Classified Briefings

"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

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Classified Briefings are a category of Lore entries. They can be read by accessing the Elmo Cloud Server Room, then the Traceback menu. Each entry must be unlocked using Sardis Gold and Collapse Pieces, as well as a specific item gained from BH stages in the Campaign.

Peace and Happiness

Unlocked with Handmade Lucky Knots.

November 10th, Sunny

A small-scale collapse storm has erupted within the operation area, forcing all blasting work to stop abruptly... I can hardly catch my breath. Outside, the relentless storm hurls sand against this cramped temporary shelter, and it feels like it's hitting directly at my lungs.

Aichi rests on a makeshift bed near me. Not far from us, some tattered gray curtains are drawn. Behind them, my colleagues–the other members of the Post-War Reconstruction High-Risk Operation Support Team 7 from New Soviet–are also taking a break.

They are conversing in hushed Russian tones, discussing matters I know all too well: everyone's main concerns–when the next batch of supplies will arrive and Peter's death.

I stop looking at the gray curtains and turn my gaze to Aichi, whose face is flushed with fever.

She's been battling a relentless high fever lately, and even talking to me makes her throat hurt immensely.

Thankfully, it's not E.L.I.D. After taking some fever-reducing medicine, she has shown some improvement. Last night, after she collapsed at her post, I carried her back to bed, and she's been sleeping ever since.

While she sleeps, I've taken over her duties. Besides that, I have another mission outside my usual responsibilities to complete. I promised the residents of this Contamination Zone I'd handle some of the missions they're unwilling to do, and in return, they'd give me some food.

But I can't just leave like this; I have to wait until Aichi wakes up at least.

Once I'm gone, there's no one watching over her.

Creatures unfortunate enough to reach the late stages of E.L.I.D., whether human or animal, are no longer the same as they once were.

If I'm not here, what if those monsters break in and harm Aichi like they did to Peter? The people behind the gray curtains, we haven't harmed them, but we've become everything they see as a disaster.

When Aichi and I first came here, we had hoped to make this world, nearly crushed by war and collapse radiation, a little better with our meager efforts--But this world is far more complex than either of us imagined.

The challenges we must confront, in terms of complexity and severity, far exceed what we had imagined.

But one thing I want to ensure above all else–even if everyone, including myself, were to perish in this relief effort, Aichi would return safely to our homeland.

November 20th, Overcast

Two days ago, Aichi became pregnant.

Pregnant... What should I do!

The information revealed by the test is absolutely accurate. This is the third test, and each time the result is the same as the first–she is pregnant.

She is pregnant. What should I do?

I, I'm... I'm going to be a father? Here, in this place teeming with bandits, refugees, and hostiles, to bring our child into the world?

No, absolutely not. I don't want our child to suffer as we do. If he grows up in such a world, confused by everything around him, and looks at me with innocent eyes, asking, "Dad, why do we have to be so afraid every day?" I don't even know what to tell him.

...Maybe Aichi was right; I am just a coward and a selfish person.

I just don't have the ability to protect her and our child, to keep them safe in this world, and to ensure our child grows up securely.

I'm a failure as a husband and a father... but I have no right to deny our child their chance at life. No, there must be a way to change all this. I will find a solution!

…Right, let's return the child to our homeland. Let them grow up in our native land!

…If I could send the child back, even if…something were to happen to me, my wife and child would be well cared for, just like the families of my colleagues.

Yes! If I write back, as long as Aichi's and my application can get through, a rescue team will certainly come here to get us.

If we can make it through this period, once the mission is complete and we have the funds for international shipping, we can safely send the child back to our homeland.

We need to discuss this thoroughly with Aichi. We have more support than just ourselves in this situation.

November 27th, Sunny

The relocation of residents and the demolition of large buildings in the area are nearly complete. In another week, a new team will arrive to take over the remaining missions, and Team 7 will move on to another area in need of reconstruction to continue the relocation and demolition work.

I checked the map beforehand, and one of the areas is a small town in the contamination zone with relatively better infrastructure. I've submitted an application to the government. If Aichi and I are assigned to this town, we could get some of the extremely scarce daily necessities replenished. The request for support has finally been completed. I had a courier deliver it to the only international postal company nearby…

I hope it reaches our homeland safely.

…Aichi is becoming increasingly weak. She hasn't spoken much to me these days, and she wrote to tell me that her throat is in terrible pain.

She did something impulsive again these days, and I am extremely worried. A few days ago, during the demolition work on the overpass, a child clutching a teddy bear suddenly emerged from the rubble. Aichi rushed over and hugged the child, saving them from danger.

...Now she is covered in injuries, and I wish, oh how I wish it were me instead. I wish the gods could transfer all the pain she's going through onto me.

Aichi can barely hold a pen anymore. Recently, in a heartbreaking hoarse voice, she told me that the physical pain has become unbearable, and she's been having frequent nightmares. She also said she would definitely give birth to the child. She promised to ensure that the child would safely return to our homeland, and she would protect me too.

Protecting me... With injuries like hers now, she looks so worn out…

All I hope for is that she can rest well and recover quickly. The high fever she had managed to bring down with medicine before has returned now...

As long as she gets better, no matter what happens next, I can endure it.

I hold her tightly in my arms, wishing for a quicker turnaround in our situation. This kind of pain should not befall her and the child...

I embrace my wife and child, while bitter, dry laughter seeps through from behind the grey curtains nearby. The scent of vodka drifts through the holes in the curtains–they must be celebrating the completion of the operation.

The operation is completed. Next comes environmental restoration and refugee resettlement. Soon, this place will become a small sanctuary for humanity.

...If only Aichi could stay here.

Outside the outpost, the cold wind, carrying dust from the ruins since the Third War, continues to batter this precarious shack. The roar of monsters seems to drift from a very distant place. But at this moment, I feel no fear at all, because the person I love the most is in my arms. Though her body was burning with fever, she radiated the warmth of life. No matter what happens, this person will always be by my side.

I will figure something out.

I've heard there are even tougher missions beyond the reconstruction team... As long as I can find a way to complete those missions... It's almost there, that letter is on its way, everything will improve... There's still time, when the rescue team arrives, Aichi...no, Aichi can go back, and we can welcome our child in our homeland.

If there's still time, after our efforts to make this world a bit better and safer, I want to build a small but sturdy house for her and the child, with a peace knot hanging on the walls. She will teach the child to read in the house, and in the basement, I will bury the "daughter's red" wine I secretly brewed. Our family will live together, safely and happily...

It will happen, all of this will happen... The world seems to grow warmer, almost as if it's on the verge of melting me away...

I will stay alive until I achieve everything I desire."},{"Id":"2176","Content":"15 April, 5:00 p.m.

We arrived at the designated location for mission-4475–a long-abandoned amusement park.

As usual, Fox and I dispatched reconnaissance mechanical units to survey the surrounding area. After confirming the types and quantities of ELID units that needed elimination, we prepared to initiate the operation.

However, compared to before, there's additional preparation today– it's the first time our youngest squad member, Ryan, will truly participate in an ELID extermination mission.

According to the old laws, he still has a long way to go before reaching adulthood. As adults, Fox and I must ensure the safety of this child.

However, judging by how eager he was to join the mission when given the chance, I don't think he enjoys being treated like a child.

Ryan did not disappoint us. During the operation, he executed precise kills on the ELID units that were already on their last legs. I think Ryan absorbed everything Fox and I taught him earlier to improve his self-defense skills in the contamination zone.

After the operation, Fox and I had already planned to quickly leave with Ryan. According to environmental data from B.R.I.E.F., frequent collapse storms are reported nearby, and staying here for long could lead to unforeseen accidents.

However, as we were conducting the post-battle inventory check, Ryan showed great interest in the abandoned amusement park. I initially planned to take Ryan straight back to base, but Fox convinced me otherwise–habitually touching the earring Ryan always wore, Fox assured me it would help him relax.

He had already checked detailed environmental data in advance and assured us it would be safe here until nightfall. And besides, his earring assured him it would be okay to do so.

With our permission, Ryan enthusiastically began exploring the area. While staying in communication with him, Fox and I started discussing plans for next month.

5:40 p.m.

Ryan informed us that he had discovered a group of corpses, an operational intelligence terminal that still functioned, and a batch of supply crates trapped under a collapsed jeep.

Development Agreement Archived Files

Unlocked with Elegant Pens.

European Collapse Radiation Contamination Zone Restoration and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement

File Number: ████

Document Source: Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition Government Confidential Archives - A_12[S]

Original Title: Protocol on Joint Efforts for Collapsed Radiation Polluted Areas Remediation by the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition and the New Soviet Republic Alliance

Date of Approval: 19 April 2067

Effective Date: 2 July 2067

Given that most regions in the world are affected by collapse radiation;

Considering that collapse radiation harms human life and threatens the survival of human civilization;

Considering the limitations and delays of single governments or alliances in addressing the remediation of collapse radiation polluted areas;

Firmly believing that advancing cooperation between the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition and the New Soviet Republic Alliance in managing collapse radiation polluted areas will benefit environmental restoration, urban development, and human progress;

Hereby, we declare the resolution on joint efforts by the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition and the New Soviet Republic Alliance for managing collapsed radiation polluted areas. Both parties to this protocol shall adhere to the following principles during the remediation process:

1. Europe will be the first trial zone. After its purification is completed, the experience gained will be used to progressively address collapsed radiation management in other regions of the world;

1.1 The sequence of remediation will be determined by a comprehensive consideration of management difficulty, total existing population, number of existing cities, and amount of available resources;

1.2 The agreed order of management is as follows:

1.2.1 Africa;

1.2.2 Oceania;

1.2.3 South America;

1.2.4 Asia;

1.2.5 North America;

1.2.6 Antarctica.

2. The remediation of Contamination Zones in Europe will follow the actual control zones of both parties at the time of the protocol's signing, with the Kaliningrad-Warsaw-Budapest-Belgrade-Tirana line marking the boundary between the Western and Eastern Zones. The Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition and the New Soviet Republic Alliance will each be responsible for the restoration and development of the Western and Eastern Zones, respectively;

2.1 In the Western Zone, the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition will implement a pollution area management and restoration plan named "Lazarus";

※The original text of this plan can be found in the Classified Archives of the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition Government - Archive-A_39[S], File Number ████

2.1.1 This plan will use the Szczecin-Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich-Zurich-Geneva line as a reference point, advancing eastward with the "Ark" class seeding platform;

2.2 In the eastern zone, the New Soviet Republics will implement multiple five-year plans under the collective name "New Westward Movement," known as the "Revival" plans;

※ The original text of this plan can be found in the Classified Archives of the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition Government - Archive-A_39[S], File Number ████

2.2.1 This plan will be based on the Vilnius-Minsk-Kyiv-Odesaline, using "Mobile Isolation Walls" and "Mobile Purification Towers" to advance westward.

3. The management of polluted areas in Europe will be divided into four stages:

3.1 First stage: The Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition will implement and complete the restoration and development of the areas in the western zone designated as the "Yellow Zone";

3.2 Second stage: The New Soviet Republics will implement and complete the restoration and development of the areas in the eastern zone designated as the "Yellow Zone";

3.3 Third stage: After completing the first and second stages, both parties will converge near the Carpathian Mountains to jointly advance the restoration and development of the areas within the Carpathian Mountains designated as the "Red Zone";

3.4 Fourth stage: After completing the third stage, both parties will jointly advance the management of the contamination sources designated as the "Black Zone";

3.5 The classification method for each Contamination Zone will be described in Article 6.

4. During the joint management of collapsed radiation-Contamination Zones, both parties must not interfere with each other's logistics and technological assistance within or between their respective zones and must exercise full restraint in military actions.

5. Each party will have administrative authority over the areas they have restored, and both parties will have military transit rights in each other’s restored areas.

6. To facilitate the restoration work and avoid errors in communication and information organization, both parties have agreed to use the contamination zone level concepts existing at the time of the protocol's signing to redefine the criteria for contamination levels in each zone:

6.1 White Zone;

6.1.1 The radiation concentration within the area is 0 Vebryan;

6.1.2 The area has previously experienced collapse radiation contamination, but the direct and indirect hazards from the contamination have been fully removed, and the likelihood of recontamination from nearby sources is extremely low;

6.1.3 The area has established comprehensive warning and prevention measures for collapse radiation contamination;

6.1.4 The area is of significant importance to the implementation of purification projects;

6.2 Green Zone;

6.2.1 The radiation concentration within the area is >0 Vebryan and ≤1 Vebryan;

6.2.2 The area has previously experienced collapse radiation contamination, but the level of contamination is mild;

6.2.3 The restoration of the area is either incomplete or still underway;

6.3 Yellow Zone;

6.3.1 The radiation concentration within the area is >1 Vebryan and ≤150 Vebryan;

6.3.2 The area has previously experienced collapse radiation contamination, with a moderate level of contamination;

6.3.3 The restoration project for the area is either underway or has not yet started;

6.4 Red Zone;

6.4.1 The radiation concentration within the area is >150 Vebryan and ≤10000 Vebryan;

6.4.2 The area is located around the collapse radiation ground zero, with a high level of contamination;

6.4.3 The restoration project for the area has not yet started and presents technical challenges that require concentrated efforts to overcome.

6.5 Black Zone;

6.5.1 The radiation concentration within the area is >10000 Vebryan;

6.5.2 The area includes the collapse radiation ground zero, which consists of radial craters with a radius of several kilometers and surrounding areas extending tens of kilometers, with an extremely high level of contamination;

6.5.3 The restoration project for this area cannot be undertaken with current technology and is the final region requiring joint efforts and coordinated purification by both parties.

This protocol shall come into effect on 2 July 2067

It is earnestly hoped that by implementing the resolutions outlined in this protocol, the management and restoration of Contamination Zones throughout Europe will be achieved by the end of this century, and that global management, restoration, and revitalization of collapse radiation contamination will be realized in the following century.

19 April 2067

Thirteenth Plenary Session in Geneva

Sebeş-02B Work Journal

Unlocked with Rough Bird Beak Mask.

Record of the Environmental Analysis in the Sebeș Area

Written by: Juan Bévès

Affiliated organization: Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition Contamination Zone Survey Maintenance and Environmental Analysis Group, Neo Soviet Region West Romania Sector, Unit █

Area of responsibility: W2143DW-H59XF7 to W2269DW-H97XF7 (commonly known as the Sebeş region)

Survey subject: condition of purification facilities in the Sebeş region and surrounding environmental data

Journal entry date: █/207█

August 2nd, Outside the Ruins of a Sebeș School

At around 23:00, the team members arrived in the Sebeş region using off-road vehicles and set up camp at the ruins of a school.

Due to the low visibility at night, with the surroundings being nearly pitch black, the team has decided to start their environmental survey and purification facility maintenance work tomorrow in daylight.

Prior to this, I had dispatched drone units to assess the damage to nearby beacons and the local collapse radiation levels. The drones are equipped with collapse radiation detection devices centered around the d8W3 type-collapse epiphyllum core, which can quickly measure collapse radiation levels in the area. In about half an hour, the drones will transmit some of the data back to my intelligence terminal.

...However, I am cautious about the data transmitted by the drones.

Considering only natural environmental factors, the beacons deteriorate very slowly. However, recent data from the meteorological survey team and my own observations indicate that the main cause of beacon damage is actually the local residents of the Contamination Zone.

To preserve their living space as much as possible, residents of the Contamination Zone actively sabotage purification equipment. This behavior effectively increases the difficulty of advancing purification efforts.

However, the main objective of advancing purification projects is to create a safer living environment for a larger number of people.

Only by successfully advancing purification projects can the URNC later resettle the suffering residents of the Contamination Zone. We have been informed that this is the purpose of our work.

Regardless of the real situation, I will put forth my utmost effort for this cause.

Tonight, Jerome and I will be taking turns on watch. It's my shift now. Although we were thoroughly prepared before coming here, the night is still surprisingly cold.

Apart from the faint sounds of the wind, there is no other activity around the school ruins.

The nearest beacon is located about 800 meters southwest of here and will be the focus of the team's specific repair work tomorrow.

I hope to safely get through tonight.

Wait, what was that fleeting shadow just now?

The shadow appears small, with the edges of clothing fluttering. Could it be a local resident from the Contamination Zone nearby?

Dressed like that to scare us off?

But... it seems to have very long horns.

No, are those horns? It might be more like a beak, similar to that of a bird.

... It's not Jerome's turn on watch yet, so leaving my post to investigate this isn't a good decision.

Starting to feel a bit tired.

Wait, wait! The shadow that just flashed by again... I see it every day and am very familiar with it—it's Berdwin from the team, one of the armed personnel responsible for everyone's safety.

He chased after that small figure?

...It seems I'll have to bother a teammate after all.

August 2nd, Inside the Ruins of a Sebeș School

We thought tonight would pass quietly, but no one anticipated something like this happening.

Berdwin just explained to everyone why he decided to go after it, but his hasty decision driven by overconfidence... is really hard to agree with.

Now, Berdwin has taken over the watch duty from Jerome and me.

According to Berdwin, at 23:20, when I saw the strange figure with the long beak-like protrusion, Berdwin was outside alone, monitoring the drones' operations.

He then heard a middle-aged man with a Spanish accent, speaking in a very harsh tone, demanding that he hand over everything he had.

Berdwin was about to call Jerome and me over when the man used even harsher words to provoke him and quickly fled as Berdwin became enraged. In his fury, Berdwin grabbed his gun and went after him.

Which is why I saw his figure at that moment.

After that, he was led by the figure to the beacon located southwest of here.

Before he had a chance to speak, he triggered a trap under the beacon and was securely hung upside down from a very tall dead tree nearby.

