act15mini

Only that you came to this little town, and gave away a casket.

At the time I did not know where you got it from, what was inside it, or who was meant to receive it.

Yeah, I'm used to that by now.

So you went and found it yourself, right?

After sending you off, I also embarked on a journey to fulfill my destiny, and to await its guidance.

(*inhales*) ...You smell like snow dripping from the fir trees.

You've come a long way. You crossed the icefield.

You went... Mm. To places I've never been to before.

(In Sarkaz) 'Surrender all to fate.'

(In Sarkaz) 'Surrender all to fate.'

It's great that you're the one to finally fulfill the prophecy.

Oh right, so where did you happen to get this little box?

This is the nice person I was just talking about!

Nice... person?

Oh, hello there!

I've heard you're quite familiar with Sami. And we happen to be putting together a search-and-rescue team to enter the icefield through Sami and locate missing Rhine Lab members.

Do you think you could be persuaded to be our guide? We'll pay you handsomely!

I decline.

If you need a guide, you'd better find someone else. I'm a hunter, and I have more important work.

—Here, take this, Magallan.

Huh?

Arges wanted me to give it to you. It belongs to Rhine Lab.

To... us?

—You're right, this is our logo.

ID verification lock, employee number...

This is an equipment box from the Scientific Investigation Section.

Judging from its size, it should be a general-purpose lockbox used for storing sensitive components.

And the serial number...

...Belongs to Director Maryam.

Wait, Typhon! Arges met with the research team?!

Do you know the one this box belongs to?

It's my teacher's, the leader of the missing research team!

Hm. In other words, Arges worked together with the missing team.

Huh?!

Wait, if she was a firsthand witness, and even cooperated with Rhine Lab...

Then why hasn't she come to see us in person?

Because that is the vision she saw.

Vision—?

—Is she one of the legendary Cyclopes? Are there really living Cyclopes in Sami?

I have to meet her!

Does she speak any modern languages? Do we need some kind of ritual to summon her?

I... don't think she's all that different from us. She's pretty fond of Columbian geographical magazines.

But I'd like to speak with her face-to-face, too... Is there no way?

She might just feel that this isn't the fated time yet.

Okay, but...

What happened to the others, then?

Mm, I'm sure you can already guess the answer.

All Arges told me was that she entered the icefield with the expedition team.

...So, the extra supplies Professor Mary took from the Scientific Investigation station weren't just for emergency use, but for her.

Cyclopes can see the future, and she tried her best to help the team avoid danger.

But a tragic end was inevitable... Well, that's her way of saying she did the best she could.

After encountering the demons, only she and the box's owner survived.

The professor would always tell us that when facing nature, our first priority was to survive.

We've never had such a huge loss of life since the formation of Scientific Investigation... And he must be even more devastated than us.

...So this is the endless icefield.

Typhon, did the survivor return with Arges?

(Shakes head)

He continued to advance deeper in, alone.

I knew it...

That... sure sounds like Director Maryam.

Also, I have some words to pass on.

First, Arges wanted me to apologize to you.

Second, the person who gave her the box said... 'The journey of discovery must never end.'

Hmm, I wonder what's inside the box.

Huh?

Just a flower?

We're currently cross-analyzing the chemical structure of the environmental particles stuck to the specimen box.

However, we know very little about the endless icefield, and it may be difficult to determine the missing team's location based on this alone.

If no matching data can be found... does that mean that the Director pushed the boundaries of human exploration into the icefield?

I believe so. Which is why this flower is an extremely valuable specimen.

Mhm. In all my time exploring the icefield, I've never seen anything like this.

Though, I have seen an entire field of flowers underground. The environment down there was pretty unique to be able to support plant growth!

But this particular flower...

Magallan carefully observes it through the display window of the specimen box.

...It looks really strange, almost like it isn't a plant at all.

The flowers I dug up before had robust root systems to allow them to absorb nutrients from beneath the ice.

But... where are the roots on this?

Someone as careful as the Director wouldn't have damaged the specimen during collection. That would significantly reduce its research value.

Let's start with basic observations. Given the conditions here, we probably won't get any results right away.

To conduct the next phase of research, we'll have to wait until the sample is transported back to HQ and passed on to Ecological for handling.

A special Messenger will arrive in Čappat shortly.

We can leave the in-depth study of the specimen to them. We still need to contact Director Maryam as soon as possible.

By the way, Magallan, are you sure you want to head right back out on another trek? Your protective gear needs maintenance, and we won't be able to get any spare drones in Sami within three days.

Hmm... But I'm worried about the Director.

Besides, my protective gear is still in good shape. After all, I was only passing through Sami, not heading deep into the icefield.

Haha, there's really no stopping you.

Alright, then I'm going to break the specimen box's seal.

Understood. Please begin reporting your findings whenever. I'm ready to record!

It was colorless flower, like a shadow cast by ice.

But the moment the box was unsealed, the invisible air throughout the laboratory was dyed with myriad colors.

It identified its current space, reoriented its position, and established its own territory.

The Columbian researchers had no time to react. They did not realize they were being contaminated along with the entire lab, nor did they hear the thunderous noise that shattered the dead silence.

—Wake up!

*gasp*!

*cough* *cough* Wh-What happened?!

Oh no, the wall... The glass is all shattered too. And, wh-wh-who are you? Who said you could barge in here?

Don't move.

...Phew! I've finished sealing the flower, Typhon! That should be good enough, right?

Yeah. Your react much faster than before.

Does this mean...