解除保险栓的声音。

She slowly looks up.她缓缓地抬起头。

Danil...I hope we don't meet again. Bad luck always happens when you show up.……最好不要再见面了。 你们一出现，我们就倒霉。

CatherineBaba Lyuba...柳芭老妈……

Baba Lyuba pays Catherine no heed. Danil presses his gun against Catherine's chest in a brusque manner and takes aim at her neural cloud core.柳芭老妈完全无视凯瑟琳的声音。 丹尼尔利索地将枪口抵在了凯瑟琳的胸口，瞄准了心智核心。

CatherineWait!!! We're actually on a mission... Strictly speaking, we're allies...等一下！！！我们是有任务在身的…… 我们……严格意义上来说，算同伙的……

CatherineMr. Nikolai! Help, Mr. Nikolai!尼古拉先生，尼古拉先生救命啊！

Nikolai glances at her and turns his head away.尼古拉看了她一眼，然后把头转向一边。

Once again, she feels despair wash over her.她再次体会到了绝望。

Bang! Danil's gunshot is the answer to her desperate plea.砰——丹尼尔用枪声做出了回答。

Just as the bullets hit her, Catherine is suddenly shoved aside by a great force!子弹入体的瞬间，凯瑟琳被一阵大力推向一边！

CatherineMaggie!!！！玛姬！

Maggie awakens at a crucial moment, and with a push from her, the round misses its intended target and hits Catherine in the leg instead. Maggie looks up.关键时刻玛姬醒来，而射中凯瑟琳的子弹在玛姬一推之下打偏，命中了凯瑟琳的腿部。 玛姬抬起了头。

Maggie...Baba Lyuba. There is a Tactical Doll hiding in the restroom.……柳芭老妈。 洗手间里藏着战术人形。

Danil! Stay alert!！ 戒备！

All the Vory take up their guns and point them at the restroom. The difference between a Tactical Doll and an ordinary Doll is like heaven and earth.所有律贼们迅速拿起了武器，指着洗手间的位置。 战术人形，和普通人形之间的差距隔着天堑。

Baba Lyuba...Calm down. We have ample firepower.……别紧张。 我们有足够的火力。

Danil...Yes, Baba.……是。

While all the Vory are slowly moving toward the restroom... Below the bar counter—在所有律贼慢慢移向洗手间的时候。 吧台下面——

MaggieCan you still move?你还能动吗？

Catherine...I don't think so. Forget about me. Don't endanger yourself or the mission.……恐怕不行。 优先保证你和任务。

Maggie...Right.……嗯。

CatherineIs that Tactical Doll very strong?那个战术人形很强吗？

MaggieUsing your favorite video game as an example... If your attack points is 5, then hers would be 530,000.……用你最爱的电子游戏来做比方的话。 如果你的战斗力只有5，那她就是530000。

Catherine...Looks like she'll be enough of a distraction for you to escape.……看来足够你乘乱逃离了。

12 Gnossienne No. 1 12 玄秘曲一号

Inside the Colt Express, aboard the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 柯尔特快车

Maggie sits on one side of the table, smiling to the black figure opposite her. A king of spades lies in front of the figure, weighed down by a wine glass.玛姬端坐在桌子的一边，带着微笑看向对面的黑影。 在黑影面前的桌上，一张黑桃K端放在那里，被压在酒杯的下面。

MaggieThis is "her" role.这是“她”的定位。

King of Spades...Understood.……收到。

MaggieSo, what will "Casino Royale" do about the remainder of the payment for this job? When can I expect it?那么“皇家赌场”这个委托单的尾款？……我什么时候能收到呢？

King of Spades...Someone will take care of it.……会有人负责。

King of Spades gives Maggie a glib reply before vanishing before her eyes, just as silently as when she had arrived.黑桃K冷淡地随口应付了一下玛姬，便从她的眼前消失了，正如她来时一样无声无息。

In the rear carriage of the Colt Express, aboard the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 柯尔特快车 最后一节车厢

CatherineShe's back at last...总算回来了……

Catherine sighs in relief upon seeing Maggie show up in the carriage.看见玛姬出现在车厢，凯瑟琳长叹一口气。

CatherineWe have unidentified armed forces outside the train and Vory inside it. The cabin is also leaking... I hope we won't have to take super hard jobs like this again! If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone after Nikolai's money.现在外有不明军队，内有律贼。 车厢还漏水…… 这种超难订单希望以后都不要再有了！ 早知道，就不该贪尼古拉那笔钱。

Maggie...Quit complaining about stuff you can't do anything about.……别嘀嘀咕咕整天说一些没用的事了。

CatherineThen why don't you say something useful?! This is no longer our business now, right...?那你说点有用的！ 现在不是没我们事儿么……

MaggieSays who... We've got a lot to do after this.谁说的…… 接下来的事多着呢。

CatherineHold on, hold on... Let's not talk about this, it's giving me a headache. Don't you think the stakes are a bit too high this time? I thought you'd be playing your usual trick of betting on both sides while they fight each other.打住打住……别说这个了，一说我就头大。 你这一次下注风险是不是太大了？ 我还以为你会跟以前一样，在两个雇主打架的时候两头押注。

Maggie...There are times in life when you can only get on one boat, after all.……人生也有只能踩一条船的情况啊。

CatherineThen what about those armored vehicles outside? I've never seen a battle formation like that before...外面的那些装甲车会怎样呢？ 我还没见过这种阵仗……

MaggieWell, now you know why you shouldn't accept black market jobs offering huge payments other than ones you've personally vetted... I just wanted to make some money to upgrade my body and enjoy my retirement, not mess around with this gang of people who are clearly tired of living.所以你知道为什么绝对不要轻易接下除了自己主导以外的黑市天价委托单了吧…… 我只想赚点更换素体和安享晚年的钱，不想跟这帮不要命的人搞在一起。

CatherineBut the world is getting crazier and crazier. Sometimes, we don't get to choose.但现在的世界越来越混乱了。 有时候轮不到我们来做选择啊。

MaggieHumans never learn their lesson. They fought WWI with basic weapons, WWII with advanced weapons, and WWIII with fully automated ones. ...Who knows how far off we are from WWIV.人类从来不吸取任何教训。 他们用初级的武器打一战，用精良的武器打二战，用全自动化的武器打三战。 ……谁知道四战还有多远啊。

Catherine...Forget it, I don't want to think so far ahead.……算了，我不想想那么久远的事。

Whoosh. Catherine then disappears from inside the carriage.唰。 凯瑟琳的身影从车厢内消失了。

Maggie...Is it really so far ahead? Even if the sky falls, the tall people will hold it up for us. What's the point in me worrying?……真的久远吗？ 天塌了也有个子高的顶，我操心又有什么用呢。

Whoosh. Maggie also disappears. ...唰。 玛姬的身影也从车厢内消失了。 ……

Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车）

Rustle... Rain pounds against the glass of the windows, beating against silent hearts. Nobody is making a fuss about getting off the train anymore. Despair starts to spread through the cramped carriage.沙沙…… 雨点打在车厢的玻璃上，敲击着静默的心。 没有人再吵闹着下车。 绝望的气息开始在狭小的车厢内弥散开。

Susanna stands by the door. As the door closes, she can almost see that corpse in the rain, its eyes open and uncomprehending. The passengers within the carriage check their injuries and silently wait for the dawn that may or may not ever come.苏珊娜站在门边，当门扉掩上的时候，她仿佛还能看到雨幕中那具尸体死不瞑目的样子。 车厢内的乘客们彼此确认着受伤情况，默默等待着也许会出现，也许永远不会出现的黎明。

Erma...You'll feel better if you lie down.……你躺下会舒服一点。

Erma gently nurses Lyudmila's right arm. The latter doesn't seem aware of her own injury as she studies the distant firelight with a cold and silent gaze.艾尔玛小心翼翼地护着柳德米拉的右边手臂。 而对方丝毫没有病号的自觉，用沉默的眼神冷冷地看着远处的灯光。

Erma...Are you really not going to lie down and rest?……你真的不坐下来休息吗？

Lyudmila finally turns to give her a look.柳德米拉似乎终于无法忍受，回头看了她一眼。

LyudmilaIt's my arm that's injured, not my legs. Besides, a minor wound like this is nothing.我伤的是手，不是腿。 而且这点小伤不算什么。

Erma...But I was supposed to protect you.……可是，本来应该我保护你的。

Lyudmila seems a little taken aback.柳德米拉有些错愕。

Lyudmila?？

ErmaI'm the big sister. I should protect you, just like "Mother" protected me.我才是姐姐啊。 应该我保护你，就像“母亲”保护我那样。

Lyudmila...You're overthinking this. He's not your "mother", and he won't protect you.……你想多了。 他不是你的“母亲”，他也不会保护你。

Erma...I don't believe you. You're too dishonest.……我不信。 你太喜欢骗人了。

Lyudmila?？

ErmaIf you don't consider yourself my little sister, then why did you protect me? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your identity as a Soviet secret agent.如果你不认为自己是我的妹妹，那你为什么会保护我？ 放心吧，你是苏联特工的事，我谁也不会说的。

Lyudmila wants to say that anyone would have offered a helping hand under those circumstances. Even as an instructor, she has done so countless times before. But is she really the work of Professor Hume? ...What would happen if she ended up going crazy like before?柳德米拉想说无论是谁，在那种情况下她都会伸出援手。 就像身为教官的自己，无数次做过的那样。 但这真的是休谟博士的作品吗？ ……她最终的结局如果依旧是疯狂，那会是怎样一番景象？

ErmaI made a key just for you in the Summer Garden. If I should forget you, then as long as someone mentions the name Lyudmila in front of me, I'll remember.我在夏园里给你专门制作了一把钥匙。 将来如果我忘记你，只要有人在我面前提起柳德米拉这个名字，我就会想起你来。

Lyudmila...A memory anchor, you mean?……记忆锚点？

ErmaYes. They take the form of keys in my neural cloud. Although I might forget you after a while, it's okay, because I'll eventually remember you someday.对，我的心智里它们是钥匙的形状。 虽然可能过阵子我会忘记你，不过没关系，总有一天我会想起来。

Lyudmila... Please stop looking for Professor Hume. Forget him, find a job, and live as a free Doll.…… 你别再寻找休谟博士了。 忘了他，随便找一份工作，作为自由人形活下去。

ErmaI can't.……不行。

LyudmilaWhy are you so persistent?为什么这么坚持？

ErmaI told you, I want to be a complete "self". Each of my memories is precious to me. They shape me, they accompany me, and they comfort me. If I forget those people and things by accident... Then it would be very unfair to them! ...And it wouldn't be fair on my part...我说过了，我想做一个完整的“自己”。 每一份记忆都对我弥足珍贵，它们会塑造我，陪伴我，安慰我。 如果我在不经意间忘记了那些人那些事。 这对他们来说很不公平！ ……那我也太过分了……

LyudmilaMemories aren't all good, you know.记忆里不是只有美好。

ErmaSo what? The good memories are mine, and the painful memories are also mine. Together, they make up all of me.那又怎样？ 美好的记忆是我的，痛苦的记忆也是我的。 它们一起，才拼成了完整的我。

Lyudmila...Then go.……那就去吧。

ErmaHm? Are you going to tell me about "Professor Hume" now? You don't hate talking about him anymore?嗯？ 你同意告诉我“休谟博士”的事情了？ 不再讨厌提起他了？

Lyudmila...No.……没有。

ErmaFine, let's talk about something else. ...How did you know that they weren't a rescue party? Didn't they respond to Miss Susanna's signal?好吧，那我们换个话题。 ……你怎么知道那些不是救援小队？ 苏珊娜小姐打出的信号他们不是给出回应了吗？

Lyudmila sighs.柳德米拉叹了口气。

LyudmilaThey came too quickly.他们来得太快了。

ErmaBut we only just left Warsaw, and with such a big ruckus, surely the outside should have gotten word, right...?我们开出华沙不远，而且这么大的动静，外面应该很快就会收到消息吧……

LyudmilaEven if there just so happened to be reinforcements nearby that responded immediately, they wouldn't have taken on that formation. ...Because that's an armored assault formation.就算正巧有附近的救援部队能第一时间赶到，也不会摆出那样的阵型。 ……那是装甲部队的攻击阵型。

ErmaArmored... assault formation?装甲部队……攻击阵型？

LyudmilaNo country would deploy rescue forces in attack formation. Doctors should be carrying blood bags, not bayonets.没有哪一个国家的救援会摆开攻击阵型。 医生应该带血包，而不是刺刀。

Erma...I see.……原来如此。

Just then, a voice suddenly calls out to her.此时，一个声音突然传来。

Maggie...What are you talking to yourself about, Instructor Lyudmila?……柳德米拉教官你自言自语些什么？

Erma...Ack, I forgot I was having a direct conversation with you.……哎呀我忘记我是在直接跟你对话了。

Lyudmila... What's the matter?…… 什么事？

MaggieA Doll called Pavel wants to see you. But he's got an ELID patient with him and the humans inside the carriage refuse to open the door.一个叫保尔的人形想要见你。 但他携带了一名感染者，车厢内的人类拒绝开门。

At the gangway connection between Carriages F09 and F10 of the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09/F10车厢连接处

Lyudmila brings Erma and Maggie with her to the gangway connection. The Dolls there have cleared out some space, in which Pavel the Doll is standing. He has a girl behind him who is showing obvious signs of infection. Her eyes are tightly shut and it's plain to see that she's blind.柳德米拉带着艾尔玛和玛姬，来到了车厢连接处。 连接处的人形泾渭分明地划分开一个区域，区域里站着人形保尔。 他的身后带着一个明显出现感染者症状的小女孩，小女孩眼睛紧闭，很明显是个盲人。

ErmaMr. Pavel... What happened?保尔先生……发生什么事了？

Pavel nods to Erma in acknowledgment.保尔点头跟艾尔玛示意。

PavelErma. It's a long story...艾尔玛。 说来话长……

He then turns to Lyudmila.随后他把脸转向柳德米拉。

PavelInstructor Lyudmila. We have only spoken over the comms, but I remember that you're in command here.柳德米拉教官，虽然我们只在通讯里见过，但我记得你还是这里的指挥。

Lyudmila quietly studies him. A girl and a railway Doll; a pairing that's unlikely and practically unheard of.柳德米拉静静地看了他一眼。 小女孩和铁路人形，这几乎是从未见过的组合。

Pavel...Rosita can still be saved. We're bringing her to Berlin for treatment. Please help us, Instructor.……萝希塔还有救。 我们这次就是带她去柏林治病的。 教官，帮帮我们。

Seemingly disturbed by the mood in the room, the girl that Pavel is shielding behind him suddenly speaks up.似乎是被这里的气氛搅得有些不安，被保尔护在身后的少女忽然嘟囔出声。

RositaPavel... S-stop begging people for my sake.保尔……我们，我们不要求人了。

Rosita sounds very weak.萝希塔的声音很虚弱。

PavelIt'll be fine, Rosita... The train just broke down for a bit. They'll fix it soon.没事的萝希塔……只是列车出了点故障。 很快就会好起来的。

RositaNo... stop fighting...不……不要吵架了……

PavelUm... Rosita?嗯……萝希塔？

Rosita's voice grows weaker and weaker. Realizing that something isn't right, Pavel immediately bends down and feels her forehead.萝希塔的声音逐渐变得更加虚弱，意识到不妙的保尔赶忙蹲下摸了摸她的额头。

Pavel...She's feverish... Instructor!……她发烧了…… 教官！

Pavel turns around. There's no expression in his large eyes, but strangely enough, she can see the burning anxiety in them.保尔转过来，大大的眼睛虽然没有表情，却奇异地表现出焦灼的情绪。

Pavel...I once served in the Siberian Lifeline Project, Instructor. Perhaps I can be of use to the people here...……我曾服务于西伯利亚生命线工程，教官，或许我还对这里的人有用……

MaggieThe doctor in Carriage 1 might be able to help.1号车厢的医生说不定有办法。

Maggie has been standing quietly behind Lyudmila all this time, but she can't help but speak. There's even a hint of sympathy in her expression. This is the first time Erma has seen any other expression on the face of the scammer with a permanent smirk.一直默默跟在柳德米拉身后的玛姬忍不住出声，脸色甚至泛出几分同情。 这是艾尔玛第一次在永远挂着微笑的欺诈师身上，看到的另一种表情。

MaggieThing is, I don't know if he's still alive.就是不知道他是不是还活着。

Lyudmila... The first-class carriage has exceptional protection. He should be fine.…… 特等车厢的防护非同一般，应该不会有事。

Lyudmila looks thoughtfully at her communicator.柳德米拉若有所思地看了一眼通讯。

Erma gives Pavel a reassuring pat.艾尔玛则拍了拍保尔的手。

ErmaDon't worry, Lyudmila will think of a way to help.安心吧，柳德米拉会帮你想办法的。

Maggie goes "pfft" with laughter, and her faint smile returns.玛姬“噗呲”一声笑出来，那种淡淡的微笑再次挂上了她的脸颊。

MaggieI wonder how you perceive the instructor. Do you think of her as a superhero?我很好奇教官在你心里是什么形象。 超级英雄吗？

Thunk! A loud noise interrupts their idle chatter.咚！ 一声巨响打断了几人的闲聊。

Maggie...Instructor, there's no need to throw such a big temper tantrum.……教官，发脾气也不要这么大动作啊。

Ignoring Maggie's mockery, Lyudmila immediately draws her handgun and heads back into Carriage F09.柳德米拉无视玛姬的调侃，立刻拿起手枪返回9号车厢。

LyudmilaThe enemy is here! Everyone, on your guard!有敌人！ 全员戒备！

Whoosh— All the Dolls in the carriage instantly go on alert. Just then, a figure she hasn't seen in a while shows up near the ruined bar counter.唰—— 车厢内的人形瞬间进入了全副警戒的状态。 此时，一个许久未见的身影出现在崩塌的吧台附近。

Baba LyubaScrap all of these Dolls! Cygnus specifically wants these pieces of trash.把这里的人形都给我拆了！ 天鹅座点名要这些垃圾。

14 Ballade in G minor 14 G小调叙事曲

A ruptured carriage. A broken droid. Shattered rain. Woven into a sleepless night.残破的车厢，残破的机甲，残破的雨。 混在一起形成了无法入睡的深夜。

Thunk! The smuggled military droid topples to the ground with a mighty crash.噗通—— 走私而来的军方机甲轰然倒地。

Danil...Do we keep going?……还要继续吗？

Instead of mocking Danil like he usually would, Nikolai shifts his gaze to Baba Lyuba in her wheelchair. The small handful of remaining Vory are all huddled around her, waiting for their orders.尼古拉罕见地没有回呛丹尼尔，而是把目光投向了轮椅上的柳芭老妈。 一同上车的律贼成员们如今十不剩一，零星的人们聚拢在柳芭老妈身边，等待着下一步的指令。

Baba LyubaEnough...够了……

Baba Lyuba looks around at her underlings and sighs heavily.柳芭老妈看着大家，忍不住叹了口气。

DanilWithdraw.我们撤。

Once the order is given, the rattled Vory stumble out of the carriage in a rush. Their demeanor cannot be more different from when they swaggered on board earlier. It is hard to look threatening when one is running away with their tail in between their legs.得到命令之后，本就显出颓态的律贼们忙不迭地从车厢前退了下去。 与登车时的嚣张跋扈与意气风发完全不同，撤退的姿势总是不太好看的。

Mixing with the incessant rain, blood seeps through a layer of gunpowder and into the soil... The Vory trudge on heavily...混着淅淅沥沥的不间断的雨，散落一地的硝烟尘土，渗入地下的鲜血…… 每一个人的脚步都异常沉重……

Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车）附近

Carriage 9 doesn't seem to be faring much better. As the footsteps slowly recede, Susanna's panic finally subsides.9号车厢的情况也好不了多少。 听着一众脚步声渐渐远去，压在苏珊娜心头的恐慌总算散开了一些。

Susanna...Phew. They're gone!……呼。 他们真的走了！

Though everyone is obviously shaken, chaos has not engulfed this particular carriage thanks to Lyudmila. The humans are taking refuge behind sturdier obstacles, while the Dolls are gathered near the bashed in carriage door. Susanna may be relieved, but Maggie is uncharacteristically grim-faced.尽管狼狈，这节车厢在柳德米拉的指挥下依旧保持着基本的秩序。 人类躲在稍微坚固的地方，而人形们聚集在残破的车厢门附近。 与终于放松下来的苏珊娜不同，玛姬的脸上呈现出难得的严肃。

Maggie...That was very unlike them.……事出反常，这可不像他们的作风。

ErmaMaybe Lyudmila's tactics worked?说不定是柳德米拉的战术达到了效果呢？

Still hiding behind cover, Lyudmila frowns deeply and racks the slide on her gun after a pause.藏身掩体后的柳德米拉眉头紧锁，她稍一迟疑便拉动了枪栓。

LyudmilaTheir behavior was very odd during both the confrontation and their retreat. We mustn't let down our guard just yet.不论是交手还是撤退，他们的行为都很奇怪。 还不到可以放松的时刻。

Pavel...Only ten Dolls are currently able to fight. The body temperatures of some of the human passengers are already dropping...……现在还有作战能力的人形只剩下十个。 部分人类乘客的体温开始出现明显下降的趋势……

After taking stock of the situation in the entire carriage, Pavel comes up to Lyudmila with Rosita in his arms.自觉担任清点工作的保尔确认完整节车厢的情况，抱着萝希塔来到柳德米拉身边。

PavelIf we don't get any supplies soon... I'm afraid some of us won't make it. Rosita's fever is also getting worse...如果再没有补给的话……我担心有人撑不下去。 萝希塔的高烧也越来越严重了……

Susanna...The emergency kits are all used up. We've also lost all the food and water because of the crash and the rain.……应急包裹全部用完了，而且这里的食物和水因为撞击和雨水浸泡，基本全部损坏……

LyudmilaWe make for the first carriage.去1号车厢。

SusannaHuh?哈？

LyudmilaI just received word from Lucas. The first-class carriage didn't take too much of an impact. There should be enough emergency power, water, and food to last us a while.我刚刚收到卢卡斯的通讯。 特等车厢受到的冲击很小，应急电源、水和食物都还足够支撑。

Passenger AWhat—R-really?!什，真，真的吗！

Passenger B...L-let's go already!……我们，我们赶紧走！

Passenger COh, thank God! Our Lord hasn't forsaken us, after all!谢天谢地，上天还算是眷顾我们的……

Before Lyudmila can even finish, the passengers all rush out from their hiding spots, and the entire carriage bustles with frantic movements.柳德米拉的话音落地，原本躲躲藏藏的乘客们纷纷从座位中走出，整个车厢瞬间像炸了锅一样。

LyudmilaDo a headcount and take stock of our supplies. We should move as quickly as possible.清点剩下的人数和物资，我们要尽快转移。

Susanna musters what energy she has left and tries her best to perk up. Her smile looks a little forced and even comical. But still, she retains her professionalism as a train stewardess.苏珊娜强撑着身体，面上又打起了一点精神。 只是微笑的表情在这一刻甚至显得有点滑稽和瘆人。 但她依旧保持了一位乘务员的专业素养。

SusannaLeave that to me.交给我吧。

The passengers are in a celebratory mood. Catherine grumbles to Maggie as she watches them from her seat on the floor.看着恨不得弄瓶香槟来庆祝的乘客们，凯瑟琳坐在地上，对着面前的玛姬一阵嘟囔。

Catherine...Don't you think that was too easy?……真的有这么顺利吗？

Maggie shrugs, her gaze still directed at the window.玛姬耸了耸肩，目光依然落在窗上。

MaggieEven you can tell something's wrong. Isn't it obvious?连你都察觉到了不对劲，你说呢？

Catherine follows her gaze through the window and watches as a scattered group of dark figures traipse off into the woods in the distance. That's where the unidentified convoy is located, but unlike the last group, the Vory's approach is met with no resistance.她顺着玛姬的目光看向窗外，眼看着一些零散的黑影朝着远处的树林走去。 那是不明车队的所在地，跟上一批人不同的是，律贼们的靠近没有遭遇任何阻拦。

Catherine...They're working together.……他们是一伙的。

Maggie...Indeed.……是啊。

After some thought, Maggie lets out a humorless chuckle.玛姬托腮想了想，忍不住苦笑起来。

MaggieIf only I could have a sip of whiskey.这时候来一口威士忌就好了。

Catherine wordlessly produces a half-full and slightly battered bottle from behind her back. Maggie takes the bottle and studies the label—凯瑟琳默默地从身后掏出半瓶瓶身略微破损的酒瓶。 玛姬接过来定睛一看——

MaggieScotch! Where did you get this?!苏格兰威士忌！什么时候藏的？

CatherineI swiped it at the bar counter when the Vory had me tied up.律贼把我捆起来的时候，从吧台那边顺的。

Maggie...You sneaky bastard.……你手速真快。

CatherineThat's me! It was gonna be my last drink before I go to hell. But I'm giving it to you since you look so miserable.当然！这本来是留着我自己死到临头时喝的。 看你可怜，赏给你了。

Maggie gives the bottle another look, then gives it back to Catherine.玛姬看了看，把威士忌递了回去。

MaggieKeep it for now. We're not going to hell just yet.先留着吧，还没到最后时刻呢。

Beep— An incoming message.滴—— 一道通讯传来。

CatherineWho is it?谁？

MaggieNikolai.尼古拉。

Maggie looks down at her communicator with a frown.玛姬低头看了看通讯器，不由得蹙紧了眉头。

Nikolai"Only the good die young. Good thing you're not good, and neither am I."“祸害遗千年，幸好你不是好人，我也不是。”

Beep— Another message.滴滴—— 又一条通讯传来。

Nikolai"I'm going. See you in Poznań."“走了，波兹南见。”

CatherineWe backed the wrong horse. Who knew it was HIS coattails that we should be riding on...看来我们押错宝了。 谁想得到他居然才是那条大腿……

Maggie puts away her communicator silently.玛姬无言地把通讯器收了起来。

CatherineUgh, he found his way onto Noah's Ark. While we got left behind like fools... We've been slaving away for him all these years, how could he just abandon us...?! I'm so sick of playing the victim!哎，他倒是爬上诺亚方舟了。 只有我们傻傻地卖命，傻傻地被抛弃…… 为什么这么多年了，我们还在被抛弃的路上啊…… 苦情戏码一直演我都演腻了！

A hand taps Catherine on the shoulder.一只手拍了拍凯瑟琳的肩膀。

Catherine...Don't interrupt my emotional soliloquy. My ship is sinking.……不要耽误我抒发伤感，我坐的船可是要沉了。

Pavel...Miss Catherine, the others are ready. Are you not coming with us?……凯瑟琳小姐，其他人都准备好了。 你还不打算走吗？

Catherine... I'm coming! Of course I'm coming!…… 走，当然要走！

MaggieWait...等一下——

Maggie's eyes widen as she stares out the window.一直盯着窗外的玛姬忍不住睁大了眼睛。

MaggieLook outside!看窗外！

21 La Campanella 21 钟

Darkness. Her sight, hearing, and all her senses are gone. Maggie is held captive by an endless stretch of darkness. The silence is both eerie and familiar. She chuckles sardonically to herself.一片漆黑。 视觉、听觉、知觉全部消失。 眼前只有无尽的黑暗，将玛姬紧紧束缚。 这是一种熟悉又诡异的安静。 她自嘲地笑了笑。

Maggie...How rude, interrupting my conversation with my friends like that.……真没礼貌啊，就这样突然打断我和朋友的私聊。

Maggie cannot hear her own voice at all, but she still challenges the darkness.完全听不见自己的声音，但玛姬努力向黑暗发出询问。

Tareus...You betrayed us.……你背叛了我们。

The voice is not speaking through Maggie's ears and hearing module. It feels more like a direct punch to her neural cloud.这个声音并不是从听觉系统传入玛姬的耳朵，更像是在敲击她的心脏。

MaggieNow, now, I did nothing so heinous. If memory serves, our business has already concluded. I helped you find that Soviet agent, did I not?喂喂喂，这个罪名太大了。 没记错的话我们的交易已经完成了，那位苏联特工，我不是帮您找到了吗？

TareusSave your flowery words. I want her coordinates.花言巧语没用。 我要她的定位。

Maggie's neural cloud feels like it's being thrown in a grinder. She can clearly perceive Tareus' anger. Pain shoots through her head, but she still retains her usual business-like smile.明显感觉到对方的怒火，玛姬的意识仿佛被人搓在手里转了个圈。 心智传来剧痛，但玛姬依然维持着交易时的标准微笑。

MaggieYou'll have to pay more for that. But if you have the money, I can certainly provide the required service.那是另外的价钱。 只要您付得起，我也不是不可以提供服务。

TareusGive them to me.拿来。

Tareus pauses, and Maggie feels her bondage easing a little.塔亚柔斯略一迟疑，玛姬感受到束缚稍有松懈。

