Arknights - Echoes Of The Unfound Dawn

Within the Shadows of the Building.

the dimly lit room seemed to warp around Mephisto as he stood by the battered table, the reports now open before him. His crimson eyes scanned the pages quickly, his expression shifting from amusement to focused intensity. The faint creak of footsteps echoed behind him as a few more Reunion members gathered, awaiting instructions.

Mephisto tilted his head slightly, addressing the group without looking up. "You've done well to bring these reports. But... I can't help but feel a twinge of curiosity," he said softly, his tone laced with mockery. "Do you even understand what all of this means?"

One of the operatives, a wiry man with a nervous disposition, hesitated before answering. "We—uh, we've followed orders, sir. The crates, the shipments, everything's in place as per your instructions."

Mephisto let out a small laugh, closing the report and finally meeting their eyes. "Of course. Following orders without question... how admirable." His voice dripped with sarcasm, but the operatives knew better than to respond.

Mephisto stepped closer to the group, placing a hand on the table and leaning forward. "Do you know what's fascinating about Lungmen?" he began, his tone shifting to one of genuine intrigue. "It's a city built on contradictions. A shining beacon of progress, yet plagued by rot beneath the surface. And we, my dear comrades, will be the catalyst that exposes it all."

The operatives exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of where he was going.

"The crates you've so dutifully delivered contain more than just weapons," Mephisto explained, a sinister smile forming. "They hold the means to disrupt Lungmen's fragile order—infected spores, volatile agents... tools that will turn their own streets into chaos. It's poetic, really. The same city that shuns us will crumble from within."

One of the soldiers, bolder than the rest, asked hesitantly, "And... the spies you mentioned?"

Mephisto clapped his hands lightly, as if congratulating the questioner. "Ah, yes. The ever-watchful eyes of Lungmen's intelligence network. You see, these crates are also... bait. Their presence will lure out those who think themselves clever enough to infiltrate us. Once they're exposed, we'll deal with them accordingly."

The room fell silent for a moment, the operatives digesting the enormity of his plan.

"Simple, yet elegant," Mephisto continued, his voice rising slightly with excitement. "And once the chaos begins, their attention will be scattered. That's when the real fun starts."

Mephisto straightened, his expression turning more serious. "Now, for the final piece of the puzzle. The bombs."

He pulled out a crumpled map of Lungmen, spreading it across the table. The faded lines and annotations marked key areas of the city.

"Here," he said, pointing to a cluster of buildings near the commercial district. "This will create a distraction, drawing the LGD's forces away from more critical zones."

His finger moved to another spot, closer to a major thoroughfare. "And here. This one will disrupt their supply lines."

Finally, he tapped a location near an underground metro station. "This is the critical point. The explosion here will not only damage their infrastructure but also trap reinforcements trying to respond to the chaos."

The operatives nodded, though unease lingered in their eyes. One of them finally spoke up. "Are we certain these locations will... achieve the desired effect?"

Mephisto's eyes gleamed with something close to amusement. "Oh, I assure you, the effect will be spectacular. You'll see soon enough."

Satisfied with his instructions, Mephisto reached for a mobile radio on the table. Connected to the device was a small, intricate jammer that emitted a faint hum.

"This," he said, gesturing to the setup, "ensures our little chat remains private. Lungmen's detectors are good, but not good enough to crack this."

He tuned the frequency with deliberate precision before pressing the call button. "Faust," he said, his voice calm but expectant.

A moment later, Faust's composed voice crackled through the radio. "Mephisto."

"Tell me, dear Faust, when do we begin?" Mephisto asked, leaning back against the wall as if the question were a mere formality.

Faust's response was measured, as always. "The timeline depends on Tallulah's final approval. The preparations on our end are complete, but she's still evaluating the timing. Likely within the next 24 hours."

Mephisto frowned slightly, though his tone remained light. "Ah, Tallulah and her meticulous ways. Always so careful."

Faust replied evenly, "It's necessary. A single misstep could jeopardize everything."

Mephisto's grin returned, sharper this time. "Of course, of course. But don't you think a little chaos adds to the charm?"

Faust didn't respond to the remark, instead continuing with updates on the operational logistics. Mephisto listened with half an ear, his mind already racing ahead to the moment the plan would unfold.

"Very well," he said finally, cutting off the call. "Let me know when the signal comes."

Turning back to the operatives in the room, Mephisto clapped his hands once more. "You heard him. Get moving. Every second counts."

The soldiers saluted and quickly dispersed, their footsteps echoing through the building as they hurried to execute his orders.

Left alone, Mephisto stared out of the boarded-up window, the faint light catching the predatory glint in his eyes. "Soon," he murmured to himself, a soft, almost childlike giggle escaping his lips. "Very soon, Lungmen will learn what it means to cross Reunion."

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Back at the Restaurant

The restaurant, though still dusty and partially cluttered, had undergone a transformation from its earlier state of neglect. Chairs and tables were now clean and arranged, though some were wobbly and old. The air carried the faint scent of cleaning agents mixed with the lingering aroma of dust. Outside, the kids sprawled on the chairs in front of the restaurant door, taking a well-earned break.

Xian came out holding a tray stacked with snacks and bottles of water. Placing them on a nearby table, he waved them over. "Alright, break time. Don't eat too fast—you'll choke."

Rico snatched a piece of bread and muttered with a mouth full, "As if that's ever happened before."

Elisa shot him a sharp look. "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's gross."

Rico rolled his eyes but obeyed, mumbling something incoherent.

