''Go ahead.''
104 responded.
I exhaled.
''How did you noticed the elimination system?''
104 looked at me silently for a few seconds. Then, he aswered.
''Whan I first entered the meeting hall, I noticed 2 empty seats.''
His voice was too calm.
''I walked toward one randomly and asked the participant nearby if someone was sitting there.''
He paused for a second to adjust his eye cover.
''He told me the person hadn't shown up for two days. And I sat nearby that person.''
I stayed quiet. Letting him continue.
''At first, I considered multiple possibilities. A special permit? Medical isolation? Voluntary absence? Or having already left.''
His pale eye shifted slightly.
''But the atmosphere here felt too controlled.
I have no comment to say anything.
''I asked another question to nearby participant wherher that person had been sick two days ago. And the answer was negative.''
...
How does he--?
''In the end, I reached a simple conclusion. This organization had a removal structure.''
M-Maybe he just read the system's principles beforehand.
A notification sound suddenly came from 104's pocket.
He opened his button phone and glanced its screen. Was this already using by someone?
Then, for the first time--
His expression changed slightly.
''System principles''
He looked at me confused.
''What's that?''
He walked away.
...
I was...
Amazed.
He looked like someone with complete control over his own mind.
Maybe, that alone was enough to make him rank one.
I slowly reached into my pocket and pulled out my smartphone.
There was an unread email from yesterday, when I was absent.
From the system. I opened it.
''Mobile module for the interface. Download it to comminucate everywhere, or display aything you want.''
Convenient. Too convenient.
I pressed download.
The installation finished almost instantly.
Then the application opened by itself.
Wait.
Why did it launch automatically?
A strange feeling crawled into my chest.
What if--
I tried to left the application.
No response.
I closed my phone and opened it.
In vain.
When I opened, the same app opened instantly.
As if it has stucked into my phone. Like a parasite.
...
A big mistake. Clicking the mail so casually.
Stupid.
I should't have trusted this mysterious system.
What was the point of forcing the system into our personal devices?
Control? Survelience?
Or...
Something worse.
Making us not to distract from anything, from the real world.
Suddenly, I remembered a system principle.
''Exit from the complex is not possible except for elections.''
Maybe, the real objective wasn't trapping our bodies.
Maybe it was also trapping our minds into this place.
...
I exhaled quietly.
''Let's try to use then.''
I muttered.
I checked the tabs at the bottom. They were the same as on the computer. But one thing was completely different.
I clicked onto my profile.
The screen filled with text.
[System log]
PARTICİPANT PROFILE
Participant ID: 518
Name: Yukio Enomoto
Current rank:998
COGNITIVE STATISTICS
IQ: 65
Capacity: 88
Potential: 97
Physical: 55
Social Adaptability: 60
SYSTEM EVALUATION SCALE
System score - Approximate human equivalent - Classification
40-59----------------- Average to capable-------------------Avarage
60-69 ------------------Slightly above avarage ------------Above avarage
70-79--------------- Semi-elite human capability---------- Advanced
80-89 --------------------Elite human capability-------------- Observation worthy
90-96-------------- Beyond conventional development ---Abnormal
97-99 --------------Unpredictable growth pattern -------------Irregular
100 -----------------------Unreachable ceiling --------------------Undefined
Your avarage is 73, This makes you Advanced.
Don't forget, you can increase every stat except IQ. Unless you are concealing it.
SYSTEMS EVALUATION
Participant 518 demonstrates unusually stable cognitive adaptation under pressure.
Despite possessing mostly moderate metrics, the participant consistently reaches efficient conclusions through irregular behavioral synthesis and adaptive intuition.
Potential growth pattern currently exceeds predicted psychological containment thresholds.
...
I stared at the screen silently.
It didn't feel like an evaluation.
It felt like a warning.
So, That proves the fact that they know our pasts again.
The mystery even I can't solve.
And they wrote evaluations for every participant?
Not just ours.
The other groups existed too.
Which means--
They probably repeated this process thousands of times already.
So, Brain really have a big group that working for him.
At least that makes sense.
And The potential thing lingered in my mind..
97?
I spent almost four years isolated inside a small apartment.
Alone. Doing nothing meaningful.
So what exactly did they see in me?
I guess I will never know it.
Yukio Enomoto.
I stared at the name for a few seconds.
I tapped onto the small cross line. Straight to the main menu.
I moved to the messaging section. And typed her number on the search.
The interface was absurdly smooth and minimalist. Like the complex itself.
I started typing.
''Back row. Same place as last time. I'll be waiting there.''
Recipient: 220.
Sent.
I put the phone back into my pocket and started walking.
...
The cafeteria was quieter than usual.
I entered the row. There was no one waiting.
''Hello?''
The server arrived at the back of the wall.
''Lentil soup right? here you go.''
I got my tray and went straight at the back rows.
...
I sat down and started to wait.
I carefully removed the small collar pin from my uniform.
Then quietly placed i onto the table beside the bowl.
Thin white vapor slowly rose upward from the soup.
...
Wait.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Vapor?
I stared at the soup for a few seconds.
Warm?
I slowly blew air onto the soup.
For the first time in days, I felt slightly relieved.
At least they weren't cruel enough to serve cold food like they did in other lunch breaks.
