Back eastwards in New Delsta, we join Darksquad and Osvald as they at last reach proper civilization.

"Finally, civilization! It took us days to get outta the Winterlands!" Makoto said. "So what is our next move?"

"We need to make way to my family home and old lab. Conning Creek in the Harborlands." Osvald said.

"Right, you mentioned that back in Cape cold." Ragna said. "And we also know the Harborlands is to the west, across the sea."

"So we'll need to take a real boat across the sea instead of an ice dinghy." Peacock said.

"Do we even have enough money to ferry ourselves westward?" Tsubaki asked.

"We may have to mug someone for it." Ragna said.

"Can we consider all our options before we do that?" Noel asked.

"What's there to consider, we're basically flat broke. Unless we know someone who can give us a free ride across the sea." DW typed.

The group thought about it before they saw a particular group pass by a bit away.

"Hey, look fellas! It's Ace and Spirit Force!" Peacock noticed. "Hey guys, over here!" she waved.

"Hmm? Hey that's…!" Simon started before he and the rest of Spirit Force ran over.

"Good to see you, Ace. How's your trip going?" DW typed in question.

"Pretty good so far." Ace said.

"So these strange fellas are yer friends, Ace?" Partitio asked, coming up.

"Yes, we happen to be comrades of your accompaniment. We are Darksquad, and who might you be?" 2B asked.

"Partitio, at your service. I'm the man who's gonna save the world from the devil they call poverty." Partitio said.

"A pleasure to meet you." Noel bowed, before turning to Osvald. "This is our travel companion, Osvald."

"He's not much of a talker, but we've had lots more fun with him than I thought. We broke outta prison together!" DW typed. "Well, we broke into prison to find him and help him break out, but…"

"The details are unimportant." Osvald piped in. "They're helping me look for someone."

"Ah, the Scholar who was wrongfully framed." Rime said.

"How did you…" Osvald asked.

"Don't question it right now." 9S said.

"Anyways, go figure we'd be in the same town at the same time." Makoto said. "We only just got out of the winterlands, and were trying to head west across the sea, but we're… kinda, broke."

"Ah, well if you fellas need a ride west, we can give ya one." Partitio said.

"We're planning to head west ourselves with our ship to Crackridge." Ace said.

"You guys scored a ship?!" DW typed.

"Long story as to how we got it. Let's just say we took a few side trips." Yuri said.

"But why shove off now when we're here? Look here, partners. Whole place's wild as an unbroken horse." Partitio said.

"The raw energy is incomparable to anything I felt in prison." Osvald agreed. "And the air… It's so fresh."

"Hehe. Smells like a deal to me! I bet ya can't help but trip over opportunity in a town like this!" Partitio said.

Suddenly, a man came into the two groups line of sight and fell over onto his face.

"Well, he certainly tripped over… something." Osvald said as everyone rushed to check on him.

"Hey, are you okay? What's the matter?" Makoto asked.

"I am..a Scholar…" the man spoke. "But… I am soon soon to starve, and become a useless lump of meat…"

"Well we can't have that now, can we? Here, have a bite o' this bread." Partito said, giving the man a ration of his bread, which the latter ate with delight.

"O-Oh! My savior!" the man said as he ate. "You have saved me… Yes, thanks to you I can continue my scholarly pursuits! Good gracious, this is my first meal in…three days, nine hours, and twenty-three minutes!"

"Hold on, you were seriously counting the minutes even while you were starving to death?" Hitomi asked.

"It is in a scholar's nature to keep records, no matter how dire the situation." Osvald piped in again. "Isn't that right, Regulus?"

"Osvald…? It is you, isn't it, Osvald!" the man said in recognizement.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Shiki asked.

"We were friends in our academy days! Hahaha, it has been quite some time!" Regulus said. "We'd frequently bring the fruits of our research to bear in our spirited discussions!"

"So then… What brought you here?" Osvald asked.

"Hoho… Procuring research materials, old fellow. For a, hold your applause, earth-shattering invention!" Regulus said.

"Ooh, sounds nice! What is it?" Partitio asked.

"Most curious… Shall we talk it over?" Osvald asked.

"Oh how this takes me back, Osvald. Let us do so over drinks!" Regulus said.


The group soon sat down with Regulus at a nearby tavern.

"So Regulus, as a Scholar, what kinda research do you do? Where do you look to for your material?" Makoto asked.

"To the stars! To which we mere mortals turn our gaze, and use to delineate our they are far, far beyond our grasp." Regulus said.

