Wasteland Echoer.

February 15, 558 AD (New Calendar)

Crusd Federation, Far Northeast Region, Nebusk Plain, Nebusk City, "The Grand Building," the office of the "Temporary Cooperation Council."

Having left Torii Town, which had a strong hometown atmosphere, and arrived in Nebusk, Hoshino Shota felt a sense of oppression and coldness gradually seeping into his soul as he entered the unusually calm, even harmonious and peaceful city of Nebusk.

Although February is indeed considered the dead of winter in the calendars of Krusd and the Fire Empire, Nebusk always feels exceptionally warm and comfortable during this season due to the icy mountains to the northwest and the vast Eventlay region to the east.

Cold, on the other hand, is a dangerous anomaly.

Originally, Hoshino Shota believed that after Nebrius's death, the citizens and army of Nebsk should be extremely angry, weeping for the great commander who led them to fight against the "heartless" and the lost, and at least holding a grand memorial event to express their anger towards the Federation Council headed by Shaneva.

But Hoshino Shota, who walked from the southern checkpoint of the city all the way to the "magnificent building", did not feel the slightest atmosphere of sadness, nor did he see even a trace of human life.

Along the way, the city guards wearing "Ice Lotus" uniforms simply renewed Hoshino Shota's credentials as a routine matter, guided him through several important checkpoints, and reminded him of the roads that had been frequently changed due to extensive construction projects.

These urban military members, who should have been either enthusiastic, passionate, and energetic, or excited, sad, and in pain, appeared unusually calm.

No, it's less about calmness and more about coldness—a numbness that comes from being almost soulless, manipulated by some extraordinary force, devoid of all emotion.

Shota Hoshino knew that asking these low-ranking soldiers without understanding the specific situation would not only make it difficult to get the right answers, but would also alert the mastermind behind this atmosphere.

So he simply followed suit, maintaining a numb calm, and walked at a moderate pace along the cement road illuminated by electric lights. Just after dawn, with the heavy darkness of the long night still lingering in the sky, he arrived at the giant gate, a blend of red and ice blue, adorned with the double-headed eagle pattern of Crusad and the dragon pattern from the Flame Empire.

“I am Hoshino Shota, the ‘Executor’ of the ‘Dark Night Investigation Team’. I have received orders from the organization’s ‘Miracle Apostle’ Kazama Reiji and the city’s temporary head, Commander Atlanca, to come to the organization to report for duty. Please let me in after you have informed your superiors.” Hoshino Shota spoke calmly and respectfully to the new faces of the Nebusk Guard members in front of him.

Faced with this "request" that was half request and half command, the guards, dressed in heavy silver-white futuristic mechs, first glanced at Hoshino Shota from head to toe, then picked up a walkie-talkie, whispered a few words, and then opened the giant door a little, letting Hoshino Shota into the "magnificent building".

Two weeks ago, in order to fight against the Federation Council led by Shaneva, Nebulis devoted most of Nebulsk's energy to the battlefield, so that the entire city suffered from power shortages at night.

Even the most important, S-level security city administrative center, the "magnificent building," will be plunged into silent darkness.

Originally, Hoshino Shota thought these were all rumors spread by various forces in order to compete for control of Nebusk, but when he actually stepped into this "giant building" that he had not seen for a long time, he deeply felt the true darkness.

The double-headed eagle, which originally stood on the first floor and symbolized Cruz, still maintained its upright posture with a torch in its beak, but now, without the light of the electric or kerosene lamps that had been attached to it for a long time, it looked particularly eerie and terrifying.

The "Oridrogen Gem," which the ancestor of Crusd personally plucked from the eye of a dragon, now stares at anyone who dares to trespass like the crimson eyes of a gargoyle. An aura of demons and death envelops the "magnificent tower" that gleams with terrifying white light, resembling a "city" of the dead from the underworld.

Because Nebrius took away a large number of troops who could not return, the entire Nebsk region faced a severe manpower shortage. Although the "Dedicated Group" and "Interim Administrator" Atlanca brought in a large number of Lost and Semi-Lost, they were still unable to completely alleviate the problem.

Until Hoshino Shota arrived at the entrance of the "Hall of Truth" on the basement floor, which belonged to the "Dark Night Investigation Team," there was only one member of the guard team responsible for "protecting" or, rather, monitoring him.

"Commander Kazama Reiji, Commander Hoshino Shota has arrived." The guard's voice was slightly immature, but through the heavy, technologically advanced armor, it carried a hint of indistinctness and echoing, revealing an eerie and terrifying quality in the dark space. However, as the doors of the "Hall of Truth" emitted an extremely unsettling, dizzying, ear-piercing noise, the guard's voice, along with his tall figure, vanished without a trace, leaving only a corridor lined with red candles and that familiar, deep, and hoarse voice.

