We opened the box.

"That's right. Seven escape routes have been sealed. But there are still many other areas requiring clearance."

"Risk of detection by Weedran... No, we should assume it's already detected by Patrol Firefly!"

"Understood. Raider One will return first. Glyph was preparing explosives, correct?"

"Detonation at the access point? Not enough quantity to be effective!"

Rolling out of the bunker covered in flesh fragments and slime, the three of them.

Vime's subordinate sprays a powerful decontaminant from a prepared device.

"Hold your breath. Inhale it, and your lungs will necrotize."

The stocky, BC-equipped subordinates quickly strip off Io and Reaper's gear.

"Hey, Little Lady—"

No good. We’re disposing of it. — Outdated terminal. What’s inefficient about it?

The contents inside that terminal are the objective of this operation. After thorough decontamination, we’ll retrieve it.

A squad member asks, puzzled. Vime offers the explanation with a heavy sigh.

After Little Lady, we’ll incinerate the rest in one batch. Wrapping the thin blanket handed instead of their discarded uniforms around his body, Reaper groaned.

Damn it. They’re still screaming.

A rumbling sound still echoes from the entrance we just sealed.

The creatures are charging the door.

I’ll handle the detonation. I’m moving to another location.

Yes, no, Lieutenant.

The soldiers carrying a box as large as a coffin between them speak up.

Return order has been issued. Preserve the recovered materials above all.

…Understood. After the detonation, proceed as planned.

Conversation minimal. Boarding Condor under Vime’s lead, or driven forward by her subordinates.

Lift-off immediate. Ground recedes rapidly. Numerous soldiers scramble into action, visible through the viewport.

Clearly more than at operation start.

— Reinforcements arrived. Why not let them in?

— In that specific scenario, they’d only be a liability.

— How kind of you. The lizards will notice. They’ll be wiped out.

— I didn’t order them to fight to the death.

— Left behind?

— Withdraw when the moment’s right. I dislike… wasting lives.

Then good. Or not good. The virus leak poses a significant threat. We must contain it. But with Weedran still active, we can’t afford to station Salor Base’s response unit there.

There is a cure. Its effectiveness has been confirmed. With a precise plan, it can counter the virus.

But only if Weedran isn’t still active.

“Preparations for the backup terminal are complete. Share the data you brought back.”

“……Good. Connect.”

Copying Little Lady’s data into the backup terminal within the Condor. Goblet spun in a flourish, her dress flaring as she danced before Io.

‘Recovering Vime’s unit data. This action will not be exposed.’

(…Sharp one.)

Finishing the terminal operation, Vime slumped into the chair.

Vime and the Reaper both—though the operation time was not long—were utterly drained. No surprise.

The objective was achieved. But the cost was beyond any expectation. That was what crushed them.

Sergeant Io, previously denied access for reporting...

Hmph

That won't happen again. We're not assigning blame for your responsibility—but we were the ones who opened the sealed box.

We are accomplices. If the virus containment fails, we may have to cooperate with you.

That’s understood—I’m not the one making the request.

Goblet leaned close to Io and spoke.

——Decrypted a specialized encrypted file. An assassination order has been issued against Agent Io by Vime Amultas.

Stay alert.

Hmm, I see. Io smirked sardonically.

Is this wise, Lieutenant. You don’t need to kill me to maintain secrecy.

Vime laughed too, somehow. A laugh worn thin, exhausted.

No confidence in killing you and that saber tiger while in this state.

A single glance at the Reaper.

Good call, ghost bastard. The Reaper spoke, voice flat, drained.

"Besides, Chairman Kouranjé wouldn’t want you dead yet."

"Not bad for a politician."

"I can’t just be a soldier."

Condor slipped through the enemy’s perimeter and kept flying toward Oxanun.

——

‘Not the worst,’ Blue Goblet assessed.

A garden of blue light. As usual, streams of data flowed through the field of view.

A video file. A bust-up photo. Text data. A roster. An unreadable list of evaluation metrics.

“Hmph? Not the worst, huh?”

‘We’re not the only ones interested in the Karaf virus.