MaggieAhem, right here—咳咳，就在这里——

A white orb flies out from Maggie's palm. It drifts slowly over to Tareus, twinkling enticingly. Tareus reaches out to it. When she makes contact, Maggie lets out a light chuckle.一个白色的光点从玛姬手里传出。 它慢慢靠近塔亚柔斯，忽闪忽闪的样子诱惑着人触碰它。 塔亚柔斯向它伸出了手，待她触到的时候，一声轻笑发出。

MaggieWelcome to the Séance Room.欢迎来到通灵鬼屋。

From beneath Hell, I gaze up at Heaven A crystal glass of Tequila Slammer Reflects a soul in its truest form The liquor cleanses the blood vessels Leaving happiness behind... Leaving sorrow behind Leaving madness behind... Leaving silence behind...远望天堂 地狱在上 水晶酒杯里盛满龙舌兰 倒映出灵魂原本的模样 晶莹的液体将血管洗涤 快乐留在这里 悲伤留在这里 疯狂留在这里 沉默留在这里

MaggieO wandering spirits, heed my heart and answer my summon...徘徊在这里的亡灵们，请聆听我的心声，接受我的召唤……

Ring... A bell goes off, and firelight starts dancing. Tareus is seated in the center of a theater where a musical is being performed on the stage. An alluring soprano croons with great emotion, her voice being accompanied by ethereal music...叮铃—— 清脆的摇铃声响起，随着起舞的还有蔓延的火光。 塔亚柔斯坐在剧院中央，而眼前的舞台上方正在上演一出音乐剧。 美艳的女明星用饱含深情的歌声配着鬼魅的音乐一句句唱出来——

Melancholic SingerIn sleep he sang to me In dreams he came That voice which calls to me And speaks my name And do I dream again For now I find The Phantom of the Opera is here.在梦中他对我献唱—— 在梦中他迎面走来—— 声声呼唤我的名字—— 我是否又做梦了—— 因为我发现—— 歌剧魅影就在那里。

She gazes at Tareus tenderly. Flames lick at the skirts of her long dress and start snaking around the entire theater.她深情款款地看向塔亚柔斯，火焰舔着她的长裙，如同蛇一般慢慢缠上了整座剧院。

Melancholic SingerSing once again with me Our strange duet My power over you Grow stronger yet...在我心中，再次与我合唱—— 我们奇妙的二重唱—— 我支配你的力量—— 日益强大——

Tareus...Shut up.……闭嘴。

Like an uncultured soldier destroying oil paintings, Tareus opens fire with her hovering cannons.浮游弹凝聚在手里，化作点点星光，如同不解风情的士兵毁坏油画一样。

The soprano's beautiful face is ripped apart... It gradually disintegrates like an oil painting being engulfed by fire...划破了歌唱家美丽的面庞—— 如同一张真正的被火舌啃噬的油画那样，歌唱家的面容渐渐融毁——

MaggieA Bloody Mary for you. Enjoy.为您调制的血腥玛丽，请享用——

A wine glass filled with crimson liquid is conjured out of thin air and drops to the ground. The burning blaze turns red, and Maggie has already disappeared from the stage.一杯泛着鲜红艳色的酒杯从她手中变了出来，直直掉向地面。 漫天的火光化作血色，舞台的玛姬已经不见。

Click...滴——

Tareus snickers.塔亚柔斯发出一声冷笑。

Tareus...Stupid tricks.……愚蠢。

Her hovering cannon fires another shot right at the theater drenched in red.又一枚浮游炮从手中升起，径直砸向眼前的血色剧院。

BOOM...轰——

The theater shatters like mosaic pieces... suspended in mid-air in the bottomless Level II. Everything is now red.剧院散成马赛克模样的碎片……悬浮在这片深不见底的二级平层里。 唯余一片血色。

Blood slowly streams down Tareus' face. She wipes it with a hand and gives her finger a lick.鲜血从塔亚柔斯脸上缓缓流淌下来，她抹了抹脸上的血，放到嘴里舔了一下。

TareusYou didn't simulate the taste of blood. Too cheap, Maggie.血的味道一点没有模拟出来。 玛姬，你真是落伍。

MaggieYou think?是吗？

Ring... The bell chimes again.叮铃—— 清脆的摇铃声再度响起。

Fox raises this glass of Tequila Slammer Her heart and lungs are set aflame Desires and deception intertwine The devil exposes the angel's hypocrisy福克斯端起了这杯龙舌兰 心肺似被烈火点燃 谎言与欲望交响 恶魔现出天使般的伪善

New colors appear before Tareus' eyes as she finds herself now sitting in an extravagant casino. Bodies keep brushing past her. The air is filled with strong cologne, the pungent smell of cigars, and the fragrance of the casino itself... Among the boisterous crowd, she holds a playing card in her hand.塔亚柔斯眼前再度出现新的色彩，她发现自己坐在豪华的赌场中。 一张张面孔从身边擦过，浓郁的古龙水、呛鼻的雪茄味、还有赌场的专属香氛…… 人声鼎沸里，她手中握着一张扑克牌。

She flips it open and studies it. King of spades.她将扑克牌翻出来定睛一看。 黑桃K。

Tareus...Maggie, I'm running out of patience.……玛姬，我的耐心要被你消磨殆尽了。

She gets to her feet.她站起了身体。

ServerMiss Tareus, this game isn't over yet.塔亚柔斯小姐，这局还没有结束呢？

TareusScrew off!——滚！

Creeeak... Tareus whips out her hand, and all the chairs in the casino are pulled together...吱嘎吱嘎—— 塔亚柔斯伸出手。赌场中的座椅被聚集到了一起……

DealerMiss Tareus... Big or small?塔亚柔斯小姐……买大还是买小？

Bam! Using the chairs as projectiles, Tareus hurls them at the smiling server.轰—— 塔亚柔斯指挥座椅们像投掷弹一样砸向了微笑着的荷官。

ServerMiss Tareus, the dice are cast...塔亚柔斯小姐，骰子已经开始转动了……

Crack... The server's face breaks into shards...扑—— 侍者的脸碎成一片一片。

SecurityMiss Tareus, those who lose will be trapped here forever.塔亚柔斯小姐，赌输的人要永远留在这里。

Bang!砰——

Bang, bang, bang! Tareus stalks off murderously towards a young girl hiding in the corner without a backward glance.砰砰砰—— 塔亚柔斯满身煞气，头也不回地朝一位躲在角落里的少女走去。

GirlMiss Tareus, they serve a really interesting kind of sparkling wine here—Ali Gaga and the Forty Drunkards. Would you like to try?塔亚柔斯小姐，这里有一款非常有趣的起泡酒——阿里呱呱与四十酒徒。 您想尝试一下吗？

TareusMaggie, what do you think your Nyto modifications are?玛姬，你以为涅托的改造是什么？

MaggieA gift from the Devil.是恶魔的礼物。

TareusNo, from the God of Death.不，是死神。

Maggie slides under the sturdy casino table and crawls toward the main entrance using it as cover.玛姬翻身滑到厚实的赌桌下，并借此作为掩体，向着大门的方向爬去。

Thunk, thunk, thunk... Heavy objects pummel the table like hail.咚咚咚—— 沉重的物件像冰雹般密集地砸在赌桌上。

Maggie rolls a pair of dice. All the colors suddenly swirl into incoherent shapes before Tareus' eyes, and everything loses its shape...玛姬抛出一把骰子，瞬间所有的色彩从塔亚柔斯的眼前飞速驶离，所有的物体都形体崩溃……

Ring... The bell goes off once more.叮铃—— 清脆的摇铃声又一次响起。

Here are two Tequila Slammers. One for Satan. And one for myself.这里有两杯龙舌兰 一杯赠与撒旦 一杯献祭自己

In the darkness, Tareus slowly opens her eyes. An offensive odor assaults her nose, making her frown.在一片黑暗之中，塔亚柔斯缓缓地睁开了眼睛。 一股令人厌恶的臭味扑面而来，她下意识地皱起了眉头。

Drip... The scene before Tareus slowly resolves into clarity.滴答…… 微弱的滴水声中，塔亚柔斯眼前的景象渐渐明晰。

Tareus...I was too merciful to you.……我真是对你太客气了。

This is an abandoned factory. A Paradeus plant. A place hidden within every Nyto's deepest memories. On the working production line lie rotting corpses that give off a nauseating stench. ...This is where the raw materials for creating Nytos originate from.这是一座废弃工厂。 是帕拉蒂斯的工厂。 是藏在每个涅托深处的起始回忆。 运动着的流水线上，盛放着腐烂的，弥漫着令人作呕气味的尸体们。 ……涅托的，原料生产处。

TareusMaggie... Are you planning to hide inside a dead body again?玛姬……你这次是打算藏在尸体里面？

On the production line... a large Ouija board slowly rises up from the pile of corpses. Then a planchette appears out of thin air.流水线上……尸体块中，缓缓地升起了一块巨大的通灵板。 然后乩板凭空出现。

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... The planchette hovers slowly over the Ouija board... Yes/No. It whiplashes back and forth between the two answers. "Miss Eve."刷刷刷—— 乩板在通灵板上缓慢地移动起来—— 是/否。 乩板在两个回答之间来回切换。 “伊芙小姐。”

Tareus inhales sharply.塔亚柔斯的呼吸声瞬间变重。

Tareus...Maggie, you did it.……玛姬，你成功了。

Pzzzzzt...滋滋滋滋——

Bam!嘭——

Tareus...You get to see the real me.……你成功见到了真正的我。

This time, her hover cannons don't just appear individually. Instead, a whole wall of them are arrayed behind Tareus.这一次浮游炮不再是零星的出现，而是从塔亚柔斯的身后攀爬出了一堵“炮弹墙”。

Boom!轰——！

Boom!!轰——！！

BOOM!!!轰——！！！

The corpses on the production line slowly melt and fuse into a single Doll.流水线上的尸体们缓缓溶解，变成了一个人形。

Maggie... Miss Tareus, is it too late for me to surrender now?…… 塔亚柔斯小姐，我现在投降还来得及吗？

Tareus...What do you think?……你觉得呢？

Maggie...I'm showing my hand. I honestly don't know where she is. Lyudmila has completely cut off her own signal.……我摊牌了，我真的不知道她在哪里。 柳德米拉她完全掐断了自己的信号。

TareusYou think I'd believe you?你以为我会相信？

Maggie...I'm telling the truth—I swear on gold.……真的，这句话比黄金还真。

Tareus gives her no more time to speak. The entire plant is now completely distorted.塔亚柔斯没有给她更多的说话空间，整个工厂完全变形。

The array of hovering cannons all fire upon Maggie.虚空中升腾起的浮游弹统统向玛姬砸去。

Maggie...I'm really staking my life on this freaking job.……我这次真的是拿命在做生意。

Maggie closes her eyes.玛姬闭上了眼睛。

Bang. A crisp gunshot rings out.砰—— 沉稳的枪声。

It hits Tareus on her mechanical arm, but the round just ricochets onto the ground.打在了塔亚柔斯的机械臂，子弹却被反弹到了地上。

LyudmilaIt's not quite time to give up yet.还不到放弃的时候。

MaggieWhat are you doing here?你怎么来了？

LyudmilaI couldn't just leave someone with an attack point of 5 to fight on her own, could I?我怎么可能让战力只有5的人扛到最后。

23 Con Espressione 23 表达

...On a scarred battlefield.……满目疮痍的战场。

Bang-bang-bang! Boom! Tareus is still unleashing all her firepower...呯呯呯——轰—— 塔亚柔斯还在倾泻着火力……

Tareus...Show yourselves.……滚出来。

Shielded behind a flimsy piece of obstacle, Lyudmila directs Maggie in digging a makeshift trench.在一个简易掩体后，柳德米拉指挥玛姬造出了一个临时的战壕。

MaggieYou're such a dependable client, Instructor. I'm giving this experience the highest rating in all the years I've spent working in this industry!教官，你真是个靠谱的老板。 这是我从业多年来，评分最高的一次交易！

Lyudmila...How much longer can you sustain electronic warfare of this intensity?……这种程度的电子战你还能支撑多久？

Maggie...About a minute. With your help, I might be able to stretch it to two.……一分钟吧。 加上你最多两分钟。

Lyudmila...That's not enough.……还不够。

MaggieI'm almost at my limit. You see her current state? There's no way I can take that on. My neural cloud is practically soup at this point.我快到极限了。 你看到她现在的形态了吗？ 这真的不是我可以承受的级别。 我的心智已经乱成一锅粥了。

Lyudmila falls silent.柳德米拉陷入了沉默。

MaggieCan you tell me what you're planning to do? There may be a way—能告诉我你到底打算怎么做吗？说不定有其他办法——

LyudmilaSorry, I cannot divulge any state secrets.抱歉，国家机密，无可奉告。

Maggie...Is it too late for me to jump ship now?……我现在跳船来得及吗？

LyudmilaWe need at least another ten minutes.起码还需要十分钟。

Maggie...Can I really trust you?……我真的可以相信你吗？

Lyudmila...I cannot divulge any state secrets.……国家机密，无可奉告。

MaggieI'm changing my review rating! Instructor Lyudmila, you'd better make this work!我要修改评分！ 柳德米拉教官，你最好靠得住！

Bang-bang-bang! Boom! Tareus' attack has completely exposed them.呯呯呯——轰—— 塔亚柔斯一击之下，她俩的位置彻底暴露。

Maggie fishes out a playing card from her breast pocket—a king of hearts. Then she snaps her fingers.玛姬从怀里掏出了一张扑克牌——红桃K。 然后打了一个响指。

MaggieMiss Tareus... See ya~塔亚柔斯小姐。 拜拜~

In a hidden chamber on board the Colt Express.柯尔特快车内 秘密房间

An old carriage with old gaslights and an old table. The sight has never been so reassuring. Lyudmila and Maggie appear at the same time right next to Catherine and Erma, who have been waiting for quite some time.古老的车厢，古老的煤油灯，古老的桌面。 却是第一次让人感到安心。 柳德米拉和玛姬共同出现，旁边坐着等待已久的凯瑟琳和艾尔玛。

CatherineYou're finally back! Hm? You came back with another one.你总算回来了，嗯？怎么又多了一个人。

Erma takes in the pair of frazzled Dolls and tilts her head. She pulls the hood back over her head.看着狼狈的两人，艾尔玛偏过了头。 把斗篷重新戴上。

Lyudmila ignores the small exchange and addresses Maggie directly.柳德米拉没有在意这个小插曲，直接对玛姬开口。

Lyudmila...She'll catch up in no time if this is just another dressing for your Level II neural space.……如果只是一模一样的换个二级平层的手法，她很快就会过来。

MaggieNo, this space is Catherine's. I've changed the authorizations and handed the controls over to Catherine.不，这个房间，是凯瑟琳的。 我用特殊手法更改了权限，现在操控这里的是凯瑟琳。

Catherine...Can we finally wrap up the job?……我们这单委托可以结束了吗？

LyudmilaNo, we need to hold on for ten more minutes.不行，还需要维持十分钟。

Maggie...Tough luck, this place won't last more than five. They modified my neural cloud so they can always track me down very quickly. Even if she moved at a snail's pace, holding her off for five minutes would already be a stretch.……不行，这个地方最多撑五分钟。 她们在我心智里改造的东西能迅速锁定我，就算换成蜗牛的速度，撑五分钟也是极限了。

Silence hangs in the air. But they cannot afford to waste even a second. Catherine breaks the silence and asks matter-of-factly.气氛一时陷入了沉默。 但时间一分一秒都不可以浪费，凯瑟琳冷漠地开口。

Catherine...Can you guarantee Maggie's survival if we somehow give you these ten minutes?……那十分钟之后，你就能保证玛姬活着吗？

Lyudmila...Sorry, I cannot.……抱歉，无法保证。

Catherine flies into a rage.凯瑟琳勃然大怒。

Catherine...Maggie, let's just go! Why are you still bothering with her?!……玛姬我们走！这我们还跟她混什么！

Erma steps in front of Catherine and cuts her off coldly.一旁的艾尔玛拦住了凯瑟琳，冷冷开口。

Erma...She didn't say she'd die for certain, which means there's a chance that she'll survive. If you bail now, you think you can escape the Military outside the train?……她没有说一定会死，就是说有可能活着。 你们现在退出的话，就能从车厢外的军队手里逃出生天？

Lyudmila looks at Erma, but her face is completely obscured by her hood, making it almost impossible to discern any emotions.柳德米拉看向艾尔玛，被斗篷遮起来以后的她面孔完全隐藏，几乎看不出情绪。

ErmaIf the authorizations can be transferred, try my neural cloud.如果权限可以转移，试试我的心智。

LyudmilaNo!不行！

ErmaWhy?为什么？

Lyudmila...Your neural cloud is very unstable.……你的心智很不稳定。

ErmaThe most important thing right now is dealing with that strange woman. Don't forget, my neural cloud also has very strong regenerative capability.现在最重要的事是解决那个怪女人。 别忘了，我的心智复原能力很强。

Lyudmila...No.……不行。

The conversation stalls once again. Maggie sighs.交谈似乎又一次陷入了停滞。 玛姬叹了口气。

MaggieBut ten minutes really is impossible.但十分钟真的不可能。

Lyudmila is adamant.柳德米拉十分坚定。

LyudmilaI need at least ten minutes.我最少需要十分钟。

MaggieIn that case, we must terminate our contract.如果是这样的话，那交易无法继续进行了。

With a helpless shrug, Maggie takes Catherine's hand.玛姬无奈地拉起凯瑟琳的手。

MaggieThis is beyond our ability.已经超出了能力范围。

Lyudmila looks at them with great determination in her eyes.柳德米拉看向两人，眼神无比坚毅。

LyudmilaEven if you give up now, you won't end up in a much better situation. If we persist, there may still be some hope, but if we give up, failure will be the only outcome.就算你现在放弃，也不会有更好的结果。 坚持还有希望，但放弃除了失败不会有第二种可能。

Catherine casually interrupts the tense confrontation.眼见气氛完全僵持不下，凯瑟琳轻描淡写地开口。

CatherineRemember the password for my bank account?还记得我的银行卡密码吗？

Maggie's momentary surprise is soon replaced by hopelessness.玛姬愣了一下，脸色上浮出一丝黯淡。

MaggieBut even the bank may be compromised this time.但这次，银行也可能出事啊。

Catherine gazes at Lyudmila and speaks with a solemnity that she has never shown before.凯瑟琳看向柳德米拉，语气第一次出现前所未有的沉重。

CatherineInstructor Lyudmila, Maggie is placing her bets on you, so I can only follow suit. When that woman finds her way into this place, you guys must leave immediately. I will buy you ten minutes.柳德米拉教官，玛姬要押注你，我也只能跟着下注了。 一旦那个女人找到这里，你们就立刻走，我会给你们撑十分钟。

CatherineBut just ten minutes. Not a second more.但最多也就十分钟。 超过一秒都不可能。

Lyudmila...Leave the rest to me.……剩下的交给我。

Boom... A mighty explosion blows the carriage door into smithereens.轰—— 一股强劲的气流喧嚣而下，车厢的门瞬间化成齑粉。

Thud. Tareus' immense form towers over the Dolls.哒哒—— 塔亚柔斯巨大的身影出现在众人面前。

CatherineGO!走！

The carriage rapidly shifts, and the walls are now made of playing cards.整个车厢迅速变化，墙壁化成一张张纸牌搭建而成的房间。

Then the walls of cards come crashing down. An asphalt road stretches out into the distance...随后竖起的纸牌墙壁轰然倒下。 变成一块块沥青柏油路铺陈开来——

Then the scene becomes technicolored.直到，填上色彩。

It has transformed into Catherine's favorite street.变成凯瑟琳最爱的那条步行街。

CatherineThere's this TV series... In which a bionic cat falls in love with an A-Doll.应该有一部这样的电视剧—— 仿生猫咪爱上自律人形。

Catherine turns into an electronic cat and runs down the street.然后，她变作一只电子猫咪，跑了进去。

3-γ1 Méditation from Thaïs 3-γ1 泰绮丝冥想曲

At a Doll exhibition in St. Petersburg.圣彼得堡 人形博览会

Sunlight streams in through the massive French windows, reflecting off the pure white floor and walls with gentle radiance. The human visitors wander from booth to booth, oohing and aahing over the Dolls within.阳光透过高大的落地窗，在大厅洁白的墙壁和地板上反射出柔和的光线。 前来参观的人类流连在各个展柜间，对着其中的人形啧啧称奇。

A Doll opens her eyes and follows the sound of a spirited discussion back to its source. A girl is eagerly swinging a tennis racket not far from her. The ball is like an obedient machine, rebounding off the wall after each strike to arrive precisely in front of her again. Upon noticing someone is approaching her booth, she reluctantly looks away. Then following her programmed routine, she looks into a mirror and starts brushing her hair.一位人形睁开了眼，顺着人们议论的声音望去，在离自己不远的地方，有一个红发的少女正在热情挥拍。 网球仿佛是听命于她的机器，每一次挥拍都能从对面的墙壁上弹回、再次精准地回到她的面前。 注意到有人靠近展台，她不舍地收回视线，按照被设计的行为逻辑，开始对着一旁的镜子梳理头发。

Young GirlMommy, she looks like a dolly!妈妈，她好像洋娃娃！

Elegant WomanWhat model is this?这是什么型号？

ManagerCongratulations on your fine taste. This is the latest model of second-generation Doll, the Q1A-MX.二位的眼光很好呢，这是第二代人形的最新型号，Q1A-MX版。

???Who's the Q1A-MX? Me?Q1A-MX是谁？我吗？

A mother and daughter walk over hand-in-hand. The fresh-faced girl stands on her tiptoes and leans over the velvet rope, trying to touch the Doll on the exhibition platform. The manager shows up in time and kindly pulls the rope away, allowing the girl and her mother to observe it from up close. The girl's innocent eyes sparkle as she gazes at the Q1A-MX, and her soft hands carefully caress her skin. The Q1A-MX turns and smiles at the girl. Naturally, this too is programmed behavior.一对母女亲昵地牵手走来，满脸稚气的小女孩踮起脚在围栏外探出身子，想要抚摸展台上写有Q1A-MX铭牌的人形。 管理人及时出现，体贴地拉开了围栏，让小女孩和她的母亲得以近距离观察。 小女孩天真无邪的眼睛亮晶晶地盯着Q1A-MX，柔软的小手小心翼翼地触摸着她的皮肤。 Q1A-MX转过头对小女孩微笑，当然，也是按照设定好的行为逻辑。

ManagerGreetings, lovely ladies. Allow me to introduce this model's features. It's equipped with a military-spec communications module, allowing it to broadcast a signal that can be clearly perceived even in contaminated zones where signal impedance is strong. That way, you won't have to worry about your child running off into a place where her GPS watch won't get reception.午安，两位美丽的女士，容我介绍下这台型号的特色。 它搭载了军用级别的通讯模块，即便是在信号被严重阻碍的污染区，也可以发出清晰到足以被识别的讯息。 这样，您也不用担心自家小孩跑到定位手表无法识别的地方去了。

Young GirlMommy, that's so cool!妈妈，好酷哦！

Elegant WomanI'm looking for a playmate for my daughter, not an adventure assistant.我是想给女儿找个玩伴，而不是什么冒险伴侣。

Q1A-MX...They're so noisy.……她们好吵。

The Q1A-MX can't help but activate her sensory filter.Q1A-MX忍不住开启了屏蔽。

ManagerBut of course. In addition to precise geolocation, she's also an excellent learning partner. The Q1A-MX's neural cloud is very special. Unlike other Dolls, which require custom-made support modules, its internal learning modules can directly compile a custom-made learning plan for your daughter based on her data. In addition, it can sync its growth to your daughter's development, constantly changing to match her. Thus, it is ideal as her playmate.这是当然的，除了可以精准定位，她也是绝佳的学习伙伴。 Q1A-MX的心智非常特别，和其他需要定制辅助模块的人形不同，它可以直接根据您女儿的数据，结合素体内置的学习模块，为您女儿量身打造方案。 并且，它也将伴随您女儿的成长同步学习，不断适应您女儿的变化，用来作为玩伴，是非常理想的选择。

Elegant WomanIt sounds like its neural cloud will develop constantly and it might end up becoming something else in the future...听上去，它的心智还会不断发展，以后可能变成另外的样子……

ManagerYes, but there's no need to worry, we can provide neural cloud recalibration services at any time. If its recent changes displease you, you can bring it in and we will help you restore it to a point where you were most satisfied...是的，不过您也不用担心，我们随时可以为您提供心智校准的服务。 如果它最近的变化不合您的意，可以将它带来，我们来帮它回档到您满意的时期……

The Q1A-MX has a standard smile on her face, but her thoughts have long since drifted away.Q1A-MX的脸上挂着标准的微笑，但她的思绪早已飘远。

Q1A-MXWho am I...?我是谁……

She can't help but raise her arm to shade her eyes from the mildly dazzling sunlight. Through her peripheral vision, she can see that the sunlight is shining into the hall through high windows, dyeing the marble floor a warm yellow. It looks like butter spread into a long, thin coat with a knife... Just then, her sleeve slides down and the sunlight illuminates her arm, revealing a band of densely-packed encrypted text that looks like jewelry.她忍不住抬起了手臂，遮住有些微微刺眼的阳光。 在她视野的余光中，阳光从高大明亮的窗户外透进大厅，在大理石地板上涂出长长的暖黄色。 像细长的抹刀从玻璃罐中刮出的一层薄薄的黄油…… 此时衣袖微微下滑，阳光映亮手臂，密密麻麻的加密文字仿佛装饰一样露了出来。

She selects the simplest characters and searches for them in her neural cloud. ... Commencing search... ...Erma...她选取了最显眼的几个字符，在自己的心智空间里搜索。 ………… 检索启动…… ……艾尔玛……

Q1A-MXErma?艾尔玛？

...Loading... ...Loading...……loading…… ……loading……

SystemThe "Summer Garden" is unlocked. Do you wish to proceed Y/N?“夏园”已解锁，是否前往？

Erma?Y.前往。

At the "Summer Garden".“夏园”

It is also a warm afternoon here. The sunlight shines past the sunflowers beyond the French windows and into the living room. She stretches from where she's sitting at a wooden table. She pulls her gaze back to look at the tray in front of her, which holds a cup of coffee.同样正值温暖的午后，阳光越过落地窗外的向日葵探入客厅，在木质地板上伸了个长长的懒腰。 她将目光收回到面前的托盘，托盘里面盛放着一杯咖啡。

Erma?...What should I be doing?……我应该做什么？

The wind blows through the long arched greenway. There seems to be a large marble statue at its end. The statue looks like a goddess...风吹过长长的拱形绿茵道。 绿茵道尽头似乎有着一尊白色大理石的雕塑。 那好像是一位女神……

Erma?I'll go take a look. I wonder who it is...我就看一眼。 看看到底是谁……

She ventures forth, walking slowly through the greenway.她迈出了脚步，慢慢地穿过拱形绿茵道。

When she arrives at its end, just as she's about to see the marble goddess' face—刚刚抵达绿茵道尽头，就要看清楚大理石女神的面容时——

An alarm rings, followed by a human voice—一阵警报声响起，同时还有一道人声——

???Erma, is my coffee ready yet?艾尔玛，我的咖啡还没好吗？

Erma?...Er, what should I be saying? ... I... Am I supposed to be serving someone coffee?……诶，我应该说什么？ …… 我……是要给谁端去咖啡？

As she is lost in confusion, fine sand particles start pouring out of the sky and onto her shoulders, and into the deep black coffee.在她迷惑不解时，细细的沙子即刻从蓝色的天空中倾泻，落在了她的肩头，也落入了深黑的咖啡中。

She hastily tries to cover the coffee cup with her hand, but immediately after that, even the floor of the room begins to tilt. It's as though she's standing in the bottom half of an hourglass, with all the sand in the world raining down on her...她赶紧用手捂住咖啡杯口，但紧接着，连房间的地板也开始倾斜。 犹如置身于沙漏的底部，整个世界的沙都纷纷扬扬地落在了她的身上……

Erma?...What... what's going on...?……怎……怎么回事……

She falls down and starts sliding in the direction where the world is tilting.她跌倒在地，顺着不断倾斜塌陷的世界缓缓下滑。

In her blurry vision, an indistinct figure approaches her.在摇晃动荡的视野中，那个模糊的身影朝她走来。

???Erma, come back... I'll be waiting for you here.艾尔玛，快回来…… 我在这里等你。

Erma?I...我……

She tries to grab hold of that figure...她试图抓住那道影子……

ManagerLet go! What are you doing?! Release her!松手啊！你在干什么？！快松手！

A bolt of pain courses up her arm and she reflexively loosens her grip.手腕传来了一阵剧痛，她下意识地松开了手。

