When Da'at said those words, Kali froze for a moment, taken aback. She couldn't help but ask:
"Wait—why… why do you suddenly want to do this?"
"Well… how should I put it? We came to Siracusa, but we haven't actually gone out to look around properly, have we?"
Da'at thought for a moment, then smiled at Kali and said:
"I just want to go out and see it with you."
After Da'at said this, Kali quietly set the strawberry cake down on the table beside her. The motion was a way of steadying herself, buying time to think.
After a brief pause, Kali realized she couldn't come up with a reason to refuse.
"…What about safety? Before I came here, I accepted X's request… No matter what, your safety has to come first."
"If you're there, Kali, there's no problem—right?"
With that single offhand remark, Da'at cut off Kali's last retreat. Kali exhaled softly, then decisively rose to her feet.
"Alright then… let's go. Where do you want to head first? Are we leaving now?"
Her tone carried a faint lightness as she tilted her head toward Da'at. Da'at fell briefly silent, as though thinking something over.
Of course, as Hugh would put it, this was just "brushing a favorability meter that's already maxed out."
For Kali, Da'at was still, at her core, something like a substitute meal. And right now, Kali's entire connection to Lobotomy Corporation was essentially bound to Da'at.
Because of this, Lobotomy Corporation wanted to tighten that bond even further—ensuring that even when Da'at was no longer acting as Carmen's stand-in, Kali would still choose to stay with Da'at, to stay with the Corporation.
This was the first thing Lobotomy Corporation needed to secure. That was why Da'at kept "brushing" a bond already at its limit.
Fortunately, because of that pre-existing "substitute" connection, deepening the tie was far simpler than Da'at had initially feared.
She even believed that if something happened while they were out together this time, the strong binding they wanted would likely be achieved.
Of course… this was only the first step. Later, both Lobotomy Corporation and T Corp had other plans to deepen the bond. For both of these "City" entities, tying Da'at and Kali firmly together only strengthened the City's collective power.
And indeed, from Da'at's perspective as an individual within the "City Will," her own thoughts weren't much different.
In truth, Da'at also wanted a deeper connection with Kali—only she wanted it personally, as an individual, not just as part of the City's design.
As for this little outing… it was impossible for nothing to happen. Or rather, if it really were just a quiet stroll, that in itself would be impossible.
"So, is there anything you'd like to eat, Kali?"
"Me?"
Kali blinked, then fell silent for a moment. Da'at smiled, reached over to grab a flyer covered in dense print about Siracusa's street foods, and said brightly:
"Then let's go to the food street!"
"…Alright."
Kali stared for a second, then smiled back at Da'at and nodded firmly.
...
Meanwhile, as Kali and Da'at set out to roam Siracusa's streets for snacks, Texas was stepping quietly into Lappland's room.
The moment she entered, she saw Lappland sitting in the corner, looking lost in thought. Texas's eyes flickered, immediately catching sight of the rope still tied behind Lappland's back.
"…I know you can get out of that. Acting like this just makes it look fake."
Texas glanced once at Lappland and spoke evenly. Lappland's lips curled into a faint smile that vanished almost at once.
She looked at Texas and said calmly:
"So, what are you here for this time? Didn't you say you were cutting all ties with the past?"
Her tone carried a shade of mockery, of taunting.
"I'm here to offer you a chance to earn your freedom, nothing more… and to give you a reason to move forward."
Texas said as she sat down on the floor, speaking softly to Lappland:
"I didn't originally have the resolve to cut ties with the past… Or rather, that resolve was given to me by something else."
"That was… something called the City."
"When I was at my most lost, I came to the City. It drew me in. And so I began to look toward the future… Once I immersed myself fully in the City's life, I found my grip on this land loosening. My obsessions faded."
As Texas spoke, she reached out her hand as if grasping at something in the air. Lappland gave her a surprised glance, then fell silent.
"That's why I chose to sever my past. That's where my resolve came from."
"…You're saying all this just to make me let go, aren't you…"
"If you don't want to let go, that's fine too."
Texas said quietly, "If that day comes, then come find me in the City."
Lappland's eyes flickered.
Texas's words… without question, they had given her a reason to keep moving.
Yes… once Texas returned to the City, she would go there too, and find out for herself what it was that so completely transformed Texas.
The City… is it really such a beautiful place?
Lappland found herself thinking that.
"But before that, at the very least, you need to earn your freedom."
Then Texas spoke again, her tone even. Lappland frowned slightly, as if already realizing what Texas was about to propose…
"I get it. You want a deal, right?"
"…That's right."
Texas nodded slightly, then smiled at Lappland.
"The terms are simple—you'll return to the Saluzzo family and bring back to the Thumb the reason for their recent surge in hostility."