The doors of City Hall creaked as Rover pushed them open, the sound echoing across the completely empty chamber like one of those fucking sound effects in horror movies. Did they evacuate the City Hall's personnel for us?
I followed closely at her side, my boots tapping across the cracked floor tiles. Both of us carried the same expression of focused, determination, and sheer fucking will.
The vases lining the walls stood like silent sentinels, their painted porcelain chipped but still proud. This is how it was in the game. We just gotta solve this pain in the ass puzzles left here by her Magistrate. Thank god my meta knowledge will be useful here. I gave one a push, muscles straining, but it didn't budge. I frowned. "Not this one." My voice bounced back to me from the vaulted ceiling. "Better check the others…"
We worked in sync. Rover is graceful and me a bit more clumsy but careful enough. When the final vase slid into place with a low grinding echo, the floor beneath us trembled.
A deep, grumbling noise rolled from beneath the hall. The tiles split and shifted, revealing a hidden pathway deeper into the cityhall.
"A hidden passage…" Rover murmured, eyes narrowing with both satisfaction and caution. "As I expected."
I tilted my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "That must be the entrance to the Database."
"The Symphodai…" Rover's eyes darted over the pipes and panels. "A part of the building is submerged. The hidden path must be underwater."
"Looks like a puzzle," I muttered stating the fucking obvious, crouching beside her. Strange inscriptions curled across the control panel. I brushed the dust off, squinting. "...Gather five tones to align in tune. The Bells shall guide your path.'"
Rover's lips moved as she read the next line aloud. "...'Find keynotes to determine tone. The Archive shall be unmasked.'" She tapped the panel lightly with her glove. "It really does look like an instrument. But five notes are missing."
"So," I said, running a hand through my hair, "we'll need to recover the Sonodisks that hold those notes."
Something shifted behind the Symphodai, a faint sound like gears grinding. I turned sharply. "Did you hear that?"
Rover reached in, hand steady, and pulled out a disk glowing faintly with the word Yu carved into it. "One of the missing notes."
She slid it carefully into the Scoreholder. The metal sang faintly, one of the slots glowing with life.
"As I thought," I said with a nod.
"Look—the drum over there." Rover gestured. "It unlocked."
She struck the Loong Drum with the flat of her blade. The boom rippled through the chamber, raising a great bronze bell out of the water. Its resonance shook the walls.
"One down," I whispered, almost to myself.
Rover turned, a faint spark of satisfaction on her face. "The path reveals itself to us one step at a time."
But then, the water churned.
A sharp ripple split the surface before three Tacet Discords burst out, their warped limbs glistening as they screeched.
I cursed under my breath and reached for my pistol. "Shit—"
But before I could even draw, Rover was already moving.
Her blade flashed in the dim light, cutting an arc of silver through the air. One Discord lunged, but she moved faster than one can react,her hair whipping around her face as she drove her sword through its chest. The second creature barely had time to howl before she spun, her boot slamming into its jaw with bone-cracking force, blade following through to cleave it down.
The third tried to circle me, but Rover was faster. She slid across the slick floor with effortless grace, her sword finding the Discord's core in one precise strike.
By the time I'd managed to pull my pistol halfway from its holster, all three were already collapsing into smoke and shards of fading energy. What an insane reflex and reaction time how the fuck do I match that.
I blinked, stunned. "You didn't even let me draw my weapon."
Rover turned back toward me, brushing a strand of hair from her face with the back of her hand. The faintest smirk tugged at her lips. "You're slow," she teased, voice laced with amusement.
I clutched my chest dramatically. "Ouch. That stings." I pulled a mock-hurt face, exaggerating the pout just enough to earn the smallest laugh from her.
"Tacet Discords," she muttered, glancing around the place. Her tone grew serious again. "Inside City Hall?"
I crouched near one of the fading shards, tilting my head as I examined it. "No… they're not real. Digital simulations. Guards meant to test whoever tries to enter." I rose, scanning the dark water beyond the bells. "Strange though no sirens. No fucking alarms. Almost no security systems in place except those simulated Tacet Discords." If this is all the security measures they have here like fucking puzzles and Digital simulation I'm gonna be worried about possible data breaches of the Databases. my Communication Agency senses are repulsed. This is not up to Los Pollos Hermanos standards.
Rover's hand lingered near the hilt of her sword, her eyes sweeping the shadows. "It's unusually quiet."