"Oooh, you're an Astronomer! Then this earth shattering invention you're talking about must be…!" Noel said.

"Yes! The astronomical telescope!" Regulus said.

"Hoo-wee!" Partitio reacted.

"The stars have been humanity's guide since time immemorial. They know the truth of this world. But I shall be the one to lay their mysteries bare!" Regulus said.

"You haven't changed a bit, Regulus." Osvald said.

"Well whaddya waiting for? Show us your telescope already!" Peacock said. "I mean, if you're bragging about it now, it's gotta be almost done, right?"

"It will be, soon. …Rather, it was supposed to be. If only I had hit it big at the game parlor, I would have secured the last of my funds…" Regulus said.

"Oof, bad luck at the betting table, huh?" Yuzuriha asked.

"Indeed. The odds were ever in my favor…but the stars abandoned me in my hour of need." Regulus said.

"You just misread your odds. Betting is a simple matter of probability. You've always had an exceptionally keen mind, but you're a fool when it comes to money." Osvald said.

"I see you have not mellowed with age." Regulus said.

"Say, Regulus, how much coin ya got in those pockets o' yours?" Partitio asked.

"This is all I have to my name…" Regulus said, presenting one single Leaf.

"He certainly is strapped for money." Homura noted.

"You were hoping we'd treat you to food and drinks from the start, weren't you?" Osvald asked, earning a chuckle from Regulus.

"Hehe… Aw hell, you've got me all riled up now. What's say you give me that coin?" Partitio asked. "Invest this coin in me, and I reckon I can get ya everythin' ya need fer your telescope!"

"No, don't encourage-" Osvald started.

"M-My Savior!" Regulus said, noting the sign that it was too late.


Outside the Tavern…

"We need three components in order to complete my astronomical telescope. A metalworking tool, a mirror, and a precision lens. Partitio here shall control all the funds." Regulus said, giving Partitio his last remaining coin.

"Yep, leave it ta me friend! I'll get ya what ya need." Partitio said.

"I shall await you in the square in front of the theater! I pray to the stars for your every success…!" Regulus said before he left.

"Yeah, so… you're on your own here , buddy." DW typed. "You're the one who talked a big game, so you'd better back it up."

"Hehe, well alright then. Yer right, it was me that got to boastin' anyhow." Partitio said. "Now..I'd best get to negotiatin!"

With that, the group followed Partitio around New Delsta as he located those who had the parts Regulus needed.

"Hehe, like takin' candy from a baby! I got all three pieces! Time to head on over to Regulus at the square in front of that theater!" Partitio said.

They then made their way to the New Delsta Theater and met with Regulus.

"Partitio got the parts you needed, Regulus. Will these do?" Noel asked.

"Ooh… Ooooooh! You are truly a god among mortals… A messiah, come to save this world!" Regulus said to Partitio.

"Hehe, that's takin' it a bit too far, ain't it?" Partitio asked.

"I'll surely be able to assemble the telescope with these parts. Thank you ever so much! I cannot waste another second! The time has come to seal myself in my laboratory! You may find me in Montwise. Do drop by if you happen to pass through. And once my telescope is complete, we can stare the mysteries of the night sky right in the eye!" Regulus laughed before he soon departed.

"The mysteries of the night sky, eh… well that gets me all excited!" Partitio said.

"Then perhaps we shall pay him a visit soon. Just…keep your expectations low." Osvald said.

"Who knows, it might actually be interesting." Linne said.

"Now, you guys were saying something about having a ship that can get us both to the Western Region of Solistia?" Makoto asked.

"That we do." Al said.

"I suppose we'll be relying on you all to get us there then. Not that it's anything new." 2B said.

"Yeah, I mean you guys did save us from Theodore, and we've been living under the same roof ever since." Hyde said.

"And what's so wrong with that? We strike it out on our own, it'd get boring quick." DW typed. "All the action is right where we are now, and i'll be damned if we dont miss any more of it as Leader."

"My, you certainly know what you want more than anything." Camilla said.

"That's for sure. Dark Water's a major thrill seeker as we've come to know." Ragna said. "And I sort of agree with what he's saying. Anywhere else, we'd have nothing to do. But with you guys? There's where else we'd want to go."

"Glad you all think that." Ace said.

With their bond a little more closer, Darksquad and Spirit Force boarded the Grand Terry with Partitio and Osvald and sailed for Western Solistia, to their respective destinations on the journeys for prosperity and revenge.