Ding!
【Encounter Triggered】
An encounter that had appeared without me noticing.
【Outsider of the Criminal Containment Zone】
—You have already attacked the Criminal Containment Zone. Future relations with the survivors involved will be determined by how you respond from this point on.
[(Attack)]
This moment marked one of the turning points.
The system asked whether I would do more here.
The mere asking meant a lot was at stake.
So this was a clear green light.
The very existence of this encounter proved that my choices were changing something.
What choice should I make?
The answer was already decided.
Even if I chose the “attack” option, it wouldn’t automatically make us enemies with the Liberation Alliance.
I’d scattered the Monello Family’s spoils as clues for that reason.
Still, I couldn’t be sure what the outcome would be.
That remained pure speculation.
If the system were a simple one that could predict the correct action, then—
I swallowed the faint sigh I’d been holding back.
Even after deciding the right course, I paused at the thought of delaying the detonation of the entrance.
‘As expected.’
I couldn’t do that.
There was no turning back now.
‘I’ll blow the entrance as planned…’
We’d brought a large number of high-pressure oxygen tanks.
I could only hope the firepower would be enough.
‘The problem is how to turn them into bombs.’
To be honest, I didn’t know exactly how to make explosives from [high-pressure oxygen tanks].
After all, that was something the player character had crafted with a skill.
I couldn’t directly recreate a process that had been completed with a few clicks.
‘I only know that you have to separate out the oxygen canisters.’
Just after takeoff, having slipped out of the Containment Zone to avoid attention, I had no choice but to study Eli’s face closely.
“So, you want me to turn oxygen tanks into bombs?”
“Yes.”
“This is a little… unsettling.”
“Will it be difficult?”
A brief silence.
She looked like she was deep in thought, nodding her head slowly.
When she finally answered:
“You asked the wrong question. You should be asking how much explosive power we can get.”
The small worry that had been lingering vanished neatly.
“I’ve never used compressed liquid oxygen as an explosive before…but it’s not impossible.”
Had I gone too far with that request?
Eli gave me a conflicted look and fell quiet.
“…Let’s at least see what you brought.”
She rummaged through the military backpack, though nothing particularly special had been packed.
“If we use this with it, I think it’ll work.”
In her hand she held a plasma battery.
And 9 mm pistol rounds.
‘The battery might come in handy…’
“…….”
“Your expression is odd. You’re not seriously thinking you could make a bomb with just tanks, are you?”
“Hmm.”
I thought the player skill had allowed the crafting before.
Now that I thought about it, a few preparatory tools had probably been needed too.
Because explosives are so far outside the meta, memories were fuzzy.
Of course I couldn’t say that out loud.
Feigning ignorance and nodding was the best move.
“I brought these just in case they’d be needed.”
“Good thinking.”
How much time would it take to make an oxygen bomb?
I glanced up at the sky.
It was already dim; the sun was setting.
The sky, filled with gray smoke from countless fires, was tinged with dusk.
Watching that scene, a clammy sense of unease coiled around me.
‘It’s okay, there’s no need to rush.’
Do the best I can in the limited time.
The starting point had already shifted.
“There isn’t much time.”
No, we couldn’t be relaxed.
The time until mutants appeared was…
tight.
My mind was already at the Fifth Defense Army base.
I wanted to hurry there now, finish preparing to hunt the mutants.
But that would be a waste of time.
Once mutants appear, the situation spreads in an instant—that was a given.
Starting the hunt a bit earlier wouldn’t contain the outbreak.
On the other hand, severing the roads in the Containment Zone was something we could do only right now.
And we’d already been guaranteed that this choice would change something.
‘The Engineers’ Union… they’ve always been lacking.’
Back on the road.
Their weapons might be advanced, but their living conditions were far worse.
But if a small action like this could raise their survival odds…
‘It’s a worthwhile trade.’
Necessary.
Once I turned that into the catalyst for action, I had no intention of abandoning that standard.
“Ah.”
Had I been getting too intense?
Eli glanced at me.
Her answer came soon after.
“Five minutes.”
Short, but perfect.
“Please.”
***
“Good thing Mother had us sort the rounds separately.”
“Was it the mafia bastards?”
“Definitely. Only they’d do something like this.”
“Those bastards—what were they thinking…”
Scattered circumstantial evidence.
Those who had started calling themselves the Liberation Alliance gathered with grim expressions.
“How’s the tracking going?”
“We’re short-handed. And it was a hover bike to begin with.”
Even though the execution was in its final stages, it wasn’t completely finished yet.
They couldn’t just pull people away at random.
