Hidden Dangers in Peaceful Life

Doctor Huayu, have you found him?

Nope. Been everywhere he would show up. Didn't find him. Just like you.

Uncle Hong is getting older and has become more unpredictable. It's hard to pin him down, even on a normal day.

Let's keep looking. We can't afford to have the Refinery Tower offline for too long.

A travelling salesman? The mine is closed for business today. Please come back another day.

Jinzhou is not far from here. You can take some rest there.

You should stop rushing before the guest even says anything. Let {Male=him;Female=her} finish.

Oh, a guest from the Ministry. Let me introduce myself. I'm the doctor of the Mine, Huayu.

The tall guy next to me is Lei'li, the foreman here, and this is Modee, a mineral expert from the Academy.

A few days ago, I heard about the sample agreement between the Mine and the Ministry. Please, how should I address you?

Ah, Rover, I see. But in the photo attached to the Ministry's request, the person in charge is a young, nervous-looking girl. How come...

I got the message and the photo from Uncle Hong, the senior officer-in-chief here. Look, this is the photo.

Hm, the ID is indeed from the Ministry of Development. Let's overlook the minor details, then. To be blunt, the Mine is facing some issues fulfilling the Ministry's request.

Modee has more details.

The Refinery Tower at the center of the Mine is offline, but some minerals require it for processing.

So do the Ministry's samples. Right now, we're working on a solution to reboot the Refinery Tower.

Incidents like this have happened before, but our on-site engineer was always quick to fix it and get things back on track.

But he injured himself a while back while working on some other equipment. He's in Jinzhou recovering now.

That left Uncle Hong to take over. He used to be in charge of the Refinery Tower when he was younger, so he's more than qualified.

Whenever something went wrong in the past, Uncle Hong was always the one on the front lines, fixing things and coordinating repairs.

But this time, Uncle Hong hasn't shown up, and we can't seem to find him anywhere in the Mine.

With his absence, the Mine is having all kinds of difficulties dealing with the Refinery Tower.

If you ask me, I think the old man's just taking it easy. Maintenance work like that has got to wear on his old bones.

Maybe he's hiding somewhere, watching us, muttering, "Damn kids, can't you let me have a little peace and quiet?"

I propose we all go back to our places and carry on with our jobs. The Mine has to keep functioning even with the Refinery Tower offline.

He'll show once he gets his rest.

Clues... The miners said they saw Uncle Hong around the transport lorries. We are sending more people to check if he's still there.

More people mean greater possibility. Thank you.

The graph here says, “The reboot of the Refinery Tower takes a certain amount of time. First, secure a sufficient power supply during the rebooting...”

Stop, stop. English, please. Whatever, something about power supply, right? I know who to turn to. Follow me.

These lazy new guys. I told them to hand in the work log before their shifts ended.

Pft, in one ear and out the other. Now who's going to clean up the mess if there's an accident?

Oh, Rover. What brings you here? And Huaxi?

Did Doctor Huayu send you as peacemakers? Did he find out about my fight with Modee?

What are you talking about, Uncle Lei'li? My brother asked me to work with Rover to reboot the Refinery Tower.

Refinery Tower reboot? So you found Uncle Hong?

Ah, so that's what's going on. Uncle Hong is always so sharp and on top of things. It's hard to imagine him being anything less.

I work alongside him all the time, and I never noticed. Alright, what do you need help with?

Yes, rebooting the Refinery Tower requires sufficient power. Uncle Lei'li, you know the best about the power equipment. What's your advice?

Well, it's not as hard as you might imagine. We have a double circuit power system at the bottom of the Mine. Either one can sustain its normal functioning.

However, the two circuits can't run in parallel. If we force them, it could cause the breakers around the Mine to trip.

What we can do is bring in extra external power and shut down some internal systems to focus the energy on the Refinery Tower.

Alright, I'll handle shutting down the systems. The backup mobile power sources are there at the base.

You'll need to install them at the Refinery Tower. I'll let you know when everything's ready, okay?

Ugh, it's nothing big. Modee and I argue all the time. I'm used to it.

I just can't stand his attitude. Everything he does, it's all some fantasy in his head.

He's always going around the Mine, bragging about his grand philosophy of coexisting with Tacet Discords.

He says it's a key evolutionary skill to coexist with new life forms, that we should consider developing alongside Tacet Discords.

He can think about it all he wants, but just thinking won't get us anywhere. Honestly, he's just a dreamer, locked up in his ivory tower, completely out of touch with reality.

Every time I say something, he gets all worked up.

