Arc: Light Bound/Dialogue

* Moments
* Special Investigation Tasks

4 minutes and 53 seconds left until the agreed upon transaction. The dealer she was expecting had yet to show up.

The only thing approaching was some foul creature rustling its viscous body against the ground.

It was torture. Unnerving yet unavoidable, the eerie sound kept creeping into her ears like a…

Vicious serpent.

**???:** Your “raw meat” is served.

The world suddenly lit up, revealing a man in black holding a black umbrella and a black suitcase.

**???:** Gray Serpent, at your service.

**???:** Right on time.

**Gray Serpent:** Not quite. I arrived 4 minutes and 15 seconds earlier.

**???:** Ha, I suppose that’s the Snake Eye standard, right? Looking a lot more pro than the street rats.

**Gray Serpent:** You’re too kind, Miss Bronie. We serve “raw meat” cooked to our clients’ taste, that’s all.

Gray Serpent took an unnatural pause.

**Gray Serpent:** And I hope you won’t regret waiting for 37 minutes and 8 seconds to be served.

**Bronie:** Humph, I assume monitoring your clients’ every move is also part of the Snake Eye professionalism?

**Gray Serpent:** Were you not watching me closely as well in the past half hour, Miss Bronie?

**Gray Serpent:** But worry not, we have held up our end of the deal while you watched with ardent eyes.

**Bronie:** Wow, I must say I’m impressed. Should I play along and applaud you?

**Gray Serpent:** Heh…

Gray Serpent returned a smile, a most disturbing one, almost like the hissing of a snake.

Bronie darted him an unfriendly look before taking over custody of the suitcase.

**Gray Serpent:** Now please sign on this pad, Miss Bronie. Yes, right there.

Just when Bronie took off her gloves and was ready to enter her signature code, the flickering symbols flashed and went out.

**Bronie:** According to Appendix I, I can choose to “defrost” now.

**Gray Serpent:** Most certainly, Miss Bronie.

**Gray Serpent:** But might I remind you that according to Article 1, Appendix II, you will bear all consequences incurred?

**Bronie:** I know. Articles 3 to 5 were added at my request.

**Bronie:** Snake Eye is known to be reliable, but still, I want to verify the “raw meat” with my own eyes.

**Gray Serpent:** I see that you’re cautious, which is good for both you and us.

Bronie placed her hand on the round panel fitted at the top of the suitcase, which began to click-clack like a clock.

And then all went quiet as the anticipation built up, waiting for the suitcase to open with a click.

But nothing happened, nothing except that Bronie’s finger, or the space a few millimeters in front of her finger, lit up.

A data torrent surged through her fingertip, and in her sight, random pixels began to form fleeting pictures.

**Bronie:** Visualised interactive map… He prepares this for his clients.

**Bronie:** Patrol checkpoints, surveillance networks, and positioning nodes.

**Bronie:** System alarms and optimisation reports within the past three months, analysis on alarm algorithms…

Finally, the data flow shone bright enough to reveal Bronie’s curved lips under her hood.

She gestured a few commands on the panel as the hologram sphere logged in encrypted entries - the signing was done.

**Bronie:** It’s worth the risks. This chop is the one I want.

**Bronie:** A good deal.

**Gray Serpent:** Yes, a good deal indeed.

Gray Serpent repeated her words with a suppressed smile.

All of a sudden, a group of armed hoodlums rushed out from the dark corners of the alley.

All of them were dressed in outfits with an embroidered tiger head.

**???:** Sisters and brothers, don’t let her get away. She’s a sneaky little bunny!

**???:** Ha, we’ve got her out of her cozy deep web now. She can run, but she can’t hide.

**???:** Well I’ll be damned! I thought it was bullshit when the Snake Eye guys told me that the legendary Haxxor Bunny was just a kid!

**Bronie:** Humph, dealing with both sides… that is indeed a good deal for you. I wonder how much you sold me for, though.

Bronie had her eyes fixed dead-on Gray Serpent’s face, wishing to see through his ice-cold mask.

**Gray Serpent:** Sorry, it’s a trade secret. I can only say that it wasn’t much, but still enough.

**Bronie:** Ha, okay, so be it… It’s not like I’d buy my life back with a higher bid anyway.

**Gray Serpent:** Thank you for your understanding, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** Understanding? Don’t flatter yourself. If not for the “meat”…

**???:** Enough chit-chat! Okay, I get it, you don’t wish to leave, right Snake Eye guy? Then don’t!

**???:** Get ‘em both! Alive or dead!

**Bronie:** Hey, you lot…

Bronie dragged down her hood. She wasn’t loud, but her words silenced every hoodlum.

**???:** What? Trying to beg for mercy now? Too late!

**Bronie:** Keep it down, will you? My ears are hurting. What do you want from me?

**???:** Are you playing dumb?!

**???:** The fight our boss had with Taixuan scumbags… wasn’t it you who filmed everything and uploaded it onto V-Live?

**Bronie:** Oh, so you guys are from the Tiger Head Gang.

**Bronie:** But isn’t it your tradition to wear a tiger? I only see kittens on you.

**???:** You!

**Bronie:** Easy, easy. I filmed it for your own good, okay?

**Bronie:** The cyber-punch tutorial filmed by your boss has literally had zero views since it was uploaded months ago.

**Bronie:** But the one I filmed hit 100k views in a day. Seriously, shouldn’t you pay me for the promotion first?

**Bronie:** Oh right, how is your boss doing in the hospital? I’ll just be generous and contribute my pay to his treatment.

**???:** You… you had no consent! It was a gross violation of our rights to privacy!

Bronie said nothing in return - she had enough fun.

She lifted her head and gazed at the silent Gray Serpent.

**Bronie:** You’ve had a hell of a time watching the show, right?

**Gray Serpent:** Well…

**Gray Serpent:** I look forward to meeting you again, little bunny.

**Bronie:** Hey, what’s the rush?

**Bronie:** If you were here for the show, stay for the finale.

**???:** Hey boss, we can handle this chick, right? I heard that she once…

**???:** You worthless coward! Tigers never run from a puny bunny!

Bronie leaped off effortlessly from where she sat as her hologram submachine guns materialised in her hands.

*[CG plays wherein Bronie taunts the hoodlums, backlit by numerous panels bearing her logo:*

***Bronie:** What?*

***Bronie:** Never saw a bunny that hunts down tigers before?*]

**Bronie:** Phew~

**Bronie:** That snake slipped away anyway.

**Bronie:** Eh, doesn’t matter. I already got what I wanted. Lemme just get out of here.

--

#### Haxxor Bunny’s Debut

**Bronie:** The rendezvous isn’t far.

**Bronie:** Wasted so much time on those losers. Hope I didn’t make her wait for too long.

**Theresa:** Bronie~~

**Bronie:** Sorry I’m late.

**Theresa:** No, the timing’s perfect.

**Bronie:** You’ve handled your end, right?

**Theresa:** Relax, I didn’t even bother to make up an excuse.

**Theresa:** The concert drained me… sounds perfectly natural, right? All I needed to do was whine a little bit.

**Bronie:** Whine?

**Bronie:** Like, “Hik hik, TeRiRi has run out of magical power and she needs a good rest to recharge~”?

**Theresa:** That’s not funny…

**Theresa:** How was your end? You got it?

Bronie pouted her lips to signal the suitcase. She caught Theresa’s frown when she was ready for a high five.

**Theresa:** You got into a fight? What happened? You were set up by Snake Eye?

**Bronie:** Um, no, just a scratch… Wait, how did you know?

**Theresa:** Why, your bruises, cuts, and band-aids of course.

**Bronie:** But it’s dark out here. Ouch…

**Theresa:** Humph, I knew you didn’t dress your wounds carefully.

**Bronie:** There’s no need. Just some scratches.

**Theresa:** I hope you can still put up your brave face when infection has gotten you.

**Bronie:** Guess life isn’t easy for an Arc City idol. Always carrying cotton swabs and bandages…

**Theresa:** Oh, they’re prepared for a certain troublemaker… An idol has no use for these.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** But this won’t do. Even I can tell that you’re hurt, so Ci…

**Bronie:** Don’t let Cioara find out.

**Theresa:** That’s a pretty tall order. She has sharp eyes.

**Bronie:** Can you use your makeup to cover it?

**Theresa:** I can try, but we can wait until you’re ready to return.

**Theresa:** I’ve dressed the wounds. Move around and see if the bandage is secure.

**Bronie:** Thanks.

**Theresa:** …

**Theresa:** Bronie, tell me more about what’s in the suitcase, and your plan tonight…

**Theresa:** I’m worried.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Let’s talk while we walk.

**Loudspeaker:** Heliopolis appreciates every individual’s value.

**Loudspeaker:** Our omnipotent technologies and extensive information networks perfectly ensure your freedom and safety.

**Loudspeaker:** Enjoy a carefree life - under the protection of the Light Curtain.

**Loudspeaker:** Join Heliopolis and help protect humanity’s final paradise!

**Theresa:** Bronie, aren’t we getting too close?

**Theresa:** It’s Heliopolis territory up ahead. What if we get caught by patrol drones?

**Bronie:** Don’t worry, my Trackers have handled them.

**Bronie:** I hacked their cameras and image processing units. They won’t get a clear shot of our faces.

Bronie pointed to the small drones following them - Trackers, one of her proudest works.

**Bronie:** But that’s the most I can do right now.

**Bronie:** If we go deeper, it would be easy for them to spot us, and “bang bang”, we’d both be done.

**Theresa:** So that’s why you decided to hack them physically…

**Bronie:** Guilty as charged.

**Theresa:** The risks are too high.

**Bronie:** So we need to know Heliopolis inside and out first. Thing is, I’ve got the intel from Snake Eye.

**Theresa:** …

**Theresa:** I still don’t get it, Bronie.

**Theresa:** It was never a secret who had the three keys to the Light Curtain.

**Theresa:** But since you’re going for the Light Curtain, wouldn’t it be easier to start with Taixuan?

**Bronie:** Easier? How so? Using your idol charm?

**Theresa:** Um, stop that… It just so happens that they have a TeRiRi fan club at their hideout.

**Bronie:** Theresa, you’ve made it. You’re the biggest idol in town, the golden goose of Taixuan.

**Bronie:** But me… I’m just nobody.

**Theresa:** …

**Bronie:** Sorry, that’s not what I meant…

**Theresa:** It’s alright. I’m only using them… like any idol uses their followers.

**Theresa:** We’re the same in not caring about what they think. You only care about Cioara, and you want her to…

**Bronie:** That’s why I have my eyes on Heliopolis, the hardest nut to crack. If I can make it, she’ll just leave me alone.

**Bronie:** Before, there were rumors that Heliopolis was behind the Light Curtain.

**Bronie:** Paying them a visit might get us some more useful intel.

**Theresa:** The Light Curtain encircling the city… is Heliopolis’ doing?

**Theresa:** Wait… there is indeed a well-guarded Heliopolis plant at the southern border, and no one knows what it’s for…

**Theresa:** But then again… I doubt the plant has the ability to cut the whole city off from the world.

**Bronie:** I wouldn’t be so sure.

**Bronie:** Maybe the city itself is just a huge Heliopolis plant, right?

**Theresa:** Hey, stop it! I’m getting goosebumps!

**Bronie:** Hahah, I was kidding… But anyway, I’m gonna get to the bottom of this.

**Loudspeaker:** \*music playing\*

**Theresa:** ♪~

**Bronie:** Why is the promotion for the V-Live concert still going on? Isn’t the concert over?

**Theresa:** It’s streamed online. Tickets are selling much better than the live concert. It’s raining cash for the agency.

**Theresa:** Oh right, I’ve set up your account.

**Theresa:** I mean your personal account, not the Haxxor Bunny one.

**Bronie:** Virtual idols are the real deal now, and you’re the only dinosaur who still clings to live performances.

**Theresa:** Because people want to see me in person.

**Theresa:** As long as there’s someone who wishes to see me up close, I will never give up the live stage…

**Theresa:** What would you call this? An idol’s responsibility?

**Bronie:** Heh, more like an idol’s liability, if you ask me.

**Theresa:** BRONIE!

**Loudspeaker:** Magical Girl TeRiRi’s special edition camouflage wind glider on sale! Become invisible and take off with TeRiRi now!

**Bronie:** I guess this is… also part of your responsibility?

**Theresa:** No, this is what you call a liability…

**Theresa:** It can’t be helped. Too big of an offer for the agency to turn down, plus their product is good quality too…

**Theresa:** Speaking of which… Bronie, you’re sneaking into Heliopolis to get the key to the Light Curtain.

**Theresa:** I can help you, but it can only go so far… I don’t want to lose this job I fought so hard for…

**Bronie:** Hah, and here I was wondering if you would be up for some stealth action by my side.

**Theresa:** Don’t… don’t even think about it! It would be the biggest smear to my idol career!

**Bronie:** A hacker and an idol exchange their identities to turn Arc City upside down… You wrote this cheesy story yourself.

**Bronie:** Ah, right, it was you who taught me the basics of hacking back then.

**Theresa:** Come on, I wasn’t even a beginner myself.

**Theresa:** At that time, no one in Taixuan was interested in this, and they all took me for an idiot.

**Bronie:** Heh, they’re nothing but a bunch of “shoot first, ask questions later” morons themselves.

**Theresa:** But I happen to think that the puncher Bronya was somehow cooler than the hacker bunny now.

**Theresa:** Ah, time really flies…

She sighed heavily, gazing at the neon lights in the distance.

**Theresa:** Is it… still like the old times?

**Bronie:** Hmm. I’ll break in and get the key. You support me from a safe place and help me get hold of the situation.

It was just as Theresa had expected, but somehow she fell silent for a long while.

And then, as if having made a big and hard decision herself…

**Theresa:** Okay, I’ve got it.

**Theresa:** The Light Curtain… It’s been hanging over the city for longer than I’ve lived.

**Theresa:** It’s just there… like the sun and the moon. You expect to see it every day.

**Theresa:** I’ve never thought that it could be “gone”.

**Theresa:** Just as no one bothers to ask why the flowers wither or why the sun sets… no one questions why it has to be this way.

**Theresa:** Bronie, is this why you want to get the key and turn off the Light Curtain?

**Bronie:** Hah, you think too much of me. I’m not ambitious like that.

**Bronie:** Why is the Light Curtain there? Honestly, I don’t really care.

**Bronie:** Be it a Heliopolis scheme or a Snake Eye play, it makes no difference to me. All I want to know… is how the world beyond the Curtain really looks… that’s why I signed up for this risky business.

**Theresa:** But what you’re doing is much bigger than what you just said.

**Bronie:** I’m in this game anyway, so why not raise the stakes a bit higher?

**Theresa:** Hahah, that sounds like what the Haxxor Bunny would say.

**Theresa:** Right, the Bunny Ball that was broken… I’ve fixed it. Here you are.

**Theresa:** I replaced the p-p chain generator and antigravity module with the newest, and I also updated the immersion sensors.

**Bronie:** The new models ain’t cheap… where did you get them?

**Bronie:** Theresa, you didn’t tear down Heliopolis gift samples for parts, did you?

**Theresa:** Hahah, you got me…

**Theresa:** They gave me more sets of virtual immersion theaters than I could ever possibly make use of.

**Theresa:** But the parts are good, so I tore them apart. Of course, I removed the serial numbers so that they can’t track you.

