The oppressive heat pressed down on them as they sprinted through the chaotic streets, a consequence of the relentless New Dawn Horizon project.
"Captain, Deputy Yanagi mentioned earlier that our guy's been taken to ERI," Qingyi remarked casually.
Zhu shot her a look, breathless. "And you're only telling me now? you know that ERI isn't just any ordinary hospital!"
ERI—Ether Recovery Institute—flashed through her mind, its name a symbol of hope for those scarred by the Hollows. Far more than a hospital, it was an inter-agency lifeline."
"Let me break down what the Ether Recovery Institute, or ERI, is all about. It's not just a hospital; it's an inter-agency or link between medicine, the military, and law enforcement."(This is only on my fanfic, not really in-game.)
In a city like New Eridu, where ether corruption runs rampant, ERI specializes in treating its victims. But they do more than heal—they gather intel that could even crack open major syndicate operations. Their task force tracks trends and studies the effects of ether exposure, providing insights we desperately need.
Sure, there's a cloud of suspicion around them. Can we trust their motives? But without ERI, we'd be lost in the dark, chasing shadows. They shine a light on our fight against the chaos, reminding us that saving the city starts with saving its people."
Not everyone was as fortunate; many who fell prey to ether corruption ended up transforming into Ethereals, lost to madness if they lingered too long within those nightmarish depths.
What if the man they'd found crawling out of the Hollows last night wasn't just another victim? He could be the key informant in Elias's case, and if he didn't receive the help he needed, they might lose their only lead. Zhu felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest again.
She was thankful she had a friend in the Hollow Affairs & Neutralization Department who could lend a hand—Miyabi; The head of HSOS6 she had always been reliable in ethereal situations.
Fumbling with her phone as they dashed through the streets, Zhu finally spotted a cab and flagged it down, relief flooding her as they piled in. The air conditioning felt like a gift from the gods after their sprint.
"Captain? Who are you talking to?" Seth asked, mopping the sweat from his brow as he sank into the back seat, visibly grateful for the reprieve.
"Miyabi, my friend from Section 6," Zhu replied, her gaze fixed on the screen. "I need to check if we require clearance to enter their premises. ERI is under the umbrella of the Hollow Affairs & Neutralization Department."
She hit call, her heart racing not just from the heat but the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Would they find the man alive? Would he even be able to talk? Time was slipping away, and they needed answers fast.
"Zhu? Why the sudden call?" Miyabi answered, her voice sounding both surprised and a bit amused.
"Hey, Miyabi! Quick question—do we need clearance for the ERI? We're chasing down an informant who's currently a patient there. Just wanted to check if he's okay," Zhu replied, still trying to catch her breath, sweat trickling down her forehead like a leaky faucet in an old apartment.
"I think Qingyi already asked for that clearance earlier from Yanagi," Miyabi said, a hint of laughter in her tone. as for the patient. "I'm not quite sure, check it out to her; he was tagged as patient E-112."
Zhu glanced over at Qingyi relaxed, no visible sweat, wearing an expression that screamed innocence mixed with just a pinch of mischief like that one character from the old world Frieren from the Random Play.
Seriously, it was like she was auditioning for a role as a classic troublemaker. Zhu couldn't help but think, if they ever make a movie about the best sidekick, Qingyi would get a nomination for her 'I didn't do anything' face.
"You're impossible, Qingyi," she muttered under her breath, fighting the urge to roll her eyes dramatically. Honestly, how was it possible to be both clueless and cunning at the same time? "Anyway, catch you later, Miyabi."
As she hung up, Zhu couldn't shake the feeling that she was just a character in some wild story, desperately trying to piece everything together while her quirky sidekick flitted about like a butterfly in a flower garden. Maybe one day, she'd get to sit back and laugh at all this chaos—provided they made it through the day without any more surprises.
"Captain, no need to call Miyabi. -I already have the clearance." Qingyi suddenly talks seemingly daydreaming earlier.
"I know, just called Miyabi,were you lagging?—Or you are on Autopilot again? Is there a problem on your system?"
