Ancient Ruins of Aganon
Ms. Roberta, patrol completed. Reporting our return.
And this is...
Oh! I've been waiting!
You're the [Journey Captain] from NOA, aren't you?
You look far more reliable in person than the photo attached to your report suggests.
I'm [Roberta].
Leader of Orbital Search Team 3.
As you can see, I've been deployed to assess the situation in Aganon.
How bad is it?
Well... not good at all.
Aganon's economy depends on archaeological expeditions.
So shutting them down means catastrophic losses.
Honestly, the people in this city are so hopeless.
They should've diversified their sources of income early-on instead of milking the ruins.
You know, like opening a huge casino for example!
They should use this opportunity to turn Aganon into a resort city!
That'd be nice, but it won't happen any time soon.
The mayor spent every last coin on expanding the existing business.
With the treasury empty and the expeditions ground to a halt...
Even the most basic commodities are hard to come by.
If this keeps up, riots may break out.
This sounds serious.
I'd love to investigate the ruins myself, but...
We're already stretched thin, and trying to maintain public order alone is a herculean task.
Which means... the city's only hope now lies with you, [Captain]. And the [Voyager Savior Party].
Leave it to us!
Captain and I have survived worse cases more than I can count.
This is nothing we can't handle!
Isn't that right, Captain?
Uh... Um... sure.
Good. That's reassuring.
Then let's not waste time and get going.
To the Ancient Ruins of Aganon.
The entrance of Chicxulub Hall.
Roberta led us to a massive entrance of the ruins with a gigantic crane looming over.
If I had to guess, we were to descend using that crane.
Whoa...! It's huge!
Omega's getting dizzy!
You can't even see the bottom from here.
Definitely the biggest site on the continent.
Ms. Roberta! Is that you?!
Trainee Naru of the Orbital Search Team, reporting in!
Good work, Trainee.
Anything unusual?
No, ma'am! Nothing at all!
More importantly, I've developed a new hypothesis on the [ruins' curse]!
If you allow me to spend a little time to myself, I will devise the perfect equation to—
No... Not now.
Maybe in NOA, but if you cause [collateral damage] here, you'll put us in over our heads.
Ms. Roberta! If you could give me a chance— Mmph!
Quiet, Naru.
Anyway... if nothing has changed, then I assume [she] is still there?
Pwah! Huh? Yes, ma'am!
She's still blocking the entrance.
This is a problem.
What are you talking about?
Oh... Someone's been camping at the entrance refusing to move.
You could say it's a lone protest, but it'll be easier to understand if you see it for yourself.
I turned my face toward the entrance to the ruins.
A girl sat atop a massive piece of machinery, holding a protest sign with a sharp, intimidating glare.
The sign read...
[Aganon must pay the construction fees]...?
Marcille... you know this won't solve anything.
If you would just go back and wait, I can try to—
Huh?! What're you babbling about?!
The mid-payment deadline passed two weeks ago!
At this rate, we'll go bankrupt! Bankrupt, I tell ya!
I understand. I do.
But you need to take this up to the mayor—
How am I supposed to do that when that rat keeps scurrying away?!
The budget dried up because the ruins are closed?!
Like that's MY problem!
Do you have the slightest idea how much it cost to build this big dumb crane?!
If the city didn't have the money, they shouldn't have hired us!
Anyway! Until I get paid, nobody goes into the ruins! Got it?!
What's going on here?
Ah! Captain, allow me to explain!
I, Naru, will give you a brief but accurate summary.
So... a few months ago, Aganon commissioned a major construction project to streamline the expedition process.
The market demand for relics kept rising, but the narrow tunnels made excavation slow work.
To address this problem, the city approved the implementation of a state-of-the-art elevator crane which we are now looking at!
The crane can take you straight down to the depths of this place in no time!
And for the record, it is built on NOA's advanced techn—
In short, the incident happened mid-construction and the city can't pay.
This is the development project I mentioned earlier.
Ahhh Ms. Roberta! I still have twenty-five more pages' worth of summary to go!
Too long, Naru.
Anyway. The construction lead, Marcille here, is staging a protest until the city pays up.
I see. So that's what's happened.
But shouldn't that be all the more reason to let us in?
Huh?! What kinda nonsense is that?!
You gonna pay the bill for me?
No, at least not right now.
But if you want to get paid, this site has to become operational again.
If we clear out any ancient constructs down there, excavations will resume.
We complete our mission, and you get your outstanding payment.
See the picture? Everyone happy in the end.
Hmph! You think I haven't thought of that?
Over a dozen wannabes already went down there saying the same thing!
They either went missing or crawled back out half-dead!
Sending down amateurs like you only makes things worse!
I see.
But we're no amateurs!
Because right now... you're talking to the Voyager Savior Party that's currently on a mission to complete the Star Savior's [Journey]!
The [Journey]...?
Isn't that the scam test no one's ever passed?
S-scam?!
Hey! Take that back! You know nothing about the Star Savior!
The [Journey] is real! REAL!
Heh, so at any rate, you're not amateurs?
All right. Then how about I put that claim to the test?
Test?
Yeah. To see if you're as good as you say.
Beat me, and I'll step aside and even show you the way.
After all, you've got no business going down there if you can't handle someone like me.
Works for me!
I'll show you exactly what it means to take on the [Journey]!
You're going to regret this!