Florian: ----Ah... What happened? My arms and legs won't move...like... ---! Azura...! That's right, back then. I followed Louise and her guards... I saw them falling out of favor...!

{sound f/x bashu: muffled bang}

Florian: -----!

Azura: Don't do anything stupid. You shouldn't be able to move your limbs due to the drug...

Florian: Ku... [struggling up] Wh...y, did you... You're... also conspiring with the Black Hand... huh!

Azura: --Hmph... It is unthinkable for me to conspire with them--- you see. I'm one of the people who constructed the Black Hand crime organization.

Florian: ! ---! You betrayed Noir...! You... He... trusts and respects you--- I've never seen Noir look like that before!

Azura: Get rid of meddlers, and take complete advantage of those who you can. That's my policy. Rei still has some use left in him...!

Florian furiously punches at Azura. Azura easily catches his fist.

Azura: (Now, now) I'm impressed. You've still got that much strength remaining!

Florian: AHH~

{sound f/x zuru: Florian's leg slipping on sheets}

Florian: !

Azura: If you even start to do something--- harm will befall your friends. This estate is tightly guarded by the Black Hand. In the 10,000 to 1 chance that Rei figures it out--- how much can even he do if his friends are taken as hostages?

Florian: ---That's right. That's why he said for everyone... to come with...!

Azura: You wouldn't deliberately get Rei into trouble, would you? Perhaps you should keep this to yourself. I only want Rei's power...

Florian: I... can't... speak

Azura: Now then... Don't think about anything. Just give your body over to pleasure.

Florian: Sweet... scent... wh...at...!?

{sound f/x suru: sliding of cloth}

Azura begins to disrobe.

Azura: Forget everything.

Florian: My body's--- h...ot. ----No...---- Some...one......

In Azura's mansion, Noir's men continue to party.

Man: Hey, wait up! That's my breakfast~!

Noel: [running off] Chickens lay eggs! You shouldn't just eat it~~

{sound f/x kokee: chicken squawking}

Laila: Noir, I brought you some breakfast. (Since you didn't come out to eat.)

{sound f/x dosha: big shock, amazement}

The room is trashed, with books lying absolutely everywhere.

Laila: (This's amazing)

{sound f/x suu: soft breathing}

Noir: [snoring softly]

Laila: (Aww, how cute~) He's really straining himself. He's someone who can usually do most anything really easily. It's kinda novel, seeing Noir like this.

{sound f/x koto: gentle clinking sound}

Laila: Ah~ sorry, did I wake you up?

Noir: Mm...ah Laila? Is it morning already? [yawn] Even for someone so amazing like myself, this is kinda tough. Anyway, it's a really complicated code.

{sound f/x koki: cracking joint}

Noir: It's a multi-table equation code that uses the Bible's numbering, or in other words the key numbers. If you can calculate the frequency of repetition and conversion table, solving it isn't too difficult. "The star of the Queen's new capital, while working on the site of the sanctuary, connecting with the deceased Holy King MCCLXX, unable to display the great gold treasure in her hand."

[I honestly don't know if that's what the riddle actually was... it seemed rather confusing in Japanese to me. I'll try to tweak it as Noir solves it.]

Laila: Amazing, you could decipher it so fast.

Noir: I don't understand what it means. It's a dual code... this is. Ah... The Queen's new capital... it says. Isn't that "Qart Hadasht"?

Laila: "Qart Hadasht". Ahh, you mean Carthage. Now that you mention it, there's a legend that the Phoenician Queen made Carthage.

Noir: The Queen's "New Capital" ---I see. Good thinking! Laila

[Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians around 800 B.C. or so, but was called Qart Hadasht, which means "New City" in Phoenician. Why Noir speaks Phoenician, I don't know.]

Laila: Ah... well I'm from there. Although I don't have many good memories of it. I was sold when I was little.

Noir: Laila.

Laila: Ah, but thanks to that, I was able to run across Noir. You gotta thank fate. I was treated like cattle. You were the first one who saw me as a person. You gave me a place.

Noir: More than cattle, you were like a wolf girl back then.

Laila: Shuddup! [smiling] I love you Noir. So much that no matter how many lives I had, it wouldn't be enough.

Noir: !

Laila: I just wanted to tell you that one day. I'm fine now, I feel better.

Noir: Laila. ---I...

Laila: I said it was okay. Don't just say something. Sometimes you just want to put your feelings in order. Being jealous of this and that makes you feel stupid.

