7 7 301 1 Talbot I came across a squad that had been assaulted, and most of them were dead by the time I got there. 2
8 8 301 Having heard the noise here, some of the refugees gather around.
9 9 201 1 500249 -400
10 10 301 1 Emaciated Refugee Let me help. 1
11 11 301 Talbot I appreciate your sense of humor, but you should probably just stay out of this. 2
12 12 201 1 500019 -400 1
13 13 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Out of the way. She was a technician in the reservation area before coming to the Medzone. 1
14 14 301 1 Blush And she was 100 times better than you, Talbot! 2
15 15 301 1 Talbot Ugh... 2
16 16 202 1 2 1
17 17 201 1 500249 -400
18 18 201 2 500335 19 400
19 19 301 1 Emaciated Technician Haha, boy, I'm sure I'm not even half as good. Let's get to work already. How's she doing? Is there anything wrong with her M.I.N.D.? 1
20 20 301 Lillian She's got damage all over her body. Some of them seem old, and I'm still working on figuring out the others. 2
21 21 301 Emaciated Technician Right. Let me take care of this part, and you can handle the rest of it. 1
22 22 204 2
23 23 301 Lillian Okay! 2
24 24 202 1 2 1
25 25 301 Lillian turns around and pulls over a medical cart, and begins working away with this technician who hasn't made her name known.
26 26 201 1 500019 -400
27 27 201 2 500517 400
28 28 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 What's with that face? Didn't think this place would be so different, eh? 1
29 29 301 Talbot I sure never saw this coming. Look at all these new faces we have. We're definitely bigger but more organized as a group now. 2
30 30 301 Construct Soldier 1 A lot of them came out when the train collapsed, and we decided to assign them all to different bases because God only knew how long it would take for the train to work again. 1
31 31 301 Talbot The train... 2
32 32 301 Talbot fell silent at the mention of the train.
33 33 301 Construct Soldier 1 It all happened out of the blue. We ended up with a whole bunch of injured people while short on supplies. It was a total mess. 1
34 34 301 Construct Soldier 1 Most of the humans have recovered already and are sharing the workload... The whole situation hasn't really gotten better since, but we've been coping just fine by helping each other out. 1
35 35 301 Construct Soldier 1 What are you all doing here, by the way? 1
36 36 301 Talbot It's our turn to guard the place. 2
37 37 301 Construct Soldier 1 Oh. Where is the guy that came with you? 1
38 38 202 1 2 1
39 39 201 1 500259 -400
40 40 201 2 500506 400
41 41 301 1 Talbot looks over at the young man—who's now talking with one of the medics in the Medzone.
42 42 301 Busy changing wound dressings for a little boy, the man doesn't notice what people are saying about him.
43 43 202 1 2 1
44 44 201 1 500019 -400
45 45 201 2 500517 400
46 46 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Is he your new captain or just a new member? Doesn't seem like he's having any trouble hanging out with humans. 1
47 47 301 Talbot I don't know who he is. Only just met him on our way here. Lillian said he doesn't even remember his own name because of memory loss. 2
48 48 301 Construct Soldier 1 Thought you guys finally found someone to be your new capt. 1
49 49 301 Talbot ... 2
50 50 301 Talbot The higher-ups ain't got no time to make us a new team now. They just make do with whoever they can find. 2
51 51 301 Saying no more, Talbot keeps himself busy wiping his weapon.
