4 4 301 DialogEnable Chrome opens his eyes to see the familiar dark room and Asimov's solemn face.
5 5 201 1 500004 450
6 6 201 2 500155 -450
7 7 301 1 Chrome You've been working hard, Asimov. How is the test data? 2
8 8 301 Asimov You've reached a high enough degree of synchronization and proficiency to pass the test. 1
9 9 204 1 8
10 10 301 Asimov But the core issues still haven't been addressed. 1
11 11 301 Asimov clenches his fists and closes his eyes. Chrome has never seen such an expression on this seemingly infallible scientific genius.
12 12 301 Chrome Is there anything I can do to help? 2
13 13 204 1
14 14 301 Asimov grabs the mug on the table, swallows a mouthful of cold coffee, and shakes his head in a trance.
15 15 301 Asimov This frame uses technology similar to that of Lucia: Plume. 1
16 16 301 Chrome I know. 2
17 17 202 1 2 1
18 18 301 Before signing the agreement and applying to participate in the experiment, he fully understood the principles and risks of the project.
19 19 301 But Asimov's expression does not stem from the achievements of his research, but rather the costs.
20 20 301 Lucia was reborn as Plume after sustaining life-threatening injuries during the battle of Kowloong. Asimov had explained that she lost her original memory during the upload process. Despite having a backup of her memory, re-integration would have only caused a sense of alienation.
21 21 301 Plume has not had any issues since then, and Lucia's memory still remains intact.
22 22 301 Recently, she seems to have completely regained familiarity toward her memories and has gradually overcome the impacts of the transfer process.
23 23 301 The original agreement stated that there might be similar risks, but the main purpose of this experiment was to resolve the negative effects of frame transferal.
24 24 201 1 500004 450
25 25 201 2 500155 -450
26 26 301 1 Chrome Are you referring to the risks mentioned in the plan? 2
27 27 301 Asimov No, the plan only mentioned the hypotheses we made at the beginning of the experiment. 1
28 28 301 Asimov But as this experiment continues, I've discovered that the technology still has a lot of issues that remain unsolved. 1
29 29 301 Asimov To give you a simple idea, imagine filling a bottle with rocks, then casting it out at sea. 1
30 30 301 Asimov Even though your M.I.N.D., aka the "bottle," is stable and able to retain all of these "rocks," when uploaded into the frame, it would be inoperable, much like how the bottle would sink to the ocean floor. 1
31 31 301 Asimov Lucia was able to synchronize with the frame without any adjustments due to additional data from... 1
32 32 301 Asimov Cough—because the data is compatible with her, just like the frame itself. 1
33 33 301 Chrome Additional data? 2
34 34 301 Asimov That's classified. I'm not at liberty to say much more. 1
35 35 202 1 2 1
36 36 301 However, Asimov knows that specialized frames are "special" not only because they are created on the basis of all the data accumulated by Gray Raven thus far...
37 37 301 ...But also because they contain data from the Ascendant—Alpha.
38 38 301 When Lucia earnestly returned to the battlefield, she failed to ask the question that was deliberately hidden.
39 39 301 "—Where did you get this Ascendant data?"
40 40 301 The answer was out of hope to put an end to this calamity, but was also to give rise to human strife.
41 41 201 1 500004 450
42 42 201 2 500155 -450
43 43 301 1 Asimov Ever since Lucia was uploaded into the frame, the Science Council has been collecting various data on Plume. 1
44 44 301 Asimov We've made numerous adjustments, which allow you to safely establish a virtual link. 1
45 45 301 Asimov However, only you can do it. That's because your specialized Inver-Device and M.I.N.D. are inherently more stable. 1
46 46 301 Asimov That's why I invited you to participate in this program. 1
47 47 301 Chrome What risks are we most likely to face now? 2
48 48 301 Asimov Your M.I.N.D. is likely to experience any number of serious cognitive side effects. 1
49 49 301 Asimov Common symptoms aside, you may experience M.I.N.D. deviation much like how the bottle would sink to the bottom of the ocean. If it were to continue any further... you may experience M.I.N.D. corruption. 1
50 50 301 Asimov At that point, you would lose control. Anything goes after that. 1
51 51 301 Asimov If you don't know what that's like, you can speak with 【kuroname】 later. 1
52 52 301 Chrome It's fine. I've read about it in the reference materials. There's no sense in bothering the Gray Raven Commandant. 2
53 53 301 Asimov However, since your specialized Inver-Device has allowed you to serve as the commandant of Strike Hawk, you're not the only one at risk. 1
54 54 301 Asimov If your M.I.N.D. experiences any deviation or corruption, any squad member linked with you will also be affected. 1
55 55 301 Chrome ... 2
56 56 301 Asimov Until we resolve whatever is making your M.I.N.D. susceptible to corruption, I can't let you use this frame. 1
57 57 301 Chrome glances back at Asimov, who is looking at a large stack of files, ruminating about how to improve the frame.