"I don't remember, I'm just being calm Captain." Qingyi just casually replied.
From the cab window, Zhu caught sight of the Ether Recovery Institute looming in the distance—a towering, state-of-the-art structure nestled in the southern district of the city. Its sleek, modern design was almost overshadowed by the massive, heavily armed guard towers that lined its perimeter walls.
Strangely enough, those towers didn't face outward to protect the facility—they faced inward, as though the real threat came from inside. What exactly are they keeping in there? Zhu couldn't help but wonder. The thought of patients mutating into Ethereals made her stomach churn.
As they reached the checkpoint at the outer wall, their cab rolled to a stop. An armed guard cladded with an armor approached, his voice stern but professional. "Sorry, officer, public vehicles and unauthorized persons aren't allowed beyond this point. We've got to keep our citizens safe from etheric corruption," he said, giving a polite but firm nod toward the compound behind him.
"Sure, no problem. We'll just... take a walk," Zhu replied with forced cheerfulness. Great, first the heat, now a marathon. They stepped out of the cab, heading toward the holding area. Despite being PUBSEC officers, the security here felt unnervingly tight, like they were visiting a high-security prison instead of a medical institute. Why didn't anyone tell me this place would be Fort Knox?
"Clearance, please?" The guard's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Without a word, Qingyi handed over her tablet, displaying a QR code on the screen. The guard scan and eyed it carefully before speaking into his radio. "Get me a MPC here. We've got a VIP from PUBSEC."
Zhu blinked. Wait, VIP? She glanced at Seth, who was already leaning over with a whisper. "What? We're VIPs now?" Seth quipped."I think Yanagi requested this," Qingyi said with her usual calmness, shooting a sly look in Zhu's direction.
The military personnel carrier arrived with a low, rumbling hum. It wasn't just any vehicle—it looked ready to roll into a war zone. Seth practically lit up with excitement as they climbed aboard without a second thought. Inside, they all went oddly quiet, taking in the sheer gravity of the security here. The ERI's setup made their own station look like a daycare in comparison.
Seth, unable to contain himself, pressed his face against the window, peering back at the holding area and on the heavily armed guard towers. "The towers are facing the facility, Captain. You think they're protecting the city from, like, something happening inside?"
Zhu nodded, glancing around while checking her phone. No signal? Seriously? This whole place was starting to feel less like a medical institute and more like... a fortress? She muttered under her breath, "This feels more like a prison than a hospital.
I'm guessing that Mr. Hyun Li (The tech specialist suspect) on our station and our patient E-112 will be safer here than behind our bars." Assuming he survives the treatment, of course.
Qingyi and Seth exchanged a quick glance. It didn't escape Zhu's notice. What's that about? Were they silently judging her dry humor, or was there some inside joke she wasn't part of?
"Uhmm... Captain, hey, Captain." Seth leaned in, his voice taking on that eager tone he got when he was about to spill something. "So, uh... Elias told us his real name last night. I mean, 'Mr. Smith' is cool and all, but 'Elias' sounds a bit more... real, don't you think?" Seth grinned like he'd just cracked a major case. "We had a hearty chat, some banter after you left last night, you know. Good stuff."
Zhu's eyes widened for just a split second before she bit her lip to steady herself. What did he just say? Seth... can't keep anything to himself. She chuckled.
Qingyi, as calm as ever, added, "It's fine, Captain. We figured you were keeping his real name under wraps for operational reasons. Makes sense, right? Testing him, keeping up appearances..."
Finally, it sinked in into her mind, Wait, wait, wait. Elias did WHAT? Zhu's heart did a little flip, but she kept her face completely neutral, though her mind was racing. This guy couldn't follow one simple rule about staying undercover. Seriously, I can't leave him alone for two seconds without him unraveling his own cover? or he is playing mind games with my team now?
She stole a quick glance at Seth, who was grinning like he'd just shared a fun fact about breakfast. Great. Now I'm cleaning up after Elias' little surprises. Again. But on the outside, she just nodded, the picture of composure.
