And the True Heroes Are Always Behind the Scenes (I)

And the True Heroes Are Always Behind the Scenes (I) is Part A in Von Lycaon's Agent Story "And the True Heroes Are Always Behind the Scenes". To unlock this, the player must be Inter-Knot Level 36 and have already completed The Midnight Pursuit (II). The player will then enter Immersive Storytelling upon entering the mission.
==Dialogue==
===Waning Moon Nigh===
:Proxy: , I received a strange message…
:Proxy: “With the waning moon up on high, the chosen shall descend as the clock strikes midnight. O’ sinners await, for thy judgment is nigh!”
:: 
:Proxy: Lycaon.
:: 
:Proxy: We only know one Lycaon…
:: 
:Proxy: But it sounds like him, because he asked us politely if we were free in five minutes, and said that he’d be coming to the video store.
:: Did… something happen?
:: But this whole thing just feels so weird. Could it be that Lycaon, despite seeming quite serious, is actually like this deep down?
: Highly likely.
::: You thought so too? He must be really good at hiding it most of the time.
: Absolutely not.
::: Hm… Right, he’s too old for that.
:Proxy: Oh, he says he’s almost at the video store.
:: Typical Lycaon, always so quick to act… We should go back and wait for him at the store.
----
:Lycaon: My apologies for disturbing you. I am here today to discuss a commission with you, Master Proxy.
:Lycaon: I trust the both of you have already read the forum post of declared criminal intent I sent you?
:: 
:Lycaon: Ah, I believe I reposted it in the group chat…
:Lycaon: —My… most sincere apologies. I failed to send it properly.
:Lycaon: Ellen just taught me how to long press and send Inter-Knot links, but it appears I only managed to copy the title.
:: Oh, so that weird text Lycaon sent us was the title of an Inter-Knot post…
: What a relief…
::Proxy: 
: That’s kinda disappointing…
::Proxy:
::
:Lycaon: I yet remain apologetic for my mistake. In order to not waste your time, allow me to read the contents of the post aloud for you.
:Lycaon: “With the Waning Moon High, the Chosen Shall Descend as the Clock Strikes Midnight. O’ Sinners, Await Judgment in Silence!”
:Lycaon: That is what the title says. And now, allow me to read the contents for you.
:Lycaon: On the day of Revelation, during the embers of the waning moon, I shall become the Chosen of the Heavens and descend upon this land of sins, taking back the Divine Heart in the name of hope.”
:Lycaon: Signed, the Companion of Justice.
: Sounds kinda enigmatic.
::Proxy: 
: Sounds kinda wild.
::Proxy:
:: 
:: 
:Lycaon: Considering the follow-up posts made by this poster, this thread should be a declaration that the poster intends to infiltrate a Hollow tonight to steal a famous painting that will be in transport then.
:Lycaon: And this very painting belongs to one of my current employers.
:Lycaon: As a qualified attendant, it is my duty to protect my client’s assets.
:Lycaon: Thus, I was hoping to have you accompany me into the Hollow and help stop the theft.
: Well, we can, but…
::Proxy: 
Just trolling.
:Lycaon: Indeed, you aren’t wrong to think that way. I, too, have considered that possibility.
:: 
:Lycaon: The word “edgy” appeared in the comments multiple times.
:Lycaon: In order to figure out the exact meaning of this term, I scoured the web and carefully perused several books on the topic before getting an understanding of the nuance behind it…
:: 
:Lycaon: Even if the post is, as you said, merely a prank, that is also an acceptable outcome.
:Lycaon: You see, eliminating potential threats to my master’s safety is also an important duty of an attendant.
:Lycaon: Of course, regardless of the outcome, I will see to it that you receive sufficient compensation, Masters Proxy.
:Lycaon: As this is quite urgent, I’m willing to offer twice the usual commission fee as compensation. If that would be alright with you?
: We’ll take the commission!
::Proxy:
:: 
:Lycaon: Well then, I suppose this contract is settled. Thank you kindly for your trust.
:Lycaon: I shall take my leave for now. Once both of you are ready, please make your way to the Hollow.
----
:: 
: I guess they’re an edgy teen, after all!
::: 
: Are you saying it’s a... phantom thief?
:: 
===Chosen of the World's End===
:: 
:Lycaon: ...
:???: ...
: What’s wrong, Lycaon?
:
:Lycaon: No, it’s nothing. This is just a bit…shocking.
:: Shocking? How so?
:Lycaon: Please, do not worry. It’s nothing major, it’s just that…
:Lycaon: Well, this lady thief is my current employer.
:Lycaon: Not long ago, I was contracted by her family and temporarily took over their previous attendant’s duties.
:: 
:Fairy: Master, I have found a proverb that fits the current situation: she is going against her family like machine oil that decided to flood the workshop. Ha ha ha ha.
:: 
:Lycaon: Miss Lilac, could you explain why you are here?
:Lilac: I know not of this Lilac you speaketh of. Thou dost not know my name. But, very well…
:Lilac: Allow me to enlighten thee. Mortals, hear me!
:Lilac: Mine name is… Lampelouch Aznabelle Fantomhaen Lilac. But thou may also call me the Chosen of the World’s End, the Companion of Justice.
: Isn’t that still just Lilac?
::Proxy: 
::Lilac: Incorrect. That’s Lampelouch Aznabelle Fantomhaen Lilac to you. Not Lilac.
: I feel like this name is one really big, really messy mashup…
::Proxy: 
::
::Lilac: You need only praise my name.
:Lycaon: Grandiose yet lengthy and jumbled terminology, speech filled with emotion but lacking any efficiency in communication…
:Lycaon: I see. I suppose this is a textbook example of the edgy speech pattern.
