Chapter 475: Betrayal
Inside Elias Van Saar's residence, the air seemed to freeze.
The low hum of the ventilation system was the only background noise at this moment, forming a stark contrast with the silent tension between the two.
The choice Ryo presented hung coldly in the air, like an invisible blade, slicing away all illusory avenues of retreat before Elias.
Either defend the house's secrets and be purged on the spot.
Or surrender the secrets in exchange for survival and a future.
This seemingly simple choice stirred ripples in Elias's heart.
For a fleeting moment, the oaths of loyalty repeatedly emphasized by the house elders flashed through his mind—those tenets regarding glory, duty, and sacrifice, deeply branded into every stage of his upbringing.
He recalled the awe he felt when he was first allowed near the "Ancestral Core" as a child, and remembered his father's dedication, holding the post of Core maintenance for thirty years.
But immediately following that, more visceral memories surged into his mind: the dark red blood clots his father coughed up before his death, the dwindling quotas of anti-radiation meds in the medicae clinic, and the accustomed, apathetic gazes of the high-level administrators when they looked at "consumables" like them.
Those oaths of glory appeared incredibly pale before the cruel reality.
He subconsciously touched his chest, the frequent dull ache there reminding him of the fact that he was following in his father's footsteps.
If he truly died to protect this house that treated him as mere fuel, what meaning would such a sacrifice hold?
The instinct for survival, along with the accumulated resentment over unjust treatment, ultimately overwhelmed the last remnants of his superficial loyalty to the house.
This choice was not difficult for him; it even carried a bizarre sense of relief.
He did not want to die, and he certainly did not want to die as worthlessly as his father had.
He barely hesitated. Raising his still morbidly pale face, his gaze met Ryo's crimson optical lenses. His voice became exceptionally steady with resolve: "I choose to cooperate. I don't want to die, and I especially don't want to die here for those who treat me as fuel."
Ryo's mechanical body made no expressive movements, as if the other party's answer had long been expected.
He merely responded calmly, "A wise judgment."
Since the other party had made a choice, Ryo deemed it necessary to reveal a portion of his chips to solidify the stability of this fragile cooperative relationship.
He needed to make the other party understand that the value of cooperating with him far exceeded stubbornly remaining here.
"Your previous speculation was partially correct," Ryo's synthesized voice echoed in the cramped space. "I am no ordinary archeological technician. I belong to the Adeptus Mechanicus."
"The Mechanicus..." Elias repeated in a low voice, his pupils shrinking slightly.
Although he had his suspicions, hearing it confirmed in person still delivered a considerable shock.
The name of the Adeptus Mechanicus was thunderous even in the relatively isolated Junktown. It was a colossal entity spanning the sea of stars, holding the lifeblood of human technology.
The "Ancestral Core" that House Van Saar took such pride in was, in the eyes of the Mechanicus, likely just another ancient relic needing to be "recovered" and "researched."
"The radiation damage you suffer stems from continuous destruction at the genetic level," Ryo continued, steering the topic back to the personal issue Elias cared about most. "Junktown's medical methods, based on a limited understanding of the 'Core's' leaking radiation, can only provide palliative care; they cannot touch the root cause."
"However, within the knowledge repositories of the Adeptus Mechanicus, mature systems already exist for the repair and augmentation of various types of radiation-induced genetic damage."
His mechanical finger pointed at the arm Elias had just received the injection in. "The palliative agent you just experienced is nothing more than one of the most basic applications."
"A complete cure involves cellular-level genetic repair, targeted regeneration of damaged tissues, and remodeling of the immune system."
"These technologies are far beyond what this place could ever hope to achieve."
Elias's breathing quickened slightly.
Ryo's words contained no flowery promises, only statements based on technical logic, yet this made them all the more persuasive.
He had personally felt the effects of that medication; that long-lost sense of relief could not be faked.
If this was merely a "basic application," then a complete cure... he hardly dared to imagine it.
"The terms of our transaction can be made more specific." Observing the change in the other's eyes, Ryo knew his bargaining chips had taken effect, so he detailed the cooperative framework. "You need to provide everything you know regarding the 'Core'—namely, the STC system."
"This includes its precise location, internal structural layout, security clearance levels, daily maintenance procedures, the deployment and shift patterns of the guard forces, the coverage range of the surveillance systems, and any known defensive mechanisms or emergency protocols."
"The accuracy and level of detail of this information will directly dictate the degree of resources allocated to you subsequently."
He paused slightly, letting Elias digest these requirements, before giving his promise: "In return, I will ensure you receive complete bio-restoration, eradicating the effects of the radiation sickness."
"Afterward, I will take you away from Necromunda. Within the system of the Adeptus Mechanicus, your technical background and experience with close-quarters STC contact possess a certain degree of value."
"I can arrange a position for you, perhaps a technical auxiliary role on a Forge World, allowing you to gain a new starting point in a much broader environment."
"This will allow you to completely escape the fate of a 'consumable'."
This proposal not only resolved Elias's imminent survival and health crises but also gave him a future transcending the narrow confines of Junktown.
To a young man who was long disappointed with his house and yearning to escape this place, this was undoubtedly an irresistible temptation.
Elias remained silent, his gaze sweeping across this cramped room filled with the stench of disease and despair.
He recalled the agony his father suffered before dying, recalled the apathetic gazes of the house's upper echelons, and recalled the insignificance and fear of being discarded at any moment that he felt while maintaining the "Core."
Compared to all that, the transaction proposed by the member of the Adeptus Mechanicus before him, though similarly fraught with unknowns, at least provided a visible, upward path.
He took a deep breath, feeling a rare smoothness in his chest. This temporary relief fortified his resolve.
"I accept." Elias's voice was clear and certain, no longer holding a shred of hesitation. "I will tell you everything I know. About the 'Core', about the defenses, about how House Van Saar relies on it yet fears it—everything I know."
Ryo's mechanical head tilted slightly to one side, his optical lenses locked onto Elias. This subtle movement lasted for about two seconds, as if confirming the other's resolve.
"Transaction established," the synthesized voice announced steadily. "Your cooperation will be recorded starting from this moment. First, I need to understand the scope and reliability of the information you possess. There is no need to present the details immediately; begin with a general overview."
Elias nodded, feeling the heavy burden on his shoulders seemingly lighten a bit.
He realized that he was no longer merely a subject waiting to be slaughtered, but had become a collaborator possessing bargaining chips, even if those chips were the secrets to his house's continued existence.
The atmosphere in the room remained heavy, but it had transitioned from unilateral coercion to a fragile cooperative relationship based on an exchange of interests.