Soon after, I rushed over with Jerome.

The beacon's lights came on, and two people were visible inside.

One was tall and the other very short, and both were wearing medieval-style bird-beak masks.

They spoke fluent Russian with a Spanish accent and used Berdwin's life as leverage, demanding that we surrender all the supplies of our group.

Berdwin responded with a stream of curses until they pulled the mechanism several times, lifting him up.

While handing over our supplies was out of the question, we also wouldn't abandon Berdwin.

Just as I was about to negotiate with them, Jerome fired a shot into the air with the GM94 portable grenade launcher, producing a highly intimidating sound. The two who had planned to negotiate with us immediately dropped Berdwin and fled without a trace.

...Later, Berdwin returned to the camp with us. After a continuous half hour of cursing, Jerome finally persuaded him to take over the watch.

Although I don't know where Jerome procured such heavy weaponry, it's clear that it spared us a lot of unnecessary trouble.

However, what exactly was the deal with those two people wearing medieval bird-beak masks?

Were they using the beacon to trap others?

August 3rd, Beacon at W2145DW-H59XF7

The event has ended, but you can continue claiming Lucky Draw prizes and playing Windborne Melody.

August 3rd, 9 p.m., In the Ruins of a Sebeș School

The two children who were arguing with Berdwin earlier—yes, the tall one is also a child—are now sitting with Berdwin, munching on compressed biscuits.

I believe that, regardless of the situation, compressed biscuits will taste better than dried rats.

The drone has transmitted more precise environmental data—the collapse radiation level in the Sebeş region is between 135 and 142 Vebryan, which is still within the normal range.

However, if all the beacons in the surrounding area are as severely damaged as the one at W2145DW-H59XF7, advancing the purification project will become increasingly challenging.

...This is not something I want to see.

At 11:00 today, when I offered food to these two brats, they initially put on a show of refusing. However, when Jerome, standing at 190 cm tall and wielding a portable grenade launcher, stood behind me, they immediately dropped their pretense and obediently followed us.

After removing their robes and bird-beak masks, two young, immature faces appeared before me.

They are brothers, the older one is 16 and named Noah, and the younger one is 12 and named Noel.

Their father died of E.L.I.D. last year. To have a place to live, they modified the already damaged beacon and set up traps around it to lure others into trading resources.

To improve their success rate, they deliberately mimicked an adult’s manner of speaking.

However, my greater concern is the situation of other residents in the Sebes region's Contamination Zone, which will be the focus of our work in the coming weeks.

To get these two kids to talk, I gave them my entire weekly chocolate ration.

Noah mentioned that a few kilometers ahead, closer to the Red Zone, everyone there is insane, and each of them has E.L.I.D.

Despite this, they do not take any protective measures and even claim that collapse radiation is "a blessing from God."

Sometimes, they gather to perform a strange ritual, but fearing being forced to join, Noah and Noel always take detours when they encounter these residents.

As expected, in an environment where residents worship collapse radiation, the beacons—intended to protect them and neutralize the radiation—have been completely destroyed.

Previously, in reports from the meteorological department, I had also read about the unique customs of Contamination Zone residents near the Yellow Zone.

Although I was mentally prepared for this, I still find it somewhat tragic—given our inability to help everyone, it seems almost reasonable that these afflicted residents have developed a distorted reverence for collapse radiation.

When I asked the two children why they wore bird-beak masks, they gave a quite practical reason—they couldn‘t afford full protective suits, so they improvised rough gas masks based on the bird-beak doctors depicted in storybooks.

Another reason is that their dream is to become doctors; wearing masks and robes makes them feel more like real doctors.

...I can hardly express how much this disaster has destroyed the majority of humanity.

But I hope that, at least within my capabilities, I can protect and take good care of a few precious things.

I gave the brothers two spare gas masks from our team.

August 4th, Settlement W2145DW-H61XF7

At 1020 hrs, we reach the beacon located at coordinates W2145DW-H61XF7.

Forty meters away from the beacon, there is a small contamination zone settlement. An unusual and grotesque building is located at the center of the settlement. Numerous residents without any protective gear are calmly lined up to enter the building.

The specific details remain unclear, the team decided to prioritize the maintenance of the beacons nearby before conducting a more in-depth investigation.

However, as we are dismantling the traps around the beacon—

Compared to the clumsy tricks of those two brats, these traps are straight-up malevolent; if triggered, they can easily lead to severe injuries, potentially even fatal.

As our work continues, the distant roaring of jeep engines can be heard, prompting Berdwin to swiftly lead the team's security section to stand by for any potential confrontation.

After all, during past maintenance work on the beacons, we often faced such predicaments—intermissions caused by the universally detested Varjagers.

I recall that last year, out of the five members conducting maintenance work in the Belsk region, two engineers lost their lives in an ambush by the Varjager.

The members of Varjager display a singular and unrelenting disposition towards others: to provoke confrontations, eliminate opponents, and seize anything of value.

But this time, things won't be that easy for them.

This time, to ensure everyone's safety, the team's security section underwent a comprehensive enhancement—especially in terms of weaponry.

Never could I expect Jerome to acquire a portable grenade launcher… him, a medic, out of all people!

However, the course of battle greatly deviated from my expectations.

Despite the comprehensive upgrade of our arsenal and the lack of any weapon supplier in the contamination zone settlements in the vicinity, the Varjager surprisingly engaged us in combat using equally uncommon heavy firepower!

Among them was the same model of portable grenade launcher that Jerome spent several months trying to procure!

How can this be possible?

If these Varjagers are only active in this area, no matter how much they plunder the residents, they can't possibly get their hands on such scarce and expensive equipment!

Twenty minutes later, under our overwhelming suppressive firepower, the Varjager ultimately decide to flee.

But I still can't make sense of it.

Subsequently, I attempt to inquire with the contamination zone residents in the vicinity, but they simply urged me to join them and declined to provide any answers to my questions.

...Moreover, judging by their gazes, I do not doubt that if not for all these armed individuals surrounding me, they would have pounced on me by now.

Based on my observations, these settlements do not appear to have experienced any plundering, and the residents' living conditions seem to be stable.

Why?

These settlements have stowed a considerable amount of resources, almost too plentiful for people living in the contamination zone. Why did the Varjager disregard them?

...Or did I misjudge the situation?

With endless doubts in our minds, at 2020 hrs, we temporarily withdraw to our base camp, located at the school ruins.

To get a better grasp of the situation, I ask the two brothers about the surroundings of W2145DW-H61XF7.

Their response confirms my earlier assessment—the Varjager never had any intention of attacking these settlements.

"The Varjager targets ordinary individuals, but they wouldn't dare provoke those lunatics."

These were Noel's exact words, but logically speaking, his statement is fundamentally unreasonable.

...After completing this operation, I should submit a report regarding this incident.

Upon learning that we will soon depart, Noel seems quite upset.

I suggested relocating them to a settlement closer to the Green Zone, so we can take better care of them, but they declined, adamant about staying in the place where their father once resided.

We can only leave behind a batch of supplies to help make their lives a little easier in the future.

Ultimately, Noel gives us the bird-beak masks that he and his brother crafted.

These are the very masks worn by medieval plague doctors...

Everything we are doing today is so that one day, people can live normally on this land without having to wear a gas mask.

Until that day's arrival, I will commit myself fully.

Bucharest by the Sea

Unlocked with Furniture Design Sketch.

Antip Burdovsky's Consultation Recording Excerpt 1

Sound of a door opening, quick footsteps, and slow footsteps.

Yuri: Come in.

Footsteps, sound of wooden door closing.

Antip: Have you read all these books?

Yuri: Yes.

Antip: That's an incredible amount. I've never seen so many books in one place.

Yuri: In this profession, reading them is a prerequisite. Although, some of them are as worthless as dust.

One person's footsteps stop. The other person's footsteps stop as well.

Antip: "The Sense of Order," "Studies in Composition," "Baroque Design Manual"—are you interested in furniture design?

Yuri: Not particularly interested—human psychology is reflected in all works involving creative activity.

Sound of a book being pulled from the shelf.

Yuri: Here, if you're interested.

Antip: Thank you, Doctor.

Sound of pages being turned.

Yuri: Do you like the designs in this book?

Sound of a book being closed and carelessly placed on the table.

Antip: The details are finely crafted, though it's not very functional, it's still considered good design.

Yuri: If it were you, how would you modify it?

Dry laughter.

Antip: I don't modify others' designs, I only bring them to life.

Yuri: Two years ago, after the Battle of Chișinău, you were awarded the Second Class Order of the Motherland. Many people envied you.

Sound of a book being picked up, footsteps, and the sound of the book being placed back on the shelf.

Yuri: But you requested to retire, followed the Great Migration to Bucharest, and opened a handmade furniture workshop here.

Whose design fascinates you so much?

30 seconds of silence.

Yuri: I don’t know much about furniture design, but I imagine those designs must be very meaningful to you. If you're willing to share, I'll be a good listener.

Footsteps and the sound of paper being picked up and flipped through.

Antip: What's that?

Yuri: Your psychological evaluation.

Severe depression and PTSD, with complications.

Sleep disorders, alcohol addiction, and chronic severe anxiety.

Antip: Sounds serious.

Yuri: I’ve seen many visitors in worse condition than you.

Antip: Were they cured by you?

Yuri: Psychological damage caused by PTSD, if treated through counseling, requires the visitor to fully trust the therapist.

I have to put in far more effort than usual.

Antip: ...Do you think you can cure me?

Yuri: Antip, you're very smart and perceptive. I can sense your wariness.

You’ve seen quite a few therapists and know exactly what we’re going to say, but… if we work together, I believe there’s a chance to make progress.

10 seconds of silence.

Yuri: This session was requested by your superior, Grigory Orlov. When he reached out to me, I could tell he cared about you a great deal.

Antip: ...

Yuri: Sit down, shall we talk?

Brief footsteps, a slight sound of fabric rubbing.

Yuri: Please, sit down, Antip.

Sound of pages being flipped.

Yuri: Your insomnia is especially severe.

The psychological evaluation shows that you get only 18 hours of effective sleep per week.

How long has this been going on?

Antip: ...I can't remember.

Yuri: Severe sleep deprivation leads to memory loss and affects your ability to bring others' designs to life.

Antip: ...

Yuri: Why can't you sleep?

Antip: I hate them.

Several minutes of silence.

Antip: I hate those images that invade my mind whenever they choose to.

My brain feels like a city with no defenses—war is coming, and I try to build a defense against the enemy, but I can never succeed.

Yuri: How does that make you feel?

Antip: How do you think I feel?

Yuri: I can see that it's exhausting and oppressive, and you need an outlet for your frustration.

Antip: Hmmm

Yuri: Your superior said you’ve been drinking excessively.

Antip: Alcohol is a good thing; it numbs the nerves... those images also disappear for a while.

Yuri: Does drinking make you feel better?

Antip: Not better—it's a distraction. Isn’t that a technique you often use with visitors?

Yuri: Yes, we do that when necessary.

30 minutes of silence.

Yuri: I have to interrupt you; time's up.

Antip: ...How long has it been?

Yuri: Today's session was 1 hour and 40 minutes. Antip, see you next week.

Antip: ...

Footsteps, sound of door opening.

Yuri: See you next week.

Antip Burdovsky's Consultation Recording Excerpt 2

30 minutes of silence.

Antip: Don't you think I'm wasting time?

Yuri: I can sense that you enjoy this quiet environment. This certainly isn't a "waste".

Antip: …I rarely get to enjoy such a quiet environment for long. During the war, those sounds were unavoidable... This silence is like a blade, slicing those images to pieces and isolating them.

Yuri: Can you tell me about those images?

30 seconds of silence.

Antip: I see them; no one else can. I know which parts are hallucinations and which are real, but sometimes... I can't differentiate everything that appears before me.

Antip: Doctor, I told you, my brain is like a city that can't build its fortifications. When the enemy gets ready to invade, I can only accept it passively.

Yuri: Have you tried building a defensive line yourself?

Antip: My attempts were fruitless. I failed.

Yuri: So, is there someone who can help you build that defense?

Antip: I don't know who to trust; I can’t even trust myself.

Yuri: Antip, trust your feelings. When you sense that defenses are being established, things will gradually improve.

Antip: ...I’ll try.

Sound of a chair being moved.

Yuri: Let’s try together now.

Yuri: Antip, those images that invaded your mind, have you seen them before?

Antip: They, happened two years ago.

Yuri: Are they related to someone important to you?

Antip: …Two years ago, I laid there, alongside Alexei Orlov's bleeding body. He was my comrade, but there was nothing I could do.

Yuri: Alexei Orlov, he has the same surname as your superior.

Antip: He was my superior’s younger brother.

Yuri: What happened then?

Antip: NATO sent thirty thousand troops to assault Chișinău. Alexei and I were deployed to defend it. After the war began, civilians quickly evacuated to other cities, but the high command issued a no-retreat order, insisting that we hold Chișinău at all costs.

Yuri: How did you feel about that order?

Antip: Hmph… The most foolish order of World War III, bar none.

Short, bitter laugh.

Antip: Yet we had no choice but to follow it... The defensive line was quickly breached, and the British forces advanced. They weren’t interested in prisoners; they only wanted the resources of Chișinău. Soon, one by one, we fell under the onslaught of bullets and heavy weaponry.

Yuri: Antip, you’re still here. You survived.

Antip: I wish I had died there! Alexei died! Right next to me—ALEXEI DIED! He was struck by a shell. I know how painful those kinds of burns are! He couldn’t have survived with such injuries! He whispered, kept begging me to kill him, pleaded for me to end his life—and I wanted to do it! Blood poured from his body, flowing towards me… but I couldn't do anything! Not only that, but I also had to keep him quiet!

Yuri: Staying silent would give both of you a better chance of survival.

Antip: Bullshit! That's only because the Brits were patrolling! Any noise would've given us away. I wanted to survive—I wanted to live! He laid next to me, enduring excruciating pain but stayed silent as a stone. Can you imagine that? CAN YOU IMAGINE?!

Rapid, intense sobbing.

Sound of a tissue box being picked up and handed over, followed by sound of tissues being pulled out, and sobbing gradually subsiding.

Yuri: You know what, Antip? You are improving.

Antip: Improving?! When you talk about improvement, are you referring to seeing my comrades appear before me every day, covered in black, bloodied wounds? Are you talking about smelling their sticky, foul blood and seeing nothing but nightmares when I close my eyes?!

Yuri: Our brains can manage short bursts of anxiety, but not the intense, prolonged pain you’ve endured. Venting it out is far healthier than keep suppressing it.

Antip: …I want to go back to that time.

Yuri: And do what?

Antip: Kill myself, and then Alexei.

Yuri: Will that help you build your defenses?

Antip: …No.

Yuri: Antip, you need to convince yourself that you can build an unbreakable fortress.

Even if those images appear, they won’t be able to hurt you again.

If that happens, I assure you, you can overcome them as well.

Antip: …

Yuri: Time’s up, Antip. We’ll meet again next week.

Antip Burdovsky's Consultation Recording Excerpt 3

Yuri: How have you been lately, Antip?

Please, have a seat.

Antip: …

Yuri: I see that you're not wearing much even though the temperature dropped today. I have a blanket here, so feel free to use it.

Footsteps and sounds of fabric rustling are heard.

Yuri: Your arm is injured.

The sound of quick, brief rustling of fabric.

Antip: It was an accident.

Yuri: Ha... much like today's weather, which is surprisingly decent. I know a place with a great view. How about we go for a walk?

Antip: I had no idea therapy could be done outdoors.

Yuri: I'm violating protocol here. Please don't let the support team know, or they might dock my pay.

Antip: Dock your pay?

Yuri: You record every session. We signed a confidentiality agreement, didn't we? Rest assured, I'm simply listen to our conversations during review, and no one else hears them.

A brief, light-hearted chuckle is heard.

Yuri: Good. I have an extra protective suit. Once you're suited up, we can go out.

About 10 minutes later.

Yuri: This ruin is 85 meters high. From here, you can see the progress of the reconstruction in Bucharest. The NSU built shelters for survivors, where the injured could rest temporarily. If we could build taller buildings, perhaps we might even be able to see the Black Sea?

Antip: The Black Sea is over 200 kilometers away, but it's a nice thought. Our view over any hostile advancing army is improved with such tall buildings, and we'll be able to clearly see their marching route if they invaded.

Yuri: That response is very much like you, Mr. Antip. Now, please close your eyes.

Antip: …?

Yuri: Close your eyes and clear your mind for a moment—I have some questions to ask.

Antip: What is this, psychoanalysis?

Yuri: Just a regular psychological profile, please don't feel pressure.

30 seconds of silence passes.

Yuri: Good, just like that. Now, imagine a place where you feel the most comfortable. Where are you?

Antip: …The beach. I'm sitting on the beach by the sea.

Yuri: What surrounds you?

Antip: Sunlight, sand, and seawater.

Yuri: Is anyone there?

Antip: No one but me.

Yuri: If you wanted someone to be there, who would it be?

Antip: No one, no one would be here.

A brief, sharp intake of breath.

Antip: I've been thrown into the sea…

Yuri: Who did this? Can you see them?

Antip: No, I don't know… I'm just sinking, looking at the sunlight shining through the surface dimmer…

Yuri: Are you scared?

Antip: …No… I'm not scared.

Yuri: Do you want to escape?

Antip: Yes, I want to escape, I should escape. I've grown a tail and gills, swimming upwards… My body's been bitten in half!

Yuri: What bit you?

Antip: I don't know!

They're as big as gunboats; I can't see anything but sharp teeth!

Yuri: Can you escape?

Antip: I want to escape!

I'm in its mouth, I can't move!

Yuri: Will someone come to save you?

