Author Notes: it's Christmas.

I watched the special Christmas event video on YouTube, and Enu looked adorable, didn't she?

And now, my nighttime encounter is about to begin, so...

-----

"It's a long vacation - a one-month recovery period, you could call it, is coming to an end soon."

Three members of the Counter units gathered in Moore's room, which also served as the Commander's office in the outpost headquarters, sitting on the sofa. They shared the results of their investigations over the past month - investigations that had taken them all the way to the Outer Rim. However, the results didn't seem particularly favorable.

"Earlier, we received the analysis results from Exia. Here you go, Sensei."

Neon handed over the analysis results of a single gunshot to Moore, displayed on his terminal, a favor he had requested from his acquaintance working in the data center. Moore accepted the terminal, thanking her, and began to read through the analysis results.

"...The bullet jacket is made of copper alloy... pretty standard."

"Yes, but the core inside the outer casing made of hardened lead is..."

"...mixed with tungsten and an UNKNOWN unknown substance," Neon continued.

"---or rather, Exia said it wasn't registered in the database."

It was a peculiar story. Some of the items listed in the scan results of the pistol bullet were not particularly noteworthy. Of course, the fact that an unknown substance was mixed into the core of the bullet was significant, but...

"...Armor-piercing incendiary? Using tungsten in the core of a pistol bullet is not something ordinary."

They could speculate on the intended purpose based on the materials used in the pistol bullet. However, it was unknown why someone would go through the trouble of using such a complex metal for this purpose.

"Exia also mentioned that there are traces of the database related to that substance being erased."

"...Erased?"

When Neon conveyed the message from his acquaintance, Moore furrowed his brows in suspicion. It was indeed a strange tale.

Returning the borrowed terminal to Neon, Moore took out a soft pack of cigarettes. As he pulled out one, Neon held out a lighter, igniting the tip with the smallest flame setting. Moore reciprocated her gesture of gratitude. In the corners of his vision, he noticed Rapi and Anis, both a step behind, each holding a lighter. It seemed they were all eager to light his cigarettes, creating a curious sight.

"Investigating something of the scale of the central government, where record management is thorough, is challenging..."

"...Hmm..."

"...Sensei, this bullet we received from Pilgrim isn't normal, I believe."

"Why?"

"...The firepower fairy inside me says so."

"...Explosive fairy could talk nonsense too, huh?"

"No, no, that's not valid excuse okay !?."

While exhaling purple smoke, Anis promptly interjected, shaking her head left and right, countering Moore's sarcastic remark. Things seemed to be getting out of hand—no, this is the usual rep for them. That thought struck her belatedly. She coughed slightly.

"Now, let me report my findings. Regarding the Heretics, it was a complete bust. There's too little information recorded. There are a few urban legends floating around, but they're just that—urban legends. Whether they're true or not hasn't been confirmed."

Moore listened to Anis's report, but it seemed to be no different from the ambiguous information he had found in the central government's library. Another wrinkle appeared on his forehead, and the volume of the purple smoke he exhaled seemed to increase slightly.

"Of course, we have no way of knowing how Marian, whose brain was destroyed, managed to survive and become a Heretic."

"...At that time, I definitely shot through her head."

"Yes, we saw it, too, me and Rapi. If only we could confirm the central government's library... Commander, do you have any contacts?"

"...If there were contacts, I would have used them already. Please don't hold onto that hope."

Anis shrugged her shoulders as if to say she knew, all too familiar with the situation. Frankly, if Moore had any contacts within the central government, he wouldn't have been transferred to the outpost base. Well, one could argue he hadn't completely turned into a lapdog, but still.

"...In the end, we're left with only one thing to do. I'll let you know in advance; access to the central government is strictly restricted. Even for a special force like us, entry is impossible."

"...Pack a bus full of high-explosives and ram it into the headquarters—just kidding, don't look at me like that."

Excluding Rapi, Anis and Neon stared at Moore with slightly widened eyes. He told them it was a joke, but he seemed to be considering it quite seriously. Moore crushed his shortened cigarette into the ashtray while contemplating. One bullet handed over by Snow White. Whether investigating the details of this bullet made of an unknown substance or researching information about the Heretics, both tasks were ultimately blocked by the formidable barrier of the central government.

To be honest, Moore, despite being a military personnel under the jurisdiction of the Nikke Management Department of the central government, did not blindly trust the organization that controlled Ark. He even considered them to be an entity suffering from arteriosclerosis thinking mindset.

