arrow_back Wuthering Waves Quests 
Companion Story Yinlin
Solitary Path
A cryptic message reveals the Séance Society's involvement in Jinzhou's disappearances. Is this the key to unlocking the truth?
Quest List
This puppet... Next to it is a tag with the recipient's name and identity.
"Identity... Parents of Xiaofu. Killed during a Tacet Discord Outbreak."
"Mommy, Daddy, please come back... I'll be a good boy from now on. I promise..."
This puppet... Next to it is a tag with the recipient's name and identity.
"Identity... Wife of Fujie. Passed away from illness."
"I couldn't bear the sight of her enduring such pain… How I wished I could trade places with her."
"But now I am offered a chance to bring her back to my side. Thank you... Master Dollmaker."
Yinlin tries to mediate between the Séance Society and the Fractsidus, but the negotiations fail.
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
What the… Those idiots. They were supposed to take care of you!
Slim Fractsidus Member:
Careful!
Yinlin:
Sorry I knocked out your friends earlier. We're not planning to start anything with the Fractsidus, really.
Yinlin:
What do you say? Care to give Lirong and his daughter a little break? They're our people, after all.
Yinlin:
You may have these puppets here. We can pretend none of this ever happened.
Slim Fractsidus Member:
You think we're stupid or what? We're taking the puppets, and you're all going under!
Yinlin:
Aww, you sure you want to do this? We're business partners, remember?
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
Partners? You're just a bunch of lab rat keepers trying to play the game!
Yinlin:
So they're not up for peace talks. What do you say, Rover?
Yinlin:
Hehe... True. You know your Fractsidus well.
Yinlin:
You've got some moves. Impressive…
Yinlin:
Guess I can rely on you a bit more. I'll be counting on you.
(I was trapped inside this box... It's easier to open now that I broke it.)
(There's something between the cracks…)
(A tablet with an encrypted transmitter? Messages sent through these are less traceable, I heard.)
(But why would I find it here...)
You discover that Jinlu met his fallen comrade He Chang here and chose to stay because of their strong bond.
Jinlu:
Greetings, stranger. The name's Jinlu. We're the guards here, He Chang and I.
Jinlu:
Right you are. The two of us and Lirong used to be Midnight Rangers.
Yinlin:
How are you feeling? Got the Overclocking under control?
Jinlu:
Thanks for asking, Miss Yinlin. I'm feeling a lot better now.
Jinlu:
Lirong though… He... he had it rough back there.
Jinlu:
We served in the same unit. He Chang Overclocked trying to save me… In the end, he didn't make it.
Jinlu:
I know the risks… I'm just... I'll do anything. Anything to make it up to him, if I still can.
You learn that Lianyue, who also reunited with her deceased child with the Society's help, refuses to let anyone disrupt their current life.
Lianyue:
Miss Yinlin… Who might this be?
Yinlin:
Don't worry. {Male=He;Female=She}'s Master Dollmaker's guest.
Lianyue:
I see… Whatever. I just want to stay with my son.
Lianyue:
So what!? He's still my one and only son… What would you know!?
Yinlin:
Rover, let's stop it here...
Lianyue:
That's why I won't let anyone threaten our peaceful life ever again…
Wu Sheng tells you that even the best doctors can't save everyone, just as he was not able to save his wife. The Dollmaker's puppets gave them a second chance, something no doctor could offer. While Wu Sheng understands the dangers of the puppets, he also knows how much they mean to the people here.
Yinlin:
Dr. Wu Sheng, how's Lirong doing?
Wu Sheng:
Out of danger for now, but he's still in a coma.
Wu Sheng:
Sorry... I'm not that familar with taking care of Resonators. There's not much else I can do.
Yinlin:
Shame. He shouldn't have disobeyed Master Dollmaker.
Wu Sheng:
Well, yes. Master Dollmaker asked me to.
Wu Sheng:
We had no other choice. You refused to join us.
Wu Sheng:
No, why would I need to? They're not leaving here.
Wu Sheng:
This is the only place where we can forever live with our loved ones.
Wu Sheng:
I do. But I also know why we'll hold on to them no matter what.
Wu Sheng:
Doctors can't save everyone. Not even the best of us can.
Wu Sheng:
I could only watch as my better half passed away in agony...
Wu Sheng:
Master Dollmaker saved us with his puppets. That's something no doctor can ever achieve.
Wu Sheng:
What about you? Do you have someone you desperately need to see again?
Wu Sheng:
You can ask Master Dollmaker for help. He'll bring them back.
Yinlin reveals that she empathizes with these people who just want to see their loved ones again. She reveals that she was once a member of the Séance Society herself. She grew up alongside the Dollmaker and knows that his experiments are aimed at creating two special puppets. However, she keeps the details of this final experiment from you.
Yinlin:
You've talked with everyone I see. Are you joining us now?
Yinlin:
...They're just some poor souls longing to see their loved ones again.
Yinlin:
Master Dollmaker saves them, letting them make amends for their past regrets.
Yinlin:
A noble cause, is it not?
Yinlin:
Heh. How is it betrayal when we were never a team?
Yinlin:
Having a cop on our side makes things easier for the Séance Society, don't you agree?