58 58 301 Chrome I'm no scientist, but I think... 2
59 59 301 Chrome If the core problem is data compatibility with my M.I.N.D., or as you put it, rocks sinking the bottle... 2
60 60 301 Chrome Would it be possible to attach additional equipment to isolate it in parallel with the bottle? 2
61 2001 204 1 8
62 61 301 Asimov ... 1
63 62 204 1 7
64 63 301 Asimov thinks for a moment, then stands up as if to say, "Eureka!", then walks to the side of the lab and begins looking up something on the terminals.
65 2002 202 1 2 1
66 64 201 1 500004
67 65 301 1 Asimov Rosetta... 1
68 66 301 Asimov The research data from her transfer between the centaur and humanoid frame...! 1
69 67 202 1 1
70 68 301 With the terminal's high processing speed, Asimov quickly finds the target file. He pulls up a chair in front of the monitors and begins to work assiduously.
71 69 301 Seeing his bleak demeanor begin to reside, Chrome politely dismisses himself.
72 70 201 1 500155
73 71 301 1 Chrome I'll get going. Let me know if you need help calibrating the frame. 1
74 2003 201 1 500004
75 72 301 1 Asimov Understood. 1
76 73 202 1 1
77 74 301 AniZhuanchangBegin He responds without lifting his head from his work.
84 80 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Once the sound of footsteps outside the lab fades into the distance, Asimov opens an encrypted file on Plume containing "Alpha_data" sent to him early on by "some people."
85 81 301 The method, costs, and potential dangers of acquiring such data had been deliberately stricken from the record.
86 82 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Perhaps, only when all of this comes to light will the truth behind these "anomalies" finally be revealed.
92 88 301 After leaving the closed lab, Chrome receives a notification from Celica on his terminal.
93 89 301 Celica There's been a change to the search and rescue mission. Since it's been assigned on such short notice, time is of the essence. 1
94 90 301 Celica Gather your squad and board the transport craft in forty minutes. 1
95 91 301 Celica Mission details have been uploaded to your terminal. Let me know if you have any questions. 1
96 92 301 Chrome opens the mission details and quickly scans the intel. The new mission is to enter the Longinus blast zone to search for abnormalities.
97 93 301 Celica It may appear to be an ordinary recon mission... 1
98 94 301 Celica But after you evacuated, we suddenly detected high Punishing concentration within the area. 1
99 95 203 1 0.25 450
100 96 201 2 500155 -450
101 97 301 1 Chrome Suddenly? 2
102 98 301 Celica Correct. The specific location and concentration fluctuate greatly. 1
103 99 301 Celica Maybe it's just a false positive caused by various regional and climate factors. Or maybe there's something hiding down there. 1
104 100 301 Celica Considering the potential risks, this mission is best left in good hands. 1
105 101 301 Chrome scrolls down the intel log and notices small line of gray text at the bottom: "This task has been transferred from Gray Raven to Strike Hawk."
106 102 301 Chrome This was originally assigned to... Gray Raven? 2
107 103 301 Celica 【kuroname】 is indisposed and unable to perform missions for the time being. 1
108 104 301 Chrome Have the memory flashbacks put the commandant out of commission? 2
109 105 301 Celica Hm? Um... 1
110 106 301 Celica hesitates for a moment before realizing why Chrome would know about it.
111 107 301 Celica Seems like Wanshi sensed something wrong with 【kuroname】. Correct, the commandant's condition has something to do with that. 1
112 108 301 The phrasing of "something" filled Chrome's mind with doubt, but asking about it directly probably would not elicit a response.
113 109 301 Chrome Understood. I'll rally the team. 2
122 118 301 Due to the risks and restitutes involved with the frame transferal experiment, John Smith had also received a notice as the co-signer.