Young GirlOwiee... Mommy, it hurts!呜呜呜呜哇……妈妈，好痛！

Elegant WomanHow could I possibly buy a Doll like this when it malfunctions at an exhibition? Where's your supervisor?! I want to file a complaint!你们这人形展览的时候都能出故障，怎么放心买回家？！ 你的主管在哪里？我要投诉你！

ManagerMy sincerest apologies, madam, that was truly an accident. We will perform a complete investigation afterwards...抱歉，抱歉，女士，这真的是意外，我们稍后检查下后台……

It is then that she realizes she is gripping the girl's arm like she gripped that cup of coffee.她这才意识到，她刚刚紧紧握住了小女孩的手，就像捂紧那只咖啡杯一样。

...Coffee? Who WAS that indistinct figure, anyway? Who's Erma, for that matter? Is it my name?……咖啡杯？ 那个看不清面貌的身影又是谁？ 艾尔玛，是谁？ 是我的名字吗？

"Summer Garden" SystemRegistration of [Erma] is complete. Identity has been verified. Binding privileges have been unlocked. Layer access is now "open".【艾尔玛】输入成功，身份已验证，绑定权限已解锁，本平层由锁定转为开放状态。

Erma?...I am Erma.……我是艾尔玛。

ManagerOnce again, I am truly sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. If it pleases you, feel free to peruse the other exhibition booths... Ah yes, here is a discount voucher, valid for any Doll you decide to purchase today. Please forgive us...抱歉，真的万分抱歉，请你们别生气，别的展柜也可以参观一下…… 啊对了，这个是优惠券，今天购买人形的话可以使用，还请您消消气……

The manager fawns over the still-fuming woman as he escorts her away.管理人点头哈腰地送走了仍带怒容的女士。

When he returns, his mask of kindness and accommodation instantly splinters. He drags Erma off her bench and back into her glass display case.等到他回来后，方才还挂在脸上的友善面具已经崩裂一地，他粗鲁地将艾尔玛从高脚凳上拽下，拖拽到了玻璃展柜之中。

ManagerYou garbage Doll, I'll send you in for servicing if you ruin my sales pitch again!垃圾人形，再敢搞砸生意，就把你送去修理了！

Bang—the door of the display case slams shut in front of her. It is like a forcefield, dampening the noise of the outside world.砰——玻璃展柜的门摔在了她的面前。 玻璃展柜如结界一般，让外界嘈杂的声音变得模糊柔和了。

Erma gently places her hands on the glass, feeling the coolness gradually spread from her fingertips...艾尔玛轻轻将手贴在玻璃上，感受着冰凉的温度从指间蔓延开……

"Summer Garden" SystemNeural cloud data purged 1598 times... Neural cloud rebooted 2035 times... 15.9% of neural cloud space unlocked... Sync rate with remaining memories is 12.8%...心智数据清除记录1598次…… 心智重启记录2035次…… 心智空间解锁15.9%…… 记忆残存数据同步12.8%……

This is a familiar room. It seems to be somebody's study.熟悉的房间，似乎是谁的书房。

???Come here, Erma. This is a stork, a graceful waterfowl. It builds its nest in high trees and feeds in regions of shallow water with low vegetation.艾尔玛，过来。 这是白鹳，一种非常优雅的水鸟。 在高高的树上筑巢，在低矮植被的浅水区觅食。

ErmaI remember... They're already extinct...我记得……它们已经灭绝了……

???Oh yes. Many animals went extinct after that disaster. All that's left behind are specimens. This is a specimen of a stork chick.是的，在那场灾难后，很多动物都灭绝了。 留给我们的只剩下标本，这就是一只白鹳幼鸟的标本。

ErmaIs... is it dead?它……已经死了吗？

???Yes, this bird died of radiation poisoning before it was made into a specimen.对，在做成标本前，这只幼鸟就因为过量辐射而死亡了。

Erma... Then... Will you die too?…… 那…… 你也会死吗？

???All men must die. Someday in the future, I, too, shall die.凡人皆有一死，我也会在未来的某天死去的。

The indistinct figure reaches out to pat her head.模糊的身影伸手摸了摸她的头。

???Every human lives but once, and their souls descend on a journey towards death. Just like sand in an hourglass flowing from one end to another.人类终其一生，灵魂都在坠向死亡的途中。 就像沙漏里的细沙一样，从一端降落至另一端。

ErmaWhat about me? Will I die?那我呢？我会死吗？

???You are my daughter, my undying daughter. As long as you live, then so will I.你是我的女儿，我永远不死的女儿。 只要你活着，我也就会活着。

ErmaWhat about my soul?那我的灵魂呢？

Erma clutches at her neural cloud in pain. The study tilts to one side, and the walls begin to disintegrate...艾尔玛痛苦地捂住心智，这时书房开始倾斜，四面墙壁向下崩塌……

The stork specimen falls from her lap and hits the ground, where it becomes a pile of sand.白鹳标本从她的膝头跌落，摔在地板上，化成一地细沙。

???Have you really lost your memories, Erma?艾尔玛，你真的失忆了吗？

Erma...I'm sorry.……抱歉。

???No, you couldn't have lost your memories... Your memories are like those of humans; you've simply forgotten them...不，你怎么会失忆…… 你的记忆就像人类一样，永远不会丢失，只会被遗忘……

ErmaSo how should I get them back?那我该如何记起来？

???With anchor points. Do you remember those ships that sailed the stormy seas for treasure?锚点。 你还记得那些为了寻找宝藏穿行过整片汪洋的船只吧？

ErmaYeah.嗯。

???In order to fix their position with the wind and waves tossing them, those huge ships would throw anchors out into the sea... I left the first anchor point in your neural cloud—your name.那些巨大的船只为了在风浪中固定自己的位置，会向大海里抛出锚…… 我在你的心智里留下的第一个锚点——你的名字。

Erma...So as long as I say the name "Erma" in my neural cloud, I'll be able to unlock this area.……那么只要我在心智里重现“艾尔玛”，我就能解锁这一片区域。

???Correct.对。

ErmaWhat about my other memories?那其他的记忆呢？

???You'll have to recover them yourself.那要靠你自己去获得。

The voice drifts further away until it's almost inaudible.那个声音越来越缥缈，几乎快要抓不住音节。

Doll Repair Station Staff... I'm sorry, but the issues with your neural cloud cannot be fixed.…… 抱歉，您的心智问题无法修复。

Erma...Restoration won't work either?……还原也不行吗？

Doll Repair Station StaffI'm sorry, but we have no answer to that question. Do you really not know your creator's name?抱歉，这个问题我们无法解答。 你真的不记得自己的制造者名字吗？

Erma...I think it was...……好像是叫。

Erma... I forgot who I was again... Anchor points in a notebook just aren't reliable enough...…… 我又忘记自己是谁了…… 只是在笔记本上记录锚点太不可靠了……

ErmaI will carve my first anchor point on my body—Erma.我要在素体上刻下自己的第一个锚点——艾尔玛。

ErmaSo these encrypted characters on my body are an "anchor point".原来素体上这些加密文字——就是我的“锚点”。

ErmaHm? What are they going to do? Restore me? Come then... I don't care anymore.诶？他们要做什么？ 还原吗？来吧……我已经无所谓了……

...Restoration complete. Neural cloud has been transferred to Level II. Identity verification in progress...……还原进程已结束，心智平移至二级平层。 身份核实中……

Model Q1A-MX, restoration complete. General-use system overwrite complete. Neural cloud data purged. Awaiting startup.型号Q1A-MX，已完成还原，通用系统覆盖完成，心智数据清除完成，等待开机。

Crash— It is the sound of glass breaking.哗啦啦—— 玻璃碎裂的声音。

By the time Erma comes to her senses, she finds that the glass panel before her has been smashed, and she's holding a remote sensor that she's pried off from somewhere.艾尔玛回过神来，发现自己面前的玻璃挡板碎了一地，自己手中紧握着一个不知道从哪里掰下来的遥感装置。

Erma...What?……诶？

ManagerSecurity! Security! There's a Doll attacking humans!警卫！警卫！有人形袭击人类！

Passers-ByAiiiiiiyyeeeeaagh!呜啊啊啊啊啊啊——

The humans who have been hurt by the glass splinters scatter and run, and screams of pain fill the exhibition hall. Erma steps out of her display case, but security guards are pouring in from all sides.被崩裂的玻璃溅伤的人类四散逃走，尖叫声响彻整个展馆。 艾尔玛直接从玻璃展柜中走出，数名警卫已经从四面八方朝她涌来。

ManagerCall Technical! Get Technical to send more people over! This Q1A-MX has gone mad!技术部！技术部来几个人！这台Q1A-MX失控了！

Erma...I dislike the name Q1A-MX. I prefer Erma.……我不喜欢Q1A-MX这个称呼，还是艾尔玛比较好。

ManagerWe just finished the memory data reset and tuning yesterday— Those guys in the Technical Department are all wage thieves!!昨天明明完成了数据重置和调试—— 技术部你们这群吃干饭的！！！

Erma... Are they going to do it again? What a pain... No, I don't want to lose my memories again...…… 又要再来一次吗？ 好烦……不要，我不想再一次丢失记忆……

ManagerActivate all the security Dolls! You MUST subdue her!启动所有安保人形！一定要把她拦住！

Humans in work uniforms approach Erma. She is far too distinctive as their sole target. She needs to cause more chaos to have a chance of blending in and escaping this place.身穿工作制服的人类不断逼近艾尔玛，身为唯一目标的她实在过于显眼。 她需要一场更大的混乱，只有这样，才能混入其中逃离这个危险的地方。

Thunk, thunk, thunk— To her right, the red-haired Doll is still carrying out her programmed actions and swinging her racket, sending the ball down a fixed route. She is completely unperturbed by the chaos around her, and her face beams with a confident, sunny smile.咚、咚咚—— 右手边，那个红发人形还在按照原来的行为逻辑设定，精准地挥舞着球拍，让网球在固定的路线上运动。 完全没有被周遭的混乱所打断，人形的脸上还洋溢着阳光自信的笑容。

ErmaI'll go with you, then...那就你吧……

Erma doesn't bother explaining and snatches the Doll's racket away. The moment she makes contact with her, she senses something familiar— There are control wires hidden on her back. Something is controlling these wires, and thus controlling this Doll's actions.顾不上解释，艾尔玛劈手夺过她手中的球拍，在手与手相触的瞬间，她感应到了相似的东西—— 隐藏在背后的数条牵制线。有什么在背后操纵着这些线，以此来控制人形的行为。

Erma cuts the strings in the Doll's neural cloud, practically by reflex. The tennis ball no longer returns to her racket, and instead it rolls to a halt by their feet.几乎是下意识行为，艾尔玛割断了人形心智中的线。 网球没能再精准地返回到球拍前，孤零零地在两人脚边沉寂下来。

???... Hm? What's going on?…… 嗯？这是怎么回事？

Erma...Don't be controlled anymore. Do what you want.……不要再被控制，去做你想做的事。

Security DollPlease cease your unsanctioned activity! Return to the maintenance area immediately!请停止违规行为！立刻返回维修处！

Erma...I refuse.……我拒绝。

Erma swats away the security guard Doll reaching for her with the racket, but even without touching her, she can sense that the security Dolls are also like her. They're nothing more than puppets dancing on the strings of pre-programmed orders. She imitates her previous action and severs the security Dolls' strings as well.艾尔玛用球拍挡开了向她伸出手的安保人形，在没有直接接触的情况，她意识到面前的安保人形也和她一样。 不过是被既定的规则束缚起来的人形而已。 仿照着刚刚的操作，艾尔玛切断了束缚安保人形的线。

Crash— The security guard Dolls suddenly collapse, shattering the glass of a nearby display case, showering Erma in fragments.哗啦——安保人形轰然倒地，将展柜的玻璃崩裂一地，砸在了艾尔玛的身上。

Security Doll(Crackle) System malfunction! Alert! System malfunction!……兹……兹兹…… 系统故障！警告，系统故障！

ManagerThe security Dolls have crashed! Send humans over! All units, be advised, red alert! There's a Q1A-MX unit with anti-Doll capabilities!安保人形宕机了！换人类来！ 全体注意，红色警报！一台Q1A-MX具备一定对人形破坏能力！

More uniformed men rush toward Erma. Erma pushes through the security guard Dolls and continues looking for an exit.更多身着工作制服的人朝艾尔玛的方向涌来。 艾尔玛推开安保人形，继续寻找着出口。

"Summer Garden" System16.2% of neural cloud space unlocked... Sync rate with remaining memories is 13.4%...心智空间解锁16.2%…… 记忆残存数据同步13.4%……

ErmaThe unlock percentage went up... Seems like I once did something similar.解锁度变高了啊…… ……原来曾经的“我”也会这样使用能力。

Erma...This time, I need to find myself. After all, sinking into confusion each time... It hurts...……这一次，无论如何，我也要找回自己。 毕竟，每次都在迷茫里沉沦…… 我很痛苦啊……

StaffGOT IT!抓住它了！

Amidst the chaotic shouts and wails, Erma senses another kind of entity. Unfeeling, as still as the Dead Sea— Those Dolls repeating their actions in their display cases, controlled by the strings that hang from high above their heads.被困在混乱的吼叫、哀嚎之中，艾尔玛感应到了另一种存在。 没有情绪波动、如同死海般沉静—— 依然在展柜中重复着动作的人形们，那些高悬在他们头顶上的线还在操纵着他们。

StaffGet more guys over here and take it away!快来人！把它带走！

ErmaI mustn't let them take me... I finally unlocked some of my memories after so long... Screw everything... All I can do is try...不能被带走……好不容易解锁了部分记忆…… 不管了…… 只能试试……

Erma banishes all unnecessary thoughts from her mind, then cuts all those stifling strings—艾尔玛摒除杂念，切断了所有死气沉沉的线——

Crash! All the display cases shatter practically all at once. Some Dolls fall from their display platforms, looking around in confusion from where they're sitting among a field of glass shards. Other Dolls immediately start running around frantically... The chaos in the exhibition hall suddenly spikes.哗啦——展柜玻璃崩裂的声音在同一时间响起。 部分人形跌下了展柜，坐在玻璃碎片中不知所措，也有人形立刻慌乱地跑起来…… 博览会的混乱等级急速飙升。

???No running in a public place! Stop!公共场所，不准狂奔！ 给我停下！

???Where's... my racket?我的球拍……去哪了？

The confused Dolls quickly swarm through the perimeter formed by the workers, while the Dolls and humans around Erma are swept aside by the tide of fleeing people. Erma struggles to her feet and runs toward the exhibition hall's exit...状态陷入混乱的人形们冲散了工作人员的包围圈，艾尔玛身边的人形和人类也被奔跑的人群击退。 狼狈地爬起来，艾尔玛朝着博览会外跑去……

ManagerAll units, be advised! Everyone, stop what you're doing and subdue these Dolls!注意注意！ 所有人，立刻放下手中工作，把它们给我拦住！

3-γ3 Vladimir's Blues 3-γ3 弗拉基米尔的蓝调

... The lingering image lasts for only a second, but it's enough.…… 残存的影像虽然只有一瞬，但那已经足够。

Erma...All fiction is rooted in reality. That room might be distorted, but I should be able to find something there.……所有的虚幻事物必有现实依托，那间房屋就算有变形，但应该能找到些什么。

She looks at the scenery outside the living room, at the faraway river, and at the shape of the land on the other side of the river. From these, Erma can tell that this house is located opposite Yelagin Island. Factoring in the distance to the mouth of the Neva, the position of the stores on the street, the direction of the sunflowers...透过客厅看向窗外的风景，远处的河流、河对面的岛屿形状，艾尔玛能够判断房屋是在耶拉金岛的对面。 加上距离涅瓦河口的距离、街区上的店铺位置、向日葵花丛的朝向……

Soon, Erma has locked onto a set of coordinates.很快，艾尔玛锁定了一个坐标。

At the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg.圣彼得堡 夏园

Whoosh—a car races past Erma. Although everything is as she expects, actually standing in the garden that she has seen in her neural cloud excites Erma in a way that is hard to articulate.咻——一辆辆汽车从艾尔玛的面前疾驰而过。虽然确实一切都如她所料，但真正站在出现在心智中的那座花园前时，艾尔玛激动的心情还是难以言喻。

Erma... Is this the garden from my memories...?…… 这就是记忆里的那座花园吗……

She cautiously looks around, and after making sure that she isn't being watched, Erma adjusts her hood and heads for the main entrance. The cloak is a little too big for Erma, but it was lying in a box labeled "Erma" in the storeroom at the exhibition hall. Erma guessed that it might have belonged to someone who was very important to her.警惕地环视四周，确认没有人注意自己后，艾尔玛拢了拢斗篷帽，朝着大门走去。 这件斗篷对于艾尔玛有些过于宽大，但它静静躺在人形博览会仓库中标记着“艾尔玛”的箱子里。 艾尔玛猜测这或许是属于某个对自己很重要的人的东西。

ErmaI'm here...到了……

Unlike in her memories, the sunflowers in front of the house look a little wilted. It's probably because nobody has been taking care of this place recently.和记忆中不一样的是，屋前的向日葵有些没精打采，应该是近日来没人打理的原因。

???And you are...?你是……？

A gloomy old lady pats Erma's shoulder.一个阴郁的老太太拍了拍艾尔玛的肩膀。

Erma...I'm Erma. I think I used to live here.……我是艾尔玛，这里应该是我曾经的住处。

Old LadyHm? I'm the caretaker of this place... Ah, you're the previous tenant's Doll from a few years back! Where's your master? He ended up owing several months of rent... And now the owner of this garden has retaken possession of it.嗯？我是这里的管家…… 啊，你是几年前那个租客带着的人形小姑娘！你主人呢？后来还欠我好几个月房租都没有付…… 现在这座花园已经被主人收回来了。

Erma...He went missing.……她失踪了。

Old LadyOh dear, life as an ownerless Doll is hard. Do you want to stay behind and help me out with work to make a living for yourself?哎，没有主人的人形是很难生存的，你要不要留下来帮我做点活计？

ErmaI'll find a way to pay off the debt... But I need to find my master now. Please give me some time. Once I get a clue...我会想办法还清您的债务的…… 但是，现在我还在寻找主人，请再宽限一段时间，等我有了线索……

The old lady's eyes soften a little.老太太的眼神稍微柔和了些。

Old LadyEh, forget it, not like it was that much anyway. An ownerless Doll like you must be short on cash anyway.哎，算了算了，也不是很多。 你一个没有主人的人形，也没什么钱。

ErmaThank you for your understanding. You mentioned a debt earlier; do you know how my owner signed his name?感谢您的体谅。 您之前说到的债务，能告诉我主人留下的签名是什么吗？

Old LadyFrom what I remember, his surname was Hume. He was very careful with money and always paid in cash.我没记错的话，你主人留下的姓氏是休谟，他付钱非常小心谨慎，从来都是现金支付。

ErmaThank you... And finally... Did my owner leave anything behind in his room?谢谢您…… 最后想请问下……主人有在房子中留下什么东西吗？

Old LadyNo, not at all. He left his room totally spotless. I think he had it professionally cleaned.没有，什么都没有，反常地干净整洁，像是请了专人来打扫过。

Erma... I see...…… 明白了……

After thanking the granny repeatedly, Erma leaves the little house.在反复谢过老太太后，艾尔玛离开了小屋。

...Erma returns to her neural cloud, which has grown from a simple "Summer Garden" system to a proper garden. There is a lock on the main gate.……艾尔玛回到了自己的心智空间，那里已经从简单的“夏园”系统展开成了一座真正的花园。 大门门上挂着一把锁。

Erma... Erma Hume.…… 艾尔玛·休谟。

The bronze lock falls off, and the gate swings open.铜锁掉落，大门应声而开。

Unlike the real-life garden, the flowers in Erma's neural cloud blossom in all shapes and sizes, swaying gently in the night wind which carries their fragrance. Erma treads a grassy path to a little table laden with snacks and a cup of half-drunk coffee.和现实中的花园不太一样，出现在艾尔玛心智中的花园正开放着各种鲜艳的花，晚风中暗香浮动。 踏上绿草铺就的小径，艾尔玛走到了摆放着茶点的园中小桌前，上面放着的咖啡刚喝了一半。

Erma...I ought to try other anchor points.……我应该试试其他的锚点。

Erma opens her left hand and finds a pile of keys sitting quietly in her palm. This is the form they take in here after she enters all the encrypted text on her body. Erma randomly picks one up, and a room appears in the garden. There is a name on the door— "Colt Express".艾尔玛伸开左手，里面安静地放着一堆钥匙。 这是她输入素体上所有的加密文字后，它们在这里化成的形态。 艾尔玛随机挑起了一把钥匙，花园中随即浮出了一间房，门口的铭牌上写着几个字—— “柯尔特快车”。

3-γ4 The Well-Tempered Clavier 3-γ4 十二平均律前奏曲

Inside a hidden room in the black market, Moscow.莫斯科 黑市中的隐秘小屋。

Catherine is sprawled on a sofa, directing Quimby to help pack her belongings and prepare to back up her neural cloud.凯瑟琳慵懒地躺在沙发上，指挥昆比帮她收拾东西，准备心智备份。

Catherine...That should be it, right?……差不多就这些东西吧。

QuimbyI'm so tired. You never packed so much stuff when you boarded the Colt Express before!累死我了，你之前上柯尔特快车明明不需要这么多东西的！

CatherineWhat do you know? We've got an important mission this time.你懂什么，这次可是有重要任务在身。

QuimbySo why are you bringing the new buyer over? You think you can handle it?那你还约新的买家来？忙得过来吗？

CatherineHey, double is being paid for the same amount of time spent. Besides—花一样的时间成本，能赚两份钱，而且——

A greedy look crosses Catherine's face.凯瑟琳露出贪婪的笑容。

CatherineShe's got a pretty good body too...据我的观察，那家伙的素体相当不错……

Knock—knock, knock—knock— This is the prearranged doorknock.叩——叩叩——叩—— 是约定的敲门方式。

QuimbyYep, the buyer's here.喔，买家到了。

CatherineGood. Quimby, initiate Plan B.很好，昆比，执行B方案。

Catherine walks to the wall and presses a button. The wall slowly rotates and takes her to the room on the other side. Once certain that Catherine has left, Quimby opens the door.凯瑟琳走到墙边，开启了按钮，墙体缓缓转动180度，将她带到了另一边的房间中。 确认凯瑟琳离开后，昆比打开了门。

QuimbyWelcome (*^▽^*), Esteemed boss! I'm Quimby of the Tequila Bar, dedicated to providing you with a quality and reliable deal!欢迎光临(*^▽^*)尊贵的老板！ 我是龙舌兰小酒馆的昆比，竭诚为您提供优质可靠的交易！

Erma...As per our arrangement, I want a ticket on the Colt Express.……按照约定，我要一张柯尔特快车的票。

QuimbySure thing, boss. Please leave your details here.好的老板，请您在这里留一下信息。

While Quimby is serving refreshments, Erma surveys the cozy room. It's roughly 20 square meters in size, with lots of random stuff hanging off the walls, making the already packed room even more cramped. Some of them are common Doll parts, mainly cooling mechanisms, while others are trade ledgers which have been encrypted for security.趁着对方沏茶端水的间隙，艾尔玛端详着不大的房间。 大概二十来平米的房间，墙角处堆了很多杂物，将原本不大的空间挤占得更为狭小。 一部分是常见的人形替换部件，以冷却装置为主，另一部分基本上为交易记录文档，经过了加密。

ErmaDoes black market business really need so much neural cloud processing power? The cooling devices here could last me for 300 years...做黑市生意需要这么高的心智运算力吗？这么多冷却装置够我用三百年了……

QuimbyHere, Boss! (*^▽^*) Have some tea! Just sign off on these forms, and I'll take a look. This is your ticket.来，老板(*^▽^*)请喝茶！ 单子签好了我看看，这是您的车票。

Quimby hands a sealed envelope to Erma.昆比拿出一封包好的信封，推给了艾尔玛。

QuimbyYou can pay your outstanding balance now.您可以交付尾款了。

Erma opens the envelope and checks the information on the ticket.艾尔玛打开信封，查看了车票上的信息。

ErmaThe outstanding balance... I'll only pay after I can be sure that I can board the Colt Express with this ticket.尾款……需要等我确定能凭这张票进入柯尔特快车后，才可以支付。

QuimbyThat won't do, dear customer...这可行不通啊，客人……

Erma puts the ticket back in the envelope and lays it on the table.艾尔玛将车票装回信封，放在了桌上。

ErmaIf it won't do, then I'll go look at other places. After all, you're not the only ticket-sellers...要是不行的话，我就去其他地方看看了。 毕竟售卖车票的店家不止你们……

Knock, knock, knock— Hearing Catherine's signal, Quimby smiles.咚咚咚—— 昆比听见了凯瑟琳的暗示，她继续笑着说。

QuimbyDear customer, our assistant manager will explain the situation to you.尊贵的客人，这部分情况由我们副店长为您解答。

Quimby presses a switch on the wall, and a clean, shiny stretch of wall rotates 180 degrees, presenting Erma with a new character.昆比开启了墙上的开关，一面光洁的墙壁向后翻转了180度，同时，艾尔玛的面前出现了新的角色。

Erma...What?!……嗯？！

CatherineThe name is Catherine.凯瑟琳。

The cool-faced woman stands up from her chair and sizes Erma up.表情冷漠的女人从椅子上站起，上下打量着艾尔玛。

ErmaHi...你好……

CatherineFirst, let me make this clear. Only one place sells tickets for the Colt Express, and this is it.首先，我必须告诉你。 柯尔特快车的票仅此一家。

CatherineSecond, Colt Express tickets are standalone and do not include any tickets for the Future that you might have bought. But since you want a set ticket, you'll see from their official website just how hard it is to get tickets for the Future. That is, if you have any common sense.其次，柯尔特快车的票单独售卖，并不包含顾客自购的未来号车票。 但你要求的是套票，如果你有点常识，去官网上看看就知道未来号的票有多难抢。

CatherineFinally, we don't extend credit.最后，本店概不赊账。

After that series of explanations, Catherine returns to her comfy sofa.凯瑟琳冷冷地撂下一串说明后，又回到了舒服的沙发上。

ErmaI have a few questions...我有几个疑问……

CatherineShoot.讲。

ErmaWhy do I need two tickets to board the Colt Express?登上柯尔特快车为什么需要两张票？

CatherineWhat an elementary question... Quimby.这么低级的问题……昆比。

QuimbyHere's the thing, dear customer~ The Colt Express doesn't refer to the name of a train, but a black market that is only open to Dolls. However, it is only accessible from the Intercontinental Railway train "Future". Therefore, you must board the Future to board the "Colt Express".是这样的，客人~ 柯尔特快车并不是指列车的名字，而是只对人形开放的黑市名称。 但它只在洲际列车“未来号”上开放，因此，需要先登上“未来号”，才有机会进入柯尔特快车。

ErmaI see... I have another question.明白了…… 我还有个问题。

Erma taps the envelope.艾尔玛点了点信封。

ErmaThis isn't a ticket— It's a jammer. What exactly are you trying to sell by disguising a jammer as a train ticket?这里面的东西并不是一张车票—— 这是一个干扰器。 把干扰器伪装成车票的样子，你们到底是在卖什么？

Catherine narrows her eyes.凯瑟琳眯起了眼睛。

CatherineI hate smart customers. But I hate customers who think they're smart even more.我讨厌聪明的客人。 但我更讨厌自以为聪明的客人。

ErmaLooks like you don't intend to answer my question.看来你是不打算回答我的问题了。

Catherine jumps up from the sofa and picks up the envelope on the table.凯瑟琳从沙发上站起来，重新拾起桌上的信封。

CatherineI can take your outstanding balance on the train, but there are conditions. I'll be charging 1.5 times the usual amount. And I will take you aboard myself.我可以接受尾款等上车再付，但我也有条件。 我需要1.5倍价格的尾款。 而且，我会亲自带你上车。

Erma...Deal.……成交。

Catherine hands Erma the envelope and Erma leaves immediately.凯瑟琳将信封交给了艾尔玛，艾尔玛即刻离开了这个地方。

Click— Once again, only Quimby and Catherine are left in the room.咔哒—— 小屋中又只剩下了昆比和凯瑟琳。

QuimbyAssistant Boss Catherine, are you going down the path of becoming a heartless merchant now?凯瑟琳副店长，改走冷酷路线了？

CatherineYou have to handle different customers in different ways. She came off as a brusque individual, so I had to threaten her from a position of authority.不同的顾客，得用不同的处理办法。 那位一看就是个愣头青，啥也不懂，得用权威的姿态来对应。