Too fucking quiet for my liking.
The strange hum of the Sonodisk still echoed in my ears as Rover bent down to inspect it, her brow furrowed with concentration.
"...Multiply fifty-four with four thirds for the frequency you seek. Find this note in the West, while the prophet is beyond reach," I murmured, reading aloud the cryptic clue inscribed. My voice sounded flatter than I intended, caused I'm already fed up with this riddle bullshit, this is like those puzzles in a resident evil games annoying and cryptic asf.
Rover straightened up, lips pressed tight. "I suppose it's telling us where to find the next Sonodisk…" She tilted her head, dark eyes narrowing slightly. "It mentioned a direction, but… that last line… what does it mean?"
Before I could answer, a low, distorted noise rose from the west. Rover's gaze snapped in that direction. "That sound… it's coming from the west."
We followed the trail, the air damp and heavy with the scent of rust and stagnant water. The ground trembled faintly as another Sonodisk slotted into place. The water level dropped with a metallic groan. Rover placed her hand on her hip, exhaling slowly.
"That's the second one," I said, watching the mechanism work. "We should bring it to the Symphodai."
"The water level just dropped again," Rover observed, her tone laced with both relief and unease. "Another two drums—east and west. We might find more Sonodisks down there."
Her eyes flicked to me, just for a second. I caught the silent question: Are you holding up? I nodded quickly, pretending not to notice the way her shoulders eased after that. What the hell stop making me blush. your protagonist rizz is definitely working on me.
We solved our way through the puzzle, step by step, until at last the final bell rose from the water. That's when the ground cracked with a sharp vibration, and the shadows moved.
Out of the shimmering distortion,Simulated Tacet Discords manifested—grotesque, twisted shapes crawling into being. My heart thumped so hard it rattled in my ribs.
Rover drew her weapon instantly. "Looks like we got company," she said, bracing herself. "Time to deal with their guard dogs."
"Wait." My voice came out steadier than I expected.
She turned, eyebrows knitting in confusion. "Why?"
I stepped forward, tightening my grip on my sword. "Let me deal with this bunch. I'll be pretty pathetic if I just let you do all the work." I forced a smirk, angling it at her. "Let me show off once in a while, my lady."
Rover blinked, then… she laughed. Actually laughed, the sound light and almost disbelieving. "You're ridiculous." A playful smirk tugged at her lips as she stepped back a pace. "Fine then. Knock yourself out."
"My pleasure."
The first Discord lunged. I shifted my weight and met it halfway, thrusting my blade straight into its chest. Its shriek rattled the walls. I pulled free, switching smoothly to my pistol, and shot another that was closing in behind me. The sharp crack echoed, the bullet tearing straight through its warped head.
The Discord I had skewered twitched, still alive, but I pressed the barrel of my pistol against its skull and pulled the trigger. Its body collapsed instantly.
Another creature pounced, claws slashing for my side—I twisted, ducked low, and kicked its legs out from under it. Without looking, I spun and fired, the bullet piercing through its distorted form.
The last Discord came screeching, mouth wide. I raised my sword, every muscle burning, and with a single clean arc, I sliced clean through. Its head rolled to the stone floor, body twitching before fading into fucking oblivion.
My chest heaved. My grip on my sword trembled faintly, but I held my head up high.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Rover watching. Her lips parted slightly, eyes glimmering with something I couldn't read, her concern melting into admiration. That's right look how fucking cool I am. Thinking childishly.
She stepped closer, wiping her blade before putting it back into place. "I'll admit…" Her smile softened, though her gaze searched my face like she was checking for wounds. "That was… pretty cool. How did you learn to move like that? Did you learn all that when you were a soldier?"
I gave a tired half-smile, sheathing my sword and holstering my gun. "I should ask you the same thing." I let out a long breath and tilted my head toward the path ahead. "Let's just go to the damn Database. I'm getting sick of this place."
Rover chuckled quietly, but her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than they needed to. Like she was making sure I was really okay.
And for once, I didn't mind her worry. It makes me feel fucking giddy despite knowing how lame that sounds.
The echo of our footsteps lingered in the chamber, bouncing off damp stone walls and mechanical structures half-submerged in water. Rover walked ahead of me. Her shoulders were squared, but I could tell from the way her hand lingered near her weapon that she wasn't at ease.
