3 3 301 DialogEnable Opening her eyes after the brief memory, Alpha clenches her left fist.
4 4 201 1 500100
5 5 301 1 α How many of my memories did you see in my M.I.N.D., Lucia? 1
6 6 202 1 1
7 7 301 The mission from Ascnet, or the pitiful wish of those wishing to ascend, but reaching a dead end? Or could it even be those despicable traps by the humans?
8 8 301 But more than likely, she had only caught a few scattered fragments in a hurry.
9 9 301 Besides that incident, which Lucia will surely recall, Alpha has other countless memories of nights when she was fed up with the senseless sacrifices.
10 10 201 1 500100
11 11 301 1 α ...But the killing did not stop at the living. Even the memories for those that have passed on, the hints of warmth they left behind, were brutally destroyed. 1
12 12 202 1 1
13 13 301 That is the only thing she cannot forgive.
14 14 201 1 500066
15 15 301 1 ??? That was when it started, wasn't it? 1
16 16 202 1 1
17 17 301 Suddenly, Alpha hears a noise in her head. She shakes her head.
18 18 201 1 500066
19 19 301 1 ??? You were gradually robbed of everything you had and ended up with nothing. 1
20 20 301 ??? But it was because of this that the Ascendants began their subsequent operations. 1
21 21 301 ??? —Heading to Kowloong to steal Huaxu was to topple the main culprit hiding in Eden's shadow. 1
22 22 301 ??? Although they each had their own reason for doing so... 1
23 23 202 1 1
24 24 301 The crackling noise echoes in her hearing module.
25 25 301 As Luna said, the noise serves as a catalyst, constantly stirring up thoughts buried deep in the M.I.N.D. and amplifying ill will.
26 26 301 Alpha knows that strong emotions are the basis of an Ascendant. Only with them can one obtain the energy of the Ascension-Network.
27 27 201 1 500066
28 28 301 1 ??? Be the newest agent and gain the strength to keep advancing. 1
29 29 201 1 500100
30 30 301 1 α I don't need it. 1
31 31 202 1 1
32 2001 301 Alpha is not fully sure why she received the invitation from the Ascension-Network.
33 2002 301 It could be due to a factor she possesses, or a combination of conditions, but whatever it is, it does not matter to her.
34 2003 301 Because she will reject it anyway.
35 33 201 1 500066
36 34 301 1 ??? You don't have anything left, no family, no comrades... How will you take on so many enemies by yourself? How will you save Luna? 1
37 35 201 1 500100
38 36 301 1 α ... 1
39 37 202 1 1
40 38 301 Alpha does not respond. She ignores the agitating noise and makes for an area she has not searched. Even if it were swarming with enemies and there was not much hope, she would still continuing searching.
41 39 301 Suddenly, a transport craft with the Babylonia insignia lands a distance away. The hatch opens and a person walks out.
42 40 201 1 500100
43 41 301 1 α Such concentration of the Punishing Virus... An Ascendant? No... he isn't connected to Ascnet. Why did he come here alone? 1
44 42 202 1 1
45 43 301 Once the transport craft departs, Alpha follows him, suspicious. She sees him approaching his comrades.
46 44 201 1 500100
47 45 301 1 α Are they here for the remnants of the Red Tide or to search for Luna? 1
48 46 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She dodged into the ruins to the side in order to continue observing the four.
49 47 201 1 500155
50 48 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Chrome Who was that? 1
56 54 301 Camu looks back, but the barren land is devoid of life.
57 55 201 1 500273
58 56 301 1 Wanshi Let's go check it out. 1
59 57 203 1 0.25 -450
60 58 201 2 500155 450
61 61 301 1 Chrome That figure ran off to the west, right in the direction of our target. 2
62 62 202 1 2
63 63 201 1 500175
64 64 301 1 Camu We also need to check for any signs of the Red Tide. Leave it to me. 1
65 65 201 1 500155
66 66 301 1 Chrome The terrain here is too difficult to differentiate, Camu. We can split up after we reach our target. 1
67 67 201 1 500175
68 68 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Camu Okay. 1
69 69 201 1 500100
70 70 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 α That's not the Gray Ravens... 1
71 71 202 1 1
72 72 301 From the shadows, Alpha watches the four from a distance and sees them holding a detector. It seems they are looking for something in this barren land.