Yinlin:
I was just a young orphan, never knew who my parents were. Master Dollmaker took me in.
Yinlin:
He taught me combat, puppetry, temperance, and how to become a Patroller.
Yinlin:
I owe my life to him.
Yinlin:
Yes, his eyes are set on another ultimate goal...
Yinlin:
We're all his subjects. He needs us to complete the last two puppets.
Yinlin:
Every one of us has been aware of this, but still decided to join.
Yinlin:
That's not for your ears. Members only, you see?
Yinlin:
But I do admit you're not like the others.
Yinlin:
You rescued Lirong and showed respect to the puppets. They weren't just objects to you, I could tell.
Yinlin:
Look at you, ever so righteous...
Yinlin:
Maybe you're better suited to be a Patroller than me.
Yinlin:
Kindness…
Yinlin:
Hmph, or maybe... I couldn't just stand by, either.
Yinlin:
That's up to you. Trust is a delicate thing. You must follow your instincts and decide how much you're willing to give.
Yinlin:
Enough chatter for now. I'll take you to Master Dollmaker's pl...
???:
Help! HELP!
When the Patrollers besiege the base, Yinlin takes you hostage but secretly passes you a message: "Trust me… Come this way."
Patroller:
Surrender now! We've got you surrounded! You are the leader here, aren't you?
Yinlin:
My, my. That's quite the party.
Chixia:
Hey! Who the hell are you? Let {Male=him;Female=her} go!
Yinlin:
And if I don't?
Patroller:
Freeze! Shut up!
Yinlin:
Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I've got a hostage, you see?
Chixia:
Whoa! You-You... Don't move!
Yinlin:
I wouldn't try anything stupid if I were you. Can't risk the VIP of Jinzhou getting hurt, now can we?
Chixia:
Ugh, fine... Lower your weapons guys!
Yinlin:
"Trust me… Come this way."
You learn from Chixia that the injured are recovering, but the Dollmaker still refuses to cooperate. She thanks you for your help, and you hint that the real thanks should go to a mysterious partner. However, you make sure to keep the partner's name a secret.
Chixia:
So that's what the Séance Society was up to... Thanks for your statement, it really helped!
Chixia:
Somehow the Fractsidus was involved too! Who could have thought… Luckily you were there to stop them in time!
Chixia:
The man's still not saying anything... Guess we'll have to keep him under custody for now.
Chixia:
Nothing about that suspect lady either. We still have zero info on her.
Chixia:
Oh, so the missing cases led to an illegal cult-like organization AND a bunch of other twisted plans!
Chixia:
Unbelievable... We'd be toast without your help.
Chixia:
Huh? And who's that?
Chixia:
What? Come on, you need to be more specific… Whoever they are, sounds like they'll make for quite the Patroller.
Chixia:
Well, that's it for now. Ring me up when you find something unusual again. I'll catch you later!
(A letter without a signature. It can only lead to one thing.)
(Yinlin. She's waiting for me.)
(Same as last time, she said... Must be the wolf markings. I should look around.)
When you meet Yinlin again, she tells you that the Dollmaker attempted to extract your memories but failed. The cause of your memory loss is far more complex than you thought. She thanks you for your help and coyly suggests that your next meeting may be under a completely different guise.
Yinlin:
Splendid view, right?
Yinlin:
As promised, I owe you a lot of explanation.
Yinlin:
No, I wasn't expecting to meet you.
Yinlin:
My order was to oversee our deal with the Fractsidus.
Yinlin:
You were just a pawn in my plan to find where Lirong kept the puppets.
Yinlin:
But I didn't expect him to try and escape with them. Couldn't risk exposing myself yet, so I had to track him down and retrieve the puppets.
Yinlin:
Around that time, Dollmaker caught wind of your special abilities. He asked me to bring you to that safe house.
Yinlin:
Hehe… Oh, really? I even upped the voltage for the best effect. Was that just a zap to you?
Yinlin:
No wonder our Dollmaker took so much interest in that body of yours.
Yinlin:
Unfortunately, no. He tried but couldn't gain access.
Yinlin:
According to him, you possess a power beyond his understanding that prevented him from prying into your mind. You might be more special than you had thought.
Yinlin:
Said he couldn't read your mind without risking his own sanity, let alone retrieve any information... I can't imagine what the hell is going on beneath your skull.
Yinlin:
Who knows? Maybe you helped some strangers again only to mess with the wrong person, and ended up with your memories gone.
Yinlin:
I say you should stop playing hero and take better care of yourself. You'll live longer that way.
Yinlin:
Don't think I need to, since you can handle yourself just fine. But... if you ever need my help, just let me know.
Yinlin:
We have a lot in common. Both alone in this world.
Yinlin:
Maybe I'll keep you in my thoughts. A reminder that I'm not the only solitary soul out there.
Yinlin:
And eventually, we'll both learn to move through our lives with loneliness.
Yinlin:
Perhaps the same loneliness was too much for Dollmaker to bear... That's why he gave up everything to resurrect my parents.
Yinlin:
Yes… After my parents' death, we all became chess pieces to him, myself included.
Yinlin:
Raised me to be a Patroller for his own agenda. He needed a mole in the Public Security Bureau.