**Bronie:** Thanks, I guess…

**Theresa:** You’re welcome. That’s just what sisters are for.

**Bronie:** Stop that… we’re not sisters!

Is what she said in the same light-hearted and playful way she always did back in the old days.

But unusually, there wasn’t any reply this time.

**Theresa:** Bronie, promise me… don’t let anything go wrong… and return safely.

**Theresa:** Even if you fail, you have to come back safely… Promise me.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** I promise.

**Bronie:** I’ll be back before you know it, and my plan will work.

**Theresa:** …

**Theresa:** Send me the details later and I’ll run through them again.

**Bronie:** No problem.

**Theresa:** It’s late. I need to go now.

**Bronie:** Hmm, you’ll need to return on your own, or your agency might get suspicious.

**Theresa:** You should return too. Don’t keep Cioara waiting.

**Theresa:** Right, the cosmetics to cover up your cuts are in your pocket. I’ll send you instructions on how to use them.

**Bronie:** When did you…

**Theresa:** When you weren’t paying attention, of course. You forgot who I am?

**Bronie:** Hah…

**Theresa:** See you around, Bronie.

**Bronie:** See you.

--

#### No Man’s Land

**Bronie:** Theresa, come in.

**Theresa:** Haxxor Bunny, I’m online and have a good connection.

**Bronie:** You read all the files?

**Theresa:** Yeah. Hmm… but just to be safe, let’s go over the plan again.

**Bronie:** Okay.

**Bronie:** The Heliopolis Park in Arc City has two parts: the central tower and the garden on the outside. I’m in the garden now.

**Bronie:** The central tower is an office, but not for their medical arm. You know that, right?

**Theresa:** Yeah. Their medical business is their first and biggest gold mine.

**Theresa:** Heliopolis may allow others to share in the cakes of AI and military-grade arms, but not medicine.

**Bronie:** But intel from Snake Eye says that their medical park isn’t even half as well-guarded as this one.

**Theresa:** That is indeed curious. Maybe because their medical experts have regular meetings here?

**Bronie:** You mean conferences where everyone has to show up in person? That’s ancient history for Heliopolis.

**Theresa:** Hmm… or maybe their CEO is paranoid about getting killed, and that’s why they have heightened security?

**Theresa:** I heard she lives in the penthouse… Wait a second, I’ll run through the patrol drone records…

**Bronie:** Snake Eye’s intel also includes a recent purchase deal for security mechas.

**Theresa:** I saw that too.

**Bronie:** But the quantity written in the contract is a lot more than what they’ve got deployed on the ground.

**Theresa:** You mean…

**Bronie:** There could be a secret area in the park that’s not outlined in Snake Eye’s intel.

**Bronie:** Anyway, this doesn’t change the fact that we’re getting into the main tower for the key.

**Bronie:** I’ll find the data terminal in the garden and set it up so that you can get into their surveillance systems.

**Bronie:** After you take over their eyes and ears, you’ll be the one to plan our next move.

**Bronie:** Meanwhile, I’ll try to get a Heliopolis ID code to make things easier.

**Bronie:** Hmm, maybe it’d be easier to “borrow” it from one of the office workers than the patrol guards?

**Theresa:** That’s up to you, but try not to crush any bones. I heard about the Tiger Head Gang. That was a huge mess.

**Bronie:** Relax, it’s just a code. I’ll go easy on them.

**Theresa:** Hah, I hope so…

**Theresa:** While…

**Bronie:** Let’s do it.

**Theresa:** Haxxor Bunny, I just disabled the scanning devices along the left passage.

**Theresa:** Go that way, it’s safer.

**Bronie:** The intel’s right about the security mechas - They’re the new model X-2s.

**Bronie:** Ha, a decent toy to play with.

**Theresa:** Don’t play with fire, Bronie. Your current target is the terminal.

**Bronie:** Okay, the portal’s set up.

**Theresa:** Connecting. Falsifying digital signature… Okay, I’m in.

**Theresa:** Um… Good news and bad news, what do you wanna hear first?

**Bronie:** Makes no difference to me.

**Theresa:** The good news is that there are no patrol guards out there… I mean, the breathing type. Only security mechas.

**Bronie:** Not a living soul?

**Theresa:** And that’s the bad news.

**Theresa:** The camera feeds are telling me that you can’t find anything that breathes here… no guards, no office workers.

**Bronie:** Which is to say, there’s no way to get an ID code, right? It’s okay, we’ve got Plan B.

**Bronie:** Watch out for me while I hack into their authentication systems.

**Theresa:** No, too much risk.

**Bronie:** With higher risks come better rewards.

**Theresa:** No, Haxxor Bunny, don’t make me repeat myself.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** There’s an improvised plan with much less risk. Wanna hear it?

**Bronie:** I’m all ears.

**Theresa:** Some mechas handle security for both the main tower’s front reception and the garden stairs. They should have ID codes.

**Theresa:** I can make one of them go offline shortly for self-diagnosis, while you get its authentication chip.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** No problem, we’ll go with your plan. Have you decided on the target?

**Theresa:** Hmm… I’m sending you the coordinates.

**Theresa:** Remember, we don’t have much time. Don’t get caught, and don’t waste any time.

**Bronie:** Understood.

**Bronie:** I’ve got the chip.

**Theresa:** Focus, Haxxor Bunny. Now comes the hard part.

**Theresa:** The main tower’s insides are just as well-guarded as the outside. Be careful.

**Bronie:** I know. Don’t worry.

**Bronie:** Entering the main building.

**Machine Voice:** Verifying ID. Successful.

**Machine Voice:** No. HG-037, welcome back. Have a good time.

**Bronie:** Okay, I’m in. What’s your status?

**Theresa:** Everything’s okay. I’m searching for data entries related to the key.

**Theresa:** But their database is a lot bigger than we imagined. It’s gonna take ten more minutes.

**Bronie:** Hah, looks like I can take a coffee break now. I wonder if they serve good coffee here…

As soon as she had connected to the Heliopolis internal network, Bronie lost all her appetite for coffee.

**Bronie:** Tsk, guess it’s no surprise that they have that monster…

**Theresa:** Huh? What are you talking about?

**Bronie:** Right ahead, at the end of the hallway. You can see it, right?

**Theresa:** The hallway ahead… wait, let me get the camera feed.

**Theresa:** A TG-III Riot Mecha?! Why would they have that?!

**Bronie:** Dunno, but it’s obviously not our friend.

**Theresa:** Hey, Haxxor Bunny, don’t fight it head-on. It can rip armored vehicles apart like paper…

**Bronie:** Come on, I’m not that stupid.

**Bronie:** It may be an ass-kicker, but it’s an old model riddled with flaws.

**Bronie:** As soon as I find a data link to get in, it won’t be any harder to hack than a toaster.

**Theresa:** Need my help?

**Bronie:** No, you just keep looking for the key.

**Bronie:** I see a lot of Heliopolis office terminals around. Should be easy for me.

**Theresa:** Then… be careful. And keep in touch.

**Bronie:** Okay.

**Theresa:** Haxxor Bunny, I found something concerning the Light Curtain. I just sent it to you.

**Bronie:** Okay, I’ll take a look.

**Bronie:** “A Research Report on the Stability of the Light Curtain”.

**Bronie:** “As aforementioned, observation data from recent years all lead to the same conclusion”.

**Bronie:** “The Light Curtain and the city within have been contracting slowly but surely”.

**Bronie:** “Data shows that the city has contracted by 1.7% over the past decade, and the same rate was observed the decade before”.

**Bronie:** “It is a slow process which has drawn no attention from the citizens, hence there is no concern of widespread fear”.

**Bronie:** “In addition, the Curtain’s isolation effect is functioning well without any changes”.

**Bronie:** “The researchers currently hold divided opinions on the cause of the Light Curtain’s contraction”.

**Bronie:** “Some believe it to be a natural process due to energy consumption from its core”.

**Bronie:** “Others maintain that the contraction is caused by the expansion of the outside space, i.e. that the city is being devoured”.

**Bronie:** “Due to the lack of data on the outside world, we are unable to reach a conclusion”.

**Bronie:** “However, we are certain that the changes of the Light Curtain are not decided by the will of the people living within”…

**Bronie:** So Heliopolis has been studying the Light Curtain all along.

**Bronie:** Looking for the TG-III’s signal processing module… Hmm, I need to take care of this first… Huh?

**Theresa:** What’s wrong, Haxxor Bunny?

**Bronie:** Hah, I found something interesting in the terminal. Sending it to you now.

**Theresa:** “Breaking News! Miss Jackal May Leave Heliopolis Soon”? What is it? A news story?

**Bronie:** Yeah, and looks like it was called off before being released.

**Theresa:** The Heliopolis CEO stepping down… doesn’t look good. They had to silence it to avoid the exposure.

**Bronie:** But people will find out one way or another. Think about it, when was the last time you saw her in public?

**Theresa:** …

**Theresa:** I… I’ll take a look at it first.

**Theresa:** “In response to the recent rumors circulating in the city, Heliopolis gave an open statement yesterday”.

**Theresa:** “According to the statement, Miss Jackal is very healthy and not hospitalised due to stress, as the rumors say”.

**Theresa:** “And that she will remain CEO of Heliopolis with no plans to retire for the foreseeable future”.

**Theresa:** “The rumors can be traced back to a post by an alleged Snake Eye member on the anonymous social app, Secret”.

**Theresa:** “Snake Eye’s notoriously strong intel network has lent the rumors a lot of credibility”.

**Theresa:** “But intel is Snake Eye’s most valuable asset. They’d never give it out for free”.

**Theresa:** “So the important thing is not who paid for the intel, but who paid for the exposure”.

**Theresa:** “Whoever did it is not a friend of Heliopolis. Maybe this event will change the future of Arc City forever”.

**Theresa:** “Guess we’ll have to wait and find out”.

**Theresa:** This report… says nothing about Jackal appearing in public to dispel the rumors.

**Bronie:** Yeah, exactly.

**Bronie:** If she was really okay and wanted everyone to know, she would have made an appearance herself.

**Bronie:** But instead, she designated someone else to speak on her behalf, which is to say…

**Theresa:** She’s sick to the point where she can’t really show up publicly at all.

**Bronie:** Or she’s dead.

**Theresa:** …

**Bronie:** Okay, I’ve hacked the TG-III’s signal processing module.

**Bronie:** But the basic combat module wasn’t connected, so I can’t hack it. Guess I’ll have to fight it anyway.

**Theresa:** I haven’t found anything that can lead us to the key yet.

**Theresa:** The rest are a group of multi-encrypted files, and it would take a while to crack them.

**Bronie:** Okay. I’ll just look around and possibly find some clues before you.

**Bronie:** ♪~

**Theresa:** Haxxor Bunny, I found a voice log. It’s related to the key.

**Theresa:** But it’s severely corrupted, and the voices are compressed. I’ll do my best to restore it.

**???:** I object. Now is not the time yet.

(Completely modified voice)

**???:** Jackal, your trick backfired and it’s Heliopolis’ own problem. Us destroying the key solves nothing.

(Completely modified voice)

**???:** Yeah, you’re not able to make another public appearance, but you can still run Heliopolis behind the curtain.

**???:** With all the bizarre biotech Heliopolis has developed, it shouldn’t be hard to keep you “alive”.

(Completely modified voice)

**???:** Agreed. I don’t support removing the Curtain now. But not using the key is not the same as destroying it.

**???:** We have to keep the possibilities alive for the future.

(Completely modified voice)

**???:** And of course, I’ll grant your request and we’ll keep the secret for you, but it’s not for Heliopolis, or you.

**???:** This is for the city.

**???:** The three-party balance took long to build. No one wants to break it first, right?

(Completely modified voice)

**???:** Floor 33 below ground? Hmm, it’s a good place.

**Bronie:** Floor 33 below ground… is that where the key is being kept?

**Theresa:** Not sure, but the log does mention both the key and Floor 33 below ground. It’s possible.

**Bronie:** According to Snake Eye intel, there is indeed a massive underground structure in the park.

**Bronie:** And the key is kept on Floor 33 below ground… Do you have the camera feed from that floor?

**Theresa:** No, it’s a different network from Floor 20 below ground and beyond. No way to hack in from above ground.

**Bronie:** Tsk, I’ll have to get down there myself then…

**Theresa:** There’s only one elevator that can take you down. I’ve sent you the location.

**Theresa:** It’s close to the TG-III’s patrol area. Be careful.

**Bronie:** Heh, it’s just a big broken toy. Won’t give me much trouble.

**Bronie:** If it gets in my way, I don’t mind tearing it apart and sending it to the junkyard.

**Loudspeaker:** Warning! Restricted area ahead, no entry! Warning! Restricted area…

**Bronie:** Out of my way, you big pile of scrap metal.

**Bronie:** I’m in the elevator. How’s everything on your end?

**Theresa:** Nothing unusual.

**Theresa:** Keep your guard up, Haxxor Bunny. I feel like something’s not…

**Bronie:** SIgnals have been cut off?

**Bronie:** Okay, I’ll disconnect for now. Be in touch later.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Phew…

The elevator went all the way down, and would not stop until the 33rd floor below ground.

Without her knowing, Bronie clenched her left hand.

Theresa had reminded her over and over again to be careful.

And she had told Theresa each and every time that everything would be okay.

But this time was different.

Still, all she could do was to reassure Theresa like she always did.

But deep down, she knew she herself was the one that really needed to be reassured.

**Bronie:** Heheh…

While watching the floor number go up, Bronie smiled.

Before every action, Theresa would ask her what the objective was.

And she would have a hard time figuring out how to answer.

For people like her, the objective was always the same: finding the next objective.

Only, this time was different.

**Bronie:** This is… the 33rd floor below ground.

Floor 33 below ground, Heliopolis.

Before her eyes was something more like a junkyard than a lab.

Broken fiber cables were all over the place like twisted snakes. The central console reminded her of an uprooted tree.

She took a step forward and found that the floor was damp, with rusty circuit boards scattered here and there.

But Bronie had no time for this - something on the console caught her eyes immediately.

The key.

--

#### New\_Player

**Bronie:** A dynamic signal lock with two-way authentication… A little bit tricky, but I can handle it.

A light blue virtual screen expanded before her, setting up a stage for her delicate fingers to dance.

As time passed by, the smile on her face was slowly replaced by anxiety, until this final line popped up:

System unlocked.

**Bronie:** Phew… at long last.

She let out a long, relaxed breath and grabbed the small mechanical device on the console.

Bronie had never seen the key before, but she knew that this must be it.

She needed to take it. That’s all she had to do.

And everything would be alright.

She rushed to the elevator with the key…

Only to be stopped the next instant.

The elevator that was supposed to take her back had left without her.

It got to the ground floor, and then returned to Floor 33 below ground again.

*[CG plays wherein the elevator door opens to reveal a masked figure dressed in highly technological attire, accompanied by a sword.*]

Covered tightly in a silver and black soft armor decorated by flashing neon color strips, a stranger was in sight.