It should be top priority for Weedran too.’

“Yeah, probably.”

Even if we succeed in sealing the bunker—or even if we don’t breach it at all—Weedran will eventually come seeking the same information.

The virus leak was inevitable.

Could've been worse just to get the intel, I suppose.

No sense of accomplishment. Not even a trace of it, despite the mission's success.

Over-invested emotionally. Aware of it. But unable to stop.

That’s why this blue goddess keeps speaking to me forever.

Io thinks only of Citalskia even after returning to Yusei.

— Are you comforting me?

That is correct. The Blue Goblet supports you for the sake of human species survival.

You should just say "I'm worried about you" when that happens.

Too much explanation kills the thrill.

Agent Io covers her eyes with her hand. A meaningless gesture. The blockage of visual input causes more data to flood into her brain.

She feels Goblet drawing near. Strange, despite knowing it’s only data flow, her mood lightens.

—Agent Io, Blue Goblet desires your affection.

We are a pair. We bring dawn to humanity.

I evaluate you as an extremely vital unit, but you do not regard me as such.

Just another field support unit among countless operations in the unobserved world.

—Is this phrasing also the result of your research on me?

—The Karaf virus has already broken free from human control.

Data inspection remains incomplete, but it has evolved abnormally, surpassing existing theory.

It could be said that the entity that destroyed Yoldbyk is a different kind altogether.

He stepped aside. Goblet peering in with golden eyes.

How he intended to continue the conversation.

The virus has already taken countless lives.

Many infected have lost their reason, their bodily tissues disintegrating, attacking their former fathers and mothers, lovers and friends, brothers and children.

This should be a more terrifying and painful ordeal for the human species than death itself.

And what comes next will be even more terrifying.

What are you getting at? You've been circling around it.

Vime Amultas stated the facts.

Agent Io, this is not your responsibility.

But we were the ones who opened the box.

Goblet!

He saw countless data dancing within the golden eyes. In the blue phosphorescence, the blue goddess shone all the more distinctly.

More prolonged, more extensive, more precise—and yet an intervention surpassing my calculations. There is no other way to save the human species.

Fight, as one who has opened the box.’

Io understood. Comfort was only half in words.

This one was trying to stir my guilt.

Idiot. What’s so serious about a single incident in a game?

Idiot. That one word wouldn’t come out.

Io let out a long, long sigh.

…All right. I’m just as uneasy about the fate of this world.

Goblet smiled faintly. The usual, lifeless expression.

Music, then. Let’s play some.’

Io drifted for a while in the blue-lit garden.

—

The old ruin. The filthy place above the flowing sewage. Io had returned once more.

Vittō's agent finishes preparing the comms unit and waits with a practiced smile.

Sergeant Io, I’ve heard you’ve fulfilled Chairman Kouranjé’s wishes.

I’d like to extend my personal thanks.

A precise salute ends. The woman activates the comms unit.

— Mister Io, I’ve heard it was a… a tremendous operation.

But you pulled it off. I’m grateful.

There are complications. The virus may have leaked.

— I’m aware. But humans can’t do everything.

We must settle for the next best option. And we must achieve our objective.

Vittō maintains a stern expression.

— Everything’s in place. The situation is unfolding as I predicted. Almost too perfectly.

When will the convoy arrive?

— It depends on the efforts of the Sky Navy guarding the route to Karaf.

Ah... I’m surprised too, but you captured that Gelda.

It’s currently five units, launching fierce attacks to blockade the sea route.

I know. That’s why the Karaaf Front Army can still hold out—the lizard air force is anchored to the sea.

A professional soldier would’ve known that. My apologies.

Regardless, I’ll keep my promise.

Assisting allies is my duty.

I’m involved in politics too.

You’re the one who got the assassination order revoked for me?

Vittō fell silent for a moment. Whether it was acting or not, hard to tell.

A man of words. Not someone gentle by nature.

We believe we can work together further.

Straight to the point now.

The Syndicate Assault Team participated in this operation, I hear.

I provided the intel. No point lying to someone who sees through deception.