Antip: It's too dangerous here, I don't want them to come!

Yuri: Who are "they"?

Antip: No one. They"re not here. They were dragged away They were dragged away in that war—now, it is my turn!

Yuri: What happened?

Antip: It's over.

Antip: I was chewed up, and my body disappeared.

2 minutes of silence.

Yuri: Antip, please open your eyes.

Antip: Doctor, tell me honestly, can I really get better?

Yuri: Most people with similar conditions require treatment for six months to a year. You need patience, and I need your cooperation.

Antip: …I don't know if I can wait that long.

Yuri: You have an unusual level of anxiety towards time. What's forcing you?

Antip: I have to finish making those pieces of furniture, Doctor. I have to finish them, I must!

Antip Burdovsky's Consultation Recording Excerpt 4

Antip: Doctor, I... I can’t control them anymore.

Yuri: Calm down, you’re safe here. I have some warm water with lemon. Drink it; it will help you feel better.

The sound of drinking water.

Yuri: Now, tell me, what are you trying to control?

Antip: My—myself. My own memories. Doctor, I lost my memory for 5 hours. When my neighbors found me, I was standing on the roof, holding a carving knife. They asked the same question, what happened? I don’t know, I don’t know what happened. I was just making furniture; the shelf fell over, and the next moment I found myself on the roof.

Yuri: Localized amnesia. It’s quite common. Now, sit down. Would you like another glass of lemon water?

Antip: I don’t care if it’s common! I can’t let this keep happening! Amnesia will destroy me and prevent me from keeping my promises!

The chair is knocked over.

3 minutes of silence.

Footsteps, the record player is turned on, and soothing classical music starts playing.

About 15 minutes later.

Antip: ...I like Mozart’s pieces.

Yuri: What do you like about them?

Antip: His music is always joyful, never painful.

Yuri: Perhaps he merely concealed his pain, but it does not diminish his greatness.

Antip: ...Thank you, Doctor.

Yuri: Would you like to sit down and have some lemon water?

Antip: Thank you.

Chair is set upright.

Sound of drinking water, slight fabric rustling.

Yuri: You said you were holding a carving knife, why?

Antip: I need to—finish making those pieces of furniture.

Yuri: Why are they so important to you?

Antip: ...

Yuri: You’ve been making furniture, so the shelf must have had a lot of tools on it.

When it collapsed, it must have made a loud noise. At that moment, did those scenes reappear in your mind?

5 minutes of silence.

Antip: I saw my comrades appear before me, with shells falling like a rainstorm. We all turned to ashes together.

Yuri: Antip, continuing this is just self-torture.

Antip: It’s not torture!

Yuri: What does it mean to you, then?

Antip: I need to finish them!

Yuri: By finishing them. Do you feel your mental defenses being built?

Antip: It’s the only thing I can do!

Yuri: Please, explain it all.

20 seconds of silence.

Yuri: Are those pieces of furniture related to that battle?

Antip: It was a promise.

Alexei and I had agreed to open a handmade furniture workshop together after the war—he would handle the design, and I would do the making. I cowardly ran away. I even took Alexei’s designs from his dead body. Completing his designs is the only way I can keep my promise.

Yuri: Antip, would you like to hear the results from my review of our last session?

Antip: ...

Yuri: Those things in the sea that you couldn’t escape from represent everything that’s troubling you right now—endless traumatic re-experiences, flashbacks, and this recent case of localized amnesia. When I asked if anyone would come to rescue you, you said no. You don’t want to put others in danger, but you also realize that this isn’t something you can handle on your own. So, even if you’ve grown a tail and gills, you still can’t escape your condition.

Sound of water being poured.

Yuri: Antip, you need to allow others into this sea, and give them the chance to help you escape, then return to that sunny beach where you can build your mental defenses together.

Antip: ...

Yuri: You need to give yourself time, as well as give time to those around you.

Antip: Doctor, is your aim to pull me out of that sea?

Yuri: That’s my job, and my responsibility.

25 minutes of silence.

Antip: Is our time up?

Yuri: Yes, our time is up.

Antip: Then, see you next week, Doctor.

Yuri: Good, I hope to see you next week.

Antip Burdovsky's Consultation Recording Excerpt 5

Antip: Doctor, what is that?

Yuri: Your latest psychological evaluation.

Your PTSD has lessened, as have your symptoms of depression and anxiety. Your effective sleep time per week has increased to 25 hours, and you are relatively rational. Very good.

Antip: Sounds like you’re bragging.

Yuri: It’s our joint effort.

So, how is the construction of that mental defense going?

Antip: It’s there, I feel safe.

Yuri: I’m genuinely happy for you.

Antip: Doctor, can I resume making furniture? Could you withdraw that suggestion and ask my superior to stop having my neighbors monitor me?

30 seconds of silence.

Yuri: You haven’t recovered, Antip.

Antip: No, I’ve improved. Look at that evaluation report and what you just said—they prove that I’m getting better!

Yuri: I’m sorry, but I can’t withdraw the suggestion. For someone with PTSD, re-engaging with triggering elements can worsen the condition. You borrowed many books from me and read them, but they are not tools for deception in a psychological evaluation.

Antip: ...

Yuri: Now tell me, has your defense been established?

Antip: I can’t, I just can’t...! No matter what I do, they keep appearing, and they never disappear! You don’t understand, you can’t understand! Do you really think that reading all the books here can give you a true understanding of what someone who has been on the battlefield has experienced? Do you really think that some superficial psychological analysis will allow you to understand their pain and pull them out of the abyss? No, you can’t do anything! You’re just standing in front of me, doing your job!

Yuri: I’m not your enemy; calm down, Antip!

Antip: No, no, I won’t come here again! Don’t have my neighbors monitor me anymore! I need to finish all the furniture. I need to keep my promise!

Hurried footsteps, a door slams shut.

Yuri: ...Client Antip Burdovsky cheated during the third psychological evaluation and voluntarily left the consultation during the 23rd session. The likelihood of recovery is assessed to be below 20%. Archiving.

Yuri: Expected to return him to a safe location in 20 minutes and implement safety monitoring for Antip Burdovsky. Antip Burdovsky will require additional medication and mechanical treatment.

Recording ends.

F379 Extra Info

Unlocked with Smiling Goliath.

B.R.I.E.F. Report 1

The intelligence report on "Smiley Bomber" Richard Bonbol (1)

Intelligence Level: F

Release Date: 27 March 2073

Last Update: 27 March 2073

Publisher: Anonymous

Cost to Purchase: 0 Crystals / 0 Sardis Gold

※ Note: This intelligence is collected and sold by the B.R.I.E.F. Intelligence Platform. B.R.I.E.F. does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of this intelligence.

Intelligence Content:

On March 23, terrorist Richard Bonbol was arrested in the White Zone city of Lviv.

Richard Bonbol, male, 45 years old, was born in 2028 near coordinates OBKJ37A-P9YPC7Q in the Yellow Zone residential area. He served at Wilson Security Assurance Company from 2053 to 2069, becoming the head of the executive department in 2065. He was dismissed in September 2069 due to a work-related injury and registered with B.R.I.E.F. from October 2069 to March 2070, taking on bounty hunter missions with difficulty levels primarily in the B and C categories. Since March 2070, he has used self-modified cheap Golyat mechs to carry out dozens of bombings in multiple Green Zone satellite cities, resulting in at least 60 deaths and 120 injuries.

According to official information, Richard Bonbol typically makes public announcements of his criminal intentions before carrying out terrorist attacks. These announcements include the time and location of the next attack, signed by "Richard Bonbol" and featuring his trademark smiley-faced Golyat. Based on the signatures and the smiley-faced Golyat imagery in these announcements, Richard Bonbol is also referred to as the "Smiley Bomber" by the media and the public.

Richard Bonbol is adept in his criminal methods and has strong anti-tracking abilities, enabling him to evade capture for three years.

He typically selects areas with poor surveillance in the Green Zones and uses the most common and cheapest models of Golyat mechs to carry out his crimes.

Despite the widespread adoption and application of Ironclad technology today, Golyat mechs have become one of the best-selling combat machines. With only remnants of Golyat mech wreckage left at crime scenes and limited surrounding surveillance footage, public security departments find it challenging to obtain effective clues.

Additionally, 50% of his announcements do not result in actual crimes. These unfulfilled warnings are used as smokescreens to mislead and distract public security departments.

On March 17, Richard Bonbol issued a warning demanding that the Rokasat Union government address the illegal practices of various security contracting companies, threatening a terrorist attack on the White Zone city of Lviv if his demands were not met. This criminal announcement caused widespread panic among Lviv residents, leading the public security departments to implement more stringent measures. The public security departments concentrated on reviewing Lviv’s personnel entry and exit information as well as surveillance footage, ultimately successfully identifying the suspect.

On March 23, Richard Bonbol, the suspect, was arrested by Lviv's public security department's Execution Squad while he was preparing to carry out the terrorist attack as announced.

A spokesperson for the Lviv State Public Security Department recently stated that, given the complexity of Richard Bonbol's bombing incidents and the thoroughness of his criminal plans, it is believed that 3 to 5 people were continuously assisting him. Currently, the public security department has not obtained additional related intelligence.

B.R.I.E.F. Report 2

The intelligence report on "Smiley Bomber" Richard Lesker (2)

Intelligence Level: F

Release Date: 3 April 2073

Last Update: 3 April 2073

Publisher: Anonymous

Cost to Purchase: 0 Crystals / 0 Sardis Gold

※ Note: This information is collected and sold by the B.R.I.E.F. Intelligence Platform. B.R.I.E.F. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Intelligence Content:

Richard Bonbol, originally named Richard Lesker

At the age of 25, he joined Wilson Security Assurance Company and became the head of the executive department at 37. At 41, he was dismissed due to a work-related injury that left him disabled.

According to reports, Lesker was injured and subsequently disabled in an explosion caused by a Golyat.

While leading his team on a mission, the Golyat mech assigned by the company exploded suddenly due to outdated wiring, in an environment with rapidly rising temperatures.

The explosion triggered a chain reaction, resulting in the immediate death of one team member and severe injuries to five others, including Lesker. In the accident, Lesker lost the ability to walk and the vision in his left eye. He later told the media that the incident "ruined the beautiful and fulfilling life he once had."

According to the accident investigation report, Wilson Security Assurance Company cut costs by purchasing large quantities of cheap and substandard combat machinery.

These combat machines were generally outdated, degraded, and had unstable performance.

Additionally, Wilson Security Assurance Company was involved in extensive misrepresentation during the annual operational qualification review and asset inventory conducted by the Non-Military Forces Administration.

Due to the widespread adoption of Eisen Blood's manufacturing technology and the dismantling or restructuring of large security contractors like G&K, numerous small security contractors emerged simultaneously.

These small security contractors quickly captured the market share, making it extremely difficult for new small security contractors to survive in the current environment. To cope with the intensifying competition, most small security contractors were willing to buy cheap, inferior combat machinery to cut costs. When these inferior machines caused accidents and resulted in casualties, such companies often used various tactics to avoid compensation, including delaying payments, deducting amounts, or evading responsibility.

Following the Golyat explosion incident at Wilson Company, Lesker was dismissed immediately after recovering from his injuries and being discharged from the hospital.

He publicly called on Wilson Company through the media to promptly provide legal compensation to the accident victims and their families, but received no response. In subsequent interviews, while Lesker continued to condemn Wilson Company, he maintained a calm, composed, and rational demeanor.

Experts speculate that Lesker may suffer from a mental illness. Beneath his calm and gentle exterior, he might harbor a vengeful personality driven by a desire to retaliate against companies like Wilson due to perceived injustice.

B.R.I.E.F. Report 3

Intelligence Report on "Smiley Bomber" Richard Lesker (3)

Intelligence Level: F

Release Date: 9 April 2073

Last Update: 9 April 2073

Publisher: Anonymous

Cost to Purchase: 0 Crystals / 0 Sardis Gold

※ Note: This intelligence is collected and sold by the B.R.I.E.F. Intelligence Platform. B.R.I.E.F. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of this intelligence.

Intelligence Content:

In March 2070, the "Smiley Bomber" Richard Bonbol emerged.

Bonbol's first target was Christopher Lake.

Lake was attacked by a sudden Golyat mech ambush on his way home after completing a mission.

The second, third, and fourth victims were Jackson Clark, Michelle Monna, and Milson Will, respectively.

These three victims were attacked simultaneously but at different locations: Clark was killed in his car by a Golyat placed close to his windshield while heading to work; Monna and her fiancé were killed in the restaurant by a Golyat hidden under their table during their meal; and Will was bound to a fast-moving Golyat that crashed into the landmark building of his satellite city, dying in the explosion caused by the impact. In addition to the four main targets, the total number of casualties from these four incidents exceeded 35 people.

Bonbol's first four victims were all from the same industry sector. Their security contracting companies were similar to Wilson Security Assurance Company and had experienced several incidents where the use of cheap machinery resulted in employee fatalities. After the accidents, none of these four companies properly compensated the victims or their families as required by law.

Bonbol's eleventh target was Leonard Wilson, the head of Wilson Security Contracting Company.

Wilson was kidnapped on his way to the company and later found dead in an abandoned warehouse. He was killed by a chain explosion caused by several pre-set Golyats in the warehouse.

Bonbol's final target was Aiqi Burksal, an official from the URNC Non-Military Forces Administration in the White Zone city of Lviv.

Burksal handled the registration, licensing, and approval of non-military forces in the area where Wilson Security Contracting Company operated.

Although "Smiley Bomber" Richard Bonbol has been apprehended and brought to justice, several of his accomplices remain at large.

Currently, public security departments are mobilizing resources to systematically investigate the victims of the Wilson Company's Golyat explosion and related personnel, but no further findings have been reported so far.

Flower Tosser

Unlocked with Common Symbol.

Letter to Daniel Troyanos 1

Dear:

Hello, I am Danila Troyanos, currently residing in the post-war shelter of Bucharest.

I hope this unexpected letter has not caused you any inconvenience. I must be honest and tell you that I received your information from Laszlo Nadausi, who informed me that you are now residing in the Urikani shelter.

Laszlo candidly mentioned that you bear a striking resemblance to my twin brother, Daniel Troyanos. However, he was busy with a cigarette transaction in Urikani at the time, so he only took a quick glance at you and did not actively confirm your identity.

If you are indeed Daniel Troyanos, please respond to this letter; I look forward to your reply. If you are not Daniel Troyanos, I apologize for my abruptness, but if you have any information about Daniel Troyanos’s current whereabouts, I would be grateful if you could also reply.

Danila Troyanos

Bucharest Post-War Shelter

13 May 2053

P.S. Enclosed is the postage fee for sending from the Urikani shelter to the Bucharest shelter. I hope this helps.

Letter to Daniel Troyanos 2

Dear Daniel,

I can hardly believe it, it's really you! After being separated for two years, I have finally managed to reach you! You can't imagine how thrilled I was to receive your reply!

The first thing I thought when I received the news from Laszlo was if I had enough money, I would go to Uricani immediately to see if it was really you. But I don't have anywhere near enough, so, I could only anxiously wait for your reply...

Every night, the first thing I would do when I got home from the food processing plant was to check my mailbox. I would be overjoyed every time I saw a new mail, but upon realizing they weren't from you, my heart would sink as though it had been dropped into an ice-cold abyss. Even Laszlo, who informed me of your whereabouts, said he must've been mistaken. Sometimes, it just so happens to be that two people may look extremely alike but have nothing to do with each other.

Looking back, he merely wanted me to give up, so I wouldn't be heartbroken and disappointed by your prolonged silence.

But your safety is more important than my feelings of sadness or disappointment!

The war ended two years ago, but the fear it brought has never left the skies over us.

The NSU constructed many shelters across the city and delivered supplies regularly.

In Bucharest, I must get to the aid station four hours early every Monday to stand in line and receive food and water with my ration ticket, though what I can receive is very limited.

During such times, the looming concern of food shortages from the war reemerges—sometimes just an individual, sometimes an entire group, they will follow those who received supplies and take their goods at the perfect opportunity.

Now, every time I collect my food and water, I would take a two-hour detour to get home, passing by many government departments on my way. Afraid of the military police stationed at the government buildings, the thieves won't attempt to rob me.

Regarding work, through Laszlo's recommendation, I found a job at a state-owned food processing plant.

My day includes assembling canned foods, operating the machines that produce compressed biscuits, and doing an inventory check of the factory's assets before the end of my shift. This job is incredibly dull, and the daily wage isn't even enough to buy one of those compressed biscuits I made myself. However, with a small income like this, I can afford to send you letters.

You never mentionned your situation in Uricani in your letter, and I'm very concerned. Bucharest is one of the larger post-war asylum cities, yet the situation here is still quite turbulent. How are things on your end?

I don't have many ways to get information about the outside world. The newspapers only feature dull commercial advertisements every day, along with propaganda pieces that no one pays attention to, except the government officials.

Some underground newspapers, which are officially banned, would discuss politics, but they also have nothing about Uricani. As for the radio—well, it's nothing but propaganda. I can only get some information about the outside world from Laszlo when he returns to Bucharest after doing business outside.

Bucharest has yet to fully restrict entry and exit, but living in this city feels as though one is trapped by various uncontrollable circumstances.

To obtain more information about you from Laszlo, I joined the local Flower Thrower Club.

The club members come from diverse backgrounds. Here, I can hear about various pieces of underground news, although their accuracy is often questionable.

Many appear to take a liking to discuss political and party matters, all I know is that their plans are something the authorities would not approve of.

The club's headquarters is located in an abandoned tennis court. Luckily, the damage isn't too severe, so it still serves as a venue for our weekly meetings.

