Two Weeks After the Incident
Arnold sat in silence.
The room felt heavy
Then—
"Look, Karry."
Karry lifted his head.
Arnold's gaze was calm, yet cold.
"Karry, the situation is worse than you think. The higher authorities have decided to give us special orders."
Karry frowned slightly.
"Sir… what is happening?"
Arnold watched him for a moment.
Then—
"Do you, by any chance, know about the Tower of Arshan?"
Karry blinked.
"Pardon?"
A faint shift crossed Arnold's expression—then vanished.
"No… it's nothing. Forget it."
Karry stepped out into the hallway.
Silence followed him.
He walked past the rookie floor, where newly assigned members moved quietly, their voices low, their presence uncertain.
He stopped near a window and looked outside.
The ground was covered in a strange brown powder—unnatural, lifeless.
People passed by him, but no one spoke.
No one stayed long enough to meet his eyes.
Footsteps approached.
Kernel.
"Meet me today at 5:00 PM in my room."
Karry turned.
"I'll explain everything you want to know," Kernel said calmly.
A pause.
"First, read the files given to you by the captain."
He stepped past Karry, then added—
"And don't forget. Room number 47."
Kernel turned back and walked in the opposite direction.
Karry continued forward alone.
His steps echoed faintly as he moved through the corridor, passing by the laboratories. The cold, metallic environment felt endless—rows of identical doors stretching into the distance.
After a while, he reached his section.
He didn't hesitate.
Above him, a sign marked the area clearly:
Rookie Floor.
Karry walked toward his assigned room—10076.
A few rookies stood outside their rooms, speaking in low voices.
But the moment Karry passed by, something shifted.
Their conversations faded.
Their eyes avoided him.
No one spoke to him.
No one even acknowledged his presence.
It was as if he didn't exist.
Or worse—
as if they chose not to notice him.
Karry said nothing.
He simply walked past them… and entered his room.
Inside the Room
The door unlocked with a dull click.
Darkness.
Cold steel walls, painted deep blue.
He stepped inside and turned on the lights.
The room brightened instantly.
Karry looked around slowly.
"How do you make this white color…?"
His eyes caught a control switch.
He turned it.
The blue shifted.
Then—
white.
He stood still for a moment.
Then looked around again.
A shelf.
A mirror.
A bed.
A table.
A few neatly placed photos.
Everything felt… too arranged.
He walked into the bathroom and scanned it briefly.
"This is cool… I've never experienced a facility like this before."
He stepped back out and sat down.
Silence settled once more.
His gaze dropped to the files.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then—
he picked them up.
Slowly.
"What is this…?"
[End of Chapter]