4.5-1: The Beach Episode![]
Two weeks after the events of Canto IV: The Unchanging, the Sinners are stuck in a phenomenal traffic jam (as is apparently mandatory for inter-Nest automobile traffic) en route to their next destination. Dante, hearing that they are nearing their destination, inquires to the next destination that they are going to arrive at. Vergilius gives the answer that the final destination will be a L Corp. branch facility located in U Corp, but that they are currently heading towards a temporary stop. Notably, Ishmael seems to tense up considerably upon hearing "U Corp".
Just as Vergilius finishes his sentence, the bus emerges from a long tunnel, and beautiful seaside scenery by the Great Lake comes into view. Several of the Sinners begin looking forward the beautiful vacation time they will have on the beach. However, their expectations fall short suddenly as the bus takes a steep turn and dump the Sinners out onto a green, trash-littered section of the waterfront.
4.5-2: Mudflat Scrapyard[]
Pre-Battle[]
The Sinners show considerable disappointment at the sight of their actual destination, which is (as Ishmael explained) the Backstreets of District 21. The former well-maintained beach they saw earlier was Nest territory, while the area they are standing in right now, blocked off by a clear boundary from the good beach, is a part of the Backstreets of the District.
As the Sinners comment upon the profusion of trash on this specific part of the waterfront, Don Quixote spied something among the garbage——an old radio had just moved. All of a sudden, the party is face-to-face with a monster.
4.5-3: Trash Crabs?[]
Post-Battle[]
After the Sinners have defeated the first batch of crustacean enemies, Ishmael explained that the things that they just fought are Trash Crabs, an annoying breed of crustaceans that gather various scrap on their shells to use them as protection and weaponry.
Just as Ishmael was preparing to go on about the more dangerous residents of the Great Lake (and Dante was starting to feel the need to intervene), two individuals approach them from a distance. Although the Sinners initially suspicious of the individuals' natural manner, it is quickly lifted after Faust introduced them as their cooperators in this specific journey——they will be modifying the Mephistopheles to accomodate for journeying on the Great Lake. The pair then takes the Sinners to their workshop to clarify things further and to inspect the bus that is going to be modified.
4.5-4: The Boatwrights[]
Shortly after the Sinners arrive at Molar Boatworks, a deafening noise is heard——a giant Trash Crab is attacking the workshop. Just as the Sinners and preparing for battle, however, a figure in a wetsuit leaps down onto its head and attacks it with their weapon, successfully driving it away.
After some time passed, as all the members of Molar Boatworks are now in the same place, Faust formally introduced the trio: Olga, Mika, and Rain. The three formerly made up Molar Office, with Olga, a Grade 5 Fixer, at its head. They then perished on a mission to The Library, and then were returned from the books onto the shores of District 21. They then started a workshop like they did before the Library, fashioning stuff using scrap collected from the Trash Crabs.
Speaking of scrap, the bus modifications that are required for the next mission requires the Sinners to collect scrap from the Trash Crabs to work as material. The Sinners reluctantly return to the mudflats seen earlier to hunt for scrap.
4.5-6: Makeshift Bus Mods[]
After two days of Trash Crab hunting, the Sinners have gathered enough scrap to get started on the project——about one-eighth of the total amount of scrap that they need.
Rodion asks the boatwrights how the scrap that they are getting from the Trash Crabs are helping with the bus modifications. Mika answers that although the scrap in itself wouldn't do much, they could make it fit the bus perfectly as if the parts are custom-made for the bus by using U Corp.'s Singularity: the Resonance Tuning Fork, which apparently could melt objects seamlessly into one another as if they have always been conjoined. (Another, more common application of U Corp.'s Singularity is Stasis Preservation Packaging, usually used for foods.)
Ishmael began acting visibly anxious at the mention of U Corp.'s welding technology, comparing it to a "bastard" in her memory, which presumably shares the same ability to fuse objects together or incorporate objects into its being. She then pleads Dante to ask Vergilius to delay the mission into the Great Lake, claiming that the Sinners are "not yet ready" to face its dangers. This leads to an argument with Heathcliff, primarily over the limits of Dante's resurrection capabilities. Before the situation can escalate, however, Yi Sang stood out and suggested some stress-relieving activities. Dante follows on the suggestion, and Don Quixote suggests a game of beach volleyball.
