You Already Know Me

You Already Know Me is the first and only mission in Asta's Companion Mission chain. It is part of the The Dawn After the Dark chapter that takes place on Herta Space Station.
==Acquisition==
After reaching Trailblaze Level 22, read the message from Madam Herta's Heritor Club.
==Steps==
# Ask Himeko about the rumors in the space station
# Head to the space station and find the whereabouts of the Gossipmonger
# Ask for the whereabouts of the Gossipmonger from other researchers
# Speak with the Security Department member and enter the locked area
#* Complete Signs of Fragmentum
# Speak with Himeko and obtain her consent to take her picture
# Take a picture of Himeko and send it to Pamela
# Find the researcher that fits Pamela's description
# Speak with Richard and inquire about the encryption key
# Report to Asta
==Gameplay Notes==
*Upon completing this mission, Asta will become a visitor to the Astral Express.
==Dialogue==
===Receive a message from Madam Herta's Heritor Club===
:
===Ask Himeko about the rumors in the space station===
;(Approach Himeko)
:(Trailblazer): (...So strange. Seems like Asta and Arlan are in trouble...)
:(Trailblazer): (Still, it all sounds like hearsay to me. Better keep them in the dark for now.)
:(Trailblazer): (Himeko seems to be on good terms with the folks on the space station. Maybe I should tell her first.)
----
;(Talk to Himeko)
: (Recount the situation in the group chat to Himeko.)
:Himeko: It must be difficult for Asta. Being the lead researcher isn't easy.
:Himeko: As soon as the Legion exits stage right, in comes the gossip... How does that saying go again? "Greet enemies outside with a smile, greet enemies inside with a sword..."
:Himeko: Such is the Herta company culture...
: You seem pretty cheerful about it.
::Himeko: What do you mean? This is such an inter— Uh... inconvenient situation.
: Company culture stems from the company owner...
::Himeko: Haha, Herta doesn't really have anything to do with it. I'm afraid wherever you find people, you find gossip of some variety.
:Himeko: (Trailblazer), are you thinking of getting involved?
: No, just eating popcorn on the sidelines...
: I really want to help Asta.
:Himeko: Well, while these rumors have nothing to do with us, they do concern the reputation of young Asta. And turning a blind eye is not the way of the Nameless.
:Himeko: Solving a matter like this won't be difficult. Predictably, the crowd cares more about the drama than the facts. Stopping the rumors from brewing is more important right now than laying out the truth... and it's better to unearth the source of the rumors directly than to painstakingly try to refute them one by one.
: As always, your guidance is wise.
::Himeko: You're a smooth talker, (Trailblazer).
: So we get rid of the troublemaker, right?
::Himeko: No, no... that's not what I meant...
:Himeko: I have a friend — they say there isn't a single piece of station gossip she doesn't know about.
: Talking about yourself?
: I didn't realize you liked gossip too, Himeko...
:Himeko: First of all, it's not me. Secondly, I don't make friends JUST for the sake of gossip.
:Himeko: It's just that my friend is pretty amazing, and I think you might be able to extract some information from her. Let's see... Right now she's probably slacking off somewhere outside the department.
:Himeko: I don't know her real name, but she calls herself ...
===Head to the space station and find the whereabouts of the Gossipmonger===
;(Approach the designated location)
:(I can't see anyone slacking off... Maybe Gossipmonger isn't around?)
----
:
===Ask for the whereabouts of the Gossipmonger from other researchers ===
:(Trailblazer): (The rumors are already circulating. Let's gather some intel first.)
;(Optional: Listen to the short-haired female researcher)
:Researcher Talking to Herself: Gossipmmonger only concerns herself with gossip, not the secrets within.
:Researcher Talking to Herself: There aren't many members in the Heritor group, but news is still traveling so fast. This must be the work of something bigger...
:Researcher Talking to Herself: ...Hmm... Given the number of people in the group and its content... could this all stem from a few alt accounts? But why kick up a storm like this...
;(Optional: Listen to the Geography and Geopolitics researchers)
:Off Work Researcher: Have you heard anything from Gossipmonger? Is the lead researcher really that corrupt? Who exactly is this whistleblower?
:Curious Researcher: Hey, aren't you off work today?
:Off Work Researcher: I couldn't not come in after checking my phone! Days off aren't as juicy as gossip.
:Curious Researcher: Well, too bad, I haven't seen Gossipmonger this morning. You should rest up and wait for more news.
:Off Work Researcher: *sigh* You're right...
;(Listen to the medical staff)
:Surprised Researcher: Why are you still here? Didn't your department call you to prepare for the emergency operation?