(Tl notes: The MC wants to say that their heads are made of lead and stone.)

However, in the current situation, when he was contemplating possible solutions to these challenges, Rapi spoke up.

"Wouldn't it be better to request cooperation from Vice Commander Anderson?"

At Rapi's suggestion, deep vertical furrows appeared on Moore's forehead. From the narrowing of his brow, Rapi could immediately sense his concerns.

"I can't trust that man at all! We never know what his motives are, and he always uses us without giving any rewards!"

"...This one-month vacation might be Your Excellency's idea of 'rewards,' as Anis put it, but... Well, I generally agree. I don't fully trust Your Excellency either."

"...Commander..."

"...There's also the matter of the mole. We have a suspect, but... I still can't completely rule out His Excellency's potential involvement. Well, that's not the only reason, but..."

Having become a heavy smoker, Moore clamped a new cigarette between his lips and lit it with an oil lighter. He responded to Rapi's sigh and lowered gaze with a subtly indirect rejection, different from Anis's outright refusal.

Undoubtedly, Andersen knew something. However, Moore couldn't shake off the suspicion that Andersen was trying various means to avoid being found out. Especially concerning his statement from nearly a month ago, when Moore was transferred to the outpost base, near the frontline of the surface.

.

.

---Why did he not want my presence to be known by the central government?

.

.

"...It might be better to handle this matter without external assistance. Fortunately, the Special Task Force has the authority to carry out operations independently at its discretion."

"...Are you suggesting we investigate this on our own at first?"

"If we share this information, it might escalate the situation further."

"...Excessive communication with outsiders might also risk revealing the fact that Rapi's memory wipe doesn't work on us. We want to avoid that."

"That's right. ...Ah."

Suddenly, Neon let out a voice as if she remembered something, drawing everyone's attention, including his own, towards her.

"Come to think of it, Exia mentioned something. She said there are facilities on the surface similar in scale to the Central Government."

Needless to say, Moore's eyes narrowed at this.

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-----

---There's no need for everyone to accompany me.

Clad in military uniform, Moore walked down the corridor of the data center, feeling the presence of his three subordinates following behind him.

As he walked, he gazed at the glass walls on either side of the corridor, displaying many supercomputers, their small lights blinking to indicate they were still operational.

This data center was the workplace of Protocol, a unit specialized in information gathering within Ark. It was also where the person who requested the analysis of the handgun bullet was employed.

Standing in front of the door at the end of the corridor, Moore flashed his entry permit, unlocking the electronic lock. The door slid open with a sound, revealing a flood of light beyond.

Screens or 3D holograms, either floated or were projected throughout the room. Despite not being a particularly friendly environment for the naked eye, Moore recognized a figure tapping busily on a gaming device while seated.

"Is that her?"

"Yes. She's Exia."

Confirming with Neon, he received a confirming nod in return. At the end of her gaze, the figure seated in the rotating chair finally revealed herself to them.

"...Nice to meet you. I apologize for coming straight to the point, but... ---wouldn't it be better to get some sleep?"

The girl, presumably Nikke, had a finely shaped face marred by disheveled black hair and dark circles under her amethyst-like eyes. Moore couldn't help but suggest sleep. Despite his suggestion, she continued to tap the buttons on her gaming device, seemingly unaffected.

Nevertheless, she wore a shirt that didn't fit, draped like a dress, and on top of that, a loosely fitting white uniform jacket. Moore couldn't be sure if his advice had reached her ears.

"Hey... Are you the beginner? And your com~pa~nions too... What's your busi~ness?" 

"...Beginner?"

In a languid tone that seemed to echo an sleepy mind and lips not yet fully roused, Exia addressed Moore with a peculiar title, making him tilt his head. Deciding it probably wasn't a big deal, he went straight to the point.

"I came to retrieve the deposited bullet and to inquire about the facility you mentioned on the surface..."

"Oh, uh... the bullet is... over there..."

In her lethargic state, Exia gestured towards a scanning device placed a bit away with a single handgun bullet on it. Moore approached, picked up the bullet, verified that the alphabet and numbers engraved on the base were in the same configuration as he remembered, and then stashed it into the pocket of his military uniform.

Immediately after, the mobile device he had tucked into the pocket on the opposite side vibrated, indicating an incoming call or message. When he checked, it was a notification for the squad's group chat.