"Jinzhou's City Hall is the political hub, while the Grand Library holds vital data," she muttered, almost to herself, her voice low and thoughtful. She glanced back at the Sonodisk chamber, brows knitting. "Considering how we just took out all those guards, this place is oddly under-protected. If my guess is correct…" She hesitated, her lips pressing into a line. "The Magistrate may have other plans for us."
"...Anyway," she said briskly, forcing a steadiness into her tone. "We'll keep going."
I bent down and retrieved the Sonodisk, its hum vibrating faintly against my palms. "That makes three," I said, trying to sound casual. "Time to head back."
The next bell groaned when I struck it into alignment, unlocking yet another platform. Rover's gaze softened, her lashes lowering as she whispered, "'The Bells will lead my path,' huh. We'll work out the passageways."
Her words were steady, but something about the way her hand lingered on the railing made me wonder if she was grounding herself.
We pressed deeper into the ruins. The air grew colder, heavier. Every step felt like it was pulling me further into someone else's design.
That's when the hairs on the back of my neck rose. The feeling gave me chills. Someone was watching.
My jaw tightened. That must be him…
Rover crouched, running her fingers along the edge of a broken platform. "Must be another Sonodisk," she murmured. Her eyes darted back to me, searching my face. I forced a thin smile and nodded, though my gut twisted.
The fourth Sonodisk—Zhi—was ours soon after.
"This is the fourth missing note," I said, setting it into place.
"Almost there," Rover replied, but her voice was softer now. The usual steel was there, sure, but I could hear the fatigue creeping in—the weight of expectation pressing down on both of us.
The water drained completely with a metallic groan, leaving behind a dark chasm of stone and rusted machinery. Rover's breath caught faintly, the glow of her eyes reflecting the emptiness below.
"One last note to go."
We didn't get far before the guards came.
Tacet Discords, grotesque and seething with warped energy, clawed into existence. Their screeches tore at my ears, and the chamber trembled under their weight.
Rover drew her weapon in a flash, her expression unreadable but her stance solid. I unsheathed my blade, pistol in my off-hand. My heartbeat pounded, adrenaline burning away the exhaustion in my legs.
"Ready?" I asked, half-grinning despite the sweat already gathering at my brow.
Rover shot me a sideways glance. Her lips curved—not a smile, but something close. "Always."
They came at us in waves.
One lunged straight for Rover—I slid between them, blade flashing, cleaving it across the chest. Black ichor hissed as it splattered on the stone floor. Another came from behind—I fired two shots without turning, the recoil rattling my arm as the Discord crumpled, shrieking.
Rover movements were precise, sharp, and fucking merciless. She ducked under a claw swipe, twisted her blade upward, and drove it through another Discord's throat. The glow of her Resonance flickered around, her expression calm but eyes burning.
I barely had time to admire it before one slammed into me, knocking the wind from my chest. I gritted my teeth, forcing my pistol between its jaws, and fired. The blast sprayed blood-like distortion across my face. I shoved the corpse off and staggered to my feet.
"Jeff!" Rover's voice cracked with alarm. She cut down another enemy and rushed toward me, worry etched plainly across her face. "You're hurt—"
"I'm fine," I panted, forcing a smirk through the sting in my ribs. "Just… don't worry about me, this is just a canon event for my character development."
Her lips twitched like she wanted to scold me, but instead, she shook her head and cut down another Discord with a sharp, practiced swing.
Together, we finished them off. My blade sliced clean through the last one's skull, while Rover's strike shattered its distorted chest. Silence followed, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing.
I wiped the back of my hand across my cheek, smearing ichor away. "This is the last one," Rover murmured, chest heaving faintly. Her gaze scanned the carnage, jaw tightening. "They've prepared quite the welcome for us."
I bent down, lifting the final Sonodisk—its hum resonating low, steady, and final. "We have the last one ready."
Rover straightened, shoulders rising with a deep breath. "Time to go back to the Symphodai."
We moved toward the database chamber, the Sonodisks glowing faintly in our hands like fragments of something ancient. Rover's steps were quiet but purposeful, though every so often she looked back at me, worry flickering behind her eyes like she couldn't stop checking if I was keeping up.
Finally, the chamber opened before us, towering and alive with hidden power. Rover's lips parted in awe, but her words came steady. "Now… we should have access to the Database."
I let out a long, tired groan, rubbing my sore shoulder. "Fucking finally."
Rover's laughter echoed in the chamber, making the weight in my chest a little easier to carry. I can't wait to be done with this shit.