A shadow moved through the darkness, weaving between countless pipes, descending into the lower levels. All the water had been drained again into a massive pipe whose destination was unknown.
The luminous figure clutched herself, trembling. The cold of this vast hall was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Victor surveyed the darkness, removing the black vest covering her upper body, then wrapping a gray jacket around her lower half.
It was too dangerous to let her walk into the crowd like this—or worse. At this moment, no one knew Victor, and he would be unsafe if separated from her.
He needed a method to acquire ammunition as quickly as possible.
"I need bullets, and we must leave immediately. How well do you know the exact location?"
"We must go to the Border Operations office," she said. "Deeper through the crowd tents, you'll reach the city center where all operations are managed… it might take some time."
His darkened eyes met hers, searching.
"This place is about to collapse. Do you want to protect everything the Contributor has built?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then get me those bullets, and I'll do everything the Contributor asks."
"Get… bullets? You mean… I have to kill?"
"Do you want me dead?"
"No! Of course not! Victor, you've always been kind to me… why are you asking this? What do you mean?"
"Stop thinking… Stop thinking… And the Contributor—do you want him to die along with your mistakes? And then I'll die too. Is that what you want to see?"
"No!!"
"Do you want me dead? Or have you never looked around yourself? Who are you valuable to? Who sees you as a person? I care for you, but right now, I need your help."
"No! Stop! I…!"
"I'm not asking for repayment. I need your loyalty. Kill everyone and secure the bullets… as you've done before, eliminating enemies for those you love. Please… I'm weak and need you now."
Without restraint, Victor sank to his knees in despair, bowing his head with no path forward, though a shameless smile tugged at his lips.
His performance shook her. Her fists clenched, unable to resist, mingling sorrow and concern.
People like him often killed many for the ones they loved. The more she wavered, the faster he would get the bullets. After Mission Two, he likely wouldn't be able to keep her with him any longer.
He looked up into the darkness above. Several pipes cast beams of light. There was no longer time for calm.
"Can you take me there now?"
"Is it possible to warn everyone first? That way, no one is harmed, we get the bullets, and we can save everyone here!"
Victor's face remained calm.
"If so, why didn't the Contributor warn them all? Why does his plan have such consequences? And if we request bullets, I'll be suspected, causing the Contributor to lose both of us. Do you want that—errors and despair?"
"I don't know… and I don't want mistakes to happen."
"Then trust the Contributor's plan. Get me the bullets, and we'll get out of here."
She nodded hesitantly, shifting the scene before her into darkness, cutting to dim lights filled with people.
Selith sprang forward, swiftly taking down dozens of officials. Bloodied, she stared at the last survivor, barely conscious.
Victor intervened.
"Stop! We need the location of the ammunition. Killing him will create more problems."
Breathing heavily, she collapsed. Her long hair covered her face and the blood-soaked body. He couldn't rush her feelings; they had to proceed carefully.
He turned to the surviving official.
"Where's the ammunition stored?"
"U-Underground! Basement!"
He quickly grabbed Selith's arm, descending the stairs. There was no time to consider the truth of the answer. Soon, this place would be filled with slaughter.
It marked a critical starting point between the Republic of Ven leadership and the Revolutionary Republic.
Inside the room filled with metal shelves, vast and stocked with war weapons, he explored repeatedly, organizing zones.
One area stored ammunition, another rifles and handguns, another explosives and documents.
Victor found a small leather pouch for his belt. It could carry a limited number of bullets—enough for the moment.
It could kill over forty people, depending on his shooting skill.
Ammo secured, the ground began to shake. Lanterns fell and shattered, igniting flames.
The battle had begun.
He led Selith outside, witnessing the chaos of the crowd. Screams and gunfire filled the air. Hundreds of soldiers rappelled down ropes.
Flames spread rapidly, turning water into fire. Sections of the ceiling collapsed, sending debris crashing onto buildings.
Light from above streamed down. Border troops were hit from all sides by artillery.
They destroyed their own city and the underground of New Fanrein. Thousands suffered, hundreds of children lost parents, officials lost loved ones. Resistance continued. Border forces had thousands, forcing the Revolutionary soldiers to retreat and focus on carpet bombing.
The massive collapse left Selith in stunned immobility. Explosions nearby spread shockwaves over both of them.
Victor cradled her in his arms, running deeper into the labyrinth of pipes, many large and unknown in destination.
Time had run out. This place would become a massive grave.
He slid down a large drainage pipe, mixing with water from smaller channels, still retaining large amounts of water in the deep basin.
He climbed out, grabbed a metal ladder, lifted Selith above his head, and placed her on safe ground before climbing after her.
Beneath the massive drain was a deep, dark hall, impossible to gauge its significance. But it housed control panels for machinery.
Far away, a single door stood prominently.
'An exit?'
Before proceeding, he knelt to check on Selith. She was in pain, almost in tears, overwhelmed by fear and confusion.
Victor traced her face with rough fingers, gazing tenderly into her eyes.
Without a word, he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. The warmth of her skin was undeniable in the soft kiss.
Selith's eyes widened, forgetting all prior fear and emotion.
"Victor!?"
He said nothing, only smiling in response.