<p=1>Central Far North Mining District Laboratory, Ursus</>Central Far North Mining District Laboratory, Ursus
Mon3tr
Did she just say... 'Royal Guard'?
I heard her say...Kill the Royal Guard, even.
Mon3tr
So she means... the substance called 'Oka' killed the Royal Guard?
Mon3tr
Is that possible? A sort of demonic product even scarier than their Dominion?
An unidentified substance discovered from the mines.Used by researchers to experiment on both Infected and non-Infected.
Results proved to worsen Oripathy symptoms.
Mon3tr
Maybe, it's just a special name for a substance? We can't come to a conclusion before we've seen it ourselves.
Mon3tr
Ksenia, Ksenia! Look at me, can you remember anything?
Ksenia
I... you're...
Mon3tr thinks this attempt will be as fruitless as the last, but the woman's glazed eyes suddenly pop wide open.
She immediately clutches the clothes before her, pulling Mon3tr close.
Ksenia
You're—the Director? Director Kal'tsit?
Ksenia
Did you come here for me? I want to go back, I want to see the professor—
Ksenia
I want to see Professor Ilia... and Lyuda... ugh...
Ksenia
But they... I don't think they'll want to see me, right? A coward like me who couldn't do anything... Do I still deserve to see them?
Ksenia
Uwa...ahhh—aaaahh!!!
Mon3tr
I... I—
However, the woman does not wait for Mon3tr to respond before releasing her grip, and returns to her prior position on the floor.
Ksenia
No, something's off...
Ksenia
You're not the Director. I never saw her again, just like the others. She wouldn't be here.
Ksenia
I even saw those who came after her, and they... they...
Mon3tr
They? Who did you see? Was one of them a short Liberi who's always smiling?
Ksenia
Liberi... yes, I've seen her.
Mon3tr
Where did she go?
Ksenia
I don't know...
Ksenia
The group that killed the Royal Guard... She was with those Infected.
Ksenia
They'll die! Everyone will die!
Ksenia
Ugh... I don't know—I don't know...
She needs a sedative.She's dehydrated.
Mon3tr
So the information we've been getting—
The miners' escape is related to the Royal Guard.Mantra mentioned that the contamination caused by the Royal Guard' is spreading south.
So the answer is obvious.
Mon3tr
But... did the Royal Guard really get killed? By a bunch of miners? How's that possible?
Perhaps we should consider...What it means if it is indeed real.
Mon3tr
The Grand Duchess actually locked the mines down to cover up the fact that a Royal Guard died in her domain?
Mon3tr
But that's impossible! Be it the Tsar or the Armies, they won't let the matter die so easily. If she was really trying to cover it up, she wouldn't have agreed to let us in from the start.
Mon3tr
Does that Imperial Guard know about this too?
That's right...That is exactly what we need to consider.
What is it? Have your companions discovered something?
Amiya
I'm afraid we can only explain after we regroup.
Amiya
Eloysius, are there any other leads here we should be aware of?
Eloysius
There are limits to what I know, and I can't draw any more useful conclusions. If needed, it would be acceptable to let your Doctor come here to investigate.
Eloysius
Though, this only makes me even more certain the Army has no moral baseline whatsoever...
Amiya
Could I ask if you know anything else about what happened in the mines?
Eloysius
Hm? What do you want to know? The experiments conducted here, or something about the mutated Infected?
Eloysius
What's wrong?
Amiya
......
Amiya has always resisted using her powers in such situations and in such a manner, but still she tries to probe the Imperial Guard's mind.
Eloysius's head shows only her hazy doubts, and no guilty conscience.
Doctor, these papers... and the suicide note. What should we do with them?
This note barely mentions the Sarcophagus.That Guardswoman gave us information, so we should repay the favor.
Nearby Voice
Is it over here? What a quest...
Nearby Voice
Oh, I'm sure there's a secret or two buried here, searching this deep—
Eloysius
—Wait, who is this?
The Guardswoman's gaze rests on the pale-faced woman leaning against the wall, eyes shut.
Mon3tr
A researcher who didn't evacuate. Her name is Ksenia.
Mon3tr
We wanted to ask her if she's seen our friends, since the researchers should have bumped into our mobile medical team, but she's been in a daze and is severely dehydrated, so it's unwise to press her.
Eloysius
And these candles and wires on the ground...?
Amiya
My guess is, her attempt to take her own life. Doctor, what exactly happened here?
We came just in time to prevent an explosion.The situation is complex.
Eloysius
And what are those papers in your hand?
A suicide note. You should take a look.(Hand it to her)
Eloysius
A researcher who achieved nothing, a mysterious substance called 'Oka'... and human experimentation.
Eloysius
It seems the dead we saw down below were killed by this 'Oka'.
Elysium
They were really conducting human experiments here?