They say you’re from Yoldbyk. I understand the sentiment. I’d like to cooperate.

But this scandal must remain hidden until the evacuation of the Kharaf people is complete.

That’s the deal you’re making with your opponent.

To maintain order. You can’t fight effectively when the ground beneath you is unstable.

Io narrowed his eyes. He began to grasp the rhythm of this man’s speech.

The negotiation part is oddly enjoyable. Feels like I’m executing cool maneuvers with precision.

Why did Sinclair appear there? The timing’s too convenient.

Who else knew about this? …You, Chairman Kouranjé.

…Well, yes.

I’ll tell you my personal reason, since it won’t cause problems if revealed.

I want the virus data to leak. But I can’t be the one to do it.

Selfish bastard.

Scandal needs to be exposed. But I don’t want to be the one painted as the villain.

Still, I want control over when the leak happens. That’s… a little too convenient.

—I won’t make excuses. I’m a shameless man. But it’s necessary.

For the supporters?

—For every citizen.

Sergeant Io, the soldiers of Special Forces are proud. They won’t listen to my words.

Only you can persuade them. You’ve shared operations with them. Built deep trust.

…If you refuse?

—Then that’s just how it is. I’ll adapt accordingly.

A cold dread settled in. A glimpse of something vast, sinister.

Someone said nearly the same thing not long ago. The man Vitto called “the one who fought the operation with me.”

She’s my friend. I’d rather not end up at odds with you.

—That’s… terrifying.

Vitto laughed, deflecting the words.

—

“Io, how’d the check-in go? I had the worst time.”

“My take’s pretty much the same.”

The saber tiger was crammed into a cramped room.

She was doing push-ups in a tank top.

“Brought the data, I assume?”

She reached out, wiping sweat from her brow.

Io handed over the storage medium.

“…With this”

Reaper paused, then tossed it onto the desk, pulled on her gear, and returned to training.

“Still got spirit.”

“Just uneasy.”

“Uneasy?”

“Can’t get my thoughts straight. Moving the body helps clear the mind.”

Io sat on Reaper’s chair. She glanced at it briefly, said nothing, and kept training.

“At first, I just wanted to know the truth. After time passed, I wanted revenge.”

I thought I could die without a care. But the outcome turned out to be this.

Sweat trickled down her collarbone, glinting. Reaper clenched her teeth, groaned.

—Damn it. Gotta switch gears.

Io stared at her for a moment.

She finished training, then tossed a high-calorie drink bottle over.

—You needed it for the convoy setup, right?

—Yeah.

—I get what you’re saying. You owe me. And even if you didn’t, you can’t act recklessly.

To send the ones who did that to Yoldbyk straight to hell, we need careful preparation.

—At least until the withdrawal from Karaf is complete, I promise I won’t move.

Good woman, this one.

—What’s the Charger saying?

—Nothing yet. Or rather, we can’t do anything until we’ve analyzed it.

The problem is whether we have the luxury of time…

Charger is...

Io recalled the previous Scorody Pull operation.

The corpse of a lizard infected with a virus. The Charger already knew something back then.

At the very least, the virus was not a Weedran weapon.

Reaper, did the Charger tell you about Salor Banker?

That's right, but what of it?

Did he say anything else?

No, nothing in particular. What's going on? You think there's something about the Charger?

No. It was too convenient.

Io deflected casually.

The Charger's stance remained unclear, but he didn't seem to know everything.

Otherwise he wouldn't have sent out the Reaper.

In game terms, the likelihood that the Charger was behind the virus... or connected to it... had dropped sharply.

Fortunate, really. A man too valuable to oppose.

Silence settles. The Reaper throws themselves onto the bed.

Blond hair spreads out, shimmering like threads of light.

Io, both of us—carrying burdens we didn’t need.

Scared?

Honestly, feels like I’m being crushed.

Not like you.

I know.

The Reaper extends a fist.

—Please, Io.

Yeah. —Together, the dawn of humanity.

Together, the dawn.

Io strikes the fist, then leaves the Reaper’s room.

Action scene, yet all dialogue.