4.5-7: Beach… Volleyball?[]
Pre-Battle[]
Although Ishmael was still grumbling about the Sinners not yet ready (nor taking any action to get ready) for the dangers of the Great Lake, the Sinners still managed to start a game of beach volleyball: Don Quixote managed to procure a ball from among the trash in the area, and Meursault educated those who don't know about the game on its mechanics, and drew the arena.
The game began nicely, Ishmael's grumbling throughout it eventually tickled Heathcliff's nerves that he kicked the ball coming at him with extra force, causing it to fly over the mark and onto the boundary separating the mudflat from the pristine beach seen earlier——where it popped and left a torn mess. It turned out that the barrier included a field of invisible plasma. The sound of the ball popping attracted some Trash Crabs, which the Sinners had to take care of.
4.5-8: Dissolution[]
Post-Battle[]
Due to Ishmael's excessive anxiety, Dante decided to take on his duty as Manager and have a talk-out with Ishmael. Ishmael continued expressing her previous beliefs, that the Sinners are not ready to face the dangers of the Great Lake, and that they are wasting precious time partaking in meaningless activities.
This ends in another argument with Heathcliff, which ultimately ends in Ishmael preparing to cave in Heathcliff's head with her mace. However, Ishmael suddenly decides to drop the mace at Heathcliff's taunts of "everyone's the same". Ultimately, Dante commanded the two to distance themselves with each other for some time, and the Sinners went back to dully hunting Trash Crabs and collecting scrap on the mudflat.
4.5-10: Troubled Waters[]
The Sinners are getting used to the job of collecting scrap and life on the mudflat in general, with Outis providing help with Molar Boatworks' bus modifications, Yi Sang trying to bring the feud between Ishmael and Heathcliff to a close, Ryōshū and Meursault trying their hands at improving Trash Crab cuisine, and all of the Sinners getting better at Trash Crab hunting in general.
Meanwhile, Heathcliff and Ishmael has had a talk with the Guide, Vergilius, and although Heathcliff's problem has been resolved, Ishmael is still a problem. Although she is not actively causing trouble, but her anxiety continued, sneaking out at night to make preparations of an unknown nature.
As the days continued, Mephistopheles' modifications are coming to a close.
4.5-11: The Last Scrap[]
Pre-Battle[]
All the Sinners, save for Ishmael, are gathered to see the newly remodelled busboat make its debut. As Mika started it up, however, the boat simply sputtered off with odd noises. The Molar Boatwork Fixers suspect that it is due to the lacking of a critical part that they had to make do with.
However, at this moment, the King Trash Crab from earlier made another attack on the workshop. Olga suggests hunting it, as it has the part that they need on its back. Ishmael interjects, claiming that the Sinners need at least half a year more of time to acquaint themselves with all the dangers of the Great Lake, which could be bought if they simply repelled the King Trash Crab this time and finish modifying the bus later.
However, Vergilius vetoed the proposal, and reminded Ishmael of her contractual obligations to obey the Manager's orders. As Ishmael leaves the workshop on her Manager's cue to hunt the Trash Crab, Dante had a fleeting vision of the possible cause of Ishmael's perplexing behavior: "Limbs and bits of flesh tearing off in the shredding storm that brings crashing waves, Ishmael hanging onto the ship for dear life… And a behemoth of an eye, its overwhelming and all-consuming size looming over the ship, watching her in silence."
Post-Battle[]
The story episode starts with a brief exposition of the Molar Boatworks trio's goals: they have been trying to save up for a trip back to District 22 (V Corp.), where their Fixer Office was located. Having experienced a WARP Train "malfunction" in the past, they opted for a car trip. Dante considered telling them the truth behind WARP Trains, but decided against it, fearing that his words may bring further trouble.
The Mephistopheles' modifications are finally complete, and the Sinners watched as the bus transformed, through a quite perplexing process, into a boat. The LCB then sails off again, though the boat started sinking before they even left the bay. After further repairs are made, the Sinners' adventure in the Great Lake finally began somewhat in earnest.