73 73 201 1 500100
74 74 301 1 α ...They've found the remnants of the Red Tide below. 1
75 75 202 1 1
76 76 301 The sewers below used to be abandoned before they were taken over by the Red Tide.
77 77 301 There was a simple reason for their abandonment—underground city 075 was spread out and the sewers fell into disrepair a long time ago, resulting in collapses every now and then.
78 78 301 Many places like this, where people do not usually visit, exist in underground city 075.
79 79 301 AniZhuanchangBegin But to find Luna, Alpha has decided to search every nook and cranny.
82 82 301 AniZhuanchangEnd When Longinus descends, Alpha has just concluded her investigation of the surface. With her newly obtained clues, she returns underground to recommence her search.
83 83 301 A violent shaking comes from the surface, and the intense heat can even be felt from the walls below.
84 84 201 1 500100
85 85 301 1 α ... 1
86 86 202 1 1
87 87 301 Although Alpha, who is trailing the Task Force, has anticipated what will happen, she cannot help grimacing when the tremors and searing heat hit.
88 88 301 Just as she plans to continue trailing them, she hears the sound of waves in the distance.
89 89 201 1 500100
90 90 301 1 α Looks like the humans didn't manage to completely get rid of the Red Tide. 1
91 91 204 1 8
92 92 301 She listens carefully for the direction of the gushing red tide, and realizes that it only lasted a moment before being drowned out by the shaking earth.
93 93 204 1
94 94 301 α The amount of Red Tide has decreased and it's coming from... 1
95 95 202 1 1
96 96 301 Figuring out that the sound is coming from unknown areas, Alpha quickly chases after it.
97 97 301 Just as she is about to arrive at the spot, she finds the way forward blocked by a thick stone wall.
98 98 201 1 500316
99 99 301 1 Roland? Oh? Does it interest you? 1
100 100 301 Roland? I've told you before that the only thing behind this wall is the abandoned sewers that might collapse at any moment, no different from an agent who has lost their strength. 1
101 101 202 1 1
102 102 301 Ignoring the noise in her M.I.N.D., Alpha conducts a quick search and finds a control panel to a secret door in the corner.
103 103 201 1 500100
104 2004 301 1 α This area was recently submerged by the Red Tide and shouldn't have been discovered by the humans. 1
105 105 203 1 0.25 -450
106 106 201 2 500066 450
107 107 301 1 ??? If the Red Tide has escaped to this place, it is likely that the agent and Gabriel are also here. 2
108 108 301 ??? Who knows? Perhaps there might also be Ascendants under his command. 2
109 109 301 ??? No matter how strong you are, you have no chance at taking on so many opponents at once. 2
110 110 301 α If Vonnegut and Gabriel are in there, Luna might be there too. 1
111 111 301 AniZhuanchangBegin α Besides, unless there's a definite chance of victory, I'll avoid any battles with them. 1
114 113 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The clamoring noise falls silent once more. Alpha pushes open the narrow secret door without hesitation and squeezes sideways into the sewers.
115 114 301 The red tide pools together on the uneven ground, and is now a watery liquid, a far cry from its previously viscous state. Even so, there is enough here to reach Alpha's ankles.
116 115 201 1 500100
117 116 301 1 α As I thought. 1
118 117 301 Alpha continues her exploration in silence, and she is soon met by Hetero-Creatures she has never seen.
119 118 301 α Are these... 1
120 119 301 α Gabriel's creations? 1
121 120 203 1 0.25 -450
122 121 201 2 500314 450
123 122 301 1 ?? Do you know Mr. Gabriel? 2
124 123 301 A young girl she has never seen appears in the shadows, asking Alpha with a soft voice.
125 124 301 Her breathing is weak and she is one with the Hetero-Creature around her. Alpha has not even sensed her presence.
126 125 301 α Is he here? 1
127 126 301 ?? Yes. It seems you're the person he mentioned. 2
128 127 301 The girl does not seem to hold any ill will toward her.
129 128 301 α Who are you? 1
130 129 301 Cinderelik I'm Mr. Vonnegut's subordinate. My name is Cinderelik. 2
131 130 202 1 2 1
132 131 301 What an unsurprising answer. Alpha walks toward the girl in the shadows to see her face more clearly.
133 132 201 1 500100 -450
134 133 201 2 500308 450
135 134 301 1 Cinderelik Do you wish to destroy this place? 2
136 135 301 α No, I have no interest in senseless destruction. 1
137 136 204 2 8
138 137 301 Cinderelik Thank you. 2
139 138 204 2
140 139 301 She gave a slight bow to Alpha in greeting.