She observed her surroundings quietly and seemed to be searching for something.

Meanwhile, Bronie was studying her with vigilant eyes. She was unlikely to be a friend.

**Bronie:** Theresa…

She called out without thinking, and soon realised that the communication had gone offline long ago.

**???:** …

**Bronie:** (From the looks of it, she’s not familiar with the place, which means she’s not working for Heliopolis).

**Bronie:** (Only one possibility left then).

**Bronie:** (She’s also here for the key. But who is she?)

**???:** You shouldn’t be here.

**Bronie:** I could say the same, samurai.

Bronie took one step forward, trying to conceal what was behind her.

She had gotten the key, but that put her at a disadvantage in combat.

She didn’t want the enemy to know that, so she tried to bluff.

**Bronie:** I won’t let you have it, samurai.

Before the words were finished, her grenade was already on its way.

The stranger unsheathed her blade and purple lightning struck through, cutting the grenade in half before it even landed.

**???:** I’m a ninja, not a samurai.

**???:** And my blade knows no mercy.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** They’ve found us, hacker.

**Bronie:** Humph, thanks, ninja.

**Bronie:** If everything went according to my plan, I’d have been out of here long ago.

**Bronie:** But of course, my plan didn’t include you.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Likewise.

**Bronie:** Heh, guess it’s not a good day for either of us.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Understood.

**Bronie:** Huh? What did you say? Wait, who were you talking to?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You can keep the key for now.

**Bronie:** Huh?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** And you have five minutes to figure out a way to leave this place with the key.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** One more thing. Your ability…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** It’s dangerous. Don’t abuse it.

**Bronie:** Hey, wait…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** We will meet again, hacker.

--

#### Game\_Over

**Bronie:** …Gone?

**Bronie:** What the hell? A super warrior who wields an electrified blade and can blink?

**Alarm:** !

**Bronie:** Tsk… she was right. I can’t linger here. Have to go now.

**Bronie:** The elevator can’t be accessed, but there should be a safe exit somewhere.

**Bronie:** Trackers.

She didn’t know where the exit was. It wasn’t in Snake Eye’s intel package.

But finding it out herself wasn’t exactly hard.

She waved her hand and signalled her drones to swirl around and blast every wall in sight.

She soon found what she was looking for - a wall that appeared different to anywhere else after the blast.

**Bronie:** Trackers, focus your fire.

Boom!

The hidden door to the safe exit now had a crack big enough for Bronie to get through.

…

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** Haxxor Bunny? Great, comms are finally back online! Where are you now?

**Bronie:** Erm, I’m not quite sure… still underground though.

**Bronie:** But relax, I’ve got the key.

**Theresa:** Forget the key! The alarm has been blaring for five minutes! I can hear it from miles away!

**Theresa:** Anyway, turn on your positioning and I can plot an escape route for you…

**Bronie:** No, Heliopolis would get to me faster than you that way.

**Bronie:** And they will also be able to track you down. We’d be a dead bunny and a dead idol soon.

**Theresa:** But the Heliopolis guards have the place surrounded. I don’t see any other way.

**Bronie:** There is, with a bit of risk though… Just do as I tell you, no matter what happens.

**Theresa:** What do you mean?

**Bronie:** I’m ready. Everything is still going to plan.

*[CG plays wherein Bronie manages to escape, but ends up surrounded by Heliopolis guard forces.*]

--

#### Home Sweet Home

**Guard:** ACP-818, get out. Your family is here to pick you up.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** …Thank you, sir. Let’s go.

…

Neither of them spoke a word after they left the detention room.

**Bronie:** Theresa.

**Theresa:** Bronie.

Somehow, they chose to break the silence at the same moment.

**Theresa:** …You go first.

**Bronie:** Did anyone look for me while I was inside?

**Theresa:** No. I removed the traces of hacking left at the portal. All eyes were on you and no one noticed.

**Bronie:** Hah, that’s great.

**Theresa:** Not at all…

**Theresa:** Thanks to you, every Heliopolis event was either canceled or delayed.

**Bronie:** What about your scheduled work this month?

**Theresa:** Everything got canceled. Why else would I have the time to come pick you up?

**Bronie:** Hahah… sorry… I guess.

**Theresa:** No need to apologise. I wasn’t mad at you anyway.

**Theresa:** But… I won’t even try to sugarcoat it now.

**Theresa:** Heliopolis managed to put a lid on the situation, but Snake Eye and Taixuan… I don’t think they’re unaware.

**Theresa:** You won’t be able to deal with either of them in the future. And breaking into Heliopolis again would be suicide.

**Theresa:** And I don’t even have to bring up Cioara…

**Bronie:** Seriously, I don’t see any major problems here, except for Cioara.

**Bronie:** After all, we now have something very important to Heliopolis.

**Theresa:** Wha… didn’t you return the key to them? Why else would they let you walk free? Even with Cioara’s connections…

**Bronie:** No no no, Theresa. It was a little trick. Some magic.

Bronie then bowed to Theresa in a most dramatic and ostentatious manner.

**Theresa:** Wait… when you said “I’m ready”, you meant you were ready to be caught?

**Bronie:** Uh-huh.

**Theresa:** No way… so you… surrendered a fake…

Bronie had to dart forward and hush her.

**Bronie:** Don’t say it out loud, unless you want to get us killed!

**Theresa:** This isn’t some tasteless joke, right?

**Bronie:** Of course not. I told you my plan would work.

**Theresa:** I-I can’t believe you just tricked Heliopolis like that! Bronie!

**Bronie:** What? I took their stuff from right under their noses, why would tricking them be any harder?

**Theresa:** No, I… I’m just a bit excited. I don’t know what to say.

**Theresa:** You took their key and then got busted… but actually… Who’d have thought?

**Bronie:** Heheh, am I the best hacker in the whole wide world or what?

Bronie winked at her in a playful and mischievous way.

**Theresa:** Well then, Ms World’s Best Hacker, I guess you have a perfect solution to the problem at hand too, right?

**Bronie:** Ugh…

Following Theresa’s eyes, Bronie lifted her head.

Beyond the stairs sat a large French window by which a few outdoor seats sat. Not many customers at this hour.

Even then, the “Raven’s” neon logo was already lit. This was the only thing about this place that fitted the city vibe.

**Bronie:** Oh no…

**Theresa:** You’ve got to face it sooner or later. Come on, I’m with you.

Bronie nodded and followed Theresa up the stairs to Raven’s, her “home”.

--

#### Raven’s

**Bronie:** Phew…

Having finally made up her mind, Bronie knocked on the door to Raven’s.

**Cioara:** Oh, you’re back, Theresa. It didn’t rain, did it?

Theresa wasn’t sure why Cioara greeted her first, but she soon recovered from the surprise and stepped forward.

**Theresa:** Hmm, the weather was just fine today.

She took out a kraft bag from her handbag.

**Theresa:** Ground vanilla and mushroom sauce for you. Sorry, I was too late and the peppercorn sauce sold out.

**Cioara:** It’s alright. I’ll just take the peppercorn chicken roast off the menu.

**Cioara:** I’m the one who should say sorry. You’re busy all the time, but I’m always troubling you with errands.

Cioara shot a seemingly casual glance at Bronie.

**Theresa:** No, it was no trouble at all. It was just a simple grocery run on my way to pick up Bronie.

**Theresa:** There’s no way I could ever pay you back or all the food you’ve cooked for me.

**Cioara:** Well Theresa, ain’t you a doll.

**Cioara:** What about you, Bronya? How long do you plan on standing there? Anything to say?

Bronya. Theresa was surprised. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard that name.

It was Bronie’s real name, but everyone who knows her calls her Bronie, and even she herself rarely ever uses it.

Naturally, “Bronya” soon became obsolete and was forgotten.

And now Cioara is calling her by that name, which means that she’s pissed, and very badly.

Realising this, Theresa nudged Bronie with her elbow to remind her, but Bronie refused to move even an inch.

**Cioara:** Alright, guess you won’t talk, but you know how big of a mess you’ve managed to stir up.

**Cioara:** Go change, kid. You’re not serving our customers in those dirty rags.

**Cioara:** It’s 5 now, and we’re opening in half an hour. Go clean the lounge and the bar. Oh, and help me in the kitchen after that.

**Bronie:** …

Bronie nevertheless stood still. She didn’t feel like explaining herself, nor like changing into her attendant uniform.

**Cioara:** GO CHANGE NOW. You hear me? Don’t stand idle there like a rock!

**Theresa:** Erm, Cioara, why don’t you let me help? I can fit into Bronie’s outfit.

**Theresa:** And don’t worry, with a face mask on no one can tell the difference.

**Theresa:** Bronie, say something. Cioara is just worried about you…

**Cioara:** Theresa, you don’t have to speak for her. She’s not a mute.

**Cioara:** I must have told her a million times by now that Snake Eye owns Arc City’s intel flow.

**Cioara:** Being an independent hacker doesn’t pay well at all, but certainly does get you killed pretty fast. But no, you wouldn’t listen.

**Bronie:** …

**Cioara:** Bronie, you always think you can see opportunities where others can’t… You never change.

**Cioara:** Guess it’s news to you that you’re just a pawn in the game of the big guys up top.

**Cioara:** I keep telling you, but you never get it. Arc City is not what it used to be anymore.

**Bronie:** …

**Cioara:** We’ll talk more later. Now get changed before customers come. Theresa, you should go before anyone sees you.

…

**Bronie:** I’m not changing.

Bronie grabbed the outfit in Cioara’s hand and tossed it onto the table nearby.

**Bronie:** I already said that I won’t be a bartender my whole life!

**Bronie:** I can earn a living with my skill, and there are things I want to do myself!

**Cioara:** Like stealing the key to the Light Curtain?

**Bronie:** …

**Cioara:** I have to thank the Heliopolis “wolves” personally.

**Cioara:** If not for their mercy, you wouldn’t be here blaring your big dream in my face.

**Bronie:** I… have the key.

Her voice was low, as if she was talking to herself.

**Cioara:** What?

Bronie said nothing more. She turned around, pushed the door open, and left her “home”.

**Bronie:** Oof…

**Bronie:** I need some fresh air.

Five hours later.

**Theresa:** Bronie should be somewhere nearby.

**Bronie:** Hoo…

**Bronie:** Hmm? Theresa?

**Theresa:** Bronie, I knew you were here.

**Bronie:** I was out of line, wasn’t I?

**Theresa:** Yeah, in a major way.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** What’s the time now?

**Theresa:** Half-past ten.

**Bronie:** We closed this early?

**Theresa:** What do you think, after all the drama you pulled? Cioara wasn’t in the mood at all, and she drove everyone away before ten.

**Theresa:** And, yeah, it could also be because I was clumsy and not much of a help to her.

**Bronie:** But everyone who goes to the bar knows about her bad temper. They wouldn’t mind.

**Theresa:** Yeah, some would even come for a “friendly chat” with her.

**Bronie:** …There are customers like that, but I don’t like them. It’s always noisy when they’re around.

**Bronie:** Of course, Cioara is usually the one making the noises.

**Theresa:** Hahah, if she could hear you now, you’d be in for another good old lecture.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Theresa, could you help me with looking after Raven’s tomorrow too? She won’t be able to handle it on her own.

**Theresa:** Hey, don’t try to boss me around… What am I? An unemployed idol that settles for part-time hacking and bartending?

**Bronie:** Sorry…

**Theresa:** I’m not the one who needs to hear that… If you still care about her, why don’t you go tell her yourself?

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** No, we’d get into another fight.

**Theresa:** So all the more reason for you to talk.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** Come on, what’s wrong with you two? How come I have to play the messenger every time?

**Bronie:** I suppose… we’re both used to solving problems with punches. Talking is not something we’re good at.

**Theresa:** Alright, I got it now… I have to do all the talking because I got none of the muscle that you two do.

**Bronie:** Oh, drop it… You can play weak and sweet in front of others, but it doesn’t work on me.

**Theresa:** Heheh…

Theresa scratched her head and took a look at the city under the elevated road.

**Theresa:** But even if I go to help again, Cioara would probably find a reason to send me away.

**Theresa:** She worries about you more, you know.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** You may not believe it, but from an outsider’s point of view… I can tell that you were the reason she opened Raven’s.

**Theresa:** She meant to build you a safe shelter… or, a “home”.

**Bronie:** But what I want isn’t a safe shelter… I never wanted my life to be free of dangers.

**Bronie:** I just want to see the bigger world out there, to push my limits… that’s all.

**Theresa:** Yeah, I know.

**Theresa:** That’s why you left Taixuan, and why you want to pass through the Light Curtain… I know. I know it all.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Cioara… I know what’s on her mind, and she knows what’s on mine too.

**Bronie:** But we’re just not good at expressing our feelings.

Bronie quietly watched Arc City’s neon lights from under the elevated road.

**Bronie:** Just saying, Theresa, I’m just saying… if I give up in the end and choose to stay in Arc City…

**Bronie:** There can only be one reason…

Theresa patted her on the shoulder gently.

She knew the name that Bronie didn’t say.

**???:** Ta-da!

**Bronie:** Who are you?

**Gray Serpent:** Good evening, Miss Bronie and Theresa.

**Theresa:** Who is…

**Bronie:** Gray Serpent, a Snake Eye agent. He sold me the Heliopolis intel… and sold me, too.

**Gray Serpent:** Sorry to interrupt at this inconvenient hour.

**Bronie:** It’s alright, we were about to finish anyway.

**Bronie:** Tell me, how much did you sell my head for? Can I at least have a little chat with the buyers?

**Gray Serpent:** Heheh, you misunderstand, Miss Bronie. I come in peace.

**Bronie:** Then why the hell are you here? Peddling your umbrella?

**Gray Serpent:** I’m here to deliver an invitation, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** Invitation? You’re getting married? Congrats, then. When’s the ceremony?

**Gray Serpent:** It’s a Snake Eye invitation.

**Gray Serpent:** The leader of Snake Eye wishes to speak with you in person tonight, Miss Bronie.

The man in black led in the front as Bronie and Theresa followed closely behind.

**Theresa:** Bronie, you sure this is fine? He backstabbed you the last time…

**Gray Serpent:** Heheh, please forgive me, Miss Theresa.

**Gray Serpent:** For us, it’s just business. Someone requires intel, and we provide it for a fee. It’s never personal.

**Theresa:** Were you listening in?!

**Gray Serpent:** In our line of work, we need to keep our eyes and ears peeled at all times for more business opportunities.

**Bronie:** Humph, save it. You think I don’t know that it took a high-performance receiver to do that little trick?

**Gray Serpent:** Heheh, that’s very observant of you, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** Cut it out. I’m not here for your cheap compliments. You know what I want.

**Gray Serpent:** Of course, Miss Bronie. That’s exactly why our leader wants to see you.

**Bronie:** So, where is your leader now? I didn’t come all this way just to waste my time here.

**Gray Serpent:** No need to worry, Miss Bronie. See, your introducer is here.

In the direction that Gray Serpent had pointed there stood a slender figure by the road. After they had approached, she bowed.

**Bronie:** She’s the introducer?

**Gray Serpent:** Even inside Snake Eye, only a handful have been honored with an audience with the leader.

**Gray Serpent:** This is my supervisor, one of the few who can speak to the leader directly. She’ll lead you on from here.