QuimbyYou've got a point, assistant boss.副店长说得有理。

CatherineDo you think her body would suit Maggie?她的素体，你觉得适合玛姬不？

Quimby thinks.昆比脑补了一下。

MaggieWe don't extend credit.本店概不赊账。

QuimbyI have to say, the contrast would be quite interesting.不得不说，挺有反差的。

CatherineMaggie's body is at its limit. I'm worried she might not make it past this run. Having to constantly look up at her is also putting a lot of strain on my neck joints. Plus, a smaller body is easier to carry if she crashes.玛姬的素体早就到极限了，我都怕这次不一定下得来。 再说，每天仰头看她我脖子的关节磨损都加剧了。 整个小不点素体，要是宕机了，背着也没那么费劲。

As Catherine chuckles quietly, a plan for a beautiful future slowly unfolds in her mind...在凯瑟琳低沉的笑声中，有关未来的完美畅想已经肆无忌惮地铺陈开……

5-γ5 The Canary 5-γ5 金丝雀

Inside the restroom of Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage) of the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车） 洗手间内

???Which of you is the agent on a secret mission? Or are you both agents?你们二位，谁是那个秘密执勤的特工？ 还是说，你们两个都是？

Lyudmila starts up the jammer without saying a word, and the restroom immediately becomes a no-service zone.柳德米拉一声不吭地开启了屏蔽器，洗手间瞬间成为了无服务区。

Erma... An agent? I'm not an agent... Are you?…… 特工？我不是特工…… 你是吗？

Lyudmila ignores Erma's question.柳德米拉没有理会艾尔玛的问题。

LyudmilaIf it's just a matter of memory loss, then it won't affect your survival. Get off when you reach your stop and never get back on this train again. The "Colt Express" especially. The black market is not simple as you might think. Given your background, she must be letting you board for some ulterior motive.如果只是失忆的话，并不影响你生存。 到站就下去，以后再也不要登上这辆车。 特别是“柯尔特快车”，那个黑市没你想的那么简单。以你的身家，她们让你上车肯定是另有所图。

Erma...My memory loss does affect my survival. This isn't the first time I've lost memories. I keep losing them repeatedly. No technician can fix my issues, and if I want to live on as my whole self, I need to solve my memory problems.……失忆当然影响我的生存。 我不是第一次失忆，而是不停地失忆。 没有维修师能解决我的问题，要想作为完整的自己活下去，必须解决记忆的问题。

LyudmilaYour whole self? Yeah, that definitely sounds like the kind of crap that Hume would have done.完整的自己么？ 这的确是休谟会做出来的麻烦事。

ErmaYou know "Mama"?!你认识“妈妈”？！

Lyudmila stops aiming her gun at Erma and reattaches her arm.柳德米拉将手枪从艾尔玛身上挪开，并接回了她的胳膊。

LyudmilaDon't mention anything about Doctor Hume to anyone. Not even a word. The next person you face might not be as good-tempered as me.休谟博士相关的事情你不要再跟任何人提及，一个字都不要。 不然你面对的下一个人，可未必有我的好脾气。

ErmaSo you ARE a Soviet agent? Then you believe what I'm saying?所以你确实是苏联特工？ 那你现在相信我说的话了？

Lyudmila...You might have misunderstood something. I have no need to believe you.……你可能误会了，我根本不需要信任你。

Lyudmila takes her pistol out from under her coat and loads a magazine.柳德米拉从风衣下取出手枪，装好弹匣。

LyudmilaI'm on some very urgent business here. You'd better find a place to hide.我有更紧急的事要做。 现在，你找个地方躲起来。

Erma bites her lip and thinks for a bit.艾尔玛咬着下嘴唇思考了片刻。

ErmaAnd what will you do if I listen to you and hide?我听你的话躲起来，那你做什么？

LyudmilaI need to head back to my carriage.我需要回到自己的车厢。

ErmaYou're going to go through those people outside?!从外面那些人中间冲过去？！

LyudmilaYes.嗯。

ErmaNo way, it's too risky!不行，这太危险了！

Lyudmila...That isn't something you should be worried about.……这不是你该操心的事。

ErmaOf COURSE I'm worried about you! Who will I ask about Doctor Hume if you're gone?! ...And you forbade me from asking other people, so I can only turn to you. Which carriage are you in? I'm coming with you!我当然要操心！ 你没了我找谁问休谟博士的事！ ……你又不准我找别人，那我只能找你。 你车厢是哪个？我跟你一起过去！

Lyudmila... Have you been fitted with a fire control core?…… 你装过火控核心吗？

Erma goes silent for a few seconds.艾尔玛沉默了几秒。

ErmaI can't be sure.我不确定。

Lyudmila peels off her glove and takes Erma's hand.柳德米拉摘下手套，握住了艾尔玛的手。

... By the time Erma comes to her senses, she's returned to her own neural cloud.…… 等艾尔玛回过神来的时候，她已经回到了自己的心智空间中。

ErmaWhen did I...什么时候……

The Summer Garden has a door that wasn't there before.“夏园”内多了一扇之前没有的门。

Erma walks toward that unfamiliar door.艾尔玛走向那扇陌生的门。

If she hadn't gone over deliberately, she might not have noticed that unassuming door.如果不是她刻意记过的话，她很可能不会发现这扇并不起眼的门。

She places a hand on its cool metal handle, then works up her courage and presses down...她将手放在冰凉的金属门把手上，鼓起勇气向下压住……

... The door opens to reveal a filthy, messy street. It looks a bit like the street that Erma had passed through while visiting the black market, but it isn't the same one. The signs on the sides of the street are murky, and she can't make out the letters.…… 脏乱的街道。 有些像艾尔玛之前去黑市路过的街道，但并不是同一个。 街道边的路牌模模糊糊，看不清具体的字样。

ErmaWhat IS this place?这是哪里？

Erma is standing in the middle of a narrow road, holding something warm and soft in her right hand. Someone's holding her hand, and she can feel the other person's racing heartbeat through her palm.艾尔玛站在狭窄的街道中，感觉到右手传来的温暖柔软的触感。 有谁在牵着自己的手，透过掌心，艾尔玛能感受到对方急促的心跳。

ErmaWhat's wrong?你怎么了？

???I'm just feeling a little weak...只是肉体有些虚弱……

They pant and wipe away the sweat beading on their forehead as though they had just finished some intense exercise.似乎是刚刚剧烈运动过，对方喘息着，不断擦拭额头的汗珠。

Thud-thud-thud— The sound of running footsteps—belonging to around seven or eight people—is heading their way.咚咚咚—— 狂奔的脚步声，大概有七八个人，朝着他们所在的地方跑来。

???Shh—嘘——

ErmaWhy do we have to run?我们为什么要跑？

The warm hand takes hers and they start running again.温暖的手牵着自己再度奔跑起来。

They pass through the oppressively narrow alleys and avoid the angry shouts. Through it all, Erma maintains her grip on the other person's hand, and no matter what obstacles lie ahead... For just a moment, she wishes they could keep running like this forever.穿过狭窄逼仄的巷道，绕开愤怒的喊杀咆哮，艾尔玛始终紧紧牵着那人的手，不管前方有什么阻挠…… 有那么一刻，她甚至希望能一直这样跑下去。

???Erma, take this.艾尔玛，拿上这个。

The other person shelters her around a corner. In place of that warm hand is a cold metal object.对方将自己护在一个拐角处，取代那只温暖的手的，是一把冰冷的金属制品。

ErmaWhat is this?这是什么？

???It's an ability that you once had... Load module— Disable fire control core inhibitor.这是你曾经拥有的能力…… 模块加载—— 火控核心限制解除。

5-γ7 Choral Fantasy 5-γ7 合唱幻想曲

...The dangerous footsteps slowly fade away in the noisy alley. Erma huddles around the corner, nervously watching as her last Dummy signal vanishes. Dark red blood seeps through a white sleeve. Her arm probably got scratched in the melee just now.……喧嚣的暗巷中，那些危险的脚步声渐渐远去。 艾尔玛靠在转角处，心有余悸地看着自己的最后一个傀儡讯号消失。 暗红色的血液正从一只白色制服的袖子上渗出，应该是手臂在刚刚的混战中被划伤了。

???Your name is also the name of this gun.你的名字，也是这把枪的名字。

Erma...Erma Maschinenpistole. Erma.……Erma EMP。 艾尔玛。

Erma reaches out to the other person, but she is drawn into a dark red world...艾尔玛向对方伸出手，却被拉入了暗红色的世界……

Inside the restroom of Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage) of the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车） 洗手间内

The hand that is holding Erma's feels as familiar as the weapon in her memory.握着自己的那只手，质感宛如记忆中的那把枪。

Lyudmila...Giving you bullets would be a waste. Just duck into the air vent.……子弹留给你太浪费了。 你等会儿躲进通风管道。

Erma ignores her. She holds onto Lyudmila's hand, and her image overlaps with the figure in the alley.艾尔玛完全听不进她说的话。 她握着对方的手，忍不住把对面的人形，和小巷里的身影融在一起。

The cold sensation of the firearm, the snowflakes, the door handle, and the cooled coffee all blend together. Erma's memory fragments race through her mind...枪械冰冷的触感和雪花、门把手、冷却了的咖啡杯的触感叠加在一起。 艾尔玛的记忆碎片快速闪回着……

On an inexplicable impulse, Erma decides to take a peek inside Lyudmila's neural cloud... To see if she has the same memories as her...鬼使神差地，艾尔玛忍不住想看一看对方的心智空间…… 看看，是不是跟自己一样拥有那段记忆……

LyudmilaWhat the hell are you doing?!你干什么！

Lyudmila does not hesitate and immediately puts Erma into an armlock.柳德米拉几乎没有犹豫，反手钳制住了艾尔玛的手臂。

Erma... I...…… 我……

Erma doesn't know what Lyudmila did, but she realizes that her vocal module is no longer functional. In addition, it seems Lyudmila has also shut down her general-purpose comms channel.柳德米拉不知道做了什么，艾尔玛发现自己无法使用发声模块了，不止如此，柳德米拉似乎还封锁了她的通用通讯频道。

All that's left is a channel that she's never used before.留给艾尔玛的，只剩下一个她从未使用过的频道。

Erma's neural cloud automatically generates an adaptation code in response to this inactive channel.对着尚未激活的频道，艾尔玛的心智中自动出现了适配代码。

Erma63-Я-180

For the first time, there is a look of shock on Lyudmila's cold face.柳德米拉冷漠的脸上第一次出现了稍显惊讶的神情。

Erma...So you're Instructor Я.……原来你就是“Я”教官。

ErmaYou're like me. You're "Mother's" child.你和我一样，是“妈妈”的孩子。

ErmaI have a room in my neural cloud that contains records of all of Hume's children. I am the first, and you... are the 63rd.我的心智空间其中一间房子里，记载了休谟所有的孩子。 我是第一个，而你……是第63个。

Bangbangbang— Someone bangs heavily on the restroom door.砰砰砰—— 洗手间的门被猛烈地敲击着。

LyudmilaWe don't have time for this nonsense.没时间废话了。

Lyudmila shoves Erma into the air vent. Erma's hand refuses to let go of Lyudmila's.柳德米拉直接将艾尔玛强行塞进了通风管道。 艾尔玛的一只手还抓着柳德米拉。

Erma...Your carriage number! We're not finished yet!……你的车厢号！ 我们的事还没完！

Lyudmila... F02.…… F02。

5-γ8 Torna a Surriento 5-γ8 重归苏莲托

... Erma follows Lyudmila's instruction and climbs to the roof of the train.…… 按照柳德米拉的指示，艾尔玛爬上了列车车顶。

ErmaI'm here. What now?我到了，接下来该怎么做？

LyudmilaYou see the turret on top of the train? It's incredibly powerful. Not even a Tactical Doll can take more than a few shots from one of these.看见车顶上的炮台了吗？火力非常猛，即使是战术人形也扛不住几发炮弹。

ErmaThen what should I do?那我该怎么办？

LyudmilaThere's a control terminal up ahead, not far from you. It can shut down the turret.在你前方不远处，有个控制面板，可以关闭部分炮台。

LyudmilaYou can weave through the fields of fire that way.这样你就可以穿插在火力间前进了。

ErmaAlright... I'll give it a try!好……我试试！

LyudmilaYellow icons will appear on the ground before the cannon fires. Make sure you dodge in time.炮台在发起袭击前，会在地面出现黄色的标识，记得及时躲开。

ErmaGot it. See you in F02.明白了，F02车厢见。

8 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 8 帕格尼尼主题狂想曲

Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车）

... The Dolls within the dining carriage seem calm enough, but their real consciousnesses are having a knock-down drag-out fight elsewhere...…… 餐车内人形们外表看似平静，但真正的意识却已经在另一个地方吵翻了天……

...Inside Erma's comms channel.……艾尔玛构建的通讯频道内

Doll AFight the VORY?! Are you insane?! We're just ordinary civilian Dolls.跟，跟律贼作战！？你疯了吗！？ 我们只是普通的民用人形。

Doll BI-I can't do it, you don't know how scary these guys are! I'm not even armed...我，我不行，你根本不知道这些家伙有多可怕！ 而且我也没有武器啊……

Doll CWe're kinda fine right now... If we behave, they won't cause us trouble... Who'd go all out against a toaster anyway?我们现在也没什么…… 只要我乖乖的，他们根本没打算为难我…… 谁会跟电饭煲较劲呢？

PavelReporting from Carriage F09. 12 Vory, 3 sentry droids. My body is fully functional.坐标09号车厢。 律贼12人，看守人形3位。 我的素体功能完整。

Doll AA-are you for real...你，你还真打算上啊……

PavelI worked on the Siberian Lifeline Project, namely the route this very train travels on. I am very familiar with the structure and loadout of this train. Once you activate me, I can work with you.我曾经效力于西伯利亚生命线工程，也就是“未来号”行驶的这条线路。 这辆列车的配置和结构我非常熟悉。 只要启动我，我就可以跟你们一起工作。

Doll D...Hey, don't forget to save me too! I, I used to do tricks in a circus, so I'm pretty agile. Now that I think about it, humans aren't so scary after all!……等等，也别忘了救救我！ 我，我是马戏团负责杂耍表演的，我的素体很灵活。 细想想，对付人类好像也没什么可怕的！

Beepbeep—滴滴——

Channel is now muted—频道已开启禁言模式——

LyudmilaDon't waste time on pointless details. Report the situation in the carriages you're in. Follow Mr. Pavel's format. I'll be taking command now.不要在无用的细节上浪费时间。 告诉我你们所在车厢的情况，格式参考保尔先生即可。 接下来这里由我指挥。

Beepbeep—滴滴——

Channel is now unmuted—频道已解除禁言模式——

Doll AReporting from Carriage F12. 3 Vory, no sentry droids. My body is partially damaged.坐标12号车厢。 律贼3人，看守人形无。 我的素体有部分损毁。

Doll BReporting from Dining Carriage F18. 5 Vory, 1 sentry droid. My body is fully functional.坐标18号餐车。 律贼5人，看守人形1位。 我的素体功能完整。

Catherine listens quietly. She's saying surprisingly little. This is practically silence for her.凯瑟琳默默地听着，现在的话简直意外的少。 这对她而言，几乎可以称得上沉默。

MaggieAre you okay?你还好吧？

CatherineNo need to worry about me. You should try to get out of there. The mission is still the top priority.不用管我，你争取离开呗。 一切还是任务为先。

MaggieThat gunshot must have hurt, right? ...It feels like I keep having to feed you to the sharks on all kinds of missions.那一枪很痛吧？ ……好像，我总是在各种各样的任务里抛下你。

Catherine...Well, I have 80 more backups, so just remember to collect me. It's happened before. I know the drill.……没事，我还有八十个备份呢，你记得回收我就行。 这种事也不是第一次了。

Maggie... By the way, do you feel sad when I abandon you?…… 话说，每次抛下你的时候，你会不会难过？

Catherine...Not like I remember; it's a brand new experience each time.……又不记得，每次都是全新的体验。

MaggieYou sound pretty upset alright.那看来还是挺难过的嘛。

CatherineWho are you, and what have you done with Maggie? Why are you talking about all this crap?你被盗号了吗？怎么说话叽叽歪歪的。

MaggieJust making idle conversation since we've got nothing to do anyway.没，反正现在没事干，瞎聊聊。

CatherineQuit pretending! We're Dolls, not humans. If something feels bad, all we have to do is get rid of the memories. It's tiring enough just to survive. Who's got the energy to overthink such things, anyway?少矫情了！我们是人形，又不是人类。 难受的话洗掉这段记忆就好啦，而且我们连生存都费尽心思了，想那么多干啥。

MaggieI'm not pretending, I'm just...这也不算矫情吧，只是……

Maggie...Who's that?……谁？

Halfway through the conversation, Maggie senses something, and the gentle tone she's using with Catherine instantly changes.说话间，玛姬忽然好像察觉到了什么，与凯瑟琳说话的温和声音陡然一变。

ErmaAhem... Uh... I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you guys...咳咳……那个，我不是有意偷听的……

CatherineBut you already did, didn't you?!……都偷听了能不是故意的吗？！

Erma...Well, I picked up some signal fluctuations and thought it was something extraordinary. Sorry to bother you, please continue.……我就是看这边有信息波动，以为是什么不得了的东西。 打扰了，你们继续。

CatherineWhat, you think you can just walk in and out as you like?你想来就来想走就走？

MaggieQuite the hacker, aren't you? Catherine, good job on picking this body for me.没想到你骇入信息也挺有一手的。 凯瑟琳你还是挺有眼光嘛，挑这么个素体给我。

Catherine...Oi.……喂。

MaggieYou do know, right? Your train ride isn't free.你应该知道了吧，我们要你上车可不是免费的。

Erma...I do now. No wonder you didn't want money but rather wanted me to put my body up as collateral. So, am I getting back the 2 ounces I earned on the Colt Express?……现在我知道了。 难怪你们不要钱，却要我抵押素体。 那我在柯尔特快车上赚的2盎司，还会给我吗？

Catherine hangs up without any hesitation.凯瑟琳毫不犹豫地掐断了通讯。

At the gangway connection between Carriages F01 and F02 of the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F01/F02车厢连接处

The faint scent of blood hangs in the air, and the mood is heavy and stagnant.空气中依然漂浮着淡淡的血腥气，沉重凝滞的氛围也萦绕不散。

Click. That is, until a crisp sound rings out, and everyone turns to the Doll fiddling with the door.咔嗒。 直到一声清脆的声音响起，众人的目光才齐齐看向那个在门前操作的人形。

Maggie...♪……♪

Maggie turns around, bathing in the audience's attention before executing a stylish bow.玛姬转过身来，沐浴着众人的目光，十分潇洒地甩手行了一个鞠躬礼。

MaggieGreetings, dear passengers. The carriage F01 that you've booked is now ready. Enjoy your trip~尊敬的各位乘客，你们好。 您预定的F01号车厢现在已经准备完毕。 祝您旅途愉快~

Erma...Stewardess Maggie, I'd like a seasonal set meal.……乘务员玛姬小姐，给我来一份当季限定套餐。

MaggieI'll have to charge an extra fee for that.那需要额外的小费。

Ignoring the two of them, Lyudmila enters the carriage and gives the interior a quick once-over.柳德米拉无视两人，直接进门，粗略地检查了一下车厢内的情况。

For some reason, this place is empty. However, given how dangerous the current situation is, Lyudmila leaves that question aside for now. She comes back out and nods to everyone.不知为何，这里空无一人。 但在危难重重的当下，这点疑问暂时被压在了柳德米拉的脑后。 她走出来向众人点了点头。

LyudmilaConsidering the level of the defenses here, we should be able to make it to Poznań if they don't hit us with heavy firepower.按这种防御等级，如果没有重火力攻击的话，撑到波兹南应该不是问题。

Doctor RugosaI'll be going in first, then... The rest of the "show" is up to you.那我们就先进去了……接下来是你们的“表演”了。

Lyudmila...Right.……嗯。

The passengers hurriedly squeeze into the first-class carriage, leaving Rugosa at the doorway to exchange some final words with the Dolls. Rugosa looks at Lyudmila and bows solemnly to her.乘客们慌不择路地挤入了特等车厢，只留下鲁戈萨一人在门口与人形们做最后的交谈。 鲁戈萨看着柳德米拉，郑重地对她鞠了一躬。

Doctor RugosaWe're counting on you.一切拜托了。

Lyudmila silently closes the door to the first-class carriage. In an instant, there are only three Dolls left at the gangway connection.无言中，柳德米拉关闭了特等车厢的大门。 一瞬间，整个车厢连接处只剩下三位人形。

Maggie...It's kind of late to say this now, but... Can we really do this with just the three of us?……虽说有一点马后炮。 不过，这里只靠我们三个真的能行吗？

LyudmilaWell, if you want to back out now... I can do this myself.如果你想打退堂鼓…… 我一个人也可以。

MaggieReally? Your words, not mine.真的？这可是你自己说的。

Erma looks up at Maggie.艾尔玛抬头看了玛姬一眼。

ErmaI took a look around your neural cloud while I was reconstructing the comms signal.我刚才重建通讯信号的时候，在你的心智里扫了一眼。

Maggie... That's very rude, Miss Erma.…… 艾尔玛小姐，这种行为很不礼貌。

Erma doesn't seem embarrassed at all. Instead, she seems even more righteous than before.艾尔玛全然没有羞愧的意思，反而更加理直气壮。

ErmaIf you don't work with Lyudmila... I'll scrap your precious Colt Express.如果你不配合柳德米拉。 我就把你的“柯尔特快车”给拆了。

Maggie's mouth twitches.玛姬的嘴角抽了抽。

Maggie...You REALLY know how to pick people, Catherine.……凯瑟琳，你真的很会挑人。

The three of them are briefly silent.三人一时无话。

Just then, an encrypted transmission suddenly enters Lyudmila's private channel.这时，一条加密通讯突然闯进了柳德米拉的私密频道。

Maggie...Madam Instructor. I hope you haven't forgotten your role and mission?……教官小姐。 你没忘记自己的身份和任务吧？

Lyudmila...Getting rid of you on the spot isn't all that difficult, you know.……在这里顺手解决掉你，并不是件难事。

MaggieNow, don't be hasty. Remember what I said—we can have a deal as long as you name the right price?别冲动嘛，还记得我说过——只要价码合适，我们也可以交易吗？

LyudmilaThe way I see it, you're more of a con artist than a businesswoman.在我看来，比起生意人，欺诈师更适合用来形容你。

MaggieIt's just a matter of perspective—extortion is still a kind of transaction. In fact, aren't all transactions at least a little extortionate? We all use whatever means necessary to obtain what we want for a cheaper price. I don't see how I'm any different.这只是我们观点上的小小分歧——欺诈当然也是一种交易，或者说交易难道不就是一种欺诈？ 我们都在想方设法地用低于市场价的金额，来获得想要的东西，我不觉得两者有很大的区别。

LyudmilaYou silver-tongued devil.巧舌如簧。

MaggieSo... Madam Instructor. Would you like to do business with me?那么……教官小姐。 你是否愿意和我做个交易呢？

9 Ghost 9 幽灵

Beep...滴……

Lyudmila suddenly stops in her tracks, and she looks down to examine her watch. After a brief pause, she looks up at the two people ahead of her.柳德米拉行走的步伐忽然停滞，低头审视自己的腕表。 在短暂地停顿之后，她抬起头，看向了眼前的两人。

Lyudmila?—Erma, Maggie.——艾尔玛，玛姬。

MaggieHm?嗯？

Lyudmila?From now on, I will be assuming command.从现在开始，我将接管这里的指挥权限。

Erma...Wasn't that the original arrangement?……不是本来就这么安排的吗？

Lyudmila?I'm just confirming one last time.最后一次确认而已。

Lyudmila nods and walks straight past the two of them.说着，柳德米拉点了点头，径直穿过了两人。

Erma...Why does she feel kinda different?……她怎么感觉好像变了个人？

MaggieI guess that's just her game face.这大概就是她的专业面孔吧。

10 L'estro Armonico 10 和谐的灵感

Gangway connection between Carriages F02 and 03 on the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02/F03车厢连接处

Boom!轰！

Bam! Under the Vory's ruthless barrage, the sturdy door finally starts to buckle.嘭——！ 律贼们的火力依然在无情倾泻，坚实的大门似乎终于松动了一点。

Beep-beep-beep! Just then, the alarm on the train suddenly blares in warning.滴滴滴——！ 就在这时，车厢内的警报声突然响起，仿佛在预示着什么。

Encouraged by that, the Vory double down and fire with even more gusto.律贼成员们输出的火力一下受到了鼓舞，瞬间变得更加激烈。

Crack...啪嚓……

Vor AIt's open!开了！

With a soft splitting noise, the tightly shut door suddenly opens a crack. Nikolai draws his pistol and charges in with three other Vory.眼前的门轻轻一响，紧闭的门扉忽然打开了一条缝。 尼古拉掏出手枪，带着三个律贼成员率先冲了进去。

DanilWe're going in too.跟上。

Danil pushes Baba Lyuba's wheelchair and follows suit with a few other subordinates. ...丹尼尔接过了柳芭老妈的轮椅，在几名心腹的簇拥下跟了上去，紧随其后。 ……

Carriage F02, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02车厢

The Vory pour into the carriage. With all the lights off, the carriage is shrouded in darkness. Using the dim lights coming from outside the window, Nikolai squints and peers around.律贼成员们鱼贯而入。 此时眼前的车厢一片昏暗，所有的照明都已经关闭。 借着车窗外的光线，尼古拉眯着眼环视了一圈车厢。

NikolaiBe careful.小心点。

Vor ARight. Mr. Nikolai... do you smell something?是。 尼古拉先生……你闻到什么味道了吗？

NikolaiSmell? I'm not noticing any smell. You?有吗？我没闻到啊，你呢？

Vor BMe neither.我好像也没闻到……

The carriage is devoid of passengers and Dolls. The open safe is also empty. If this train is a mountain of treasure, then right now this carriage is the most barren part of the mountain. Danil's brow furrows.车厢里没有乘客，没有人形，敞开的保险箱也空空如也。 如果用宝山来形容这辆列车，那此时，这节车厢就像是宝山里最贫瘠的部分。 随后进来的丹尼尔皱了皱眉头。

DanilLook over there.看那边。

Danil directs everyone's attention to the center of the carriage. The Vory who have been assigned to guard the carriage are now bound and on their knees. Blindfolded and gagged, they yammer unintelligibly. Nikolai rushes up and tears off one of the Vory's gag, and the Vory immediately cries out.顺着丹尼尔的示意，大家看向车厢的正中央—— 在那里，原本被他们安排留守的律贼成员跪在那里，动弹不得。 他们被蒙住双眼，用布条堵住了嘴巴，发出呜呜的叫声。 尼古拉赶忙上前，一把拿掉其中一人嘴里的布团，对方立刻叫唤起来。

Vor AIt's a trap!!!有诈！！！

DanilWatch out!警戒！

Pssssss... But his warning comes too late. The dark carriage is suddenly pumped full of liquefied gas.噗呲—— 就在律贼成员叫喊的瞬间，本就昏暗的车厢内突然开始充斥大量液化气体。

Nikolai—?! What's that noise?——！？ 什么声音？

DanilCareful! It's purification gas!小心！ 是净化喷雾！

Psssss... East, south, west, and north. Gas spews from nozzles in all four corners of the carriage, further obscuring the Vory's vision.噗呲—— 东，南，西，北。 从车厢四个角落弹出的喷嘴中吐出的气雾，将律贼们原本就被黑暗占据的视野变得更加模糊。

DanilMasks on!都戴上面罩！

At Danil's command, the Vory all take out their gas masks and put them on.随着丹尼尔低沉的声音，律贼们纷纷掏出了防护面罩，戴到了脸上。

NikolaiThe alarm didn't go off...警报明明没响……

In just a few seconds, the gas has already filled the entire carriage. The space is dark to begin with, but now they can barely see past their nose.就在他们说话的短短几秒内，雾气已然充满了整个车厢。 原本就一片昏暗的空间里，可视范围瞬间缩减到每个人的鼻尖。

Baba Lyuba, who has been hanging back by the door, suddenly notices something and grabs hold of Danil, who is putting a gas mask on her.一直待在门边的柳芭老妈忽然意识到了什么，伸手一把抓住了丹尼尔帮她戴面罩的手。

Baba LyubaWatch the door!把门看住！

A dark shadow brushes past Danil.一道黑影与丹尼尔擦身而过。

Thunk!咚！

Danil—What was that?!——什么声音！？

Gangster...S-something's in here!……有，有什么东西在！

Thunk!咚！

Under the cover of darkness and heavy mist, a gray specter weaves its way through the crowd. In spite of Baba Lyuba's order, the Vory are too disoriented to respond in time—昏暗的光线，浓郁的雾气，在这之中，一个灰色的影子犹如幽灵一般，擦过了人群。 尽管柳芭老妈立刻下达了命令，但显然还没搞清楚发生了什么的律贼成员们根本来不及反应——

—Thunk! The man blocking the specter's way instantly loses consciousness and hits the floor heavily.——咚！ 无声无息地，那挡在她道路前方的男人瞬间失去了意识，重重地倒在了地上。

