act6d5

第一关（前）

Act One

Spring

Use your spear to strike your shield.

Use your shield to block your spear.

Use your spear to strike your shield.

Use your shield to block... to block...

To block...

...oh my. This could go on forever, couldn't it?

What can we do? I have to think of something...

Use your spear to strike your shield...

Use your shield to block your spear...

It needs an 'and then' in there.

And then, and then... Ah, got it!

And then there is a massive explosion. That would do the trick, wouldn't it?

11:15 P.M. \ Clear

Lunar New Year's Eve, Lungmen, Forward Command Post

'District 14 reporting, all clear.'

'District 5 reporting, situation normal.'

'District 1 reporting, nothing out of the ordinary.'

'Green across the board. Good work, everyone. Stay on your toes.'

'Roger.'

'Understood.'

Yaaawn...

You're on the night shift now. How's it going?

Well, the migration is going according to plan. Movement speed normal. No anomalies.

This is the only Originium reaction we need to check out. Take a look.

...'Suspected Originium explosive device activation'? What is it? Somebody shooting off fireworks in the park?

Keep reading. There's a location.

Tung Fong Street, Number 122. It's a warehouse. Currently leased by Penguin... Oh, of course.

I can only hope we're in for another calm and peaceful year.

You said it. Let's just put in our hours and get home for chow.

That doesn't mean we get to relax. Chief Wei told us to stay frosty.

You know, I've lived in Lungmen my whole life, and every year people freak out...

I've never seen the 'Nian' before. What is it?

I've never seen it either. And you asked me the same thing last year.

The greenhorns are already convinced it's just an urban legend.

If there was some kind of fire-breathing giant, we'd spot it before it got within thirty klicks of Lungmen and the defensive cannons would solve that problem pretty quick.

Must be some great big beast, highly territorial, but unlikely to ever attack a city.

That's what they say. But everybody's still on alert. I mean, it's on Chief Wei's own orders.

Yeah, yeah. Save it. I've already written you clowns up for slurping down instant noodles in the control room. Not that I blame you. That's your New Year's banquet. Still waiting for your red envelopes full of money?

Then Chief Wei's met the Nian?

You respect the chain of command, don't you?

Of course! It's because of Chief Wei that I joined the force to begin with!

It's just... to get all hands on deck, watching out for some giant nobody's seen for decades?

Chief Wei's very thorough. She covers all her bases. You know this.

That's what they say...

S- sorry I'm late! I brought Originium test results!

Um? Where's... err... Chief Wei?

Well... Not here.

Wh- wha? But Superintendent Ch'en told me to check the control center...

We're on the roof...

Head down the stairs and make a left. That great big room with all the blinking lights? That's your control center.

Aaagh, I just ran up from there. Don't tell me I went the wrong way...

Sorry to bother you! I'll get out of your hair right away!

What was that all about? Who was she?

Must be new. Looked like a techie.

Did you see how wired up she was? It's definitely her first New Year. Takes me back to my first time...

Phew, whew, sorry. Can you point me to the control center...?

...Snowsant? What are you doing back here?

Wha? Superintendent Ch'en, you beat me here?

I think you got a little mixed up.

Ch'en, Senior Superintendent of the L.G.D.

The youngest Senior Superintendent in Lungmen history, and Snowsant's superior.

S- s- s- s- s- sorry! I got lost!

Ummmmmmm... do you think maybe I'll need to be r-r-r-reprimanded for not delivering this extremely important report on time...?

No, I don't think there's any need for that. You're new and I also bear some responsibility for not telling you the way.

Come with me.

Sure... err... Yes, ma'am!

It's already midnight, and there's still so many people around...

It's like this every year. Just a precaution.

...a precaution? Oh, are you talking about the legendary Nian?

Were you in Columbia so long you never saw the L.G.D. face down the Lunar New Year?

My grandma told me stories about the 'Nian' when I was little... But they were so scary I never thought they could be true...

Four-legged beasts, covered in flames from head to toe, awakened from their subterranean slumber by humans building their cities, they... No! No way they could be real!

Stories, huh?

Lots of people think they're just stories. Whatever helps them sleep at night.

Too bad all the damage to our city throughout history isn't just stories. The names carved on the headstones aren't just stories.

It's been quiet for many years. But we have to stay alert.

You've lived in Lungmen before, but you haven't been back for long. Now you need to brush up on everything you've missed.

S-s-s-sorry! Everyone's working so hard, I guess I should probably...

*Sigh*. Just calm down...

Nobody in this building has ever met the Nian before.

We've got a lot of greenhorns who don't believe. Some of them even question the L.G.D.'s mission. It happens. I'm used to it.

Wow... Poor L.G.D....

Go report to Chief Wei and then get some rest. I want another report first thing in the morning.

Ummmmmmm... Erm! Superintendent Ch'en! Could you tell me, um, what Chief Wei is like?

When you told me I would meet her today... I um...

Before I answer you, I need you to gather up some confidence.

It was Chief Wei herself who personally sent the request for you to return from Columbia. You need to believe in yourself, and believe you can handle your mission.

What I'm trying to say is: puff out that chest, girl!

S- sorry...

*Sigh*. That means you need to stop apologizing all the time.

Just like you're talking with me, you take all the information you've got, and calmly and coolly explain it to Chief Wei, in a nice, steady pace.

Don't overthink this.

Okay, I can do it, erm...

Chief Wei.

You've worked hard. Both of you.

Fumizuki, Chief Executive of Lungmen, Woman of Mystery.

...As yet unconfirmed rumors say that she has a dedicated husband managing internal affairs.