141 2006 301 Cinderelik But we can't let the humans learn of this place yet. 2
142 2007 301 Cinderelik I trust you. You're an Ascendant. I won't stand in your way. 2
143 2008 301 Cinderelik But when you leave, I'll seal the exit. 2
144 2009 301 Cinderelik This is the task Mr. Vonnegut has given me. I'm not to leave any entrances or exits open unless there are extraordinary circumstances. I beg your understanding. 2
145 2010 301 α ...As you wish. 1
146 140 301 α If you're here, does that mean the agent is here too? 1
147 141 301 Cinderelik No, Mr. Vonnegut only comes here when necessary. 2
148 142 301 Alpha appraises the girl in front of her, trying to figure out from her expression if she is lying.
149 143 301 But the girl's face remains unchanging and she could well be an answering machine. She does not reveal any additional information.
150 144 301 However, there seems to be an ember of insanity burning in the depths of her amber eyes, but it is hidden by a veneer of politeness, making it difficult to see.
151 145 301 Based on her experience, Alpha sees that there are similarities between this girl and Gabriel, but within this similarity are some essential differences.
152 146 301 α What do you do here? 1
153 147 301 Cinderelik Study. 2
154 148 301 Cinderelik is not lying. Neither has she changed the topic. Rather, she has chosen to tell a half-truth.
155 149 301 α (Looks like she's the more troublesome type.) 1
156 150 301 She does not ask any more questions. She passes Cinderelik, preparing to head into the darkness.
157 151 301 Cinderelik Where are you going? 2
158 152 301 α To find someone. 1
159 153 301 Cinderelik There are some places you cannot go. 2
160 154 301 α And if I insist? 1
161 155 301 Cinderelik looks at Alpha without responding, but the answer has been made clear in the silence.
162 156 301 α ... 1
163 157 301 The goal now is to look for Luna. It is better to avoid unnecessary battles and find clues from places she can go.
164 158 301 But judging by her observation of Cinderelik's abilities, she would not have been a tough opponent.
165 159 301 α (How about forcing my way through and continuing to investigate the forbidden area?) 1
166 160 202 1 2 1
167 161 301 Just as she was contemplating this, a figure leisurely sauntered over.
168 162 201 1 500100
169 163 301 1 α Vonnegut? 1
170 164 201 1 500066
171 165 301 1 ??? It's her. 1
172 166 202 1 1
173 167 301 The noise recognizes the figure and speaks calmly, as if the approaching figure were insignificant.
174 168 201 1 500100
175 169 301 1 Alpha turns around to see a female slowly turning the corner. She keeps looking around her.
176 170 301 ??? Hello.
177 171 301 She sees Alpha in front of her and cheerfully greets her. In her hand is an unidentifiable iris.
178 172 301 Although Alpha does not sense any danger coming from her, she is still wary of the stranger.
179 173 301 ??? I was careless and got lost. Do you know where the exit is?
180 174 301 α Who are you? What are you doing here? 1
181 175 301 ??? I was curious... and suddenly saw a narrow secret door over there.
182 176 301 Seeing that Alpha does not respond, she turns to look curiously at Cinderelik standing in the corner.
183 177 301 ??? Did I interrupt your conversation?
184 178 301 Seeing that Alpha does not respond, she tilts her head to look at Cinderelik standing in the corner.
185 179 301 The mundanity and normalcy of the words have left Alpha unable to answer. She glances at Cinderelik, who also does not seem to understand what is going on.
186 180 301 α Looks like you're not one of Vonnegut's Ascendants. 1
187 181 301 ??? That's right. I'm like him, an agent called here by the glad tidings.
188 182 301 α ...! 1
189 183 301 ??? But it seems he's taken care of everything here. There's nothing that requires my help.
190 184 301 α An agent... What is your name? 1
191 185 301 ??? Name? That's not an important piece of information.
192 186 301 She lowers her eyes and tucks the loose strands of hair behind her ears with her delicate fingers, smiling innocently.
193 187 301 ??? People have given me many names, but the most common one is... "The Merciful One".
194 188 301 The Merciful One If you require a name to call me by, you may call me that.
195 189 301 The Merciful One If neither of you knows where the exit is, I'll continue with my search. I apologize for interrupting your conversation.