"Thank you for your hard work. Come in. Let's discuss the specifics at 'The Chamber of Truth'."

“Yes, Chief Kazama Zero.” Hoshino Shota knelt respectfully on one knee, his right hand tightly covering his chest, his head slightly lowered, performing a gesture that was a mix of Crusaders and Khitanrises, to show absolute respect for the leader’s authority.

A gust of wind swept past his ears, and before Hoshino Shota appeared a red carpet that stretched to the horizon, its end nowhere in sight. The deep red candles placed parallel to each other on either side were now burning under the strange fluctuations of the magical energy, emitting a pure yet extremely eerie crimson glow.

As Hoshino Shota extended his right foot, stained with rare earth elements and blood, about to step onto the red carpet bathed in candlelight—a carpet that seemed to lead to the deep universe—the "two-channel" reverberation of Kazama Reiji once again reached Hoshino Shota's ears.

"You've been away from the organization's headquarters for five years, haven't you?"

“Yes, Chief. I have been infiltrating Shaneva’s territory of Novayask for ten years. The last time I came to headquarters to report to Commander Nebrius was indeed five years ago… June 10th, 553 AD.” Hoshino Shota replied, his gaze fixed on the very center of the “Hall of Truth” before him. His right hand, however, unconsciously slipped behind his back as he began to silently recite a spell for binding spirits, channeling the relatively abundant dark magic power within him in preparation for any eventuality.

Fortunately, none of the anticipated dangers occurred. Perhaps Nabsk was indeed short of manpower, and the leaders who temporarily controlled the city did not intend to harm their own people, or perhaps they were too weak to act rashly.

In short, although Kazama Reiji's tone became much tougher and more severe, he did not take any concrete action.

"Have you even forgotten the rules of the 'Dark Night Investigation Team'???"

“I know the rules.” Hoshino Shota said calmly, his now deep and dark eyes gazing at the irregularly flickering candlelight.

"But I don't meet the conditions for fulfilling the rules. Chief, Commander Nebrius once said that the banned organization has completely disappeared, and there will never be an organization that specializes in collecting 'Ordered Monsters' again. Humans, dragons, monsters, and gods are all products of the great nature created by the Creator. No one can rise above the Creator and become the true ruler."

"The dragons defied the Creator's will, causing 18 races to submit to their roars. In response, the Creator sent down a sacred artifact, banishing the dragons. Humanity, since entering the Steam Age, has continuously broken the laws of nature, attempting to become the master of the continent. Thus, the Creator, exploiting the greed and darkness of human nature, through Ivanov and Ivan XXII, unleashed the divine punishment of the 'Heartless Virus,' making the Long Night the master of this era. I have no means to use Ordered Monsters, nor do I wish to abuse them any longer."

"To enter the 'Between of Truth,' you must use it." Kazama Reiji listened patiently to Hoshino Shota's "sophistry," yet maintained the authority and severity of a leader. "'The Destiny Coin' is not the ominous object that manipulates fate and fortune as rumored; it is merely an outward manifestation of your personal destiny."

"The 'Room of Truth' does not allow unfortunate people to enter. Even a temporary fluctuation in luck that causes a decrease in fortune will be punished by the Lord of the Night. Therefore, Hoshino Shota, please pick up the 'MB-888: Destiny Coin' at your feet and throw it into the air three times. As long as it lands heads up twice, the Lord of the Night will grant you 'luck' and blessings."

“I respect the leader and I respect the rules,” Hoshino Shota said with a slight bow.

Immediately afterward, a heavy metallic thud sounded beneath Hoshino Shota's feet. He bent down and picked up the large silver coin engraved with "Flame Lord," the leader of the Flame Empire, and poured some of his dark magic power into it.

Soon, after a rapid flash of alternating black and white light, two rings of deep red light enveloped Hoshino Shota.

As he casually tossed the "fortune-telling coin" three times in a row, the randomly flickering candlelight around him quickly returned to normal, and the dark passage in front of him seemed to become slightly brighter. At the end of the red carpet, the familiar small door, a blend of Khitan and Krusd cultures, finally appeared.

"Three positive results, it seems Hoshino Shota, your luck has indeed been quite good lately. The Lord of the Night will bless you, and the 'Room of Truth' will open to you. Please walk along this carpet, stepping over the candlelight of truth, to the room belonging to the 'Dark Night Investigation Team.' We have been waiting for you for a long time. We need you to share information about Dark and Light with us and the 'Temporary Cooperation Council.'" (End of Chapter)