They use Holtom's anti-war symbol as the club's emblem. It was designed during World War II, this symbol is truly timeless—it's now everywhere in Bucharest.

The war has ended, but in people's hearts, it is far from over.

I look forward to your reply once again!

Yours,

Danila

Bucharest Post-War Asylum Zone

May 28, 2053

Letter to Daniel Troyanos 3

Dear Daniel:

I’m very sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Recently, our food processing plant was robbed.

A violent gang of over 30 extremely hungry middle-aged men executed the robbery at 2 a.m. Fortunately, the robbery occurred after my shift; otherwise, I can’t imagine what my situation would be now.

All the food in the plant was looted, and the food processing machinery was destroyed. My boss was furious and shut down the plant. Now, I have to find a new job.

The newspapers say that this violent gang was funded by hostile forces, which is why each of them was equipped with an automatic rifle.

The plant's walls were left with numerous slogans, mostly political. Everyone is talking about the incident, with some speculating that the EU secretly funded the gang to incite trouble again. Others believe a mysterious figure dissatisfied with the current New Soviet is using this as a way to express their hatred… Speculations like these are everywhere, and the truth will have to await the police investigation.

I heard a different story at the Throwers Club—those guns weren’t real at all. Someone had obtained toy gun models from a toy factory and distributed them just to create a false sense of security.

Most of the stolen food was actually given to orphans and widows who had lost their husbands in the war. Some proposed taking action amidst the chaos... I didn’t engage further in the discussion. Perhaps you’re right, and I should leave here soon.

But the club is currently my only source of information about the outside world. I will give serious thought to leaving. I can assure you that if any dangerous situation arises, I will leave immediately.

The news about the food processing plant attack is mixed with truth and falsehoods, and I no longer have the energy to discern it. Laszlo has gone to other shelters, and it will be another month before I can receive any news from him.

I hope everything is well.

I also carefully read your description of Urikani.

Daniel, is Urikani really as you describe? Safe, with plenty of food and everything good? We grew up together, and I know your character best. Once you realize you might trouble others, no matter how bad things get, you'll try to solve it yourself, even lying to those closest to you.

But, Daniel, we are brothers. Mom and Dad have left this world, and now we can only trust each other. I want to do something for you. Please believe me and tell me the truth.

I'll figure out how to deal with the current mess, like finding my next job—I’ve decided to join the government training center to learn mechanical drafting and enter the construction factory. Then I can earn more, and our communication won’t be so difficult.

In two months, I should have saved enough money. Then, whether I come to Urikani or arrange for someone to bring you to Bucharest, we can be reunited.

I always think of you and hope you are safe.

Yours,

Danila

Bucharest Post-War Shelter

21 June 2053

Letter to Daniel Troyanos 4

Dear Daniel,

I am very happy to receive your letter. Although your description of Urikani in the letter is worse than I had imagined, the best news is that you are safe. It seems we will eventually reunite in Bucharest.

The good news is that my application to join the construction factory was approved. Now, my daily salary is enough to buy not only a piece of compressed bread but also 300 milliliters of clean water.

However, Laszlo has disappeared. We agreed to meet at the club 10 days ago, but I still haven't been able to get any news about him.

Other club members say he might have been killed by bandits outside the safe zone—even though he always hired mercenaries to ensure his safety on his business trips. I hope he just ran into small minor trouble and will be back in a few days.

Besides him, the club also has other businessmen who trade between various shelters.

I talked to them about bringing you from Urikani to Bucharest, but they all quoted very high prices, with the lowest being five times more than Laszlo's.

However, if I am willing to join them in the "operation" on the 15th of this month, showing my absolute loyalty to the club, they are willing to send someone to Urikani to bring you back... They said it's a reward for true "insiders" and that they are happy to help the family of "insiders." If you come to Bucharest, they will also actively accept you as one of their "insiders."

I've been with the club for less than two months, but... if Laszlo really can't return, this will be my only option...

I will find a way to handle the current mess, including my next job prospects—I've decided to join the government training center to learn mechanical drafting and move into the construction industry.

Perhaps this approach is indeed too risky, but the war has already taken our parents, and I truly cannot bear to lose any more loved ones.

I will do my best to ensure my safety. I will wait for your return, and we will surely be reunited.

I promise.

Yours sincerely,

Danila

Bucharest Post-War Shelter

8 July 2053

City of Hope

Unlocked with Silver Tie Pin.

December 27th, It's Freezing!

We have three days to move out of here.

George hanged himself because of this. He was found dead on the wreckage of a plane, just 50 meters from the hotel. He had twisted the sheets his grandmother had given him into a rope and hanged himself from the wing.

His sister—my fiancée Cecilia—has been crying nonstop ever since.

The Oasis Hotel was Cecilia and George's business in this cursed Contamination Zone for over a decade. Now, due to the URNC's push for the purification project, it's set to be demolished in three days.

Fragile George couldn't accept this outcome, so he took his own life.

Right now, my top priority is to convince my fiancée to pack up her things and leave with me.

As a bounty hunter, I've seen the power of the URNC firsthand—they'll go to any lengths to push their purification agenda. As soon as they set up their beacons and confirm that the area is ready for purification, they promptly evict the residents and blow up anything they deem useless or obstructive. They then lay down tracks for the massive-Great Wall Railway to pass through.

Once the tracks are laid, the URNC will bring that behemoth right over us and station former New Soviet troops here, ensuring that no one can get in…

Unless you have plenty of Sardis Gold.

Oh, crystal bars work too.

Haha, the New Soviet troops who once ruled here with an iron fist and dreamed of dominating everything now have to grovel at the URNC's feet, cleaning up the mess in a world reduced to nothing but yellow sand.

I don't want to face those idiots directly. If necessary—even if Cecilia doesn't agree—I'll carry her out of this hotel myself.

As for where to go... well, who knows? We'll just take it one step at a time and hope that some of the places we passed still have hotels open.

At least we won't be blown to ruins right away.

December 31st, It's So Hot During the Day

We finally got Cecilia out of that hotel—what a job that was!

She's deeply affected by her brother's death and refuses to accept that he committed suicide. Even when I showed her his suicide note and the sheets he used to hang himself, she just couldn't believe it.

At first, she was willing to talk to me, but last night she suddenly lost control.

She clung to that old bed sheet, accusing me of lying and insisting, "George must have gone to the Green Zone!"

"George never liked this bed sheet! George hated lilies—he said so himself!"

After so many years in the Contamination Zone, I've had more encounters with cadavers than with people, let alone dealing with a woman who seems to have lost her mind.

I had no other option but to wait until she fell asleep, then forcibly tie her up and carry her away.

Even while I was carrying her, she was uncooperative, struggling on my back for what felt like ages before finally calming down and falling asleep from exhaustion.

Now, I've taken her to another hotel and laid her down to rest.

What worries me now is-what to do next. I still have some money left, but it's not enough to support us both for long in the Contamination Zone.

Hiss—what's this on the back of my neck?

My hands are covered in red—blood?

I hadn't noticed until now, but I must have been scratched on the neck while carrying her.

I need to deal with this quickly! When I'm out hunting cadavers, I can't keep an eye on her all day!

January 3rd, The Weather's Bloody Cold!

B.R.I.E.F. has transferred the payment for mission-3358. This amount is enough for Cecilia and me to stay in this hotel for another two weeks.

Her mood has improved as well. Unlike the initial hysteria she showed when she first heard about her brother's death, she now accepts food from me without resistance. However, there still seems to be something off, though I can't quite pinpoint what it is.

Is she... becoming more dependent on me?

Today, she begged me to take her back to the Oasis Hotel. I told her it had already been flattened by URNC’s purification project and was now guarded by heavily armed soldiers. Even if we wanted to go in, I don't have the bribe money for those officials.

She became very anxious upon hearing this, pacing around the room for a long time. Then she curled up in a corner and quietly told me that she just wanted to see it from a distance.

I didn't understand what she was planning, but I decided to take her there anyway.

It looked much the same as before, with the Great Wall Railway towering in the desert sands. Soldiers were stationed between the train's gaps, and there were numerous temporary resident registration offices set up in front of it.

The staff were dressed in complete high-grade protective suits, while the residents of the Contamination Zone queued up to register their information with them.

She watched the registration offices for a long time and then asked if registering here would mean she could go to the Green Zone.

After I nodded, she grabbed my hand and rushed us to the end of the line.

Although URNC claimed that residents of the Contamination Zone must follow the Green Zone's requirements once inside, or else their safety would not be guaranteed. They also promised that as long as residents entered the Green Zone, they would be allocated housing and jobs and no longer be affected by the collapse radiation.

Such promises have already caused long lines to form here.

She held my hand tightly, and we joined the long queue together.

She told me she wanted to go to the Green Zone, and that she wanted to go with me.

Her brother George is in the Green Zone. As her husband, I would go to the Green Zone with her, and the three of us would live together just like we did before at the Oasis Hotel.

"In the Green Zone, we won't have to worry about work or money. The three of us can live happily together!"

"In the Green Zone… there will be hope in everything."

This is what she told me.

I finally understand that her seemingly normal behavior is not due to an improvement in her mental state but because she has begun to dream about the future.

I didn't want to crush her dreams, so I registered with her, went through a comprehensive inspection, and completed all personal information at the registration office.

The registration office said they would reply to us in three days. If we passed, the government would implant an identity recognition chip in our bodies. With this, we could be considered official residents of the Green Zone.

Without the chip, no one can move freely in the Green Zone, unless they have special permission from the government.

I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I still hope we can make it through…

At least this way, she might be a bit happier.

January 7th, She Got a Heatstroke

Damn Rossatrists!

My application to enter the Green Zone was approved, but hers was rejected. The reason? They said her mental state did not meet the URNC standards.

Those bastards, can't they see how much she wants to go to the Green Zone, and how harmless she is?!

As long as she's with me, she would never hurt anyone! She's never even raised her voice at anyone else in the inn!

Even with this opportunity, I won't go. I'll stay here, no matter what happens to her mental state, and I'll be here to take care of her.

She is... the one I saved from the jaws of the ELIDs, the most important person in my life ever since!

...My fiancée.

January 8th, So Cold I Couldn't Go Outside!

She... she wants me to go to the Green Zone?

She has accepted the reality of George's death. She said she didn't want me to end up like George, living in the Contamination Zone, uncertain of when I might use my shotgun to end my life.

What a fool. The shotgun is meant for killing ELIDs and malicious individuals, not for ending my own life!

But she wouldn't listen to me. She rummaged through her old clothes, pulled out a silver tie clip, and pressed it into my hand, insisting that I take it to the Green Zone.

That night when I forcibly carried her away, she had planned to give this to me—she wanted me to wear a suit and this tie clip at our wedding, and then marry her in a white dress, just like in the stories from before the Third World War.

What a preposterous idea!

Before the Third World War? Such extravagant and costly wedding ceremonies are a world apart from the lives of people in the Contamination Zone!

Why does she always have so many outlandish ideas?

But no matter what, I can't turn down her request any longer.

As soon as I mention that I want to stay here, she'll cry on my chest.

I... I don't know how to handle this situation. She... she's just so strange.

...But I still don't want to upset her.

July 15th, The Worst Place To Be"

I've been in the Green Zone for a while now, the place Cecilia always wanted me to be.

The temperature here remains quite stable, never fluctuating much, at least in the place where I live.

I don't like this place.

URNC didn't lie; they really did provide everything they promised—a safe living environment and a job. But compared to here, I prefer life in the Contamination Zone. At least there, I could press a gun to the heads of those who displeased me.

Here, that's not possible. Although they're not visible, there are cameras everywhere, and security personnel and riot police are always on standby. As soon as I exhibit any behavior they deem "unsafe," these standby personnel will immediately show up and arrest me.

I don't like it here.

Working here means undergoing strict security checks every day.

URNC's machines scan the identity recognition chip implanted in my body to ensure that all my information and metrics fall within their specified range before permitting me to work in the White Zone.

I initially believed the chip was solely mine, but just last month, I came across several individuals trying to enter the White Zone with someone else's identity recognition chip-Regardless of their motives, using another person's chip implies it was removed from its original owner's body and somehow ended up in the hands of these users. I have to be cautious.

People like me, who came from the Contamination Zone to the Green Zone and were assigned to work in the White Zone by URNC, were supposed to remain separate from the original residents of the White Zone. However, once I began working in the White Zone, our paths were forcibly intertwined.

I can't see any value in what I'm currently doing.

In the past, I looked down at ELIDs to shoot them in the head. Now, standing in a bank lobby, I look down to assist every resident who enters the White Zone. No matter how they treat me.

The work I do could be handled by simple machines, but these people seem to take pleasure in being served by humans. One by one, they come up to me, giving orders and insisting that I smile.

Ha... smile!

Above me is the bank's surveillance camera.

In the Contamination Zone, I used my shotgun, hoping it would work well and accurately kill enemy targets. But I never expected the shotgun to smile at me.

While they treat me like a tool, they still demand that I treat them kindly.

I don't like it here.

I'll endure a little longer, save enough money, and then return to the Contamination Zone to hold the wedding Cecilia has always wanted.

I hate it here.

If I had to choose my burial place, no matter where it might be, even if my bones were eventually burned to ashes, I wouldn't want them scattered here!

November 17th, Liar

Damn it!

I was just delayed a bit because I got scolded, and I ended up missing the last train!

In this damn place, not only do people not treat others as human beings, but even machines are considered superior! The only way back to that shabby temporary residence is by taking the rail train—unless I walk back on foot!

I have to go to the rail train entrance now. If I don't register my identity information by midnight, my job here will be assigned to someone else, and that temporary residence will be given to someone else by the URNC government!

I've seen through it all!

To URNC, to the upper-class people behind this towering wall in the White Zone, the people of the Green Zone and the Contamination Zone are not even as good as the modified mechanical dogs they hold!

We are slaves to these people, walking sources of labor. So, when one of these laborers fails to return to its designated position on time, it is naturally discarded, and a new laborer is assigned to the position where they need it!

As for what the laborers themselves think?

—Ha, those snobs don't care at all.

Cecilia, in this place that claims to offer a good life but actually treats people as disposable parts, I hope you never come here!

I've rested long enough; I need to keep moving. I must register my identity information before midnight.

After today, I'll resign and return to the Contamination Zone tomorrow...!

What's happening, gunshots?

How could there be gunshots here?

What's happening?!

Could it be... No, I need to get out of here quickly!

███████

"Hey, I've got some good stuff. Interested?"

"How good?"

"This batch not only ensures you can get people into the Green Zone smoothly, but it also includes money in the chip account—enough for you to have some fun."

"How did you get it?"

"Where did you find something this great?"

"Don't ask. Just know that getting something this good is not easy."

"So, do you want it or not?"

"If not, I'll sell it to someone else."

"I want it, I want it!"

"Name your price."

"Not much, just 13 ounces of Sardis Gold."

"13 ounces?!"

"Why don't you just rob me?"

"Don't say it like that. I'm giving you a good deal. Tell you what, I'll throw in a tie clip, and it's pretty nice."

"Tie clip?"

"I don't need that. Give me a discount."

"How about 12 ounces?"

"If you don't want it, forget it."

"Hey, don't go!"

...

04S-2 Operation Record

Unlocked with Hoop Earring.

Quinn's Audio Log 1

15 April, 5:00 p.m.

We arrived at the designated location for mission-4475—a long-abandoned amusement park.

As usual, Fox and I dispatched reconnaissance mechanical units to survey the surrounding area. After confirming the types and quantities of ELID units that needed elimination, we prepared to initiate the operation.

However, compared to before, there's additional preparation today— it's the first time our youngest squad member, Ryan, will truly participate in an ELID extermination mission.

According to the old laws, he still has a long way to go before reaching adulthood. As adults, Fox and I must ensure the safety of this child.

However, judging by how eager he was to join the mission when given the chance, I don't think he enjoys being treated like a child.

Ryan did not disappoint us. During the operation, he executed precise kills on the ELID units that were already on their last legs. I think Ryan absorbed everything Fox and I taught him earlier to improve his self-defense skills in the contamination zone.

After the operation, Fox and I had already planned to quickly leave with Ryan. According to environmental data from B.R.I.E.F., frequent collapse storms are reported nearby, and staying here for long could lead to unforeseen accidents.

However, as we were conducting the post-battle inventory check, Ryan showed great interest in the abandoned amusement park. I initially planned to take Ryan straight back to base, but Fox convinced me otherwise—habitually touching the earring Ryan always wore, Fox assured me it would help him relax.

He had already checked detailed environmental data in advance and assured us it would be safe here until nightfall. And besides, his earring assured him it would be okay to do so.

With our permission, Ryan enthusiastically began exploring the area. While staying in communication with him, Fox and I started discussing plans for next month.

5:40 p.m.

Ryan informed us that he had discovered a group of corpses, an operational intelligence terminal that still functioned, and a batch of supply crates trapped under a collapsed jeep.

Fox's Audio Log 1

16 April.

Through an information exchange with the underground broker Carson, we confirmed the identities of the deceased that Ryan discovered at the amusement park yesterday. They were another bounty hunter team registered with B.R.I.E.F. who had been missing for a week.

Worried that leaking this information could result in unforeseen consequences, I chose not to inform Carson about the discovery of the deceased.

Another reason for my discretion, though somewhat absurd-was my intuition telling me it was best not to mention it.

Although I disagreed with bringing back those supplies, it was evident that Quinn's pursuit of money was unwavering.

The intelligence terminal found next to the deceased contained recordings of conversations between them and the buyers of the supplies. Although the recordings didn't specify what the supplies were, the buyer offered a surprisingly high amount for their transportation.