Yinlin:
In the end I did become a Patroller, but failed to stay by his side as he desired.
Yinlin:
Maybe I'm indeed a heart-wrenching betrayer to him...
Yinlin:
Yes... We all have to face the consequences of our actions. I don't plan to defend him.
Yinlin:
But if I had acted sooner, this whole mess could have been avoided. Why didn't I do something?
Yinlin:
Perhaps… like everyone else in the Séance Society, I too held onto that naive pipe dream.
Yinlin:
The dream of finally meeting my parents and having a real family... I indulged in it more than I care to admit.
Yinlin:
Deep down, I knew my dream was built upon the sacrifices of innocent lives... but I couldn't bear to shatter it.
Yinlin:
Hmph... because I met you. A total outsider risking {Male=his;Female=her} life for me and for all those people...
Yinlin:
A lot of it still remains unresolved. Dollmaker was merely a cog in the wheel. A bigger shadow lingers.
Yinlin:
Yes. We must stay vigilant until we expose the true culprits and destroy their plans for good.
Yinlin:
Don't tell me you're pulling out at this point?
Yinlin:
If you are, I may have to wipe my true identity from your head by force...
Yinlin:
It was a joke. Anyway, I should thank you... Because of you, I was able to accomplish far more and save many more lives than I imagined.
Yinlin:
You feel different. I have the feeling I can always trust your words, whatever you say.
Yinlin:
Hehe... Well, take a guess?
Yinlin:
Oh, and lastly… There is another thing I should thank you for. For trusting me all the way till the very end.
Yinlin:
Until we meet again, Rover… Perhaps I'll meet you under an entirely different identity next time.
After collecting all the prototype puppets, Yinlin plans to take them to a safe place for further investigation. She learns from a fellow Patroller that there is a safehouse nearby for undercover agents, and you both head there.
Yinlin:
Acknowledged… Is that our only option…?
(Yinlin seems to be on a call with someone.)
Yinlin:
But... I believe it's unnecessary...
Yinlin:
Yes… Understood… I'll have it taken care of.
Yinlin:
Yes… It's my contact from the Public Security Bureau.
Yinlin:
They'll be sending people over soon. We can leave Lirong and Yuanyuan in their care.
Yinlin:
Are you done with the puppets?
Yinlin:
That's fine. We'll dig further once we're in a safer location.
Yinlin:
My contact informed me of a safe house not far from here… The Patrollers will meet us there.
Yinlin:
We have a designated meet-up spot. There will be wolf-shaped markings nearby to show us the way.
Yinlin:
Let's move. Can't let the Fractsidus find us.
("The Séance Society Name List"…?)
"Wu Sheng/Shunlian… Lianyue/Lian Xiaosheng… Jinlu/He Chang… Lady Guan/Xiaoguan…"
And the list goes on.
(Some of the names have been crossed-out.)
(These are probably the Séance Society members… The people who went missing.)
(Am I in their base of operation?)
Yinlin:
No more markings in sight... This must be the safe house.
Look, there's a device on that wall.
Yinlin:
Hmm… We need a passcode.
Yinlin:
They were thorough. The safe house is hidden and has a passcode.
Yinlin:
There should be some hints nearby. Let's look around.
Chixia contacts you to say that several Jinzhou citizens have recently gone missing. She asks you to stay alert for anything suspicious.
(Chixia just called me. I wonder what's happening...)
Chixia:
Huh? Is that your first reaction? Come on!
Chixia:
Anyway! You know, we could really use your help with this ongoing case!
Chixia:
We've been getting a lot of missing persons reports recently.
Chixia:
Nobody ever saw those people assaulted or anything, they just vanished.
Chixia:
Some of those people are even Resonators or they've served in the military!
Chixia:
Since you're always coming and going from the city, can you help me watch out for anything weird or suspicious?
Chixia:
Thank you so much! Knew I could count on you!
Chixia:
Ring me up when you spot anything sus, yeah? Laterz!
(You received a message right after hanging up with Chixia.)
(The Séance Society... Never heard of them before. They said they have a "solution"... But how? This is very suspicious, no matter how I look at it.)
(Guess I'll just go and see for myself.)
An anonymous email leads you to Lirong and his daughter, Yuanyuan. Lirong is a member of the Séance Society, a group that claims to reunite members with their loved ones. He invites you to join, but becomes agitated when asked about his daughter's fate, refusing to accept that she is no longer truly alive.
Man with Hollow Eyes:
Oh… So you've accepted my invitation, Rover.
Man with Hollow Eyes:
Well, yes. My name is Lirong.
Lirong:
Since you are here, you must have lost someone, too.
Shy Little Girl:
Daddy…
Lirong:
Now, Yuanyuan, no need to be afraid… {Male=He;Female=She}'s not one of those evil Patrollers. You're safe with me.
Lirong:
Yes, my daughter… Her name is Yuanyuan. My only precious.
Yuanyuan:
I am Daddy's precious?
Lirong:
Absolutely, my dear. We will stay together... Nothing can take you from me again...
Lirong:
Ah, yes... Once we were separated by an unfortunate turn of events... But now I have her back, thanks to the Séance Society's help...
Lirong:
Truly a miracle, is it not?!
