FBC?

Looking at the familiar gameplay of a street dance game on the screen, Zai Zong couldn't help but recall his glorious aristocratic years.

He still remembered that the girl with dyed yellow hair once called him "ゞ" in the game.

I have to sing along.

A single sentence from the game's protagonist jolted Zai Zong awake. He then shook his head vigorously, trying to forget this embarrassing past.

Then he chuckled awkwardly and started singing along.

Fortunately, the joystick handle has a cross-shaped key.

[→↓ ←↓]

[Perfect!]

Error: Happy birthday to you.

Main character: Happy birthday to you

After a while, amidst thunderous applause in the live stream chat, Zai Zong walked out of the Z-FBC-0983 control room with glory and pride.

He glanced back at the toy monkey inside the door, which looked strangely lonely.

"Hmph! That's just showing off your limited skills before an expert!"

Then, amidst the gifts showering in the live stream, he drove off.

After these minor hiccups, Zai Zong continued his journey to location 0970 on the electronic map.

After dodging several more dangerous anomalies, he finally found the 0970 anomaly in the corridor of the lightly controlled area.

But here, he also encountered someone he knew.

That the Cleaner — A'Ti.

He was facing away from the player, just like at the beginning of the game.

Holding a mop in his hand and a Walkman on his waist, he hummed a tango as he mopped the floor in the hallway.

They looked relaxed and carefree, which seemed out of place in the dim and dangerous environment.

"I knew this old guy was no ordinary person. He must be an anomaly too? I think so. What do you guys think?"

Zai Zong outside the newly opened mechanical door, warily watching the blue-clad the Cleaner on the other side.

He recalled his relaxed demeanor on two separate occasions and immediately labeled it as abnormal.

And the people in the live stream all thought so too.

After all, in such a dangerous environment, everyone was preoccupied with their own survival; some fled, and some died.

Even armed security personnel were not spared, so how could a the Cleaner possibly survive?

Zai Zong glanced at the electronic map in his hand, which showed that the location of W-FBC-0970 was less than 20 meters away from him.

Inside this passage, besides the Cleaner, there were only two mechanical metal doors beside him.

So, is this the Cleaner 0970?

Zai Zong wasn't sure, so he saved the game on the spot and went up.

As they approached, the game entered a dialogue segment.

The blue-clad the Cleaner turned around, glanced indifferently at the protagonist, and then lowered her head to start mopping the floor again.

[You've come, but you've come to the wrong place. You shouldn't be here.]

"Goodness, this the Cleaner really does know something!"

At this moment, four options appeared in front of Zai Zong.

1. Who exactly are you?

2. I'm looking for W-FBC-0970, do you know anything about it?

3. Do you know about another world?

4. (Without saying a word)

There is no time limit for these four options, so you can have plenty of Zai Zong to think about them.

The primary goal now is to travel to a parallel world.

However, the electronic map shows that 0970 is in the vicinity. It could be the Cleaner in front of you, or it could be the mechanical doors marked "rest room" on both sides of the corridor.

Therefore, the second option is actually unnecessary and seems redundant.

The third option is that the Cleaner is so relaxed mopping the floor in such a dangerous facility, which is obviously not simple.

He should know something about parallel worlds to some extent.

But more than that, Zai Zong was curious about was his identity.

Why did this the Cleaner reappear? What is his job?

So after thinking it over, he decided to choose option 1.

The game's protagonist immediately spoke.

Who exactly are you?

The Cleaner glanced at the main character, but this time didn't even look up and continued mopping.

[As I told you before, I'm the Cleaner here. My job is to clean.]

At this point, A'Ti paused. Then he straightened up and gave the protagonist a deep look.

[Oh, I see, you're the one asking.]

This statement is quite profound.

This makes the game's protagonist seem rather confused.

[What?]

The Cleaner smiled, turned around, and started washing the mop.

[Your curiosity is strong, which might just be interesting to you. But to him, it's a disaster.]

What?

"What the hell?"

The game's protagonist was even more confused, and even the Zai Zong found it somewhat strange.

The Cleaner bent down and began to drain the water.

[You'll find out, you'll find out very soon. I work as a cleaner at Oldest House; you can come work Oldest House as a the Cleaner assistant.]

"Oldest House again?"

The Zai Zong frowned, ignoring the Cleaner assistant's words.

He had previously learned from the protagonist of a parallel world that this so-called Oldest House should be the headquarters of the Control Bureau.

But why do we have to go all the way to Oldest House to find out the Cleaner's identity?

What exactly does he have? Or what is he really?

This suspense is driving the Zai Zong crazy!

At this moment, the previous dialogue options popped up again in front of Zai Zong.

1. I'm looking for W-FBC-0970, do you know anything about it?

2. Do you know about another world?

3. (Without saying a word)

There were no new options this time, Zai Zong finally chose option 1.

The game's protagonist immediately spoke.

[I'm looking for W-FBC-0970, do you know anything about it?]

