Damn it… this company is disgusting no matter where you go.
Arthur recalled what had just happened with Hill. The good mood he'd gained from acquiring the EGO accessory had completely soured.
If I'd known he'd turn out like that, I might as well have gone and trained the newcomers.
Walking down the orange corridor, Arthur let out a quiet sigh. Still, he was clear about his next move.
His plan was simple. His work was done, which meant he was free to go anywhere. So he arrived early at the Control Department's command center.
"Arthur? Long time no see…"Yulia looked genuinely surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be in the Training Department today?"
With her memory reset, it was natural for her to be startled by the sudden appearance of this rarely seen "Anomaly expert."
"Less chatter. Don't mind me," Arthur waved her off. "I'm just here to kill time."
He greeted her casually, then found a corner and sat down on the floor, waiting.
Just as he expected—
Everything unfolded exactly like that time.
The same lockdown.The same sudden emergency.The same Anomaly.
The only difference was that this time, Arthur refused.
"Arthur… I'm begging you…"
Even now, Byrd looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Byrd," Arthur said calmly, patting the boy's shoulder, lowering his voice,"I think this job is actually very safe. Most likely…"
This wasn't sarcasm. It was his genuine assessment. After all, Terraria didn't have Blood Moons every night, nor did giant eyeballs descend from the sky daily.
But the system's task was already complete. Arthur had no intention of gambling his life again.
"You haven't even been in there!" Byrd finally broke down.
Who says I haven't?Arthur's eyebrow twitched irritably. The outcome just wasn't very pretty.
"Enough!" Yulia snapped impatiently."Byrd, act like a man. This is your job, not Arthur's."
She waved toward the door. "Someone escort him in."
When Byrd saw the M4 barrel pointed squarely at him, he shrank back.
He knew the choice well:possible death inside the Containment Room, or certain death by refusal.
"Arthur… you've really kept him alive longer than most," Yulia muttered, watching Byrd appear on the monitor outside the Containment Room.
"When does the work start?" Arthur leaned closer to the screen.
"In three minutes," Yulia replied, surprised. "You came here just for him?"
"…Sigh." Arthur didn't bother explaining.
On the monitor, Byrd entered the Containment Room.The second door closed.
Nothing happened.
Ten minutes passed.Thirty minutes.An hour.
"Work completed. Result — poor," Yulia read the feedback and sighed."Within expectations."
She stood up and walked toward the coffee machine. Poor results were nothing new.
Arthur, however, kept staring at the screen.
One minute later, he spoke calmly.
"Yulia. Something's wrong."
"Huh?" She paused mid-brew and rushed back."Byrd? You alive in there?!"
Normally, employees couldn't wait to escape a Containment Room.
Silence meant only two things:He didn't want to come out—or he couldn't.
After three minutes, security was ordered in.
When they saw the inside, one of them frowned.
"Senior Yulia… Byrd is dead."
"Dead?" Yulia looked surprised—for a split second.
Arthur caught it.The faint sadness that flashed across her face—quickly buried.
"That's good," she said flatly. "At least he's free from this hell."
She touched the ice scar on her face—the Snow Queen's mark—then turned back toward the coffee machine.
Arthur watched her for a moment.
"Yulia," he said quietly, "grant me access to K3. I'll take a look."
"…Fine," she replied without turning."Bring the body to the Information Department if you can. Saves me the trouble."
K3 Containment Room
The gate opened.
Even Arthur—long accustomed to blood—felt a wave of nausea.
The scent of oak was completely drowned by the stench of blood.
Looks like he still ran into it…
He stepped onto the oak floor, now soaked crimson.
Torches still burned, illuminating the scene like a grotesque banquet.
Limbs.Organs.Byrd had been torn apart.
One thing stood out.
In the corner, Byrd's head lay intact—untouched.His face frozen in terror, pupils wide, as if they had witnessed absolute despair.
"…Rest in peace."
Arthur reached out and gently closed the eyes that death hadn't.
He felt no guilt—only pity.
If he had gone in instead, this would have been him.
So then…
Arthur lifted his gaze and searched the room.
Finally, in another corner—
The Guide.
Compared to Byrd, the body was almost intact. Only the abdomen had been hollowed out, the head bowed forward.
No signs of revival…
Arthur drew his pistol and approached cautiously.
Just as he bent down to inspect—
A familiar male voice spoke from behind him.
"Oh… my predecessor died so miserably…"
"I truly hope I won't end up like that."