Lirong:
And you… Yes, you too can be reunited with your loved ones... Just come join us...
Lirong:
No! She didn't... She was never gone!
Lirong:
Can't you see? Yuanyuan, she... She's still alive! Alive and well!
Yuanyuan:
Daddy!? What's happening…? You're scaring me…
(He seems off. Is he Overclocking?)
Lirong:
No! No doctor! I don't need anything!!
Lirong:
I am not leaving her… You're not leaving daddy, right Yuanyuan?
Yuanyuan:
Wah... I...
Everything's back to where they were before…
Found a piece of paper inside one of the boxes. Seems like a transaction record.
Date of transaction... It says today. Items... 4 Reincarnation Puppets. What are those?
Signee... "Lirong". Probably forgot to take it with him.
That should do the trick…
Yinlin explains that the Séance Society is behind the recent disappearances in Jinzhou. They provide lifelike puppets in place of lost loved ones, and many desperate people join the Society for this reason. However, frequent interaction with these puppets greatly increases the risk of Overclocking. Yinlin is on the trail of those responsible and invites you to meet her outside the city if you want to learn more about the case.
Yinlin:
And the so-called Séance Society... They are the ones behind Jinzhou's recent missing person cases.
Yinlin:
They offer these puppets to people who have lost their loved ones.
Yinlin:
These puppets can perfectly replicate the personalities of the deceased… To those mourning people, they are indistinguishable from the living.
Yinlin:
Yes… With the puppet, she has been resurrected by her father's longing.
Yinlin:
People gave up everything to join this Society for one chance to reunite with their beloved.
Yinlin:
As for how they got their hands on these puppets... I have no idea yet.
Yinlin:
Beware, the puppets may seem harmless, but those who got too attached are much more likely to Overclock.
Yinlin:
Lirong's the recruiter. You're the perfect outsider, traveling all alone, ripe for the taking.
Yinlin:
Heh... But it seems he picked the worst candidate possible.
Yinlin:
I need to apprehend the true culprit behind this group…
Yinlin:
But this is not your problem. I'm on a mission. Leave now and forget everything that happened here today, will you?
Yinlin:
Lirong's transaction record… Where did you find it?
Yinlin:
*sigh*… You're such a box of surprises.
Yinlin:
Sure, why not. I'll give you what you want...
Yinlin:
But I don't want prying eyes. If you're really that curious, meet me outside the city at these coordinates.
(Found him. Lirong is here.)
(I should go take a closer look...)
Determined to protect the puppets from becoming Fractsidus experimental subjects, Lirong attempts to hide. He reveals that the leader of the Séance Society is known as the Dollmaker. As the Fractsidus closes in, putting them all in danger, you and Yinlin step in.
Yuanyuan:
Daddy… I'm tired...
Lirong:
It's okay, Yuanyuan... They won't find us here.
Yuanyuan:
Those scary people... Are they coming after me?
Lirong:
Not just you, Yuanyuan... They want all the puppets here. But I won't let them.
Lirong:
I'll make sure every puppet finds home, together with people who love and need them. I will NOT let those freaks use them for experiments!
Lirong:
Master Dollmaker… How could you be the first to betray our belief...
("Dollmaker"… Is that the leader of the Séance Society?)
Yuanyuan:
Is Master Dollmaker bad, Daddy?
Lirong:
I... I'm not sure anymore. He was our hope... He saved us all, but...
Lirong:
*sigh* Doesn't matter now. I must get all of you to safety first.
(I guess they still have some morals. There's still things they won't do.)
???:
I spotted them! Over there!
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
You can't hide from this good ol' sniffer of mine!
Lirong:
Yuanyuan, get behind Daddy, quick...
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
I'll grab these puppets now. What about that guy, boss?
Slim Fractsidus Member:
Ice him… We'll take that puppet behind him too.
Lirong:
Huh… Urgh… Huff... I will not... Let you! Aaaghhah!
(Lirong's going to severely Overclock at this rate.)
Lirong:
Eek… *gasp*…
Yuanyuan:
H-Help!
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
Hey! What the hell are you doing here?!
Slim Fractsidus Member:
One {Male=man;Female=woman}'s not gonna make a difference. Get rid of them now!
???:
Forgetting someone, are we?
Yinlin tells you that the Séance Society is a dangerous organization that lures people in by promising to bring back their loved ones. They appear to be linked to the Fractsidus, and her mission is to gather evidence against them and identify the mastermind behind it all. Currently, she is investigating the prototype puppets in the hope they hold clues about their creator. Eager to recover your lost memories, you decide to assist Yinlin by following Lirong to the puppets' storage location.
Yinlin:
We meet again. As I expected.
Yinlin:
This place seems safe enough...
Yinlin:
So, anything questions for me?
Yinlin:
Hehe... Didn't know you cared so much about me.
Yinlin:
This is supposed to be confidential, but… I've been authorized to make my own calls.
Yinlin:
My orders were clear: infiltrate the Séance Society, gather evidence of their crimes, and find the culprit behind it all.
Yinlin:
So far, I've had no luck meeting any of their higher-ups. Just playing assistant for Lirong to gain their trust.
Yinlin:
Well? Have you come to a decision?
