It was a vast underground facility.No — more precisely, it felt like an underground shopping district.Rising from the bed and looking around, the scene felt both strange and oddly familiar.‘Did the Liberation Front restore this place?’This facility leaks groundwater relative to its area more than an anthill or a subway — one of the hidden pieces of [Willow Root].[Catacomb Center].I didn’t know how the Liberation Front had managed to restore it, but if they had, it was now a strategic stronghold capable of sheltering tens of thousands of survivors.As proof, the atmosphere here contrasted sharply with the ruined east.There was noticeable vitality.Not merely the obvious bustle that comes from people being present, but an energy born out of human hope.The smell of people.Of course, since this was still early in the apocalypse, the camps looked like nothing more than rags and planks.More than ninety percent of the facility still appeared unrestored… but the people’s eyes were alive.‘For them to have gotten this far in such a short time is astounding.’While taking in the general atmosphere, my eyes kept searching for something.I was curious about the soldiers’ armaments, too.It seemed like they had supplies equivalent to a whole military garrison.And seeing the suppression pistols and shotguns here and there, it looked like they’d even secured equipment from nearby police stations.There were no combat aircraft, but androids filled that gap.‘Have the android production districts been completely taken over by the swarms?’What worried me a little was where they were getting their food.Aside from that, I diagnosed them as an ideal collective.Still, perhaps I thought too long. The voice of the one following bore a certain unease.“Are you really sure you don’t need to rest more?”“I’m fine.”“Hmm. I was told your left humerus and scapula are fractured, and on the right side you’ve got a fractured clavicle and humerus with a shoulder dislocation.”“It’s a nano factor.”“Even for a nano factor this is beyond comprehension.”Well. That was true.But if multiple factors work together, the recovery speed inevitably accelerates.[Humanity’s strongest weapon][High basal metabolic rate]Those two traits explained it.A high basal metabolic rate means metabolism is far faster than normal people’s… which also means the meals they’d had up to now are finally being paid for.‘Still, it’s ridiculously fast.’As I’d heard, it's only been two days.Within those two days, my shoulder and wrist were moving naturally.‘Still, I should be careful.’“When’s the next Behemoth hunt?”“Thinking of joining?”“……”I couldn’t give a definite answer. I didn’t know what had happened to the unit I’d disappeared from.Rudolf seemed to guess my meaning; he nodded and continued.“There’s going to be a strategic meeting among the captains soon.”His voice had grown heavy. There was a faint ferocity in it.“We will kill that thing.”“Let’s hope so.”“At this point, may I ask one question?”“Go ahead.”“Are you our enemy?”For a moment, that question left me speechless.He wasn’t asking about the Ark — it was directed at me. I couldn’t easily guess his intent.I glanced back at the person behind me. Rudolf Hoffman’s pupils were expressionless.But I knew. Those eyes weren’t friendly.No — they were the kind of eyes that could tear a person apart at any moment.Yet somehow, they didn’t feel especially threatening.In front of those eyes, there was only one thing I could say.“Rudolf Hoffman, you are not my match.”“……!?”“So don’t try to test me recklessly. You are not the Mother.”A short silence. Rudolf Hoffman met my gaze with a bleak expression, then —“My apologies.”He bowed his head and conceded.At the same time, it became clear: they already had a vague idea about my identity. And the incident just now must have strengthened that suspicion.But I didn’t care.Having already penetrated deep into the Liberation Front, I had no intention of forcibly hiding who I was.So I would play along only up to this point.A white-haired woman who had been watching the whole scene from the shadows stepped forward.‘Pieta.’Title: [Madness].The woman whose title was madness bowed politely with a smile.“Nice to meet you. Mother requests to see you.”“Alone with her?”“No. All the captains of each unit are gathered, except for the second elder brother.”Her icy fingertips were tinged with heat. Perhaps the flow of blood was returning.I felt no surprise; I had expected this. Following the finger Pieta indicated, I walked toward where Mother would be.“I’ll guide you.”