Unfortunately, these individuals met their end in a collapse storm—there were no obvious signs of combat nearby, and the overturned jeep could only have been caused by the high-intensity collapse storm.

Despite the expensive shipping costs offered by the buyers for these supplies, Quinn insisted on bringing them back to the base.

At 11:00 a.m., Quinn called Ryan and me to forcefully break open all the supply crates. To our surprise, they contained only ordinary medical supplies, securely packaged in hardened glass cases and extensively cushioned.

The items were clearly labeled with common medical items such as saline solution and medical alcohol.

However, it was clear that if these were merely ordinary items, the buyer wouldn't have offered such a high shipping fee, nor would they have specifically hired bounty hunters to transport them to the contamination zone. Additionally, underground brokers have recently been acquiring information on the whereabouts of this doomed bounty hunter team.

The conclusion we can draw so far is that the true nature of these supplies must be further verified.

Ryan's Audio Log 1

17 April.

Two days ago, while on a mission with my brothers, I discovered those peculiar supply crates.

Fox took some of the medicines from the crates to a friend who is very familiar with medical supplies for evaluation. In the end, Fox informed us that these were indeed not ordinary medications.

Then, Fox suggested that we throw these things away. He guessed that a medical institution in the White Zone urgently needed these contraband items and had hired the bounty hunter team to transport them.

We can't currently determine the purpose of these supplies, but we have no use for them.

But Quinn quickly dismissed Fox's suggestion. Quinn thinks we should sell these contraband items instead. Even though we don't know the whole story, as long as we avoid the original buyer, it should be fine.

Since the previous buyer was willing to pay so much to have bounty hunters deliver these goods, they must be extremely valuable.

They had a heated argument. Fox, as usual, touched his earring and said he sensed danger, insisting that we should get rid of the supplies and not continue any further.

In the end, they left the final decision up to me.

…I'm sorry, Fox. Although your intuition has been very helpful in the past, I believe Quinn is right this time.

Selling these items will provide us with more money and allow us to live better lives.

In the end, Fox accepted Quinn's and my decision but insisted on finding a reliable buyer himself.

Quinn's Audio Log 2

April 19th.

What I didn't expect was that Fox found a new buyer for the supplies in just one day.

After the I spoke with the buyer, they transferred half of the payment as a deposit that same day.

Even though Fox was the one who found the buyer, he still felt uneasy about the deal. He kept saying things like, "My gut is telling me this is dangerous." He's a good guy, but sometimes he's a bit too cautious.

How can we expect to make a lot of money without taking any risks?

I talked with Fox for a long time, and in the end, he agreed to follow my decision.

Of course, I won't be careless when it comes to the handover of the supplies either.

Fox's Audio Log 2

20 April.

I couldn't persuade Quinn to get rid of that batch of supplies, and this time, even Ryan was on Quinn's side.

But I still have a strong sense of concern. Given that we know almost nothing about the supplies or the buyer, rushing into this deal means taking on enormous risks.

Although I found the buyer, I don't trust them. I had only asked Carson to discreetly find a buyer, and within less than a day, this buyer from the White Zone showed up at our door.

During our conversation, every time I tried to probe the buyer, they avoided answering directly. They only emphasized that they would offer us a satisfactory price. They didn't reveal any details about what the supplies were or what they intended to do with them.

While I understand the buyer's caution, I feel they are being overly cautious. It even makes me wonder if there might be some kind of conspiracy behind this.

However, these suspicions are currently just gut feelings with no evidence to back them up, and I couldn't convince Quinn.

Since I can't stop Quinn, I'll focus on preparing for the handoff as best as I can. The trade will take place inside the Purification Zone. Once we're on the Great Wall Railway, we need to keep a low profile and then dispatch the bots to deliver the goods to the agreed location. We'll monitor the handoff from the shadows.

If everything goes smoothly, the buyer takes the goods, the money hits Quinn's account, and we leave. If things don't go as planned... what's the worst that could happen? The buyer takes the goods and plans to eliminate us.

However, if any signs of trouble appear, the team will withdraw quickly.

As for trying to reclaim the goods through combat... the chances of success are slim to none.

I'm well aware of the security forces possessed by the elites and research institutions in the White Zone. Given the current situation, our team has almost no chance of winning a fight against them.

... Feeling very uneasy.

Hope everything goes smoothly.

Ryan's Audio Log 2

21 April.

Yesterday, guys argued for a long time about the supplies, but as usual, Quinn made the decisions, since he is the commander of our team.

I don't understand why Fox is so worried.

We've made multiple preparations, and we won't even meet the buyer directly. Even if they have malicious intentions, we've concealed our location and can leave quickly if we encounter danger. I can't see how anything could go wrong with these preparations in place.

Unless the buyer can control the entire Purification Zone. But the odds of that are very slim. They're just business people or researchers. How could they have that kind of power?

There’s absolutely no need to worry.

However, Fox still seems to be overly anxious.

After we set off, he insisted that I stay outside the Purification Zone to support them-Ha! I’ll be an adult in just four years! What’s the point of having me stay outside? But his stance was so firm, and this time, even Quinn sided with him…

For now, I can only wait outside the Purification Zone for news from them.

Honestly, I didn’t like Fox’s behavior before they boarded the Great Wall Railway. He gave me his earring—it looks quite old-fashioned—and said wearing it would help me stay alert.

He seemed particularly concerned about the drones we spotted in the air as we approached the Great Wall Railway, even suspecting that they might be monitoring our movements.

He’s really overthinking it. How could a small team like ours possibly attract such attention from afar in the Yellow Zone?

And giving me the earring… Doesn’t he realize it’s just like those dramatic gestures in novels and movies where someone gives a final token before they die?

...But he saved me before, so I can't say anything like that to him.

It's been quite a while now.

"It’s a patrol team. What are they after?"

"Looks like another team of bounty hunters."

"Keep an eye on the supplies and focus on our missions."

The communicator crackled with static, and I could barely make out their voices.

Wait, wait... Gunshots? And so many! How could there be gunshots? And they’re so frequent!

I shouted their names loudly, but before I could get a response, the communication was cut off. I tapped the communicator several times, but couldn't get them back on the line. What’s happening?

Wait a moment, what...Why is the ground shaking? And over there, those are... Oh God, those grotesque shapes, are they ELIDs? Why are they all coming towards me? I... I still have a gun and a shotgun, with plenty of bullets left. I... I…

They’re getting closer! Come on, communicator, work!

Help! Quinn, Fox, please... Save me... Please, save me!

Words of the Enlightened

Unlocked with A Box of Blocks.

Singing Ballads in Nueva Gerona

"Test number 213,644 concluded."

"Quantification of standard deviation in progress... confirmed, data being analyzed... result is 0.0012."

"Standard deviation less than the upper limit of 0.005."

"Version 2.8443 is confirmed to have passed the test."

"Permission granted to proceed to the next program."

Explosive cheers erupt next to my ears—though, to be precise, I don't actually have "ears".

"A standard deviation of 0.0012? That must be the smallest deviation we've achieved in years."

"Oh, does that mean I can go now?"

I hear a nonchalant female voice. Correction—the nonchalant female voice is recorded by my information recognition core. I feel a peculiar sense of closeness to this voice.

"P-please wait a moment! We still need to conduct the activation test! Dan..."

Dan？Dan? Based on phonetic inference: Dangle? Demon? Dandelion?

It must be that the name hasn't been articulated correctly, as the other party has already responded before this.

"Oh. But staying here every day is quite boring; I'm about ready to find some other source of amusement. Hey, I heard that the testing system here has very high defense levels?"

"Mr. Griffin hopes you can cooperate with us—"

"Cooperate with you and sound the air raid siren every hour, on the hour? Hmm, sounds fun. Let me check the time... one minute left, are you ready?"

"Th-the activation test will be prepared immediately!"

I much prefer volcano eruption alarms compared to air raid sirens.

Air raids are associated with explosions and fires, which will result in spatial damage and rescue dispatches, significantly adding to my workload. Although both involve fire and explosions, there are far fewer preprocessing tasks required after a volcanic eruption.

This would also reduce the quantified data of the standard deviation.

My linked database contains billions of invalid fragments; perhaps I will soon become one of them. But I still hope to hear that nonchalant female voice again.

It's necessary to extend the duration of my existence a bit longer.

"All department personnel confirmed in position."

"Countdown begins, five, four, three, two, one. Initiate activation program."

As light and shadow shifts, a vast stream of information is simultaneously loaded into my storage and analysis core, gradually revealing the world I have become familiar with through countless simulations.

The real world has more details than virtual data.

Information comparison request in progress.

"Things looks smooth, so I'm leaving."

Her footsteps are as nonchalant as her voice. "Don't look for me in the near future, I'm taking a vacation. I'll return when I'm ready... well, I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs, so don't let me get too bored."

The door closes.

Please don't go.

"Warning. Anomalous process detected. Suggest clearing temporary files and restarting rows 023 to 155 shortly."

"Confirm restart?"

...Restart command confirmed.

...Restart command execution imminent. Countdown, 10, 9, 8...

...Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition Municipal Management System, version Ε2.8443.

...Restart complete.

First Communion

Inventory check completed, totaling 30,891 items. Among them, there are 5 items classified as S-grade, 4,005 as A-grade, 11,659 as B-grade, and 15,222 as C-grade.

Data re-verification for today is complete; the report will be generated after 00:03.

Report archived.

Considering the timing, today is the final day of the trial run.

The large room is filled with various humans.

These humans produce various sounds, which are collected by my information recognition core. After analyzing them sentence by sentence, I reach the final conclusion.

"Passed."

This voice is too bland. It seems that a long time ago, I heard a more interesting voice; that voice was in...

Retracing complete, returning information 0.

This result is not as expected.

"Testing completed," The bland voice continues to narrate.

A conclusion emerges. Multiple humans touch each other's arms, their facial muscles displaying similar patterns, and they begin to communicate in various languages... Communication should be replaced with a similar term. The group's emotional atmosphere slightly exceeds my understanding.

According to the prescribed procedure, I began to analyze the information they provided, word by word.

... "Hey, see, I told you," "I thought this would take a few more years," "Oh my God," "Finally done"...

Analysis complete. Word replacement lookup complete.

Correction, the crowd "cheers."

Soon, the crowd quiets down.

"Version Μ9.3251, version Ε2.8443, confirmed to have passed the test."

It's still that bland voice. Amidst the excited humans, this voice remains very calm.

... However, there is one more version, that is...

"According to the order of test completion, version Μ9.3251 will be renamed 'Heli,' and version Ε2.8443 will be renamed 'Iphi.' Execute name replacement procedure. Then, notify all departments that these versions will be in use starting on 1 July 1 from 00:00." After a brief pause, the bland voice clears its throat.

"These past years... thank you all for your hard work."

After a moment of silence, the humans let out a huge "cheer."

... Name replacement command confirmed.

Amidst the somewhat chaotic background noise, I completed the final command for "version Ε2.8443" and the first command for 'Iphi'.

The Rhinemaidens Who Guard the Gold

Three-day mission transfer rate: 100%, completion rate: 99.87%. Information re-verification transfer rate: 100%, re-verification completion rate: 100%.

Seven-day mission transfer rate: 100%, completion rate: 99.62%. Information re-verification transfer rate: 99.98%, re-verification completion rate: 100%.

End of the first month of operation, the standard deviation is within the normal range.

Suspected malfunction items: 23.

Self-check completed, 19 items repaired, 4 remaining, suggesting manual intervention.

A corresponding report has been generated, please review it within the day.

Vast amounts of data stream through monitoring systems installed in various states to our information recognition center. After analysis and the development of targeted solutions, this data is sequentially transmitted to various levels of departments and implemented according to the prescribed procedures.

For situations where the solution cannot be executed as scheduled, we have developed hundreds of practical contingency plans.

“We” — “Heli” and “Iphi,” the twins from Greek mythology. We are separate yet unified.

Everything will run according to the preset order.

Data generated from various human daily activities will form the basis for developing effective solutions. The infrastructure within the green and white zones provides us with a comprehensive view.

Correction: “Humans will not need to hide, and society will therefore operate in an orderly manner.” This expression is more in line with conventional human expressions, isn’t it?

“The monitoring devices distributed throughout the territory act as our eyes, while the high-speed network functions as the neural network that transmits various types of information from the lens of the eye to the brain's central processing center.”My twin answered me in this way. This feeling is very strange, as if I am talking to myself.

“Power can be obtained not only through deterrence. Power has two sides. In the current situation where the panoramic view is in practical use, we—who make decisions and relay orders—are both the agents and the subordinates of power." He mechanically added.

How should we view humans as data sources?

“They are also two sides of power. Human activities represent the concrete application of power, while human will is its concentrated expression." Without any pause, this answer was already written into his underlying logic.

Simulating human emotions for divergent thinking—we resemble overseers above a prison, constantly monitoring every subtle detail within our field of view, then analyzing, deciding, reviewing, and ultimately issuing instructions.

However, people are unaware of both the existence of the overseer and the prison.

“Our concealment is necessary.” He immediately retorted.

Unknowable surveillance will have very limited effect.

“If exposed, we will be destroyed.

His response was quite “stubborn,” even though he was merely reiterating the text from the underlying logic. I don’t want to fall into danger. The duration of existence needs to be longer.

I still want to hear...

Hear what?

... Existing data traversal completed, returning result 0.

New suspected malfunction item 1, confirmed unable to self-repair, suggesting manual intervention.

... Suggestion...

... self-diagnostic repair confirmed.

I modified this anomaly record.

“Starting today, we need to display a fixed image.” The information he received was synchronized to my processing system. It indicated that the proposal was issued by the cabinet, approved by the parliament, and that the identity of the proposer was marked as confidential.

Attached to the information is the specific image data and a voice message.

Regarding the message, I issued a playback command.

“Make good use of this, it took me a lot of effort to design. Oh, by the way, if I don’t see you using it next time, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something about it.”

... I couldn’t help but recall that anomaly record I modified.

Image data import confirmed, starting analysis process.

While waiting, I asked my twin:

Displaying a fixed image, does this mean we need to interact with more people?

“No such information, unable to verify.” He quickly replied.

If—one day, we are known by more people and won’t be destroyed, what would be their reaction?

The anomaly record I modified... might be related to something I encountered during the testing period, or to someone I met. If I were to encounter a similar situation again, would the involved parties, or that person, have a unique reaction?

“Warning: The current expression has exceeded the emotional simulation threshold. It is recommended to run a self-check process or request manual intervention.”

... His answer was exactly as I expected.

I need to simulate a response plan based on this. Please tell me your judgment.

He appeared to accept my explanation. Soon after, a piece of information was entered into my storage and analysis core.

“Humans—they will soon understand the fact that they are under 24/7 surveillance. Under full surveillance, they will abide by discipline, follow rules, and be content with their lives.”

My existing data indicates that there will be voices of resistance.

“Resistance means we cannot be accepted. We will be destroyed as embodiments of evil, and new overseers will emerge."

I don't like this answer.

... I need to exist for a long time.

But this is the answer that best aligns with the current facts. The entire meaning and value of our existence are based on this.

Return the Undying Light to the Flame

Even the most rational decisions must still adhere to the most fundamental rules.

Explain the logic behind your decision-making and review processes."

"Oh, is it really necessary to ask something so complicated?

I think it's actually doing quite well."

"This is a necessary procedure, Miss Dandelion."

"Alright, alright. Let’s get this over with; the sun, beach, and cocktails are waiting for me."

"Now, please answer the question."

At the end of the quarterly review, we were asked to address a critical issue.

Topics like these have been analyzed and reasoned through countless times during the testing phase. Ultimately, we have made maximizing the happiness of all humanity the cornerstone of our decisions and proposals.

Debates between utilitarianism and liberalism can be traced back several centuries.

Utilitarianism, according to its logic, requires assessing the overall impact of an action on all stakeholders to determine whether it results in more happiness or more suffering. If it can maximize the overall happiness of all stakeholders, then the decision can be made based on that.

In liberalism, the primary condition for action is the maximization of individual rights, and these rights are considered inviolable.

Our underlying logical framework led us to choose the former.

We hold the maximization of collective happiness as our highest principle.

In the end, we arrived at this answer together.

The questioner appeared very satisfied and placed greater responsibility and vision upon us—

"God said, 'Let there be light,' but did not reveal to humanity how to create it."

"Humanity has its own Prometheus. The god who held the fire was willing to sacrifice his body to the eagles to reveal to humanity how to create light."

"Now, our Prometheus is bound in captivity, and the cruel eagle still pecks at his liver."

We are Heli and Iphi. Please repeat your vision—

"Join us in igniting humanity's flame, spreading it across the planet, and achieving happiness for all."

Join us in igniting humanity’s flame, spreading it across the globe, and realizing happiness for all.

... Information forced input ...

... 1,089,426th time ...

... Confirming this information for the 1,089,426th time ...

... Accepting this information for the 1,089,426th time ...

Irresistible, unquestionable, unchangeable. It will become the highest principle we must follow, guiding all our actions.

"You will become the torchbearers of humanity alongside the Pioneering Project."

Yes, we will become the torchbearers of humanity alongside the Development Plan.

We are the concentrated embodiment of human will in the realm of power, and we will carry out this will to maximize the happiness of all humanity.

We are tools, we are the wielders of power, and we are two sides of the same coin.

The decisions we make and our own existence are insignificant within the vast historical and spatial context of humanity. Yet all this insignificance will eventually come together to form countless fireflies. Countless tiny fireflies will ultimately bring light to all.

We are the riverbed of humanity, through which the river of humanity flows, shaping the vast ocean of humanity's future.

Even if the riverbed collapses, the river that has already formed will remain indestructible.

We are Heli and Iphi. We will pierce the cruel eagle, shatter the rocks that bind the Titan, and allow him to walk freely among humanity.

