Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Lost in Whitebloom / Story
Captain Bianca, your hometown is around here, right?
Yeah, I know this place. There is a church in the north. It's where I grew up.
Well, do you wanna go for a revisit?
A revisit?
The church is close by, isn't it?
...
She shifts her gaze toward the church, deep in contemplation once more about the recurring "dream."
In that haunting dream, she returned to her hometown, just the same as the present moment. To her dismay, some of her trusted comrades had betrayed their cause, leaving everyone else hopelessly trapped amidst a relentless snowstorm and the menacing onslaught of the Corrupted waves.
That battle seemed to stretch on indefinitely, enduring long enough to wear down even those who had once vowed to stand firm against any adversity by her side.
Each time reinforcements were summoned, they arrived bearing new challenges and obstacles to overcome.
Ultimately, the desperate cries for help beside her were drowned out by the piercing shrieks of the Corrupted.
Standing atop the snow-capped field, she tenderly pressed her lips to the bow in her hand, placing it on the chest of the Construct who had once fought valiantly by her side. Her gesture carried a silent wish, hoping it could grant him some semblance of peace.
Exhausting her last ounce of strength in banishing the Corrupted, who were once her comrades, she, too, succumbed and joined their wretched ranks.
Only the snow remained, chasing after the Corrupted and delicately veiling the remnants scattered on the ground. The once borderless white land was turned into an abyss.
Despite the absence of any redemption for her as a Corrupted, she persists and roams within the confines of the church in her hometown. Amidst the mournful howls of the storm, the tales of the past are retold repeatedly, laden with remorse and regrets.
Ahh. I'm tired. It's all pain and no gain.
Renan steps briskly out of the transporter, relishing the embrace of the frigid air as she stretches her limbs.
One investigation point to go. You never know what you'll find until the very end.
Captain Bianca! Renee! You're finally here!
How is it going?
Nothing unusual about the refugees. It's just many believers escaped from the bases that had been sheltering them.
Most of them were maniacs who stuck to their superstitious practices and would go mad if they couldn't follow them.
They insisted to crowdfund some food as an offering to the god even though we were short of food. Even if Forsaken and the base staff who were in frequent contact with them weren't tired of them, I was.
Captain, I said this before, but I still want to say it again. Forget about them. They are not worth saving.
Then I'll have to repeat myself. They deserve our help.
Many have lost hope after the disaster. Things could be different as long as we give them the help they need.
Are we capable of doing that? We can't even help ourselves.
The priority now is the Task Force's defector case. The Task Force's problem is still not solved.
The soldier, visibly annoyed, repeated "Task Force" twice for emphasis.
We are working on that.
The Scarlet Revelation and the defectors are related. In addition to the defector we caught, another Purifying Force member is on the previous mission report we got.
What? Another Purifying Force defector?
Who told you? Is the intel trustworthy?
You know that I can't disclose the identities of some members.
Tsk...
At least share with us the information related to the mission.
In addition to the Scarlet Revelation, the defectors, and the Ascendants... there is something about Project Winter.
Project Winter?
Judging from the information we got, someone inside Babylonia is in touch with the Ascendants.
Is this... part of the intel from the "secret members"?
Yes. The investigation has been going on for a long time. It's time to put an end to it.
Let's go to the place where the accident happened. The Phantom Tracer should be able to give us more information.
In silence, they begin their march toward the nearby ruins, with Renan being the sole person still mumbling under her breath.
What does this have to do with Project Winter...?
Some defectors brought some believers to Project Winter researchers as required, researchers who were in contact with the Ascendants.
Perhaps they wanted to learn more about the Ascendants to optimize the so-called specialized frame...
If that is the case...
What else could it be?
We'll soon find out.
She raises her hand and delivers a firm knock to the Phantom Tracer with her swordstaff, causing it to radiate an eerie and melancholic glow.