52 52 202 1 2 1
53 53 201 1 500019 -400
54 54 201 2 500019 400
55 55 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Totes feel you. I mean, it's been a while since the incident at Pulia Forest Park Ruins, and the higher-ups are still having a hard time dealing with things efficiently. 1
56 56 301 Construct Soldier 2 Right, and that's because they've taken in way too many refugees, and putting them all back on track hasn't been exactly easy. 2
57 57 202 1 2 1
58 58 201 1 500249
59 59 301 1 Emaciated Technician Things are getting better, though. Traffic between the sky and the ground has resumed partially, and we've seen supplies and weapons replenished. 1
60 60 301 Emaciated Technician Alrighty, done with basic check-ups and treatment here. Her M.I.N.D. is still a mess, and it's a miracle that she's conscious at all. 1
61 61 202 1 1
62 62 201 1 500506
63 63 301 1 Young Man A ... 1
64 64 201 1 500335 -400
65 65 201 2 500514 400
66 66 301 1 Lillian What's your name? 1
67 67 301 ??? ...I... 2
68 68 202 1 1
69 69 201 1 500019 -400 1
70 70 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Which squad were you on before? 1
71 71 204 2 14
72 72 301 1 ??? My squad... they're all... 2
73 73 301 1 Unable to even string her words into a proper sentence, the girl starts crying.
74 74 202 1 2 1
75 75 201 1 500249
76 76 301 1 Emaciated Technician Let's save that question for later. Her M.I.N.D. isn't exactly stable yet, and we don't have a commandant here. Let's leave her to rest for now. 1
77 77 301 Emaciated Technician Next person in line? 1
78 78 201 1 500506
79 79 301 1 Young Man A Coming. 1
80 80 202 1
81 81 301 The young man puts down the medical instrument he was holding, then walks up toward the medical table and sits down beside the girl.
82 82 201 1 500506 400
83 83 201 2 500514 -400 1
84 84 301 1 ??? ... 2
85 85 202 1 2 1
86 86 201 1 500019 -400
87 87 201 2 500517 400
88 88 301 1 Construct Soldier 2 Man, all these people with unstable M.I.N.D. these days. 1
89 89 301 Talbot Dude, just try to imagine the damage seeing your teammates cut into pieces can do to your M.I.N.D. 2
90 90 202 1 2 1
91 91 201 1 500019 -600
92 92 201 2 500405
93 93 201 3 500311 600
94 94 301 1 Construct Soldier 3 Boy, I'm damn sure we're going to end up with just a few more defectors if things keep up the way they do. We have no updates on the Omega Weapon so far, and I don't see why we need to keep being hopeful about it. 1
95 95 301 Construct Soldier 4 Are you saying that defecting is any better? Where are we supposed to go? Where is safe even? 2
96 96 301 Construct Soldier 5 We turn to Ascendants, of course. 3
97 97 202 1 2 3 1
98 98 201 1 500019 -400 1
99 99 201 2 500311 400
100 100 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Oh, c'mon... 1
101 101 301 1 Construct Soldier 5 C'mon what? The parliament has already taken in Transcendants like Camu! 2
102 102 301 1 Construct Soldier 5 Things would be a lot easier if someone could just become an Ascendant and rein 'em Corrupted! 2
103 103 202 1 2 1
104 104 201 1 500019 -400
105 105 201 2 500405 400
106 106 301 1 Construct Soldier 3 I know what you mean, but none of those defectors came back here to help us. 1
107 107 301 Construct Soldier 4 What if it's because they couldn't? Intel says only a handful of them passed that "filtering", right? 2
108 108 202 1 2 1
109 109 201 1 500517 400
110 110 201 2 500335 -400
111 111 301 1 Talbot ... 1
112 112 301 Talbot But those that did could have come back here to help us, right? 1
113 113 204 2 19
114 114 301 Lillian Ascendants can only be our enemies. 2
115 115 301 Talbot That's just how you see it, though. If I were an Ascendant, I'd have the freedom to use it however I pleased. 1
116 116 301 Talbot I know we aren't out of harm's way yet, and I probably don't have a second choice, but I'm willing to take whatever comes my way, so long as I can do something to fix this disaster. 1
117 117 202 2 1
118 118 201 2 500405 -400 1
119 119 301 1 Construct Soldier 4 Why do you sound like you already have a plan? 2
120 120 301 1 Talbot ... 1
121 121 301 1 Construct Soldier 4 I knew it... C'mon, just drop that already. Only thing you'd become is a Corrupted if you go, and we'd have no choice but to get rid of you. 2
122 122 301 1 Talbot What if I don't become a Corrupted, though? 1
123 123 202 2 1
124 124 201 2 500460 -400 1
125 125 301 1 Elder Refugee What makes you think you'd be one of the few lucky ones, kid? 2
126 126 301 1 Elder Refugee I have no idea what these Ascendants you're talking about are capable of, but Punishing has been around for years already, and we'd have seen a savior by now already if that idea were meant to work. 2
127 127 301 1 Elder Refugee You need to take it slowly, son. That's just how things work. 2
128 128 401 2 1512
129 129 401 1 202
130 130 301 RImgBg1Shake 1 Talbot You think you know me?! 1
131 131 301 1 Talbot throws a punch at the wall, drawing people's attention. Then, silence ensues.
