“Hapsby is buried somewhere in this mountain of garbage, huh… But, it’ll take over a month to dig up anything from here.”
Even Tyrone cringed upon looking at the massive scrap heap.
“It doesn’t look like they have any of that chemical Polymeteral here.”
“Why don’t we try going back to that cave from before. They might have it on the continent over there,” suggested Alisa.
“Thanks for your business.” (-200 MESETA).
“Okay, so here’s the scoop. In Bartevo’s scrap heap, there’s lots of expensive and high quality stuff buried there. You know, like robots, water scooters, stuff like that… But it would probably take months to dig up anything there. Well then, see you—”
As the man was attempting to leave, Tyrone grabbed him by the collar of his neck.
“You’re telling me we gave you 200 meseta for that? There’s gotta be more to it than that.”
“Yes, sir. For you, sir, no problem. I can even add on Polymeteral for you. It’s a chemical that can melt away any object other than Laconia. So if the robot you’re looking for is made of Laconia, then this thing can find it for you in one shot.” (Action Chart – Check “F”. Also, obtain item POLYMETERAL.)
“Wait, please. Somehow it appears that he means us no harm,” Lutz said, stopping Tyrone.
“How can you tell?”
“It’s what one might call telepathy.” And so Lutz began to talk to the Centaur earnestly. (-1 MAGIC P). By doing so, they learned a few things.
Yes, the Centaur was an imperial guard. However, he became unsatisfied with La Shiec’s ways, voiced his complaints and wound up being thrown in jail.
He was captured when he went to the village of Abion to buy Polymeteral.
“Polymeteral?”
“It’s a medicine that’s said to dissolve any kind of substance other than Laconia.”
Alisa tried to invite the Centaur to go with her and her comrades, but he shook his head. He explained that he no longer had a place where he belonged.
The party exited the cell.
“That’s strange, those fishmen are heading towards that man over there,” said Alisa.
Without further delay, Alisa and Myau moved in. Tyrone and Lutz then blocked the Marshmen’s escape path. They attacked the enemy from both sides and brought the battle to a close. (+1 COMBAT P, +150 MESETA)
“T-thank you”
The man, still on the ground, held out his hand out to Alisa. It was a hand with long, sharp nails and covered in fish scales — the hand of a Marshman!
“Does it scare you? … I may look like this now, but I’m human. La Shiec forced his doctors to perform surgical alterations on a whole bunch of us… I managed to escape somehow, mid-surgery…”
Alisa was aghast. This poor man. She told the man about herself and her comrades.
“A robot, huh… Come to think of it, I’ve heard rumors about one in the scrap heap over in the village of Bartevo. You can probably find it if you use a special drug called Polymeteral.”
“Thank you for the info. Do you want to come with us?”
The man laughed weakly.
“I can’t. I doubt I have much longer… My body is weakened since I escaped in the middle of surgery… But at least I won’t have to live in that lava pit. Instead I get to die here, on the surface… I… I’m so… glad…” (Action Chart – Check “F”)
Alisa used the polymeteral on the scrap heap. It has quite a strong effect; the scrap heap starts to melt into a pile of ooze and mud. Only things made out of Laconia remained.
“I found him! Do you think this robot is Hapsby?” Alisa asked.
“It’s not moving. Should I try kicking it?”
“S–stop that, please,” the robot suddenly stood up. “My name is Hapsby. I was constructed by Dr. Luveno.”
Thus, having recovered Hapsby, Alisa and the others returned to the village of Gothic.
(You can visit the village hospital. Pay 20 MESETA to increase HP by 5.)
When visiting the Doctor’s house, they received an introduction to the spaceship Luveno. Hapsby, the pilot-robot, joined the party. Now they can travel anywhere in the Algol Star System!
