S2E9: A Deadlier Type of Substance / Pretension

The town of Sant-Diegol.

Even as the town gradually returns to its peaceful glory days due to the purging of the dancespores, something unsettling is still brewing, and the townspeople are blissfully unaware of it.

Specifically, a newer, more deadlier type of dancespores is being developed clandestinely.

This nefarious development is not possible without the help of a secret man.

He is, in fact, the leader of a group of bandits called Shabou Sharraf, who pretend to be the Unity Power Coalition's bodyguards.

His name is Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

There is an abandoned house that is situated at one end of Cokewood Road.

When the dancespores were purged from the town, the Unity Power Coalition immediately repurposed it as their party headquarters.

But little do the party's officials know that something sinister is brewing within their domain.

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud established a super-secret lab within the HQ to produce the enhanced dancespores, and his minions make sure that no one else outside his immediate circle knows of his vile trickery.

***

[Second Group's Perspective]

We are all back at Jaxton School, carrying with us the item needed to unseal the main entrance of the Theresentien House of Politics – and also added Robinson the sage to our retinue.

But something is not right.

And Rosalind can feel it, too.

"Portocarrero, if you are sensing anything unusual that may help us detect anything unsavory, please let me know."

"Sir, I have detected one such thing, sir."

"Alright, you may proceed."

"I can feel it... something is brewing back in Sant-Diegol. Some shady individual is manufacturing a more potent version of the dancespores. That individual... undoubtedly is connected to The Movement, but currently works under one of the two political parties."

Robinson corroborates Rosalind's statement.

"Yes, I've come across that news, too. Pundits on message boards talk about this all the time; and of course, they have to rely on anonymous sources to avoid reprisal."

I conclude, "Well then, let us not delay ourselves. Onward to Sant-Diegol!"

My trusted subordinates all salute me snappily.

"Sir, yes, sir!"

We are eventually back in Sant-Diegol, and it is teeming with activity once more, now that people can go out and enjoy what this town has to offer without the threat dangling over their heads.

But this is no time for us to celebrate.

We immediately spot the headquarters of the Unity Power Coalition, headlined by the banner saying "Corey Fiedel Glorio Mitsumaruyama for Kingly Prime President".

Two guards, who are holding semi-automatic rifles, greet us at the entrance.

"So, you are all from the Ishi-shiro, huh," one guard comments.

"Please state your business here," the other one follows.

Now here comes the rub.

If the two guards are minions of whoever is behind the enhanced dancespores, we must not make a scene. Diplomacy is a must in this situation.

Otherwise, we can conduct our business with them as normal.

Fortunately, Rosalind has this unusual ability of detecting something anomalous, which is fairly similar to the ability used by Princess CJ via her mystical ring.

She non-verbally tells me that the guards are just normal guards, so that lessens our burden.

I then answer the guards.

"We have been receiving reports that a deadly biological weapon is being developed within your HQ."

The guards exclaim, "What?! The dancespores?!"

"Without a doubt."

"If you can take care of them, then please be our guest!"

The guards then open the door, leading us to the HQ's lobby.

A high-ranking party official, Ildefonso Henrey Ryson, greets us all.

"Good morning, officers of the Ishi-shiro! How can we help you?"

"Simple. One of your heads of security is currently busy developing a deadlier version of the dancespores."

"W-WHAT?! You mean those same spores that turned our candidate into a monster? If you can identify him and kick him out, literally speaking, then we're in your debt!"

"Very well. We will conduct this operation as cleanly as possible."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

We all calmly walk past Sir Ryson as we search every room in the HQ for anything suspicious.

And indeed, in a room on the second floor, we come across something that reeks of such suspicion.

The door's sign simply says "Bio-technologists for Corey".

No sooner do we all kick the door...

...and before us stands a bearded man in a lab coat, carrying the same rifle as the guards in the entrance, who is surrounded by hooded men also carrying the same rifles.

The bearded man just states, as he is still hard at work tinkering with test tubes and other paraphernalia needed to develop the spores...

"Ah, so those Ishi-shiro dimwits actually got a brain and decided to crash my party."

He then rises from his seat and faces us.

"But no matter. Your friends are enjoying their sweet, sweet time in the super happy fun land that is the Theresentien House of Politics. And soon... you will all join them. MY MINIONS, AFTER THEM!"

The hooded men all open fire, but we easily dodge the bullets.

We then take our time to counter their moves and knock them out cold using our trademark weapons.

In just five minutes, all but two of the hooded men are unconscious, which makes the leader blurt out the following...