Forget it. Just talking about it is making my blood boil. Let's focus on the Refinery Tower.

Refinery Tower offline. Uncle Hong missing. And these troublemaking new guys. Sigh, what has happened to the Mine.

Besides, it's getting so cold in the bottom area of the Mine. Can it be some errors of a condensation device somewhere?

Rover, is the additional power set up?

Yes. All ready and set. What about your part?

Just one more step. The shutdown switches come in pairs, so I need you to turn off the other one at the same time.

Are you there? Okay, then let's do this. Remember, we need to sync up our timing.

I'll count three. You'll count two, then we'll count one together.

Ready? I'll starting counting. Three...

...Two

It's working. The devices are being shut down. The power supply for the Refinery Tower should be sufficient now.

Thanks for your help. If everything's good here, I'll get back to my duties.

Got a whole lot of things to do. Please carry on with the good work with the Refinery Tower.

...Hm, so it is...

I'm not snooping! I just thought of a really smart way to find Grandpa Hong.

I read a story once about a detective who didn't talk much, and his friend, a doctor, helped him solve all sorts of mysteries.

The detective would sometimes look at the bad guy's past to find clues.

After all, a person's past usually tells you why they do things now!

That's why I think though focusing on today's entry is definitely the right direction, earlier entries are still important resources.

Hee hee. Now you know!

Most of his entries are pretty short. He just sums up his day and how he felt in a few sentences.

But I did find some longer, more detailed entries. I think they're important, like this one.

What's your take? Doesn't this story feel weird?

I feel the same. Plus, the lower half of the page is left blank.

Either way, this story feels like it's only half done.

You know, it starts by saying it's a dream being recorded. Could that be why it feels this way?

Right. Let's move on to the next step of the instructions.

The graph indicates that we have to reconfigure the Refinery Tower with the console.

Let's find someone to talk to first.

Hydrogen plus oxygen equals hydrogen oxide...

...And which beaker did I put the product in again? Aw, gotta run the reaction over.

What is she mumbling about to herself?

Ha? That's amazing. Then we should leave her be. Let's go quietly.

*Yawn... Hm? Why am I here? Wasn't I running an experiment just now?

How did I fall asleep while standing...?

Hmph. So adults act just as silly when they wake up too. Big brother totally tricked me.

A {Male=young man;Female=young lady} in black, and a... kid? Who are... Am I still in a dream?

Aw! That hurts!

Wait, the pain feels so real, so I'm not dreaming... I remember!

Because the Refinery Tower is offline, the experiment has to stop, so I've come here to refresh myself.

But I guess I fell asleep. Must've been too exhausted from conducting experiments all night.

So this isn't a dream, huh? Then you guys are…

I didn't expect so many things to go wrong while I was stuck in the lab!

Oh, and if you need a console, there's one just outside the Academy.

Well, I've rested enough. Time for me to get back to work. Good luck!

<<

Big {Male=brother;Female=sister}, is this what we should do?

<<

A verification is required...

Now you have mastered it. Now just put in the parameters as per the digits shown in the graph.

So complicated... We would screw up if Uncle Modee wasn't here to help.

Just a small move. When the pararmeter reset is successful, the system will adjust the Refinery Tower and it'll reboot automatically.

Now the reboot can take some time. All we need is wait. Thank you for your effort.

We don't have any information about Grandpa Hong's whereabouts, though.

Hm... I did find a pattern in the previous entries. Though the events are various...

... They all happen at a few limited places.

For example, Grandpa Hong often visits my brother's clinic: “Went to the clinic today and had a routine examination as per Doctor Huayu's instructions.”

“Went to the clinic today. The medication is getting so bitter. Lucky Doctor Huayu didn't find out I hid candy in my palm.”

Also, Grandpa Hong's always telling the lorry drivers in the transport area to pick up the supplies the Mine needs.

Their conversations are also kept here.

It's like the routes are already set, and Hong just keeps walking them over and over.

So, if his memory's off, would he still end up at these places in the journal just out of habit?

But these spots are spread all over the site. Finding him would take a lot of manpower we don't have.

Have you come up with something, Rover?

I have one at the Mine's institute. Just a few moments. Meet me at the gate in a while.

The entry is mostly about an argument with a researcher. No information about a passcode.

If nothing else works, maybe we'll just have to try guessing...

You'd better hold off on that. If you fail the verification too many times, the console will lock, and the system will shut down automatically.

If that happens, we'll only waste more time in the rebooting.