"Good to know," she replied, keeping her voice as steady as possible. She shrugged it off but felt betrayed telling his real name to her team without her knowing.
If I don't survive this, at least I'll have something to blame besides the Ethereals.
The moment they arrived at the facility, they were handed protective hazmat suits—bright, bulky, and not exactly flattering. Zhu stared at the awkward-looking ensemble in her hands. Well, this is just fantastic. Nothing screams "serious investigation" looking like a discount astronaut.
Reluctantly, they suited up, the plastic crinkling loudly with each move. When they finally met at the containment area, Seth burst out laughing, barely able to keep it together.
"Better safe than sorry, but seriously... we look like clowns in these things."
Zhu kept her face straight, though she felt a flicker of amusement behind the visor. Yeah, real funny. We're investigating Ethereal corruption, and Seth thinking of a circus. She cleared her throat.
"Focus. We're here for patient E-112. Based on Yanagi's info, he's our guy." The words came out muffled through the suit, making her sound far more robotic than she'd like.
They marched down a long, sterile corridor, the hum of the fluorescent lights only adding to the eerie stillness. Their escort led them to a secured elevator. It groaned as they descended deeper into the facility. Every slight sound echoed louder thanks to their suits—which, by the way, were clearly designed to make you feel claustrophobic. Zhu's palms were sweaty inside the gloves, and she could feel her nerves rising with each passing second. Why does it feel like we're descending into some sci-fi horror scene?
When the elevator doors slid open with a loud hiss, steam billowed out—decontaminating the air as if they weren't already inside enough protective layers. As they stepped into the patient's room, Zhu's breath caught in her throat. There he was, patient E-112, lying motionless behind the glass, hooked up to a mess of medical equipment.
His body was marred by the unmistakable signs of ether corruption—dark crystals branching out over his skin like frostbite, creeping toward his extremities.
The sight was unsettling, and for a moment, none of them spoke. The tension in the room was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Seth, of course, was the first to break the silence. "Is... is this our guy?" His voice was muffled but tinged with uncertainty as he peered through his visor.
Zhu leaned closer to the glass, squinting through the small eye hole of her suit. Please let this be the right guy... Her eyes landed on the tattoo on his lower arm—from the sequence that they had before the bangboo went out.
"Affirmative. It's him. But... we can't exactly interrogate him like this." She sighed. "Too bad he stayed in the Hollows for so long. We may never even know if he's the one who rigged the delivery bangboo."
Seth scratched his head awkwardly through the suit. "So... if he stayed in the Hollows, was he hiding from something?"
"Maybe from someone or from a gang?" Qingyi added, her voice calm but ominous. Zhu's pulse quickened. Hiding from someone? The idea unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
"Hollows were littered with Gangs... hiding from what, exactly? Is hiding in the Hollow really worth risking death over whatever was waiting for him in the city?" Zhu's words were directed at them, but deep down, she was asking herself the same question. What could be so terrifying that hiding inside the corruption seemed like the better option?
Seth, ever the joker, chimed in with a laugh. "I wouldn't risk it, Captain. I mean, hiding in the Hollow from some loan shark? Nah, not my thing." His chuckle echoed oddly in the small room, a sharp contrast to the heavy atmosphere.
Zhu turned her head sharply, shooting him a glare through her visor. "Seth, you can't be serious."
"Come on, Captain, I'm just trying to lighten the mood. You know, in these suits, we look like we're ready for an alien invasion. Or, I don't know, a character in space betrayal game?"
Qingyi, ever the straight-faced observer, added dryly, "A loan shark would definitely be preferable to whatever this poor guy ran into." Her tone was so deadpan it actually made Zhu crack a smile.
Zhu couldn't help it anymore. Why am I even surprised? Leave it to Seth to make jokes while standing next to a man literally turning into an etheric crystal. But as the tension briefly eased, the mystery of the man in front of them remained. Whatever this guy had been running from, it was serious. And that scared her more than she'd like to admit.
"Okay," she said, regaining her focus. "Enough jokes. We need to figure out what happened to him, and more importantly—who or what he's really afraid of."