Noir: Laila. Tell Florian I said hi. Ahh ---~huh Wait a second, Laila! Was there some sorta misunderstanding!? Why did his name come up here? Laila--~!

Laila sings to herself as she walks off. Elsewhere, Noir knocks on a door.

Noir: ---geez, what's she thinking. (hmph) I really don't get women.

{sound f/x kon kon: knock knock}

Noir: Azura ----I'm coming in. ----Huh, he's not here? Strange.

In Azura's rooms, smoke swirls as Azura puts on his robes.

Azura: I can't believe it was your first time. I thought that France's young aristocratic boys would be used to this sort of play. Especially for a pretty kid like you.

Florian lies naked and tangled in the sheets.

Azura: You're pretty sensitive. You'll be my slave before long... Inside of this opium dream---- You're free to move in this estate. If you keep my secret--- No one will get hurt...

Florian: Ah... You damn... demon

Azura: ----- I'll take that as a compliment. Yes. Long ago, I was called something like that. "The Blue Devil of Maghreb"----

{sound f/x jan jan: music}

{sound f/x hyu hyu: Noir's men cheering}

Laila: Just like always, they're excitable guys.

Man #1: Ah, Boss. C'mon over and have a drink.

Noir: Is Azura here?

Man #2: Sir Azura supplied us with this wine!

Azura lounges with barely dressed women.

Azura: Yo, Rei! What is it, were you looking for me?

Noir: Yeah, I thought maybe you could make some time to see me. Thanks for getting some booze for them.

Azura: (Shoo, shoo)

Woman: (Oh-~)

Azura: Ha. You're too kind. (Now, sit down here.)

Noir: I solved the code--- but we just got some strange writing. More than that, it seems to be some sort of epitaph. (That's the sense I got)

Azura: The star of the Queen's new capital-----? It's truly a mystery. (Amazing- the table of computations. It's like a computer.)

{sound f/x su: swift movement}

Man #1: Ah

Noir: Ahh, I don't know the details yet. A place displaying this is----

Florian storms up to Noir and Azura.

Noir: Florian?

{sound f/x bashi: slap}

{sound f/x basa: rustling of fabric}

Noir: Stop, Florian! What was that for?

Florian: Let me go~

Azura: It seems the princess is in a bad mood.

Florian: ---Y... You can just go to hell!!

Noir: Won't you stop!

Florian: You dirty gutter rat!

{sound f/x baki: loud slap}

{sound f/x gashan: clattering sound}

Noir's People: !?

Noir: I won't forgive an insult to Azura! What's the meaning of this, Florian!

Florian: (ow...) ---- ......!

Azura and Florian stare at each other before Florian finally runs off.

Noir: ---! Wait, Florian!

Azura: What will you do?

Noir: Sorry, I'll be back in a bit. He looked kinda strange.

Azura: Ah. You're always helping others out.

Outside in the gardens, Noir catches up with Florian.

Florian: Ow...

Noir: You bit the inside of your mouth... Let me see.

{sound f/x biku: jumping in surprise}

Florian: !

{sound f/x bashi: slap}

Noir: ----okay.

{sound f/x jin: Noir not moving his hand}

Noir: What're you doing!? (This revenge!?)

Florian: Ah... Sorr... I... don't want anyone to touch me... right now. Noir, you really trust him, don't you...

Noir: I've told you over and over again. He and me, we're like brother---

Florian: But, that was a long time ago, right! People change, it's been six years!

Noir: What're you trying to say.

Florian: That man doesn't deserve your trust...! That mean...!

Florian spots Azura in the shadows behind Noir.

Noir: You didn't finish. There a reason for that?

Florian: Ah... ......I just did't feel... like it. No... reason or anything...!

Noir: Then why're you saying such bad things about Azura! Though you don't know a thing....!

Florian: ......! That's... right. I don't know anything... about your past. But. BUT YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW A THING...!! It doesn't matter to me any more~ Noir, you're just a big fat idiot~!

Noir: Florian!

{sound f/x za: footstep padding on grass}

Noir: ! Florian! Where are you, Florian! We were in the middle of a conversation~~ What's with him!

Behind a nearby tree in the gardens, Azura crushes Florian into a kiss.

Noir: ----~man...! I don't get him.

Noir's people: (Wa-ha-ha-ha... ha-ha-ha-ha...)

Noir: ---But... those tears----- I'm worried...

In Azura's rooms, he forces opium on Florian.

Azura: Don't forget---- it's all up to your behavior, whether or not Rei and his friends are endangered------ Don't forget...!

Part 3b | Part 3c | Part 3d