Moments later, the two passed through a hazy passageway shimmering with light, emerging into a dim underground cavern.
Hoshimi Miyabi glanced around. Vague outlines of urban structures could still be discerned here, though they had long been buried beneath layers of dust.
"This place... is it a subway station?"
She murmured softly. She had studied materials about Eridu before—this Old Capital swallowed by Hollow Zero had always been a colossal corpse lying before them.
"Judging by the old maps, the layout here, and some markings... this seems to be the underground transit hub of the Maya District?"
She observed carefully, fragments of memories flickering in her mind. Twelve connecting passages—only the Maya District would have such specifications. After all, it was the heart of the Old Capital.
"Hmm. Not long ago, the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe cleared this area. Now, many of the Old Capital's underground passages have been restored."
"As for the purpose..."
Zane stood beside Hoshimi Miyabi. In the dim underground, his form glowed faintly, radiating an almost imperceptible halo.
"Well, the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe intends to transport certain items throughout the entire Hollow Zero using this."
He raised a finger toward a nearby object. Hoshimi Miyabi's gaze followed his gesture, settling upon the "iron box."
"Heavy-duty temporary engineering transport vehicles—originally used by the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe for operations within the Cavity. They've been reinforced and modified to withstand the ether concentration in the core zone."
Reinforced modifications...
Hoshimi Miyabi's gaze drifted downward. The transit hub's tracks were completely ruined, and this barely cleared passageway...
A faint glimmer flickered in her pupils. Beneath the vehicle, something seemed to be slowly writhing.
Like ethereal matter... So that's the nature of the modifications...
The thought passed, and Hoshimi Miyabi didn't dwell on it further. Instead, she turned her attention to asking Zane about his purpose in bringing her here. Earlier, Zane had mentioned he had something to discuss with her.
"Hmm? Aren't you curious about what those transported items are?"
"But it's directly related to what you're doing now."
Zane spread his hands, smiling as he spoke. Hoshimi Miyabi glanced at him with renewed curiosity.
"The task Shin assigned you is to provide energy for those things. After all, merely plundering the ether energy from Hollow Zero would simply not suffice."
"You know exactly what I mean—those items that were lost in the Mars District."
As Zane finished explaining, Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes narrowed. She knew exactly what he meant—those devastating "weapons."
"Are you planning to... replicate the chain detonation from the trial tower back then?"
That operation had halted Hollow Zero's expansion. This time... it was to confront that entity.
"Pretty much. But that's just the human side's plan. I'm merely lending a hand. As for my part..."
Zane's gaze turned cold as he lowered his eyes slightly.
"It still requires some time."
His thoughts flickered briefly before he turned back to Hoshimi Miyabi and spoke.
"This matter carries immense weight, and many are involved. No one can guarantee there won't be any hidden agendas."
"Tyce has already selected the custodians for the preservation keys. As for the remaining half of the keys, I wish to entrust them to you."
"This way, it serves as an additional safeguard, preventing the devices from accidentally detonating among our own forces during combat."
Zane spread his hands. Though his faction operated in the shadows, the Church remained equally hidden, and contact with Tyce was currently impossible.
Had circumstances been different, such elaborate precautions would have been unnecessary.