To Yong-jin Building 2 (after battle)
Ach... Damn it!
Looks like this was the last one of them.
Ah, the aroma of blood... Some splattered fresh, some old and growing viscous...
Heh, I can already tell that there will be a collage of different blood splatters waiting for me in there. I am excited to see this collection for myself.
... This one expresses brutal thoughts with such nonchalance as one muses about their next meal.
Ahm, whichever may be the case... The way is open! We must move with haste!
Aeng-du did not hesitate for a second before disappearing into the building's entrance.
Man, I'm impressed by her energy. Wasn't she knocked out cold just a few minutes ago?
It is sheer willpower that moves her. What other choice does she have when her superior is captured?
Huh... from the name alone I expected Yong-jin Building to be much taller than just 6 floors. 'Building' and all.
It is a common naming convention in the Backstreets.
I looked up toward the rooftop of the building Hong Lu was looking at... and suddenly grew curious.
<Uh... What time is it right now?>
Need a mirror?
<... My head doesn't actually tell time, you know.>
It is 2:10 in the afternoon.
2 in the afternoon... It's not midday, but it's not supposed to be this dark, is it?
<How is it this gloomy and dark at 2 in the afternoon? I'm starting to lose my sense of time in here.>
Seems particularly darker around this area we're in. ... Well, compared to the Smoke War days, it's still bright as a sunny day.
Hm... I suppose that's true.
The Backstreets of T Corp. are known to be in a perpetual state of murkiness.
Their machines ceaselessly discharge heavy plumes of smoke which cloud the skies. That, and the constant color drainage keeps the Backstreets of T Corp. dark and dreary.
Of course, I must also inform you that the conditions have improved somewhat after the Smoke War due to the various extenuating, prohibitive conditions introduced by the outcome of that war that limits the production of smoke. Before the war -
We have no time for idle chatter! Come now!
We hurried toward Aeng-du's urgent cries.
Agh... There were more Blade Lineage bastards left...?
What the... The lass took 'em all out already.
They were nothing but mewling minions.
The size of their bravado ill-matched their immature skills. They foolishly decided to stand their ground instead of retreating upstairs.
Tzzt.
An electric buzz of sorts played from the radio I had stashed in my clothes.
<Is someone calling this radio...?>
The sound became much clearer when I unfolded the antenna from the radio.
LCD here, LCD here! Can you hear me? Acknowledge! C'mon~
The voice coming from the other end of the radio was... upbeat, to put it mildly. And very chaotic.
O-okay, I just have to press this button, right...?
<W-well, I'll talk. But it's not like you can hear - >
Ahahaha! They actually tick-tock!
Oh right, I called you for a reason. I'm just calling to relay a message, so don't bother responding! Yeah?
<O-okay...>
We don't have much time, so lemme keep it short!
Remember that black stele you guys were sent to retrieve? The Monolith?
I'm picking up a super huge bump in the Monolith signal in the area near you! That signal can force people to Distort, for your information!
Force people to Distort...?
We HAVE to contain it before that seeping signal goes completely out of control, okay?!
Agh, what the heck is this?!
Oh, my bad! I've got some stuff going on over here too, y'know? Anyway, I gotta keep this short, so lemme just emphasize that time is of the essence here! Over and out!
<…….>
The call dropped before any of us even had the chance to say anything.
<... She's uh, pretty lively, huh.>
We don't have time to sit around dumbfounded, Clockhead. Let's crack on.
Um, everyone... I think the elevator's broken.
I see that you and your fellows now also have a reason to hurry.
I say that we break through their lines and rise through the stairwell. What say you?
<We don't have a choice... Come on, let's go!>
I put the radio back in my pocket and began running up the stairs.