Just follow the steps to unlock the console and everything should go smoothly. Good to see you again, Rover.

I heard from a co-worker about what you're up to, and I thought you might find difficulties in passing the verification, so I came.

Looks like I'm right on time.

You, you... Aren't you that researcher who was fighting with Grandpa Hong, in the journal?

A fight? The journal? Haha, may I see the journal myself?

This feels like what would happen between me and Lei'li, but that researcher isn't me.

Uncle Hong is like a mentor to me, so I would never have an argument like that with him.

In fact, I have always respected him because he taught me an important lesson.

In science, it's not just about cold, hard numbers. There's also room for imagination.

Like when we come across infinity in our research. To some scholars, that infinity symbol might look like radio waves moving through space.

It was even shown in a Jinzhou sci-fi play not long ago, symbolizing a twist in the dimensions of life.

Haha. It's just an example that just crossed my mind. You can have a look yourself at the Jinzhou Theater if you're interested.

The play was about a catastrophe. Humanity had to send their home planet on a journey through space. It used the symbol to hint at the connection between digital life and reality.

A single symbol can be used in different ways to create colorful worlds. Might be a bit hard to grasp now, though.

But so many truths come from these wild, imaginative ideas. Just thinking about it gets me all fired up.

But Lei'li? He just responds with "That's all nonsense" and completely ignores anything that seems unlikely.

So you've heard about it? Yes. Even if the probability is as small as 0.0001%, it still makes sense to me.

Hahaha, you do know a lot, Rover. Now let's get on with the issue with the Refinery Tower.

The console's verification is done by line drawing. When you start the verification process, random images will be generated on a grid.

You have to put your hand on the grid, and the system will draw a line to connect the coordinates you touch. Repeated coordinates will not be recorded.

Only when the order and the direction of the line you draw is right, the verification is passed. All right, let's have a try.

You're here. Rover, this is the map you asked for.

For an old man, he sure gets around! But looks like it's mostly just three different areas.

Ah yes! A triangulation approach.

By drawing three circles with the regions as centers, the overlapping area is where Hong is most likely to be.

That really narrows things down. Great idea!

No idea what you two are talking about, but you sure sound smart. You're pretty cool, Rover!

The overlapping area is a small corner in the upper living quarter. Let's go take a look!

Oh, by the way, you can hand me the samples now, Rover. When the reboot is finished, we will start the procedures.

However, it can't be done today, as the reboot can take some time.

Bye, Uncle Hong. Take care when you go back, eh?

Okay, okay. Tastes just like the old days, but I just can't help feeling empty.

What was I going to do?

Look, Rover. That's Grandpa Hong.

We finally found you, Grandpa Hong. Everyone's been looking for you.

You are... Huaxi. Why look for me?

Great. Grandpa Hong remembers me.

What are you talking about? I think you lost me.

Ah, that's why. I thought Uncle Hong came here after the maintenance work of the Refinery Tower, as usual.

Let me tell you, my cooking skills were passed down from my grandfather's generation.

Back then, every time Uncle Hong finished work, he'd come here for a warm bowl of Jinzhou Stew.

My grandfather always said that food shortens the distance from home, and also brings people closer together.

Jinzhou Stew isn't just a simple dish. It's a bond that connects people.

And for Uncle Hong, it's probably even more meaningful, since the people sitting with him here have changed since his day.

He's the only one left.

Eating alone always feels a bit lonely. No wonder Grandpa Hong seems so down.

Journal. That's it. I feel much settled now.

Grandpa Hong...

Right. Grandpa Hong, we found your lost journal, and fixed the reboot issue of the Refinery Tower.

Anyway, the guest from the Ministry is here with the samples like they promised. That's this {Male=mister;Female=lady} beside me.

Yes... I do. Everything feels familiar again with the presence of this journal. I'm sorry for the fuss.

Grandpa Hong still looks a bit strange. Let's take him to my brother.

It's kind of late now, Rover. Like Uncle Modee said, the samples can't be tested as of now. Why don't you come here another day?

You're back, Rover. Everything well?

Sounds like a lot of twists and turns. I guess we'll have to collect the samples another day.

So they've been arguing about whether to coexist with the Tacet Discords... I see they did treat you as a member of the Ministry.

Now they've accidentally let you in on the Mine’s secret.

There was a Tacet Discord crisis there years ago... Hold on, I'm getting a message.

Ugh, some follow-up work to do regarding the meeting just now. I wanted to chat to you a little longer.

Maybe next time. Take this, it's the reward from the Ministry. I'll see you.