Yinlin:
So you still decided to join me…
Yinlin:
You must be pretty confident. That's good.
Yinlin:
They're coming. You'll hide and watch Lirong.
Yinlin:
I'll bring Yuanyuan to him... hopefully he won't suspect.
Yinlin reactivates the puppet. It turns back into Yuanyuan's form.
Yinlin:
Rise and shine, Yuanyuan.
Yuanyuan:
Miss Yinlin? W-where am I…? Where's Daddy?
Yinlin:
Don't worry, Yuanyuan. I'm taking you to Daddy in just a moment. But before we do, promise me you'll be a good girl, okay?
Yuanyuan:
Okay! I promise!
Yinlin:
That's my girl. Now, let's go.
Yinlin:
I'll leave the rest to you now, Rover.
??:
Come help me cover up the traces.
??:
While you don't look like the typical upstanding citizen, I doubt you would want any extra trouble.
No signs of injuries on Yuanyuan. That woman wasn't controlling her through Resonance Abilities, either.
Then why is Yuanyuan obeying her commands...
She admits she tracked you using a positioning device placed on you earlier, explaining that her undercover role makes it hard for her to trust anyone. With Lirong and Yuanyuan no longer providing new leads, your only hope lies in the prototype puppets, so you decide to gather as many of them as possible.
Yinlin:
How did you like the fight? Are you injured?
Yinlin:
Those were the Fractsidus and you didn't bat an eye... Looks like you've got the skills, and the nerve too.
Yinlin:
We took care of them for now… but there's probably more trouble coming our way.
Yinlin:
My, my... Are you worried about me?
Yinlin:
What a surprise. I thought you never trusted me this entire time.
Yinlin:
Fine, I'll spare you the teasing for now… Your serious face is quite cute though.
Yinlin:
Don't worry, we took care of all the Fractsidus people here. If the Society becomes suspicious, I'll just pin everything on them.
Yinlin:
They may still question me, but I've mastered gaining trust with lies. It's the key to being an undercover investigator.
Yinlin:
Just like what I did to you… Try feeling your back.
Yinlin:
A bug and a tracker. Yes. How else did you think I got here so quickly?
Yinlin:
I put it there the first time we met.
Yinlin:
"Don't trust anyone"… That's the first thing I learned in training.
Yinlin:
You may not belong to any group, but you seemed to care for Lirong and Yuanyuan, and you want to recover lost memories…
Yinlin:
I can't risk you betraying me by helping them run off or selling me out. Better safe than sorry.
Yinlin:
Of course. Dollmaker... He must be a big deal in the Séance Society, or even their leader.
Yinlin:
We're getting close to the truth... But we have another issue at hand.
Yinlin:
I did a quick checkup on Lirong. He just passed out from Overclocking. Lucky for him it wasn't that bad.
Yinlin:
Yuanyuan returned to her puppet form once Lirong fell unconscious. Not even I can reactivate her now.
Yinlin:
I doubt she'll be reactivated any time soon. We've reached a dead end with Lirong.
Yinlin:
Yeah, I was planning to. We may find some clues.
Yinlin:
But we gotta move first. Can't stay here for long.
Yinlin:
Go collect the puppets. I'll look after Lirong and Yuanyuan.
Yinlin:
...
(Yinlin seems to be on a call...)
This puppet... Next to it is a tag with the recipient's name and identity.
"Identity... Twin sister of Linsi. Went missing in an accident."
"It's all my fault... If I didn't leave, she wouldn't have gone missing like that."
"It's been ten years... I just want to tell her I'm sorry."
These must be the coordinates. The Sensor may reveal more clues.
This must be the marking. That way.
You realize the place is connected to the Séance Society, so you use the communication panel you found earlier to send the coordinates and details of the situation to Chixia.
(I guess that's all the clues. Anyway, this place is definitely connected to the Society.)
(I should use it to inform Chixia and the others of my situation, and my current coordinates.)
(Done... Here's hoping they'll get my message.)
(Now, how do I get out of here...)
???:
Oh, you're awake? Come out then.
You soon discover that it was Yinlin who trapped you here. She reveals that this is the Séance Society's base and invites you once more to join the organization, offering to introduce you to its members.
Yinlin:
Look at you, fresh as the dew.
Yinlin:
I went with maximum voltage back there. Didn't expect you'd wake up so soon.
Yinlin:
Thought you might never wake up again. I was gonna get Dr. Wu Sheng to check on you.
Yinlin:
I have no interest in taking your life. Master Dollmaker wants to see you alive.
Lady Guan:
Why you insolent little whippersnapper. Show some manners when you're talking to Miss Yinlin.
Lady Guan:
Where is your family?
Lady Guan:
Youngsters like you, always runnin' off and leaving yer family to rot.
Lady Guan:
It's "Family Reunion Day." Ain't no way I'm lettin' anyone leave this camp.
Lady Guan:
Go sit down next to the bonfire and stay there. Don't yer be thinking of slippin' off… Miss Yinlin, show 'em the way.
Yinlin:
You heard the kind lady. Now keep your mouth shut and follow me.
Yinlin:
You can try to escape. I wouldn't recommend it, though.
Yinlin:
Without Dr. Wu Sheng's antidote, you wouldn't make it too far with that poison inside of you.