132 132 301 1 Talbot Take it slow, huh? Someone dies with every second that passes, and you're telling me to take it slow?! 1
133 133 202 1 2 1
134 134 201 1 500335 19
135 135 301 1 Lillian C'mon, Talbot... 1
136 136 201 1 500517
137 137 301 1 Talbot What has taking it slow done for us? What have we stopped? The Corrupted did drop in number, but we now have Hetero-Creatures and the Red Tide to deal with. There is no end to getting rid of Punishing! 1
138 138 301 Talbot People are dying and we can't do a damn thing about it! 1
140 140 301 Talbot Had I known the train was going to collapse, I would have done everything I could to stop Anna and the elite squad from escorting the Forsaken! 1
141 141 301 Talbot But I didn't. I failed at protecting her... 1
142 142 201 1 500506 4
143 143 301 1 Young Man A Wait, what train...? 1
144 144 201 1 500019
145 145 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Talbot, enough with all that nonsense! 1
146 146 301 Construct Soldier 1 We could have sent you down to the Purifying Force for saying all that you just said! And the old man didn't mean ill. He's right. 1
147 147 301 Construct Soldier 1 We'd have seen a savior already if being gifted is the only thing you need to pass the filtering. 1
148 148 301 Construct Soldier 1 Being an Ascendant isn't the way out, and there is only so much that a Transcendant can do. We need to figure out a different way to save more people. 1
149 149 201 1 500517
150 150 301 1 Talbot ... 1
151 151 202 1 1
152 152 201 1 500019 -400
153 153 201 2 500311 400
154 154 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Now, apologize to the man—and empty your mind of that childish thought at once. If this ever happens again, I'll have no choice but to call the Purifying Force on you. 1
155 155 301 Construct Soldier 5 Why you little... 2
156 156 202 1 2 1
157 157 201 1 500517
158 158 301 1 Talbot I'm sorry. 1
159 159 202 1
160 160 401 2 1516
161 161 301 Saying not another word, Talbot walks away with all eyes on him.
162 162 201 1 500335
163 163 301 1 Lillian Hey, Talbot! 1
164 164 401 2 1516
165 165 202 1
166 166 301 Lillian rushes up after Talbot.
167 167 201 1 500506
168 168 301 1 Young Man A Where are you going? 1
169 169 202 1
170 170 301 The man was about to go after them when the technician holds him back down.