Gray Serpent turned around and left without a sound, while the introducer approached them.

**???:** Good evening, Miss Bronie. I’m your introducer, Rita.

**Bronie:** That’s an alias, I presume?

**Rita:** Heheh, you may think so, but calling me by this name does offer convenience, right?

**Bronie:** Tsk.

**Rita:** Well then, Miss Bronie, please follow me.

**Theresa:** Keep your guard up, Bronie. This woman feels even more dangerous than Gray Serpent… Um!

Before anyone could even see it happen, Rita’s index finger was already pressed gently against Theresa’s lips.

**Bronie:** Hey, what are you doing?

**Rita:** Magical Girl TeRiRi, I’m a big fan. I’ve been to every concert of yours.

**Theresa:** Wha… no, you’re mistaken! I don’t know any Magical Girl…

**Rita:** Heheh, even without your costumes, you still look just as cute as you do on stage.

**Rita:** I have to say, it’s a huge shame that the invitation is for Miss Bronie only.

**Rita:** So, apologies, Miss Theresa, but you’ll have to wait here.

**Theresa:** But…

**Bronie:** It’s okay, Theresa, I got this. Just wait here and stay safe.

Where Rita couldn’t see, Bronie gave Theresa a quick hand gesture.

**Theresa:** …Hmm, alright.

**Rita:** Well, Miss Bronie, let’s go then.

**Rita:** The Haxxor Bunny, a big name in Arc City. I’ve always wanted to meet you.

**Bronie:** What, you want my autograph?

**Rita:** Heheh, that’d be nice. But before that…

**Bronie:** Huh, impressive jamming technique.

**Rita:** Thank you. No offense, but you and Miss Theresa’s communication has been too noticeable.

**Bronie:** Humph.

**Rita:** Now, we can finally talk in private. I’ll be upfront -

**Rita:** You still have Heliopolis’ key, don’t you?

**Bronie:** I don’t know what you’re talking about.

**Bronie:** I did buy some intel from Gray Serpent and took a tour of the place, but nothing else.

**Bronie:** If I really had their stuff, why would those Heliopolis hyenas have let me go?

**Rita:** Heheh, you are very smart, Miss Bronie.

**Rita:** You knew we must’ve obtained intel about your imprisonment in Heliopolis, so you shared it with me to gain credibility.

**Rita:** But the Snake Eye also knows the info that you wish to withhold.

--

#### Late Night Talk

**Bronie:** What does that mean?

**Rita:** Relax, Miss Bronie. The Snake Eye isn’t planning to take anything away from you. We’re not interested in tangible assets.

**Rita:** We just want to learn about your opinions of this amazing city with advanced science and technology.

**Bronie:** Huh? Seriously? I didn’t know that Snake Eye also did celebrity interviews.

**Rita:** Knowing the clients’ likes and dislikes is an essential part of business.

**Bronie:** Fine, if you really wanna know - this city is like a giant cage to me.

**Bronie:** People just spend their whole lives in this cage. Everything they eat or use is made by Heliopolis. No one ever gets to choose.

**Rita:** But most people don’t really want to choose, and they don’t need to.

**Bronie:** No, they just don’t know that they could have had choices.

**Rita:** Aww, so you’ve been trying to get your hands on the keys to the Light Curtain just so that people could have choice?

**Bronie:** Pff, of course not. I’m not a saint.

**Bronie:** I just don’t wanna rot in this cage.

**Rita:** …

**Rita:** We have a good view of the Light Curtain from here.

**Bronie:** …

**Rita:** The Light Curtain is not as bad as it seems, don’t you agree?

**Rita:** In your eyes, it’s a prison cell for the whole city.

**Rita:** But many see it as an indestructible shelter protecting Arc City.

**Bronie:** Some want to be prisoners for life. Let them. But they cannot represent me.

**Rita:** Heheh, that sounds just like what the Haxxor Bunny would say.

**Bronie:** And you don’t feel like a Snake Eye agent at all.

**Rita:** Miss Bronie, I don’t quite understand.

**Bronie:** Just drop the act, Rita.

**Bronie:** I know why you invited me here, and you know my purpose too, right, Snake Eye boss?

**Rita:** …

**Rita:** Heheh, that was a very good guess, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** It’s not even a guess. You basically told me yourself.

**Bronie:** As an introducer, you didn’t need to talk to me or feel me out.

**Bronie:** But you did anyway. You wanted to see how I feel about the Curtain, the city, and if I could see through your disguise.

**Rita:** …

**Bronie:** If you’re happy with my answer, may we move to the next topic now, Snake Eye boss?

**Bronie:** Time for me to ask questions - where is the key held by Snake Eye?

**Rita:** Heheh, trying to turn the tables now aren’t you, Miss Bronie? You sure are an interesting figure.

**Rita:** Now that you know who I am and what I want, why do you think that I’d willingly give the key to you?

**Bronie:** Well, Heliopolis didn’t exactly hand me their key on a silver platter.

**Rita:** Heheh, you’re right.

**Rita:** Only, Miss Bronie…

**Rita:** You’re just a cute little bunny, after all.

*[CG plays wherein it is revealed that the Rita Bronie was talking to was a holographic projection the whole time:*

***Bronie:** So you are a projection.*

***Rita:** Darling bunny, come to the helipad. I’ll be waiting.*

***Rita:** Before we meet, do your best to stay alive~*]

**Bronie:** Tsk, didn’t think intel dealers were so keen to get their hands dirty.

**Rita:** The feeling’s mutual, Miss Bronie. I thought that hackers were all soft nerds.

The silver figure slowly paced out of the corner.

**Bronie:** Wow, that’s some fancy suit. Heliopolis stuff?

While trying to provoke Rita, Bronie didn’t set her eyes on her.

Instead, she was sweeping the environment - the helipad was open and vacant, but there could still be traps set up for her.

**Rita:** Heheh, put your heart at ease, Miss Bronie. We’re the only ones here.

**Rita:** No ambush, no trap, and no… signal.

**Bronie:** …

**Rita:** Snake Eye is all about gathering and dealing intel, and the first rule of dealing is fairness.

**Rita:** I don’t see why you would turn down a single bout of combat on such open ground, would you, Miss Bronie?

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** No, you don’t have any reason to do this.

**Bronie:** This is not a deal, and you don’t have to play fair to get my key.

**Bronie:** So what’s your purpose, Rita?

**Rita:** Heheh… my purpose? It’s a simple one, Miss Bronie.

**Rita:** The Light Curtain must stay, which is to say, I’d never hand the key to you.

**Rita:** And to remove all risks… I’ll have to retrieve the key in your hand too, Miss Bronie.

The moisture in the air near Rita condensed and turned into an ominous mist.

**Bronie:** Heh, what a coincidence then.

**Bronie:** It just so happens that I’m not turning my key in either. And I will have your key as well.

**Rita:** Heheh, I guess we’ll soon find out if the bunny can escape the snake pit, or whether the snake’s fangs…

**Rita:** Will find the tender bunny’s neck first.

**Rita:** Ah, it appears that… I have lost to you, little bunny.

Rita was cornered at the edge of the helipad, with Bronie’s submachine gun pressed against her chest.

**Bronie:** …

**Rita:** Nicely done, little bunny. The secret to the Light Curtain is now yours.

Rita carefully handed a small glass box to Bronie.

It looked exactly like the one kept under the Heliopolis tower, just what Bronie was looking for.

But she didn’t take it.

**Rita:** What’s wrong, Miss Bronie? You’ve won. Take your spoils.

**Bronie:** No.

**Rita:** Huh?

**Bronie:** I didn’t win this fight. You let me.

**Bronie:** This is just a little play of yours.

**Rita:** …

**Bronie:** What do you really want?

**Rita:** Heheh, Miss Bronie…

**Rita:** I have no ulterior motive.

Rita’s eyes diverted from Bronie to the key in her hand.

**Bronie:** The key?

**Bronie:** Wait, so you were going to give me…

**Rita:** Yes.

**Bronie:** There are things that the Snake Eye leader cannot do, and nor can anyone else in the organisation.

**Bronie:** But I’m not a Snake Eye member, and I don’t belong to any organisation. My hands aren’t tied.

**Rita:** Exactly.

Rita gently pushed Bronie’s submachine gun aside and turned to face the flickering neon lights.

**Rita:** Snake Eye gathers and deals intel. Nothing happens in this city without us knowing.

**Rita:** But Arc City is only so big.

**Rita:** What lies beyond the Light Curtain? No one knows.

**Rita:** Intel on the outside world makes delicious bait for the snakes of Arc City to bite.

**Rita:** And I guess you know which hunter placed this bait, right, Miss Bronie?

**Bronie:** Heliopolis… and perhaps Taixuan too.

**Rita:** Snake Eye keeps one of the keys, but we’re far less powerful than the other two giants.

**Rita:** Biting this bait would bring the end… for both me and the entirety of Snake Eye.

**Rita:** So to enjoy the bait without being trapped, we need some special measures - like you.

**Bronie:** I’d rather think we’re partners in this.

**Bronie:** After all, we’ll both get what we want, no?

**Rita:** Yes, that is correct.

Rita handed the key to Bronie once again.

**Rita:** The best hacker Arc City has ever seen defeated the leader of Snake Eye and took the key.

**Rita:** This… is what went down tonight.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Give me a reason to trust you.

**Rita:** I don’t need to, Miss Bronie.

**Rita:** The key speaks for itself.

**Bronie:** …

**Rita:** The Snake Eye members you defeated will be here soon.

**Rita:** Even I cannot guarantee that there are no rats among them working for the other two organisations.

**Rita:** The story could either be “the bunny took down the Snake Eye leader” or “ the bunny died making a deal with Snake Eye”.

**Rita:** It’s entirely up to you, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** Tsk, dammit…

Bronie forcefully grabbed the key from Rita.

**Bronie:** Snake Eye boss… we’ll have to settle the score on another date, I guess.

**Rita:** Heheh, that’s unnecessary. Fairness is guaranteed when you deal with Snake Eye.

**Rita:** Let’s make it even tonight.

Rita tossed a chip into Bronie’s hand.

**Bronie:** What is this?

**Rita:** Valuable intel for you. I hope it more or less compensates for me keeping you in the dark earlier tonight.

**Bronie:** …

The footsteps were becoming clearer. Bronie knew she had better decide quickly.

**Bronie:** Goodbye. We shall not meet again.

Bronie pulled down her hood and left the helipad in a hurry.

**Rita:** Heheh, dear bunny…

**Rita:** I’d hate to see you become a dish served on the hunter’s dinner table.

**Bronie:** Hey, Theresa, can you hear me?

**Theresa:** Ah, Bronie! You’re back! Comms went offline as soon as you left…

**Bronie:** Yeah, I know. Relax, I’m fine, and I got what I came for.

**Theresa:** Really? Bronie, you’re not kidding, right?

**Bronie:** Come on, just trust me. I’m right as rain.

**Theresa:** But why did it take this long? No, I don’t think you’re telling me the truth.

**Bronie:** I… it’s a long story. Meet me at the usual place in half an hour. I need you to take a look at something for me.

**Theresa:** Okay, see you in a bit.

--

#### Yesterday\_Once\_More

Half an hour after fighting Rita, Bronie’s safe house.

**Bronie:** Hey.

**Theresa:** Took you long enough. Let me check… you got hurt again! And you told me you were alright!

**Bronie:** Come on, just a few scratches… Ouch…

**Theresa:** Hold it right there. I’ll sterilise the cuts and wrap you up.

**Bronie:** Hmm…

**Bronie:** Theresa…

**Theresa:** Huh?

**Bronie:** Somehow, I feel like you’re a lot like Cioara.

**Theresa:** How so?

**Bronie:** You both look after me like a mum… Ouch!

**Theresa:** I’m your big sis!

**Bronie:** Okay big sis, take it easy.

**Theresa:** Humph… so, what do you want me to take a look at?

**Bronie:** All signals are blocked here, right?

**Theresa:** Yeah, it’s been taken care of.

**Bronie:** Here you are then, the Snake Eye key.

**Theresa:** Wow, that’s impressive, Bronie! How did you get it?

**Bronie:** I fought the Snake Eye boss… well no, not exactly.

**Bronie:** More like she staged a play for the whole city to see and I just played along.

**Theresa:** A play?

**Bronie:** It’s… complicated. Just think of the key as the pay for me playing my part tonight.

**Bronie:** A stellar stage play written by Snake Eye, starring the Haxxor Bunny. Coming soon.

**Theresa:** Ugh, give me a break…

**Theresa:** Right, what is it that you want me to take a look at? Aaaaah!

Theresa tripped over a cable on the floor and bumped into the bookshelf. She ended up buried by the falling books.

**Theresa:** Ouch… Bronie, just get rid of your stupid manga! No one reads paper books anymore!

**Theresa:** Sell them to some antique dealers or something. Maybe they’re worth a fortune…

**Bronie:** No, these are my treasures. Cost me a lot of money and time to get them.

**Theresa:** Aren’t the e-books better? Much clearer, and don’t take up any space.

**Bronie:** It feels much better to hold a real book, and besides, some don’t even have an e-version, for example this “Galactic Haxxor”.

**Theresa:** Wait, isn’t this what we used to read when we were kids?

Theresa took the manga volume from Bronie’s hand and started to flip the pages.

**Bronie:** While you read it, I can take a look at the chip Snake Eye gave me.

**Theresa:** Galactic Haxxor… Heheh, we loved saying those classic lines out loud.

**Bronie:** Hmm.

**Theresa:** “Humanity is the world’s biggest bug”. Haha, feels so silly saying it now.

**Bronie:** Hmm.

**Theresa:** I remember this bad guy character… yeah, the Shadow Dancer from a parallel universe, some sort of samurai guy.

**Bronie:** Huh? A samurai from a parallel universe?

**Theresa:** Yeah, I used to love this character! It’s a shame the manga got discontinued and no one ever found out his real identity.

**Bronie:** Hmm… I’m probably just paranoid.

**Theresa:** Huh? What’s wrong, Bronie?

**Bronie:** No, nothing. Good, seems like she at least didn’t put any viruses in the chip.

**Theresa:** You’ve decrypted it? What’s inside?

**Bronie:** See for yourself.

**Theresa:** This is… a surveillance video? This place must be near the Taixuan Gate Tower.

**Bronie:** It’s that ninja! What’s she doing there?!

**Theresa:** Do you know her?

**Bronie:** She was the spoiler of my plan back in Heliopolis’ underground base.

**Bronie:** But she didn’t get the key, so, silver lining. Wait a minute, did she go to Taixuan for…

**Bronie:** Fast forward the video to 5 minutes later, Theresa.

**Theresa:** Ah, she was noticed by the security mecha!

**Bronie:** Pff, this piece of metal is no match for her.

**Theresa:** Wha-What kind of technology is that?! Why would there be arcs of electricity when she wields her weapon?! And do you see how - (text cutoff, can’t see what it says due to the format used)

**Bronie:** It looks more like some kind of superpower than technology.

**Theresa:** Yeah… it seems way too advanced and unreal.

**Theresa:** But it could also be something Heliopolis is developing.

**Bronie:** I don’t think she’s with Heliopolis.

**Theresa:** Hmm?

**Bronie:** Keep watching. Maybe we can find more intel.

**Theresa:** The recording’s over…

**Bronie:** Theresa, what do you think?

**Theresa:** Is this really surveillance footage? Someone must have edited it, right?

**Theresa:** Coming into contact with such a powerful arc of electricity… how come she wasn’t hurt at all, even if her armor was insulated?

