In the few minutes after the lights went out in the ironworks' residential building, Nanami returned to the driver's seat, and told the two passengers to get back in the car as well.
She didn't explain why. She only told everyone to switch off all their tactical flashlights and not disturb the sleeping dead in the residential building.
Jiang Xueming went straight to the passenger seat—
—from there, he could see several instruments. Besides the speedometer and fuel gauge, there was a multimedia panel and a Geiger counter, presumably used to detect local nuclear radiation levels.
It seemed there might even be a massive industrial facility like a nuclear power plant underground.
Beside the Geiger counter were two more circular gauges, labeled "Spirit Calamity Concentration" and "Madness Index" in Chinese, English, and Russian.
These were also things they had to keep an eye on throughout the investigation.
The Spirit Calamity concentration in the area around the Volga was currently fluctuating between 17 and 44. Occasionally, it would spike above the red line at 70, then drop back into the green, safe zone in an instant.
Nanami explained in Japanese, "When the runes are working, and when these residents are asleep and regenerating, the Spirit Calamity concentration will be higher. That's normal."
Jiang Xueming looked at the Madness Index gauge, which was idle and showing no data. Beside it was a black, hand-shaped metal plate, apparently used to test the mental state of the people in the car.
"I need to assess the risk. We're almost out of bullets. If our Madness Index is too high, we'll head back." Nanami had already put her hand on the plate. Her Madness Index settled at [C-], and she seemed relieved.
"Let me try!" Bu Liuxing leaned forward from the back seat and put