171 171 201 1 500249 -400
172 172 201 2 500506 9 400
173 173 301 1 Emaciated Technician Nuh-uh, we aren't done with your check-ups yet. 1
174 174 202 1 2 1
175 175 201 1 500019 -400
176 176 201 2 500019 400
177 177 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Let's go! 1
178 178 301 Construct Soldier 2 Already on it! 2
179 179 202 1 2 1
180 180 201 1 500514
181 181 301 1 ??? T-Talbot... 1
182 182 202 1 1
183 183 201 1 500460 400
184 184 201 2 500454 -400
185 185 301 1 Elder Refugee ...Sigh. 1
186 186 301 Refugee 1 Don't be sad. They've been going on and on about these days and haven't worked out a single plan. It's the same old thing as it was years ago. 2
187 187 301 Refugee 1 They show you an incentive you can't possibly refuse and make us believe that everyone will get a cut of it if we all work a bit—while they're in fact just sending us straight to the slaughterhouse. 2
188 188 202 1 2 1
189 189 401 1 55
190 190 201 1 500136
191 191 301 1 Refugee B Haha, that sounds like a Ponzi scheme. You're talking about "Blessing Boxes", right? 1
192 192 202 1 2 1
193 193 201 1 500506
194 194 301 1 Young Man A Blessing Boxes...? 1
195 195 201 1 500454 -600
196 196 201 2 500270
197 197 201 3 500136 600
198 198 301 1 Refugee 1 Mind you, that thing is more than a Ponzi scheme. There's gambling, and it can really eat you and your family up whole. 1
199 199 301 Refugee 3 The aristocrats make them sell those things, right? I heard that's Ashlar's idea, but how does that have anything to do with all these Ascendants they were talking about? 3
200 200 301 Refugee 1 Nothing, but they're the same in principle—they can both eat you up. 1
201 201 301 Refugee 1 The lucky one becomes the aristocrats' dog—and the other 9,999 all get eaten up whole. 1
239 239 301 Young Man A I probably heard about "Blessing Box" for the first time before I was nine... 1
240 240 301 Young Man A But when was it exactly...? It's been so long... and I can't remember it now. 1
241 241 401 1 120
242 242 301 Back then, conflicts between the upper and lower levels were mostly personal. The lower level wasn't as crowded, and the guards from the upper level were pretty well-mannered.
243 243 301 Mom said ACA had been "on the verge of chaos—but never truly crossed the line."
244 244 201 1 500197
245 245 301 1 Upper-Level Guard This is your workspace for today. Everything is in there and organized, and you'll all be paid for the amount of work you do. Thank you all so much. 1
246 246 301 The guard walks into the cargo car with the dozen of selected ones. In there, they see piles of goods and some recycled paper boxes.
247 247 202 1 1
248 248 201 1 500270 400
249 249 201 2 500197 -400
250 250 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Alright, "Blessing Boxes" again. Gotta love easy jobs like this! 1
251 251 301 Upper-Level Guard Right. Since this job is relatively easy and the pay is calculated based on how much work you do, Boss wanted us to get a few kids with too much time on their hands to do these for extra earnings. 2
252 252 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Of course, and we'd be happy to bring some old hands here, too. They don't have another source of income other than those easy tasks from the Logistics Crew, anyway. 1
253 253 301 Upper-Level Guard Copy that. Sounds like a plan, actually. I'll tell Boss about that. 2
254 254 202 1 2
255 255 301 With a nod, the guard turns around and leaves.
256 256 201 1 500510 -400
257 257 201 2 500226 400
258 258 301 1 ??? Do we only need to stuff the things from the bigger box into these "Blessing Boxes"? 1
259 259 301 Lower-Level Citizen 2 Yes. You just need to fold up these recycled boxes, wipe off any filthy traces on them, stuff the things from the chest into the boxes, and then seal them up. And keep in mind that you're only supposed to stuff one of each item into a single box. 2
260 260 301 ??? Right. Thank you. 1
261 261 201 1 500342 -400
262 262 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 3 Didn't think I'd see a kid this age here. 1
263 263 301 Lower-Level Citizen 2 We're totally fine with it. This job is easy enough, and it wouldn't hurt to have some extra earnings. 2
264 264 202 1 2 1
265 265 301 With a paper box in his hands, the boy looks into the bigger box with all sorts of things. The bigger box holds a lot of simple parts, loose medications, and old everyday products.
266 266 301 Those things are as good as useless, but other than that, there is a deck of shiny cards sitting neatly in a metal box with a tantalizing shine.