Yinlin:
It's all up to you. Just know I have no reason to lie.
Yinlin:
You were planning to ask Master Dollmaker about your memories anyway, so why not come with me?
Yinlin:
It's the Séance Society's headquarters. We all live here.
Yinlin:
Why don't you join the Society? Make things easier for all of us.
Yinlin:
Good try. Try not to sound so obvious next time.
Yinlin:
Come on. Joining or not, it won't hurt to introduce yourself first.
Lady Guan:
Well. What are you waiting for?
Lady Guan:
Youngsters these days… always complaining about us old-timers being naggy.
Yinlin:
Grandma Guan patrols this place daily to keep us safe. She used to be a Midnight Ranger.
Lady Guan:
Sigh, there's no one like my precious boy. No matter how long this old lady ran her mouth, he'd always listen till the end.
Yinlin:
Her grandson.
Lady Guan:
Such a sweet boy he was… His parents died young. I was the only one he could rely on.
Lady Guan:
And they took him away from me, as if he hadn't suffered enough misfortunes...
Lady Guan:
How lucky I was to have Master Dollmaker bring him back to me... Praise the heavens for this miracle.
Lady Guan:
I'll do anything for Master Dollmaker. Nothing will ever be enough to repay his kindness...
Lady Guan:
But...Why would he make puppets for those Fractsidus devils…
Yinlin:
I'm sure Master Dollmaker has his own reasons.
Lady Guan:
Yes... I'm just grateful to have my grandson back. Can't ask for more.
A mysterious woman arrives and convinces Lirong to leave. After he departs, a fight breaks out between you and the woman over Yuanyuan. The confrontation only ends when a Patroller shows up. To uncover the truth about the Séance Society and the missing persons, you decide to cooperate with the woman, starting by cleaning up the scene.
Lirong:
Yuanyuan!
Lirong:
Shut up! Take your hands off her NOW!
Yuanyuan:
No! Daddy! *screams*
??:
That's enough, Lirong.
Lirong:
Urgh…!?
??:
She'll be safe in my care. You still have other things to do, remember?
Lirong:
Huff... Ugh... No! Don't! Yuanyuan!
??:
Lirong!
??:
Do you want to lose your daughter again?
Lirong:
Urgh… Gah… No, I... Fine, I'll leave it to you.
??:
Now, hand over the girl…
??:
You see, that man is her father. Why do you want to separate them?
??:
Oh well, whatever. Yuanyuan? Come over here please?
Yuanyuan:
Yes...
??:
Good girl. Stay here, Yuanyuan.
??:
And why would you be concerned? Smart {Male=boys;Female=girls} know how to mind their own business.
??:
Oh? You're quite the fighter… Hmm, how about…
??:
Shh... They're coming… It's the Patrollers. We can't let them find out about Yuanyuan.
??:
Now if you don't want to get into trouble, better do as I say... I'll explain everything later.
??:
Including what's happening with the "Séance Society"…
??:
Smart choice...
??:
Good. Now come give me a hand. We'll need to hide the traces of fighting here.
You are both questioned by the Patroller, but the two of you conceal what happened. During the conversation, you discover that the woman is actually a Patroller named Yinlin. After the Patroller leaves, Yinlin reveals that "Yuanyuan" is, in fact, a puppet.
??:
This should be good enough to get past their eyes.
??:
The Patrollers are almost here… Shh.
Junior Patroller:
You there. We heard some commotion coming from this area. What's going on?
??:
Nothing, officer. We were just hanging out.
Junior Patroller:
Really? Then what was that loud banging and shouting?
??:
Oh. This girl just tripped over. Poor thing nearly cried her eyes out.
??:
I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding.
Junior Patroller:
Is that so…? Then what did you do after that?
??:
It seems she can't find her father. We were just trying to help.
??:
Right, Rover?
Junior Patroller:
I see… So they're just being kind!
Junior Patroller:
I don't have other questions, you can...
Senior Patroller:
Leave the girl to us. We'll help find her father.
??:
Thanks, but we've got this. Little one seems quite shy, she's just warming up to us. Wouldn't want to bother you further.
Senior Patroller:
Don't worry, you're not bothering us. It's our job to help civilians in need.
??:
Trust me, I understand how tedious a Patroller's job can get. That's why I want to help.
??:
The name's Yinlin. I am also a Patroller… Here's my ID.
Senior Patroller:
Oh, a fellow Patroller...
Junior Patroller:
You sure this is real? Never seen her around.
Senior Patroller:
You think I can't tell a fake ID when I see it? Shut your mouth.
Yinlin:
No reason you would have seen me. I don't work here, just visiting Jinzhou on vacation.
Junior Patroller:
Ah, makes sense.
Senior Patroller:
Then we'll leave the girl to you. Thank you for your help.
Senior Patroller:
If can't find her dad, bring her to the Patroller Station... C'mon, we're going, rookie.
Junior Patroller:
Enjoy your day! Have fun in Jinzhou! Oh hey! Wait up, Captain!
Yinlin:
Hmm? Do I not look the part?
Yinlin:
I didn't plan to blow my cover, but that Patroller was sharp…
Yinlin:
I would've risked them finding out about Yuanyuan otherwise.
