Me and saving others…
Ha—
"Did he think that I'm some kind of superhero or what?"
I couldn't stifle my small laugh then. My mind was racing in every direction and all of its thoughts ended with a clean plan to eliminating that so-called human being.
"How could you go there without taking him with you? Is it possible for the team leader to leave four of his newcomers to another one?"
"As long as we have the manual we will be fine. Why make a big deal of it?"
Dean seemed unbothered. Drew on the other hand, didn't seem to fully agree.
"We all know that every newcomer is a test object until he shows his worth. They even made us sign a disclaimer paper the moment we chose this team."
"...?"
This company couldn't be more Inhumanly unhinged. What did he mean by disclaimer? That if he died there then no one could say a word?
This was an absolute violation of labor laws!
"We don't need a supporter." Adeline was fully equipped when she stepped from outside. "But if you want to come, no one will feel bad about it."
Except me,
And Alex.
"No. I'm not going anywhere." I wasn't crazy person to do that. Not when I was in one yesterday.
"Okay."
"But— do you have cameras and communication devices?"
"Between us, yes. But between in and out— that isn't that helpful since the signal doesn't always help."
"Even if the chance was three percent, please put the cameras and microphones this time."
"So you could help?"
"So I could see. I'm fully aware that you are more qualified than me when it comes to Vessels."
"Okay." The three of them agreed. "If it worked, then that would be a great recourse."
"Oh, right? How could the company own records of what happened in the Vessels when you don't usually wear cameras?"
"The first team put the devices, the other took it when they enter."
"Right." I gave the cameras that Dean was putting them in his bag a look. A strange feeling of suffocation filled me. "And you are the first team this time?"
"Yes."
Did that human decide this just because they were my only acquaintances here?
Or was I over-thinking it?
"Okay. Good luck."
It was the time to go in so they finished what they had to do in a hurry. And I found myself holding Dean's tablet out of blue before their going.
"I connected our cameras and microphones to this… the team leader doesn't know and likely he doesn't care. If Sials was here then maybe his specialization would help to make the connection stable, but for now this will do."
"I hope it'll work."
"I hope to not need it at all."
"That's better."
The seven members meet in the fortified room on the floor. And as I watched from the glass wall I got more nervous…
The entrance medium was paper— again.
"What great memories…"
The difference was that the paper didn't swallow them. Instead, they tore it up then just vanished.
When they were already out of sight, I searched for a good not-too-far place and sat there, watching…
The signal had distorted for a moment but returned to normal after. And the place they showed up in was far more crazy than I've ever imagined.
Old carnival.
A huge place where everything was dusty and the lights were barely working— as if a glitch was happening second after second…
"No trace of life—"
I re-read the manual I have. It was saying obviously that all they had to do was to get a ticket to enter then watch the show before tearing the tickets up to return here again with gems of containment rate near 50%.
But if any anomaly found them while they don't have the tickets? Then— as the exploration records said, they'd be found later as one of the carnival stuff, or dolls…
"Why are these people here?" Drew's voice was too clear through the headphones. "What's happening?"
I looked at their point of views, and knew what he was talking about after seeing Adeline's record.
Gray blue police man's uniform.
The Disaster Management Authority…
What are they doing there? Was there any public issue with this Vessel too?
"Just don't cross roads with them." The one who led the team said, his voice was far but surely full of power.
What was his name again?
"Wait—what?"
Why was my system shown there as if it was inside the Vessel?!
I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and tried to fully focus… but it was still there, on my screen, as if Dean, Drew, and Adeline were seeing it too.
But they act like nothing, so it is me who was seeing it.
"What's up with it this time—"
With a deep inhale, I put my glasses on and started to read it.
[Old company mission:
•State: secured.
•Success condition: done.
•Rewards: 1500 S.P. points, the ring, closed matrix 03's backup.]
1500?
I didn't believe my eyes when I saw the number, since the last time I saw, it was less than half of it.
"What craziness is going on this time as well?"
The moment I spoke, the panel changed, showing something completely out of mind.
[The Festival Vessel mission.
•Condition of success: find the golden ticket for the Great Happy Carnival that was happening.
•State: failed.
•Re-enter state: delayed (4 days at most.)