272 272 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Yes. There are only so many of them, and you need to be really lucky to have one in the Blessing Box you buy. 2
273 273 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 And if you do get one in the lot box you buy, you get to board the train with the card and live with everyone. 2
274 274 301 ??? Why do you need a Blessing Card to live with everyone, though? 1
275 275 201 2 500226 400
276 276 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 2 Haha, son, consider yourself lucky for being a native on the train. You've no idea what's going on out there. 2
277 277 301 ??? But I do. Mom told me about what's going on out there, but I still don't know why you need a Blessing Card to board the train. 1
278 278 202 2 1
279 279 201 2 500270 400
280 280 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Because we only have so many seats on the train, and they need "tickets" to board. Have you heard about these tickets? 2
281 281 301 He nods earnestly.
282 282 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 There aren't many livable places out there. See, if you go to places like refugee bases, medzones, or reservation areas, you'll see that they only take in skilled workers that are young enough. 2
283 283 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 And even if they're nice enough to take you in, they won't be able to keep you around for long—because with all sorts of things in short supply, no one wants to keep someone around that can't help with anything. 2
284 284 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Which is why the safer the place you go to, the more they want to make sure you really are skilled. 2
285 285 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 And you get to stay there if you pass the screening—but the problem is that there are a bunch of people who either failed or have no family members who passed the screening. 2
286 286 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 And it's not necessarily the case that they aren't capable of anything. Wherever they went to was probably just a bad fit for them, and it's much too risky for them to travel far away from home for job hunting. 2
287 287 301 ??? And so they want to hop on the train and go somewhere else? 1
288 288 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Exactly, and the train never stops hiring. You'd have to pass the screening, though, of course. 2
289 289 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Be it the Cargo Crew, Maintenance Crew, Logistics Crew, or the guards or the service staff up there—they only want people with the right skills and physical condition. 2
290 290 301 ??? What happens if someone just can't pass a single screening? 1
291 291 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Then physical work it is, then, and they're actually short on hands these days. 2
292 292 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Most physical jobs are one-shot deals, though, which is why people don't keep workers around to meet these ad hoc needs. 2
293 293 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 If someone is lucky enough to get one of the tickets we stuff into one of the boxes, they can hop onboard and either go to live somewhere safe without having to go through the screening, or form a nomadic squad with others and do their part to help. 2
294 294 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 And the upper level stands to gain part of the supplies, while the lower level gets a few extra hands that can go and help people around. The elder folks and kids would then be able to come and help with making "Blessing Boxes", which makes it possible for everyone to get supplies. 2
295 295 301 ??? ...Hmm... 1
296 296 202 1 2 1
297 297 201 1 500226
298 298 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 2 I like how that sounds! 1
299 299 301 AniZhuanchangBegin They're all happy and excited about the future.
304 304 301 With the Blessing Box gaining traction, the lower level starts growing crowded.
305 305 301 They're now seeing an influx of people who failed to pass screenings at other places, and most of the skills they possess do not align with the skills they need to work on the train.
306 306 301 To help these people stay above water, the aristocrats form a "Bumblebee" squad that takes in everyone without a stable job.
307 307 301 "Bumblebee" does all sorts of outsourced work—be it rebuilding reservation areas, helping with farming, removing ruins from the road that stand in the Cargo Crew's way, or working as ad hoc mercenaries.
308 308 301 Most of these people, however, either stay behind in the Industrial Carriage, or head down to all the factories to do simple odd jobs in place of machines that don't work anymore.
309 309 301 Things have so far turned out the way everyone had expected them to.
310 310 301 Except these "simple" odd jobs quickly get out of hand.
311 311 301 Without a proper screening process that filters out those who just aren't meant to be here, the Bumblebee now has quite a few members that are... less than cooperative.