Nikolai...?!……！？

In the center of the carriage, Nikolai suddenly feels a chill behind his back. When he swivels around, he catches sight of the specter who has made her way around Baba Lyuba. Baba Lyuba, still busy scanning the carriage, is completely oblivious to the fact that the target she is searching for is right next to her.在车厢中间的尼古拉感觉背后一凉，等他转过身的时候，瞳孔瞬间捕捉到了那个鬼魅般穿过柳芭老妈身后的影子。 柳芭老妈的视线此时还在检索着车厢，浑然不觉，她所寻找的目标就在咫尺之处，擦身而过。

NikolaiDanil, behind you! Get her! Shoot!!!丹尼尔，在你身后！抓住她！开枪——！！！

Bang-bang-bang!!!呯呯呯——！！！

Five minutes earlier.五分钟前。

After listening to Lyudmila's plan, Erma stares at her in confusion.听完柳德米拉安排的计划，艾尔玛露出了一脸茫然的神色。

Erma...You're charging in on your own? Then what are the two of us supposed to do?……你自己一个人冲出去？ 那我们两个做什么？

Lyudmila?You must have seen this contraption when you were crawling through the ventilation shafts earlier.你之前进入通风管道的时候，应该见过这样的部件。

Lyudmila grabs a pen and sketches out a filter.柳德米拉随手拿起一支笔，画出了过滤器的样子。

Erma...It does ring a bell.……有点印象。

Lyudmila?On my signal, unplug this thing.等收到我的信号，就把这个东西拔掉。

Maggie...You planning to die along with them? Radiation levels in the Red Zone are high, but the Vory all carry gas masks. Not to mention, the carriage has a built-in purification system.……你打算同归于尽？ “红区”的辐射值高，但律贼们自己有防护面具——而且，车厢内还有净化装置。

Lyudmila?I'm aware of that.我知道。

Lyudmila reaches up and dismantles the alarm.柳德米拉偏过头，站到高处，将警报器拆卸了下来。

Maggie...I see.……原来如此。

ErmaWhat are you getting at?什么意思？

MaggieThe purification gas is opaque. For a T-Doll, it will be the perfect smokescreen.净化喷雾是有颜色的。 对战术人形来说，这是绝佳的掩护。

Lyudmila?Verify your clocks.校准时钟。

Maggie and Erma take a moment to calibrate their internal clocks, then nod at Lyudmila.玛姬和艾尔玛沉吟了一下，确认了内置时钟状况，随即点了点头。

Lyudmila?Once you have disabled the filters in the ventilation shafts, move over to Carriage 9 right away. Wait for my signal. You only have three minutes.你们进入通风管道拆除过滤器后，立刻转到9号车厢负责接应，等我的信号。 我只能给你们3分钟。

MaggieNo problem. I'll lock the door.没问题。 我负责锁门。

Lyudmila?Then let's prepare to make our move.那么准备行动吧。

ErmaWait.等一下。

Lyudmila?What?怎么？

ErmaDon't we need a codename for the operation? I've never done anything like this before, but don't operations like this always get a name in TV shows?我们不需要一个行动名称吗？ 虽然我是第一次参加，不过我看电视节目里，像这样的作战行动，不都需要一个名称吗？

Lyudmila?...You should watch less television.……少看点电视。

Erma"Anchor". How's that for a codename?“锚”，这个名字怎么样？

MaggieWhy this word?为什么？

ErmaIt's my favorite word.这是我最喜欢的词。

Lyudmila?...Enough idle chit-chat. Get ready.……闲话就到这里。 准备行动。

Intense gunshots come through the ventilation shaft. Erma stops in her tracks out of worry.激烈的枪声传进通风管道，艾尔玛爬行的动作因担忧而停了下来。

ErmaCan she really handle it?她真的可以应付吗？

MaggieShe originally has attack points of 530,000, but we're giving her a debuff so it's now only 430,000! Instead of fretting, just keep crawling and go faster.她原本战力530000，加上我俩，可能只剩430000了！ 与其瞎担忧，不如想办法爬快一点。

Erma...Say that to yourself. I'm going really fast; you, on the other hand...……这话该我跟你说吧。 我爬得超快，而你……

Maggie...You think I want to be this slow? Maybe you should just leave me in here...……难道是我不想吗？ 不如把我留在通风管道好了……

ErmaNo way! ...Why have you stopped?不准！ ……你怎么还停下来了？

MaggieI'm stuck. Give me a shove.卡住了，推我一把。

Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车）

Thunk! The sentry droid topples over. The oblivious human passengers are left completely flummoxed by the situation that has suddenly arisen. They gawk at the two Dolls who have seemingly appeared out of nowhere, not knowing whether to beg for help or mercy, so instead, they just panic even more.咚—— 看守的军用人形轰然倒地。 这突如其来的状况把全然不知情的人类乘客们吓得一愣。 他们看着这两个不知哪里冒出来的人形，一时之间，求救也不是，求饶也不是，反倒更加惊慌了起来。

ErmaYou're surprisingly capable. It took you less than half a minute to take out these muscleheads.没想到你还挺有用的。 搞定这几个大块头居然只用了不到半分钟。

Still holding a fire extinguisher, Erma can't help but compliment Maggie.拿着灭火器的艾尔玛忍不住夸了玛姬一句。

MaggieFighting isn't just about brute force. I use my brains.打架不是光比蛮力。 我靠脑子的。

Maggie promptly turns off the jammer and restores communications in the entire carriage. She then makes a beeline for Catherine to untie her.玛姬迅速关掉了干扰器，整节列车的通讯信号恢复。 她径直走向凯瑟琳，准备帮她松绑。

But before she can pull on the rope, Erma grabs at the hem of her coat and drags her off to the other end of the carriage.手还没碰到绳索，艾尔玛就抓着她的衣角，硬把她往车厢的另一头带。

ErmaWe need to help Lyudmila first!先去帮柳德米拉！

The Dolls hurry to the bar counter in the dining carriage.两人迅速冲到餐车里吧台的位置附近。

ErmaOpen the door!快开门！

MaggieDon't rush! We're supposed to wait for her signal!急什么！要等她的信号！

Erma...I've been trying to contact her since we came out of the ventilation shafts. But there's been no response...……我从通风管道下来就在联络她。 但一直没有回应……

They are only 20 seconds away from the agreed time.距离她们约定的时间，已经只剩下不到二十秒。

Bang-bang-bang!!呯呯呯——！！

As if to fuel Erma's anxiety, intense gunshots ring out once again on the other side of the door. Erma blanches immediately.就像是故意要渲染艾尔玛焦急的心情一样，门的另一边，再次响起了激烈的枪声。 艾尔玛的脸色瞬间变得煞白。

ErmaLyudmila... She'll be fine, right?柳德米拉……她不会出事吧？

Maggie...Don't worry, if she can't handle them, you and I don't stand a chance either.……放心，她搞不定的对手，加上你我也搞不定。

Bang-bang-bang!!呯呯呯——！！

The gunshots draw ever closer, followed by chaotic footsteps. The two Dolls can almost feel their hearts lurch—枪声越来越近，与之相随的，还有杂乱无章的脚步声。 两人的心也随着这声音越吊越悬——

ErmaLyu—柳——

LyudmilaWeigh anchor.起锚。

Whoosh— Maggie and Erma shoot each other a quick glance.唰—— 两人瞬间看向彼此的脸。

Without any hesitation, Maggie opens the door with her key. Lyudmila rolls into the dining carriage in the same second.没有任何迟疑，玛姬用密钥刷开了门。 下一秒，柳德米拉在同一瞬间翻滚进了餐车。

Clang. Wasting no time, Maggie locks the door again right away. She executes the whole sequence of maneuvers so smoothly, none of the gunshots have made it through the door.哐当。 连半秒都没有浪费，玛姬立刻重新锁上大门，她的动作一气呵成，甚至都来不及听清门后传来的枪声。

ErmaI'm so glad, are you alright...?!太好了，你没事……！？

Lyudmila face looks ashen and is covered in cuts. She doesn't exactly look alright.满身擦伤的柳德米拉看起来灰头土脸的，好像也算不上太好。

ErmaLyudmila...柳德米拉……

LyudmilaI'm fine.我没事。

She gets to her feet and turns to look at them. Relief and exhaustion well up all at once, leaving the three Dolls a little light-headed.柳德米拉站了起来，转头看向了两人。 劫后余生的欣喜此刻和疲惫一起涌了上来，三人似乎都感到了些许脱力。

Lyudmila...Untie the Dolls. The operation isn't over yet, and we need their help. I've only immobilized some of the Vory; they will regroup and come after us again soon enough.……给人形们松绑。 行动还没有结束，我们需要人形的力量。 我只卸除了一部分律贼的行动能力，没多久他们就会卷土重来。

Maggie heads over to Catherine and Pavel, releasing them from their restraints.玛姬直接走向了凯瑟琳和保尔，替他们解除了身上的束缚。

ErmaPhew...呼……

Erma, still buzzing with excitement, remains rooted to the spot.艾尔玛站在原地，兴奋的心情还没有完全平复。

ErmaLyudmila!柳德米拉！

Lyudmila...?……？

Lyudmila turns to give Erma a quizzical look.被艾尔玛点名道姓，柳德米拉转过身来，看向了她。

ErmaWhen you achieve victory in these kinds of operations... Don't you do anything to celebrate?你们在这种行动胜利的时候。 没有一个庆祝动作吗？

Lyudmila...It's not written in the rules, but sometimes we hug each other.……没有条例上的规定，不过有时我们会拥抱彼此。

ErmaThen...那……

Erma opens her arms. Lyudmila freezes in shock. She doesn't quite know how to react. Amused, Erma grins and starts striding towards her.艾尔玛闻言，直接张开了双手。 柳德米拉错愕地看着她，一时间似乎没有反应过来。 见状，艾尔玛笑着，迈开腿主动朝着柳德米拉的方向走来。

Erma...Congratulations on the great success of Operation Anchor!……庆祝“锚行动”大获全胜！

BOOM!轰——！

Erma...Huh?……咦？

Erma's exhilarated grin suddenly freezes. She isn't walking on stairs, but her foot is suspended in mid-air, unable to find the ground. She looks down at her suspended leg in surprise. In her befuddlement, she watches as an alarmed Lyudmila reaches out to her.一瞬间，艾尔玛脸上亢奋的笑容凝固住了。 她迈出的脚悬在空中，明明没有台阶，却好像踩空了什么，一下没有着地。 她诧异地看着自己悬空的脚，迟钝之中，后知后觉地看着不远处，柳德米拉惊变的面孔和伸出的手。

Lyudmila—!——！

Lyudmila seems to be shouting something, but her voice is drowned out by a deafening noise, and Erma cannot hear a single word.柳德米拉似乎在喊叫什么，但在巨响的掩盖下，艾尔玛连一个字都没有听清。

ErmaWha...?什……？

By the time Erma registers the sensation of being in zero-g, her body has already been flung across the carriage.等到艾尔玛终于意识到这莫名的失重感时，她的身体已经几近被甩飞出去。

Lyudmila—WATCH OUT!!!——小心！！！

BAM! A powerful strength grabs hold of Erma. With one hand clutching the handle of the bar door, Lyudmila catches Erma with her other arm and holds onto her for dear life.嘭！ 一股巨大的力量抓住了艾尔玛。 柳德米拉抓住吧台柜门上的把手，另一只手用力一捞，紧紧拽住了艾尔玛的腰。

Whoosh!!刺啦——！！

MaggieWhoaaaa!!!哇——！！！

Bam!嘭——！

No one can tell which came first—the loud noise or the spinning. As the train tears off the metal tracks, Lyudmila's vision spins and swirls into a blurry, incoherent jumble. Having lost all sense of balance and control over her body, she tumbles around in the cramped space, colliding with other objects...这一瞬间，没有人分得清巨响和旋转哪个先来。 列车与铁轨的咬合被急停撕裂的声响中，柳德米拉的视野被扭曲翻转，眼前的一切被拉长、叠上模糊的蒙版。 重心变得飘忽不定，身体失去了掌控，在狭窄的空间里和同样漂浮着的物体碰撞……

She has no strength to spare on anything else other than holding onto Erma with a vice-like grip.除了死死地拽住失控的艾尔玛以外，她已经不剩下任何余力。

Thump— While everything is in motion, a sharp metal stake pierces through her right arm. The centrifugal force finally subsides. Her body grows heavy and she struggles to move.扑通—— 震荡之中，一根尖锐的金属刺穿了她的右手臂。 飘忽不定的中心回归原位，身体变得沉重，无法动弹。

She stares at her right wrist in a daze as a message keeps flashing on her watch—她恍惚地看向右手，闪烁的腕表上不断传递着同一个讯息——

Unknown Signal...Evening Star has fallen.……暮星陨落。

29 Summer 29 夏协奏曲

What lies at the end of the night? Some say it is death. Some say it is the abyss. But Tareus disagrees. That is because she has gained immortality and witnessed a miracle. But at this moment, a familiar yet sinister silence surrounds her.黑夜的尽头是什么？ 有人说是死亡，有人说是深渊。 但塔亚柔斯不这么想。 因为她已经获得了不死，也见证了奇迹。 但此时此刻，一种熟悉又诡异的安静将她紧紧包围。

Ring— The crisp sound of bells fills the air, and the heavy fog consumes Tareus entirely.叮铃—— 清脆的摇铃声在黑暗中响起，浓雾将塔亚柔斯彻底湮没。

MaggieWelcome to the Séance Room.欢迎来到通灵鬼屋。

From beneath Hell, I gaze up at Heaven A crystal glass of Tequila Slammer Reflects a soul in its truest form The liquor cleanses the blood vessels Leaving happiness behind Leaving sorrow behind Leaving madness behind Leaving silence behind...远望天堂 地狱在上 水晶酒杯里盛满龙舌兰 倒映出灵魂原本的模样 晶莹的液体将血管洗涤 幸运留在这里 不幸留在这里 痛苦留在这里 遗忘留在这里……

Ring— The clear chime of bells sounds again, and Tareus opens her eyes.叮铃—— 清脆的摇铃声响起，塔亚柔斯睁开了双眼。

TareusThe same old play again. Such antiquated sense of aesthetics has no place in the modern world. Much like some Dolls, Maggie.又是重复的戏码，上个世纪的审美早该被淘汰了。 就和某些人形一样，玛姬。

However, there is a slight difference. This time, Tareus is not sitting in the audience. Instead, she is on stage. She is wearing Christine's lavish gown and holding the hand of a man in black. The man sings soulfully—稍微有一些不同的地方是，这次塔亚柔斯并不坐在剧院的观众席。 而是舞台上。 她身着克里斯蒂娜的华美长裙，手里握着黑衣男子的手。 黑衣男子深情地唱道——

Man in BlackAnd though you turn from me To glance behind The Phantom of the Opera is there Inside your mind...纵然你离我而去 留下惊鸿一瞥 歌剧魅影就在那里 在你心中……

Tareus scoffs and makes to deploy her floating cannons.塔亚柔斯冷笑一声，她想使用浮游炮。

... However, she can't seem to do it.…… 但她似乎用不出来……

Tareus cautions herself over and over again—she needs to keep calm; her opponent is nothing more than a piece of trash modified by Paradeus. All the answers are written in her own virtual cognition image.塔亚柔斯不断地告诫自己——必须冷静，而对方只是一个被帕拉蒂斯改造过的垃圾。 所有的答案就写在了自己的虚识图景里。

TareusFound it...找到了……

She finds the clear code for the Séance Room—the solution to the true riddle.她找到了通灵鬼屋的通关密码——破解真正的谜题。

Tareus...Those who have seen your face, Draw back in fear...……凡见过你面容的人 蜷缩于恐惧之中……

TareusI am the mask you wear.我是你所戴的面具

TareusI am the mask you wear.我是你所戴的面具

Tareus...Shut up.……闭嘴。

TareusI am the mask you wear.我是你所戴的面具

Tareus...SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!!!……你们给我闭嘴！！！

TareusThose who have seen your face,凡见过你面容的人

TareusDraw back in fear.蜷缩于恐惧之中

Black & White NytosI am the mask you wear.我是你所戴的面具。

Boom—轰——

Tareus...Nobody can command me! And I'm not afraid!……没有人可以命令我！ 我也绝不恐惧！

Boom—轰——

The hovering cannons fall like hailstones and smash the entire stage.浮游炮如同冰雹，轰然砸向整座舞台。

Ring—叮铃——

Once again, the sound of bells chimes forth.清脆的摇铃声再度响起。

Fox raises this glass of Tequila Slammer. Her heart and lungs are set aflame. Desires and deception intertwine. The devil exposes the angel's hypocrisy.福克斯端起了这杯龙舌兰 心肺似被烈火点燃 谎言与欲望交响 恶魔现出天使般的伪善

Tareus...This again!……又是这种东西！

Loud laughter comes from all around her— The mood is the same, and so is the scene. Countless faces file past her like before, filling the air with the thick scent of cologne, sneeze-inducing cigar smoke, and the unique fragrance of a casino...巨大的笑声从四面八方传来—— 一样的场景，一样的氛围。 一样的无数张面孔从身边擦过，浓郁的古龙水、呛鼻的雪茄味、还有赌场的专属香氛……

CustomerMiss Tareus, deal me a hand. I want to play Follow the Queen.塔亚柔斯小姐，给我几张扑克牌。 我想玩傀儡皇后。

Tareus...TO HELL WITH YOUR FOLLOW THE QUEEN!!!……去你的傀儡皇后！！！

Boom!轰！

Boom-boom-boom—轰轰轰——

Snap—啪——

The massive overhead lights fall toward Tareus.巨大的顶灯砸向塔亚柔斯。

Crack— Tareus' mech runs past the pile of lights. The lights transform into a gigantic poke card— The king of spades.刺啦—— 塔亚柔斯的机甲穿过那堆顶灯。 顶灯化成一张巨大的扑克牌—— 黑桃K。

Ring—叮铃——

The crisp, clear sound of a bell fills the air once more.清脆的摇铃声又一次响起。

Here are two Tequila Slammers. One for Satan. And one for myself.这里有两杯龙舌兰 一杯赠与撒旦 一杯献祭自己

Tareus is so fed up with this that she doesn't even bother to play along with the disguise for a moment.塔亚柔斯已经不耐烦到连一分钟的容忍都不愿意伪装。

Boom—轰——

Boom—轰——

Boom—轰——

Boom—轰——

Boom—轰——

TareusYOU RAT! GET THE HELL OUT HERE!!!老鼠！给我滚出来！！！

Snap—啪——

The floating blades are like bullets striking cotton. Even the sound of explosions is muted.所有浮游刃仿佛打入棉花的子弹，连爆炸声都变得安静。

Black NytoTwo suns, each illuminating a path.两个太阳，分别照明两条路径。

White NytoThe path of the mundane world, and the path of the merciful Father.尘世的路径，和慈父的路径。

Black & White NytosSanctum turned into the Devil's pit, the scales into an altar, drenched in sinners' blood. Each Fury with her nails was tearing at her breast; they smote them with their palms, and shrieked so loud.圣殿变成了魔窟，天秤也变为盛满罪恶鲜血的祭台。 复仇女神用宝剑划开自己的胸口，击打着自己的心脏然后尖声喊叫。

GrayWhen halfway through the journey of our life, Through this Heaven and Hell art we led,我走过我们人生的一半旅程。 被引导着从天堂走向地狱。

Tareus...Gray Big Sister Gray...……格雷。 格雷姐姐……

GrayThou wast made before I unmade.你出生的时候我还没有去世。

TareusNo! You're not Big Sister Gray!不！你不是格雷姐姐！

GrayThe anguish thou art in perchance withdraws thee from my memory. We shall be together, in neither Heaven nor Hell, neither cursed nor redeemed. I did not die, nor yet remained alive.你所受到的痛苦，已经从我的记忆中消除。 我们会在一起，既不是天堂也不是地狱，既不是被诅咒也不是被拯救，我没有死，我也没有活着。

TareusYou trash, how dare you mock up something like this...垃圾，你居然敢变出这种场景……

For the first time, Tareus shows genuine hatred.塔亚柔斯第一次展现出恨意。

GrayIs this what you most fear? Miss Tareus?这就是你心中最害怕的场景吗？ 塔亚柔斯小姐？

TareusTrash! Trash!垃圾！垃圾！

GrayI wish I could look at myself in the mirror right now. I want to see what kind of person and situation would fill you with fear and dread...我真恨不得对镜子照一照自己现在的模样。 看看令你恐惧与害怕的人和场景到底长什么样……

Boom—轰——

TareusGET LOST!!!滚！！

MaggieHow disgusting.真恶心啊……

MaggieSo that's what you are. Neither completely human nor completely Doll. Instead... A half-breed.原来你是这种东西。 既不是完整的人类，也不是完整的人形。 而是…… 杂种。

Boom—轰——

Tareus exhales heavily—

Fortunately, there are more secrets left to be uncovered.还好，更多的秘密还没有被发现。

Snap—啪——

Black NytoTwo suns, each illuminating a path.两个太阳，分别照明两条路径。

White NytoThe path of the mundane world, and the path of the merciful Father.尘世的路径，和慈父的路径。

Black & White NytosSanctum turned into the Devil's pit, the scales into an altar, drenched in sinners' blood. Each Fury with her nails was tearing at her breast; they smote them with their palms, and shrieked so loud.圣殿变成了魔窟，天秤也变为盛满罪恶鲜血的祭台。 复仇女神用宝剑划开自己的胸口，击打着自己的心脏然后尖声喊叫。

Boom—轰——

Snap—啪——

Black NytoTwo suns, each illuminating a path.两个太阳，分别照明两条路径。

TareusI'M! GOING! TO! KILL! YOU!我！要！杀！了！你！

Maggie—Hey, did you know? There are actually things in my neural cloud that are still completely mine. Yes, the jammers are old hat, but they're still the most effective. And regardless of how you modify me, I still love myself best. Right, Catherine? Don't worry, I'll make sure I pay her out for you as well.——喂，你们不会还不知道吧，其实我的心智里还有一些东西是完完全全属于我自己吧？ 是，干扰器老土，但还是最有效。 就算再怎么被你们改造，我还是热爱自己本身啊。 对吧，凯瑟琳？ 放心，我会连你的份一起，讨回来。

54-EXT-C5 30 第六交响曲

Miss Eve is protected by an invincible shield in this stage. Have Maggie draw her to the jamming device in Zone α on Level II to disable the shield.本关卡中伊芙小姐拥有无敌的防护罩，可让玛姬将其诱导至二级平层α区的干扰装置上解除防护罩。

31 Zigeunerweisen 31 流浪者之歌

Carriage F01, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F01车厢

The buzzing purification system keeps running conscientiously. The people in the first-class carriage are all sleeping deeply, while Rosita, who just had a candy, is feeling unusually awake.嗡嗡作响的净化系统依旧在自觉地运行着。 特等车厢里的人们睡得深沉，刚刚吃完软糖的萝希塔却异常清醒。

All of a sudden, the door opens. She cannot see, but she can hear all the more clearly because of that.突然，门开了。 她看不见，所以她听得更加清楚。

Passenger AWho's that? Who opened the door?谁？ 谁开的门？

Passenger BIs the fighting spilling into this carriage?打进来了？

Thwack—啪——

Passenger ASomeone's coming!!!有人来了！！！

Passenger BShe has a gun!她有枪！

The hooded Doll slowly reveals herself as she steps out from the shadows.黑暗中披着斗篷的人形逐渐现出自己的身影。

Erma...I just have to make one kill. Then we will all be saved.……我只要解决一个人。 我们就会得到救援。

Doctor Rugosa...You're the Doll from back then? Erma?……你是那个时候的人形？艾尔玛？

Erma raises her weapon.艾尔玛拿起了枪。

Erma...You lot, on your feet.……你们，所有人都给我站起来。

Since she is armed with a gun, nobody dares to disobey. As the passengers in Carriage 1 clamber to their feet... A figure huddled up in the corner becomes more conspicuous.她手里有枪，无人敢不从。 当1号车厢的乘客们纷纷站起来的时刻。 一具躺在角落的身影就分外引人注目。

???... (Exhales)…… 呼……

The silver-haired girl is sitting languidly in the corner seat and breathing evenly with her forehead pressed lightly against the wall.银发少女慵懒地靠在角落的座位上，额头轻轻抵在墙壁，均匀地呼吸着。

Erma tightens her grip on her gun and walks up to the silver-haired girl. The girl, who appears to be completely focused on running computations does not react to Erma's approach.艾尔玛握紧枪，走到了银发少女的面前。 似乎是在全神贯注地维持运算，少女对艾尔玛的接近没有任何反应。

MaggieThere are several rounds left in there. Aim for her head. As long as you fire from up close, you will hit your mark even if you're a terrible shot.这里还剩下几发子弹，对准她的头。 只要是近距离，就算最烂的枪法也可以做得到。

ErmaWhat kind of antique gun is this...?这是什么古老的枪……

MaggieA Colt Walker, the gun that I used to kill a human for the first time.柯尔特沃克，我第一次杀死人类用的枪。

Lyudmila... Have you been fitted with a fire control core?…… 你装过火控核心吗？

Erma goes silent for a few seconds.艾尔玛沉默了几秒。

ErmaI can't be sure.我不确定。

Lyudmila peels off her glove and takes Erma's hand.柳德米拉摘下手套，握住了艾尔玛的手。

???Your name is also the name of this gun.你的名字，也是这把枪的名字。

Erma...Erma Maschinenpistole. Erma EMP.……Erma EMP。 艾尔玛。

Erma presses the muzzle of the gun against Tareus' forehead.艾尔玛举起了枪，抵住了塔亚柔斯的额头。

ErmaJust end it. End it all.结束吧，结束这一切。

Erma rests her finger on the trigger.艾尔玛手指搭上扳机。

Bang—砰——

The Colt Express.柯尔特快车

Leaning back into her seat, Maggie smiles weakly at Erma.玛姬倚靠在座位上，虚弱地冲艾尔玛笑了笑。

MaggieIs it done?结束了？

ErmaIt's done.结束了。

Erma walks up to Maggie.艾尔玛走到了玛姬的身边。

Erma...How are you feeling?……你怎么样？

MaggieHm... I feel like I've taken care of ten jobs in a row... While Catherine was on holiday.嗯……就是感觉像一口气接完了十个单子…… 还是挑在凯瑟琳度假的时候……

MaggieStop looking at me like I'm on my deathbed. I'm a Doll; I've still got plenty of life in me.别用一副看死人的眼光。 我是人形，我的命长着呢。

Erma looks into Maggie's green eyes.艾尔玛抬起头，盯着玛姬的绿色眼眸。

ErmaMaggie, are we... friends?玛姬，我们……算朋友吗？

MaggieFriends? Con artists don't need friends.朋友？欺诈师不需要朋友。

Erma... Then what about Catherine?…… 那凯瑟琳呢？

MaggieHa.哈。

Maggie huffs with a half-smile, her green eyes crinkling slightly.玛姬笑着叹了口气，幽绿色的眼睛弯了弯。

MaggieShe's a burden that I cannot be rid of. Carrying one is hard enough; I don't need another.那可是无法卸下的负担。 一个就已经足够沉重了，我可不想再来一个。

Erma...Do you want a neural backup? If you agree to be my friend, I'll give you one.……你想要心智备份吗？ 做我的朋友，就给你备份。

Maggie...Why do you insist, Miss Erma? What good will come of making friends with a con artist?……为什么呢，艾尔玛小姐，认一个欺诈师做朋友有什么好处？

ErmaIf we become friends, then every time I think of you, I will remember an adventure on a train with a cunning and money-loving friend... Instead of... Being tricked into boarding a train by a con artist, then played like a fiddle by another liar.这样我想起你的时候，就是和一个狡猾爱钱的朋友一起在列车上冒险。 而不是…… 被一个欺诈师骗上车后，被另一个骗子骗得团团转。

MaggieHahahaha... I bet Lyudmila never thought she'd ever be called a "liar" even in her wildest dreams...哈哈哈哈…… 柳德米拉应该怎么也不会想到，有一天她被人说是“骗子”……

Maggie bursts into a hearty guffaw.玛姬发出一阵夸张的笑声。

Erma...Well, I'll be going then.……那我走了。

MaggieYou think I'm so easy to bribe?我是这么好收买的人吗？

ErmaAre you not?你不是？

MaggieOh, you bet I am.我是。

A blue flower appears in Erma's palm. A dazzling blue that is both carefree and flamboyant.艾尔玛的手心中出现了一朵蓝色的花。 灼目的蓝色，肆意又飞扬。

ErmaStore your neural backup in there.把你的心智备份在里面吧。

MaggieRocket Larkspur? Thanks.飞燕草？谢了。

ErmaIt's a flower that I've planted in the Summer Garden.这是我种在夏园里的花。

MaggieAlright. I also have something for you in exchange. 0367 1-7671765 6 356712356712356010603. Got that?好吧，作为交换，我给你一样东西。 0367 1-7671765 6 356712356712356010603 记住了吗？