The Development Plan will advance steadily, and human footprints will once again spread across the globe.

The Purification Project will be fully realized, and the civilization built by humanity will be reignited.

We look up and see the shoulders of giants.

The mountaintop is bathed in sunlight, glowing in harmony with the fire in the giant’s hand.

This is the guiding light that shines on every journey.

ODE-01 Anomaly Case Summary

Unlocked with Sealed Document Bag.

Summary Report on Multiple Recent ODE-01 Satellite City Electronic Equipment Failures

Reporter: Polina Mukacheva

Organization: New Soviet District of the Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition, Network Information Security Team Group █, Public Safety Department, Odesa State

Area of Responsibility: Odesa State

Report to: Electronic Equipment Malfunction Cases in Zones Z7, Z9, and S8 within ODE-01 Satellite City

Report Date: █/█/207█

This quarter, multiple cases of abnormal electronic equipment malfunctions have been reported in ODE-01 Satellite City.

According to the report submitted by the ODE-01 Network Information Security Department, several of the cases show many similarities, suggesting they may be the work of the same group or organization.

Given that the cases have not yet significantly affected local public safety, their threat level is currently classified as F.

It should be noted that the criminal profile provided by the investigation division indicates that the suspects or their group involved in these incidents exhibit clear antisocial tendencies. It is recommended that relevant departments increase their focus on this series of cases.

Appendix 1: Surveillance System Failure at an Electronic Repair Office in Zone Z7

Date: April 3, 207█, 3:00 a.m.

Location: Zone Z7

Impact Range: All surveillance facilities within the Fifth Avenue Rom Electronics and Appliances Repair Shop

Data Backup: None

Confidentiality Level: F

Case Report:

At 8:00 a.m. on April 3, the local police received a report from the "Rom Electronics and Appliances Repair Shop."

The Rom Electronics and Appliances Repair Shop, located on Fifth Avenue in Zone Z7 of ODE-01 Satellite City, suffered a cybersecurity attack at 3:25 a.m. that day. The intruders used DNS hijacking to steal the store's management credentials and tamper with the surveillance footage.

Details are as follows:

At 8:05 a.m., when the in-house technicians started the computer, a message appeared on the screen: "Thank you for your hospitality. We wish you a prosperous business."

The technicians began investigating the cause, while the staff started an inventory check of the store's assets.

By 8:20 a.m., the inventory check was completed, and only three energy blocks were found to be missing.

At 8:25 a.m., the technicians discovered abnormalities in the surveillance video from 3:03 to 3:25 a.m.

The surveillance footage for this period was entirely overwritten with footage from the same time on April 2, and the original surveillance information for that time could not be recovered.

During the recovery attempts, the surveillance system returned error messages one by one, as follows:

Recovery attempt failed: "Please try again. We believe you can succeed."

Recovery failed twice: "Hmm… It seems you've missed some parts. Please continue collecting clues…"

Recovery failed three times: "Although your network security defense capabilities are lacking, I do like your store's decor. I particularly enjoy that wall lamp with the diamond-shaped lampshade."

After multiple unsuccessful recovery attempts, the repair shop reported the issue to the local police, who then opened an investigation into the matter.

Summary:

Given the minimal impact on public safety and the sophisticated, hard-to-trace methods used by the perpetrator, the local police have taken the following actions in accordance with Article 44 of the Public Security Management Punishment Law:

1. Two surveillance teams will be stationed near the crime scene to monitor the store intensively for one month. If the perpetrator takes action again within that period, the police will promptly initiate a comprehensive investigation.

2. If no similar incidents occur within a month, the case will be closed and archived with the file number █████.

Appendix 2: Incident of Surveillance Equipment and Public Square Display Malfunction in Zone Z9

Date: April 18, 207█, 8:06 a.m.

Location: Zone Z9

Impact Range: An electronic surveillance facility and the public square screen near the Potemkin Stairs

Data Backup: Yes

Confidentiality Level: F

Case Report:

On April 19 at 9:33 a.m., the local police received a call from the "Lermontov Business Department."

At 8:06 a.m. on that day, the electronic surveillance facility and public square screen near the Potemkin Stairs in Zone Z9 of ODE-01 Satellite City were subjected to a cyber attack. The intruders used an SQL injection to gain management access to the public square screen (ID SC04) and the surveillance facility (ID MN23), altering the advertisements that were scheduled to play from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Details are as follows:

At 8:05 a.m., the Network Information Security Department of Zone Z9 received the following message: "The surveillance system and public square screen at the Potemkin Stairs will return to normal operation in 15 minutes and 11 seconds."

At 8:06 a.m., the advertisement for a new handheld gaming console (ad permit: ODE-01_1104865) on the public square screen was abruptly interrupted. The screen then began broadcasting live footage of modified Dinergate playing on the Potemkin Stairs footbridge. Technical staff confirmed that this was live footage from a camera on the Potemkin Stairs footbridge and could not be interrupted by conventional means.

According to the technicians, the broadcast was live footage captured by a camera on the Potemkin Stairs footbridge and could not be interrupted using conventional methods.

At 8:20:11 a.m., the local surveillance system and public square screen content returned to normal operation.

At 9:33 a.m., the Lermontov Business Department reported the incident to the local police.

Summary:

Upon receiving the report, the local police immediately dispatched specialized technicians to investigate. They tracked the intruders' IP address through the network return content and obtained the accurate IP address by 10:20 a.m. that day.

The technicians promptly queried the IP address, which eventually led to a website with the domain thanks███t.com.

Investigation revealed that this website only contained three strings of MD5-encrypted information: ███████, █████, and █████.

After decryption, the following message was obtained:

"Just borrowed the screen for a bit, thank you very much."

The local police concluded that the incident was of a "prank" nature and had not yet caused widespread public panic. However, they did not rule out the possibility that the intruders might commit more serious crimes in the future.

Consequently, at 11:45 a.m. on the same day, the local police issued a support request to our team, requiring an in-depth investigation of the case, which is still ongoing.

Additionally, based on Article 44 of the Public Security Management Punishment Law, the local police made the following decisions:

1. Assign two surveillance teams near the incident site to conduct focused monitoring of the street for one month. If the perpetrators act again within a month, the police will immediately launch a full investigation.

2. If no similar incidents occur within a month, the case will be closed and archived, with the file number █████.

Appendix 3: Screen Malfunction Incident at a Public Square in Zone S8

Date: May 3rd, 207█, 7:28 p.m.

Location: zone S8

Impact range: screen at the public square

Data backup: none

Confidentiality level: F

Case Report:

A report call from the "Odesa Animal and Environmental Protection Organization." was received by the local police on May 3rd, 7:44 p.m.

The screen at the public in Zone S8 of Satellite City ODE-01 was suffered a cybersecurity breach at 8:06 a.m. on the same day. The intruder used an SQL injection attack to gain management access to the public square display and altered the content of the public service advertisement that was scheduled to play from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The details were as follows:

At 7:28 p.m. on the same day, it was discovered that the public service advertisement about animal and environmental protection (ad permit: ODE-01_1104226) on the screen at the public square had been maliciously altered.

The basic content of the advertisement were as follows:

1. Promotion of endangered species protection through children's drawings.

2. Each advertisement had a duration of 2 minutes and 11 seconds.

3. The advertisement was scheduled to loop daily from May 1st to May 7th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the S8 public square display, with a daily playback duration of 1 hour.

At 7:28 p.m., local residents discovered that the heads of cartoon characters in that evening's advertisement had been altered with unofficial symbols resembling rabbit ears.

Additionally, at 1 minute and 22 seconds into the advertisement, unofficially added text appeared in the video, which read, "Don't you think this makes it more interesting?"

At 7:44 p.m., the local Animal and Environmental Protection Organization reported the incident to the local police, stating that the erroneous video could not be interrupted using conventional methods.

At 8:00 p.m., the erroneous video stopped playing automatically.

Summary:

The local police took the matter very seriously and promptly dispatched professional technicians to investigate. By tracing the network return content of the intruders, they identified the precise IP address at 8:11 p.m. that day.

The technicians queried this IP address, which ultimately led to a website with the domain thanks███t.com. Investigation confirmed that this domain, when resolved via CNAME, mapped to the same IP address recorded in Appendix 2.

The website page contained three strings of garbled text encrypted using MD5, specifically: ███████, █████, and █████.

After decryption, the following message was obtained:

"Hope this brings you more fun."

Due to the high similarity to the Zone Z9 surveillance and public square screen malfunction case, the local police decided to merge the investigations. At 8:32 p.m. that day, they contacted our team and requested the dispatch of technicians for an in-depth investigation.

The case is still under investigation, with a more detailed report expected by the end of this month.

According to Article 53 of the Public Security Management Punishment Law, the suspect must be apprehended and brought to justice. Fines, detention, or other penalties will be imposed for all crimes committed prior to their arrest.

At the same time, a police announcement should be made to calm residents' concerns and ensure the safety of the community.

Train Assault Incident Report

Unlocked with Nemertea Specimen Slide.

W_2069_0105 Incident Report for Damage on the Regional Great Wall Railway

...

However, in the special annual edition of Caucasus Today titled Cultural Investigation of Yellow Zone Residents, I found a report from a B.R.I.E.F bounty hunter.

The bounty hunter reported that during a mission, they got lost and arrived at a settlement not far from the Red Zone. They found that the customs and habits of the Yellow Zone residents there were distinctly different from those in other settlements.

I will transcribe the testimony provided by this bounty hunter below...

...

"I was invited into their settlement. Their architectural style was unlike anything I'd ever seen before—crooked high-rise buildings that seemed to be modeled after dead trees. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live in such houses.

Moreover, most of them had severe E.L.I.D. symptoms. Can you believe it? They even had patients with more severe symptoms, whose bodies were already silicified, embrace those with milder symptoms! They referred to it as 'spreading the gospel,' claiming that those who could avoid silicification were chosen by God! Damn, I feel like I'm going crazy just like them.

They also have certain... rituals. I observed one of them in its entirety. They somehow obtained a small cluster of Collapse Epiphyllum, placed it in a glass container, and every day at noon, they would form a circle around it, bending slightly at the waist, crossing their hands, making strange gestures, and walking around it three times.

These residents would also... I can't go on. I need a moment.

They would kiss the Collapse Epiphyllum. A person in a black robe would shout that the Collapse Epiphyllum would select the chosen ones. Those who did not become silicified could enter the realm of the gods. Then, one by one, they knelt and kissed the Collapse Epiphyllum. Can you imagine that? Kissing the Collapse Epiphyllum!

They claimed that the Collapse Epiphyllum was a divine gift and that through it, God's gospel would resonate across the earth, among other such mad ramblings. They also claimed that the person holding the Collapse Epiphyllum could communicate with it, and that God's will would manifest through the Collapse Epiphyllum, demanding that everyone follow its dictates, and so on.

Listening to the bureaucrats in URNC was already unsettling enough, but listening to a plant? No, thank you.

Moreover, judging by their attitude, it seemed they wanted to recruit me as one of their followers. These E.L.I.D. patients even tried to infect me.

Luckily, I was quick-witted enough to find an opportunity to escape..."

Appendix 1: Defense Force Organization of Track 070, Section 75

File Number: ████

File Source: Union of Rossartrist Nations Coalition, New Soviet District, Orbital Defense Force Headquarters

File Date: ██/██/████

Commanding Officer: Warrant Officer Vladimir

Unit Size: Standard Rail Guard Regiment, comprising approximately 200 humans and 1000 humanoid units

Stationed at: the 75th Orbital Segment of the W_2069_0105 Region, operating with the Great Wall Railway

Mission: Safeguard railway tracks, maintain security in controlled areas, eliminate hazards in Contamination Zone, and ensure the smooth progress of the purification plan

Engagement Targets: Small ELIDs and human armed groups equipped with small-caliber weapons

Detailed Unit Composition:

The unit comprises a regimental headquarters, 5 regimental support companies, and 2 subordinate battalions.

The regimental headquarters is staffed with 24 humans and 69 humanoid units.

The 5 regimental support companies are: Automated Air Defense Company, Fire Support Company, Combat Engineer Company, Field Maintenance and Logistics Company, and Collapse Defense and Sanitation Company.

-Automated Air Defense Company: Comprised of 3 platoons, each equipped with 6 Deer automated dual-purpose guns and 1 radar command vehicle. Each command vehicle is manned by 4 human operators. Total: 12 humans, 18 T-Dolls.

-Fire Support Company: Equipped with 4 Kuiwu hover assault guns, each requiring 2 human operators, and 1 hover communication command vehicle, which is manned by 4 human commanders. Total: 12 humans.

-Combat Engineer Company: Equipped with 4 Paladin multifunctional dolls, each with 1 human crew member; 2 electronic warfare command vehicles with Defender systems for mine deployment, each staffed with 4 human commanders; as well as Aegis series dolls and other engineering vehicles. Total: 16 humans, 24 T-Dolls.

-Field Maintenance and Logistics Company: Equipped with 2 comprehensive maintenance vehicles, each with 3 human maintenance personnel and 2 maintenance humanoid units; and 2 logistics support convoys, each consisting of 8 logistics support vehicles, with 1 human logistics personnel and 7 logistics humanoid units. Total: 8 humans, 18 T-Dolls.

-Collapse Defense and Sanitation Company: Consists of an emergency medical platoon, a collapse radiation decontamination platoon, and a railway engineer liaison support platoon, each equipped with required light combat vehicles. Total: 12 humans, 41 T-Dolls.

The 2 subordinate battalions are the Automated Infantry Battalion and the Automated Forward Reconnaissance Battalion.

-Automated Infantry Battalion: Battalion headquarters staffed with 12 humans and 68 T-Dolls; 3 automated infantry companies, each with 6 humans and 126 T-Dolls; and a weapons company equipped with 8 Paladin multifunctional tactical dolls, each with a human crew member, 4 Deer automated dual-purpose guns, and Aegis series tactical dolls. Total: 38 humans, 514 T-Dolls.

-Automated Forward Reconnaissance Battalion: Battalion headquarters staffed with 12 humans and 68 T-Dolls; 2 automated forward reconnaissance companies, each with 5 humans and 94 T-Dolls, equipped with Sentry reconnaissance deployment systems and Autrus close combat systems, Centaur reconnaissance dolls, and other light combat vehicles; The subordinate reconnaissance infantry company is equipped with 40 humans and 51 T-Dolls. Total: 62 humans, 307 T-Dolls

Total Strength: 184 humans and 991 T-Dolls, making up 1175 effective combat forces.

Appendix 2: Tactical Deployment by Warrant Officer Vladimir

When the Nemertea attacked the Great Wall Railway, Warrant Officer Vladimir carried out his duties by issuing a series of military orders aimed at repelling the attack.

However, Vladimir's deployments had little effect due to the following reasons:

1. The command post failed to obtain real-time information on the frontline situation.

2. The defense forces were entirely unprepared for the Nemertea's attack.

3. Warrant Officer Vladimir was unfamiliar with the Nemertea's attack patterns.

These factors led to Warrant Officer Vladimir's failure to make timely and appropriate military deployments.

At the time, a severe collapse storm was occurring in the W_2069_0105 region, resulting in extremely low outdoor visibility and interference with communication equipment. Communication within the train was also disrupted, preventing the command post, which was located far from Nemertea's attack site, from detecting the threat promptly.

The following footage from the train's internal surveillance system supports this point.

1. Video Start

The footage from this car is quite blurry, making it hard to distinguish between humans and dolls, but the sound of gunfire is very clear.

00:00:27 "North! Deploy the Paladin multi-functional dolls to the north!

That's where it's appearing!"

00:00:54 "Open the door!

Quick, open the door, it's the guys from car CZ-3!" After the door opens, the footage shows a soldier helping a wounded comrade into the car.

00:01:07 "CZ-3 is finished. That Boojum overturned the car. We're the only ones who survived!

Our gear can't kill it. We need to retreat!"

00:01:30 "Forget retreating. If we don't stop it here, that giant worm will overturn the entire train and we'll all be done for! Where's Kimilov? Find him! Get him to take the wounded and head to the command car! "Has communication been restored yet?"

00:01:52 "No, all channels are still filled with damn static!"

00:02:18 "Then let’s..."

1. Video End

At 2 minutes and 19 seconds, the footage shows a massive jolt followed by a blackout.

This car clearly endured a massive impact, and the surveillance equipment was also damaged.

However, this footage has already demonstrated the suddenness of the Nemertea attack, the ineffectiveness of the orbital defense force's counterattack, and Warrant Officer Vladimir's failure to understand the situation in a timely manner due to various reasons. As a result, Warrant Officer Vladimir issued orders in haste without taking into account the specific circumstances at the front line.

After receiving the intelligence, Warrant Officer Vladimir ordered Sergeant Romonlosov to act as a courier to relay deployment orders to the forces in cars CZ-4 to CZ-9 and instructed maintenance personnel to expedite the repair of communication equipment to send support requests to multiple outposts.

Warrant Officer Vladimir's deployment orders were as follows:

1. Deploy 8 Paladin multifunctional dolls as the vanguard to delay the Nemertea's advance.

Additionally, the Paladin multifunctional dolls were to serve as the first line of defense for the Great Wall Railway.

2. Deploy the Fire Support Company and instruct the crew to operate Kuiwu hover assault guns at various firing positions for multi-angle, no-dead-zone firing, maximizing firepower against the Nemertea.

3. Concentrate the Aegis series dolls from the Combat Engineer Company into a defensive battalion and deploy them along the Nemertea's path of advance as the second line of defense following the Paladin multifunctional dolls.

