Dawn City Prison.
Sitting in the pitch-black cell, Bernie's face was filled with weariness and dejection.
He could understand the failure of the expedition to the Great Rift. They had indeed underestimated the Great Rift's strength, and even more so the Holy Shield System.
Even after two centuries, that shield spanning the heavens still could not be penetrated by their shells. Their army of clones had charged fearlessly to their deaths, yet they still failed to change the tide of battle.
Under the Great Rift's torrent of firepower, their ten-thousand-man force had been annihilated wholesale.
What Bernie could not understand, however, was why, setting aside their inability to defeat the Great Rift, even an unremarkable survivor settlement had proven so hard to crack.
Just then, footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the prison.
Bernie raised his head and saw a familiar face, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"...Vanus?"
Vanus sighed.
"So it really was you people... Is Dillon doing well?"
At the mention of his superior's name, a bitter smile appeared on Bernie's face.
"No wonder... Seeing you here answers some of the questions I had."
Knowing that Bernie had most likely credited him for the victory, Vanus shook his head.
"It had nothing to do with me. I merely followed the usual procedures in making a plan and used the most conventional tactics... Still, their performance exceeded my expectations."
Bernie fell silent for a while.
"I remember you were ordered to intercept the Pioneer."
Vanus nodded.
"Yes."
Bernie did not ask about the final result.
There was no need to ask.
This man stood here without shackles on his hands, even wearing a VM identical to those worn by the blue coats. There was no doubt that his body and mind had already been molded into the shape of those