:Researcher at a Loss: Uh... no? I just sneaked out for a little while. What are the odds...
:Surprised Researcher: I got a group message two minutes ago saying that . The Security Department's blocked off the area around the entrance.
:Researcher at a Loss: The Special Purpose Lab? Then wouldn't 
:Surprised Researcher: Most likely. No wonder she's not here right now...
===Speak with the Security Department member and enter the locked area===
;(Talk to Security Department Member)
:Security Department Member: The walkways around the Special Purpose Lab have been temporarily closed off. Please keep your distance.
: Can you let me through just this once?
::Security Department Member: I'm afraid this is a live situation. It's too dangerous.
::Security Department Member: Wait... Brother Arlan told me about you. If you insist on going... then I wish you the best of luck. Be safe.
:;(Begins Signs of Fragmentum)
: I'm just passing through.
===Signs of Fragmentum===
===Speak with Himeko and obtain her consent to take her picture===
:
;(Talk to Himeko)
:Himeko: Did you find Gossipmonger? What did she say?
: She wants your picture in exchange for information.
: She's made a very Himeko-centric proposal.
:Himeko: Ha, I knew she was weird...
: You said you were friends.
: You can't give in to her!
: What level of beauty filter do you want for the photo?
:Himeko: *sigh* There are many types of friend... She's the type you can only stay friends with if you never meet her.
:Himeko: It's okay. It's just picture. I don't mind. Go ahead, (Trailblazer).
===Take a picture of Himeko and send it to Pamela===
;(Immediately after taking a picture of Himeko)
:Himeko: Let me see... Hey, you're pretty good, (Trailblazer).
:Asta: Huh? What are you taking pictures of?
: Wh—What brings you here?
: March 7th may have rubbed off on me.
:Asta: Why do you sound so nervous all of a sudden? Suspicious...
:Himeko: I didn't expect to see you here. Didn't you say you were really busy?
:Asta: *sigh* I am. The Legion has only just retreated — the station is in absolute shambles.
:Asta: And now any progress in rebuilding things has been ruined by the reappearance of the Fragmentum...
:Himeko: Oh, an active Stellaron is rarely a cause for celebration... What did Herta say about the Fragmentum's appearance?
:Asta: You know what she's like. It's like nothing's happened — she's just sitting back and giving orders.
:Asta: If there's time later, I want to talk to you both in more detail about this. You're the Fragmentum experts after all.
:Himeko: Anytime.
:Asta: *sigh* I need to go — someone's taken my family encryption key. You know, the one I use to withdraw my allowance? I need to get to the bottom of it.
: Someone's withholding her encryption key...
:Himeko: That might be the whistleblower's so-called "evidence." Looks like you don't have much time to lose, (Trailblazer).
----
:
===Find the researcher that fits Pamela's description ===
;(If the person does not fit description)
:(Trailblazer): (Doesn't fit Gossipmonger's descriptions...)
:(Trailblazer): (She said... a young man with .)
----
;(If the person matches description)
:Richard: And you are?
===Speak with Richard and inquire about the encryption key ===
;(Talk to Richard)
:Richard: And you are?
: Are you Richard_Knowitall?
::Richard: Oho! Well done — you found me.
: Are you the one who started the rumor about Asta?
::Richard: Rumors? More like a formal complaint!
:Richard: So you're here about the lead researcher's corruption? Anything for a good story, huh?
:Richard: I don't get it — you people live your lives for gossip.
:Richard: Wouldn't it be better to apply that drive to your research? Madam Herta would be delighted to see everyone working so hard.
: I'm here to punish you.
::Richard: Haha, who do you think you are? The space station's next lead researcher?
::Richard: Please. Only upstanding and intelligent people like myself are worthy of such a position. You gossipers need to figure out your place in the hierarchy.
: Hand over Asta's encryption key.
::Richard: What encryption key...
::Richard: Have you been reading too many novels? You think there's some hidden heir on this space station with keys to the family coffers? Less fantasizing, more researching, got it?
:Richard: You want the scoop? Fine. I've backed it all up anyway. Here, take it. And let it be known that l, Richard_Knowitall, do not spread rumors.
:Richard: This is the receipt. See the title on this purchase order...?
:Richard: That's what I call substantive evidence! Hmph...
: Is the source of this document reliable?
:Richard: Of course it is! If I had any doubt, I'd have kept it quiet.
:Richard: ...l picked it up a few days ago when I was collecting a package. I saw a few receipts requiring the lead researcher's signature.