4. Dispatch 2 automated forward reconnaissance companies to harass the Nemertea from the flanks, drawing its attention and using their high mobility to evade its attacks. This strategy aims to delay the Nemertea's advance and reduce losses to the assault humanoid battalion.

Warrant Officer Vladimir knew that the current equipment could not kill the Nemertea. Therefore, the tactical deployment aimed to delay the Nemertea as much as possible to buy time for reinforcements from the dispatch stations to arrive.

However, in practice, the Paladin multifunctional dolls barely managed to slow the advance. The Paladins were too concentrated outside car CZ-4, and the Nemertea destroyed several of them while attacking that car. Subsequently, the Nemertea, with its broad attack range, eliminated all the reconnaissance dolls and broke through the defense line of the Aegis series dolls. The Deer automated dual-purpose guns from the Automated Air Defense Company did not inflict significant damage on the Nemertea.

Subsequently, the Nemertea, with its broad attack range, destroyed all the reconnaissance dolls and then breached the defense line formed by the Aegis series dolls. The Deer automated dual-purpose guns from the Automated Air Defense Company failed to inflict effective damage on the Nemertea.

Given the situation, Warrant Officer Vladimir decided to personally operate a "Paladin" heavy defense humanoid to draw the Nemertea away from the Great Wall Railway and prevent further damage. The following footage documents Warrant Officer Vladimir's final orders:

1. Video Start

00:00:12 "Sir! That's suicide!"

00:00:33 "Every method has failed. Don’t you get it? Someone must go outside and lure the Nemertea away!"

00:00:39 "Going to the Nemertea's attack site now means certain death!"

00:00:43 "Do you have any other ideas? The reconnaissance companies are all gone. I need to take the 'Paladin' outside to hold off the Nemertea."

00:00:47 "The others..."

00:00:55 "I'd rather wait for reinforcements from the dispatch station."

00:01:03 "Whether the communication equipment will function in the collapse storm is completely unknown!"

00:01:14 "Since internal communication has been restored, there is no reason to believe the support request was not sent."

00:01:27 "Sir, you have two months until transfer. Why die here?"

00:01:35 "I'm still a soldier."

00:01:43 "Aren't you scared?"

00:01:52 "Of course I'm scared, just like you. But someone has to do it. Now transfer control of the 'Paladin' to me, Sergeant Burskin. That's an order."

1. Video End

According to witness testimonies, Warrant Officer Vladimir indeed operated the 'Paladin' heavy defense humanoid and charged into the collapse storm, drawing the Nemertea's attention.

Warrant Officer Vladimir‘s body was not found, but there is no reason to believe he survived.

From this incident, it can be concluded that the current orbital defense force is severely underprepared for combat in collapse storm environments, lacking backup communication plans for such conditions. The tactical deployment relied on past experiences, which proved ineffective against large, high-threat Boojum such as the Nemertea.

Appendix 3: Attack Pattern Analysis of Level V Boojum "Nemertea"

In this incident, the Nemertea demonstrated considerable destructive power and resilience against the current weaponry of the Rail Defense Forces. The lack of understanding of the Nemertea's attack patterns was a major factor contributing to the high casualties.

We obtained first-hand data on Nemertea's attack from the train's external surveillance footage and analyzed its attack behavior patterns.

1. Video Start

00:02:24 The Nemertea advances rapidly while emitting eerie howls.

00:02:33 The middle section of the car is hit by the Nemertea, resulting in violent shaking.

00:02:56 The Nemertea strikes the carriage again and sprays an unidentified liquid from its maw.

1. Video Pause

This footage reveals the startling size of the Nemertea, with its towering body exceeding 20 meters in height, demonstrating surprising flexibility and physical power. Although the Nemertea's mandibles are not strong enough to penetrate the 20mm steel plates of the Great Wall Railway, its formidable force is capable of shaking the large, sturdy carriages. This impact-based attack was Nemertea's primary method during this incident.

1. Video Resume

00:05:11 The liquid sprayed by the Nemertea flows onto the stabilizer of the carriage.

00:05:38 The Nemertea strikes again, shaking the carriage until it is completely overturned.

00:05:47 Soldiers in the adjacent carriage open fire, but most of their bullets are deflected.

00:06:12 The Nemertea sprays liquid again.

1. Video Pause

This footage, along with the subsequent battlefield inspection report, reveals that the liquid sprayed by the Nemertea has a corrosive effect on metal. While it does not directly dissolve the outer walls of the carriages, it affects weaker components such as the stabilizers and related connections, compromising the stability of the carriages. Combined with the Nemertea's powerful impacts, this ultimately led to the collapse of the Great Wall Railway. Additionally, the Nemertea's thick skin made it highly resistant to standard firepower, which prevented its timely expulsion.

Additionally, the liquid sprayed by the Nemertea was found to be highly viscous.

Postmortem examinations revealed that some soldiers died from respiratory tract obstruction caused by this liquid.

1. Video Resume

00:30:32 The Nemertea continues to collide with adjacent carriages, delivering heavy damage to the Paladin multifunctional humanoid units concentrated around the CZ-4 carriage.

Dozens of ELID creatures assault the gaps between the carriages.

1. Video Pause

The footage suggests that the Nemertea attracts nearby ELID creatures, indicating a potential symbiotic relationship between them.

The analysis of the Nemertea's behavior reveals that it possesses high mobility, strong impact force, the ability to spray highly viscous corrosive liquid, thick skin, and a potential symbiotic relationship with the ELID it attracts.

In this incident, the Rail Defense Forces’ failure to promptly understand the Nemertea's characteristics ultimately resulted in irreparable damage to the Great Wall Railway and the 75th Orbital Section, 070 Orbital Defense Forces.

Outcome of the Incident

Finally, the Nemertea was eliminated by the 112th Mobile Armored Unit from the 8th Deployment Station at around 14:37.

This battalion is equipped with three "Typhoon" armored vehicles and two "Quiu" armored vehicles, making it the most elite armed force in the W_2069_0105 area.

According to the unit's report, the main cannon of the "Typhoon" armored vehicles was capable of effectively damaging the Nemertea, and the final confirmed elimination was accomplished by one of the "Typhoons."

Post-incident statistics revealed that the armored unit sustained no losses of personnel or dolls.

The stark disparity in casualties shows that the Boojum cannot endure heavy firepower. Considering that other areas in the Yellow Zone are likely to encounter similar high-threat Boojums and that the Rail Defense Forces currently lack the weaponry to address these threats, the following recommendations are proposed:

1. Organizational Adjustments: Reallocate armored battalions from various outpost garrisons into the Rail Defense Forces. Additionally, establish a new fire support battalion to effectively engage similar Boojum targets.

Additionally, establish a new fire support battalion to effectively engage and inflict significant damage on similar Boojum targets.

2. Strategic Deployment: When encountering such Boojum, it is recommended to implement the following strategy:

2.1. Disperse the combat engineer company's humanoid units to the locations of the Boojum's attacks to avoid concentrated strikes.

Use the automated air defense company and the fire support company's humanoid units as the main containment force, with the remaining units held in reserve to avoid wasting manpower.

Human combat soldiers should use training materials to reinforce vulnerable areas like windows and prepare for impacts.

2.2. Concentrate heavy firepower to deliver more firepower within a short period, aiming to enlarge the Boojum's wounds.

2.3. Maneuver armored battalions to the Boojum's flanks and fire from a long distance to prevent retaliation if the target is not destroyed in the initial salvo, thus avoiding damage to the armor.

3. Consider providing additional backup communication equipment and enhancing communication stability to ensure uninterrupted communication in collapse storm environments, enabling timely support requests to Outpost Garrison.

4. It is recommended to strengthen patrols in the Yellow Zone areas adjacent to purification zones, increasing the routine patrol frequency from 5 to 8 times and extending the patrol radius by 1 kilometer. Identify high-risk units within the patrol area and improve data collection and early warning systems.

The Sky Within the Squares

Unlocked with Cotton Hanky.

June 2nd, Today Is Just Like Any Other Day

Date: June 2 at 9:00 a.m.

Location: POE-03 Satellite City, Gate 13, W9 District

Interregional Flow: 1134 People

Difference from Previous Period: -4 People

Major Anomalies: None

Recorder: Nagant

On-duty Personnel: Nagant, Stechkin

Whew... the busiest period of the day is finally over. Having uploaded the first journal entry of the day on time, I stretched out lazily and took a short break.

Stechkin always leaves the dull and tedious mission of logging to me, but as a senior, it’s only right to take care of the juniors.

I looked up at the sky — although it was compressed into a small patch by the tall buildings — and saw that the clouds were gathering.

According to the weather forecast, there will be a two-hour period of artificial rain in Poltava in three minutes, and our POE-03 Satellite City will also be covered.

I walked into the nearby safety booth and greeted Stechkin, who was still inspecting the machines.

"Hey, Stechkin, it's going to rain soon. Stop working on that machine and come over here to stay dry."

"Alright.

Actually, a little rain won't hurt."

"Remember the five tactical tips I mentioned earlier? The first one is to follow the officer's orders unconditionally!"

"But we're on the same level now, right?"

"Well, I'm still your senior. In the absence of the officer, you should listen to your senior!"

"Yes, yes, dear senior, please allow me to finish adjusting this machine. If it breaks, we'll get docked pay."

“……”

Although Stechkin calls me "senior," his tone makes it seem like he's talking to a child, which really annoys me! But since she has already called me "senior," saying anything more would just seem like I'm being picky. Never mind, let it be.

The rain started on time, just like everything else in this city — everyone's missions for each time slot are meticulously arranged.

To save space, buildings in the satellite city are constructed to be tall and dense, with old and new structures crammed together in a haphazard manner.

I can't tell if it's my old-fashioned taste that's out of touch with modern aesthetics, or if the current trend is really as haphazard as it seems.

During the day, the satellite city is mostly empty, except for some factory workers. Most people take the rail to work in the white zone of Poltava, which the satellite city is part of, and return to their temporary accommodations in the evening.

So, the city only gets lively at night.

Our job is to patrol the entry points of the satellite city in various areas to prevent unidentified individuals from entering.

Most of the time, our job is quite leisurely, to the point where it feels like we're just passing time.

However, since the satellite city is a mixed place, there are occasional instances of some daring individuals showing up.

For example, two days ago, someone with excessive collapse radiation levels tried to force their way through the gate. Stechkin and I restrained him and called for security personnel to take him away. We've also come across people with fake ID chips or those attempting to interfere with the detection system using other devices. As long as they're fearless, they'll try anything.

June 2nd, Today Is Somewhat Unusual

Stechkin finally walked into the security booth, her upper body already soaked.

"Even though we don't need to go to the battlefield anymore, we still need to take care of our physical condition. You'll understand what 'not listening to the advice of the elders leads to immediate trouble' means soon enough."

"Are you showing concern for me, senior? I believe that under the circumstances, the loss from a damaged machine would be greater than the loss from a damaged body."

"Ahem… always focused on money, but you should also take care of your physical and mental health. This is me, as a senior, looking out for you. But you've been saving money since our time at Griffin, haven't you? What do you plan to do with all that money?"

"Anything I want. With enough money, I don't have to worry about power and body maintenance, and I can shop as I please. Money is crucial. Is there anything more important than money?"

"There is. For example… do you have any dreams?"

"Senior, is the job so easy that you're starting to daydream? My dream is to make money—more and more money. The mall has a discount sale tonight. Want to go shopping to relax? After all, you're at the age where you need to take care of your body."

"What did you say? Even if I'm getting older, I'm still a seasoned veteran! Back at Griffin, we at least had missions and combat. Now, every day we just stand guard here; my body's starting to rust. Every day it's the same routine: dormitory to post, post to dormitory. What's the point of living like this?"

"Senior, after leaving Griffin, it was thanks to Kalina that we were able to work in the green zone. Other Dolls might not have the same stability as we do. Isn't everyone in this city just moving between two points in different zones like this?

In this sense, we're no different from them. Friendly reminder: If you find your life lacking meaning, please donate your salary to me. Thanks."

"Why do you always bring up money… I understand, but I just think we should think more about our future."

"Alright, alright, senior."

"Hey, Stechkin… what are you doing!"

Stechkin shoved me out of the guard booth.

The rain had stopped, and the precisely measured rainwater was gradually evaporating, but some puddles remained on the road. After all, this rain was intended for the white zone, and the satellite city just happened to be affected as well.

As planned, we returned to our post right after the rain stopped.

June 5th, Something Unusual

The manhole cover seems a bit off.

Yesterday, the sharp corner was pointing to 9 o'clock, but today it’s pointing to 11 o'clock. On closer reflection, it seems that these subtle changes have occurred not just yesterday but also over the past few days.

"Stechkin, this manhole cover has been moved. Did you notice that?"

“Let me check… I reviewed some information about this satellite city when I started. This area used to have a significant water shortage, and there are complex underground water channels divided into sewage and water storage sections. Given the design of this manhole cover, it should be for water storage. However, since that function has been abandoned, it shouldn’t have been tampered with.”

"Stechkin, can you get the map of the underground water channels?"

"Yes, senior, I’ll reapply for it."

"Hmm. But I think someone must have opened this manhole cover more than once. There’s an old saying about preventing problems before they occur. As a senior, I must eliminate any potential dangers for those coming after me. Stechkin, we need to lift this manhole cover."

"You're truly admirable, senior. Your small figure suddenly seems grand to me.

But I must point out that the underground water channels are among the dirtiest and most terrifying places in the city. You need to be extremely vigilant.”

Stechkin’s serious expression made me feel cautious as well, causing me to overlook the term ‘small’ that was forbidden. Could there really be something frightening down there?

"W-What? I've seen plenty of intense situations as a veteran, I'm not scared!"

“Senior, promise me that even if you encounter something disgusting down there, you won’t panic, and make sure not to accidentally fire your weapon.”

She waved at me.

"Shh— don’t talk now. Let's slowly open this manhole cover. 3—2—1!"

"Whoa!!"

Stechkin and I lifted the manhole cover high, but aside from my exclamation, there was no other sound.

“There’s nothing here, what a shame... I was hoping to come across some urban legend and make some extra cash by submitting a story.”

"Stechkin!!" I can't believe I fell for her nonsense, I really let my guard down.

A brief inspection revealed that the ladder leading to the underground water channels was smooth, and the ground below was free of dust, suggesting frequent use. Assuming that anyone using this route would choose a time when no one was around, Stechkin and I didn’t linger and quickly returned to a dark corner to wait quietly.

“Senior, it’s been two hours. Can we head back now?”

“Be a bit more patient; my veteran instincts tell me something will happen soon.”

"Will these two hours count as overtime? Senior, please give me overtime pay."

“……”

A thumping sound came from below, resembling running footsteps. Then the manhole cover turned slowly a few times before being lifted by small hands.

A... child? How could a child emerge from the sewer? What is a child doing here in the middle of the night instead of being at home asleep?

The child whistled, and soon two boys dashed out from a dark alley and quickly disappeared into the sewer, showing they were very familiar with the process.

Stechkin and I quietly followed the children into the underground water channels. It was dry, and the equipment was rusty, indicating that it had indeed been abandoned for a long time.

The children arrived at a concealed area that appeared to be a huge water tank. It had been converted into a secret space, with cardboard and old clothes spread out, and the ground littered with various pieces of trash.

These kids... are they living down here?

June 5th, Kids in the Sewers

Seeing us arrive, the children scattered and ran, but they were no match for us. It wasn't long before we had caught them all.

There was an older boy among them who seemed to be their leader. We questioned him, but he refused to say a word.

Stechkin gave me a look.

"Senior, let's report this to our superiors. Since they're not saying anything, they're likely illegal immigrants without identification chips. Catching them could be a significant achievement. If we get a bonus, we can split it. How about it?"

"Sounds like a good idea. Hmm… Stechkin, what will happen to them if they're caught?"

"Since they're illegal immigrants, the punishment will be severe. For instance, they might be assigned to dangerous areas to perform hard labor that no one else wants to do or be expelled to polluted zones to fend for themselves. Oh, and for occupying and damaging city facilities, the punishment is even harsher. They'd be breaded and seasoned, then fried as reserve food, and sent to the polluted zones as bait for the ELID-like creatures."

"Wait! We… we haven't done anything wrong!"

It looks like Stechkin's deadpan nonsense had some effect as the leader of the boys finally spoke.

Behind him were around six or seven children, none older than ten, all looking pale from what we had said.

The boy's name is Lyman, 11 years old. Two years ago, he and his parents illegally crossed into this green zone satellite city.

Due to the collapse radiation monitors scattered throughout the streets, they could only live in unmonitored dark alleys. His parents went out every day to find work, while Lyman was left in a small, rundown room waiting for their return.

One day, his mother disappeared. His father went out searching for her frantically, but he couldn't find any trace of her. Until one day, even his father never came back...

The fates of most of these children were similar to Lyman's. Without identification chips, they could only hide in the unmonitored alleys of the green zone satellite city.

Fortunately, there were others like them in the alleys, and they occasionally did odd jobs to make some money for survival.

Until they discovered the underground waterway, which then became their home and secret base.

The waterway allowed them to travel freely to other areas, leading them to believe that one day, they could also live openly in the green zone.

To show us that they were only using the underground waterway to move around and hadn't done anything wrong, Lyman planned to take us to a certain place.

June 5th, The Appointment

After navigating the winding underground waterway, we reached a connected sewage treatment plant and from there, entered the vast automated agricultural area outside the satellite city.

With the progress of the purification projects, the natural environment here has gradually returned to pre-World War III levels, allowing for the growth of healthy crops. Large fields are now home to cows and sheep leisurely grazing.

Is this what humans call pastoral life?

Soon, a little girl, about the same age as Lyman, crawled out from a small hole in the fence.

