"Hmm, this should be it. Do you have detailed structural diagrams?"
Zane nodded, asking softly.
Blueprints of something as important as the Trial Tower were rarely leaked, but with Fairy's abilities... she should be able to find them.
At his request, Wise asked Fairy. Soon enough, Fairy pulled up detailed diagrams of the Trial Tower. Due to its complexity, however, the schematics were split into multiple images.
As Zane flipped through them one by one, Wise tilted his head curiously.
"What are you looking for?"
Zane stayed silent for two seconds, then froze on one image. He raised a finger and pointed to the screen.
"This."
Wise followed his gaze, eyes flickering as he processed.
The device that stored the Trial Tower's Ether reserves? No—Zane must mean the adjacent system, the one that converted Ether into usable energy...
Realization struck him. His brows furrowed as he spoke.
"This thing must be... the key that detonated the Trial Tower back then."
"Exactly."
Zane nodded.
"Normally it's just an energy conversion system. But with a small adjustment, it becomes a detonator.
According to the records Fairy dug up, this was what triggered the Trial Tower's explosion, causing the chain reaction that barely halted Hollow Zero's expansion.
And in the Mars District underground... I saw a research facility studying it."
"They seem to want to turn this system into nothing but a dedicated detonation fuse."
Zane explained briefly. He might have toured out of curiosity, but it wasn't just idle interest.
He also hadn't told Wise one thing: he hadn't only seen the Trial Tower systems. He'd also seen something Shin had used back in Hollow Zero.
The Black Coffin.
But compared to the full version he had glimpsed back then, the one in Mars District was likely just a 1:1 replica—without real destructive power.
After all, he had watched researchers dismantle it, reassemble it, test wiring, and swap out components.
At least, that was his guess.
But if the Black Coffin he saw in Mars District was real... then those people were far too reckless.
The Black Coffin likely required activation inside a Hollow, but nothing was absolute. The risk remained.
Zane folded his arms, resting his chin in one hand as he thought for a moment, then shook his head.
He'd need to ask Shin about it. Or better yet, see Hollow Zero's Trial Tower himself—ideally, the very one that had detonated.
...
"Detonator?"
"Are they planning to weaponize the Trial Towers?"
Hearing Zane's words, Wise raised an eyebrow, voicing the most plausible conclusion.
Even so, it was bold.
New Eridu's underground was filled with Trial Towers of all sizes.
If something went wrong with even one of them...
Boom. New Eridu would be gone in an instant.
Wise mulled it over and added,
"If that's the case, it's a clever idea in its own way—creating weapons using the Hollow's power..."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
Wise's words made Zane's pupils narrow. He reacted immediately.
That's it. Using the Hollow's power.
Could the Black Coffin itself have been designed based on the detonated Trial Towers? The difference being, one required real-time absorption of Hollow energy, while the other could store it beforehand...
The Black Coffin had its own advantage, though. It absorbed Hollow energy extremely quickly. And by harnessing the downward drop, it could gather enough power during descent to recreate that terrifying level of destruction...
If the two were combined...
The thought spiraled, giving rise to an even bolder conjecture.
"Wise, what if a Trial Tower could absorb the entire power of Hollow Zero? How powerful would the detonation be?"
Zane's voice was serious as he looked at him.
Before Wise could answer, Belle, leaning against the table, spoke first.
"A Trial Tower that could absorb Hollow Zero's entire energy? There's no way such a thing exists. At least with New Eridu's current technology, it wouldn't be possible for another decade or more."
That much energy... could power New Eridu for who knows how long.
"The power... unimaginable," Wise murmured. He didn't know why Zane was asking, but it didn't stop him from picturing it.
"Yes, Belle, you're right. New Eridu can't build a Trial Tower capable of absorbing all of Hollow Zero's energy."
Zane's voice slowed slightly, but his gaze sharpened.
"But..."
"What if it wasn't just one?"
"What if it wasn't even a Trial Tower?"
The room fell into silence.
Belle's lips parted slightly, but she couldn't find the words.
"Human madness... and the realm of possibility... both are beyond imagination. Though perhaps this is nothing more than my wild guess."
Zane sighed, shaking his head faintly.
"Thanks for the help. But I have something to take care of. I'll be going."
Once the thought had taken root, it wouldn't leave. He spoke briefly to Belle and Wise, grabbed his coat from the sofa, and left the video store.
The sound of the door closing echoed soon after.
"Brother... what do you think Zane meant?"
Belle's voice broke the silence moments later.
She looked at Wise, her expression conflicted. She felt a looming sense of crisis, though she couldn't explain why.
"Exactly what he said."
Wise's face was serious. He didn't really believe Zane's theory—it sounded far too absurd.
But Zane had raised it, and he clearly took it seriously...
That made Wise take it seriously, too.
"We need to start investigating as well, Belle.
Not only will it help us understand the situation better, it might also help Zane. I'll work with Fairy to review and organize Mars District's underground data. You check the Inter-Knot."
"Alright, Brother."
It was late at night—a time meant for rest.
But the video store on Sixth Street had become busy once more...
...
"For those in positions of power, silence in the face of evil is complicity."
In a vast mansion, a solemn voice echoed from one of its rooms, followed by a crisp female reply.
"Old Master, have you made your decision?
Are you truly resolved to go through with this?
The trial at the High Tribunal in two days is no place for the unprepared."