312 312 201 1 500140 -400
313 313 201 2 500460 400
314 314 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 1 Yo, I got humiliated good at the reservation area I was at yesterday. 1
315 315 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Because of "Bumblebee"? 2
316 316 301 Cargo Crew Member 1 Damn straight. This guy was helpin' on the farm with us at the base, and dude was rollin' on the ground whining about how tired he was after getting his pay. 1
317 317 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Haha, ain't no surprise at all. A winner would never even think about buyin' a Blessing Box. You know what I'm talkin' about? 2
318 318 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 You'd only buy a Blessing Box if you're too young—in which case you were born havin' no school to go to, where you'd have been able to pick up a skill. 2
319 319 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Or you're too old—in which case you've spent the prime of your life either doin' some creative job, performances, or game designin', except these are all things that could have only kept you alive back in peaceful times. 2
320 320 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 I have full respect for all sorts of occupations, and I came across a bunch of these people working different lines of work before going to the reservation area. 2
321 321 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 I'm talkin' about those that haven't found themselves a job and are still refusing to be Scavengers. 2
322 322 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Dude, it's a miracle that these people haven't caused any big scene at all doin' physical work. Totes normal that some of them crack doin' it. 2
323 323 301 Cargo Crew Member 1 Did you just say it's "normal"? Well, logically speakin', yes, but I'm talkin' about whether they're good fits for the job. See, it's no different than throwing dirt on ACA's reputation. 1
324 324 301 Cargo Crew Member 1 And guess what? The Cargo Crew is gettin' dragged through the mud because of all these. When people from reservation areas know we're from ACA now, they just assume we're all a bunch of jerks without botherin' to check our affiliation. 1
325 325 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Gotta put up with that, and we need to give them credit for even getting out there to work at all—they're definitely farin' a lot better than those good-for-nothings that stay behind in the car and steal people's bread from under the pillow. 2
326 326 202 1 2 1
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328 328 201 2 500164 -400
329 329 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 3 They're a hopelessly useless bunch, and those bases got some real nerve hiring those "Bumblebees". 1
330 330 301 Cargo Crew Member 4 The dirty work has to be done, but there ain't dirty work around to be done every single day. Keepin' those idle Bumblebees around all the time is only more trouble, which is why it makes sense to carry them around and put those hands where they're needed as the train goes. 2
331 331 301 Cargo Crew Member 3 But the upper level is supposed to be responsible for those Bumblebees! We're losing spaces to live in down here with all these new people comin', and we've never seen any supplies we've earned making Blessing Boxes. They got some real nerve askin' us to make more! 1
332 332 202 1 2 1
333 333 201 1 500510
334 334 301 1 ??? ... 1
335 335 301 Hearing this, the boy puts down the box he was folding.
336 336 202 1 1
337 337 201 1 500251 400
338 338 201 2 500510 -400
339 339 301 1 Hill [—], let's carry on. We're going to get our wage cut if we don't finish these today. 1
340 340 301 ??? But... Hill, this box... 2
341 341 202 1 2 1
342 342 201 1 500197 400
343 343 201 2 500226 -400
344 344 301 1 Upper-Level Guard Stop complaining. The higher-ups said there won't be as many "tickets" to go around after this batch of Blessing Boxes is all sold, which means you'll be seeing fewer newcomers and better living conditions then. 1
345 345 301 Cargo Crew Member 1 Yeah, like, we're totes goin' to buy into that. 2
346 346 301 Upper-Level Guard You think I enjoy dealing with all these?! Stop ****ing treating us like those Bumblebees' nannies! 1
347 347 301 Upper-Level Guard The aristocrats always make sure I feel their rage when the Logistics Crew from the lower level has their plate full and things go south. I'm so friggin' fed up! 1
348 348 301 Cargo Crew Member 1 Maybe you want to tell 'em aristocrats to stop being so greedy, then?! 2
349 349 301 Sassing the guard, he turns around and walks into the crowd.
350 350 202 1 2 1
351 351 201 1 500425 600
352 352 201 2 500426
353 353 201 3 500197 -600
354 354 301 1 Bumblebee Member 1 ... 1
355 355 301 Upper-Level Guard Whatchu all lookin' at?! No work no pay. That's right! 3
356 356 301 Bumblebee Member 2 This workload is insane, though... 2
357 357 301 Upper-Level Guard Dude, what do you have to complain about making boxes? Consider yourself lucky that you're here earning easy money. Or perhaps you want to try living as a mercenary and enjoy staring death in the eye every single day? 3
358 358 301 Bumblebee Member 1 ... 1
359 359 202 1 2 3 1
360 360 201 1 500251 400
361 361 201 2 500510 -400
362 362 301 1 Hill [—], stop looking at them. Let's just finish it. 1
363 363 301 ??? ...Alright. 2
364 364 202 1 2 1
365 365 301 Arguments, hard feelings from work, and pent-up stress...
