Inevitable Unexpected Variable

Hours later, within the zone of Operation Hooked...

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Criminal Investigation Team Offensive

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Video Summary: Tomorrow, an unexpected event, and the daggers of a rat Thiren, which will arrive first?

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Hollow Thug: Q—Quickly, block them!!

Hollow Thug: Damn it! What's PubSec doing here...

Zhu Yuan: Save the trouble and surrender!

Hollow Thug: Run!!!

Zhu Yuan: Seth, attack formation!

Seth: Roger! Outta my way...!

(Enter combat)

Zhu Yuan: Spotted Mountain Lion goons up ahead. Let's cuff 'em!

Seth: I got this, Captain!

(Ride the elevator)

Qingyi: Hmm? Why are we stopping on the second floor?

Zhu Yuan: Looks like we need a key card to access the third floor... Let's find it.

(Reach the marked location)

Qingyi: Look at the heaps of stuff over there... They really think that's going to stop us?

Zhu Yuan: Just some makeshift barricades. It's nothing. Seth?

Seth: Breaking stuff is my specialty! I'm on it!

(Approach the next group of enemies)

Zhu Yuan: Elite gang members up ahead. All units, stay sharp!

Qingyi: Interesting... I'll teach these youngsters a lesson.

(Upon defeating the enemies)

Seth: Captain! We didn't find the key card on them.

Qingyi: Having come this far, the key card must be around here somewhere.

(Fight the Enraged Sweeper)

Zhu Yuan: What do we have here...? Perfect. Let's defeat it and grab the data.

(Upon defeating the Enraged Sweeper)

Qingyi: Found it. Downloading access privileges now.

Zhu Yuan: Very good. Let's take the elevator.^{[Note 1]}

(Approach the enemies on the third floor)

Seth: Captain, we've got more gang members here!

(Upon defeating the enemies)

Zhu Yuan: ...We've got company. Watch out for an ambush!

Qingyi: Ready for the big showdown?

"Silk Tail"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 "Silk Tail"

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Video Summary: Tomorrow, an unexpected event, and the daggers of a rat Thiren, which will arrive first?

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Zhu Yuan: Huh? ...Contact! Two o'clock!

Seth: Up there!

Qingyi: So she's the target we're after?

Zhu Yuan: Affirmative....

Seth: We'll bring you to justice!

Jane: Oh, really? We'll see about that

All Concealed

(Upon defeating Jane)

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 All Concealed

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Video Summary: Tomorrow, an unexpected event, and the daggers of a rat Thiren, which will arrive first?

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Savage Henchman: Damn!

Savage Henchman: D—Damn it, these officers are no joke! We need to get outta here, now!

Qingyi: You're not going anywhere

Seth: What are you looking at!

Seth: Hey! You really the best the Mountain Lions got?

Seth: Why do you keep scurrying away like some rat? Where's your honor!?

Seth: Hey!

Jane: Your fighting style is just way too boring

Jane: All you do is come at me... it's seriously putting me to sleep

Seth: Listen up, you scumbag! I'm gonna beat you fair and square!

Seth: I don't believe in resorting to cheap tricks!

Jane: Oh really? That's too bad... cheap tricks are what I'm good at!

Civilian: I told you not to wander off! Look at us now, we're completely...

Civilian: ...lost. Huh?

Savage Henchman: G—Get'em!!!

Qingyi: I smell Etheric Matter...

Qingyi: Careful!^{[Note 2]}

Jane: These people are only gonna slow us down

Jane: PubSec is on our tail. Don't make things difficult — let's bail!

Seth: Hold it!

Savage Henchman: Who's there?! Stay back!

Seth: Let them go! They're not a part of this!

Savage Henchman: Let 'em go, huh? Sure, if you take their place!

Seth: ...Deal!

Savage Henchman: He actually agreed...?

Savage Henchman: Ha... hahaha! See? Told ya it'd work!

Qingyi: It's clearing!

Zhu Yuan: Stay tight and keep alert!

Public Security Officer: Captain Zhu Yuan! We found three civilians, they're all safe!

Qingyi: The Mountain Lions are gone...

Qingyi: They are slippery, just like Officer Byron said.

Zhu Yuan: Hold on... Where's Seth?

Unexpected Variable

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 "Unexpected Variable"

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Video Summary: Somethings have to stay secret for the act to seem more real, not for the act to become real.

Story Description: Seth and a group of civilians are captured by the Mountain Lion Gang. When Zhu Yuan returns to Public Security, she reveals the truth: the rat Thiren Jane, who fought against everyone, is actually an undercover spy sent by Public Security. However, an unexpected twist had occured — Seth got involved...

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Zhu Yuan: ...Yes, we apprehended all the gang members at the scene, except for Jane. However, two citizens and Officer Seth have gone missing. There are reports that they were captured by the gang.

Zhu Yuan: ...Understood. Our team is ready and awaiting further orders. *takes a deep breath*

Qingyi: So, what's the plan? What happens to us now that we've failed the operation?

Zhu Yuan: ...Hmm.

Qingyi: You're turning pale, so I guess this must be it then... I'll box up my desk and return my gear. Oh, is it okay if I take my welcome mug?

Zhu Yuan: Huh? Hold on, Qingyi! It's not like that! We haven't failed yet!

Qingyi: Poor Zhu Yuan, you're in denial that you failed... The core gang members, including Jane, they all got away, remember? The operation was a flop... But hey, you tried your best.

Zhu Yuan: No! Don't pat me — I'm fine! The operation wasn't a flop... I mean, not a total flop, we were at least half-successful! *sighs* Ah, I guess I should have filled you in right after the operation ended...

Zhu Yuan: You know how the Mountain Lions are really good at hiding, right? We can't root them out because they always manage to slip away in the Hollows, making it hard for us to pin down their HQ.

Qingyi: Right, they call themselves "lions," but all they do is scamper around like rodents. From the looks of it, I think we should send them a rat to be their leader.

Zhu Yuan: Right! That's exactly it, Qingyi! You've got it all figured out!

Qingyi: Mhm mhm, I might not have it ALL figured out, but I'll gladly take the compliments.

Zhu Yuan: Uh, well... actually, the rat idea you just mentioned, that was our plan all along!

Zhu Yuan: "Maybe we should send them a rat to be their leader..."

Zhu Yuan picks up an ID card from the table and hands it to Qingyi.

(Obtain Jane's Consultant ID Card)

Jane's Consultant ID Card

A hard plastic ID Card authorized by Public Security. It has an ID photo of Jane when she was an external staff consultant on criminal psychology.

Qingyi: Huh? Jane Doe, contracted consultant for criminal behavior at Public Security... What?

Qingyi: She's... one of us?

Zhu Yuan: That's right. Jane's been working with us and she's our inside agent for this operation. She's the "rat" we sent in, the real "bait!"

Zhu Yuan: The real purpose behind the whole operation was to put on a show, allowing Jane to gain enough trust to infiltrate the Mountain Lions' top ranks and learn the secrets of their HQ.

Qingyi: That's a bold move. So in that sense, our operation was a success. And Seth, I thought he was too straightforward to play such cunning tricks — he really fooled me! I thought they had actually captured him, hahaha!

Qingyi: ...*ahem* Huh, not funny? What's with that look on your face?

Zhu Yuan: Remember when I said the operation was only half a success? Well, Seth... he's that other half.

Zhu Yuan: He and the civilians who were caught up in this... they were really captured by the Mountain Lions...