Introduction: John Reed, but in the Terra continent.
-- Chapter 1: Prelude --
"News reporter?"
In the dim light, inside the train carriage, there was an unfinished newspaper on the dining table, and the endless noise of the train in the ears.
"Yes," Reed replied with a smile to the casually dressed girl.
But the girl's face showed a difficult expression.
"Well, you're in trouble. The track we're on doesn't lead to Latran..."
Reed just looked at her silently, lighting up a fine Bolivar cigar.
"Ussas has been restless recently. Have you heard about the riots in Chernoborg? It's terrifying, the infected people are going crazy. Do you think it's because of the Stone Disease affecting their brains, burning their nerves?"
"Anyway..." The girl finally sat down.
"Be careful, you might be taken away by the Integration Movement if you're not careful."
"What about you?"
Reed carefully examined the girl in the gray coat. He knew she wasn't an ordinary person because her clothes looked low-key but were actually made of top-quality leather that cost tens of thousands of Longmen coins.
"You don't seem like a Ussas immigrant who couldn't stay in Colombia and went back to your hometown, or something else."
"How did you figure it out?"
Reed smiled helplessly.
"It's your clothes that gave it away. This coat can't be bought for less than tens of thousands of Longmen coins. Anyone can tell that something's not right with you."
"Oh? Are your parents Ussas people?"
"Well... we got separated during the Third Ussas War... I was saved by the Terra Medical Association and brought to the Federation..."
"From the way you look, your foster parents must treat you well. Why do you want to run away?"
"Mind your own business! It has nothing to do with you!" The girl turned her back, muttering something under her breath.
Reed chuckled.
"When you're done playing, go back home. Your family might be going crazy with worry. Ussas is not like the Federation, it's not as peaceful there."
"Who asked you to meddle? I... I'm not going back home!"
"Beep—beep—" The train whistle roared, and they arrived in Ussas.
Reed stood up and bid farewell to the girl.
"Well then, goodbye, runaway princess."
The girl also imitated him, but with a sarcastic tone.
"Goodbye, strange journalist big brother."
No one welcomed these strange outsiders in the night of Ussas.
"Goodbye, Colombia."
-- END --