196 190 301 α ... 1
197 191 301 She waves at the two while holding the iris and saunters off.
198 192 301 α (There is another agent here, so if I attack Cinderelik, it may attract her attention. I have greater priorities, so it's better to be cautious.) 1
199 193 202 1
200 194 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Alpha does not stay any longer. She turns around and disappears down the sewers without looking back.
203 197 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Alpha looks up from the flashback to see the squad having fun in the distance.
204 198 201 1 500100
205 199 301 1 α ...How carefree of them. 1
206 200 202 1 1
207 201 301 Absentmindedly, she recalls the memory fragments she saw in the M.I.N.D., memories from the other "her."
208 202 301 Constructs have the commandant's full respect, and the Gray Ravens are no longer just weapons for battle. In fact, there is even a sense of camaraderie between them.
209 203 301 If humans had aspired to peace and compassion like the Gray Ravens and the squad before her, perhaps this catastrophe would not have happened in the first place.
210 204 301 But those are purely hypothetical ideals. In reality, the Constructs are stuck in a quagmire and are forced to swallow the mud they are choking on.
211 205 301 Before they could even consider issues like equality and oppression, they had to first survive.
212 206 301 Those who pass the filtering understand that should a day come when the Punishing Virus is no longer a threat, the only beings left in this world will be Constructs.
213 207 201 1 500317 -450
214 208 201 2 500066 450
215 209 301 1 Luna? But the humans who are still flesh and blood, with their deep-seated prejudice, aren't able to even pass the preliminary filtering process by the Punishing Virus. 1
216 210 301 ??? That's why no one has ever mentioned one of the sources of human evil—arrogance. 2
217 211 202 1 2 1
218 212 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Alpha tightens her grip on her katana's hilt and tries to shut off the cacophony of noises that emerges successively in her M.I.N.D.
219 213 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Suddenly, Chrome receives an anonymous encrypted message on his terminal.
220 214 201 1 500155
221 215 201 2 1081001 600
222 216 201 3 500273 -600
223 217 301 1 Chrome "Any news on Luna?" 1
224 218 301 Wanshi Who'd send a message like that? 3
225 219 301 Chrome examines the meta-data for any possible clues, but it has been scrubbed clean.
226 220 301 Chrome There's no way to trace the sender. Our top priority is to find the Red Tide. There's no time to waste. 1
227 221 301 Wanshi We may not be able to trace it, but I'm sure you have a pretty good idea who sent it. 3
228 222 301 Chrome ... 1
229 223 301 Chrome furrows his eyebrows thinking about the current state of 【kuroname】.
230 224 301 Although he has speculated that it might be someone who is looking for Luna, it would be foolish to probe for information this way.
231 225 301 Chrome I think it's someone who is worried about Gray Raven. 1
232 226 202 1 2 3 1
233 227 201 1 500100
234 228 301 1 α Gray Raven? 1
235 229 301 Alpha furrows her brows when she hears that name.
240 234 301 ??? Even though they've foiled your plans so many times? 2
241 235 204 1 13
242 236 301 α I've stood in their way loads of times too. 1
243 237 301 α There is no need for resentment when opposing sides are in conflict, because they aren't set in stone. 1
244 238 202 1 2 1
245 239 201 1 500155
246 240 201 2 1081001 600
247 241 201 3 500273 -600
248 242 301 1 Kamui Gray Raven? What happened to them? 2
249 243 301 Chrome I heard something from my father before we left. 1
250 244 301 Chrome 【kuroname】... not only violated military orders, but is also facing accusations of harboring an Ascendant. 1
251 245 301 Kamui Harboring an Ascendant? How's that possible? 2
252 246 202 1 2 3 1
253 247 201 1 500100 -450
254 248 201 2 500066 450
255 249 301 1 ??? Looks like that commandant is quite similar to a certain somebody, unable to resist the temptation of power. 2
256 250 301 α Choosing to connect to an agent is a death sentence. 1
257 251 301 ??? You seem to have forgotten that 【kuroname】 was even able to withstand the corruption in Huaxu's M.I.N.D. Of course the commandant would be able to withstand the issues that come with connecting to an agent. 2
258 252 301 α ... 1
259 253 202 1 2 1
260 254 201 1 500155
261 255 201 2 1081001 600