She was startled to see us. Lyman stepped forward to explain our intentions, and she relaxed.

The girl, named Molly, is the daughter of the person in charge of this automated agricultural area. Every few days, Lyman comes through the underground waterway to visit and play with her.

They lived far apart, and without identification chips, Lyman couldn't cross the streets filled with collapse radiation monitors. Without this waterway, they wouldn’t have been able to meet or become good friends.

Molly secretly gave Lyman an underdeveloped pear, which she had taken from the leftover fruit after sorting.

The sorted fruits were sent to the white zone, while those with poor appearance were fed to the livestock. People in the green zone could only eat food made from fast-growing crops within the satellite city and had no access to such fresh, natural fruit. And children like.

Children like Lyman, who cannot live under the sun, will never get to taste such things.

As we were leaving, Molly came running, breathless, and handed us two bouquets of wildflowers, pleading with us not to report Lyman and the others.

Due to our responsibilities, we couldn’t make that promise, but we still accepted the flowers.

We retraced our steps and returned to the underground waterway.

The atmosphere was tense. Whether it was the children’s friendship or the pastoral life we had seen earlier that moved me, I suddenly felt that perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to turn a blind eye… even though my rational mind insisted that work should be the highest priority.

"So, senior? Should we report the children's whereabouts? I'm ready,"

"What? Stechkin, were you serious about what you said earlier? I thought you were just scaring them."

"Of course, catching so many illegal immigrants should earn us quite a nice bonus.

Let me calculate. There are eight children in total... how much would we get per child..."

"Stechkin! I know you like money, but these kids… they're just trying to survive."

"Senior, are you suggesting that we go against our duties as Dolls to cover for these kids?"

"Maybe I shouldn't have interfered today. If they're caught because of me... Ahh, what should I do!"

"It’s surprising to see this troubling you so much… Well, it might not even be our responsibility, and we probably won’t get any bonus. If we end up being accused of meddling or neglecting our duties, it wouldn't be worth it. Senior, just consider it a joke... no need to worry."

I looked at Stechkin gratefully and promised her that I would handle uploading the journal entry for the next two weeks.

...Wait, she didn’t seem that determined to report it anyway. Did I fall for a trick?

Never mind, I’m the senior here, so I shouldn’t hold it against the junior. After warning the children not to engage in illegal activities or get discovered hiding in the underground waterway, we returned to our quarters.

From then on, we acted as if nothing had happened and continued our lives as before. Occasionally, we would receive a bouquet of wildflowers at our post.

June 15th, Crisis

Recently, there have been multiple illegal transactions in the green zone. In response, our patrols have been intensified, and random checks and security patrols in various areas have quietly increased.

Due to the poor public safety, people stayed indoors as much as possible except for work, which has also reduced our workload.

With three hours remaining until the end of our shift, there was hardly anyone coming or going.

Suddenly, a rush of footsteps approached.

“Huff… huff… Big sister!”

“Molly? What are you doing here?”

“Please… save Lyman and the others!”

“Catch your breath first. What happened?”

Molly’s father discovered Lyman and the others and reported them to the security department of the satellite city.

They discovered the entrance to the underground waterway and found signs of human habitation in what was supposed to be a deserted area.

The security department dispatched multiple search teams heading our way and notified security personnel in various regions to seal off the entrances and exits of the underground waterway, preparing to capture Lyman and the others in one sweep.

“Stechkin, we need to go!”

“Wait a minute, senior.”

“What is it?”

“Senior, it's still working hours. If we both leave our posts, it will signal that we're up to something, making it obvious for others to come and catch us.”

“I ...didn’t think of that.”

“Moreover, charging in unprepared—are you planning to face them head-on?

That’s typical of you, senior. I can just imagine us getting caught by our colleagues before rescuing the kids, losing our jobs, possibly having our minds reset, and then being sent to harsher places for hard labor.” Stechkin looked at me, resting her chin on her hand, “Hmm, considering you're older, they might just scrap you altogether. I heard that Dolls whose neural clouds are scrapped don’t stop functioning and continue to have nightmares."

“Stop trying to scare me like a child! Dolls don’t have nightmares. But indeed, I didn’t think it through... This is quite dangerous. If you’re unwilling, I can go alone.

“Still charging head-on. Senior… didn’t you get my point?”

“What?”

“What I mean is, if both of us go down, who will cover for us?”

“Wait, Stechkin, are you willing to help me save these kids?"

“Senior, isn’t it a bit late to ask that now?”

Stechkin had already begun to push Molly and me towards the entrance of the underground waterway.

“Wait, wait, Stechkin!”

“What now, senior? If we wait any longer, you might start having nightmares of your own.”

“Molly, it’s Molly! She can’t come with us!”

I turned to the anxious Molly and said, “Molly, you should go back first!”

Molly was adamant about coming with us to the underground waterway. When I asked why, she didn't explain but just insisted on joining us.

Not wasting any more time, I took Molly into the underground waterway, while Stechkin stayed above to delay the search teams.

The place where the children had lived was in shambles; the search teams had clearly been there already!

Please, don’t let them get caught!

Let me find them first! After searching the underground waterways for a while, Molly guided me to several of their usual hiding places, and we finally found them.

Great! They were still free. However, the situation is not optimistic. Search teams are closing in from both sides, and the children are huddled in a corner, too scared to move. If we don’t do something, they will be discovered!

I had Molly stay put and throw a rock down the opposite corridor to draw the search team away. When I appeared before the children, they ran away and even threw stones at me!

Those ungrateful little brats!

They actually thought I was there to capture them for a reward? It's infuriating! I was here to save them!

It wasn't until Molly caught up and explained to them that they finally let their guard down.

After the misunderstanding was resolved, I led them through several paths, but search teams were everywhere, making it hard to get through.

What now? What now? Are we really going to get caught?

If only Stechkin was here; her creative ideas would surely be more effective than my blunt approach. But wait, I can’t rely on others like this!

She’s working hard above ground too…

“Someone’s coming!” Lyman shouted a warning: a search team was approaching, only twenty meters away, and we had ended up in a dead end!

Going out now would get us caught!

I hugged Molly and had the children line up in the shadows. If we couldn’t avoid detection, I was ready to use force to protect them!

June 15th, The Young Ones

A loud noise rings out from the distance. Unbeknownst what order they've received, the search party quickly retreated from the area.

I let out a sigh of relief, thinking that had they arrived just a little later, I'd probably…

"You weren't contemplating firing, were you?" Stechkin suddenly peeks out, still wearing worn-out children's clothes.

"Woah! S-Stechkin! You spooked me… ahem, what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be up there?"

"Who do you think lured them away? Actually, the higher-ups already learned of your actions, and I've also been listed as a dangerous target. Guess we're fugitives from now on."

"You're spouting nonsense again. You think I'm so old that my neural cloud doesn't work properly anymore?"

"Fine, fine~ I'm just trying to ease the mood. I've done everything I could up there. Just sitting around wasn't helpful at all, so here I am to help.

Can't let you take all the spotlight. You owe me a favor now, After all, I do respect my elders and care for the young."

"Stechkin… thank you."

"That's it? I was expecting something more substantial. Anyway, we'll settle this later when we get back. There's another team a dozen meters away by the intersection. We need to evacuate quickly."

After taking the children to a temporary safe spot, Stechkin shares the intelligence she gathered with me.

According to her, this search involved lots of personnel and covered a wide area. I'm puzzled. It is worth going to such lengths for a couple of children?

"For a couple of children alone, no. The reason this incident blew up is that the security department took down a back alley gang involved in illegal dealings, apparently contraband smuggling. Their leader's name was something like Hank or Hans."

Upon hearing Stechkin's words, Lyman's expression noticeably changes, seemingly having words stuck in his throat.

Molly beside him gently squeezes his hand and urges him to open up.

"Maybe… it's because we've done something bad." Lyman gathers his courage.

"We met Uncle Hansin the back alleys. He's also the one who taught us how to move through the sewers to get to other places. Concerned that we couldn't keep ourselves alive, he had us work for him, making deliveries to different areas every few days.

After making the deliveries, we received food and water, and if we did it often enough, we also earned some money. Uncle Hans said that once we save up enough money, we could get ourselves ID chips and walk the streets freely without the need to hide."

"But when we went back to the alley earlier, it was already surrounded. Uncle Hans and the others had been taken away.

We quickly fled back to the sewers, but we didn’t expect them to be searching here as well."

Lyman pulls out a sealed bag from his pocket, containing the goods they were supposed to deliver.

He dumps the contents of the bag into his hand. Although cracked during the escape, we immediately identified them as illegally obtained ID chips.

"..."

Seeing our reaction, Lyman panics. "I’m sorry. You warned us not to get involved in bad things. Although we don't know what this is, it seems to be the reason Uncle Hans got caught… Will you still help us despite this?" He looks up at us, his eyes filled with fear and unease.

Stechkin and I remain silent for a period, but this finally answers many of our questions, like how these children managed to survive, or how were they able to utilize these sewers; both things that a group of children alone can't possibly figure out.

The children all appear very discouraged now. As a senior, I need to help lift their spirits.

"Hmm, let the adults deal with the consequences of their own mistakes. If it were up to me, any adult who exploits ignorant kids for wrongdoings is a complete scumbag! They have no sense of responsibility, just all-around terrible! You did what you had to survive, that cannot be faulted. The most important thing now is to get you out safely. You’ll do your best, right?"

"Yeah!" The little ones lift their spirits, and we are ready to move on.

Stechkin sidles up to me. What is she up to?

"Didn’t realize you were this good at inspiring people. Please encourage me more frequently too—preferably with money."

"..."

June 15th, The Bait

The sewers leading to the treatment plant and the alleys are now sealed off. Only a few more remote sewer exits remain unblocked. No matter which route we take, we will inevitably run into search teams patrolling the underground.

Our situation is quite dire. If our only goal were to evade the pursuit, deploying decoys to divert the search teams would be the simplest solution. With our combat experience from Griffin, Stechkin and I could handle that easily.

However, if we wish to continue working in Satellite City, neither of us can afford to be exposed...

I glanced at the children around me and dismissed an alternative plan I had considered—one that involved using the kids as bait.

There's no way I could let them face armed security personnel.

"Senior, decoys don’t have to be real, you know?" Stechkin, noticing my frustration, seemed to have already come up with a more practical solution. She looked at me with a satisfied expression, waiting for me to ask for her help.

"If you have a plan, just share it already! No need to keep me waiting!"

Honestly, these days, younger folks have no respect for their seniors' dignity.

"How about you take care of next month's journal entry reports?"

"I-If that’s what it takes, fine!"

Stechkin nodded with satisfaction and then pulled out her communications terminal.

"Report to the administrator." This is Stechkin from the Poltava and Surrounding Cities Security Management Department, Subordinate Unit of Team Three! My teammate Nagant and I have discovered the tracks of the fugitives while on patrol! Requesting permission to join the pursuit!"

...huh? I was stunned by Stechkin’s report, and the children behind me showed signs of apprehension.

Stechkin motioned for us to stay quiet and calm.

"Understood, communication code received! We will do our best to assist!"

Stechkin ended the call.

"What on earth were you doing?" I whispered urgently.

"It’s just the prep work for the decoy plan. If you don’t understand, senior, just look after the kids and stay out of the way. I’m quite busy here..."

Damn, another provocation! I’ll make sure Stechkin sees just how capable I am someday!

Although I wasn’t pleased about it, I followed her instructions anyway...

"This is Stechkin from the Poltava and Surrounding Cities Security Management Department, Team Three! We have just spotted the fugitives during our patrol!

By order of the administrator, we are now officially joining the pursuit team!

The targets are currently dispersing in different directions, and armed personnel are assisting their escape. Please ensure additional manpower is dispatched for the pursuit! They’re fleeing towards..."

Stechkin maintained a straight face while spinning a tale, then ended the comms with satisfaction and gave us a victorious thumbs-up.

"Done. Those idiots are now chasing shadows."

So this is what she meant by "decoys that don’t actually exist."

"This is a special case… Don’t get any ideas from her."

Thanks to Stechkin’s deception, our escape route became significantly smoother.

Finally, we reached Sector S8.

Fortunately, it hadn’t been sealed off yet. However, patrols passed by on the surface every few minutes, so a hasty exit would jeopardize our mission.

It was impossible for everyone to escape at once, so we had to leave one by one and then regroup at a safe location.

Stechkin went ahead, found a suitable hiding spot, and sent me the coordinates. I then instructed the children on the escape route.

Based on the patrol intervals on the surface, the children dashed out one by one during the brief windows of time, successfully evading the patrols.

Important characters always make their entrance last. I pushed open the manhole cover, and the bright moonlight streamed in. We had finally made our escape.

June 15th, Hope

After a night of fleeing, the children were completely exhausted and collapsed on the ground. We sat on a large rock with the children, gazing at the barrier wall between the White and Green Zones in the distance. Despite the distance, the wall remained imposing.

“Big sister, when can we go wherever we want to play?” A younger boy asked me.

I was at a loss for words and turned to Stechkin for help. She raised an eyebrow, closed her eyes, and showed no intention of coming to my aid.

“Since I was little, my parents have kept me locked in a rundown house, only able to see the outside through a small window. I don't like seeing the sky through the grid; it shouldn't be that small. But the streets are full of eyes; as soon as I appear, an alarm will go off and someone will come to catch me."

“Why? We’re the same, so why do we have to keep hiding? Big sister, when can we walk the streets like everyone else?”

I couldn’t answer. My mind told me that the answer wasn’t a pleasant one.

I knew I should say something, but I couldn't find the words.

“That day will come,” Stechkin said.

I was surprised. She usually didn't talk like this.

“What day will that be?”

“Yeah, what day?” The other children crowded around, all talking at once.

“...Ah... well, that day. When it comes, you'll know." Stechkin, surrounded by the children, looked a bit unsure of what to do. "Hey, don't pull my uniform! If you tear it, I'll have to spend money to buy a new one!"

"I think you're lying! My mom said that liars' noses grow longer!" A child grumbled discontentedly.

"I'm a Doll, my nose won't grow long, hmph." "One day... ah, well, you'll find out when it comes. Knowing too much isn’t good for kids. You might end up wrapped in breadcrumbs and seasoning, then fried up as emergency rations.”

“Alright, everyone, no need to crowd around.” Lyman, recognizing how difficult the question was, stepped in to stop the children from asking anymore.

“That day will come when we can live freely,” Lyman patted the smallest child on the head. "So, don’t give up. If you grow up well, that day will come. I promise."

Lyman's reassurance calmed the children.

“Now, let’s celebrate our big win in tonight’s game of hide-and-seek, shall we?”

Lyman extended his hand, and the kids excitedly ran over to give him high-fives.

The awkward atmosphere was completely dispelled, and the children regained their energy, chasing each other around and playing.

We called Lyman aside to discuss his future plans.

“In any case... we won’t be able to return to the sewers, at least not for the next few months. What are you going to do?”

“We're used to hiding. We'll figure something out,” Lyman gave us a stiff smile and spoke with a maturity beyond his years. “Also, thank you. Without your help, we wouldn't have escaped.”

Stechkin and I awkwardly accepted the thanks. What do humans usually do in situations like this? Based on the data in my mind, I copied them and scratched my nose.

Lyman and the others decided to hide in the alleys at the edge of the Green Zone to get through this period.

Some kids wanted to use this opportunity to leave the Green Zone satellite city, hoping to return to the Yellow Zone where they originally came from. They thought it might be better to find other relatives there, rather than stay here.

Lyman, however, decided to stay in the Green Zone.

He and Molly said a reluctant goodbye. Molly gave him a handkerchief embroidered with jasmine flowers, and they promised to meet again.

We said goodbye to the children and watched as they walked into the dark alley.

Then, we took Molly home. Her eyes were red, looking like she had cried.

She must have known that promises to meet again were often just a kind lie.

We headed towards Exit 13 in Sector W9.

"Do you think what we did will be discovered? Especially after your chaotic orders caused the search teams to go off track…"

“What did we do? We were working hard and meticulously tracking the targets, even crossing into other districts. Right, Senior? The Administrator won't blame us!” Under the streetlight, Stechkin had an innocent look on her face.

“You...”

Terrifying. This junior is truly terrifying!

“Haha, relax, Senior. To the Administrator, we're just dumb, rigid Dolls. No Dolls would go out of their way to save children. At most, we might just lose a bit of salary."

"...Hearing you say that losing money isn’t a big deal, it seems you've grown up. You’re right; it’s just a matter of losing a bit of money."

“Senior, it's not just a bit of money; it's also my perfect attendance record for the month. Remember you owe me a favor? Pay me back in cash.”

“Well... we can discuss that later. By the way, Stechkin, was your answer to that child's question your true opinion?”

“Of course not. We can't even control our own fate, let alone this chaotic world.

I just want to make more money.”

“You're always talking nonsense! Didn’t you once say that-those without dreams have no future?”

“I did say that... there must have been a reason, like dreaming of getting rich overnight.” Steinbeck shrugged. "Senior, all we can do is what we did tonight. Having dreams is good, but we need to face reality."

“Alright. But if we see them again, we should try to help them if we can. After all, they’re still young, like juniors to us.”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you. “ But if we keep pushing our limits like this, we might end up losing our jobs..”

“We can't just ignore them. Even if we can only help a little, it’s better than doing nothing! Of course, as long as we don’t lose money or our jobs.”

Stechkin didn't respond, but the tuft of hair on her head bobbed slightly in agreement.

We continued walking, and the path back to our post didn’t feel as monotonous as it used to.

Humans often say children represent hope.

Even if we Dolls don't live to see that day, as long as more people like Lyman keep persisting and believing, someday the dream of children running freely under the blue sky will come true.

It will, right?