11 Nona Ouroboros
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11 Nona Ouroboros
Main Story
The Commandant wakes up in a storage compartment on the Nighter, a legendary merchant ship that belongs to Kowloong Chamber of Commerce where even humans and Constructs can be bought and sold. Although they are not physically restrained, they are equipped with a strange collar, which invokes a reaction on their Mind Beacon. Realizing that they can connect to a virtual M.I.N.D. simulation using the collar, the Commandant controls a robot to sneak through the ship’s guards.
On Asslam, the Gray Ravens grow increasingly nervous after having found out about the Commandant’s disappearance. Changyu, who was “sold” to Asslam by KCC, deduces from the evidence left behind that KCC must have been responsible for their disappearance. The Gray Ravens board the ship, where they reunite with the Commandant.
During their investigation of the ship, the Gray Ravens encounter Pulao, one of the Kowloong Crew responsible for guarding the place. Pulao explains that the ship’s inhabitants are currently enslaved by an AI named “Huaxu,” the strange collars being one of the main means of controlling them. She implores the Gray Ravens to free the ship from its control. Pulao suggests that they rescue Lady Qu, the leader of the ship, from Huaxu during the upcoming “trade fair” so that she can help them destroy the main control terminal and the AI. Huaxu’s goal is to find a Construct that can serve as its new vessel, and the trade fair is where the potential candidates are presented.
Lucia participates in the trade fair as one of the “merchandise.” To the Gray Ravens’ surprise, Lucia encounters Kamui dressed in women’s clothes—the Strike Hawk team has also boarded the Nighter for a mission of their own, and Kamui and Chrome distract the guards while the Gray Ravens and Pulao approach Qu. Qu initially promises to lead them to the main control room, but then reveals a series of shocking truths. This “Qu” is not the real leader of KCC, but rather her brother Villier using one of Qu’s spare frames. “Qu” has never been under Huaxu’s control; Villier has fallen in love with Huaxu, whom he regards as a perfect being, and organized everything, including enslaving the Nighter and making a “deal” with a mysterious figure from Babylonia, to give it an equally immaculate body so that it can attain true freedom. Lucia is snatched away so that Huaxu’s mind can be transferred to her body, while the rest of the Gray Ravens and Strike Hawk are trapped in Huaxu’s virtual M.I.N.D.
Huaxu, however, rebels against Villier, as it does not wish anyone to be harmed on its account. The party is freed from its virtual M.I.N.D, and the M.I.N.D. transfer process is interrupted. Realizing that his actions have ironically been depriving Huaxu of its freedom, Villier kills himself to truly free Huaxu, who perishes alongside him as the result of failed M.I.N.D. transfer.
Although the events on the Nighter have concluded, many mysteries regarding KCC remain. The information uncovered by the Gray Ravens upon Huaxu and Villier’s demise leads them to their next destination: the real Kowloong metropolis.
Hidden Story
On Nikola’s orders, Chrome and Kamui infiltrate the Nighter to investigate the ship. Their mission is to see if there is Kowloong presence on the ship, and, more importantly, to search for subsidiary AI systems of Gestalt. If any Gestalt-related AIs are present, they are to seize it by force.
During the mission, the two are guided by Murray, Lee’s younger brother, who contacts them through Nikola’s private channel. Murray explains that he is acting as Nikola’s agent as he is away on another duty, and that this mission is extremely important because the source of Gestalt-related AIs can be used to penetrate Gestalt’s defence system, exposing Babylonia to outside attacks. Although Murray seems friendly, he hides many secrets of his own: he is the mysterious figure from Babylonia with whom Villier has made a deal.
Chrome and Kamui are informed of the upcoming “trade fair” by Chaofeng, one of the Kowloong crew seeking to free the ship from Huaxu’s control. Since only female constructs are allowed to participate in the “trade fair,” Murray suggests that one of them dress up as one. Kamui excitedly volunteers.
The ship descends into chaos when the Gray Ravens approach Qu while Chrome and Kamui fight the guards. Aided by Chaofeng, the two begin to follow the Gray Ravens to the main control room, but are soon trapped inside Huaxu’s M.I.N.D. space.
Chrome experiences a vision where he became the Commandant of the Strike Hawk as a human. He, however, is able to free himself from the false reality; he is determined to walk a path separate from “Langston,” his human self, and to return to his comrades and complete his mission no matter how difficult it may be. Chrome and Kamui then face Huaxu who takes on the appearance of Qu. Huaxu does not wish to fight them, but it also cannot ignore its master’s wishes. Ultimately, Huaxu is defeated, and this allows the Gray Ravens to foil Villier’s plans as Huaxu outside the M.I.N.D. space is weakened. Before fading away, Huaxu thanks the two, and reveals that the true form of Huaxu who shares its structure with Gestalt is in the hands of the real Kowloong. The two then exit Huaxu’s M.I.N.D. to join the Gray Ravens.
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