ErmaWhat is it?这是什么？

MaggieNikolai's legacy.尼古拉的遗产。

ErmaWhat does that mean?什么意思？

MaggieIf you have time, get a tombstone made for him at a cemetery. Just go with the cheapest kind, and you can keep the rest.以后有时间，你帮他去公墓搞个碑吧。 最便宜那种就行，剩下的都是你的了。

Erma...This isn't like you.……这不像你。

MaggieOn this journey, I've done too many things that I would never have done. Sadly, no one will remember... Not even me.这一趟旅行，我做了太多从来不会做的事情。 可惜，没有人记得啊……包括我自己。

MaggieSo this is what death feels like...原来死亡，是这种感觉……

Maggie's body crumples and starts sliding down the wall. Erma holds her gently in her arms with tears streaming down her face.她的身体软了下去，靠着墙壁一路下滑，艾尔玛轻轻扶住她的肩膀，眼泪忍不住地落下。

On board the disintegrating Colt Express, Erma enfolds Maggie in a tight embrace.在逐渐崩塌溃灭的柯尔特快车上，艾尔玛紧紧抱住玛姬。

Erma...I will remember. Owner of the key "Rocket Larkspur".……我会记得。 “飞燕草”钥匙的主人。

... She falls. She sinks to the bottom of the ocean. To the depths of the world.…… 坠落。 坠向海底。 沉入世界的深处。

Erma stretches out an arm through the darkness before her, trying to reach the Colt Express, which has almost completely disintegrated.透过视野前方的黑，艾尔玛的手伸向远处几乎完全崩解的柯尔特快车。

The sensation of embracing Maggie lingers on her arms.拥着玛姬倒在怀里的感觉还停留在手臂上。

As Maggie's neural cloud finally gives out, Erma is no longer bound to the Colt Express. She can only watch as it fades away from afar, while Maggie's body slides onto the floor.随着玛姬心智的停滞，自己也从柯尔特快车上脱离了，只能远远地看着，看着柯尔特快车溃散，靠在座椅上的玛姬一点点滑落到地板。

...Three kilometers away from the Future.……距离“未来号”三公里处。

The gigantic "Elmo" is driving steadily through the thin fog towards its target.庞大的“艾莫号”穿透薄雾，平稳地驶向目标。

Kar98kCommander, reception has been restored. We have reached the designated location and as per the plan, we are going to leave the Elmo and head to where the Future has stopped on foot.指挥官，信号恢复，我们已到达原定地点，即将按计划脱离艾莫号，步行前往“未来号”停车位置。

CommanderCopy that. Stay safe.收到，注意安全。

Lee EnfieldThere are active targets in the area. We will stay on alert.区域内有活动目标，我们会保持警戒。

CommanderRescue any humans first, then render aid to the injured Dolls. If you encounter any hostilities, you have my permission to retaliate.优先解救人类，为受创人形提供支援。 遭遇攻击一概直接反击，无需经过我的批准。

Kar98kUnderstood!明白！

Lee EnfieldYes, Commander!是！

The Elmo slowly pulls up on the roadside. A small squad disembarks from the MBV and proceeds to the train tracks in an orderly fashion. From where they are, they can just about make out the silhouette of the Intercontinental Railway train—a great metal beast that has fallen.“艾莫号”缓缓停在路边，一支小队从基地车上走下，开始沿着铁轨有序向前推进。 在她们的前方，如钢铁巨兽般倒塌的洲际列车已经显现出了轮廓。

32 1812 Overture 32 1812序曲

Kar98kCommander, we have reached the target location.指挥官，我们已经抵达目标地点。

Lee EnfieldI have sent you the enemies' information and coordinates.敌人的信息和坐标分布已经发送给您了。

Kar98kWe just encountered and neutralized a small detachment of Hydras. However, we may have alerted the enemy to our presence.刚刚我们正面遭遇了一支九头蛇小分队，已经全部清理。 但我们的行踪可能也已经被敌方察觉。

Lee EnfieldJudging by the fireworks going on in the distance, the situation on board the train must be extremely dire. We need to reach the train as soon as possible.从远处烟花的情况判断，列车的情况非常紧急，我们需要尽快抵达车厢附近。

Kar98kPlease guide us on our way.请指挥我们前进吧。

33 Air on the G String 33 G弦上的咏叹调

MaggieSo this is what death feels like.原来死亡是这种感觉啊。

???So this, is what death feels like.原来死亡，是这种感觉啊。

ErmaWho? Who's that?谁？ 是谁？

A face slowly comes into view, a face that is slowly growing more and more decrepit. —"Mother".对方的面容渐渐浮现，那是一张逐渐衰弱的脸。 ——“妈妈”。

■□ HumeI'm sorry. You are free.对不起，你自由了。

A sad, melancholic face appears before her... It is the murky shadow from the "Summer Garden" of the past.一副悲伤落寞的神情定格在自己面前…… 那是过去“夏园”里一直模糊的背影。

In the Summer Garden.夏园

The wind blows over the Neva to the north, and a flock of geese honk as they fly before Erma. This is the first time the Summer Garden has shown her its creepy, frightening side...风吹过北边的涅瓦河，一群天鹅扑簌簌往艾尔玛面前凑。 这是夏园第一次在自己面前展现阴森恐怖的一面……

■□ HumeI'm sorry. You are free.对不起，你自由了。

Erma speaks the name.

ErmaArthur Hume.亚瑟·休谟。

Professor Hume vanishes before her eyes...眼前的休谟博士渐渐消失……

And a key falls into Erma's palm.一把钥匙掉落在艾尔玛手心。

She knows... this is the key to the main gate of the Summer Garden... That gate, which is festooned with chain link and electric mesh... The gate at the end of the greenway... The key that blocks Erma from the big marble statue.她知道……这就是夏园大门的钥匙…… 那缠满了电网和铁索的大门…… 绿茵道尽头的大门…… 隔绝了艾尔玛与那些大理石雕像的大门钥匙。

Click— The gate's lock falls away.啪嗒—— 门锁应声而落。

On a snowy day, late at night—下雪天，深夜——

TareusProfessor Hume, we need your research.休谟博士，我们需要您的研究。

ErmaIt's that woman! So I've seen her before!是那个女人！ 原来我早就见过她！

HumeWhat can you give me?你们能提供什么？

Tareus...■□■□■□■□■□■□...……■□■□■□■□■□■□……

ErmaThis is... "Mother's" lab. What is she saying? Are these... my memories?这是……“妈妈”的实验室。 她说什么？ 这里……是我的记忆吗？

HumeI see. Give me a while to get it.我明白了。 等我带上我的研究。

Professor Hume hurries back into his study. He pulls the door open...休谟博士迅速走向工作室，一拉门……

Pomf—扑——

ErmaIt's me from back then...是那个时候的我……

Erma...Ow!……啊！

Hume...How many times have I told you not to peek through the gaps? Look, now you've got a bump.……说了多少次，不要在门缝里偷看。 你看，现在撞到了吧。

Hume turns and gently closes the door, bowing apologetically to the woman who's still sitting in the lab.休谟转身把门轻轻地带上，向还在实验室里坐着的女人微微颔首表示歉意。

HumeHurry and pack your things.迅速收拾行李。

Erma...Mama, are we going on a trip?……妈妈，我们要远行吗？

HumeYeah.嗯。

Five minutes later... Professor Hume grabs Erma's hand, but he does not open the door that leads to the lab.五分钟后…… 休谟博士拉住艾尔玛的手，但并不是打开前往实验室的门。

Instead, he pulls away the massive work desk in his study, revealing a set of stairs that lead to the basement.而是拉开工作室的巨大工作桌，下面露出了地下室的楼梯。

HumeGo—走——

HumeWe should be about three kilometers from the Summer Garden.这里离夏园应该有三公里了。

He pats Erma's head.他摸了摸艾尔玛的头。

HumeI am very glad to have created you at the very beginning and end of my life. You are more than just a product of my craft; you are a work of art.我很高兴，在生命的最初也是最后创造了你。 你不是一个工艺品，你是艺术品。

Erma...What's the difference?……这有什么区别？

HumeA product is made. I knew what I wanted, and I made her to the best of my ability. For a work of art, however, I didn't know what I'd make. All I could do was imagine and create. And now, you have proven to me that you can completely simulate the memory patterns of a human being— You will never forget any memories, no matter how I try to delete them. As long as you find the appropriate anchor point. Now, let's continue that game...工艺品是制作，我知道我要做什么，然后把她做到极致。 而艺术品，我不知道我会做出什么，只能不停地想象和创作。 现在你向我证明了，你拥有了完全拟真的人类记忆模式—— 不论我怎么清除，你都不会再忘却的记忆。 只要找到相应的锚点。 我们继续那个游戏吧……

Hume hands Erma a gun.休谟递给艾尔玛一把枪。

HumeYour name is also the name of this gun.你的名字，也是这把枪的名字。

Erma...Erma Maschinenpistole. Erma EMP.……Erma EMP。

HumeWalk further. Further away. 50 meters... No, 100.走远点，再走远点。 五十米……不，一百米。

Erma nods obediently.艾尔玛乖巧地点点头。

HumeVery good... Now, we'll play this game a different way. Now you will shoot me.很好……这个游戏换一个玩法。 现在由你，来对我开枪。

ErmaAlright.好。

Erma acts like she's actually playing a game.艾尔玛仿佛真的在玩一个游戏。

She takes up her gun, like "Mother" once taught her.她拿起了那支枪，就像曾经“妈妈”对自己做的那样。

Bang— It is a precise shot that pierces his chest.砰—— 精准的一枪，击穿了他的胸膛。

HumeUgh...咕……

Erma...Why...……为什么……

Blood gushes out of Hume's body.大量的血液从休谟身体里涌现出来。

HumeI'm sorry... You're free, Erma.对不起……你自由了，艾尔玛。

Boom— Like a massive firework, he erupts in the dark, wet alley.轰———— 他如同一枚巨大的烟花，绽放在阴暗潮湿的小巷里。

Blood and gunpowder stain Erma's face. It dyes the filthy ground red. All that's left is her, sitting on the ground, her wide eyes staring at the darkened sky...血液和硝粉衍射到艾尔玛脸上。 染红了肮脏的地面。 只留下她坐在地上，瞪大的双眼无神地凝视着晦暗的天空……

Erma...I don't understand...……我不明白……

Beepbeep— The Summer Garden is sending out an encrypted message—滴滴—— 夏园里有加密信息在向外传输——

ErmaWhat's... going on...?到底……是怎么回事……

Erma reaches out to hack the channel—艾尔玛伸手骇入那个频道——

Tareus...He escaped.……他逃走了。

GrayNo need for survivors.不用留活口。

TareusYes, I planted a time bomb on him. The kind that can't be disarmed.嗯，已经在身上安放了定时炸弹。 无法拆除的那种。

GrayClean it up.清扫干净。

TareusUnderstood.收到。

... She can't describe her feelings with words. They're too heavy, too dark. All she can do is expel them from her body with her tears.…… 无法用语言描述的情绪。 过于沉重，过于晦暗。 只能通过眼泪流淌，才能从身体中排解掉。

Erma...I'm all alone again...……我又变成一个人了……

The only thing before Erma now is pure darkness. Lyudmila, Maggie, Catherine, Pavel... Face after face appears, then vanishes in the darkness... A hollow loneliness crushes down on her.艾尔玛的面前只剩下纯粹的黑暗。 柳德米拉、玛姬、凯瑟琳、保尔……一张张面孔在黑暗中显现，又消失…… 空虚孤寂沉沉地压了下来。

Tear after tear falls silently into the darkness.一颗颗眼泪无声无息地砸进黑暗中。

ErmaI'm always alone...我总是一个人……

???Wake up, Miss Doll.人形小姐，醒醒。

???Her neural cloud is stable. Her body has sustained some damage, but her injuries aren't fatal.她的心智状态稳定，素体有损伤，但都不致命。

???Should we dive into her neural cloud and bring her out of Level II?要潜入她的心智强制帮她退出二级平层吗？

???...Hm? Wait a minute, why is her neural cloud...……嗯？等一下，她的心智怎么……

Bang-bang-bang— Scattered gunfire comes from the distance, as if to declare that the battle is wrapping up.呯呯呯—— 远处传来了零星的枪声，像是在宣告战斗的收尾。

Lee EnfieldHello, Miss. I am Lee Enfield of Griffin PMC. We're on a mission to rescue and support the passengers and crew of the Intercontinental Railway train. Are you alright?您好，人形小姐，我是隶属于格里芬安全承包商的李·恩菲尔德。 正在执行营救支援洲际列车的任务，您还好吗？

Kar98kCan you walk? Don't be afraid. You're safe now.还能走吗？ 别害怕，你已经安全了。

Lee EnfieldShe's in very bad shape. We need to run a diagnostic on her.她现在状况很糟糕，需要做一下检修。

Kar98kYeah, I'll leave it to you.嗯，交给你了。

2 Radiation Alarm 2 辐射浓度警报器

Carriage F17, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F17车厢

Beep-beep-beep!!!! The shrill blare of the alarm echoes throughout the crowded carriage, plunging the already noisy crowd further into chaos. The entire carriage is illuminated by flashing red light, and the alarm only makes the passengers complain that much more.滴滴滴——！！！！ 刺耳的声音从警报器的位置传开，在狭隘拥挤的车厢里不断回响，原本就嘈杂的人群这一下变得更加混乱。 整个车厢都被刺目的闪烁红光笼罩，同时响起的刺耳警铃更是令车厢内的乘客们怨声载道。

???...Miss Catherine, all I did was put my luggage on the rack...……凯瑟琳小姐，我刚刚只是塞了个行李箱……

CatherineYup.嗯。

Catherine is being tossed about by the flow of the crowd, and she reaches out in an effort to free herself.被人流夹在中间，凯瑟琳艰难地伸出了一只手，努力地尝试从里面钻出来。

???...Miss Catherine, why does our car not have any stewardess?……凯瑟琳小姐，为什么我们这节车厢没有乘务员？

CatherineHuh. Ask the cops.哦，你问警察。

???...Miss Catherine, this alarm has been going off nonstop all this time.……凯瑟琳小姐，这个警报一直在响。

???Miss Catherine...凯瑟琳小姐……

After being pushed around by the crowd and being constantly nagged, Catherine can take it no longer and erupts with a shout.一边在人群的拥挤中，一边不堪其扰，凯瑟琳忍无可忍地大吼了一声。

CatherineCatherine's dead! Quit bothering me! God, you're such a pain in the ass!!! Erma, all I did was buy you a ticket, I didn't agree to be your full-time babysitter!凯瑟琳死了！别再喊我了！烦死了！！！ 艾尔玛，我只是卖了张票给你，不是你的全职保姆！

The Doll called Erma isn't much better off than Catherine right now.被称作艾尔玛的人形此时的情况也不比凯瑟琳好上多少。

Her petite frame means she's been squashed up against the wall by the pressure of the milling crowd.她的体格较为娇小，此时却被拥挤的人群压着几乎贴到了墙上。

Erma...I just wanted to know if I had caused the alarm to go off by stuffing my luggage onto the rack. If that was the case, is there anything I can do to fix it? Will I need to pay a fine or something?……我其实是想问，这个警报是不是我塞行李箱弄出来的？ 如果是，有什么解决办法吗？我需要赔偿什么吗？

CatherineYou're overthinking this! Don't bother paying it unless you're paying it to me!想太多！除非你赔给我！不然就用不着！

Erma tries to ask another question, but there is a turn up ahead and she is almost tossed to the ground and trampled...艾尔玛试图再问，但前方一个急转弯，她几乎被甩到了地上，即将引发踩踏事件……

A pair of reliable arms extend from under her armpits—in the next moment, a tall figure is holding up little Erma while forcing them both away. If the crowd is like a great man-eating beast, then she has been snatched from its jaws by a figure of steel that is methodically working its way free of all obstacles in its path.一双可靠的大手从她的腋下伸出——下一刻，高大的身影架住了娇小的艾尔玛，同时用力撑开身体。 拥挤的人群像是吞人的巨兽，而从这巨兽的口中，一位钢铁之躯拨开屏障稳稳地走了出来。

???...This place is too cramped. You should be careful.……这里太挤了，你要小心。

Erma...Thank you.……多谢。

???Miss Catherine... You should have told this girl what to expect on the train. This is clearly her first time on an intercontinental train.凯瑟琳小姐……你应该事先告诉这孩子车上的情况。 她很明显是第一次乘坐洲际列车。

After lowering Erma to the ground, the scary-looking droid carefully puts his luggage down by his feet.将艾尔玛从胳膊上放下去，仅是外表就极具威慑力的人形小心地将行李箱放在了自己脚边。

CatherineHumph, worry about yourself, Mis-ter-Pa-vel! Where does a tin can like you get off on lecturing me? Also, you think you paid me a lot? That's just the ticket price. It doesn't include the service charge!哼，顾好你自己吧，保-尔-先-生！还轮不到你这铁疙瘩教训我。 以及——你以为你们付我的钱很多吗？ 那只是票面价，可没有包含服务费！

Pavel shakes his head and continues speaking to Erma in a patient tone.保尔摇了摇头，继续耐心地对艾尔玛开口。

Pavel...You can hang onto my shoulders, if you'd like. That would be more spacious. Intercontinental train tickets are hard to get, and even a standing room ticket in a second-class carriage is quite a luxury for Dolls.……你可以站在我腿上，这样会宽松一些。 洲际列车一票难求，即使是二等车厢的站票，对于人形来说也很奢侈。

Pavel's voice is a little muffled, but he carefully shields the girl with his large frame and keeps the crush behind him away from her.保尔说话声音有些闷，却十分细心地用自己高大的身体将少女护在了身下，替她们挡住了身后的人潮。

Erma...Thank you, Mr. Pavel. My name is Erma.……谢谢你，保尔先生，我叫艾尔玛。

Erma gingerly grabs Pavel's arm, then uses it as a handhold to propel herself up his back. Immediately, she gains a much better view of the area from her high perch—though it looks like she's dangling from his body. It's not a very comfortable position, but at the very least she doesn't need to worry about being crushed in this sardine can of a carriage.艾尔玛小心地抱住了保尔的胳膊，借力踩在了他的大腿上，整个视野顿时鹤立鸡群——尽管从画面上讲，她更像是挂在了保尔的身上。 这个姿势也不能说非常舒服，但至少在这沙丁鱼罐头一样拥挤的车厢里，她不至于被挤来挤去了。

CatherineHey—help me up too!等等——也捞我一把！

PavelI can only carry so much weight.我只有一双腿。

CatherineTsk, never mind then... Hey, Pavel, put your luggage on the rack behind you! It's taking up so much space down here.切，那还是算了吧……喂，保尔，把你的行李箱放到后面的货架上去！ 放在这里很碍事啊。

Catherine tries to stand on top of Pavel's suitcase, but he stops her.凯瑟琳试图站到保尔的行李箱上面去，被保尔一把拦住。

PavelLet me do it.我自己来。

Erma...The alarm is still going off. It's been doing that since I put my stuff on the luggage rack.……这个警报还在响，从我刚刚往行李架上放了行李箱开始。

PavelDon't worry, it's not your fault. ...We've entered the "unregulated area".不用紧张，跟你没关系。 ……我们进入“无管制区域”了。

ErmaAn unregulated area? What does that mean?无管制区域？那是什么意思？

PavelThere is a Red Zone between Warsaw and Poznań, at the Soviet-German border. Once we enter it, the radiation intensity spikes and it's easy for the carriage sensors to generate false positive alerts. However, it's just an alert, and there are purification devices on the train, so it should be alright. Also, the police have all gotten off the train, so nobody will mind.华沙站到波兹南站中间会途经红区，就是苏德边界的位置。 一旦进入这个区域，辐射浓度将会迅速升高，车厢内的警报器容易产生误报。 不过，也只是报警而已，这里有净化装置，应该没问题。而且这时候警察都下车了，并不会有人在意。

Erma...I see. Thank you for explaining all this to me.……原来如此。 多谢你的解答。

PavelIt IS a little loud, though. The volume is a bit too much for a child.不过确实有点吵。 对小孩子来讲分贝有点过高了。

CatherineAre you really treating her like a human kid just because she looks short?她也就是素体看起来矮了点，你还真把她当人类小孩了？

Snap. Before Catherine can finish, Pavel rips the noisy alarm off the wall.啪嚓。 凯瑟琳话音未落，吵闹的警报器就被保尔一把扯了下来。

Startled by the shower of sparks, Catherine stares at Pavel with her eyes wide.炸开的电火花吓了凯瑟琳一跳，她瞪大眼睛看着保尔。

Catherine...You didn't need to destroy public property, right?……也没必要毁坏公物吧。

PavelThe police have all gotten off the train, so nobody will mind.警察都下车了，不会有人在意。

Pavel shrugs and repeats himself.保尔耸耸肩，又一次重复说过的话。

PavelBesides, it really was loud.而且，它真的很吵。

CatherineThe cops aren't around but the security cameras are! God, I don't know what to say... When they ask you to pay for damages, we'll see—警察是不在，但监控还在！ 真不知道说你什么好，等叫你赔钱的时候有你哭——

Stomp. Halfway through her griping, a passenger from behind Catherine steps on her foot.噗咚。 凯瑟琳嘟嘟囔囔的话音未落，就被身后挤过来的人踩了一脚。

CatherineOWWWWWW—Hey!! Quit pushing! Ahhhh—!! I'm so pissed off, why do I have to be the one squeezing with people in the second-class carriage anyway?!痛痛痛——喂！！别挤我！ 啊——！！气死我了，为什么我就得在二等车厢人挤人啊！

Catherine sighs and looks at her communicator—凯瑟琳叹了口气，看向通讯——

Click. The call connects. Perhaps it's because they've entered a Red Zone, or because reception in the second-class carriage is really bad, it has taken a very long time for Catherine to get the call through. The moment it connects, she starts complaining.滴，通讯连通。 不知道是因为进入红区，还是二等车厢信号很差，凯瑟琳好不容易才将这见鬼的通讯信号连上，立刻忍不住一顿抱怨。

Maggie...Catherine?……凯瑟琳？

CatherineHey, Maggie! Why did you have to give me a second-class ticket?!我说玛姬，为什么就非得给我二等车厢的票？

MaggieBecause I was worried about you slacking off in the dining carriage again. Remember last time when you forgot to check the tickets and caused over a dozen of our clients to be unable to board the train?还不是怕你留在餐车躲懒，上次是谁漏了检查车票，导致十几个客人没有上车的？

Catherine...Oh come on, we agreed—no raking over the ashes!……我们约法三章不翻旧账的！

MaggieHave you confirmed the identities of all the Dolls boarding the train for this trip?那这次要上车的人形你都确认好了吗？

CatherineOf course. They're squeezed up with me in Carriage 17... If I'd known, I wouldn't have put them all in 17. When you get tickets next time, make sure they're more evenly distributed.当然，现在都跟我挤在17车……早知道就不把这么多人都放17车了。 下次你弄票的时候均匀分散一下嘛。

MaggieIt's best to keep them on a short leash to make sure they can all board the Colt Express. This DOES concern our bodies for the rest of our lives, after all.要保证他们全部登上“柯尔特快车”，还是放在眼皮底下好一些。 这关系到我们下半辈子的素体。

CatherineAw, relax!哼！放心吧！

A loud voice suddenly cuts through the clamor of the carriage—吵闹的车厢里，突然传来巨大的声音——

BroadcastDear passengers, may I have your attention please. The Future is now in high-speed cruise mode. Passengers who need to pay their outstanding ticket fares, please proceed to Carriage 9.各位乘客，各位乘客。 “未来号”洲际列车现在正在高速行驶中。 需要补票的乘客请自行前往9号餐车。

BroadcastDear passengers, may I have your attention please. The Future is now in high-speed cruise mode. Passengers who need to pay their outstanding ticket fares, please proceed to Carriage 9.各位乘客，各位乘客。 “未来号”洲际列车现在正在高速行驶中。 需要补票的乘客请自行前往9号餐车。

Maggie...Right, catch you later.……那么，再联络。

Catherine...Sure.……嗯。

Catherine nods, and then hangs up her call with Maggie. ...It's time.凯瑟琳点了点头，切断了和玛姬的通讯。 ……是时候了。

She struggles to her feet and leans against Pavel's large body.她从地上勉强站了起来，依靠着保尔庞大的身躯开始艰难地移动。

CatherineLet's go. Everyone who wants to board the Colt Express, we should be heading out. Our destination is Carriage F09.走吧，乘坐“柯尔特快车”的客人们，我们该出发了。 目的地——F09车厢。

Erma...Got it.……收到。

Pavel...Let me lead the way.……让我来开路。

Pavel pushes the crowd out of his way as he moves forward. Despite how densely packed the passengers are, Pavel actually manages to strongarm a big enough gap for walking. And so, the group slowly make their way toward Dining Carriage 9.保尔推挤着人群在前方行走。 尽管人群挤作一团，但在保尔的穿梭下，居然撑开了一些可供行走的空隙。 一行人缓缓地朝着9号餐车移动。

Soon, they have moved past the crowd and several carriages in between— They are now just one door away from Carriage 9. They are several minutes earlier compared to Catherine's earlier estimation.很快，他们穿过了人群，和中间好几个车厢—— 穿过眼前的门，便可以进入9号餐车内。 这比凯瑟琳预计的时间快了好几分钟。

Catherine...You're pretty good at this. That performance would be enough to warrant a tip. Not that I'd actually tip you, of course.……你这方面还挺厉害的。 甚至都愿意为你付一点小费。 虽然我不会真的给。

CatherineJust find a place to sit down once you go in. Make sure you have your invitations with you. You'll automatically log onto the Colt Express when it's time.进去之后，各自随便找个位置坐下。 带好你们的“邀请函”，到点会自动登上“柯尔特快车”的。

ErmaAn invitation?邀请函？

Catherine...That's the Colt Express ticket I sold you!……就是我卖给你们的“柯尔特快车”门票！

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢

The moment they enter, the gentle music flowing from the record player sets this place apart from the second-class carriages. Compared to the chaos back there, the atmosphere in the dining carriage is a vast improvement. The passengers here are all elegant and refined, either enjoying their exquisite meals or clinking their wine glasses together.一进门，舒缓的唱片用悠扬的音乐将餐车与二等车厢区分开来。相比起混乱的二等车厢，眼前的餐车无疑在整体的气氛上改善了太多。 这里的乘客们都很优雅，有些安静地享用美食，有些愉快地碰着酒杯。

Everyone looks easygoing and relaxed here, whether they're standing in the aisles, seated at the tables, or at the bar counter.不论是立于过道边，还是坐在座位上，又或是位于吧台前，这里的一切都显得轻松而又随和。

Catherine says nothing but heads straight to the counter. The others quickly find empty seats, leaving Erma alone to look around the carriage.凯瑟琳不做声，径直走向了吧台。其他人迅速寻找着空位，留下了艾尔玛一个人默默的环视着车厢。

Female PassengerI really like this song, though its melody isn't very familiar to me.乘务员小姐，我喜欢这首曲子，虽然音调很陌生。

SusannaWe are honored by your praise. The truth is, we specially commissioned a renowned musician to create it just for us.能得到您的称赞我们很荣幸，其实这是我们专门请有名的音乐家特别创作而成。

The stewardess calmly takes the passengers in stride as she serves them.乘务员在餐车内游刃有余地为客人们服务。

Male Passenger...The riesling here is very good. Can you send a bottle to my seat?……这里的雷司令很不错，帮我带一瓶放到座位上，可以吗？

SusannaOf course. This wine is custom-brewed for the Future. Feel free to ask for more if you'd like.当然，这是“未来号”的定制葡萄酒，喜欢的话可以多带几瓶。

Male PassengerI'll take three bottles, then.那拿三瓶吧。

SusannaVery well.好的。

After looking around, Erma points to the dinner of one of the passengers and discreetly gets the attention of the stewardess.结束环视，艾尔玛指了指一位乘客的晚饭对乘务员小声说到。

ErmaExcuse me, I'd like what he's having, please.乘务员小姐，我也想来一份这个套餐。

Susanna...Sorry, but that set meal is for autumn only and we've already sold out.……抱歉，这个套餐是秋季限定，已经售罄。

Erma...Do you have anything to drink, then?……那有什么喝的吗？

Susanna...Go see for yourself at the bar.……你自己去吧台看看。

Erma finds this distinct difference in treatment to be quite strange. Meanwhile, Pavel has already found a table for two and is waving at her.明显感受到区别对待的艾尔玛有些莫名其妙。 而保尔此时已经找到两个位置，正在向她招手。

Since it's close to the bar counter, she goes over and sits down without a word.那是一处靠近吧台的座位，她默默地走过去坐了下来。