:Richard: The Security Department's head honcho, Arlan — he left pretty quickly when he saw them. We all know he's on her side anyway.
:Richard: So I had a peek, and woah! She's buying equipment for the space station under her own name! I've got her now!
: This is no evidence at all...
:Richard: Geez, do I really have to break it down for you?
:Richard: The space station has its own financial procedures. As long as the purchase is for the space station, no matter how big or small, it has to go through the organizational account using the station's allocated funds.
:Richard: The payer here is her private account. She's totally embezzling station funds for herself!
:Richard: I'm so disappointed — so hurt! She looks like a sweet enough girl, but not only did she fail to repay Madam Herta for promoting her, she even stooped to this.
:Richard: I was so angry that I was shaking. I broke out in a cold sweat!
: Have you ever considered that... maybe she paid for it herself?
:Richard: That amount of money? Herself!? Who do you think she is, Fleming's daughter?
:Richard: Anyway, now you know everything, so leave me alone. I still need to write a report about this for Madam Herta.
:(Trailblazer): (Seems like it's all just a scare...)
:(Trailblazer): (But it's easy to make rumors and hard to dispel them. I better let Asta know.)
;(Obtained Asta's Equipment Purchase Contract and "Home-Use Object Finder" After-Sales Feedback Form)
===Report to Asta===
:
;(Approach Asta)
:Arlan: You can't waste money like this...
:Asta: This isn't wasting money! The IPC's budget is so stringent, and the process takes so long! By the time my application would've gone through too much time would've been wasted!
:Asta: Do you know how much hardware was destroyed when the Legion attacked? And how many cables are currently out of order on the station?
:Asta: How is it my fault when I'm spending my own money to solve everyone else's problems? Give my encryption key back!
:Arlan: I won't!
:Asta: You — who gave you the right to tell me what to do with my money?
:Arlan: You did.
:Asta: I... might have done that, but this doesn't count as wasting money!
:Arlan: How is it not wasting money? We lost that Findie device you bought during the Legion's invasion.
:Arlan: All you had to was check the inventory, and we could've replaced it — why did you make a new order?
:Arlan: And that starnought fleet from the last time...
: S-Starnought!?
:Asta: I did make an order, but it didn't go through... I was just trying to improve security measures to make sure attacks like this don't happen again.
:Asta: I—If the money wasn't spent, then it doesn't count! Anyway, (Trailblazer), are you here for something?
: Nothing as important as what you were just discussing.
: That's a very abrupt way to change the topic.
:Asta: Ugh, please, tell me why you're here.
: (Tell her about Richard's actions)
:Asta: So, you think Richard was the one who stole my encryption key?
:Asta: So he was the one who started the rumors... Hmm, that fits.
:(It feels like she's... not surprised?)
:Arlan: I'll deal with that immediately. Please, don't worry, Miss Asta.
:Asta: Go, go... Wait! Leave the encryption key here.
:Arlan: That's a separate issue. We'll talk about the encryption key later.
:Asta: Huh? How can you...
;(Complete)
----
;(Visitor Verification)
:;(Asta has become a visitor to the Express. You might come across Asta when you return to the Express)
;(Obtained )
;(Achievement Unlocked Guess Who I Am)
===Post-Mission===
:
----
:
----
;(Talk to Asta)
:
----
;(Talk to Arlan)
: Any follow-ups on the encryption key incident?
:Arlan: Ah, you still remember. Well, Lady Asta is known to spend more than what she could bring home. Who knows what she would buy had she gotten the encryption key?
:Arlan: Thanks to your help last time, the trouble with the anonymous group chat has been resolved, and Lady Asta got to keep her secret. I've got to repay you sometime.
: Let me pet Peppy!
::Arlan: That can be arranged. Peppy gets along with people pretty well.
::Arlan: But Peppy has the final say in this. I have to respect his opinion.
: Does the encryption key have a credit cap?
::Arlan: I'm not sure. But so far Lady Asta has encountered no problems using it to make payments.
: I'll have to think about it.
::Arlan: Same. Take your time.
----
;(Talk to Herta)
: Your fans on the station have an anonymous group chat.
:Herta: Even fans need to be anonymous... Kids these days.
: But it has been dissolved.
::Herta: Groups with no discipline tend to collapse very easily.
: I don't get why they like you.
::Herta: If people need solid reasons to like one another, the world would be plunging into chaos. Soon they'll discover that they don't deserve to be liked.
: There was some drama in that group...
::Herta: Why should I care? I'm not their mom.
: Just a random thing I thought I'd mention.
:Herta: Okay.
==Other Languages==
==Change History==