It didn't make sense.
Even if they had killed the Infected, the laboratory was in shambles, as if it had been raided.
Research papers, likely valuable, were crumpled and torn, scattered everywhere. Panels displaying the lab's status were shattered.
"…Why?"
Yujin asked himself. The researcher he had seen earlier had seemed to be fleeing in a hurry. Now that he thought about it, the man's clothes had smelled faintly of something... blood?
Looking at the dead Infected, Yujin saw they hadn't reached the terminal stage of Oripathy, yet their bodies were crystallizing rapidly, on the verge of detonation due to death.
Yujin was immune, a rarity, but others weren't. Moving an Infected corpse was dangerous.
If the infection was mild, there was time. But if the body was riddled with protruding crystals...
Death meant immediate detonation, spreading Oripathy like a plague.
Blood spatter. Bodies yet to explode.
It was strange, but the utter lack of human presence suggested a scene created to erase evidence—to pretend this never happened.
"If only I hadn't passed out..."
He didn't know what had happened during the time he was unconscious. Perhaps his ragged disguise had saved him, making the cleaners mistake him for just another corpse.
Yujin searched the lab, laying the remaining bodies to rest and offering a brief silent prayer. Then, he called PRTS.
"PRTS, status?"
[…Scanning data. Most information has already been incinerated. The purge began exactly two days ago.]
"Nothing left?"
[Not exactly. Restoration is possible based on residual traces... but it will take time.]
Time. It was always the problem.
"How long?"
[Minimum of one week.]
A short answer with a heavy implication. "Minimum" meant it could take much longer.
"Can you continue the search even if I leave?"
[Yes. The network connection is established.]
"Chance of detection?"
[Zero.]
"Then find it. Anything that can bring down the Merchant Association. Take your time if you need to."
The memories Yujin had seen.
In those memories, countless Infected were screaming.
How many had died? If he hadn't intervened, how many more would have been sacrificed?
Dragged away simply for being Infected. Treated not as humans, but as livestock for experiments—product safety tests, performance-enhancing drug trials, dangerous procedures.
"Dammit..."
He had never felt so powerless. Without PRTS, he would have left empty-handed, unable to stop the cycle.
There was nothing more to gain here. As Yujin closed the eyes of the dead and prepared to move, PRTS spoke.
[I have retrieved the map for Sector Zero. There is a separate 'Infected Quarantine Zone.' Shall I guide you?]
"Lead the way."
Raquelamalin soared through the air, leaping between buildings, her veil fluttering in the wind.
Her eyes were filled with worry. Worry for Kiril and Kisharsinagh.
Kisha and Larin were connected by Arts. She knew where Kisha was and could track her instantly if needed.
It was a power closer to Sarkaz sorcery than standard Arts, so it remained undetected.
Below, ordinary people walked the streets, laughing. Tomorrow was the Champions League final.
Crowds bustled, filled with foreigners and locals alike.
Watching them, Larin tracked Kisha‘s movement. Judging by the speed, she was in a vehicle.
After chasing urgently for a while, Larin stopped, looking at the setting sun. She realized something was wrong.
"…The destination is Sector Zero?"
The kidnappers were heading for Sector Zero. The very place Yujin had gone to investigate and hadn't returned from.
It could be a stronghold crawling with the Armorless Union.
What should she do? Attacking a moving vehicle was too risky. She was a guest of the Nearl house, but to others, she was just another Sarkaz—another dirty Infected.
One Darkiron was dangerous. Two meant she wouldn't last five minutes. Three meant certain death.
But what about Platinum or Lazurite?
Yujin said he could beat Platinum. Lazurite was an unknown variable.
While she deliberated, she couldn't match the vehicle's speed. It entered Sector Zero, a fortress-like prison in the city center.
"Think. Think. How do I save them...?"
Biting her nails, Larin stared at the sector. She had descended into the slums nearby.
Reinforcements? Useless. Even ordinary Union members were skilled hunters.
The Darknight Knight was at the mansion, but taking him would leave Daniel defenseless.
Larin narrowed her eyes, scanning her surroundings. Suddenly, her gaze met someone walking in the distance.
A Zalak woman with striking red hair.
The woman‘s eyes widened upon seeing Larin, and she ran toward her immediately.
Larin had never met her, yet the woman acted as if she knew her.
"Are you looking for someone?!"
"Wait, who are you...?"
"Yujin! Knight Yujin! Are you looking for him?!"
At the mention of Yujin‘s name, Larin was startled. But it was true; she didn't know where he was. She nodded.
"I met him recently. But..."
In the Infected Quarantine Zone, a place devoid of even minimal order, Yujin narrowed his eyes.
There were caged Infected, and those roaming free. In the eerie silence, Yujin watched men skewering Infected through the heart with spears.
"Armorless Union."
"A researcher? Looks like we missed one."
Pulling their spears free and shaking off the blood, they approached Yujin. He raised his bare hands. He had lost his sword when he collapsed, so he had to fight unarmed.
Two men. Easy enough for him. Stomping his foot, Yujin gathered light into his fist and lunged.
"…!"
Closing the distance instantly, Yujin halted right in front of them. The advantage of a spear was reach, but they had lost that advantage.
A short uppercut to the jaw. He snatched the spear from the stunned man and threw it with practiced ease.
The spear flew fast, piercing the thigh of the other man before he could react. As the remaining enemy panicked and swung his spear wildly, Yujin kicked it away and grabbed him by the throat.
"Explain everything. From start to finish. If you want to live."
The gap in skill allowed him to subdue them quickly because they were careless. More numbers or caution would have made things messy.
Pressing the man‘s head into the ground, Yujin aimed the spear tip at his throat. The attackers were terrified.
"K-Knight Yujin? Why are you...?"
"Just answer the question. I know what you did here. Don't test my patience."
"Ugh... Dammit. I knew this job wouldn't last."
Resigned, the man spilled everything. Why they were here. What orders they had received.
"…Disposing of Sector Zero?"
"The data is likely already gone. This place has always been a slaughterhouse for inconvenient elements."
The story was shocking.
Because of the Adeptus and the Silverlance Pegasi, Sector Zero was being scrapped. Burn everything and run before they get caught.
And the excuse for the disposal? An Infected riot.
"You crazy bastards!"
"Guh!"
"What? A riot? Do you know how many Infected you killed here in experiments?! They were people! Human beings!"
"Then what could we do?!"
Thrown to the ground and disarmed, the man screamed back at Yujin.
"Do you think we wanted to kill people?! We're dropout knights! We have nothing! The Armorless Union took us in when no one else would. If we leave here, we..."
BOOM!
Yujin stomped the ground, silencing the excuses.
"Being weak doesn't justify being cowardly. You've already abandoned your humanity."
Like a growling beast, Yujin glared at the man.
"How many did you kill with that excuse? The Infected you just stabbed through the heart probably thought the same. 'I have to kill to live.' 'I have to kill them to survive!'"
"..."
"Weakness isn't an excuse for cowardice. Live and atone for the rest of your life. Don't spew nonsense about atoning with death."
Death is an escape for sinners. Some might want vengeance through death, but not Yujin.
Atoning with death? Then what about those left behind? Those who have to live with the pain?
"…That is why I am letting you live."
With those words, Yujin turned away. Not all the Infected were dead yet. His task was clear.
Ensure the survivors lived and escaped to the outside world.
That was the only thing left to do.