:Lycaon: However, from my perspective, it appears you have no issues communicating with her… Could this be the popular subculture amongst the youth today?
: It’s really not.
::Proxy: 
: I guess so…?
::Proxy:
::
:Lycaon: If I might be blunt, your explanation is also quite confusing.
:Lycaon: However, we shouldn’t linger here. I recommended we escort her out of the Hollow.
===Mockingbird===
:Lilac: And whom might thou be?
:Lycaon: This is , a friend of mine.
:Lycaon: Miss Lilac, about what happened just now…
:Lilac: I have told thee before, I am not Lilac. I am Lampelouch Aznabelle Fantomhaen Lilac.
: What a long name…
::Proxy:
::
:Lilac: Made what up? This name is from the favorite comic I—I mean, this is the name bestowed upon me since conception.
: I heard that slip up.
::Proxy: 
::: 
:Lycaon: Miss Lilac, would you like a blueberry mousse or orange tart for afternoon tea tomorrow?
:Lilac: Blueberry mousse, for sure… Ah!
: You admitted to it.
::
:Lilac: How could you use food to trip me up?! That’s cheating!
: So you can speak normally.
::Proxy: 
:Lycaon: Miss Lilac, if I may ask you: Why do you want to steal this painting?
:Lilac: Stealing a painting… Hmph! As expected, you can only see the surface of all this. 
:Lilac: Unfortunately, for your feeble minds, the shallows do not typically contain the truth.
:Lycaon: May I be so bold as to assume that the post on the Inter-Knot was also put up by you?
:Lilac: What post? I don’t know of any post.
:Lycaon: “On the day of Revelation, during the embers of the waning moon, I shall become the Chosen of the Heavens and descend upon this land of sins, taking back…”
:Lilac: Stop! Stop stop stop. Okay. What’s with that bland as hell reading? If you tried to sign up for the organization right now, I bet they’d drop you in the first round.
:Lilac: But the organization probably wouldn’t want someone as stuffy as you in the first place. Never mind a painting, I bet you couldn’t even steal a coin.
:Lycaon: What is this… “organization” you speak of?
:Lilac: The organization is the organization. Stealing this painting is the test they gave me.
:Lilac: Once I pass this test, I can join them and become a Companion of Justice!
:Lilac: I just didn’t think that I’d get something belonging to my parents as a target…
: This organization tests people by having them steal things?!
::Proxy:
::
:Lilac: Obviously, a phantom thieves syndicate. What else?
:Lilac: Do you really not know about ? The most famous phantom thieves in all of New Eridu?
:Lycaon: …
:Fairy: Searching for “Mockingbird.” An infamous thieves syndicate that steals from the rich and gives to the poor, though their reputation is quite mixed. They once fooled and scammed almost all the wealthy elites of New Eridu.
:Fairy: The organization was inactive for quite some time but has recently resurfaced on Inter-Knot.
:Lycaon: …They’re merely a group of criminals. Nothing more.
:Lilac: Mockingbird isn’t just some “group of criminals”! They’re chivalrous thieves who steal from the rich and give to the poor. They are justice itself.
:Lilac: And I am one of the chosen—Lampelouch Aznabelle Fantomhaen Lilac. Also knwn as the Chosen of the World’s End, the Companion of Justice.
:Lycaon: Miss Lilac—
:Lilac: That’s enough. Don’t try to stop me. You can’t possibly understand this kind of justice or my determination to become a phantom thief.
:Lycaon: You misunderstand. As an attendant, it is my duty to protect my master’s assets. So, I cannot allow you to steal this painting.
:Lycaon: However, please do not worry. As per the contract I have signed, you, too, are my employer, and I will not prevent you from doing as you wish. Nor will I tell your parents.
:Lycaon: Yet, I must warn you, the organization that calls itself “Mockingbird” is not necessarily trustworthy, and there are great risks in trying to join. I hope you can reconsider.
:Lilac: I thought you were gonna to be all stuffy and stuck-up like my previous attendants. Never thought you might be different from those old fossils…
:Lilac: As for the painting… It’s fine even if you don’t let me take it. I have other ways.
:Lycaon: Please do not worry. I will not let the situation remain as it currently is.
:Lycaon: It’s just…considering what I know of people such as Miss Lilac, forcing my opinion will only cause more trouble.
:Lycaon: If I want her to understand the issue at hand, I need to find a more appropriate method. Something more direct and impactful that’ll teach her where the issue lies.
:Lycaon: Apart from that, I also need some time to look into this ostensible Mockingbird’s current dealings more thoroughly.
: You seem very interested in Mockingbird.
::Proxy: Lycaon—why do you care so much about this Mockingbird organization? Have you had issues with them in the past before?
::Lycaon: My relationship with Mockingbird… I wouldn’t exactly call what transpired “issues.”
: Have you worked with Mockingbird before?
::Proxy: Lycaon, have you dealt with Mockingbird before?
::Lycaon: I wouldn’t say “dealt with” is an accurate way to describe my relationship with Mockingbird.
:Lycaon: It… has to do with a mistake I once made.
:Lycaon: I apologize. This has to do with some… unpleasant history. When the opportunity presents itself, I will tell you more. You have my word.
----
; (After returning to the video store)
:: Never would've thought something like this would come out of busting a thief.
: There's definitely something wrong with that Mockingbird.
::: Yup. Despite claims that Mockingbird are these phantom thieves who steal from the rich to give to the poor... something seems a little sus.
: There's definitely something up with Lilac.
:: Do you also think there's something up with Lilac, ? Hm... makes sense. It feels like she's going to try something.
:: But it's getting late. Let's sleep early.
:: Next up we just have to wait for Lycaon to get in touch.