That would blow back on them.
The tension was thickening.
“Wouldn’t it be better to go ourselves?”
The crowd bristled, ready to move at a moment’s notice.
“Don’t act rashly. He’s already left the Containment Zone.”
A group trying to calm them, urging them to watch the situation unfold.
The two groups’ exchange was about to boil over into argument when a panicked voice rang out.
“He’s back!”
“……!!”
A finger pointed at empty air.
They turned their heads and found someone unknown looking down at them.
“I’m really curious. What on earth was he thinking?”
If he’d raided supplies and fled, he could have just vanished.
Why had he come back?
“Is it possible his men are still inside the containment zone?”
“Is that so……!!”
Right.
If that was the reason, we could catch them again.
The Liberation Alliance members’ faces twisted savagely.
“Can we deploy snipers?”
“If we don’t take them in one shot they’ll just get away. It’s too far to be sure of a hit.”
“What if we hold fire until they come within range?”
“Of course that’s worth a try.”
A hostile gang member who had even deceived the Liberation Alliance.
There was not the slightest thought of letting them go.
The moment all action guidelines were set, people cut down needless talk and started watching the situation.
But.
It didn’t take long before they sensed something was off about the direction.
“……Where are they going?”
The hover bike was skirting the perimeter instead of heading toward the containment zone’s interior.
“Predict their direction and move!”
Urgent voices burst out as those gripping rifles rushed to respond.
But for some reason, their actions made no sense at all.
‘Could they be trying to shake us off—anticipating this?’
Complicated thoughts began to crowd my mind.
Then they realized.
Something was wrong.
“What is—?”
The man and his companion stopped exactly at the containment zone’s entrance.
They began installing something on the ground.
“Shoot—now!”
Time felt frozen for a moment.
Unlike the frantic ones around them, those at the entrance worked with painstaking care.
Then they shouted to everyone nearby.
—Get away!
What were they warning about?
They already knew the answer, but they found themselve screaming anyway, hoping it were wrong.
“Stop—!!!!”
“Shoot them—right now!”
Some who sensed the danger quickly leveled their guns.
Ta-aaang—!
Bang! Bang!
Ta-aaang!
Soon the hover bike lifted.
If that bridge is destroyed—
‘Mother…!’
Their leader Mother and her children’s return route would be cut off.
And whoever wanted to break that way…
“Wait, what about the other entrance…?”
“Ah.”
A short breath.
Answering that sigh came a tremendous roar.
Kwaaaaang─!!
Kugugugugung…!!
Heat and thunderous noise from behind.
Because the hover bike driver was still inexperienced, his palms were damp.
“Eli, what about the other side?”
“Good thing I converted one into a time bomb.”
That answer was enough.
Truly, someone of the Weiris bloodline—she’d modified it in that short span so it could be used like a timed explosive.
Right after installing one, we set explosives at the opposite gate as well; the timing was perfect and both collapsed at once.
There were none of those naive thoughts like, ‘Was this the right choice?’
Only a firm conviction: ‘This choice was necessary.’
‘Now the containment zone’s technicians will be a bit safer.’
Those people might be needed in the future.
When mutants appear.
Will they resent us for collapsing the entrance so they can’t escape?
Or will they thank us for foresight?
I didn’t know.
The system of this world didn’t decide such things.
Only one thing might have to be accepted.
If scattering clues didn’t take hold properly, annoying problems could arise later.
‘Or they might even be grateful.’
Mother.
Perhaps she’d turn isolation into a fortified stronghold.
Maybe.
And if things played out that way…
Then there’d be no need to hide it.
It might even be a good tactic to come clean and curry favor.
“Phew…….”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it.”
Well.
Would I really grow used to it?
When I glanced back for a moment, there was no tension on her face.
Instead, there was a strange excitement.
‘Bloody Eli.’
That title coming to mind now was probably just a coincidence.
I hoped it was.
“Come to think of it… getting used to it might not be such a bad thing.”
“……No, on second thought, I don’t think getting used to it is good.”
[Bloody Eli]
Would be an incredible ally when on the same side.
I hope that day comes.
“Mm.”
Enough musing.
With that, the situation in the containment zone was over.
There was no need to think about what came after yet.
There’d be plenty to handle soon enough.
Turning the hover bike’s nose toward the Fifth Defense Army base, a message arrived as if waiting.
Ding!
[(Unexpected: Isolate the area)]
[Result: Stress +10]
‘That’s a dud’
But whatever.
We’d gained a lot already.
‘Now the technicians might survive a little longer.’
That was enough.
Even that alone made it worthwhile.