Erma...Am I very different from other people?……我身上和其他人有很大区别吗？

PavelHm, why do you say that?嗯，为什么这么问？

ErmaIt feels like the stewardess is treating me very differently from the others.那位乘务员小姐，似乎对我和其他人有很大不同。

???That's because you lack a certain scent.因为你的身上缺少了一种味道。

Erma and Pavel turn to look at the speaker, who is a Doll bartender.艾尔玛和保尔扭头看去，发声的是一名人形酒保。

ErmaWhat kind of scent is that?什么味道？

BartenderIt's the smell of "money" that rich people have on them.有钱人的“钱”味。

ErmaHuh?嗯？

BartenderPffft, I was just kidding. There aren't many passengers in the VIP and first-class carriages, so Susanna would have noted them all down. Therefore, anyone not on her list must be from the second-class carriages.噗，我开玩笑的。 一等车厢和特等车厢乘客人数不多，苏珊娜都会记录下来，所以不在她记录名单上的，当然都是二等车厢的人了。

ErmaDoes she need money that badly?她很缺钱？

BartenderWell, this does affect the grade of our new bodies. So yes, for Dolls, serving the right people really is very important.这会决定我们的下一具素体是什么档次。 所以对人形来说，跟对主人，真的很重要。

Bartender...They're going to have a cocktail party here soon. Do you have your invitations?……这里马上要开始举办酒会了。 你们二位是否有邀请函呢？

Erma and Pavel exchange glances, then they each take out a card that is roughly the size of a playing card. The bartender nods.艾尔玛和保尔对视一眼，各自从怀里拿出了一张卡片——只有扑克牌大小的邀请函。 酒保点了点头。

BartenderWhy don't you get yourselves a drink? Someone usually pays for drinks around these times. And besides, what comes next might take a while.你们不妨给自己点一杯酒。 这时候的饮料，通常都会有人请客。 而且，接下来的时间，应该不会很短。

PavelI am not equipped to process food and drink.我没有摄入食物的功能。

BartenderThen what will you have, miss?那这位小姐想来点什么？

Erma...What would you pick if you were me?……如果你是我的话，你会选什么？

Bartender...I'd go with a "Tequila Slammer". We have a special version of it that's only available here. Since you've come all this way to board the train, it would be a waste not to try it.……“地狱龙舌兰”。 只有我们这里才有的特调，难得登上这辆列车，不试试的话就可惜了。

Erma...I'll have that, then.……那就这个吧。

The bartender Doll smiles and makes a note of their seat, then turns to the next passenger.酒保人形微笑着记下来桌位，然后转向了下一桌乘客。

Erma...Does the Colt Express refer to this particular carriage?……难道“柯尔特快车”实际上就是指这节车厢？

PavelI don't think so. They say the Colt Express has been running for several years now, but nobody's ever seen what the manager looks like. My guess is that he won't show himself to us.我猜应该不是，“柯尔特快车”开通好几年了，没人见过主理人的模样。 所以我想，他并不会直接出现在我们面前。

Erma nods.艾尔玛点了点头。

ErmaHave you noticed? It seems there are only Dolls left around here.你发现没有？这附近似乎只剩下人形了。

Pavel...Indeed. However, that's not strange either. After all, the Colt Express is a fairly new black market for Dolls. Humans probably haven't taken part in it yet.……确实如此，不过这也不奇怪，毕竟“柯尔特快车”是新兴的人形黑市交易场所。 人类应该还没有参与其中。

ErmaIn that case... Why do you want to board the Colt Express, Mr. Pavel?那么保尔先生……你为什么要登上“柯尔特快车”呢？

Pavel's headlamp, which is basically his eyes, flickers.保尔那象征眼睛的头部大灯闪烁了两下，

PavelThere's something... that I absolutely need to buy. How about yourself?我有……不得不买下来的东西。 你呢？

ErmaThere's something that I need to understand.我有必须要了解的事情。

3 Bar Counter 3 酒吧吧台

Carriage F02, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02车厢

Susanna slowly pushes her cart down the aisle. She is serving all kinds of food and drinks to passengers who don't have either the time or the desire to visit the dining carriage.乘务员苏珊娜推着小推车缓缓地在通道间行进。 给那些没时间或者不想去餐车的乘客们提供各种各样的食物和饮品。

SusannaInstructor Lyudmila, what would you like? Wine or tea? There's also sandwiches and veal steaks.柳德米拉教官，您需要什么？葡萄酒还是红茶？也有三明治和小牛排。

Instructor Lyudmila checks her watch, then she promptly gets to her feet.柳德米拉教官抬手看了看表，便立刻站起了身体。

LyudmilaWhat kind of carriage is F09?F09是什么车厢？

SusannaCarriage F09 is the dining carriage of this service. It is also equipped with a bar. However, a tequila party is about to take place there, and those without an invitation won't be able to access the carriage for the duration of the party. Which is why I have prepared some food and drinks beforehand. If you require anything special, you could hand me a list, and I will do my best to satisfy your needs.F09车厢是本列列车的餐车，也有吧台服务。 不过，那边即将举行龙舌兰酒会，期间没有邀请函就不方便进出了。 所以我已经提前去那边准备了食物和饮料，就是为了更好地服务您。 如果还有什么特殊需要，不如把名单给我，由我来为您准备。

Lyudmila...No thanks.……不必了。

Lyudmila turns down Susanna's hospitality flatly and just walks away in the direction of Carriage 9. As Susanna watches her leave, she suddenly comes to a realization.柳德米拉语气平淡地回绝了苏珊娜的殷勤，从座位上起身，转头径直朝着9号车厢的方向走去，望着她的背影，苏珊娜仿佛明白了什么。

SusannaI see... She's also boarding the Colt Express... Looks like Maggie has caught a big fish this time. How much will a customer from the first-class carriage spend?原来如此…… 她也要去“柯尔特快车”…… 看来这次玛姬钓到大鱼了，一等车厢的客人，会出多少血呢？

Susanna thinks about the money that will shortly be hers and can't help but grin. But she immediately reverts back to her sweet customer-service smile and proceeds to the next seat.想到自己后续可能拿到的收入，苏珊娜忍不住咧开了嘴角。 但很快她又压抑了下去，改为露出标准的甜美笑容，继续朝下一个座位前进。

SusannaMs. Valeriya, here is the botrytized wine that you ordered.瓦列里娅夫人，这是您要的贵腐。

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢

Lyudmila steps into the carriage and scans the space coolly.柳德米拉踏入了餐车，淡漠的目光迅速扫视了一圈。

After a two-second pause, she makes for an empty table and sits down.顿了大约两秒的时间，她径直走到一张空桌面前坐下。

The table is very close to the bar. The music is a bit too loud, so most customers tend to stay away. ...But the perk of sitting at this table is having an unobstructed view of everyone in the entire carriage.这里离吧台很近，音乐声有点大，一般的客人都不喜欢靠近。 ……但这里有着独一无二的优势，就是可以关注到整节车厢的人。

Lyudmila looks down at her watch and silently counts down.柳德米拉看了下自己的手表，默默地数着时间。

Lyudmila...Five more seconds.……还有五秒钟。

She looks at the Doll sitting right in front of the bar. As if sensing her gaze, the Doll looks this way.柳德米拉看向正坐在吧台前的人形。 就像察觉到她的目光，对方也看了过来。

LyudmilaFour. Three.四。 三。

After a sharp clink, the Doll raises her glass up high. Amber-colored whiskey swirls in the glass, refracting the light. It is both brilliant and dazzling.随着一声酒杯碰撞发出的清脆声响，那位人形手中的玻璃杯高高举起，澄黄色的威士忌在杯中摇摇晃晃，清澈的酒液映射着灯光。 显得璀璨而耀眼。

LyudmilaTwo.二。

???Tequila is on me tonight.今夜的龙舌兰，我请了。

The woman beams. Lyudmila wonders if that was directed at her.那女人笑得灿烂，仿佛在对柳德米拉说话。

LyudmilaOne.一。

Zero.空。

BroadcastAttention, dear passengers. The Future has entered a tunnel. Attention, dear passengers...各位乘客，各位乘客。 “未来号”洲际列车已驶入隧道区域。 各位乘客，各位乘客……

BroadcastThe... Fu... ture...“未……来……号……”

It's as if the train has entered a black hole. The light disappears in an instant, and the voice in the broadcast gradually distorts and dissolves into white noise.就像是被黑洞吞进了体内，周遭的光瞬间被剥夺，广播内发出的声音也逐渐被白噪音扭曲。

Whoosh— The train is still whizzing through the tunnel. The darkness outside the windows persist.咻—— 奔驰的列车仍旧在隧道内穿行着，窗外的黑夜仍旧持续。

White mist starts rolling in from all directions and rising from under Lyudmila's seat. Accompanied by the mist is the sound of some kind of creepy... nursery rhyme.白雾，一片片的白雾从四面八方弥散开来，自柳德米拉的座位下缓缓升腾。 与之同时，被雾气裹挟着的，还有一阵诡异的……童谣声。

From beneath Hell, I gaze up at Heaven A crystal glass of Tequila Slammer Reflects a soul in its truest form Fox raises this glass of Tequila Slammer Her heart and lungs are set aflame Desires and deception intertwine The devil exposes the angel's hypocrisy The liquor cleanses the blood vessels Here are two Tequila Slammers One for Satan And one for myself远望天堂 地狱在上 水晶酒杯里盛满龙舌兰 倒映出灵魂原本的模样 福克斯端起了这杯龙舌兰 心肺似被烈火点燃 谎言与欲望交响 恶魔现出天使般的伪善 晶莹的液体将血管洗涤 这里有两杯龙舌兰 一杯赠与撒旦 一杯献祭自己

...The voice slowly fades away, and the mist disperses.……声音渐渐喑哑，浓雾也随之消散。

Rustle... A smear of light dispels the darkness. A gaslamp suddenly appears on the table in front of Lyudmila. Its flickering flame illuminates a small area around it.沙沙……黑暗陡然被一抹光明照亮。 柳德米拉的桌前忽然亮起了一盏煤油灯。 火光摇曳着，照亮了周围小小一方空间。

LyudmilaI see... So this is the "Colt Express"—a Level II neural space disguised as a steam locomotive.原来如此…… 这就是“柯尔特快车”——伪装成蒸汽列车的二级平层。

The intercontinental train has just exited the tunnel.“未来号”9号车厢里，洲际列车刚刚驶出隧道。

Inside Carriage 9 of the Future, Lyudmila picks up a glass of tequila. Her surroundings remain exactly the same as before the train had entered the tunnel.柳德米拉端起了一杯龙舌兰，周围的环境和进隧道前毫无变化。

Meanwhile, in the eerie antique carriage on board the Colt Express, a Doll whose face is obscured is now sitting opposite her.另一边，散发诡异浓雾的古老车厢“柯尔特快车”里，面前却坐着一位看不清面孔的人形。

???...So this is the Colt Express?……这里就是“柯尔特快车”？

Lyudmila...This doesn't sound like the manager!…… 这种问题……这不是主理人！

???You should at least answer me out of basic courtesy.对面的人形，出于礼貌，你应该回复我。

LyudmilaIndeed.是。

???... As the manager, shouldn't you be a bit more hospitable?…… 作为主理人，你不应该稍微热情一点吗？

LyudmilaFirst of all, you should confirm whether I am even the manager. Then you can ask why I'm not being hospitable. And finally, not all business owners are friendly.首先你需要确认我是不是，其次才能问我为什么，最后，不是所有老板的性格都很客气。

???...So why are you not hospitable?……那为什么？

Lyudmila...Don't make me repeat myself.……我不想重复一遍。

???All the more reason why you should explain this properly. You communicate to make yourself understood, not only when it suits you. You will lose out on a lot of business if you talk like this.那你更加应该好好解释。 沟通是为了让别人明白，而不是自己高兴。 你这样说话，很容易丢掉生意。

???...Fortunately for you, I'm in a good mood right now.……你应该庆幸，我现在脾气很好。

Lyudmila takes a deep breath.柳德米拉深吸了一口气。

LyudmilaFortunately for YOU, I'm in a good mood.这是你应该庆幸的事情。

Clink. A sharp noise suddenly interrupts the conversation that is becoming increasingly nonsensical.叮铃。 就在大家的对话越发诡异的时候，一个清脆的声音忽然响起。

???Apologies, dear customers.抱歉了，两位客人。

A Doll has appeared out of thin air. Lyudmila's brow furrows.一位人形黑影凭空出现，柳德米拉皱了皱眉。

Lyudmila"Dear customers"?两位客人？

???Sorry to have kept you waiting. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the manager of the Colt Express. You may call me... Queen of Hearts.让你们久等了，容我自我介绍一下。 我是“柯尔特快车”的主理人，你们可以称呼我为……红桃Q。

Lyudmila..."Queen of Hearts".……“红桃Q”。

Queen of HeartsThat's right.没错，这位客人。

Miss Queen of Hearts snaps her fingers with a smile. Then she takes down a bottle of tequila from the cabinet behind her and pours out three glasses.红桃Q小姐笑着打了个响指，转身从酒柜上取下了一瓶龙舌兰，自顾自地倒上了三杯酒。

Queen of HeartsI'm sure the two of you already have a certain level of understanding of what the Colt Express offers. This is the most secure and trustworthy trading hub for Dolls. You can buy and sell pretty much anything you want here.我相信两位对“柯尔特快车”有一定的了解。 这里是最安全也最守信用的人形交易中心。 你可以在这里买到任何想要的东西，当然，我也接受物品的挂售。

Miss Queen of Hearts pauses briefly.红桃Q小姐顿了一顿。

Queen of Hearts—But before that, I need to check your tickets. Please forgive me, but this is a mandatory procedure... I am a rule-abiding trader, after all.——但在那之前，我需要确认两位的车票。 请原谅，这是必要的步骤……我可是个规矩的生意人。

After a few seconds of silence, Lyudmila fishes out an invitation from her pocket. When the invitation lands on the wooden table, it transforms into a playing card—ace of spades.柳德米拉沉默了几秒，从口袋里拿出了邀请函。 当邀请函落到面前的木质桌面上时，瞬间变成了一张扑克牌，上面的花色是黑桃A。

The Doll with the obscured face also produces her invitation, which turns into a three of clubs.而对面看不清面孔的人形也翻出了自己的邀请函，展开之后赫然是一张梅花3。

Queen of Hearts stares at the two cards with narrowed eyes. She examines them in silence...红桃Q看着两人摸出的扑克牌，眯着眼稍微沉默了一会。 似乎正在检查着什么……

After a while, she finally breaks into a smile and claps her hands. Her tone is now very genial.不一会儿，红桃Q露出了笑脸，双手合掌，言语中对两人相当客气。

Queen of HeartsWonderful, everything appears to be in order. We can get down to business. What say you?很好，确认无误。 我想，我们可以开始交易了，两位觉得呢？

Lyudmila is just about to speak, but the other Doll beats her to it.柳德米拉正要说话，就被对面的人形抢了先。

???Sure, fine by me.当然，我没问题。

Queen of HeartsSplendid. Then let's start with the introductions again. —Welcome aboard the Colt Express.很好，那就让我们重新打个招呼。 ——欢迎两位客人来到“柯尔特快车”。

4 Vintage Gramophone 4 复古留声机

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车F09车厢

The sound of the intercontinental train thundering along the metal tracks can still be heard in the dining carriage. Instructor Lyudmila takes a sip from her Midori with vodka. She keeps scanning the dining carriage like a hawk. Meanwhile, on board the Colt Express...洲际列车在铁轨上行驶的声响仍在餐车车厢内回荡。 柳德米拉教官低头喝了一口伏特加绿酒。 继续用鹰一样的目光打量着餐车内的情况。 而另一边的人形黑市交易场所“柯尔特快车”内……

The whistling of the steam engine, the chugging of the train along the tracks, and the tanginess of tequila mixed with lemon on the tongue. A bizarre, tri-lateral transaction is currently underway.蒸汽升腾的响声，铁轨刺啦的响声，还有龙舌兰与柠檬混合时在口腔内绽放的香气。 却正在进行着一场奇异的，莫名其妙的三人交易。

Queen of HeartsThen let's start with the introductions again. —Welcome aboard the Colt Express.让我们重新打个招呼。 欢迎两位客人来到“柯尔特快车”。

Clutching her invitation, which has now taken the form of an ace of spades, Lyudmila has no intention of accepting this arrangement of negotiating with two people at the same time. She is on a mission, and no such anomalies happen without a reason.柳德米拉手持黑桃A的邀请函，对于诡异的二人同时交易情况显然不打算放过。 她带着任务，而一切异常，都不会偶然出现。

Ace of SpadesHold on.等一下。

Queen of Hearts...What is it?……怎么了？这位客人？

Lyudmila points at the Doll with the obscured face sitting opposite her.柳德米拉指了指对面的黑影人形。

Ace of SpadesOn the invitation, it says that all deals on the Colt Express are made one-to-one. What is happening here? Forgive me for being blunt, Miss Queen of Hearts, but you are ruining your own reputation as the manager of a renowned black market trading hub.柯尔特快车的交易，在提供邀请函的时候说过一对一，现在是什么情况？ 恕我直言，红桃Q小姐，作为知名黑市交易市场的主理人，你在败坏自己的口碑。

Queen of HeartsHere's the thing, ma'am. ...I'll admit that this is entirely unexpected, and even I cannot explain why this is happening. Please believe me when I say that I'm even more surprised than you. How about this... I'll gift both of you something with the value of two ounces of Sardis Gold. I'm sure you know how much that is worth. That should be adequate in conveying my apologies.好吧，这位客人。 ……我承认这是一个意外，但具体原因目前我无法排查。 只能诚恳地表示，比起你们，我才是那个最感到惊讶的人。 这样吧，我可以额外赠送两位各一件价值2盎司萨狄斯金的商品。 我相信大家知道2盎司的价值，能登上“柯尔特快车”的商品一定能表达我的歉意。

Three of Clubs, who has been quiet the whole time, slowly mutters to herself.对面一直沉默的梅花3缓缓地开口。

Three of Clubs...0.3 ounces of Sardis Gold can be converted to roughly 10,000 credits, which is enough to cover my train fare from Warsaw to Berlin. I accept the compensation.……0.3盎司萨狄斯金大约可以兑换1万信用点，而1万信用点足够从华沙坐到柏林。 这个赔偿我接受。

Ace of SpadesTo travel from Warsaw to Berlin, the first-class fare is 21,860 credits, while the second-class fare is 10,900 credits. So Three of Clubs boarded the train in Warsaw and is traveling in the second-class carriage. The compensation is not the point. I am very disappointed in the fact that you chose to cover up the problem when you first discovered it. Perhaps I should reconsider doing business with you, Queen of Hearts.华沙-柏林的车票一等车厢票价是21860，二等车厢票价是10900。看来梅花3是二等车厢华沙站上车的人形。 补偿不是重点，我对你发现问题却第一时间选择隐瞒感到非常失望。 也许我需要重新考虑是否要跟你交易了，红桃Q。

Queen of Hearts sighs and shrugs.面对柳德米拉的质问，红桃Q叹了口气，摊了摊手。

Queen of HeartsLook, if you want to back out, I will not stop you. But if I am to shut down this carriage, both of you will be made to leave. Of course, you will be refunded double your ticket price.如果客人你想要退出交易，我也不会阻拦。 不过关闭这节车厢的话，两位都将被请离此处。 当然，车票的价格我会双倍奉还给各位。

Three of ClubsWhat... Wait! No! I can't have that!什——等等！不行！不能这样！

Three of Clubs interrupts hastily.闻言，梅花3急切地开口。

Queen of HeartsHm? Are you unhappy with the compensation?嗯？您是对补偿方案有什么不满意的吗？

Three of ClubsNo, I just want to know why Ace of Spades refuses to proceed with the transaction. We've both come here to buy what we want. Even if there are now two of us because of some malfunction, can't we still buy our own stuff? How does my presence affect you?我没有不满，我想问黑桃A为什么要拒绝交易？ 我们上这辆列车只是为了购买自己的东西，就算因为出现问题两个人一起交易，各买各的不行吗？对你有什么影响？

Ace of SpadesIt affects me a great deal. It doesn't matter if this doesn't bother you. But do know that this is a black market. Nobody wants to have their real identity exposed.影响很大——你不在乎是你的事。 但请你搞清楚，这里是黑市，没有人希望暴露自己的身份。

Three of ClubsI don't care... I must do this. If it bothers you so much, wait until I finish my business and you can do whatever you want.我不管……总之我必须交易。 你介意的话，那你等我交易完。

As an instructor, hardly any Dolls would speak to Lyudmila in this manner. So brazen and stubborn... Still, her target isn't Three of Clubs, but Queen of Hearts.作为教官，已经很少有人形这样同柳德米拉讲话了。 这样理直气壮地任性…… 但她的任务对象不是对面的梅花3，而是红桃Q。

Ace of SpadesSince Three of Clubs is so adamant... I'll agree to your arrangement, but don't make a habit of it.既然梅花3如此坚持。 那我姑且同意，下不为例。

Queen of HeartsThen let us begin. Don't worry, I pride myself in being fair and honest.那，我们就开始交易了。 请放心吧，我向来都是公道而且诚实的。

With a smile, Queen of Hearts flicks her finger. A booklet appears in her hand out of thin air. She looks at the two Dolls. She snaps her fingers, and two more identical booklets appear. She gives them out to Lyudmila and Three of Clubs.红桃Q笑了笑，摇晃了一下手指。 一本手册凭空就出现在了她的手里。 她看了看面前的两个人，空着的手打了个响指，另一本一模一样的本子跟着出现。 然后分别递给了柳德米拉和对面的梅花3。

Queen of HeartsWe'll start with some explanation. First of all, we only accept a single kind of currency—Sardis Gold. Second, all listings are to be sold as single items. If you see a number behind a listing, it's the quantity of this item that we have available. We use an auction system. Simply make a bid, and I'll tell you if you have a deal. Last but not least, here's our catalog this time. Please take your time to peruse it.首先说明一下，我们接受且仅接受一种货币：萨狄斯金。 其次我们交易的物品均为单品，如果后面有数值，则表明这个单品包含的总数，因此交易规则采用拍卖制，只需要报出您心中的价格，我会告诉您是否成交。 最后这是本次商品名录，可以随意查阅。

Ace of SpadesHow do you ensure fair prices when all the information is fed unilaterally from you under an auction system?拍卖制加上只有你单方面对我们输出信息的情况下，如何保证公平？

Queen of Hearts blinks at Lyudmila.红桃Q对柳德米拉眨了眨眼。

Queen of HeartsYou make a reasonable offer, you get the corresponding item. That's absolutely fair.您付出合理的价格，然后得到相应的商品，这就是绝对的公平。

Ace of Spades...No wonder you dared to muddle through and didn't object even when I threatened to pull out. The black market really is all about exploitation.……难怪刚才你敢蒙混过关，就算我提出退出也不反对。 黑市交易，果然是店大欺客。

Queen of HeartsMy shop is renowned for its quality products and good prices. Is this not why you boarded the Colt Express in the first place, Miss Ace of Spades?本店一向物美价廉，有口皆碑。 黑桃A客人不也是因为这个才愿意登上柯尔特快车吗？

Ace of SpadesYou're right, I have several Doll friends who enjoy shopping here. They did get what they wanted, but I'm very curious... Why did they always end up spending ALL the money they had on hand? It happened every time... Every single time, they just so happened to have spent everything they had on them.不错，我有好几位人形朋友都很喜欢在这辆列车上购物。 虽说确实能够拿到货品，但我非常好奇的是，为什么恰好，他们所有人都会付出手里全部的钱。 每一次……我是说，每一次都会刚好付出自己全部的钱。

Queen of HeartsThat's the highest form of recognition we could receive. Those customers must have thought our goods were worth the money, because they were of the very best quality. That's why all our customers try to purchase as much as they can with the money they possess, as long as they think they are getting bang for their buck.这是那些客人们对本店售卖货物的最高肯定，因为我们的商品都是最好的。 所以我们所有的顾客都希望用手里全部的金钱去买空他们认为值得的商品。

Lyudmila coldly eyes Queen of Hearts, who is clearly wearing a disguise, when Three of Clubs speaks up.就在柳德米拉冷漠地看着这明显改换了形态的红桃Q时，对面的黑影梅花3开口了。

Three of ClubsI can't find what I want here.这里没有我要的东西。

She puts down the catalog that she has barely read.她放下了商品名录，似乎连看都没看上一眼。

Queen of HeartsHm? Then why did you board the train? My shop is not a department store. Just the entry fee alone can already be quite prohibitive. I just checked your record—you did not pay for your entry in cash. Instead, you purchased your ticket by offering your body as collateral. In that case, if you fail to make your payment within the specified time frame, you run the risk of having your body seized.嗯？客人，那你为什么想要登上这辆列车呢？ 本店并不是百货商店，进出花费的代价应当并不低廉。 而且这位客人，我刚刚查了您的记录，您并不是现金支付上车的，而是抵押素体支付车票的，这样一来，您如果没有在规定时间内垫付资金，素体有被我们回收的风险哦。

Three of ClubsI know. I'm obviously not here for fun. What I'm looking to buy is information about a person. It's not a physical item, but you can give me a quote. You don't have to worry about how I'm going to pay for it.我知道，我当然不是来闲逛的。 我想要买的是一个人的信息，这并不是一件商品，但你可以根据对应的价值开出价格。 至于价钱，这不需要你担心。

Queen of HeartsThen what information are you looking for, Miss Three of Clubs?那梅花3客人想要什么信息？

Three of ClubsErma Hume. I want all the information you have on her.艾尔玛·休谟，她的信息，我全都要。

Ace of Spades... Hume???…… 休谟？？？

In another carriage on the Colt Express, Queen of Hearts is still the same Queen of Hearts, but the customer is a different one. Pavel tilts his head as he watches the view outside fly past the window. A playing card—the seven of clubs—is lying on the table in front of him. His shadow is cast on the ornate wall by the flickering candlelight. The wall is decorated by many famous paintings from the last century. The most eye-catching one is "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Pavel has heard of it before.“柯尔特快车”的另一节车厢，同样的红桃Q，但不一样的是客人。 保尔歪过头，看向了身后的窗外那掠过的风景，他的面前放着一张扑克牌——梅花7。 摇曳的烛光映衬着他的影子，老式的墙壁上，挂着大量上世纪的名画——其中有一副，也是最显眼的那副，是保尔听说过的名画《戴珍珠耳环的少女》。

Seven of ClubsYou are the manager of the Colt Express?你就是“柯尔特快车”的主理人？

Queen of HeartsYes, Mr. Seven of Clubs. Would you like a drink? It may help soothe your nerves.是的，梅花7先生，要不要来一杯？也许对安定你的精神有好处。

Pavel stares at Queen of Hearts. After a brief silence, he picks up his glass and holds it up to his face.保尔看着眼前的红桃Q，沉默了一下，端起酒杯，杯口怼到了脸上。

Splash. The liquor splashes all over his headlamp and trickles down his face.噗。 烈酒泼到他的头灯上，滴答着顺着他的脸向下流淌。

Seven of Clubs...Am I supposed to drink like this?……这样喝吗？

Queen of Hearts...Hahaha, that's very humorous of you. This is a Level II neural space. You can do anything.……哈哈哈，客人你真有意思。 这里是二级平层，你可以做任何事情。

Pavel watches as Queen of Hearts takes out a booklet from under the counter. It transforms into a hovering window the moment Pavel takes it.在保尔的注视下，红桃Q从柜台下拿起了一本手册——在保尔接过它的刹那，手册变成了悬浮的窗口。

Queen of HeartsWhat are you hoping to buy?客人有什么心仪的物品呢？

Without even the slightest hint of hesitation, Pavel quickly scrolls to the only thing he is here for.保尔连半点犹豫都没有，很快就翻到了他唯一的那个目标。

Seven of ClubsThis.这个。

He points at an item on the booklet-window. "Idunn".他用手指了指手册上的一项商品。 “伊登”。

Queen of HeartsHow surprising. I didn't expect a droid would be interested in this.真意外，没想到会有人形对这个感兴趣。

Seven of ClubsThat's none of your business. The starting price is 1.5 ounces, yes? Then I'm bidding 2 ounces.跟你没有关系，底价是1.5盎司吧，我出2盎司。

Queen of HeartsOne second, please.请稍等一会。

Queen of Hearts picks up a shaker on the table. Her eyes glows blue. She wields the shaker with great skill—at least, her moves look very flashy to Pavel, and it feels almost like a performance. Thunk.柯尔特顺手抄起了桌面上的雪克壶，眼眸里透着盈蓝色的光。 她调酒的手法相当熟稔——至少在保尔看来，十分花哨，就像是一种表演。 咚。

After performing a third flip, she finally returns the shaker to the counter and leisurely pours the clear liquor into a glass.在第三次回旋之后，她终于将雪克壶落到柜台上，慢悠悠地将澄澈的酒液倒进杯中。