The greatest magician of all time decided to give the greatest show to a very few people. He made a festival and hid his golden tickets there. Find the ticket so you'll have the chance to survive his last carnival.
•Penalty of failure: lose yourself forever in the carnival.]
"What?!" I jumped out of my place, unable to believe what I've seen. "What? I'm rejecting it!"
[You can't reject what you've already failed!]
"But I didn't even choose to go there!"
This time, it didn't answer, making me feel the hot rage filling my chest.
"Okay, what about why the panel isn't in front of me here?!"
[Lack of power.]
"...?"
Power?
The gems?
[Yes.]
"Agh—"
The system changed again, showing a new big panel.
[The Happy Carnival Vessel mission.
•State: delayed.
•Condition of success: Watch the last show of the greatest magician.
•Important Equipment: golden ticket.
It's the time when the great magician decided to play his last show in the Happy Carnival. If you came holding a normal ticket then you're acting disrespectful and you'll be used as a part of the show.
•Rewards: 2000 S.P.s, the key.
•Penalty of failure: lose yourself forever in the carnival.]
'The key'? As 'the ring' that I had no idea what it was from before?
"Plus… the tickets—"
I looked at the screen carefully when the panel disappeared, looking for clues… then just decided to ask Dean.
"Dean. Do you see anything different from what you told or saw in the pictures and records before?"
"No." Dean answered, and it seemed that the other two were listening too since Drew was the one who continued. "The amount of the anomalies who are waiting to enter are unbelievably huge."
"...? They aren't entering?"
"...Wait, let me see— No. There seemed to be some issues."
That alone made me feel as if all my power had been drawn.
Just few could enter…
"Can you look to see if the poster is different? Anything?"
"Why all of sudden?"
"Just do it."
Without making the leader notice, Adeline went to one of the posters to make it visible to me.
"Hurry, take a photo or something. I can't read it without the Leader's permission."
I took a photo immediately then let her know.
When I finally finished reading it, I was out of words.
What's up with this crazy coincidence?
"Just don't enter with the tickets you'll find."
"Why? We already had found it." Drew waved two tickets as if it was a closed deal. "All we have to do now is to watch that thing without losing our minds."
How simple—
"Just don't try to show the anomalies your tickets."
"Why?"
I bit my lips. The words didn't come easily out of my mouth.
"It is a special show. It needs golden tickets."
"...?"
"How did you know?"
"the poster said it is a special show. You can't enter with your tickets."
"But over there are people who used it and entered?"
"Just no." I couldn't say much. I just did my best to stop my hands from trembling. "Please don't go in. Just hide somewhere."
"..." No one said a thing and I also didn't say it again.
It was out of my business, but I couldn't see people I know just die like that. Whether their team leader sent them fully aware of what was happening or not… it all wasn't a nice situation.
Now they have to decide between my words and their leader's words. And that alone was a big deal.
"Just tell me when you decide." I told them. "But don't take too much time."
I stood up, took my things, then headed to somewhere else, the signal seemed to be unaffected.
"What are you about to do?" Dean asked.
"Go to find the golden tickets for the show."
"What?"
"I know where I could find it."
I just don't know how to enter that place.
"How long will it take?"
"Less than four days. Before the show starts."
"Okay." Adeline interrupted us. "I'm waiting. The show won't start in days as he said, unlike usual daily shows. We have no benefits on going there early."
"That makes sense, I'm waiting too." Dean answered and Drew was shaking his head before him. "I'll try to convince the leader. Evrn If he doesn't want to, we will wait for you anyway."
"Nice." I didn't say much since I couldn't decide whether to feel relieved or overwhelmed. "I'll do my best too."
"Then it is a deal."
"Ah. Wait, before I go— Adeline, do you still have Silas's connection earpiece?"
"Yes."
"That's great, we may use it."
I told them that I'm closing, before putting the tablet in my belt's pocket.
All my thoughts were going everywhere.
I have to know if that damned team leader did that in purpose,
I need the system back to use the items shop,
And I have to find a way to enter that Festival Vessel again…
No one of these seemed easy,
Nor the feeling of overwhelming inability to do something to those who were trapped in that place.
Agh—
I have the worst luck ever.