Upon hearing this, the Cleaner turned around and nodded.

Then, he pointed to the mechanical doors marked "Restroom" on both sides and said.

[Of course, these are the two doors.]

"I'll blanch it? That's so quick?"

Zai Zong looked at the two opposing doors on the left and right. Unlike other control rooms, there were no door numbers marked on them.

Therefore, it seems somewhat special.

Moreover, he was somewhat surprised that he received the answer so quickly.

This the Cleaner didn't even try to solve the riddle?

Instead, did you tell him directly?

The Cleaner continued mopping the floor, speaking as he did so.

[Open any door you like, then walk, keep walking, until you think it's the right one.]

Zai Zong:?

Soon, the remaining dialogue options popped up in front of him again.

1. Do you know about another world?

2. (Without saying a word)

This time it's obvious, the only option is 1.

The game's protagonist speaks directly.

Do you know about another world?

The Cleaner paused, glanced up slightly at the main character, then lowered his head to continue mopping the floor.

[You're wrong. There is no other world. You can't use the number 'one'; you need to use 'other'.]

Upon seeing this, Zai Zong suddenly realized something.

"I get it, damn it, I get it."

"We can't use the number 'one,' we can only use something else. Does that mean there isn't just one parallel world? There are many?"

"We only went to one of them this time!?"

"I see, I understand now!"

At this moment, the game's protagonist tries to ask a question, but is interrupted by the Cleaner.

He looked at the protagonist, but his eyes didn't see the protagonist.

His gaze was somewhat profound, as if he were looking at the person behind the protagonist.

Zai Zong couldn't help but feel a chill and frown.

[I'm in many places, but not in the place you're going, so be careful. However, you have plenty of time, so you'd better wear something before you go.]

As he spoke, he pointed to the mechanical door at the end of the corridor.

[After passing through this door, walk straight for 100 meters; there's a security station there. Put on the uniform of the security guard inside, then go to the place you want to go.]

[Really? I understand.]

The protagonist replied, the Cleaner nodded, and the dialogue abruptly ended.

Meanwhile, the game's missions have been updated.

Go to the security station mentioned by the Cleaner, A'Ti, find the clothes, and put them on.

"Oh, the conversation is over?"

The Zai Zong hadn't expected the meeting to be so brief.

It seems the Cleaner just came to tell me to go get some clothes.

Zai Zong tried to find a better position to get more information out of the cleaning lady. But no matter how he positioned himself, the Cleaner in front of him didn't offer any dialogue options.

Helpless, he took out an electronic map and prepared to head towards the mission location to see what kind of clothes were on them, and even specifically pointed out that they were worn by security guards.

Moreover, the location is not far, only 109m, the distance of one or two passageways.

"Okay, let's go. Let's see what kind of clothes they are, all mysterious, maybe a bulletproof vest?"

The protagonist Zai Zong manipulated the character to bypass the Cleaner and walk straight to the end of the corridor.

Then swipe your card and open the door.

Just as he casually closed the door, the Cleaner's voice could be faintly heard.

I really want to take a vacation.

Zai Zong:?

"Take a vacation? What the heck? The Cleaner has said it so many times, is there any special meaning to it?"

The Zai Zong bewildered, then shrugged and ignored him.

Start heading towards the mission location marked on the map.

This short distance is posed no danger and contains no physical objects.

He left quite peacefully.

As he turned a corner, he indeed saw a security station not far ahead.

"Finally, brothers!"

Zai Zong pressed the handle and walked forward, but here, it was a scene of bloodshed.

Corpses were scattered everywhere; some were wearing orange clothes, some white clothes, and some were wearing bulletproof vests.

Clearly, something terrible must have happened here, as there is blood splattered everywhere.

Zai Zong pursed his lips, carefully walked to the entrance of the security station, and opened the door.

His eyes widened instantly!

Because there was a headless corpse inside.

And the corpse was wearing a suit of armor that looked like something out of a science fiction movie?

Zai Zong swallowed hard. He noticed a bloodstained document on the messy, blood-stained floor.

He stepped forward and picked it up; on it was an unusual description.

Project Number: ■-FBC-■■■■

[Project Rating: ■■■■]

[Project Warning: No one may wear this mechanical equipment! Nor may any of its functions be activated! It must be kept inactive! Anyone who tries to defy this warning has better be executed before they even put on this equipment!]

A brief overview of the anomaly:

This set of mechanical equipment is called Absolute Protective Gear. It can filter out [illegal substances], making people feel [unclear].

Originally from ■■■■ (The following words are stained with blood and cannot be read)

After reading the document, Zai Zong looked at the headless security guard in the corner of the security station with a blank expression, as well as his futuristic-style armor!

"Could this 'clothes' that the Cleaner was referring to be?"

"Should I strip them off? Is this really okay—stripping a dead person of their clothes?"

As he spoke, Zai Zong's gaze fell on the armor and helmet next to the corpse.

Inside, there was also a head.