I picked up the spoon without thinking much and took a sip.
...
My body froze.
Cold. Like ice.
It felt like someone blended lentil soup together with ice cubes.
What the hell is this?
I immediately looked back at the bowl in disbelief.
Then suddenly--
''Hah--''
A laugh escaped from across the table.
I immediately raised my head. 220 was sitting in front of me.
One hand covering her mouth while her shoulders slightly shook.
For a moment--
I genuinely couldn't connect this version of her with the person inside the meeting hall.
''You seriously believed it was hot?''
I stayed silent.220 leaned back slightly, still trying to suppress another laugh.
''In a five degree cafeteria.''
220 slowly calmed down and grabbed one of the meatballs from the tray.
''Maybe this one at least edible.''
She took a bite and chewed once.
Then immediately leaned sideways.
''What the hell--?''
She grabbed a napkin and spat it out with a disgusted expression.
''Are they seriously expecting humans to eat this?''
I lowered my head slightly.
A laugh escaped from me before I could stop it.
''Yeah In a five degree cafeteria. And you seriously tried while aware of it.''
220 pushed the tray away with visible disappointment.
''Look at this thing. It feels like there are ice cubes inside.''
Without saying anything anything, ı slowly moved my soup bowl closer toward her.
Then tilted it slightly.
Small pieces of ice quietly floated near the surface.
...
220 stared for a second.
Then burst out laughing again.
This time--
I laughed too.
For a brief moment, the cafeteria no longer felt like part of the complex.
...
''Anyways,'' She said.
''Why you called me here?''
She looked at me with serious expression this time.
Like no one ever will guess what happened a minute ago.
''Umm, look at this. I got a valuable thing.''
I got the collar pin and as I lifted in air--
''How?''
''What do you mean?''
''Nothing.''
Weird. She is acting weird.
I handed the collar pin.
She lifted on the air and started examining.
After a full minute, she finally said something.
''I have no idea what this is.''
''Alright let me explain.''
She put her elbow on the table and started listening carefully.
''Yesterday, When I was returning from cafeteria to infirmary, I noticed something off.''
''Something off?'' She repearted.
''I noticed a black figure and a stand laid on the ground. With wheels.''
''And?''
''I interacted with the figure and he said That he is the traveling point store.''
I said the last part in low pitch.
''So it really exist. huh?''
''Not one of them! 15 of them wandering around!''
She seemed excited.
''And you bought this right? How much and what else did he sold?''
I swallowed.
''I asked the price. The buying system was same.''
I exhaled.
''100 points. I might even be lucky that they aren't higher.''
She stood up in shock.
''That's way too expensive! Even higher than my pen!''
''I know. but he seemed nice. He even told the aspects of this pin.''
She cleaned her throat.
''What is it?''
''When you shake it, you can access restricted areas for a short time without violating the rules.''
She sat down.
''That's really good.''
She handed the pin over carefully.
I weared it on the same location.
''For the question, they were other things.''
I leaned closer, whispering now.
''They were coats, pressure meters, thermometers, gas masks, thermal clothings, pins... And probably, They were higher.''
220's eyes lit up and moved her hand towards her chin.
''Convenient. Too convenient. Great exploration 518. You can't be the crisis support.''
''Nothing special. I just fount it with pure luck.''
She stopped for a second.
''But you probably calculated which of the products you could buy without geting into a debt. That shows you are worthy for the committee.'
She was right. I asked the man too much questions about this.
''Anyways, there is a thing I wanted to suggest.''
''What is it?''
''We need to make a long-term plan about who and How to add someone to our community.''
She paused for a moment before reaching into the pocket of her coat.
''...Actually.''
She pulled out her ourple noteboook.
Then, another folded papter slipped out together with it.
A map.
...
Then, another object came out.
A compass. the kind that hangs from the neck.
Then, The same expensive flashlight.
Then a rolled piece of string.
''Sorry. I am gonna take your time a bit.''
Then, she pulled another notebook. but this time, it was orange.
I stared with a suprised expression. Watching silently.
She kept going.
A thermometer, a pen, a folded cafeteria schedule I guess.
And the lighted that Brain gave. Empty. And a tiny screwdrived.
...
How deep are her pockets?
220 finally stopped moving and looked down at the pile covering half the table.
''...Wait.''
She reached inside once more.
And pulled out a small rectangular box with golden writings engraved onto the surface.
I couldn't stop myself anymore.
''How manny things are you carrying exactly?''
220 looked geniunely confused by the question.
''Necessary things.''
''That doesn't answer anything.''
''You dont prepare enough. We said at least 2 items for each Aetheris participant''
She answered almost immediately.
Then calmly opened the box.
Inside, resting on a dark velvet fabric--
was the same invaluable pen she bought.
The golden patterns reflected the cafeteria lights faintly.
She carefully took it out like it was some ancient artifact.
...
''You carry that thing around daily?''
220 adjusted her glasses slightly.
''Of course.''
''Why?''
''It improves my mood.''
''...That's the dumbest thing you've said today.''
220 ignored my comment completely and opened the notebook with elegant precision.
Then her expression sharpened again.
''Now.''
She shaked the paper once.
''Lets rank people and make a strategy.''
...