Blizzardous Threads of Red Main Story 4-5: When the Snow Melts
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x50
- Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Holly Stationery x300
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Hidden Laboratory
There seem to be many secrets hidden in this mysterious laboratory. Look around first.
Vyn stands before the long table, looking at the document in his hand with a serious look on his face.
You: Dr. Richter, what are you looking at?
Vyn: This...
He hands you some of the files in his hands. You take it and begin to carefully read the words written on it...
You: "Repair a part of a person's DNA that the body cannot otherwise do, restoring it to its original state."
You: I think I've heard this somewhere before...
You: !!!
Vyn sees the surprise on your face and nods in response.
Vyn: Looks like you thought of it too.
You've seen similar research notes in an underground ruin surrounded by the desert before.
You can feel a chill in your chest. Is this... just a coincidence...?
Vyn: Yes, the contents of this experiment log are very similar to that report...
You: That means... the Zeng family was also doing research related to genetic medicine.
Vyn: Their research has most likely not yielded any results.
Vyn: Medicinal exploration is attractive, but if it needs to proceed with illegal human experiments like these...
Vyn: Then there would be no point or necessity in performing the research.
Vyn speaks in a very strict tone. It's obvious that he has a strong hatred for these methods.
You: Right...
A light-colored envelope folded inside the stack of research files catches your attention.
Marius opens the envelope and a letter with Holly patterns is unfurled before your eyes...
Marius: !!!
"Even though I knew that this letter would never make its way into your hands, I still wanted to write to you."
"I miss you so much. You are the only reason I'm able to hold on and survive."
"However, I don't think I can endure any longer..."
"I sometimes wonder if everything would be different if I never came to this place."
"However, it's all too late now..."
"Will you forget about me? I'd rather that you did and continued to live your life."
...
"I wish you happiness, and may you carry on my share of it too..."
You: ...
The thin piece of paper carries such heavy and strong emotions.
There is more to the letter, but you can't bear to continue reading.
Marius: That's enough, I'll put it away.
You: Yeah.
You both knew to whom it was addressed... but neither of you want to say it.
(Obtain evidence: Holly's Letter)
You: Mr. Wing, what are you doing?
Artem: I'm sorting through everything we found so far.
Artem: I want to... match patient details to their original identity...
Artem: Maybe we can help their families sue the Zeng family for compensation.
Artem: I was worried that the Zeng family had destroyed the evidence or forged their identities...
Artem: But looking at it now, it seems like they didn't, which is good news for us.
Artem: We cannot do anything about the lives lost, but I think...
Artem: If we can follow the transaction chain, we might be able to save more people.
You: I'll help you with the sorting, Mr. Wing!
Artem: Sure, let's start the paperwork when we get back to Stellis.
The neat line of bio pods emits a creepy teal light... A special machine catches your attention.
It's hiding behind the bio pods in an unnoticed corner.
Without paying special attention, it's very easy to overlook the subtle differences without close observation.
You: Luke, what kind of device is this?
Luke squats down and carefully examines the machine and has you record data from time to time...
Luke: Whew... I think I know what it is now.
Luke: Good, we finally found it!
You: What is it?
Luke: At first, I thought this was a detector used to monitor the bio pods...
Luke: After confirmation, I am now positive that this is a special model signal source controller.
Your heart flips after hearing the words "signal source."
You: Signal source?
Luke: Yup! This is what cut off the villa's signals.
Luke: Theoretically, we'll be able to make contact with the outside world once we shut it off.
Luke: But its status has been locked by someone. I'll need some time to make adjustments...
You: That sounds like something hard to do...
Luke: Don't worry, leave it to me. Just give me a little time...
Luke stares at the device as he performs technical adjustments. You stand on the side, giving him a hand from time to time.
Finally...
Luke: All right, hurry and see if you've got a signal.
You take out your cell phone and see the long-awaited full signal bars.
You: (My phone is finally alive again!)
You: Luke, you're amazing. I knew you could do it!
Luke: Of course.
You: I'll contact the police right away and let them know of the current situation!
The communication is finally restored. Find a place to contact the outside world and report what happened in the villa.
When communications are restored, you all quickly find a place with good reception to contact the outside world.