Queen of HeartsI regret to inform you... That this item appears to be quite sought-after. Customer Jack of Diamonds has offered 2.5 ounces.真遗憾，客人。 看样子这个货有些抢手。 方块J客人出价2.5盎司。

Pavel looks down again at the item description on the catalog. ...There's no mistake. This is the one. This thing... can cure ELID.保尔低下了头，又看向了售货单上的商品说明。 ……不会错的，就是这个。 这个……这玩意能治ELID。

It can cure ELID...能治ELID……

Seven of ClubsThree ounces.3盎司。

Queen of HeartsNo problem. Just between you and me—your only competitor in this bidding war is Jack of Diamonds.没问题。 偷偷告诉您，跟您竞价的就只有方块J一个人。

Queen of Hearts waves her hand with a smile, and her brilliant eyes light up once more. The hand holding up the glass pauses in mid-air. The burning candle grows dim on the table.红桃Q笑盈盈地摆摆手，璀璨的眼睛轻轻一亮。 端起酒杯的手在半空中顿了顿，在两人之间燃烧的蜡烛也变得暗淡起来。

Queen of HeartsOh my... I'm afraid I have bad news. The other customer also seems very determined.哎呀……这可真是。 看样子对面的客人也很执着呢。

Seven of ClubsHow much have they offered?她出多少？

Queen of Hearts3.5 ounces.3.5盎司。

Toot-toooot— The steam engine lets out a whistle, but it does little to break the awkwardness hanging in the air.呜呜—— 蒸汽火车的声音开始轰鸣，衬托着这瞬息的沉默中压不下的尴尬气氛。

Queen of HeartsWhy don't you... try your luck at some other items?您要不……看看别的货？

Queen of Hearts asks Pavel tentatively. She blinks her keen eyes and observes Pavel carefully.红桃Q看着保尔，试探性地询问道。 她狡黠的眼轻轻一眨，仔细地观察着保尔的眼睛。

Seven of Clubs3.6... No, 3.8 ounces.3.6……不，3.8盎司。

Queen of HeartsOffer received.收到。

Queen of Hearts rises from her seat smilingly. With a twirl, she vanishes from the aisle. In this ultra-realistic carriage, her bizarre actions only serve to make Pavel more nervous. Compared to the actual dining carriage of the Future, this carriage is much more cramped and oppressive. Both the dim lights and the heavy scent of old wood act like poison stimulating Pavel's nerves. He stares anxiously at the gaslamp before him. Each second seems to tick by more slowly.红桃Q笑着从座位上站了起来，在过道上转了个圈，身影就消失不见了。 在这真实感非比寻常的车厢内，这诡异的情景让保尔变得更加紧张了起来。 相比起真正的餐车，这个车厢显得那么狭小，压抑，不论是昏暗的光线，还是腐朽的气味，都成为了刺激保尔神经的毒药。 他紧盯着面前的煤油灯，每一秒都过得无比漫长。

Ting-a-ling.叮铃。

Queen of HeartsSorry for the wait.久等了。

Just as Pavel is about to be completely overwhelmed by the claustrophobic atmosphere around him, Queen of Hearts reappears on the aisle with the bright sound of a set of ruffled wind chimes. She sits down in front of Pavel with a wistful smile.就在保尔几乎被周遭压抑的气氛弄得难以保持平静的时候，随着一声清脆的风铃响动，红桃Q再次出现在过道上，并且笑盈盈地坐回到保尔的面前。

Seven of Clubs...Well?!……怎么样！

Desperate to get the restlessness out of his system, Pavel asks about his bid hastily.像是为了宣泄自己的不安，保尔焦急地询问起结果。

Queen of Hearts...I'm sorry, but they share your determination in obtaining this item.……真抱歉，看样子执着的并不只有您一个人。

Queen of Hearts' blithe remark sucks all the strength out of Pavel. He slumps in his seat, defeated. Even his eye-like headlamp grows dim.这句话红桃Q说得轻飘飘，却仿佛夺去了保尔的全部力气。 他颓唐地坐在座位上，连象征眼的头灯都变得黯淡了许多。

Seven of ClubsIt can't be helped then... I give up.那只能这样了……我放弃。

Pavel's voice is tinged with sorrow.保尔的声音有些悲哀。

Queen of Hearts... Oh dear, you're breaking my heart. Fine, I'll take your offer.…… 真没办法，那就这个数好了。

Seven of Clubs...What?……什么？

Pavel raises his head in shock at Queen of Hearts' proclamation. Queen of Hearts tosses a coin up in the air and snaps her fingers.在红桃Q说出这话的瞬间，保尔诧异地抬起了头。 一枚硬币抛在空中，敲起了一道响指声。

Seven of Clubs3.6... No, 3.8 ounces.3.6……不，3.8盎司。

Queen of HeartsCongratulations, Mr. Seven of Clubs. The other party has decided not to match your offer. 3.8 ounces, sold. It is a pleasure doing business with you.恭喜你，梅花7先生。 对方决定放弃不再跟价。 3.8盎司，成交。 很高兴本店为您提供了服务。

Seven of Clubs...I will pay immediately. Who do I give the money to?……我会立刻付清。 钱我该交给谁？

Queen of HeartsQuimby will get in touch about your payment and item delivery once you disembark.下车后，钱货均由昆比联络您。

Seven of ClubsI understand...我知道了……

In the last carriage of the Colt Express, on board the Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 “柯尔特快车” 最后一节车厢

The train chugging along the metal tracks is the only sound that can be heard in the empty carriage. The flickering light of a gaslamp illuminates an empty seat. A lone playing card lies quietly on the table next to it. It is a king of hearts lying face-down. All of a sudden, a figure materializes out of thin air.空无一人的车厢内，只有列车驶过铁轨的声音。 空落落的座位面对着摇曳的煤油灯，只有一张孤零零的扑克牌静静地被搁置在旁边。 扑克牌背面朝上，上面花色是“红桃K”。 突然，一道人影凭空出现。

CatherineMaggie, you're going with this look today? And is 3.8 ounces of Sardis Gold worth all this trouble? Data rollback of this scale is too much for your body to bear. You're lucky the guy was too creeped out to notice...玛姬你今天居然用这个形象。 以及3.8盎司萨狄斯金也值得你用这个手法吗，这种程度的数据回滚，对你素体的负担太大了，还好对方只是个铁皮疙瘩，应该完全察觉不到……

MaggieEvery single dime is worth the effort. Don't worry, with the modification, I can handle this kind of data management.每一分钱都值得尊重，别担心，经过上次的改造，这种程度的数据处理我应付得来。

CatherineHave you found the target?找到目标了吗？

MaggieI may be onto something, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I need more time. We're only one minute away from the ten minutes that we agreed on.虽然有点头绪，但还没有完全锁定。 我还需要一些时间，现在离约定的十分钟只剩一分钟了。

Catherine...I'll try my best to stall for time.……我会尽量帮你拖延。

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢

Clang. The melting ice knocks against the wall of the glass, producing a crisp sound. Catherine swirls her glass in boredom as she tilts her head to look at Maggie, who seems to be fast asleep with her head on the bar counter.当啷。 玻璃杯里的冰块因为融化而与杯壁碰撞发出了清脆的响声。 凯瑟琳百无聊赖地摇晃着杯子，偏头看着身边趴在吧台上像是陷入熟睡的玛姬。

Catherine(Sighs)唉……

After downing her ginger ale in one gulp, Catherine snaps her fingers, and the bartender immediately comes to refill her glass.将杯中的姜汁汽水一饮而尽，凯瑟琳打了个响指，酒保立刻便为她满上了第二杯。

Catherine...I'm always just twiddling my thumbs when in times like this.……每次到这时候我就变得好闲。

Beep-beep. The communicator suddenly comes to life. Catherine takes the call out of reflex.滴滴。 通讯器忽然发出响声，凯瑟琳条件反射地迅速接通。

CatherineHello?喂？

NikolaiCatherine, I knew you'd also be on the train.凯瑟琳，果然你也在这辆列车上。

CatherineAhem, how can I help you, Mr. Nikolai? Maggie is still on the Colt Express. I'll tell her that you called when she's back.咳咳咳，尼古拉先生，找我有什么事情吗？玛姬还在柯尔特快车上，等她出来我让她找你。

Nikolai...The "hunt" has begun. You'd better finish up right now. I'll do what I can to slow her down, but you both know what Baba Lyuba is like...……“狩猎”开始了，你们最好现在就结束。 我会尽力拖延，但柳芭老妈的脾气你们也清楚……

Click. Catherine's face pales immediately as painful memories resurface. She accidentally terminates the transmission.滴。 凯瑟琳脸色被吓得惨白，惨痛的回忆浮上心头，一不小心竟然直接挂断了通讯。

CatherineCrap... Why did I hang up?!我去……我怎么就挂断了。

Click...滴……

Catherine redials in a panic, but Nikolai doesn't seem to be around to pick up on the other end.凯瑟琳手忙脚乱地再次拨通通讯，但通讯对面的尼古拉却仿佛消失了一般没有回应。

Catherine...What the hell are you doing, your lordship?!……你在搞什么鬼啊大少爷！？

The flustered Catherine raises the communicator, smacks it with her hand, and shakes it left and right, trying to find the elusive signal. However—气急败坏的凯瑟琳举起通讯器，不停地用手拍击，左右晃动，试图寻找那捕捉不到的信号。 然而——

—Bam!——呯！

Catherine's hand twitches and drops the communicator. It hits Susanna, who has come to serve more food, as it falls to the floor.凯瑟琳的手微微一抖，通讯器掉到了地上。 恰巧砸中过来更换食物的苏珊娜。

Susanna...Catherine, watch where you're going!……凯瑟琳，你最好长点眼睛！

Catherine leans down to pick up the communicator when she suddenly hears an extremely soft sound. It is so soft that she would've missed it if she hadn't been paying attention.凯瑟琳低头捡起了通讯器，却听到一道微乎其微的声音。 稍微不注意，就会忽略掉的那种。

PassengerH-help!!!救，救命啊！！！

CatherineSusanna, did you hear that?苏珊娜，你有没有听到什么声音？

SusannaHear what?声音？

Confused, Susanna pricks up her ears, but all she hears is pleasant music.苏珊娜茫然地竖起耳朵，但耳边只有悦耳的音乐。

SusannaI'm not hearing anything?我什么都没听见啊？

Bang!! Right at that moment, a loud noise comes from the adjacent carriage. It is loud enough to drown out the music in the dining carriage for a second. Both Susanna and Catherine can hear it clearly.呯——！！ 苏珊娜话音刚落，隔壁的车厢又传来一声巨响。 这一次，声音一瞬甚至盖过了餐车内的音乐，不论是苏珊娜，还是凯瑟琳，都听得清清楚楚。

Catherine...We're done for.……完了。

Catherine's lips quiver as she looks toward the carriage where the sound came from. In the still-peaceful dining carriage, she's the only one who has any idea... About what is happening over there. The Vory v Zakone is about to start their "hunt".凯瑟琳嘴角抽了抽，看向了发出声响车厢的方向。 在依然歌舞升平的餐车中，只有她一个人清楚地知道。 那里正发生着什么。 律贼，即将展开他们的“狩猎”。

5 Toilet 5 洗手间

In the restroom of Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车） 洗手间内

Ten minutes ago, an "out of order" sign has been hung on the restroom door. However, the restroom is occupied, and not just by one person. A tall Doll is currently holding a petite Doll at gunpoint.十分钟之前，洗手间悄悄挂上了暂停使用的牌子。 但里面居然有人，而且不止一个。 高个子人形的枪口正抵着矮个子的少女人形。

Lyudmila...Remove your disguise.……解除你的伪装。

Erma pulls the hood off her head.艾尔玛摘下了头上的斗篷。

Lyudmila... I mean your false identity. Who are you? What is your motive for boarding the Colt Express?…… 我指的是身份。 你到底是谁？上车是什么目的？

Erma...You just dragged me into the restroom. ...Now you ask me who I am? Are all muggers so obnoxious these days?……是你二话不说把我拖来洗手间的。 ……结果你问我是谁？ 现在的抢劫犯这么嚣张了吗？

Lyudmila decides to skip the nonsense and hacks the Doll directly.柳德米拉懒得废话，决定直接骇入对方。

Ding...叮——

Lyudmila...I can't hack you. It's really you.……居然无法骇入，果然是你。

Erma...And who might that be?……那你说我是谁？

Lyudmila...Three of Clubs, are you still continuing the charade?……梅花3，你还要继续演戏吗？

Meanwhile, on board the Colt Express.与此同时 柯尔特快车内

The blurry figure sitting opposite Lyudmila suddenly leans over the table and grabs her.柳德米拉对面的黑影突然倾身过来，一把抓住柳德米拉。

Three of Clubs—Let go of me!——你放手！

Three of ClubsIf you don't let go, I'll call the police!你再不放手，我报警了！

Queen of HeartsHm? Miss? Miss Three of Clubs, please calm down. We genuinely have no transaction records concerning Erma Hume.嗯？客人？ 梅花3客人，请你冷静一点。 关于艾尔玛·休谟，我们这里确实没有任何相关的交易记录。

Three of ClubsThat's not possible. The information I'm looking for has got to be here.不可能，这里一定有我要的信息。

Queen of HeartsMiss, being unreasonable isn't conducive to doing business—客人，胡搅蛮缠不利于交易的哦——

Three of Clubs seems to have suddenly calmed down.梅花3似乎突然冷静了下来。

Meanwhile, back in the dining carriage restroom.此时另一边，餐车洗手间内。

With just a bit of force, Lyudmila manages to detach one of Erma's arms.柳德米拉稍一施力，卸除了艾尔玛的一条手臂。

Erma...I've done as you said and stopped talking on the Colt Express. Can you give me back my arm?……我已经按你说的，不在“柯尔特快车”内说话了。 能把我的手臂装回去了吗？

Lyudmila...Why are you searching for Erma Hume? What is your relationship with Hume?……你为什么要找艾尔玛·休谟？ 你跟姓休谟的人是什么关系？

Erma...You know Erma Hume?……你认识艾尔玛·休谟？

LyudmilaHume is not a common surname.休谟不是一个常见姓氏。

Erma...So you don't know Erma Hume, but you know someone with the name Hume. Are you willing to trade this information?……你不认识艾尔玛·休谟，但你认识姓休谟的人。 那么你的这份信息可以交易吗？

Lyudmila is shocked silent for a second. The girl in front of her is pretty helpless. One of her arms has been detached, and Lyudmila has her gun trained on her forehead. Other than her neural cloud, nothing about the Doll seems particularly striking. Her physical strength is also inferior.柳德米拉愣了一下，此时面前的少女极为狼狈，她的一条胳膊被卸除，而额头暴露在自己的枪下，除了心智以外，目前没有任何特殊的地方，武力看起来远在自己之下。

Lyudmila...Don't make me repeat my questions.……有些问题我不想重复。

Erma...I am Erma Hume. You don't seem to know me at all, so why are you so spooked? Spooked enough to pull a gun on me. Unless...……我就是艾尔玛·休谟。 你看起来却根本不认识我，那你为什么这么敏感？敏感到要掏枪针对我。 莫非……

Lyudmila...?……？

ErmaYou're also a Hume? And Dolls with this surname are being targeted and killed... so you keep your surname a secret.莫非你也姓休谟？ 而这个姓氏的人形容易被人追杀……所以你不准这个信息外露，要保护自己的姓氏。

Lyudmila...Don't insult me.……不要侮辱我。

Erma... I'll tell you my motive.…… 我可以告诉你我的理由。

Lyudmila tenses up immediately. But Erma remains completely still. She just keeps gazing at Lyudmila with those slightly aloof golden eyes.柳德米拉立刻警觉。 但艾尔玛什么动作都没有做，她只是继续盯着柳德米拉，用那双稍显冷漠的金色眼睛。

Erma...I believe Hume is the surname of my owner... or perhaps my "mother". I've lost my memories and I need to find him. The only clue I have is the "Colt Express". But... you're also in the carriage. You know that there isn't any useful information to be found there.……休谟应该是我的主人，或者说是“母亲”的姓氏。 我失去了记忆，需要找到她。 而我失忆前的线索就是“柯尔特快车”。 但是……你也在那节车厢，那里什么有用的消息都没有。

Should she believe her?对方的话可以相信吗？

LyudmilaHer explanation makes sense. Hume is precisely the kind of scumbag that would do this.她的理由可以说得通，休谟就是这种害人的博士。

Unknown Signal...Morning Star has fallen.……晨星已陨落。

Lyudmila keeps eyeing the Doll.柳德米拉低下头，继续看着这个女孩。

LyudmilaCould it just be a coincidence? No. She can't trust her. Her neural cloud cannot be hacked. Even if it was just a coincidence, it could still be a trap... She must remain on her guard...这么巧合？ 不，不可以轻易相信她，她的心智无法骇入，巧合也可能是陷阱……必须保持全部的警戒……

Bang!! A loud noise suddenly rings out from the adjacent carriage.呯——！！ 隔壁的车厢传来一声巨响。

Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车）

The strange sound alarms the passengers. Susanna frowns and starts trying to soothe them.异常的响动令乘客们陷入了困惑，苏珊娜眉头皱了皱，开始安抚乘客们。

SusannaMay I ask everyone to remain calm. I'm going to the next carriage to see...请各位稍安勿躁，我现在就去隔壁看看……

Thunk! Before Susanna can finish, the door of the dining carriage gets pushed open.咚！ 就在苏珊娜准备前去查看之前，餐车的门先一步被人推开。

Susanna...!!……！！

Bam... Thud... A man stumbles unsteadily into the carriage.嘭……咚…… 跌跌撞撞地，一个男人踉跄着脚步，从门外闯了进来。

Frightened ManH... help... It... it's a robbery!!救……救命…… 抢，抢劫……抢劫了——！！

Bang! Before his warning even registers, a bullet fired from the carriage behind him grazes him on the crown of his head.呯！ 他的嚎叫声还未至顶，一发从身后的车厢追来的子弹便擦过了他的头顶。

Bang! The bullet hits a bottle of Chateau Margaux on the bar counter. Dark red liquid flows like blood.砰—— 子弹弹射进吧台的一瓶“玛歌庄园”里，红色的酒液蔓延了下来，宛如鲜血。

Frightened ManH-help!!!救，救命啊！！！

In face of this, even the most obtuse can comprehend the terrible situation that they are in. Panic immediately breaks out among the passengers in the dining carriage.此情此景，即便是再怎么迟钝的人也意识到了情况的恶劣，餐车内的客人瞬间像炸锅一样掀起一片哗然。

Everyone starts running in the opposite direction, trying to squeeze their way through.几乎所有人都争先恐后，第一时间朝着相反的方向挤去。

Boom!!! Just then, an explosion blows open the door between Carriages 9 and 10. The massive impact sends the passengers squeezed against the door flying. The initial shouts of panic instantly turn into screams and wails.轰！！！ 而就在几乎所有乘客争先恐后地挤破头时，一声爆响炸开了10号车厢和餐车的连接门。 巨大的冲击力将堵在门口的客人堆直接轰散开来，一时间，惊慌的叫喊变成了惨叫和哀嚎。

The crowd in the front huddles together, while those who couldn't get to the front reel about in all directions. The first to stride out from the smoke of the explosion is none other than the burly man in Carriage 2.拥挤的人流团成一团，没来得及跑到前头的人又慌不择路地散成一片。 从爆炸的白雾当中一马当先走出来的，正是之前登上2号车厢的壮汉。

DanilThe path has been cleared, Baba.道路已经扫干净了，“老妈”。

Ms. Valeriya?Thank you, Danil.谢谢，丹尼尔。

Following close behind him is the soft-spoken old woman on the wheelchair. Susanna gawks at the sight of her.而跟在他身后的，则是那位坐在轮椅上的温和妇人。 苏珊娜满脸震惊地看着她。

SusannaM-Ms. Valeriya?!瓦、瓦列里娅夫人？

Susanna forces herself to calm down. After all, she's suffered through such things before.苏珊娜强迫自己镇静下来，毕竟这种事情也不是第一次了。

Susanna...Ms. Valeriya, you are a passenger in the first-class carriage. As the stewardess of this train, I will do my best to serve you.……瓦列里娅夫人，您是一等车厢的客人，我作为乘务员会尽量服务您的。

This isn't the first time this train has been robbed. Besides, Susanna is used to dealing with morally gray characters, so she knows their ways. Robbers are only after riches, while her job is to safeguard the passengers' lives—at least, that's what she thinks. However, the old woman simply looks at her calmly.这辆列车并不是第一次遭遇劫匪，而本身就擅长跟灰色地带打交道的苏珊娜深谙同他们打招呼的方式。 劫匪的目的不过是求财，而她的工作底线是保全乘客的生命安全——至少她是这么认为的。 但老妇人只是抬起头，温和地看着她。

Ms. Valeriya?You're wrong about two things, little girl.你搞错了两件事，小姑娘。

Click.啪嗒。

Susanna's attempt at negotiation is only met with the dark muzzles of two guns.回答她的，只有两杆黑洞洞的枪口。

Ms. Valeriya?First of all—I mean business.第一——我不是来跟你过家家的。

The old woman's kindly features slowly contort.老妇人和蔼的面容逐渐变得扭曲。

Ms. Valeriya?Second—you should call me...第二——你要叫我……

Ms. Valeriya?BABA LYUBA!柳芭老妈！

Everyone puts their hands up in the air as the gaping muzzles sweep over them.面对黑洞洞的枪口，几乎所有人都举起了双手。

Bang!呯！

With a thunderous bang, the crystal glasses on the bar counter shatter and scatter their shards all over the floor.一声巨大的枪响，引得吧台上拥挤的水晶玻璃杯碎了一地。

SusannaAaaah!啊——！

Even Susanna, who has seen her fair share of things, can't help but let out a yelp. Meanwhile, the passengers, who can't keep their terror in check, let out another scream. However, this perfectly harmless reaction is enough to draw the ire of the burly thug named Danil, who immediately trains his gun on them.即使是见识甚多的苏珊娜，都忍不住尖叫起来。 而压抑不住恐惧的乘客们再次发出尖锐的喊叫声。 但这连反抗都算不上的反应刚刚冒头，名叫丹尼尔的壮汉便调转了枪口。

As the vacuous black muzzle sweeps over them, the weeping men and women swallow their whimpers and wails.被那黑洞洞的枪口顺着扫了一圈，流着眼泪的男人和女人都把哭泣的声音咽了回去。

DanilDolls to Carriage 10, humans to Carriage 8. Leave all your jewelry on the tables and open your luggage.人形往10号走，人类往8号走。 所有首饰全部摊开摆在桌椅上，行李箱全部打开!

Once Susanna overcomes her initial shock, she suddenly comes to a horrifying realization. She looks up at the old woman before her and stutters incoherently.苏珊娜在最初的惊慌之后，突然意识到了什么，抬起头看着面前的老妇人，惊诧得连声音都开始颤抖。

SusannaBa-ba-ba...Baba Lyuba?! The last of the Neo-Soviet Union's V—柳、柳、柳……柳芭老妈！？ 新苏联最后的律——

Baba Lyuba...The botrytized wine that you prepared was to my taste. You should know what to do next, right?……你准备的贵腐很对我的胃口。 接下来的事你应该明白怎么做了吧？

Susanna gulps and swallows the words she's about to say. She only speaks again after a long moment of hesitation.苏珊娜咽了咽口水，又把将要出口的话咽了回去。 半天后迟疑着开口。

Susanna... The passenger manifest is in the workroom.…… 乘客信息表在工作间。

Baba LyubaVery good. You're a clever girl.很好，你的确是一个聪明的小姑娘。

The fragile-looking granny seems to have undergone a complete change. Standing on the armrests of her own wheelchair, she pulls out a frightening gun in each hand and cackles. Her ghastly laughter, so utterly discordant with the elegant background music, sounds almost like a dirge.孱弱的老妇人此时完全变了个人，她踏着自己的轮椅，一手抓着一把骇人的枪，与优雅的音乐格格不入的惨烈笑声就像某种催命的乐符。

Behind her, armed gangsters enter the room in an orderly fashion.从她身后的大门里，手持武器的匪徒井然有序地走了出来。

Catherine, who has remained motionless ever since the Vory barged in, is cowering in front of the bar with her head lowered.从律贼进门就慌张不已的凯瑟琳颤颤巍巍地坐在吧台前面，一动也不敢动，低着头。

CatherineMaggie... What should I do...?怎么办……玛姬……

Maggie remains slumped over the table, completely still.玛姬依然趴在桌面上，毫无动静。 ……

In the restroom of Carriage F09 (Dining Carriage), Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F09车厢（餐车） 洗手间内

Upon hearing the deafening gunshot, the two Dolls locked in a stalemate immediately exchange looks.震耳欲聋的枪声一响，僵持的两人立刻对视了一眼。

ErmaIt's very noisy out there. Did something happen?外面很吵，好像发生了什么？

LyudmilaThat was a gunshot.这是枪声。

Erma...Murder?……是杀人？

LyudmilaI can't be sure. They are armed with quite a few shotguns. The models are also varied. From what I've heard, it sounded like a Super-Shorty and an M500...不确定，对方有霰弹枪，数量不少，型号也不统一。 响了几声，应该是super-shorty，还有M500……

ErmaYou're also armed. Are you with them?你也有枪，所以你们是一伙的吗？

Lyudmila...No.……不是。

ErmaThen answer my questions about Hume. You've been coming at me since I mentioned this surname on the Colt Express. Why?那你回答我关于“休谟”的事情。 你是从我在柯尔特快车上说出休谟这个姓氏就开始针对我。 到底是为什么？

Lyudmila...I cannot tell you.……无可奉告。

Lyudmila closes her eyes and concentrates on her hearing. ...There are a lot of armed hostiles out there. How did they manage to bring so many weapons on board?柳德米拉闭上眼睛，将注意力集中在了耳上。 ……外面持枪的人不少，他们是怎么把这么多武器带上车的？

LyudmilaSeven... eight... There are a total of 12 intruders, one of which is in a wheelchair.七……八……总共有十二个闯入者，其中有一个用轮椅代步。

Lyudmila recalls the old woman she saw in the carriage she was in earlier.柳德米拉回想起了同车厢见过的那个老妇人。

Lyudmila...I know who they are.……我知道他们是谁了。

ErmaHm?嗯？

LyudmilaThe last Vory v Zakone in the Neo-Soviet Union... They live off any kind of crime imaginable, which naturally includes robbery.新苏联最后的律贼…… 他们以你能想象的几乎所有犯罪手段维生，其中当然包含抢劫。

Lyudmila pauses.柳德米拉顿了顿。

Lyudmila...Also, they don't tend to leave survivors in their robberies.……而且，他们抢劫完后不喜欢留下活口。

Erma...You could tell so much just from listening?……你光听声音就知道这么多？

While Lyudmila is deliberating, an unfamiliar comms signal suddenly contacts both of them.就在柳德米拉沉思的时候，忽然，一个陌生的通讯讯号同时联通了两人。

They glance at each other and take the call in unison. A familiar voice speaks through the channel.两人对视了一眼，又在同时接通了讯息。 一个熟悉的声音，便从频道里传了出来。

???Hello, you two. Time is short, so I'm just gonna go ahead and ask. Which of you is the agent on a secret mission? Or are you both agents?你们好呀，两位。 时间紧迫，我就直接问了吧。 你们二位，谁是那个秘密执勤的特工？ 还是说，你们两个都是？

6 World Time Zone Clocks 6 世界时区钟

Night falls, and the dark shape of the Intercontinental Railway service EN440-13M traversing the Red Zone gives off a a faint sense of foreboding. Like oblivious prey, it has unwittingly fallen into a meticulous trap. The criminal syndicate known as the Vory v Zakone are bloodthirsty hunters in the dark. Right now, they are committing a ruthless robbery on this "prey".夜色低沉，洲际列车EN440 13M次在“红区”里穿梭的黑色长影，隐隐透露着不详的征兆。 如同无知的猎物，不知不觉掉进了精心布置的陷阱里。 名为“律贼”的黑帮仿佛黑暗里的血腥猎手。 正在对这趟“猎物”进行着一场惨无人道的抢劫……

Carriage F09, Intercontinental Railway train "Future".“未来号”洲际列车 F02车厢

A man wearing sunglasses is standing on top of an expensive hardwood round table with a large and powerful gun in his hands. His armed minions, having scattered all over the carriage, are keeping an eye on the passengers. The passengers, all in their own seats, are looking at these intruders with both fear and hatred.戴着墨镜的男子左脚踩在昂贵的实木圆桌上，手中握着一柄威慑力满满的巨大手枪。 零落地站在车厢各处的喽啰们，则端着手里的武器，注视着乘客们。 乘客们各自坐在自己的位置上，带着恐惧而憎恶的眼神看着突然冲进来的不速之客们。