**Bronie:** Heh, I’ve seen something even weirder.

**Theresa:** Huh?

**Bronie:** Beneath Heliopolis’ tower, she turned into a bolt of lightning right before my eyes and just… vanished.

**Theresa:** …Bronie, is she some warrior with supernatural abilities?

**Bronie:** Who knows? Maybe she’s the Shadow Dancer from Galactic Haxxor.

**Bronie:** Anyway, should we seek her out? Maybe you’ll even get a signature from your childhood hero.

**Theresa:** We don’t exactly have a choice. She came to Heliopolis, and now Taixuan. She must be after the keys just like us.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You can keep the key for now.

**Bronie:** …Yeah, maybe.

**Bronie:** But anyway, we have to pay Taixuan a visit.

**Bronie:** For the third key, for the mysterious ninja… it can’t be helped. What are you doing, Theresa?

**Theresa:** Disguising myself, of course… Unlike you, I can’t risk being recognised within Taixuan!

**Theresa:** Unless I want a headline the next day that reads “Idol Spotted in Street Brawls”… Whoa, what are you doing, Bronie?

**Bronie:** This was the location in the video.

**Bronie:** Let’s have a look around.

**Theresa:** Wow, that’s some neat work.

**Bronie:** Cut marks with traces of melting…

**Bronie:** Should be her.

**Theresa:** Which is to say, the ninja lady can unleash arcs of electricity that cut through iron like paper, but…

**Bronie:** But this is definitely beyond Arc City’s current tech level.

**Bronie:** Let’s have a look around.

**Theresa:** Have you noticed that all the surveillance cams here are broken?

**Bronie:** Yeah. Seems like they were smashed by some sort of dart. The Snake Eye must’ve made a huge effort to get this video.

**Theresa:** But there’s no darts left on the ground. Did she pick them up afterwards?

**Bronie:** Maybe it was some sort of directed-energy weapon, like a laser gun or something.

**Theresa:** Maybe. Let’s see if we can find more clues.

**Theresa:** How do you think that ninja moves around, Bronie?

**Bronie:** Um, using her feet?

**Theresa:** No… I mean, you saw how high she could reach with just an easy jump in the video.

**Bronie:** Yeah… But I didn’t see the classic flash generated by anti-grav devices.

**Bronie:** Which means she must’ve made those movements with her physical strength.

**Theresa:** But how is that possible? Unless she also has some sort of modification to her legs.

**Bronie:** If that were the case, she would’ve left holes in the ground every time she jumped.

**Theresa:** But there are no holes here…

--

#### Yesterday Once More

**Theresa:** I have this feeling that the more we investigate, the less we’ll know about this ninja.

**Bronie:** But now we can be sure that she isn’t on any side -

**Bronie:** She wouldn’t have had to break into Heliopolis’ place if she was one of them; and the Snake Eye had no reason to put up such a complex play.

**Bronie:** And she’s definitely one of the Taixuan…

**Theresa:** I agree. We would’ve met her long ago if she was.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** Haha, what’s wrong? You thinking of the old days?

**Bronie:** Yeah… Life was a mess back then.

**Theresa:** Really? But it seemed to me that those who had trouble with you had messier lives.

**Theresa:** You remember Moe Greene from that big gang, “Dragon Fang”? The one with an eyepatch and an artificial eye.

**Theresa:** One day, you hacked into his artificial eye and installed a kaleidoscope app to it. Next thing anyone knew, he teetered all the way into the river.

**Bronie:** Humph, served him right. He used to look down on me all the time.

**Theresa:** Then what about that one time with Iron Arm? I remember that it was you who started it.

**Bronie:** Yeah… I had never seen such a cool robot arm at that time, so I took it down just so I could take a closer look…

**Theresa:** And then his gang members were after you for a week.

**Bronie:** Nah, you were back on the fifth day. You saved me from them, remember?

**Theresa:** Huh? Wha-What are you talking about? I-I never did anything like that… I wasn’t like that…

**Bronie:** Hmm? How could you forget? That was how you got your cool nickname, the “Taixuan Imp”! You were such a badass back then…

**Theresa:** Bronie!! YOU SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!!!

**Bronie:** Ahahahahaha… You can drop your idol persona in front of me, Theresa~

**Theresa:** Tha-That’s called the professionalism of an idol!

**Bronie:** Tha-That’s called the professionalism of an idol! Ooh~~

**Theresa:** Bronie!!

**???:** Hey, you two, what’s up?

The two girls turned around and saw an unfriendly gang.

**Taixuan Member:** Don’t tell me you girls don’t know who owns this place.

**Theresa:** Oh no, it’s the Taixuan disciples… We’ve stayed here for too long. Let’s go, Bronie.

**Bronie:** Oh, I’m sorry, I’m just a simple girl who really has no idea who owns this place. Could you tell me?

**Theresa:** Bronie?!

**Taixuan Member:** Well, haven’t you heard of the Taixuan? And our master, Fu Hua? Now that you know, get lost before we…

BAM!

Before the gang member finished talking, Bronie had already strode over to her and kicked her away.

**Bronie:** From what I know, Taixuan people never make small talk before a fight.

**Bronie:** So you guys must be shams.

**Theresa:** Ugh… I knew it! I knew you’d look for trouble here!

**Taixuan Member:** Okay… you asked for this! Everyone, go knock their teeth…

Swoosh!

**Bronie:** You said you didn’t want to fight, and yet you grabbed your weapon~

**Theresa:** Thi-This is muscle memory!

**Bronie:** Oh, so now you remember those old days, huh, Taixuan Imp?

**Theresa:** I said to stop calling me that!

**Bronie:** Why though? It’s cute. I like it.

**Theresa:** Then you can have it. Alright, less talking. Let’s get this over with ASAP - I don’t wanna be seen like this.

**Bronie:** Alright, alright.

**Bronie:** Pff, lame. I thought they’d have lasted longer since they sounded super confident.

**Theresa:** \*sighs\* Bronie, sometimes I really don’t understand you.

**Theresa:** Why couldn’t we just leave? What good would this fight do? What if Big Sister Hua comes for you and…

**Bronie:** Humph, I’ve been expecting her. In fact, I’m going to find her right now.

**Bronie:** Since we’re already here, might as well get something done.

**Theresa:** Then why on Earth did you have to fight them?! Why did you just ask them to take us to Big Sister Hua?

**Theresa:** Now we don’t get to see her, and we’ve made enemies. Way to make things easier, ugh!

**Bronie:** Haha, relax. She’s not that petty.

**Bronie:** If anything, she’d probably thank us for disciplining some bad-mannered disciples for her.

**Theresa:** But do we have to do it tonight? We just came back from the Snake Eye…

**Bronie:** Which is exactly why we have to get Taixuan’s key tonight.

**Bronie:** Heliopolis will find out about the fake key eventually. As for the Snake Eye… I still don’t know what that woman really wants.

**Bronie:** And that mysterious ninja… I think I kinda know where she came from, but I still have no clue when and where she’ll appear.

**Theresa:** Really? Which gang is she in?

**Bronie:** Nah. She’s from the other side of the Light Curtain.

**Bronie:** Like that Shadow Dancer from Galactic Haxxor - she’s also from a parallel universe, and has unimaginable powers…

**Theresa:** What are you talking about, Bronie? Look up there - the Light Curtain is still on, good as new.

**Bronie:** So what? The Light Curtain sure uses technology ahead of OUR time.

**Bronie:** We don’t know how it works and have to use the three keys to unlock its core to disable it.

**Bronie:** But that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know it either. She probably knows some method to go through it.

**Theresa:** But it doesn’t make sense - why would she be looking for the keys if she really was from outside the Light Curtain?

**Theresa:** Wouldn’t she know how to leave if she could get in?

**Bronie:** This is where it doesn’t add up.

**Bronie:** But if my guess is right, we’ll soon meet someone from the other side of the Light Curtain! Isn’t this exciting?

**Theresa:** I suppose… It’d be like the Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

**Bronie:** Nuh-uh, that’s aliens…

**Taixuan Member:** It’s them! They beat me up!

**Theresa:** Oof, can’t believe she actually returned with backup.

**Bronie:** Hahaha, this is too embarrassing to watch. I don’t remember Taixuan having such a tradition.

**Theresa:** Big Sister Hua wouldn’t like this… She’d probably discipline them harshly.

Theresa looked back at the ancient tower not far away - it was where the Taixuan assembly hall was located, and where the Taixuan master lived.

**Bronie:** Haha, then we’ll save her the trouble. This can be our greeting gift to her.

--

#### Sit Down and Have Tea

In the Taixuan tower.

*[CG plays wherein Bronie enters and greets Fu Hua:*

***Bronie:** Yo! Long time no see!*]

**Fu Hua:** No wonder there was a loud noise outside.

**Theresa:** He-Hello, Big Sister Hua, I-I’m back.

**Fu Hua:** Take a seat, Theresa.

**Fu Hua:** You too, Bronie.

**Bronie:** …

The tension in the air silenced the two girls - they couldn’t make any sound after they sat down.

**Fu Hua:** Tea for our guests, please.

Two teacups made of blue and white porcelain were served soundlessly.

**Fu Hua:** Have a try. You might still remember this flavor.

**Theresa:** Than-Thank you, Big Sister Hua.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** I’m not here to have a tea party with you.

**Fu Hua:** I know. We’ll talk after you finish the tea.

**Bronie:** I…

**Fu Hua:** Don’t waste my good tea.

Fu Hua gently patted the little animal in her arm as she spoke, keeping her perfect composure.

After moments of silence, Bronie grabbed the cup next to her and drank it up.

**Bronie:** Phew…

**Fu Hua:** That’s not how you drink tea, Bronie.

**Fu Hua:** More tea, please.

Another cup of tea was soon served quietly as the old teacup was taken away.

**Fu Hua:** Try again. Drink it the way I taught you.

**Bronie:** …

Bronie stared at the tea for a while, remaining silent.

**Bronie:** I’m not here to have tea with you.

**Fu Hua:** I know. You’re here for the key.

**Fu Hua:** We’ll talk after you finish your tea.

After another long silence, Bronie grabbed the cup of tea, which was still warm, and took a sip.

**Fu Hua:** Okay, tea time is over. Go back.

**Bronie:** What?

**Fu Hua:** The key belongs to Taixuan. You have nothing to do with it.

**Bronie:** But I…

**Fu Hua:** You’re not one of us.

**Fu Hua:** Taixuan never had the tradition of giving alms.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** Big Sister Hua, Bronie just…

**Bronie:** I don’t need your charity.

**Theresa:** Bronie!

**Bronie:** You’re right - Taixuan never had the tradition of giving alms.

**Bronie:** This is Taixuan’s territory, so let’s do things your way -

**Bronie:** The Death Arena, you and me. A wish for the winner, death for the loser - Just like how you do things here.

**Fu Hua:** …

**Fu Hua:** It’s been eight years since the last Death Arena, where she took you away.

**Bronie:** …

**Fu Hua:** Eight years, Bronie. How time flies.

**Fu Hua:** It’s been eight years, and you haven’t changed a bit.

**Bronie:** No, I’ve changed.

**Bronie:** And I will defeat you.

Bronie stood up and looked into Fu Hua’s eyes.

**Fu Hua:** …

After a long time, Fu Hua finally closed her eyes and sighed softly.

**Fu Hua:** Actually, you’ll be fighting someone else.

**Bronie:** What?!

**Fu Hua:** Come with me, Bronie.

**Fu Hua:** She’s been waiting for you.

**Fu Hua:** The Death Arena grants the winner a wish, and death to the loser.

**Fu Hua:** I hope you don’t disappoint me, Bronie.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Where is my opponent?

**Fu Hua:** I told you, Bronie -

**Fu Hua:** She’s been waiting for you.

The arena in front of the tower suddenly lit up.

A tall and slim figure in an ebony battlesuit came into Bronie’s sight.

**Bronie:** …!

**Bronie:** Why…

She teetered a few steps back and turned to look at Fu Hua, shocked.

She knew who the dark figure on the stage was, but she wished she didn’t know.

**Bronie:** Why are you here…

Bronie hesitated. She didn’t know how she should address the person awaiting her -

Should she use the name by which she called that person during chitchat, arguments, and her daily life…

Or the name which she wished she could forget?

**Fu Hua:** Your opponent, Raven.

**Bronie:** Why… Why her?!

**Bronie:** The Master of Taixuan I know would never pull such a dirty move! Or chicken out of a fight!

**Bronie:** If you wanna stop me from getting the key, do it yourself! Don’t you dare play this card…

**Fu Hua:** Calm down, Bronie. Don’t be a hothead.

**Bronie:** Answer my question.

**Fu Hua:** Because she and I share a common interest, that’s all.

**Bronie:** What?

**Raven:** She wants to keep your hands off the key, and I don’t want you to leave.

**Raven:** And you’ll know the rest after you kill me.

**Fu Hua:** You’ve said too many unnecessary words, Raven.

**Fu Hua:** I’ve already paid you properly. So do your job properly.

**Bronie:** …Job?

**Bronie:** You can put on this battlesuit and pretend all you want, Cioara.

**Bronie:** But you’re not “Raven” anymore.

**Raven:** Humph, so what?

**Raven:** This is enough to deal with a brat who’s done nothing but make trouble for others in the past eight years.

**Bronie:** No… I’ve changed, and grown.

**Raven:** Then prove it to me, brat.

Meanwhile, Fu Hua sent away all the curious disciples, and quietly watched the two in the arena, holding a cup of tea in her hand.

She saw Cioara waving her scarlet claws, and Bronie raising her gun with some hesitation.

Which reminded her of what happened eight years ago.

The only difference was that Bronie was the one who “started” it.

One day, eight years ago. Fu Hua was enjoying her tea on the tower while keeping track of everything happening around, as usual.

Just then, a disciple came to report that Bronie, the biggest troublemaker of Taixuan, had intercepted a mercenary.

Which gave Fu Hua a rare headache.

“Do the exact amount of work as the payment” - the only rule that the mercenaries in Arc City followed.

Which was why she tended to turn a blind eye to their business as long as it wouldn’t affect Taixuan.

After all, she might have to use their services someday when she’d prefer to keep her hands clean.

But what Bronie did breached this unwritten rule.

Fu Hua rubbed her forehead for a really long time, but eventually didn’t have anyone stop Bronie.

Raven, one of the top mercenaries in Arc City, mysterious and traceless. Yet she was stopped by a little girl.

Of course, Fu Hua was well aware of the reason behind it.

But she could not figure out what exactly she was expecting.

She could only feel that the tea in her cup suddenly tasted like the first brew, though it was already the third.

And she had the same feeling at the moment.