"You fools! Now prepare to face the wrath of Shabou Sharraf, and especially that of me... Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud!"

***

[Boss Battle: Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud & Shabou Sharraf Gangster x2]

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud: The leader of the bandit group named Shabou Sharraf. With his expertise in intoxicating organic substances, he plans to unleash a more potent variety of the dancespores.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster: A rifle-wielding minion of Shabou Sharraf. Always high.

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud

Level 33 | HP: 4100 | MP: 9999

Shabou Sharraf Gangster

Level 33 | HP: 543 | MP: 214

Party: Edilbert, Angelino, Rosalind, Jamieson, Priscilla, Aisha

Edilbert chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Angelino chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Rosalind chooses to attack Shabou Sharraf Gangster A.

Jamieson chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Lock-on Target, on himself.

Priscilla chooses to perform her Innate Skill, Quote, Unquote.

Aisha chooses to attack Shabou Sharraf Gangster A.

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud attacks Edilbert, dealing him 466 damage.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster A attacks Edilbert, dealing him 105 damage.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster B attacks Angelino, dealing him 104 damage.

Edilbert performs his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing him 3 hits for a total of 680 damage.

Angelino performs his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing it 668 damage.

Rosalind attacks Shabou Sharraf Gangster A, dealing him 322 damage. A critical hit!

Jamieson performs his Innate Skill, Lock-on Target, on himself.

Jamieson's accuracy rate increased.

Priscilla performs her Innate Skill, Quote, Unquote.

"As Florence Nightingale once said, 'Angels fight because they are faced with bitterness.'"

The quote restores all allies' health to maximum.

Aisha attacks Shabou Sharraf Gangster A, dealing him 151 damage.

Edilbert chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Angelino chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Rosalind chooses to attack Shabou Sharraf Gangster A.

Jamieson chooses to attack Shabou Sharraf Gangster B.

Priscilla chooses to perform her Innate Skill, Quote, Unquote.

Aisha chooses to attack Shabou Sharraf Gangster B.

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud attacks Angelino, dealing him 464 damage.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster A attacks Angelino, dealing him 103 damage.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster B attacks Edilbert, dealing him 102 damage.

Edilbert performs his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing him 3 hits for a total of 608 damage.

Angelino performs his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing it 686 damage.

Rosalind attacks Shabou Sharraf Gangster A, dealing it 329 damage. A critical hit!

Shabou Sharraf Gangster A is knocked out.

Jamieson attacks Shabou Sharraf Gangster B, dealing him 352 damage. A critical hit!

Priscilla performs her Innate Skill, Quote, Unquote.

"As Sigmund Freud once said, 'The final target of all living things is death.'"

The quote attacks Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing it 502 damage.

Aisha attacks Shabou Sharraf Gangster B, dealing him 234 damage.

Shabou Sharraf Gangster B is knocked out.

Edilbert chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Angelino chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Rosalind chooses to attack Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Jamieson chooses to attack Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

Priscilla chooses to perform her Innate Skill, Quote, Unquote.

Aisha chooses to attack Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud.

"Prepare to meet your pathetic maker!"

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud performs Cancellation Blast on all targets.

All targets suffer an average of 243 damage.

Edilbert performs his Innate Skill, Legionnaire's Charge, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing him 3 hits for a total of 652 damage.

Angelino performs his Innate Skill, Angelino Rush, on Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud, dealing it 646 damage.

Niyyehboratt al-Pilantoud is knocked out.

The counter-terrorists win! That's us.

5329 EXP and 4322 Double Pesos acquired.

Baby Armalite acquired.

Edilbert leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

Angelino leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

Rosalind leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

Jamieson leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

Priscilla leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

Aisha leveled up, from Level 32 to Level 33!

***

"You. Are. FINISHED!"

With those words, I deal the finishing blow on the Shabou Sharraf leader, which sends him flying towards the window, breaking it, and leading to his deadly fall – but not until he detonates himself as a last resort.

Now that a much bigger threat is nipped in the bud, we have to do some clean-up work.

And what is this? There are some notes left on the floor.

Better pick them up as potential pieces of evidence.

[You got More Notes of Ingredients.]

As we make our way out of the Unity Power Coalition HQ, Sir Ryson thanks us all with handshakes, before bequeathing us with one request.

"Please... do something about the dancespores that spoiled the televised debate! You know the people are aching to choose the leader they most deserve, and nothing should stand in their way!"

"We will."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you once more!"

Valmonte and company, we will all save you!