Enduring Light: Void Ending - Share Joys and Sorrows
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Li Hotel Lobby
Luke: Hey... Little Boss, have you made a decision already?
Marius: Is it the voting phase next?
Artem: You...
Vyn: So, who will you vote for, Little Boss?
Back at the lobby after leaving the mysterious room, you are immediately surrounded by them.
Before your turn, they each enter the mysterious room separately to cast their votes. Your appearance means that this round of voting is over.
A short time later, the voice of the Mysterious Person announces the results from an old television set. But this time...
You: I voted for none of you.
Luke: You choose not to vote?
Marius: Eh? Then... the four of us have a chance to tie?
You: I... I think it's meaningless to vote!
You: Think about it—does the Guangjie Union really care about Boss Qian's death?
Artem: They don't care about Boss Qian's death. They care about the information he has pertaining to the Mayfly Association.
Artem: And...
Artem looks through the glass windows of the lobby, at the silhouettes of human figures outside the hotel.
The Guangjie Union members are gathered just outside. Despite not being able to make clear of the situation outside, you can still feel the pressure.
You: And Uncle Li left me a Mayfly Association codebook, where he wrote down the Guangjie Union criminal records.
Vyn: ...
Artem: You...
Artem didn't expect that you would notify the others of the codebook's existence.
After all, there is clearly a "traitor" in the group.
He subconsciously glances at Vyn, then back at you, looking uncertain.
You: Well, since they're not looking for the real murderer, it doesn't matter who we talk to, does it?
Luke: That's right... But Interpreter Richter and Consultant Wing promised to give them an answer.
Marius: Hmph... those guys have been running Xuzhou Town...
Marius: Since we made a promise, it would be unwise not to give them an answer.
You: Instead of being led by the nose by the Guangjie Union, wouldn't it be better if we found a way through this crisis together?
Luke: ...You mean we should cooperate?
Marius: Care to elaborate, Little Boss?
You: I was hoping that we could figure out a way to stall the Guangjie Union. It would give Consultant Wing enough time to move the codebook and the files...
You: Once that's done, it will be harder for the Guangjie Union to use Boss Qian's death as an excuse to take action against the Mayfly Association.
You: After that, we can take our time. As long as they don't have anything concrete, there's nothing they can do about the people in the hotel.
Luke: Sure. Count me in!
Just as you finish speaking, Luke agrees to your plan.
Luke: I'm a journalist, so it's normal for me to conduct live interviews, right?
Marius: Hmph, you're a funny one! How many years has the Guangjie Union been running rampant in this town? I've never seen anyone from your news agency interview them.
Marius: No, it's best if I go. I'll go talk to Secretary Gou about cooperating.
Marius: Who knows? Maybe we'll have a great talk and lose track of time.
Artem: No, this matter isn't that simple.
Artem sighs, then chuckles.
You're not sure whether this is Artem's frustration with the situation, or a sneer from "Consultant Wing."
Artem: First of all, I may not be able to walk out of the Li Hotel without being noticed by the Guangjie Union.
Artem: Second of all, even if I make it out of the hotel and find a safe replacement of the items...
Artem: I can't guarantee that our plan won't be interrupted or discovered.
Artem: Furthermore, even if the plan goes smoothly... whether there will be subsequent issues remains to be seen.
Luke: There are too many uncertain factors.
Marius: Hmph, the most uncertain of them is...
He looks purposefully at Vyn, who has been standing in silence for a long time.
To avoid escalating conflict that still hasn't been resolved, you step forward to speak before Marius can.
You: Interpreter Richter, how about we cooperate?
Vyn: Cooperate with me?
Luke: We can't cooperate with him! He's the one who brought the Guangjie Union over here. How can we cooperate?
Marius: I was just about to say—why are you discussing the plan in front of the "spy"...
Marius: Are the people from Mayfly Association always so straightforward with their plans?
You: Of course I know Interpreter Richter was the one who brought the Guangjie Union over here.
You: But that's not a reason not to cooperate. On the contrary... I think that's precisely why we need to cooperate...
You: Interpreter Richter has a better chance of diverting the Guangjie Union to buy time for our plan.
Vyn: But Little Boss, have you considered... why would I agree to cooperate? What is in it for me?
Vyn: Or are you betting on me changing my mind and helping the Mayfly Association?
Vyn: Little Boss, you are... far too naive.
Vyn has a smile on his lips, but it is different from his usual humble and polite smile.
You: Interpreter Richter, didn't you say you were a "gambler of fate"? We might be similar in that sense.
Vyn: Oh?
You: Interpreter Richter, are you certain... that the Guangjie Union will give you what you want after you help them take down the Mayfly Association?
Vyn: No, but their offer is good enough to give it a shot.
You: But I remember you telling me that you want to fly like birds in the open skies, and swim like fish in the vast seas.
You: That freedom is not something that can be measured by money and power!
Vyn: Then do you think... the Mayfly Association can grant me the freedom I desire?
You: No, the Mayfly Association can't do that either, but it's better to keep your options open, right?
You: One day, you will find that your decision here today opened up another path for you.
You: And who knows? Perhaps this "new path" will be the way to your desired freedom.
Vyn falls silent again. He looks at you, his eyes peering through you to a deep and distant place.
The whole lobby is silent, and time seems to pass very quickly.
- Bzzzzt*... A staticky voice sounds from the television set in the mysterious room on the other side of the lobby.
Mysterious Person: Three minutes left to vote. Three minutes left to vote. Make your choice!
You: (So soon!? Ugh...)
Vyn: Very well, I agree with your proposal.