Elysium
Damn, I was just making an offhand remark back there—
Mantra
(Shakes head)
Eloysius
Hmph, I see the Grand Duchess has truly hidden many things.
Eloysius
But what was the point of the experiment? I'm not surprised the researchers resorted to such base methods, but they should have had some sort of goal!
Eloysius
And this researcher? Hasn't said anything?
It seems like some research materials have been destroyed on purpose.But it's unclear if that was done by the miners or researchers.
Eloysius
So, we still don't know how those mutated Infected came about.
Eloysius
Though, we know now at least that the miners who were still alive have escaped, and save for this one researcher, they're the only clue to cracking this case.
The Infected miners left after ransacking the place.They went south. Our only clue.
Eloysius
We should hurry... How long will it take, until this researcher is well enough to field questions?
Mon3tr
Hard to tell. She's severely dehydrated, and in a pretty bad state too, so we should prioritize her recovery.
Eloysius
What a pain...
Eloysius
We don't know how long it's been since they left, but we should grab the chance to catch up, since we know where they went.
Eloysius
Though, there's no way we can bring this woman along with us who can't even move on her own.
Mon3tr and I will stay here to look after Ksenia.The rest of you, go after the miners.
Eloysius
Ah... Are you sure you want to stay here by yourselves?
Eloysius
It is your choice, but I still have to remind you.
Eloysius
No one knows what's going on with the mines in the Far North, so no one can guarantee your safety.
We'll keep ourselves safe.
You can trust in Amiya's command.
Amiya
Doctor?
You can do it, Amiya.Trust your own judgment.
Mantra
I will go with Amiya.
Mantra
Doctor, I hope your efforts prove fruitful.
Once Ksenia can move again, we'll come find you.Signal should gradually improve upon leaving the contaminated zone.
Eloysius
So it's settled.
Amiya
Doctor, if the signal doesn't improve, we'll come back here after we find the miners to regroup with you.
Mantra
(Nods)
Eloysius
Very good then, that is our backup plan. Let us hurry now.
<p=1>Central Far North Mining District, Ursus</>Central Far North Mining District, Ursus
<p=2>Three days ago...</>Three days ago...
Excited Patrol Unit
Over here... hurry!
Doubtful Patrol Unit
Gah, what's the rush? This lousy positioning system works only half the time, it might not even be here.
Doubtful Patrol Unit
Last time it was a burdenbeast that escaped just to find some grass to chomp on, and this thing only sent a signal to the outpost after it ran more than ten miles away. How do you know if it won't be the same this time?
Lax Patrol Unit
Technically, no one should be at the south exit, since it's been sealed for a long time—
Doubtful Patrol Unit
Huh? How did you get here from over there?
Doubtful Patrol Unit
No, you're not even a member of our squad. What are you doing here?
Lax Patrol Unit
That's my question to ask. This area isn't under your jurisdiction, is it?
Doubtful Patrol Unit
It's past the time to care who's covering where. The one who gets the news and catches the runaway Infected first gets the credit.
Doubtful Patrol Unit
Now get lost. You're in my way.
Lax Patrol Unit
According to you, I was here first, so the credit goes to my squad, no?
Doubtful Patrol Unit
Whoever finds those gavno first gets the credit.
Patrol Unit Captain
What are you doing, Tosha? Stop wasting your time with him and continue your search.
Excited Patrol Unit
Over here! They're all hiding—Hahahahaaahaha!
Doubtful Patrol Unit
What did he find to laugh like that?
Patrol Unit Captain
Go and see.
Excited Patrol Unit
There's a hole up ahead, and they're just huddled in there, thinking we wouldn't find them—
Excited Patrol Unit
O bozhe moy, hahahahahahaha... this is too funny.
Patrol Unit Captain
Heh. Did they think it was a trench?
Patrol Unit Captain
Tosha, Gesha. Take everyone and drag those burdenbeast brains out here.
Lax Patrol Unit
The positioning data show there are quite a few of those runaway Infected miners. Do you need our help?
Patrol Unit Captain
How many heads are in your squad?
Lax Patrol Unit
We're a small one. Just six of us.
Patrol Unit Captain
That's a big group.
Lax Patrol Unit
If you say so. We're the only two remaining idle squads around here, and we got here first.
Lax Patrol Unit
So you have to share the spoils even if you don't want to.
Patrol Unit Captain
......
Lax Patrol Unit
What—
Excited Patrol Unit
Arrrggghhh!!!
A shrill shriek breaks off the stale standoff.
Sounds of struggle and bones broken by blunt instruments immediately follow.
Patrol Unit Captain
What's going on—
Excited Patrol Unit
Help! Save me! They've gone mad—
Excited Patrol Unit
Blyat! These Infected are all crazy!
Rankin
You're not wrong...
Rankin
You'll witness both the wrath and madness of the Infected.