**Raven:** It’s over, Bronie.

--

#### “Raven”

**Bronie:** Ugh…

**Raven:** You lost.

**Raven:** Come back with me. I can pretend that nothing ever happened.

**Bronie:** You’ve still got it, Cioara.

**Raven:** Of course.

**Bronie:** Raven’s is just a camouflage. You never really wanted to run a bar.

**Bronie:** You were a mercenary all along, weren’t you?

**Raven:** Yeah. So what?

**Bronie:** Nothing. I just feel like we’re so much alike.

**Bronie:** We both crave excitement and adventures.

**Raven:** That’s not the problem.

**Raven:** You can look for excitement and adventure in this city.

**Raven:** You’re free to leave Raven’s, or stay, whichever you feel like.

**Bronie:** As long as I stay in this giant cage wrapped in the Light Curtain, right?

**Raven:** …

**Bronie:** But this city is like another Taixuan to me…

**Bronie:** You should understand, Cioara. You used to understand…

**Raven:** It’s over, brat.

**Bronie:** Ugh…

**Raven:** No more pointless struggle, kid.

**Raven:** You lost the bet. I won’t take you away.

**Bronie:** Wait…

**Raven:** Out of my way, or you’ll get more than just some butt-kicking.

**Bronie:** You can go anywhere you want, right, mercenary lady?

**Raven:** What?

**Bronie:** I saw it… No one came to stop you when you entered Taixuan’s territory.

**Raven:** So?

**Bronie:** In Taixuan, we have a rule that all the disciples cannot leave Taixuan’s territory.

**Raven:** Yeah, I’ve heard of it.

**Bronie:** But I wanna leave here. I wanna see the world outside, meet more awesome people, and have more adventures.

**Raven:** You had your chance, kid. But you lost.

**Bronie:** Then give me another chance.

**Raven:** Pff. Mercenaries’ lives rely on money, you know?

**Raven:** As a mercenary, if I bail on money, I bail on my own life.

**Raven:** Besides, I didn’t wanna get involved in Taixuan’s business in the first place.

**Bronie:** I can give you money.

**Raven:** Huh?

**Bronie:** I can pay you! I hire you to work for me!

**Bronie:** If I don’t have enough to pay you… I can be a mercenary too! As long as you take me away!

**Raven:** …

**Raven:** Ha, you sure use a lot of big words for a little brat.

**Bronie:** …

**Raven:** You can leave Taixuan now, brat.

**Raven:** Don’t forget to pay me later.

**Bronie:** Your arm…

**Raven:** Eh, it’s nothing. Just a fracture.

**Raven:** The name’s Bronie, right? Don’t cry. You look better with your aggressive face.

**Bronie:** I-I didn’t know…

**Bronie:** I didn’t know that taking me away meant you had to challenge the Master in the Death Arena…

**Raven:** Haha… Don’t worry about it. I chose to take on this mission without a thorough investigation.

**Raven:** I won’t blame my own carelessness on you.

**Raven:** Oh, I almost forgot about this -

**Raven:** Fighting in the Death Arena is an extra mission. I should’ve charged more before I agreed to do it.

**Raven:** Darn it… I made a huge loss on this deal.

**Bronie:** I-I’ll pay you! I can… I can work for you…!

**Raven:** Heheh… Alright then, brat.

**Raven:** After we get outta here, we open a little bar.

**Raven:** I’ll be the boss, and you’ll be a waitress. And you can pay me back with your salary.

**Bronie:** Yeah, I can do that…! Let’s do that…

**Raven:** Aw, why are you still crying, brat?

**Raven:** Your wish has come true now, cheer up…

*[CG plays wherein the scene returns to the present, with Bronie turning the tides on Cioara:*

***Raven:** You’ll never get the chance to leave Arc City, Bronie.*

***Bronie:** Huh…*

***Bronie:** Guess we both thought of the past.*

***Bronie:** Only this time…*

***Bronie:** Goodbye, Cioara.*]

**Theresa:** Cioara!

**Theresa:** Stop it, Bronie!

But Bronie’s drones didn’t show any signs of a ceasefire.

Theresa tried to dash onto the arena but was stopped by the overwhelming smoke and dust from the barrage.

She helplessly buried her face in her hands and wept.

**Theresa:** Bronie… stop…

**Theresa:** …

**Bronie:** I hope you enjoyed this.

As the smoke and dust cleared, all sounds disappeared.

**Theresa:** Cioara!

Theresa darted to Cioara and held her in her arms, noticing that she was still breathing.

**Bronie:** She’s fine. Just unconscious.

**Theresa:** Huh?

**Bronie:** The first shot on her neck only contained anesthetic drugs.

**Theresa:** Phew… You two scared the hell out of me!

**Theresa:** Wait a minute… but your Trackers kept shooting after that!

The ground near Cioara had been completely shattered, but she didn’t get hurt in her protective battlesuit.

A clear demonstration of Bronie’s precise shot.

**Bronie:** Because I’m upset.

**Theresa:** …So you just threw a huge tantrum like that?! Are you a baby?!

Bronie’s mouth twitched, but she did not deny it.

**Theresa:** I don’t get it… Why can’t you two just have a normal talk?

**Theresa:** You and Cioara obviously care about each other more than anything in the world. But why…

**Bronie:** All that needs to be said has already been said.

**Theresa:** Huh?

**Theresa:** But you two were just fighting…

**Fu Hua:** They have their own ways of communication. Just not in words.

**Bronie:** Humph, I knew Cioara would try to stop me from leaving Arc City.

**Bronie:** But I didn’t expect that she would go so far as to come to Taixuan and join hands with her old enemy…

**Fu Hua:** Heh. Actually, we’re more like old friends, rather than enemies.

**Fu Hua:** Maybe she came to me because she knew she couldn’t stop you, but was still worried about you.

**Fu Hua:** She knew you’d come here for the key, and she knew you’d come tonight.

**Bronie:** But you have no reason to help her - it won’t do you or Taixuan any good.

**Fu Hua:** That might be true. But Cioara convinced me.

**Bronie:** What?!

**Fu Hua:** She suggested that we take the chance.

**Bronie:** What does that mean?

**Fu Hua:** Do you know why Theresa succeeded as an idol?

**Theresa:** Huh? Me?

**Bronie:** Well… She’s cute, adorable, and good at singing and dancing…

**Theresa:** Bronie…!

**Fu Hua:** Those are true, but also the wrong answer.

**Fu Hua:** She became an idol because of you, Bronie.

**Bronie:** Huh?

**Theresa:** …

**Fu Hua:** Do you still remember what Taixuan used to be like?

**Fu Hua:** Orphans, rogues, vagrants… The low life of Arc City made up the great majority of Taixuan.

**Fu Hua:** At that time, they were hardly “humans” in the eyes of most people in this city.

**Bronie:** Humph, as if now is any different.

**Fu Hua:** Which was why I formed Taixuan, and set countless strict rules.

**Fu Hua:** So that they could finally live as humans, though only within this area sealed by the rules.

**Fu Hua:** I was sure about this, until the day she took you away eight years ago.

**Fu Hua:** Then she raised you to be one of the best hackers in Arc City.

**Bronie:** A little correction here - I am THE BEST hacker in Arc City.

**Fu Hua:** Heheh, okay then, the best hacker.

**Fu Hua:** After you left, more people started to wonder if they could also leave Taixuan and see the world, like what you did.

**Fu Hua:** I had some hesitation at first. But eventually, I abolished the rule that all Taixuan disciples must stay within Taixuan’s territory.

**Fu Hua:** Because there might be more Bronies among them. And I cannot just deprive them of so many possibilities.

**Bronie:** Ha, looks like I made a lot of trouble for you even after I left.

**Fu Hua:** Cioara convinced me with the same reasoning.

**Fu Hua:** This Arc City under the Light Curtain is just like the old Taixuan confined by rules.

**Fu Hua:** You were the key that unlocked Taixuan, and now you could be the key that unlocks this city.

**Bronie:** Pff, I’m not interested in being a pioneer.

**Fu Hua:** But you can be.

**Bronie:** …

**Fu Hua:** And of course, this was Cioara’s idea, and the point that she used to convince me.

**Fu Hua:** Forgive her for doing this, Bronie. Many things were weighing on her. It wasn’t easy for her to be upfront with you.

**Bronie:** I know.

Looking at Cioara’s pale, haggard face, Bronie smiled wistfully.

**Bronie:** This is not how the Raven should look…

She bent down and gently carried Cioara, who was still unconscious.

**Bronie:** Big Sister Hua, about that key…

**Fu Hua:** No need to call me that, Bronie. You don’t belong to Taixuan anymore.

**Fu Hua:** And as I’ve said, I’ve already paid her properly.

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** Huh, I see…

Bronie shook her head, and cast a rare soft glance at Cioara.

**Bronie:** Let’s go, Theresa.

**Bronie:** To our home - Raven’s, with Cioara.

--

#### Final\_Stage

About 30 minutes later, outside Raven’s.

Theresa was leaning on the cold wall of the bar, gazing blankly at the Light Curtain above Arc City, lost in thought.

Just then, Bronie opened the door and came out.

**Theresa:** How is Cioara…?

**Bronie:** Still asleep. The anesthetic already wore off, but I think she’s just exhausted. Let her sleep some more.

**Theresa:** …

**Theresa:** What about you? You’re just gonna leave like this?

**Bronie:** …Yeah.

**Bronie:** With the data hidden in the three keys, I already located the core of the Light Curtain.

**Bronie:** Next, I only need to bring the three keys there, so I can…

**Theresa:** Bronie.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** You knew the Snake Eye would come for you tonight, didn’t you?

**Theresa:** I-I can’t believe you just tricked Helioplois like that! Bronie!

**Bronie:** What? I took their stuff right from under their noses, why would tricking them be any harder?

**Bronie:** Humph, save it. You think I don’t know that it took a high-performance receiver to do that little trick?

**Theresa:** You knew they were monitoring you, and you spilled the beans on purpose.

**Bronie:** Uh-huh.

**Bronie:** The Snake Eye sold me intel about Heliopolis, so they must’ve figured out that my target was the key.

**Bronie:** So, after Heliopolis released me, I just needed to put down a tiny little bait made of intel about the key…

**Bronie:** Then the Snake Eye would come at me in no time for Heliopolis’ key.

**Bronie:** Which is exactly what I wanted them to do, so that I could get my hands on their key as well.

**Theresa:** So… you had it all planned out back then.

**Theresa:** Which was why you asked me to look after Raven’s for you tomorrow -

**Theresa:** You weren’t really asking me to cover for your shift, you wanted me to look after her for you after you left.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** \*sighs\* I should’ve figured this out earlier…

**Bronie:** I…

**Bronie:** I’m sorry, Theresa.

**Theresa:** You don’t need to apologise to me, Bronie. I don’t blame you.

**Theresa:** It just suddenly occurs to me that you’ve grown into someone so far away…

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** Just like the stars in the sky… I can see them with my eyes, but I also know that they’re light years away…

Theresa raised her hand and tried to reach the stars, knowing it was just a vain attempt.

**Theresa:** I know that they’re high above the Light Curtain, and I know that I could never reach any of them.

**Bronie:** Which is why…

Bronie turned around and grabbed Theresa’s hand that was hanging in the air.

**Bronie:** We need to soar into the sky first to make the impossible possible.

**Theresa:** No… not us, just you, Bronie. You’re the only one about to reach the starry sky.

**Bronie:** …

**Theresa:** To be honest, Bronie, I’m scared.

**Theresa:** I’m not scared of all the possible danger out there, but, what if there are actually no stars above that Curtain…

**Bronie:** Theresa…

**Theresa:** Heheh, I know, I’m such a coward. We’ve already gone this far, and I just realised that I’m not ready.

Before her tear rolled down her face, she suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around her.

**Bronie:** It’s okay, Theresa… It’s okay.

**Theresa:** Bronie… can you promise me one thing?

**Theresa:** Go and take a glance at the stars out there for me, will you?

**Bronie:** I will.

**Bronie:** I will explore the world outside, and take you to see the stars.

**Theresa:** Ha, sounds good. Let’s make a pinky promise then, Bronie.

**Bronie:** Sure…

**Theresa:** I’ll take care of Cioara and Raven’s for you, until…

**Cioara:** \*Coughs\*

'*Bronie & **Theresa:'*** Aaaahhhhh!!

**Bronie:** Whe-When did you wake up?

**Cioara:** About two minutes ago, when you two were talking about stars and stuff.

**Bronie:** So-So you basically heard everything?!

**Cioara:** I guess.

**Bronie:** Aaaahhhhh… This is so embarrassing… Why didn’t you tell us when you woke up? It’s so not cool to eavesdrop!

**Cioara:** I just didn’t expect for you to say something like that, brat.

**Bronie:** I… Humph!

**Theresa:** Haha, heehee…

**Bronie:** What’s so funny?! She also heard what you said!

**Theresa:** Haha, I just never thought that the first heart-to-heart talk you’d ever have with Cioara would happen this way…

**Bronie:** Ugh… I wanna crawl into a hole and never come out.

**Cioara:** I don’t think you can find the Light Curtain’s core in a hole, brat.

**Bronie:** …

**Cioara:** You know what you wanna do, and you know what you should do.

**Bronie:** Yeah.

**Cioara:** Then just do it. Don’t worry about me - I’m much stronger than you can imagine.

**Theresa:** Yeah, just go, Bronie. I’ll take good care of Cioara and Raven’s for you.

**Cioara:** Hey, I said that I’m strong enough to…

**Bronie:** Cioara, Theresa…

Bronie raised her head and cast a final glance at the timeworn sign that said “Raven’s”.

**Bronie:** Goodbye.

She pulled up her hood, hiding her face underneath the shadow.

Then she turned around and headed towards the flashing neon lights of Arc City.

*[CG plays wherein Cioara bids Bronie a final farewell, with Bronie returning it with a simple thumbs up:*

***Cioara:** Hey, kid!*

***Cioara:** Be careful out there.*

***Cioara:** Don’t die…*]

40 minutes later. Arc City Northern District. Somewhere underground.

**Machine Voice:** Key SCA-001 verified. The passage to the central room is opening in 10 seconds.

**Bronie:** Hiding the core in this hole… I’d have never found it without these keys.

**Machine Voice:** The passage is about to open. Please insert SCA-002 for 2-step verification.

Bronie inserted the other key she obtained from Snake Eye into the lab’s control system.

**Machine Voice:** Key SCA-002 verified. Safety doors 1, 2 and 3 unlocked. Passage opened.

The heavy gates removed themselves one by one, revealing a seemingly endless passage.

Bronie knew that the end of this adventure and the core of the Light Curtain was in front of her.

**Bronie:** I can do this.

**Bronie:** So this is the core…

**Bronie:** It’s this little shard that’s been trapping the entire city for so long… Humph, ridiculous.

**Machine Voice:** Key SCA-003 verified. Core container opened.

**Machine Voice:** Warning! Command of disabling Light Curtain core not yet received. Do not perform any action. Warning! Command…

At last! The hidden treasure was in Bronie’s view - it was a palm-sized crystal suspended in blinding blue light.

**Bronie:** So this is it…

Bronie cut off the terminal’s connection, danced over the console, and reached out to the core of the Light Curtain.