As you are debating whether to work together or just cast a vote and let the round end quickly, Vyn smiles at you.
You: Really!?
Vyn: Yes. What is your plan?
There is no time left to dwell on why Vyn changed his mind.
Next, you all spend what little time you have left refining the original plan.
"Interpreter Richter" will negotiate with the Guangjie Union, while "Journalist Pearce" and "President von Hagen" will act as the distractions.
And you are responsible of taking "Consultant Wing" out from the back entrance of the Li Hotel, where he will transfer the important documents to another place within half an hour.
Luke: Will this... really work?
You: We just have to try our best.
You: (There's too little time. It took too long to convince Interpreter Richter... It would've been better if we got on the same page sooner.)
You are unable to come up with a complete plan within the time limit, only listing possible strategies instead.
Artem: Our current plan is worth a try.
Marius: While the plan may not be complete, it's much more reliable than sending someone to confront the Guangjie Union.
Vyn: Then we should split up.
Vyn nods and gives the final confirmation of the plan.
According to the game rules, with Vyn and Artem gone, you and the others have to wait in the mysterious room for the final ending to be revealed.
A few minutes later, a voice sounds from the old television set.
The Mysterious Person appears in a hood to announce the ending of the live-action detective game...
Mysterious Person: What an unexpected ending. The five of you decided to cooperate. This seems to be working toward a new ending.
Marius: Cut the crap and get to the point.
You: Yeah, get on with it.
Luke: Keep it under a minute.
Mysterious Person: What's the hurry? The fun's about to start!
Mysterious Person: Interpreter Richter was able to negotiate with the Guangjie Union and reach an understanding.
Mysterious Person: Since Interpreter Richter was able to buy you sufficient time, Consultant Wing successfully avoided surveillance and sent out the important intel.
Mysterious Person: The crisis at the Li Hotel has been averted.
You: (That means... we succeeded!?)
Mysterious Person: But from today on, Interpreter Richter will be a member of the Guangjie Union, working for Boss Yang.
You: What!?
You barely have the chance to celebrate before the next sentence causes your blood to run cold.
Mysterious Person: In the future, Guangjie Union will keep a close eye on everything Interpreter Richter says and does...
Marius: What about Consultant Wing?
Mysterious Person: When Consultant Wing completed the handover and was on his way back, he was spotted by Guangjie Union members and failed to evade capture.
Mysterious Person: Upon being captured, he admitted that he killed Boss Qian because of a personal grudge, which had nothing to do with Mayfly Association.
Mysterious Person: To prevent the Guangjie Union members from extracting any more information from him, Consultant Wing committed suicide three days later in the surveillance room...
You: How could this happen...
The Mysterious Person announces the ending of the game.
You: So in the end... Interpreter Richter didn't get the freedom he wanted, and Consultant Wing...
Luke: I guess that counts as a win? But... it doesn't feel like it.
Marius: Is that a win? We sacrificed a few people for maximum profit.
Those who stayed indoors feel neither joy nor relief at the conclusion of the case.
It wasn't the ending... that you guys had hoped for.
There is an inexplicable sadness in the room.
You: ...
Luke: Well, I guess we're done with this live-action detective game. Let's not dwell on it any further and meet up with the rest of the group.
Luke pats you on the shoulder, trying to console you.
But his voice is slightly hoarse, and he is clearly feeling the effects of the game as well.
You: (Is it over, just like that?)
Mysterious Person: Hey, hey, hey... are you guys giving up? Admitting defeat already? Want to give it another shot?
You: What did you say!? Can we?
Mysterious Person: Well... it's not out of the realm of possibility. I'm not opposed to giving you another chance... if you meet certain conditions!
Luke: What conditions? How do we meet them?
Mysterious Person: Well...
Marius: Don't keep us in suspense. Spit it out.
Mysterious Person: Hmph, I can't say anything else, or it'll spoil the plot. Can't I keep it a mystery for a while longer?
Mysterious Person: Anyway... you guys should think it over, whether you're missing any particularly important "secrets."
The television screen flickers several times before turning to static. And shortly after, silence falls.
You: (Missed... secrets?)
Although the Mysterious Person was unclear, his words rekindle hope in your heart.
That said, there is another possibility...
That means... if everyone tries a little harder, new opportunities will arise...
Luke: We won, but not really... It's a terrible feeling.
Luke: Even though my character got a decent ending...
Luke: But what happened to Consultant Wing and Interpreter Richter is awful.
You: Yeah, if only we can do it over...
You: (Wait... I should think twice about what the Mysterious Person said.)
You: Sorry, Mr. Wing... I didn't think the ending would be like this.
Artem: No, it's not a bad ending.
Artem: Whether unintentionally or intentionally, those who did evil got the result they deserved...
Artem: And you, Little Boss, were able to stay safe.
You: (Mr. Wing and Consultant Wing are very alike. They're both good and honest...)
You: Dr. Richter... I...
Vyn: You need not say anything, [Player]. I know.
Vyn: When I was playing Interpreter Richter and we started working together, I prepared myself for such an outcome...
Vyn: Neither Interpreter Richter nor I were surprised at the result, and we accepted it wholeheartedly.
You: (That means... he knew this would happen? And he still went along with it!?)
Marius: Well, if you ask me, the Mysterious Person is playing tricks.
You: Eh?
Marius: It felt like he was deliberately screwing with us to get this ending...
Marius: Hmph, after we get out, I'll make sure to ask who arranged this.
You: (It seems President von Hagen and Mr. von Hagen have become the same person.)
Summary