[Exia has entered the group chat room]

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Exia: "There's a scanning facility on the surface similar in scale to the Central Government's. It's old information, so it's not confirmed, but the possibility is high."

.

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"Can't you talk normally?"

Even Anis, who was also from Tetra Line, stared in bewilderment at Exia, holding her mobile device in one hand and tapping busily with another after switching from her game console, while directing an incredulous look at her.

Another message popped up again.

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Exia: "It's easier than moving my mouth."

Exia: "Plus, thinking through my words in my head is better than speaking out loud."

Exia: "So, why don't you guys talk through the messenger too?"

Moore: "Well, I can't say I don't understand. Roger."

.

.

Anis couldn't help but mutter, "She's still a weird one," but her hazel eyes were fixed on Moore, who was sending messages on his mobile device. She had expected moore to be the type to prefer speaking directly, so this unexpected behavior surprised her.

Sighing, Anis also shifted her attention back to her own mobile device.

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Exia: "It's an old facility, but originally, it was a manufacturing plant for military supplies."

Exia: "So, the internal facilities are quite advanced."

Exia: "Naturally, there's a scanning device as well."

Anis: "Isn't it too outdated?"

Anis: "Never mind if it's operational, but is scanning even possible?"

Exia: "I think it should be possible."

Exia: "The year and month of the ammunition that Miss Firepower brought were manufactured."

Exia: "It's older than the military supply manufacturing facility."

Exia: "There should be a database about the internal substances."

Exia: "Probably."

Moore: "Coordinates?"

Exia: "I know them. I can guide you."

Neon: "Are you coming with us?"

Exia: "No."

Exia: "Both Novel and I have work and can't go."

Exia: "If it's just support, I can manage."

.

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"...Miss Firepower..."

He somehow understood who the term referred to. Moore instinctively glanced at Neon and continued typing on the messenger.

Just to be sure, he asked Exia, who worked at the data center, about the Heretic, but she seemed to have knowledge limited only to urban legends.

.

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Exia: "There are rumors that Nikké surrendered out of fear of Rapture."

Exia: "There are also rumors that she was captured by Rapture and modified."

Exia: "There are even rumors about her being a Newtype or an enhanced human."

.

.

"Sss!?... A...ga...h...!!"

Suddenly, an intense pain surged through Moore's skull, causing him to drop the mobile device he was holding onto the floor. The pain tightened around his brain, and his heartbeat started ringing loudly in his ears, making it hard to breathe.

The sound of the mobile device hitting the floor resonated in the room, drawing everyone's attention. Unable to bear the pain any longer, Moore collapsed to his knees. immediately, Rapi approached, activating her functions to investigate the cause of his distress, but—

"Commander... are you alright...!?"

"...I'm... fine... I'm fine..."

He managed to regain his composure, lifting himself from the floor and picking up the fallen mobile device.

Moore hadn't fully regained his composure yet, but he tapped the recently picked-up mobile device and asked Exia if there were any cases of someone like Nikke being resurrected after death.

However, as expected, the response he received through the message was exactly what he anticipated.

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Exia: "I'm currently researching various things, but I don't think you should expect too much."

Exia: "If the beginner wishes, I can try searching the Central Government's database."

Moore: "I appreciate the sentiment. Just don't push yourself too hard."

Exia: "Okay. Depending on the situation."

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After concluding the exchange of messages, everyone stowed away their mobile devices. Moore wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, feeling a sense of relief from the pain finally subsiding and let out a sigh.

"Commander, are you alright?"

"...I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm fine."

He nodded to Rapi, who looked up at him with concern, her hand on his back.

"Are you really okay, Sensei? Your condition..."

"My physical condition is fine. I've been receiving guidance from Rapi and have been training and rehabilitating for the past month."

"In that case... shall we go up to the surface after a long time? Is the destination the munitions manufacturing facility?"

"Yeah. There's no substitute for real combat for the final part of the rehabilitation."

It had been a month since they were last on the surface.

Currently, there was no means of obtaining information about the Heretic. However, if they went to the munitions manufacturing facility, there was a possibility of uncovering the identity of the unknown substance contained in the bullets Snow White had given them.

Then there was only one path to choose.

"...Let's go up to the surface. Counters, resume operations."

----

Author Notes: From now on, we will finally move on to the main storyline.