In a few minor details, things had not developed quite as Jonas had expected.
With the advantage of knowing what lay ahead, he had avoided the potential dangers of the early stages, but he still had not let his guard down.
This damned place was full of pitfalls. One careless step could leave him beyond salvation.
The story was still in its early stages, and nothing too game-breaking had appeared yet.
In the later stages, people with awakened psychic powers and those who had achieved mechanical ascension would be everywhere, and the environment of District 25 would change completely.
The conglomerates seemed to monopolize all resources now, but they did not actually hold an absolute advantage. Otherwise, the game's protagonist would never have overthrown their rule.
And the only thing Jonas could do now was use his foreknowledge to get the most out of the resources under his control.
Jonas rubbed his temples.
Whatever happens, I'll take it one step at a time.
Come to think of it, the Destiny Organization should be making its move about now.
Inside the confinement cell, Amau Sueko leaned against the wall, her disheveled hair leaving her looking rather bedraggled.
Through her efforts, the hacking interface before her had reached thirty-five percent. Given another two weeks, she could take control of the security system here and escape this cell.
But Amau Sueko knew very well that she did not have much time left.
Ever since she had last obtained information about the outside world through the building's system, she had known that the Destiny Organization had begun assigning personnel to force their way into the Wetting Conglomerate and rescue her.
Amau Sueko knew that was impossible. Even putting aside the fact that Jonas was already prepared, the Destiny Organization would have to pay an enormous price to rescue her even if the place were completely undefended.
She did not believe the organization should bear the consequences of her own error in judgment.
But she had no way to communicate with the outside world. All she could do was penetrate as much of the building's security system as possible before the rescue team arrived, so she could reduce casualties when they came.
The girl propped herself up and rested her dizzy head against the wall.
The food the Wetting Conglomerate delivered each day was barely enough to keep her alive. With all the calculations she had to perform every day on top of that, she could not help feeling lightheaded.
The various symptoms of low blood sugar made it difficult for her to concentrate. She knew Jonas was doing this deliberately to further weaken her psychological defenses.
But how could she possibly be someone who gave up so easily?
Physical torment could not shake her in the slightest. What concerned her more was the intelligence she had stolen from the building's system earlier.
-Ian Strala had betrayed the Destiny Organization.
She knew Ian Strala had resented joining the Destiny Organization in the first place. The former senior engineer had always looked down on people from the lower classes like them, and he had only pledged allegiance to the Destiny Organization because they had leverage over him.
But she had never expected him to betray the Destiny Organization under these circumstances.
Moreover, Ian Strala had considerable influence among the people the Destiny Organization had sent to rescue her.
She knew about Jonas's scheme but was powerless to stop it, and that knowledge tormented her.
Amau Sueko did not know when they would launch their rescue operation. Precisely because of that, she could not afford to let her guard down for even a moment.
"I have to... push a little harder."
She sat up straight and shook her head, trying to clear it.
Just then, the lock on the cell door clicked. The door opened, and the room suddenly grew brighter.
Amau Sueko instinctively narrowed her eyes, adjusting to the sudden change in light.
"Long time no see, Miss Amau. How have you been?"
The man's tone was perfectly casual, as though he were exchanging pleasantries with a friend.
He stood in the doorway, his figure blocking most of the light, making it difficult for Amau Sueko to see his face.
But she still recognized him by his voice. As though it possessed some strange magic, that voice stirred the memory she least wanted to revisit:
"Jonas Wetting..."
She murmured his name in a slightly hoarse voice.
Perhaps the Amau Sueko of the past could never have imagined that this name would become a nightmare haunting her now.
She slipped her other hand behind her back in a seemingly casual motion, straightened up, and looked at Jonas, asking with a show of composure:
"Don't you know perfectly well how I've been?"
As though he had not noticed her little movement, Jonas pulled over a nearby stool and sat down. As if they truly were friends who had not seen each other in ages, he continued on his own:
"It seems you've been doing quite well, Miss Amau."
Those words made Amau Sueko grind her teeth.
-Two leaves of greens and half a steamed bun every day, and you call that doing well?
But she said nothing, merely giving a cold snort.
Unconcerned by Amau Sueko's attitude, Jonas smiled and said:
"You've had it easy, Miss Amau, but I've had quite a few problems lately."
As he spoke, his smile gradually faded, and he began to explain at an unhurried pace:
"The Alt District branch building has been under constant hacker attacks since the riot. Maintenance costs and the expense of hiring an outside team have cost me quite a bit."
As he spoke, he looked at Amau Sueko and asked:
"Do you think that's good news, Miss Amau?"
At that, Amau Sueko sneered and said:
"For me, of course it is."
"I thought so too."
Jonas smiled.
As he spoke, he took several photographs from inside his jacket. The gesture gave Amau Sueko a vague sense of foreboding.
As though to confirm her unease.
The next moment, she watched Jonas toss the photographs onto the floor and ask calmly:
"So, Miss Amau, do you know these people?"
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