123 119 301 John Careful, you're playing with fire. You can always back out of the experiment if you need to. 2
124 120 301 Chrome I appreciate the concern, Mr. Smith. I'll be sure to tread carefully, but with great risk comes great reward. 1
125 121 301 John What do you have coming up? 2
126 122 301 Chrome We were reassigned to a mission meant for Gray Raven. I'm going to assemble the team, then proceed to the target. 1
127 123 301 John Gray Raven? Looks like they're in over their heads this time. 2
128 124 301 Chrome Because of the commandant's illness? 1
129 125 301 John From what I've gathered, illness is only an excuse for the commandant to be monitored. 2
130 126 301 Chrome 【kuroname】 is being monitored...? 1
131 127 301 John Yes, but that's just the start. Gray Raven has a lot of trouble coming their way. 2
132 128 301 John Not only are they dealing with this mysterious illness, they've also got people trying to uncover their past transgressions in order for Gray Raven to be a stepping stone on their road to success. 2
133 129 301 Chrome Past transgressions? Why's that? 1
134 130 301 John These people are planning on using the commandant's condition to put them out of service. 2
135 131 301 John But the commandant still hasn't slipped up, so they have to put their plan on hold. 2
136 132 301 John If 【kuroname】 keeps this up, they'll try to stop Gray Raven by claiming that they violated military orders, had a private connection with the Ascendant leader, or that they are keeping her whereabouts a secret. 2
137 133 301 Chrome A private connection with the Ascendant leader? No commandant can do that. And I don't believe 【kuroname】 is harboring the enemy. 1
138 134 301 John It's just a possibility. Apparently, the "Huaxu" in the enemy's hands determined that 【kuroname】 can resist M.I.N.D. corruption and connect with Ascendants. 2
139 135 301 Chrome ...! 1
140 136 301 John After learning this, the enemy specifically asked Gestalt to verify authenticity, and the results were confirmed. 2
141 137 301 Chrome Why did Huaxu think that 【kuroname】 can connect with Ascendants? 1
142 138 301 John Because the commandant crossed paths with them during the underground Battle of City 075. 2
143 139 301 John The commandant wrote everything down in the mission report, but someone leaked it. Even if the commandant hadn't said anything, these people would've found out one way or another. 2
144 140 301 John If it came to that, falsifying the military report would only exacerbate their crimes. 2
145 141 301 Chrome Who leaked the commandant's mission? 1
146 142 301 John It doesn't matter. Even if you found out who did it, someone else would just take their place. 2
147 143 301 John Their network has penetrated into the very fabric of Babylonia. All the President can do is take every necessary precaution. 2
148 144 301 John There isn't much he can do to prevent leaks. After all, the opposition has other means to implicate them. Not to mention, they occupy numerous irreplaceable positions. 2
149 145 301 John No one knows what the commandant really did. They claim that 【kuroname】 lost consciousness at the time. Even the Constructs on Gray Raven didn't see Luna leave. 2
150 146 301 John They're still collecting evidence. But based on the current trend, the opposition is deliberately trying to forge evidence to achieve their goals. 2
151 147 301 Chrome How do you know this...? 1
152 148 301 John Working in the political sphere, I have my ways. I am a Smith, after all. 2
153 149 301 John The next Smith will have to learn to piece together fragments of intel and speculation to get the whole picture. 2
154 150 301 Chrome ... 1
155 151 301 Chrome furrows his borrows as if lost in thought.
156 152 301 Chrome Where is 【kuroname】 now? 1
157 153 301 John Do you want to see the commandant? 2
158 154 301 Chrome Yes. 1
159 155 301 John People need to use whatever they can to get rid of any other unnecessary troubles. 2
160 156 301 John I'm telling you all of this intel just to remind you. 2
161 157 301 John I know you're interested in the commandant's potential. 2
162 158 301 John I didn't want to interfere with you being around such an exceptional human, but the squad is already in too deep. 2
163 159 301 John If you get too close to 【kuroname】, you'll be monitored and put in the same position. 2
164 160 301 John Just look at the other Gray Ravens. Stay away from them, or else you'll just get caught in the crossfire. 2
165 161 301 Chrome Trust my judgment and way of doing things, Mr. Smith. Even if I see 【kuroname】, I won't let them get the best of me. 1
166 162 301 Chrome Please tell me. Where is 【kuroname】? 1
172 168 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After numerous requests, Chrome finally gets a brief meeting with the commandant on the grounds of relaying information on the mission.
173 169 401 2 1509
174 170 301 Under the watchful eyes of soldiers and staff, the airtight door slowly rises up.
175 171 301 Blinding light fills the empty room. A human is sitting on the cold and hard seat in the conference room, looking ahead with tired and dull eyes.
176 172 301 Someone once joked that uncomfortable chairs can shorten meetings and make them more efficient.
177 173 301 But when a person is left to sit on the chair for almost two days, the same cannot be said.
178 174 301 Chrome looks around the room quietly. In this clean, tidy and unassuming room, cameras are installed in each of the four corners—at least, that was all that could be seen with the naked eye.
179 175 401 2 1509
180 176 301 He steps into the room, and the door slowly lowers. Even though it is just the two of you, neither of you are able to speak freely under such watchful eyes.
181 177 301 Looking at the side of your pale and tired face, Chrome quietly clenches his fists. Before he greets you, he notices the projection equipment in the corner.
182 178 301 The hazy blue light creates a three-dimensional image of an antique clock with no tick marks or minute hand. There is only an hour hand slowly moving along with each swing of a pendulum.
183 179 301 A small line of text below the clock reads: Monitoring Schedule.