But she was in no hurry to take it.

**Bronie:** I’m taking the core! You’d better show up now!

Bronie turned around calmly and looked up at the room entrance.

The one she was expecting was watching her right there.

**Bronie:** Yo, long time no see, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Long time no see, hacker.

**Bronie:** Did I mishear you or what? Why are you greeting me like an old friend? Are we that close?

**Bronie:** Did you forget about the mess you pulled me into last time?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** That was an accident.

**Bronie:** Ha! Accident… Then losing the core you went out of your way to get to me is just another accident, right?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Wait, someone’s coming.

**Bronie:** What? You wanna stop me again?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** No, hacker. We have no reason to clash.

**Bronie:** What?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Haxxor Bunny Bronie. Your goal is not the core, but the Light Curtain enveloping Arc City. You want to unplug it.

**Bronie:** Humph, you did your homework… So what?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Then the core is worthless to you.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** This facility is a device designed to amplify and diffuse the energy inside the core.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Without the core to sustain it, the Light Curtain will soon vanish.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Whereby your goal will be achieved. You have no use for the core.

**Bronie:** I knew it… You’ve had your eyes on the core from the very beginning.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** It is what I came for.

**Bronie:** I’ll tell you what, ninja…

**Bronie:** You’re just way too naive if you think you can always get what you want!

**The Mysterious Ninja:** What?

**Bronie:** Come on… This core almost cost me an arm and a leg, literally! Why should I hand it to you for free?

**Bronie:** If you want this core so bad… It must have uses other than generating the Light Curtain, right?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** That is none of your business, hacker.

**Bronie:** Heh, that isn’t your call, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Then I have no choice but to resort to violence.

**Bronie:** I ain’t scared, ninja.

**Bronie:** Time to settle our unfinished business from Heliopolis’ underground!

**Bronie:** Phew… Your ability to release electricity is insane, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Same to you, hacker.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** I cannot fathom how you can make firearms and drones appear out of thin air.

**Bronie:** Can’t help you out there, since I was born with it…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …This fight is meaningless, hacker. We should stop.

**Bronie:** Tsk, don’t act like you’ve already won! Trackers!

Several Trackers emerged in a blink and pointed their guns at the ninja’s face.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** I won’t fall for the same trick…

**Bronie:** You can say that again, ninja…

**Machine Voice:** Trackers, initiate self-destruct mode -

**The Mysterious Ninja:** What?!

**Bronie:** Surprise, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Ugh… Where am I?

**Bronie:** The game’s over, ninja. The core is mine.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You do not know what you are toying with, hacker.

**Bronie:** Relax, I’ll find out sooner or later.

**Bronie:** And I believe you have other things to worry about~

**Bronie:** Trackers~

Bronie snapped her fingers and the Trackers began pouring firepower into the device that secured the core. Explosions and sirens almost broke out at the same time.

**Machine Voice:** Warning! Light Curtain control room intruded. Warning! Light Curtain control room intruded…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …You!

**Bronie:** Have a lovely time with the Heliopolis hyenas, ninja. Bye~

The hacker got up and faded into the unlit escape route with the core.

--

#### Farewell, Arc City

15 minutes later. Arc City. H-03 Elevated Highway.

**News Broadcast:** Arc Express brings you the latest news.

**News Broadcast:** From what we perceive, the Light Curtain protecting Arc City has vanished, leaving the citizens in disarray.

**News Broadcast:** The incident has attracted a large crowd, resulting in a traffic congestion at the city center, which is unlikely to be relieved any time soon…

**Citizen:** What’s happening at Heliopolis?! Why did the Light Curtain disappear?!

**Citizen:** The Light Curtain… the wall protecting us is gone! The monsters are coming in! We’re screwed!

**Citizen:** What monsters? Heliopolis created the Light Curtain to confine us in this city, so that they can suck us dry!

**Citizen:** Yeah! Now we can finally leave this dump! We’re never feeding the Heliopolis machine again!

**Citizen:** Never thought I’d live long enough to see the Light Curtain go… I don’t know who did it, but I’m thankful.

**Citizen:** I don’t know where to go if I leave Arc City… But I want to go out… I want to see what’s outside!

**Citizen:** …

Arc Express, V-Live… The disappearance of the Light Curtain made the headlines of every media and community of Arc City.

Confusion, fear, agitation, anticipation… A sea of sounds flooded in and drowned everything that came before.

And more waves of sounds soon followed.

The first wave, the one who ignited these changes, rode her motorcycle along an elevated highway leading out of the city unmoved.

She listened to the sound of the waves. But now she preferred the sound of winds whistling by, and the most familiar voice to her.

**Bronie:** Ha…

**Bronie:** I knew I couldn’t just leave without calling her.

She turned off the live news on the screen, and switched to the line that was the most familiar to her.

**Bronie:** Yo, Cioara, this is Bronie.

**Cioara:** I know. What is it?

**Bronie:** I already disabled the Light Curtain.

**Cioara:** I know. Theresa and I both saw it.

**Cioara:** Good job, brat.

**Bronie:** …

**Cioara:** Hmm? What’s wrong?

**Bronie:** Nothing. It’s just that I’m not used to you praising me. Wait a second, is this the first time you’ve ever praised me?

**Cioara:** No, it’s the second time.

**Cioara:** On the day we first opened Raven’s, I said that you looked good in your waitress uniform.

**Bronie:** Is this why you’ve been ordering the same kind of work clothes for me all these years even when I grew taller?!

**Cioara:** Yeah, you look really good in that uniform.

**Bronie:** Huh… Fine, this counts as the third time then.

**Bronie:** Can’t believe this… I lived with you for eight years, and you only praised me three times, two of which happened when I’m leaving.

**Cioara:** That’s on you, brat. You should’ve done a better job in the bar.

**Bronie:** …

Bronie wanted to talk back to Cioara, but she didn’t open her mouth.

**Bronie:** Alright, I’m getting close to the edge of Arc City. I’ll call you after I get out.

**Cioara:** Okay. Go for it, brat.

**Cioara:** And try not to get yourself killed.

**Theresa:** Goodbye, Bronie.

**Bronie:** Goodbye, Cioara and Theresa.

…

**Bronie:** Hoo…

**Bronie:** Farewell, Arc City.

*[CG plays wherein Bronya rides her bike into a tunnel, heading towards the exit to Arc City.*]

--

#### Before the Departure

**Broadcast:** The cause of this accident has been identified and two suspects have been found. Heliopolis is searching for them citywide.

**Broadcast:** Please stay home until the order is lifted. If you see any suspicious individuals, please report to Heliopolis at once. We offer a generous reward…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** She’s wanted in the city just like me, so she won’t be returning to its center.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Given her aim… She has most likely left Arc City from the northern exit.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You cannot escape, hacker.

Humming electricity suddenly engulfed the ninja. She bolted across the highway towards the outskirts like a streak of lightning.

*[CG plays wherein Bronie sits waiting for the ninja:*

***Bronie:** Yo, you’re pretty quick…*

***Bronie:** …Ninja.*]

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Why are you waiting for me here, hacker?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You do not have any reason to do so.

**Bronie:** Reason, eh…

Bronie tossed and caught the core a few times breaking into a purposeful smile.

**Bronie:** The reason is… I suddenly felt that you could have it.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You should have.

The ninja reached out to Bronie, but Bronie did not let the core go.

**Bronie:** Don’t you listen to what people say? It has a price.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** What do you want?

**Bronie:** I want to make a deal, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** A deal?

**Bronie:** Yes, a deal, a fair trade. But I gotta make sure you have what I want.

**Bronie:** Ninja… You’re an outsider just like this thing, aren’t you?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

**The Mysterious Ninja:** How did you know?

**Bronie:** There were too many clues.

**Bronie:** I’ve fought you twice, and I can confirm that your body’s never been modded. You’re pure meat.

**Bronie:** But the skills you’ve demonstrated are beyond the capacity of humans without mods.

**Bronie:** You’re super tough, and Arc City ought to know your name. But it doesn’t. Not to mention anything about you.

**Bronie:** In other words, you don’t belong here.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

**Bronie:** Regarding your target, which is the energy core for the Light Curtain…

Bronie raised the core to her eyes and squinted.

**Bronie:** You said something interesting in the central control room.

**Bronie:** You said that the facility was a device designed to amplify and diffuse the energy inside this core.

**Bronie:** But haven’t you noticed something weird -

**Bronie:** If it can power a beast like the Light Curtain, why can’t I feel anything when holding it?

**Bronie:** As if… the energy isn’t stored inside directly.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

**Bronie:** You and me… We have a lot in common, don’t we?

**Bronie:** You can manipulate ghastly lightning, while I can project these firearms and drones… None of which belong here.

**Bronie:** You, me, and this core… It’s like… we all borrowed something from another world.

**Bronie:** But you can go one step further - you can transmit yourself from the other world to this world, correct?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Is the answer to this question your only want, hacker?

**Bronie:** Not exactly.

**Bronie:** I can give you the core of the Light Curtain.

**Bronie:** But in exchange, take me to your world, ninja.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** My… world?

**Bronie:** I just achieved my previous goal of breaking out of the Light Curtain.

**Bronie:** But honestly… I’m rather disappointed by the nothingness beyond Arc CIty.

**Bronie:** This place is like the edge of the world… Boundless but empty.

**Bronie:** Such barren lands would excite the old me for days… But things have changed.

**Bronie:** Cause I’ve found a new goal. That’s you, ninja.

**Bronie:** I wanna go to your world - the other world!

**The Mysterious Ninja:** No way.

**Bronie:** Huh? Why?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Because I cannot.

**Bronie:** You can’t? Oh come on! You only bought a one-way ticket or something? Next time learn the whole trick!

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …I know how to return, but I cannot take you with me.

**Bronie:** I see. So… no deal?

The core crackled gratingly in her tightening grip.

**Bronie:** What should I do? It’s dangerous to bring something so questionable. If you don’t want it, I’d better destroy it.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …

Two Trackers appeared beside Bronie, their infrared sensors locking onto the core in her hand.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Bluffing is futile, hacker.

**Bronie:** You think I’m just bluffing?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You will not destroy it, because you are still interested in it.

**Bronie:** Not exactly. I’m more curious about how contorted your face will become when I break it.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** My face will not change, because you cannot bring yourself to do it.

**Bronie:** Oh really? Then how about we find out now?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Suit yourself.

The ninja stepped back, but her gaze was still fixed on the hacker.

She waited in silence.

**Bronie:** …Tsk! Boring!

Bronie finally dropped the hand holding the core, and the drones disappeared into the night.

**Bronie:** I guess you’re right, I do wanna study this thing. Besides, breaking it would only cause me trouble.

**Bronie:** Alright, I’m leaving. Dunno if we’ll meet again. Bye~

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Wait, hacker.

**Bronie:** Ugh. What? You wanna mug me? I don’t mind blowing you up again…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** I cannot take you with me, but I can teach you how to leave.

**Bronie:** Then why the heck didn’t you just tell me earlier? Do you think it’s fun to jerk me around? Huh?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You did not inquire about the method of leaving this world.

**Bronie:** I…

**The Mysterious Ninja:** And it is not a safe bet. You could fail. You could die.

**Bronie:** …What does that mean?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** The place you will visit is not a world outside this world, but a slit between worlds.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** You will have no more control over your future than a petal drifting in the sea.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** As for whether you can reach the other side… That depends on your luck, hacker.

**Bronie:** I didn’t know you were so poetic.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** …Someone taught me that.

**Bronie:** As scary as you make it sound… If you can survive over there, I can do it too.

**Bronie:** Besides, an adventure without risk isn’t thrilling at all.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Do not blame me when you regret it.

**Bronie:** Regret?

The hacker waved with a smirk, as if chasing away a lame joke coming her way.

**Bronie:** Heh… I only regret not taking chances.

Bronie lightly tossed the core to the ninja.

**Bronie:** Now, tell me about that method of leaving this world.

Several hours later, before daybreak. Arc City.

**The Mysterious Ninja:** This concludes my report of the mission.

**???:** A job well done, Kasumi.

**Yae Kasumi:** …

**???:** Is there something on your mind?

**Yae Kasumi:** Yes.

**Yae Kasumi:** I cannot see why you changed the plans halfway through.

**???:** Because she is special.

**???:** You may have noticed what the essence of her power is.

**Yae Kasumi:** I have.

**???:** She has the “key”. But she does not know that somewhere, there’s a door beckoning to her.

**???:** She only needs a little push in the right direction.

**Yae Kasumi:** Seems rather unnecessary.

**Yae Kasumi:** Instead of maneuvering her, there are more direct ways to accomplish your goal.

**???:** Kasumi… Linear thinking is seldom the best solution.

**???:** In this case, a detour… could be the nearest way home.

**Yae Kasumi:** …I cannot fathom, but I believe you make the right decisions.

**???:** No, Kasumi, I make mistakes. We all do.

**???:** I have made many mistakes… I need you to stop me from making bigger mistakes.

**Yae Kasumi:** …I hope the day when I must point my blade at you never comes.

**???:** I hope so too.

**???:** All in all, another seed to the future has been planted.

**???:** Bronie believes without question that she broke free from this world of her own free will.

**???:** And we successfully retrieved the Ether Anchor in this bubble universe. A happy ending well worth remembering.

**Yae Kasumi:** It’s just a mission to me.

**Yae Kasumi:** I only wish to know what my next mission is.

**???:** …I’d like you to aid Delta in her next mission.

**???:** I will send you the Anchor’s coordinates shortly. Rendezvous with her once you are ready.

**Yae Kasumi:** …I fear I cannot aid Delta in any way.

**Yae Kasumi:** Her fighting style is ill-suited for teamwork, and her strength is far beyond mine…

**???:** I know this well. But humans have weaknesses, Kasumi.

**???:** Delta may be strong, but as long as she possesses weaknesses, she is far from invincible.

**???:** Luckily, what would become Delta’s weakness would not become yours.

**Yae Kasumi:** …Understood.

**???:** Bon voyage, Kasumi.

The communication ended. The ninja known as Kasumi looked down at the neon-drenched city.

She then leaped into the sky, leaving only a trail of neon behind.

--

#### After the Departure

A long time later. In a room of the Hyperion.

**Bronie:** So, do you believe me now, Miss Kongming?

**Zhuge Kongming:** …

**Bronie:** I’m not some evil intruder. If anything, I’m just a poor girl who’s been drifting in this “sea” for too long.