Yinlin:
You should see for yourself...
Yinlin:
Let your soul rest. Return to your true form, daughter of Lirong—Yuanyuan…
Yinlin:
Yes. A "puppet" to be exact… This helpless little girl before you, Lirong's beloved daughter, is nothing but a humanoid robot.
Yinlin:
We should be good in here. This safe house is equipped with signal jammers and counter-surveillance measures.
Yinlin:
The Fractsidus won't find us here.
Yinlin:
Yes, it's as safe and secure as it gets.
Yinlin:
Nothing gets in, and nothing gets out.
Yinlin:
What's going on?
Xiaoguan:
Miss Yinlin! The Tacet Discords are here!
Yinlin:
Go tell your grandma. Get everyone somewhere safe.
Xiaoguan:
O-okay!
Yinlin:
What about you, Rover? Will you join them or flee while you can in this chaos?
Yinlin:
So you want to help protect them. Knew it.
Yinlin:
Everything, huh... The secrets I hold might be bigger than you imagine.
Yinlin:
If you really want to know... You'll need to survive this first!
Yinlin:
Yes?
(Should I ask Yinlin about it?)
Yinlin:
See those flowers? Don't you think they look out of place here?
Yinlin:
Try counting them. I have a feeling that may be the passcode. (4, 1, 2, 3)
Furious with the Fractsidus for their disdain toward the puppets, Lirong breaks their deal and attempts to escape with the puppets. You quickly follow him.
Yinlin:
Lirong. Here's your daughter, as I promised.
Lirong:
Yuanyuan!! I was so afraid… I can't bear to lose you again…
Yuanyuan:
Please don't cry, Daddy… Was I being bad?
Lirong:
No, you're always a good girl... always...
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
Ugh, enough with the make-believe. That's a puppet.
Yuanyuan:
Daddy… am I a puppet?
Lirong:
No! You're not! Yuanyuan, I...
Yinlin:
Yuanyuan's ten times more human than you people.
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
You call that thing human? Hah! That's just a robot lab rat.
Lirong:
You...!
Slim Fractsidus Member:
Enough, we don't have time for this… Where's our stuff? Bring them out.
Yinlin:
Lirong, go bring them the prototype puppets.
Lirong:
Huff... Huff... I…
Slim Fractsidus Member:
Hey… We ain't got all day. Hurry up.
Lirong:
No! I won't let you have them!
Slim Fractsidus Member:
We'll make you regret this...
Chubby Fractsidus Member:
After him! You're going nowhere either, Missy!
Yinlin:
Here we go…
Yinlin:
(Lirong's trying to escape with the puppets. Here's hoping that Rover can stop him in time…)
You follow closely behind Lirong.
Quxiu:
You there… You're not one of us. How did you sneak in here?!
Yinlin:
Quxiu, are you injured?
Quxiu:
Miss Yinlin!? You're back!
Yinlin:
Easy there. You need to rest…
Yinlin:
This is Master Dollmaker's guest. You're safe with {Male=him;Female=her}.
Quxiu:
It is my duty to protect our people... I'll be fine.
Quxiu:
I'm fine... Ugh...
Yinlin:
No more duties if you died from those wounds... We no longer need you to protect this place, remember?
Quxiu:
But Master Dollmaker, he… he told me to protect this place at all cost.
Yinlin:
That won't be necessary... Master Dollmaker's not coming back. I'll be getting rid of everything here.
Yinlin:
Master Dollmaker's ultimate goal is near, and he won't need them anymore... Neither will I.
Quxiu:
But…
Yinlin:
Enough… You heard what I said. Stay put, I'll go fetch some first-aid for you.
Yinlin heads off to retrieve some medicine from Dr. Wu Sheng.
(I should check this place out while Yinlin's gone. Might find something about that Dollmaker.)
Quxiu:
Urgh… Damn those monsters...
Quxiu:
We've fought off quite a lot of them lately. I just got a bit careless.
Quxiu:
Some of us said they could be attracted to the puppets…
Quxiu:
I don't believe that though. I'll defend this place, no matter what.
Quxiu:
I don't know... This place sounded super important to Master Dollmaker. He told me to protect it with my life.
Quxiu:
But... Indeed, he hasn't visited this place for a long time now... Maybe Miss Yinlin was right...
Quxiu:
Anyway... I'll still be keeping them safe. Miss Yinlin said she'll get rid of everything here, but I believe they still retain some importance to her and Master Dollmaker.
(This... It reads like the writing of a Patroller undercover.)
(But why is it here? Is the Dollmaker doing business with one of the Patrollers?)
(The Dollmaker has been delving into his Forte, trying to make a certain puppet.)
(Whose puppet is he trying to create?)
(What did she want to tell the Dollmaker... Guess I'll never know.)
(The message is still here, which means it probably never reached the Dollmaker.)
(Yinlin will be back at any moment now.)
(I should go back to Quxiu.)
After a while, Yinlin came back with some first-aid supplies to treat Quxiu's wounds.
Yinlin:
This should do it. If it still hurts, go to Dr. Wu Sheng for a detailed checkup.
Quxiu:
Thank you, Miss Yinlin! It's just a scratch... Nothing to worry about.