366 366 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Resentment is quietly brewing up among the people—and the boy can just feel that.
368 368 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The resentment has grown so much by the time the boy has turned 11, sparing not even the dining car on the lower level that used to be the safe haven of slackers.
369 369 301 To help pacify their own worried souls, the adults give away half of what little food they have in exchange for homemade alcohol and cigarettes.
370 370 301 The kids, on the other hand, have no choice but to eat with the car reeking of alcohol and smoke.
371 371 201 1 500260 -400
372 372 201 2 500510 400
373 373 301 1 Girl ...Bean lees soup, again. I hate it. [—], what are you holding in your hand? 1
374 374 301 ??? Same thing, but my mom gave me a candy. 2
375 375 301 Girl ...I want one, too. 1
376 376 301 On the verge of tears and sniffing a few times, the girl looks at the boy, and then at another man beside her.
377 377 301 Girl Mike... 1
378 378 202 2 1
379 379 201 1 500087
380 380 301 1 Bumblebee Member Mike Ain't nothing you can do about it, young lady. His mother is rich with all the dirty moola she makes, and that candy is just the tip of the iceberg. 1
381 381 201 1 500294
382 382 301 1 Bumblebee Member Ed Yo, easy with that, buddy. Julie ain't doin' anything shady! 1
383 383 201 1 500087
384 384 301 1 Bumblebee Member Mike Ain't doin' anything shady, huh? Do you even know how much money she gives those guards under the table? Any guess how her son lands himself a place with the bunch that makes Blessing Boxes and goes there all the time? 1
385 385 201 1 500260 -400
386 386 201 2 500510 5 400 1
387 387 301 1 ??? What do you mean all the time? I've only been there three times over the past few years! 2
388 388 301 1 The boy puts the candy before the girl.
389 389 301 1 ??? And this candy is supposed to be my birthday gift... 2
390 390 301 1 Girl Hmm... 1
391 391 202 1 2 1
392 392 201 1 500087 -400
393 393 201 2 500294 400
394 394 301 1 Bumblebee Member Mike Just take it. Pretty damn sure he's got a whole bunch of this sitting at home. 1
395 395 301 Bumblebee Member Ed Really? Are you sure you want your niece to think it's okay to take things from people without thanking them? 2
396 396 202 2 1
397 397 201 1 500510
398 398 301 1 ??? ... 1
399 399 401 1 202
400 400 201 1 500294
401 401 301 1 With the air around them growing tense, the elder man sitting next to him eating starts looking on with a frown.
402 402 301 Bumblebee Member Ed Where is Julie by the way? Still not eatin' with you? Boy, she's got some real nerve leavin' you out here on your own... 1
403 403 202 1 1
404 404 201 1 500104 400
405 405 201 2 500463 -400
406 406 301 1 Bumblebee Member 3 Have you all heard about all the deaths this month? 1
407 407 301 Hearing the buzz from the table next over, the elder man drops the topic and turns his gaze away.