Marius immediately contacts his staff at Pax, ready to send helicopters to participate in rescue work.
The police also arrive at the mountain...
Snow Mountain Trail
Luke: We can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Marius: ...It's been nerve-racking these few days. It felt miserable!
After the brief conversation, Marius looks down, deep in thought about something.
You notice the rusted holly brooch in his hand.
You: (Marius...)
You: Worried about Mr. Way?
Marius: !!!
Marius: Miss, can you read minds?
Marius shrugs his shoulders.
Vyn: It is written all over your face. You cannot hide it from anyone.
Luke: Yeah, you've been looking at the holly brooch the whole time.
Artem: Are you hesitating because you don't know where to start explaining?
Sure enough, you weren't the only one who noticed something unusual with Marius.
Marius is stunned by what everyone said, looking helpless.
Marius: I don't know what to say...
Marius: Payton has had this on his mind for so long, and this is the result.
Marius: What if he gets more upset after finding out the truth? Maybe...
Marius: Isn't it a good thing to wait, to be expectant and hopeful?
You: ...
Marius: [Player], what would you do if you were in my shoes?
You: I...
Decades of waiting have become a habit for Mr. Way.
Keeping it from him for his own good only maintains the status quo and extends the habit...
But if the truth comes out, the last bit of hope dies, and the waiting comes to an end.
If you were in his shoes...
You: I think I will choose to tell Mr. Way everything that happened here.
Marius: But isn't that...
You: The result may upset him, but I think... Mr. Way would want a clear result.
You: If this was a knot in his heart, then he will only feel relieved when it is finally untied... Right?
Marius: ...
Marius falls silent for a moment. When he raises his head again, there is clarity in his eyes.
Marius: Yeah, I know what to do now.
You: If it was me... I would choose to keep it from him for his own good, maybe because I don't know how to tell him.
You: This has been Mr. Way's obsession for half of his life...
You: I dread to think what will happen if he found out what happened here...
Marius: Yes, I was also worried about that as well.
You: How about... you test his response, then figure out how to tell him?
Marius: Yes, I think I should take it slow.
Marius: Otherwise, I'm afraid it would be too much for Payton to handle...
You: Aside from Mr. Way and Holly...
You: I'm also worried about the villa.
You: After everything that happened here... What will happen to it?
Artem: There were a lot of people involved over a long period of time...
Artem thinks for a moment before speaking.
Artem: I think... it will take time for the police to assemble a complete chain of evidence.
You: If they need any help...
Artem: Of course, we can pay attention to the investigation's progress.
Vyn: Exactly.
Luke: Yes, we want to see it through.
Marius: I already told Vincent. Pax will cooperate fully with the investigation.
You: !!!
Without saying everything, you were able to get everyone's affirmation and promise.
This is the tacit understanding of NXX, and also the friendship that moves you.
You: It's a deal then.
Where there is light, there are shadows.
But it is because of these shadows that the light must shine brighter and warmer.
You cannot ensure that there are no shadows in the world...
But at the very least, you want to try to illuminate more of the shadows yourself.
Summary
Character(s)
Evidence
Holly's Letter
The suicide note written by Holly in the hidden lab. It says:
"Hope this letter finds you well. Please forgive me for not addressing you, for it makes it easier for me to accept the fact that we're no longer together.
I'm so naive, right? Even though I know that you will probably never receive this letter, I still want to write this to you. This is because I really don't know how I can survive all these without writing them down.
I miss you so much. Every moment I spend here is like walking through hell. You are the only reason for me to hang on. However, I began to doubt if I can still put up with all these. If you were me, what would you do? I really don't know. All I know is that I don't have the courage to face all these no more.
Sometimes I thought to myself, if I didn't come here in the first place, would things be totally different? Never mind, it's probably too late to say all these. I never told you seriously how much I love you, nor the future I want to share with you, as well as my hatred for these people. They are all too late now.
Will you forget me? I would rather let you forget me so that you can have a good life without any regret, hatred, or feelings for me. It will hurt me a thousand times more than what I'm going through right now if I see you feel sad for me. That's all. They are about to come back. Wish you live happily forever, even for me. I still have so many things to say to you but the letter only covers this much. Please take care..."