Nia sat quietly, nibbling at her snack. She glanced at the horizon where the sun was beginning to dip lower, casting a warm, golden hue over the cityscape. "It feels nice sitting here like this," she said softly.

Mira, shy but more relaxed now, nodded in agreement. "It's... peaceful."

Finn, always quick to fill silences, leaned back on his chair and grinned. "Peaceful for now. Just wait till Xian starts assigning us more work."

The group chuckled, but Tobi, always the optimist, added cheerfully, "At least we're not cleaning anymore!"

One of the boys, Rico, leaned forward. "So, boss, what's next? I mean, after the cleaning's done?"

Xian, who had been sipping from his water bottle, paused. "Next? We go shopping. Tools, furniture, kitchen equipment—you name it."

"Shopping?" Mira asked hesitantly.

"Yup," Xian said, standing up and stretching. "This place isn't going to run itself. We need a functional kitchen, tables that don't wobble, and tools to keep everything in shape. You'll see when we get there."

The kids nodded, though some were more enthusiastic than others. Finn raised an eyebrow. "Shopping sounds boring. Can we at least grab some snacks while we're out?"

Xian smirked. "Snacks, huh? If you carry everything we buy, maybe."

Finn groaned dramatically, earning a laugh from the group.

The wind picked up slightly, rustling their hair. The faint strains of loud music reached them from the distance, likely from a street performance or nearby market. Xian mentally noted the time—3 p.m. The sun hovered mid-sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the pavement.

"Alright, break's over," Xian announced, clapping his hands. "The faster we get this done, the sooner we can relax."

The kids groaned but reluctantly got to their feet, brushing off crumbs.

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The bus ride to the mall was lively. The kids pressed their faces to the windows, marveling at the bustling streets of Lungmen. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass facades gleaming under the sunlight, while the hum of the city created a lively backdrop.

"Look at that billboard!" Tobi exclaimed, pointing to an advertisement featuring a brightly dressed idol.

Rico scoffed. "Bet she can't sing live."

Elisa sighed. "Can you not ruin everything you see?"

The bus stopped, and the group filed out, entering the sprawling mall. Inside, the air was cool, and the polished floors reflected the light from overhead fixtures. The kids stared in awe at the sheer size of the place.

Xian pulled out a hastily written list. "Alright, here's what we need: cleaning supplies, kitchen tools, furniture, and anything else that looks useful. Stick together, don't touch anything expensive, and don't wander off."

They navigated through the aisles, picking out items. Rico and Tobi pushed a cart, bickering over who got to steer it. Finn trailed behind, trying to sneak snacks into the cart without Elisa noticing.

"This is heavier than it looks," Tobi grumbled, carrying a bulky box of cleaning supplies.

"That's because you're weak," Rico retorted.

Finn chuckled, grabbing a smaller box. "Weak? Tobi could probably carry you and the box if he tried."

The group laughed as they continued shopping, stopping occasionally to admire gadgets or toys on display.

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After nearly two hours of shopping, they stopped at a snack bar in the food court. Plates of steaming food and cold drinks covered the table as the kids dug in eagerly.

"This is the best part of the day," Rico said through a mouthful of food.

"You always think eating is the best part," Elisa said, rolling her eyes but smiling.

Xian leaned back in his chair, watching the group with a faint smile. Despite their quirks, they were getting along well, and the dynamic reminded him of something close to family.

As the meal wound down, Mira hesitated before whispering to Elisa. Elisa nodded, then turned to Xian. "Mira needs to use the bathroom. Nia and I will go with her."

Xian frowned slightly. "Don't get lost, and come back quickly."

"Got it," Elisa said confidently, leading the way.

The girls wandered toward the restrooms, chatting softly. As they exited and began heading back to the snack bar, a hand suddenly grabbed Nia's arm. She froze, eyes wide with fear, as the other two turned to see who it was.

The man was tall, with a scruffy beard and a harsh expression. Recognition dawned on Mira's face, and she took a step back. "You're... you're that man from before..."

"Didn't think I'd run into you here," the man said with a sneer. "You three caused me a lot of trouble back then."

Nia tried to pull her arm free, but his grip tightened. "Let go of her!" Elisa demanded, stepping forward despite her trembling hands.

The man chuckled darkly. "Why should I? You owe me, remember?"

Before the situation could escalate further, a sharp voice cut through the tension. "What do you think you're doing?"

All eyes turned to see a petite but commanding figure.

Swire stood there, her off-duty attire immaculate, yet her demeanor carried the unmistakable authority of the LGD. Her golden hair shimmered under the mall lights, and her sharp blue eyes bore into the man with an intensity that made him flinch.

"You," the man stammered. "You're with the LGD..."

"Exactly," Swire said, stepping closer. "And unless you want to spend the night in a cell, I suggest you let her go."

The man hesitated, then released Nia, muttering something under his breath before retreating into the crowd.

Swire turned to the girls, her stern expression softening slightly. "Are you okay?"

Nia nodded shakily, but tears welled up in her eyes. She began to cry, her small frame trembling.

Swire knelt down, unsure how to comfort her. "Hey, hey, it's okay now. He's gone. You're safe."

The other girls tried to console Nia, but her sobs continued. Swire sighed, then suddenly brightened as an idea struck her. "You know what always made me feel better when I was upset?"

The girls looked at her curiously.

"Shopping," Swire said with a small smile. "Why don't we go find something nice for you? My treat."

Though hesitant, the suggestion slowly brought a faint smile to Nia's tear-streaked face. The girls nodded, and Swire led them back toward the shops, her protective aura ensuring no one dared approach them again.