408 408 301 Bumblebee Member 4 No. What happened? 2
409 409 301 Bumblebee Member 3 This girl from Carriage L had a cardiac arrest and died from low blood sugar... 1
410 410 301 Bumblebee Member 4 Low blood sugar? That just means she died from hunger, no? 2
411 411 301 Bumblebee Member 3 And these other two were killed by fallen walls when they were at a deserted park helping with reconstruction. 1
412 412 301 Bumblebee Member 4 Did they pay compensation? 2
413 413 301 Bumblebee Member 3 They did, but one of them had no family, so the guards took all the money. The other had his money taken away, too, because he only had a kid. The guard that took the money away promised he'd pay the child... God-only-knows how much every month. 1
414 414 202 1 2 1
415 415 201 1 500138 -400
416 416 201 2 500226 400
417 417 301 1 Bumblebee Member 5 Friggin' scumbags... They know they can do whatever the hell they please because there won't be any legal consequences... 1
418 418 301 Bumblebee Member 5 I can't help but think they are the perps behind some of these! I mean, they probably want as many people dead as possible so they can get all the money, right? 1
419 419 301 Bumblebee Member 6 If that scares you, you should just be like them and bring those guards a little something... They won't send you to one of those dangerous hellholes if you're in their good books. 2
420 420 301 Stealing a glance at what the Cargo Crew is eating next table over, the Bumblebees' faces grow menacing.
421 421 202 1 2 1
422 422 201 1 500104
423 423 201 2 500463 -600
424 424 201 3 500138 600
425 425 301 1 Bumblebee Member 3 For ****'s sake, why does their food look so nice? 1
426 426 301 Bumblebee Member 4 Oh, you should have seen what they had when I first got on the train, then. It was much better than this. 2
427 427 301 Bumblebee Member 3 And they told us we'd be getting their kind of food and accommodation when we get on the train... 1
428 428 301 Bumblebee Member 5 Bunch of lousy liars...! I swear I'm goin' to strangle every last one of them someday! 3
429 429 202 1 2 3 1
430 430 201 1 500164
431 431 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 1 Excuse me? We aren't even the ones selling those Blessing Boxes. If you've anything to complain about, just take it to the higher-ups! 1
432 432 201 1 500104
433 433 301 1 Bumblebee Member 3 Like hell I'm gonna believe you didn't reap profit from it! 1
434 434 202 1 1
435 435 201 1 500515
436 436 301 RImgBg1Shake 1 Rachel Guys, please! 1
437 437 301 Rachel looks after most of those living on the lower level—and be it the Cargo Crew or the Bumblebee, no one talks back to her when she talks.
438 439 301 She's their hero, leader, and a stable source of resources. She might not always have what you need when you ask her, but come back to her in a few days and she'll have what you need.
439 440 301 How exactly does she manage to get her hands on things when there isn't even enough to go around?
440 441 301 This question has been on the boy's mind for the longest time. He tried to find out how she does it by bringing up the question to her—to which she only said, "I've got extra pay here."
441 442 202 1 1
442 443 201 1 500460
443 444 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 2 We can't just let things be this way forever, Capt. 1
444 445 201 1 500515
445 446 301 1 Rachel I know, but like I've said before, the higher-ups are going to work with someone else if we refuse to do these Blessing Boxes, and that won't help with our situation at all. 1
446 447 301 Rachel We've tried strikes and protests... but at the end of the day, the aristocrats own this train. We won't get a say so long as they're still alive. 1
447 448 201 1 500104
448 449 301 1 Bumblebee Member 3 What are we supposed to do, then? 1
449 450 201 1 500515
450 451 301 1 Rachel ...Trust me, guys. We'll put it all to an end in no time. 1
451 452 201 1 500425 -600 1
452 453 201 2 500426 1
453 454 201 3 500104 600 1
454 455 301 1 Bumblebees ... 1 2 3
455 456 202 1 2 3
456 457 301 Everyone here has had their fair share of misfortune—some have shelled away what little resources they had to buy Blessing Boxes, some have sold Blessing Boxes in exchange for shelter, while others make Blessing Boxes to secure supplies without having to put themselves in harm's way.
457 458 301 "Blessing Boxes" are like giant magnets—that, as soon as people come in contact with them, suck people into an abyss from which there is no escape.
458 459 301 Beyond the train lies nothing but barren land—and those who dare to venture out will find themselves embarking on a journey of endless roaming, looting, and scavenging. Who will they be able to hold accountable? And what are they supposed to do?
459 460 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Believe or not to believe—that is the question, one to which no one knows the answer, allowing the status quo to prevail until someone or a group of people explodes with bottled-up rage.