262 256 201 3 500273 -600
263 2011 301 1 Wanshi Does that mean... the commandant's "confined treatment" is just an excuse? 3
264 2012 301 Chrome You know about that? 1
265 2013 301 Chrome No wonder you haven't gotten much sleep recently. 1
266 2014 301 Wanshi I just wanted to help treat 【kuroname】. After all, I still owe the commandant. 3
267 2015 301 Wanshi But it didn't take me long to realize it wasn't that simple. 3
268 2016 301 Wanshi Gray Raven still doesn't know the whole story. 3
269 258 301 Wanshi If they did, they would rather have their memories checked than let 【kuroname】 be charged. 3
270 259 301 Chrome Therein lies the problem. 1
271 260 301 Chrome Lucia, being closest to 【kuroname】 then, also lost consciousness toward the end. So there isn't any proof to exonerate 【kuroname】. 1
272 261 301 Chrome Unless someone can find the target's whereabouts, they're going to be monitored indefinitely and prohibited from performing missions. 1
273 262 202 1 2 3 1
274 263 201 1 500100 -450
275 264 201 2 500066 450
276 265 301 1 ??? Besides 【kuroname】, who else would know about Luna's whereabouts? 2
277 266 301 α At least this means Luna isn't in Babylonia. 1
278 267 202 1 2 1
279 268 201 1 500155
280 269 201 2 1081001 600
281 270 201 3 500273 -600
282 271 301 1 Kamui That reminds me. Hassen looked like he had something weighing on his mind this morning. 2
283 272 301 Wanshi ...There have been some other oddities as well. 3
284 273 301 Seeing that Kamui wants to question Wanshi, Chrome sticks out his hand to end the conversation.
285 274 301 Chrome This is not the place for chit-chat. 1
286 275 301 Chrome Our top priority is the mission. Save it for when we're back in Babylonia. 1
296 285 301 α So that's why they weren't on this mission. 1
297 286 301 ??? If 【kuroname】 knows what happened to Luna, Babylonia is using "monitoring" as a cover to protect the commandant. 2
298 287 301 α If not... 1
299 288 301 ??? Are you choosing to trust humans? 2
300 289 301 Alpha is silent for a moment.
301 290 301 α I just don't want to ignore a possibility. 1
302 291 301 α If 【kuroname】 really doesn't know what happened to Luna and this was planned by the humans... 1
303 292 301 α A commandant who can connect to agents will only endanger Ascendants and agents. 1
304 293 301 α As long as 【kuroname】, "Lucia" and the Gray Ravens are loyal to Babylonia, Luna won't be safe from their future plans. 1
305 294 301 ??? But when you questioned "Lucia" in the M.I.N.D., didn't you hold on to a faint hope that she could provide another possible path for Luna? 2
306 295 301 α Hope... Heh, those words were just a reminder not to be so naive. 1
307 296 301 α Whether or not she's ever thought about this is not an issue. She will never allow Luna to co-exist. 1
308 297 301 ??? But you believe she will save Luna. 2
309 298 301 α Because I know myself, and I'd never stand on the sidelines even if I didn't remember Luna. 1
310 299 301 α At the very least, I'd try to make contact once. 1
311 300 301 α Besides, Gray Raven's mission was to destroy the Polyphage. If they hadn't pulled Luna out, they wouldn't have been able to complete their mission. 1
312 301 202 1 2 1
313 302 301 The Strike Hawk squad started talking again and the noise fell silent once more.
314 303 201 1 500100 -450
315 304 201 2 500066 450
316 305 301 1 α ...Looks like those carefree fellas have found the right passage. 1
317 306 301 ??? You want to help them? 2
318 307 301 α There are places in the sewers I've never been to. I could wait for them to draw Cinderelik and Vonnegut's attention and sneak in. 1
319 308 301 α Besides... 1
320 309 301 α If they return alive, Babylonia will know what's happening here. 1
321 310 301 α Babylonia will then turn their attention to him, making it more convenient for me to take action. 1
322 311 202 1 2 1
323 312 301 Alpha dashes into the pervasive smoke, and her last sentence is lost in the wind.
324 313 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin "...Lucia, no matter what choice 【kuroname】 makes or what the commandant has to face, you'll be pushed and shoved until you're standing on the 'starting point'."
325 312 301 Alpha dashes into the pervasive smoke, and her last sentence is lost in the wind.
326 313 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin "...Lucia, no matter what choice 【kuroname】 makes or what the commandant has to face, you'll be pushed and shoved until you're standing on the 'starting point'."