“Please.”Endless stairs leading to the surface. Sunlight poured between the steps.There was a strange atmosphere, but my steps were without hesitation.The auditorium.Before entering, Rudolf and Pieta pushed open the doors and then took their seats. Their silent posture was a kind of pressure — an invitation to come in.But everyone’s attention was drawn to the central seat rather than the six people seated to the left and right. A chair turned backward. A glimpse of black hair. The [Mother].I walked toward her.Tap…Tap…Tap…Only one person’s footsteps echoed through the hall.I turned my gaze to the faces of those seated on both sides. Their positions spoke for themselves.Captain of Liberation Front Unit 6: Eric Palmer. Title: [Knight].Tap…Captain of Liberation Front Unit 5: Huin Lin. Title: [Bishop].Captain of Liberation Front Unit 4: Michael Wok. Title: [Drunkard].Tap…Captain of Liberation Front Unit 3: Pieta. Title: [Madness].Tap…Captain of Liberation Front Unit 2: Rudolf Hoffman. Title: [Bruiser].Tap…Captain of Liberation Front Unit 1: Khan. Title: [King].Tap…Leader of the Liberation Front. In the past, she was a war hero who defended the city’s abundance against countless invading armies and exiled governments that sought the city. She was the supreme commander of the defense forces. Until a generation ago, she had been the only woman who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Gale Wayless.[Erhi Mergeng].Title: [Mother].She turned, exhaling cigarette smoke, and in her hand was a familiar silhouette — a crow curled up neatly. The bird cawed as if pleased and flew up."Xenon." Caw!All eyes turned.The tall woman in front of me looked on with quiet eyes. The thorn-crown tattoo on her forehead explained why she had fallen — the sin of rebellion. The mark she painted herself. # Nоvеlight # The gray blind eye and the scar left there were her medals. At the same time, she seemed to see a red light in me.Her voice, when it came, was dry.“Welcome.”She wore a faint smile, but the ferocity inside it sent a chill down my spine.“Leader of the Ark.”‘She’s already certain.’I couldn’t tell yet what had convinced her I was the leader of the Ark. But if she was already convinced, then —“Greetings, Mother.”“……!?!?”“How dare you!!!”“Do not be disrespectful to Mother!”Anger erupted instantly. But I had no intention of kowtowing. As long as I did not deny being the leader of the Ark, I represented the Ark now. Even if their murderous intent closed in like a vise, I would not bend.Yet even that flurry of outrage was quelled by a single word.“Quiet.”“Uhm—!!”“……”Mother’s single command restored order. In that silence, Erhi Mergeng’s voice remained dry.“He has come here as the leader of the Ark. There is no difference between his position and mine. If you intend to call him impolite, then first show him proper courtesy.”Those who met Mother’s gaze bowed their heads. Her children swallowed their anger in their own ways and did not voice any complaint.As the atmosphere calmed, Mother turned her voice to me.“Leader of the Ark. Do you desire a private audience?”“I do.”“Then before that, how about we make one thing clear?”“……?”“I won’t ask the petty details about why you came here.”“If I can answer, I will.”“What is your relationship with Gale?”“…….”A heavy silence. I knew the moment had come.In a way, it was inevitable.“Gale’s toy, Gale’s glasses, and that ring on your finger. There are far too many coincidences to call it mere chance.”More than half the equipment I had belonged in some way to Gale. Erhi Mergeng’s hatred for Gale is something you can’t easily understand unless you were directly involved. Gale Wayless was the one who smeared the city’s hero with every stain and brought her down.It was Gale who initiated the power struggle that first planned to overturn the city. Because of that, Mother lost her own child and was confined in a criminal quarantine zone. Even her accomplishments were erased from the records — Gale had taken everything from her.That’s why I had delayed meeting Mother. If I couldn’t clear up this misunderstanding, obtaining the Liberation Front’s help would be nothing but a dream. So all the more, honest talk was necessary. Deceiving her with flimsy lies would be the worst possible move.My voice was calm.“I intend to resurrect Gale Wayless.”“Why?”“Because I need him.”“You intend to rebuild the city using him.”I didn’t deny it. Then Mergeng looked at me with a strange expression.“Are you willing to be Gale’s puppet?”Her voice bled with growing hostility. I met Mother’s eyes.“Erhi Mergeng.”“……!?”“My objective is only one.”I crushed the look that asked how I knew her name and continued.“I will end this destruction.”“…….”“For that, there is no path I will not take, no hand I will not seize. I don’t care what past you and Gale share. That is the past. I consider it neither the present nor the future.”“……you.”“The Ark was born for this: to fight destruction. And I am the leader standing at its forefront.”For the first time, Mother’s pupils trembled.At that moment, he struck at the core.“So this time I will ask.For what does the Liberation Front exist? What do you fight for?”It was the most critical question he could throw at her.“I have come to discuss the future with you.” It was a painful line.“I did not come to discuss the past.”

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