Night had fallen completely. The wind was strong, chilling anyone it struck to the bone. The sea stretched into endless darkness, and from the shore, the clear clatter of sea ice could be heard mingling with the rise and fall of the waves.
The guesthouse owner had built a roaring fire in the stove.
39 had gone outside to take a call.
Only Huang Zhuowang and Beiwei remained in the guesthouse, peppering TC730 with questions. Of course, 455 was the one answering them. 730 stayed quiet the whole time, as though merely showing its face to the new members.
Huang Zhuowang asked a rather pointed question. "What kind of organization are we, exactly?"
455 answered professionally, "That depends on how you interpret it."
Huang Zhuowang raised an eyebrow. "How I interpret it? Then first I need to know what our mission actually is."
455 said, "An assassination. The target is known as one of the Western Immortals. More precisely, he is a pope named Linan Ubik. He was born in 1442 and became pope in 1542 through ignorance and faith. He has lived into the new century and is currently in F Country in the Northern Hemisphere, under the protection of another mysterious organization, the Laboratory."
Huang Zhuowang's eyes widened. "Someone from the Middle Ages? He's lived that long?"
Beiwei had been frowning the whole time without saying a word.
Utterly shameless about showing off, 455 started spinning its spiel again, as though giving the newcomers an introduction. "I am the organization's internal system, specifically designed to assist with missions. Wherever I can help advance a mission, I am there."
"Pretty exciting." Huang Zhuowang grinned at Beiwei. "I'm getting impatient already. Wow, just thinking about it sounds fun."
Beiwei glanced at him. "This mission should be difficult. If I remember