Yinlin:
Go find somewhere safe to rest. You're relieved of your duties.
Quxiu:
But Miss Yinlin...
Yinlin:
We're burning it all. Stand back, I'll use my thunder to start up a fire... No trace will be left.
Yinlin:
Oh? So you've read what's written inside?
Yinlin:
You seem to enjoy meddling in other people's business...
Yinlin:
On second thought, the past can't be erased anyway.
Yinlin:
Burning these makes no difference, and the flames could attract Tacet Discords.
Yinlin:
Still, Quxiu, you should leave this place. We don't need you to protect these anymore.
Quxiu:
What if those monsters come at us again? We'll have no one to stop them!
Yinlin:
Your safety matters far more than these objects of the past. If you're okay, go help those who aren't.
Quxiu:
Understood!
Yinlin:
Don't bother. You won't find any Patrollers here.
Yinlin:
I told you before...
Yinlin:
Don't trust anyone. Remember?
???:
What a special specimen...
???:
Time to have my men take {Male=him;Female=her} back to the camp...
(No injuries. I still have my weapon and Terminal.)
(It's hard to tell from what little I've gathered so far. I should find out where this place is first.)
Xiaoguan:
I'll warn everyone once I see danger! Grandma said I've got super sharp eyes and ears!
Xiaoguan:
Hehe, you can count on me!
Lady Guan:
You listen to this old lady and her words carefully. Don't go runnin' off to those dangerous places on your own, okay?
Lady Guan:
Dangers at every corner outside camp grounds. Horrifying monsters... and those Patrollers. You watch yourself.
Jinlu:
Want one?
Jinlu:
Don't worry. I don't drink when I'm on duty.
Hé Chang:
No need to tip-toe around me, I know I'm a puppet. I'm just happy to see Jinlu again.
Hé Chang:
Well, as a dead guy, I try not to overthink things anymore.
Lianyue:
I will not let them separate us again.
Lianyue:
I know... I know full well. No need for you to remind me. Please. Leave us.
Lian Xiaosheng:
Sorry, my mom can get a bit impatient sometimes, she doesn't mean it.
Lian Xiaosheng:
I don't know how much longer I can stay with Mom, but still... I want to make her happy.
Yuanyuan:
Daddy's still inside... Mr. Wu is looking after him.
Yuanyuan:
Daddy… *weeps*…
Wu Sheng:
Lirong... Look what you've gotten yourself into.
Wu Sheng:
Yes, I know... He'd do anything for her. Hopefully he'll wake up soon.
Shunlian:
I know staying with us puppets will make my hubby sick eventually... I just want to stay with him while I can.
Shunlian:
Yes, maybe we are causing harm by simply existing... But I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything else.
Chixia:
Hey Rover! Ring me up when you find something unusual again, will ya?
Chixia:
Yeah, I heard they'd hide their true identity and infiltrate criminal groups.
Chixia:
Doesn't sound like something I could pull off... I'd probably have my cover blown in less than three minutes.
Actor No. 1:
Daddy, are we waiting for someone?
Actor No. 2:
Yes, honey. We're expecting a new member...
Actor No. 1:
There, Yuanyuan... Are you hurt?
Actor No. 2:
No, Miss Yinlin. My body is fully functional.
Actor No. 1:
I will not let those puppets fall into Fractsidus hands!
Actor No. 1:
I think I've lost them...
Actor No. 1:
I should be safe at this point.
Actor No. 1:
Linsi... Where are you?
Actor No. 1:
Don't be scared, Xiaofu. We are right here with you...
Actor No. 1:
Fujie. You have no idea how much I miss you...
Actor No. 1:
It's me, Yinlin…
Actor No. 1:
Greetings, Miss Yinlin. Back already?
Actor No. 2:
Yeah, just bringing this {Male=boy;Female=girl} in.
Actor No. 1:
Want Grandma to get you some snacks after this round of patrol?
Actor No. 2:
I'll pass, Grandma. I don't need to eat, remember?
Actor No. 1:
Hey, bud... Wanna grab a drink tonight?
Actor No. 2:
Haha, nah, I know you can't handle much.
Actor No. 1:
Don't wander off on your own, okay?
Actor No. 2:
I know, Mom. I'm not going anywhere.
Actor No. 1:
Daddy…
Actor No. 1:
Lirong... *sigh*... This is a tough one...
Actor No. 1:
Well, dear. Can you save him?
Actor No. 1:
Ugh... Yuanyuan...
Actor No. 1:
Ow, ow, ow... That's gonna leave a mark.
Actor No. 1:
Xiaosheng!! Stay where you are!
Actor No. 1:
Mom! The monsters are coming!
Actor No. 1:
Another attack? We must keep them away!
Actor No. 1:
I've never seen this many of them before...
Actor No. 1:
Our doc seems busy... I'll go get it myself.
Yinlin:
I just remembered there's another place we need to visit. Come with me.
Yinlin:
Relax. Nothing's going to happen to you... Not yet, at least.
(Looks like a child's diary...)
(There's a crude drawing folded inside, with some scribbled words on the back.)
(Is it the handiwork of one of the children back there?)
(Or… a memory of an adult member's youth?)