Глава 16

<p=1>Meeting Room, New Rhodes Island</>

Any clues on the Sarcophagus?

The very latest activity we know of involving the Sarcophagus came after the Chernobog-Lungmen incident, when the Ursine government retrieved the entire system.

As for what they actually plan to do with it, they've been keeping it under tighter wraps than ever. There's nothing more about it in Kal'tsit's records.

It's not like we can directly ask the Ursine government to borrow it...;Do we have any other way of finding its location?

Looking at the official register made after the Chernobog research institute was destroyed, there were no survivors other than Sergei.

We did manage to find some clues when looking into what happened to him afterwards.

He had established a new institute to continue researching the Sarcophagus. In the short period of time that the institute was operating, one name really stood out to us—

Artyom Chaadayev.

He was vice-director at Sergei's institute, but he's a complete ghost, with no verifiable academic or political background to speak of.

We may be able to make a rational deduction...

That this man had a special connection to Sergei?;That this man had a special connection to the institute?

No matter what his connection may be, he might be the key to our breakthrough.

So we need to find this Artyom?

No, things get a little more complicated from here on out...

He's proven to be very hard to track ever since Sergei's institute shut down.

According to Kal'tsit's intelligence, he died of heart failure in the Grypherburg Imperial Sanatorium last winter.

He maintained a good relationship with Ursus to his last.;Maybe we can look into the people who knew him.

Great idea! That's what I was thinking too.

There's another researcher who had a connection to Artyom.

Ksenia Markovna Nelidova.

We have a lot more detail on her background. Before the Sarcophagus incident, she had briefly served as Ilia's assistant at the Chernobog research institute, and had crossed paths with Kal'tsit.

Recent intelligence indicates she is currently in the Ursine Far North, working at the Central Mining District Laboratory, administered by the city of Bresk.

That's where Artyom's final letters were sent.

It doesn't sound like a particularly reliable clue...;But it's the only clue we've got.

We should go to the research institute and find her.

I have to remind you, Doctor.

While we're all determined to bring Kal'tsit back, we must thoroughly evaluate the risks of every mission.

Rhodes Island cannot bear any more losses.

But...

I'll go.

Raidian?

Ursus has always been a dangerous place, and we have very limited intelligence for this mission.

And there are many important decisions the Doctor and Amiya must make while Rhodes Island is being rebuilt.

Raidian, I can—

I know you're a capable young woman now, Amiya, but that is exactly why you need to stay here and handle our most important tasks.

The latest news from Laterano is also worrying, and the Doctor will need to see to it personally. Allowing Rhodes Island to steady its footing in our new home is our top priority.

You're right...

If it were just an infiltration mission, then Misery's team would be the best choice, but information gathering is my team's specialty.

Besides, there's no one better to send back to Ursus than me, is there?

You make some real compelling arguments, Raidian...

But it's your decision, Doctor.

This will be a very dangerous mission.;Stay safe, Raidian.

Rhodes Island cannot lose anyone else.

We will. We'll act with caution as a mobile medical team.

The rest of you, take care of yourselves while we're out, okay?

Of course...

I hope that all of you come home safe.

'...I shall meditate and share in his pain.'

'One man's pain is everyone's pain, one man's sin is everyone's sin...'

'May sinners repent with all their heart, may their sins be forgiven, and their souls find salvation...'

<p=1>Central Far North Mining District, Ursus</><p=2>Five days ago</>

Wargh—!

Ahhhhhh—!

Oh my...

It's... okay, ba-babushka. D-Don't... be scared.

It's <i>U-Uchitel</i> Rankin... He's chased away the P-Patrol Unit chasing us.

We're s-safe for now.

Yes... for now.

Where else can we go? Where must we go to find shelter...?

B-Babushka... are-are you hungry...? I'll go ask Hawley... for another piece of bread.

I'm fine... You're such a sweet child, but I really am.

Go see Rankin.

He has done so much, his spirit must be nearly worn away.

Go see him. Do not let him be burdened any more than he already is.

<i>Uchitel</i>, he...

Phew...

Under the twilight sky, the young man's stern countenance eases.

The cold soon cools the warm blood staining his pickaxe. The enemy before him is completely routed.

Don't... Don't kill me! You're not allowed to do anything to me, I surrendered!

But we haven't accepted that surrender.

Tell me, how many of these squads are pursuing us?

<i>Chyort!</i> I don't—I don't know!

Every Patrol Unit's independent, we don't talk to each other!

Tell me something I don't know, or I'll have no reason to let you live.

Wait, don't! Listen to me!

The chips you have in you! The diagnostic chips!

Chips? You mean the ones used to check how infected we are?

Ha... Hahaha...

'Rankin the Noble', 'Rankin the Hero', are you really so naive?

Those chips send your coordinates to the mine's research facility and nearby guard posts. The moment you try and leave the mining district, or the chip leaves your body—

Boom!

Losing a single leg would be lucky. Losing both is definitely possible. You won't be running anywhere like that, haha!

Just give up already, Rankin... You think you can leave this mine by killing a Patrol Unit?

There's nowhere to go. Ursus will chase you forever.

Surrender. It's the only way you won't die a miserable death.

Don't listen to him, Rankin! If the chips really did blow up, we'd have a bunch of three-legged burdenbeasts walking around!

The Patrol Units are worse than bastards! An honest one of them is like an aphid in winter! I got to know them before I became infected!

Gah—!

You've done enough today, Rankin. Leave this one to me!

N-No!

St-Stop—killing people!

We don't... need to! N-Nobody's... badly hurt...

<i>Uchitel!</i>

Let him go.

Get back, Vetochki! What's the point in showing a man like him mercy?

It was these bastards who killed Paulina, all because she was caring for an unregistered child... She was pregnant when they hanged her!

Have you forgotten all the terrible things they've done?

I... I...

Urgh! *cough* *cough*