184 180 301 It is difficult for those who have not experienced it to notice, but one's perception of time is infinitely lengthened by staring at a clock during times of hardship.
185 181 301 Before coming here, Chrome had heard that the interval between examinations and treatments was 2 hours during the day and 5 hours at night.
186 182 301 Anyone who has worked at the Star of Life knows that this frequency of treatment for patients with serious illnesses is normal.
187 183 301 But that is done under the conditions that the patients in "critical conditions" are "looked after without being disturbed," not "monitored in confinement."
188 184 301 However, if an appeal is submitted due to the frequency of treatment, the other party would just come up with a series of written terms to prove that they are not violating any rules.
189 185 301 The commandant's hardship would be hidden between the lines.
190 186 301 Such as, being isolated in this empty room for an extended duration...
191 187 301 The blinding light and cold, hard conference chairs making rest nigh impossible...
192 188 301 Numerous monitoring equipment in the room... Soldiers and staff pacing outside...
193 189 301 The clock without tick marks... The all-too-convenient monitoring interval...
194 190 301 Singling out any one of these reasons would give no indication that there is any foul play.
195 191 301 No one could complain that the room is too clean and empty, or that the seats are too uncomfortable.
196 192 301 But together, this is enough to make life wither away with each swing of the pendulum.
197 193 201 1 500155
198 194 301 1 Chrome (...This is a prison in every sense of the word.) 1
199 195 202 1 1
200 196 301 Chrome wants to say something, but he finds himself unable to speak under such watchful eyes.
201 197 301 Seeing the clock, Chrome cannot help but recall that you had downloaded Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Pit and the Pendulum", from the database.
209 205 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You slowly turn in the direction of the familiar voice to see Chrome standing by the door. The white paint from his coating reflects the blinding light in the room as if enveloping him in its radiance.
210 206 302 Hello. 207 Chrome? 207 ...It's been a while. 207
211 207 301 You barely manage to muster up such a brief greeting out of sheer fatigue. In a trance, you sense an internal struggle in Chrome's gaze.
215 211 301 The lengthy interrogation regarding the memory replays and mission details have taken a toll on your voice prior to meeting him. No matter how hard you try, you cannot hide the raspiness in your voice.
216 212 301 Chrome quietly walks over and stands in front of the chair. He turns slightly to block the blinding light from above, but the struggle in his eyes becomes all the more apparent.
217 213 302 Have a seat. 214 (Stand up) 215
218 214 217 301 Chrome That won't be necessary. I'm just here to talk about the mission. 1
219 215 301 Chrome quickly reaches out and gently helps you back into your seat.
220 216 301 Chrome You shouldn't stand up as weak as you are. I'm just here to talk about the mission. 1
221 217 301 Chrome Anyway... Babylonia has detected high fluctuations of Punishing concentration within the Longinus blast zone. 1
222 218 301 Chrome If we can rule out any false positives, there might be something hidden there. 1
223 219 301 Chrome Did you notice anything during the last mission? 1
224 220 302 (Explains what happened during the mission) 221
225 221 301 Listening to your explanation, Chrome records the main points in his terminal notes and draws detailed areas on the map.
226 222 301 Chrome Thanks for the help. Looks like there might actually be something suspicious there. I'll bring some sensors along. 1
227 223 302 (Nods, then continues looking at the clock) 224 Chrome, how much longer do you think I'll be here? 226
228 224 301 Chrome puts away his terminal and looks at the blue projection of the pendulum.
229 225 229 301 Chrome 【kuroname】, do you know when the pendulum will stop descending? 1
230 226 301 For any of the onlookers, this sentence would have no significance.
231 227 301 As if understanding the look in your eyes, Chrome shifts his gaze from the pendulum onto you.
232 228 301 Chrome Soon. The pendulum will stop descending soon. 1
233 229 302 Descend? What do you mean? 230 When they can't get what they want? 234 Are you the "rat"? 237
234 230 301 Saying this, you look into Chrome's eyes and wink.
235 231 204 1 1
236 232 301 Chrome Sorry, forget I ever said anything. 1
237 233 240 301 Seeing the hint, he smiles.
238 234 204 1 1
239 235 301 Hearing the hint, he smiles.
240 236 240 301 Chrome Correct. So not much longer. 1
241 237 204 1 1
242 238 301 Seeing that you got the hint, Chrome smiles and drops his gaze.
243 239 301 Chrome "I'm becoming one." 1
244 240 301 After he finishes speaking, the door promptly raises with the clear buzzing of an alarm. Chrome steps back, causing the blinding light to occupy your field of vision.
245 241 301 Chrome Thank you again for your help. Goodbye for now. 1
246 242 301 He nods under the staff's watchful eyes, then leaves the empty room.