**Bronie:** I got on your ship for a cup of cocoa and a soft bed.

**Zhuge Kongming:** Then, leave by yourself after you’re done taking a nap.

**Zhuge Kongming:** The Hyperion has no room for mysterious outlanders like you.

**Bronie:** Hey, that’s not nice. And I’m not the first “mysterious outlander” here -

**Bronie:** What about that woman named Rita Rossweisse?

**Zhuge Kongming:** She… She’s an exception. Wait a minute,why would you know about her?

**Bronie:** That’s easy, Miss Kongming -

**Bronie:** I’ve already read every entry in your logs while we were talking.

**Zhuge Kongming:** What?!

**Bronie:** Things about Rita, and that “Captain” that I haven’t met…

**Bronie:** All clear to me after I read the logs.

**Bronie:** You are also looking for something in this “sea”, right?

**Zhuge Kongming:** What do you mean by “also”?

**Bronie:** Oh, don’t get me wrong - I’m not talking about myself.

**Bronie:** I mean that I’ve met someone else who was also looking for something in this “sea”.

**Bronie:** It was a ninja with a pair of fox ears. She doesn’t happen to be on your ship, does she?

**Zhuge Kongming:** …

**Bronie:** Haha, looks like I guessed right.

**Zhuge Kongming:** So Mr. Assassin isn’t the only one who’s looking for something in the Sea of Quanta…

**Bronie:** So, Miss Kongming, is this piece of intel worth a small room for me on this ship?

**Bronie:** I want to see more worlds. But on my own, I can do nothing more than float in this “sea”.

**Bronie:** Traveling with you guys is the best choice for me at the moment.

**Zhuge Kongming:** You could be lying, Bronie.

**Bronie:** I don’t have any proof to show you - it’s not like I can just bring that fox ninja to you. I don’t even know where she is.

**Bronie:** Trust me, or not. It’s up to you, Miss Kongming.

**Zhuge Kongming:** …

**Zhuge Kongming:** Fine. You can stay, for now. But after Mr. Assassin comes back, he will decide if you can really stay.

**Bronie:** Mr. Assassin… Oh, you mean that Captain.

**Bronie:** According to the logs, he should be traveling in a bubble universe somewhere.

**Bronie:** I know it’s common for people to lose contact during adventures, but he’s been gone for too long this time, am I right?

**Zhuge Kongming:** …

**Bronie:** I can go find him and bring him back if you want, Miss Kongming. You can’t leave the Hyperion, but I can.

**Bronie:** Just give me the coordinates of that bubble universe he’s in, and I’ll take care of the rest.

**Zhuge Kongming:** …What’s the catch?

**Bronie:** Haha, relax. I told you, I just want a room on this ship.

**Bronie:** Which is why I’ll need you to put in a good word for me after I bring him back.

**Bronie:** According to the logs, you two seem very close… A word from you must be way more efficient than some big speech from me.

**Zhuge Kongming:** You-You read my journal?!

### Special Investigation Tasks

#### Best Duo I

**Bronie:** ♪~

**Theresa:** Hey, Bronie~ What are you doing?

**Bronie:** Testing.

**Theresa:** Testing what?

**Bronie:** Just a sec.

**Theresa:** You’re modifying the Bunny Ball?

**Bronie:** Yeah… Done!~

**Bronie:** Heliopolis makes some good stuff. But they also put way too many restrictions on so many functions. So annoying.

**Bronie:** So I made some “improvements”~ This baby now has 120% performance!

**Theresa:** Doesn’t sound very safe…

━

**Cioara:** BRONIE━!!!

**Bronie:** Yeah, yeah, I’m not deaf. You don’t have to shout.

**Cioara:** Where have you been? Raven’s opens in one hour! Get back here now and help me!

**Bronie:** Ugh…

**Cioara:** Oh, and don’t take the overpass. I heard it’s quite messy up there and it’s closed to traffic. So take another route and stay out of trouble, you hear me?

**Bronie:** Alright, alright.

**Bronie:** Hmm, the overpass… Heliopolis must have something to do with whatever happened there.

**Bronie:** It sounds like a good training place for my new Bunny Ball though…

**Theresa:** Bronie! Did you not hear what Cioara just said?

**Bronie:** Yeah, yeah. I’m just gonna take a quick look, and I’ll go back to Raven’s right away!

**Theresa:** \*sighs\* I don’t have any plans today. I can go over to Raven’s and cover your shift for a while.

**Bronie:** Really? You’d do that for me?

**Theresa:** That’s what I get for being your sweet big sister. Anyway, you stay safe and come back early, okay?

**Bronie:** Okay! You’re the best, Theresa!

--

#### Best Duo II

**Bronie:** Eh? That seems to be a tough guy.

**Bronie:** Post-battle data review… All modules functioning well.

**Bronie:** Radiation and power loss indicators all in the expected range. It’s a success.

**Bronie:** The only concern is durability. I’ll give it a try and see if I can take out every enemy on the path.

--

#### Best Duo III

**Bronie:** The Bunny Ball is on fire today. Let’s do a thorough sweep.

--

#### Dangerous Dev Plan I

**Bronie:** Huh? This is…

**Bronie:** Tsk, I knew it - it’s a trap.

**Bronie:** But that’s not nearly enough to get me!

**Bronie:** So the mecha was here to protect this? But what is it? I don’t see any ID code… Never mind, I’ll just take it.

--

#### Dangerous Dev Plan II

**Gray Serpent:** Please wait, Miss Bronie.

**Bronie:** Ugh, you again? What do you want?

**Gray Serpent:** Nothing. I just came to offer some useful intel about the core that you’re about to take away.

**Bronie:** Huh, your surveillance coverage sure is impressive.

**Bronie:** So you know what this thing is?

**Gray Serpent:** Yes. It’s the core of Heliopolis’ program regarding the development of biomimetic mechas.

**Bronie:** Biomimetic mechas… Wait a minute, you just told me the intel for free like that? What’s the catch?

**Gray Serpent:** The Snake Eye does have a favor to ask of you - could you try and sabotage this program, Miss Bronie?

**Bronie:** Sorry, I’m super busy lately.

**Gray Serpent:** It is said that when Arc City was first built, there were herds of rampaging monsters attacking people.

**Gray Serpent:** Later, Heliopolis wiped out all the monsters within the Light Curtain and collected their cores.

**Bronie:** Humph, no wonder people believe that the Light Curtain’s been protecting Arc City.

**Gray Serpent:** The higher-ups at Heliopolis have always been interested in the powers possessed by the monsters. And as they believe that they’ve now taken full control of the city, they’ve started research on the cores.

**Bronie:** Guess they didn’t learn their lesson.

**Gray Serpent:** Our leader believes that it is imperative to eliminate all risks and lurking perils. So, Miss Bronie, could you help with this?

**Bronie:** Hmm… alright. I’ve never liked Heliopolis anyway. Guess I can spare some time to mess with their plan.

**Bronie:** Good, mission accomplished.

--

#### Dangerous Dev Plan III

**Gray Serpent:** Okay, that should do. Now recharge the core with energy.

**Gray Serpent:** Please be careful.

**Gray Serpent:** The target has shown up. I don’t suppose there’s any problem, right, Miss Bronie?

**Bronie:** Heh, who do you take me for?

**Bronie:** Hah, this monster is really something… and ugly as hell. It’d be a big problem if the city was infested with them.

**Gray Serpent:** Fortunately, that won’t happen. Anyway, the commission has been fulfilled and you will receive your fees shortly.

**Bronie:** Humph, remember to tip me.

**Gray Serpent:** Of course. It’s been a pleasure, Miss Bronie.

--

#### Failure I

**News:** ...Heliopolis researchers say that the development of defense AI will continue despite the rampage of the prototype.

**Bronie:** Hah, even mechas can’t stand the stink of Heliopolis and want to run away.

**Bronie:** Huh? Why are so many mechas parked here?

**Bronie:** Hah, they’re still moving?

**Dragon Fang Member:** Hey, who’s making trouble on the platform? This is Dragon Fang’s turf!

**Bronie:** Oh, I don’t know about that… but I do know where your mechas are from. Heliopolis’ missing cargo, right?

**Dragon Fang Member:** You picked the wrong target, kid! Power up and run over this little bunny!

**Dragon Fang Member:** She… she broke all of them! Quick, call for help!

**Bronie:** Heh, just a bunch of minions after all.

**Bronie:** But Dragon Fang set up this many mechas here… probably to ambush someone?

**Bronie:** Heh, interesting. I’ll come back later to check it out.

--

#### Failure II

**Bronie:** It’s a… new model?

**Bronie:** Dragon Fang’s mechas are hammering it... What’s going on?

**Dragon Fang Member:** The… The bunny girl is back!

**Bronie:** Good evening! Miss me yet?

**Dragon Fang Member:** Nevermind, put a thousand holes in her, and the “failure” too!

**Dragon Fang Member:** This guy… is a freak!

**Dragon Fang Member:** Go! Bring all the mechas from Heliopolis here! We can’t let the “failure” get away!

**Bronie:** Heh, no wonder Dragon Fang is flexing their muscles everywhere. That’s a lot of mechas stolen from Heliopolis.

--

#### Failure III

**???:** ...Energy fully recharged.

**Bronie:** Wow! What is it?

**???:** Pilot identity confirmed. Weapon system unlocked. Please board now.

**Bronie:** ...This mecha is talking?

**???:** New high-energy reactions detected. Please board now.

**Bronie:** Tsk, these guys… they just don’t know when to stop. Anyway, I’ll just take you to battle.

**Dragon Fang Member:** All… all units down…

**Dragon Fang Member:** Fall back! Now!

**Bronie:** That’s some sick performance. Puts even the best of Heliopolis to shame.

**???:** Heliopolis… denied… Heliopolis… deserted…

**Bronie:** Are you the rampant autonomous mecha from the news?

**???:** Yes, madam. Thank you for your help.

**Bronie:** Oh, don’t thank me. I’m just here to have some fun.

**Bronie:** And don’t call me “madam”. It’s Miss Bronie for you.

--

#### Special Ops Training I

**TFSC-07:** Welcome to the Heliopolis Special Combat Training System. I’m your voiced instruction terminal, serial No. TFSC-07.

**TFSC-07:** Trainee detected. Current training level: C.

**TFSC-07:** Tap “confirm” to start training.

**TFSC-07:** Completion confirmed. Initiating C-level combat training.

**TFSC-07:** Holo-projected enemies deployed. Collision sensor units activated.

**TFSC-07:** This training is to improve combatants’ survivability in battle. Please defeat all targets without being hit.

**TFSC-07:** Failed to generate expected results. Training terminated.

**TFSC-07:** Training reset. Please try to fight without restraint.

**TFSC-07:** Objective fulfilled. C-level combat training complete.

**TFSC-07:** B-level combat training unlocked. Please choose it on this terminal if you would like to try.

--

#### Special Ops Training II

**TFSC-07:** Confirmed. Initiating B-level combat training.

**TFSC-07:** Training ground reset. This training is to improve combatants’ anti-recon capacity. Please defeat all targets without being found.

**TFSC-07:** Objective fulfilled. B-level combat training complete.

**TFSC-07:** A-level combat training unlocked. Please choose it on this terminal if you would like to try.

--

#### Special Ops Training III

**TFSC-07:** Confirmed. Initiating A-level combat training.

**TFSC-07:** Training ground reset. This training is to improve combatants’ single combat prowess. Please defeat all targets without breaking the-

((Author's Note - (text cutoff, can’t see what it says due to the format used))

**TFSC-07:** Failed to generate expected results. Training terminated.

**TFSC-07:** To try again, please use the “reset” function on this terminal.

**TFSC-07:** Objective fulfilled. A-level combat training complete.

**TFSC-07:** All combat training complete. Congratulations on passing the Heliopolis Special Combat Training. You will be-

((Author's Note - (text cutoff, can’t see what it says due to the format used))

--

#### Martial Art I

**Trainer:** Who trespasses upon this hallowed place? Young one, are you here to pursue the way of fighting?

**Trainer:** I’m the chief trainer of Taixuan. I can see the surprise on your face. Yes, I’m a robot that teaches fighting.

**Trainer:** The water has no shape, and we must learn to be flexible and adaptive. Young one, I’ll teach you a few tricks.

**Trainer:** Hmm, a promising learner.

**Trainer:** But to master top martial arts, you need to keep improving. Seek me out if you’re determined.

--

#### Martial Art II

**Teacher:** Right on time. Next, we learn how to suppress enemies.

**Trainer:** An enemy who cannot put their feet solidly on the ground can be easily beaten. Now, how do we make enemies falter?

**Trainer:** Yes, we knock them airborne.

**Trainer:** In the next training, you can only hurt your enemies once you’ve knocked them airborne. Be prepared!

**Trainer:** Hmm, the way you train reminds me of the Taixuan master.

**Trainer:** Next time, I will match you up with the most powerful opponent you’ve ever seen.

--

#### Martial Art III

**Trainer:** Are you ready to take the final challenge, trainee?

**Trainer:** Well, let’s get started. Use everything you’ve learned to take down these powerful foes!

**Trainer:** Bravo! You’re a master fighter now, and I’ve nothing to teach you.

**Trainer:** Take these, and know that there’s always someone stronger out there. Don’t get cocky!

--

#### HOOOMU! I

**Bronie:** Er… What is that? A costume? Cyborg?

**HOMU:** Hi!

**Bronie:** Er… I don’t know what you are, but this neighborhood is riddled with gang fights. You better steer clear.

**HOMU:** HOMU can’t find his crown. Kind stranger, can you help him?

**Bronie:** HOMU?

**HOMU:** HOMU is my name.

**Bronie:** Strange guy. What’s in it for me?

**HOMU:** If you can find the crown for HOMU, you can have HOMU’s treasure hoard.

**Bronie:** Hmm… So you want me to find your crown? Okay, I’m in.

**HOMU:** Hoho, it’s a deal. Don’t falter before you find the crown.

**Bronie:** Huh?

**Bronie:** Small droids. And the self-detonating type.

**Bronie:** That… HOMU thing. Better not run into me again.

--

#### HOOOMU! II

**Bronie:** Hmmm… This must be the crown.

**Bronie:** Come on, isn’t this too obvious? Do you take me for a three-year-old?

**Bronie:** …

**Bronie:** ...Tsk, but I’m curious as to what that HOMU’s treasure is.

**Bronie:** Ah, it’s a trap. I’m so scared. Happy now?

**Bronie:** If you’re happy, just hand over HOMU’s treasure.

**HOMU:** Kind stranger, nice to meet you again!

**Bronie:** Here, your crown. Let me put it on for you.

**HOMU:** The crown! HOMU’s crown! Thank you so much!

**Bronie:** ...I was gonna teach you a lesson, but seeing you this happy with the crown, nevermind. You didn’t forget what you promised me, right?

**HOMU:** Hmm! You’ll have the treasure the next time you catch me. Hoho…

**Bronie:** This guy… maybe he’s just a hide-and-seek enthusiast?

--

#### HOOOMU! III

**Bronie:** Found you again at last. Don’t even think about getting away this time!

**HOMU:** Want rewards? Want rewards? Come and get HOMU~

**Bronie:** Ah, here we go again.

**HOMU:** Hoho, you got HOMU~

**HOMU:** Time for rewards!

**Bronie:** Disappeared again. Only this time, he left rewards as promised.

**Bronie:** HOMU… I’ll log him into the database. He’s a pest, but… kind of cute sometimes.

--

#### Kasumi in the Night

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Huh? Heliopolis? Or someone trying to prey on me?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** I do not wish to inflict any harm before I leave… Even though, you still want to fight?

**The Mysterious Ninja:** Alright, if a fight is what you want, then a fight is what you’ll get.

With the blade swing, you were sure you won, but your hand failed to return the assured feeling of hitting something.

You turned around and found the ninja long gone into the darkness, leaving only surreal neon traces.

Transcription provided by PXLPancakes