Unproductive Visit

Unproductive Visit is the third act of the Chapter 2 Interlude: Mission Unthinkable (A) in Phaethon's Story.

Stories

Piece of Cake
Hollow Hero
Action and Heart?

Steps

Head to the metro station to meet the Public Security officers
Hand over the questionnaires to the three neighbors
Find General Chop at the noodle shop
Inform the Public Security officers of the results

Dialogue

Head to the metro station to meet the Public Security officers

(Idle): Tin Master: Rest assured, Mr. Enzo. It's just a Public Security event.; Enzo: Phew... I almost thought I'd forgotten to pay my fines from last month.

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

Piece of Cake

Video Summary: It's harder to earn people's trust than to pursue criminals, and losing heroes is more devastating than not having any at all.

Story Description: Zhu Yuan and Qingyi faced rejection after rejection while promoting Public Security's event on Sixth Street. You decided to step in and help them by distributing surveys to the residents.

Zhu Yuan: ...Criminal cases have been rampant lately. To raise safety awareness among citizens, Janus Quarter Public Security has launched the Safety Awareness Month campaign.

Zhu Yuan: We'll be holding a seminar at the Lumina Branch soon. Please come and join us if you have time.

Tin Master: A Public Security event? How nostalgic. I participated in such an event years ago, you see.

Tin Master: It was somewhat reminiscent of a coffee-tasting event. I even had the chance to offer everyone present some freshly ground coffee — albeit it wasn't a top-shelf roast.

Tin Master: It's a shame Public Security's facilities now smell of air fresheners everywhere — no longer suitable places for enjoying coffee while freely conversing.

Zhu Yuan: Um... What do you mean?

Tin Master: Of course, while fine wines develop into richer experiences with time, other worthy items can go bad — oh, I'm talking of coffee beans.

Tin Master: So to prevent the coffee beans at my shop from facing a sorrowful fate, I have to go grind them properly.... I'm afraid I can't make the event. Now if you'll excuse me.

Qingyi: Mr. Enzo, according to our data, you're running a remodeling shop on Sixth Street. Would you be interested in attending the seminar?

Enzo: Well hey, it's not often I get invited out by two young ladies, so I'd love to join you.

Enzo: Unfortunately, my second aunt's grandfather's son's cousin is getting married that day. I can't miss such an important family event.

Qingyi: Ah, I understand. In that case, I hope your relative has a great wedding!

Enzo: Uh, haha... Oh, I have a customer coming soon to collect his car. I better get back to it.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Good morning, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi.

Zhu Yuan: Good morning, Wise, Belle.

Here's our questionnaires.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Here are our questionnaires. We've decided to attend the seminar. / Here's our questionnaires. We've decided we'd like to attend the seminar.‍)

Qingyi: Wonderful! If it weren't for you two, we wouldn't have recruited a single participant yet.

Zhu Yuan: Qingyi... That's blunt...

Qingyi: So what? It's the truth. Besides, it's not like they're strangers, right?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Yeah! Right. / She's right.‍)

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍But how come nobody on Sixth Street wants to go to the seminar? Everyone here is usually pretty welcoming... / But, why do you think nobody on Sixth Street is willing to go to the seminar? The neighbors are all pretty welcoming.‍)

Is there anything we can do?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Is there anything we can do to help?

Qingyi: Now that you mention it, there is something I'd like to ask you.

Qingyi: Some of the residents on Sixth Street only registered their names, but didn't fill in their addresses. Do you know where they live?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Oh? Let me see... / Let me see...‍) Asha, General Chop... Spike should be one of our members, an older gentleman. We know all these people.

We can take the questionnaires to them!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍How about we help you take the questionnaires to them? / In that case, we'll take the questionnaires to them!‍)

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): That's a good idea! Sixth Street doesn't usually have much interaction with Public Security. So if they see officers handing out stuff all of a sudden, they might be wary and refuse.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): If it's a neighbor who brings them the questionnaire, maybe they'll be more open to it.

Zhu Yuan: We wouldn't want to trouble you...

It's no big deal.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍No worries. It's no big deal. / It's no big deal. Don't worry about it!‍)

You guys helped us before~

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍You two already did us a huge favor. It's only right we return the gesture. / You two did us a huge solid before. It's only right for us to return the favor.‍)

Qingyi: Zhu Yuan, since they're willing, we should let them help.

Zhu Yuan: Okay, thank you. Really. Let's split up and meet back here later, then.

Hand over the questionnaires to the three neighbors

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): We have to go find Asha, General Chop, and Spike, and give them the Public Security survey.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Asha and General Chop should be at their stores about now, right?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): As for Spike, he left his address when he registered as a member at the store. Fairy's going to send it over.

(Talk to Relaxed Diner): (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Hm? General Chop isn't at his shop today?Hm? General Chop isn't at his shop today?Text for Wise / General Chop isn't in his shop today...?General Chop isn't in his shop today...?Text for Belle‍); Relaxed Diner: You here to see the owner? He said some ingredients had arrived and he went to go sign for them. He'll be back soon.; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): In that case, we'll have to come back later.

(Talk to Asha): Asha: Hello, you two. It's been a while since I saw you both at the arcade together. Are you here to play some matches?; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Not today, Asha. We're here for something else today.Not today, Asha. We're here for something else today.Text for Wise / Sorry to disappoint you, Asha, but we're here about something else today.Sorry to disappoint you, Asha, but we're here about something else today.Text for Belle‍); Could you take a look at this survey?; Asha: Oh, are you researching new movie genres to stock in your store?; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): It's actually a Public Security survey.; Asha: Ah... Don't tell me you guys got busted by Public Security, and now you're doing community service? Were you selling pirated videotapes, or burning illegal discs, or...?; Is that how you see us?; What happened to basic trust between people?; Asha: Haha, I'm just kidding. There're just too many secretive residents on Sixth Street, and you siblings give off a somewhat mysterious vibe.; Asha: I wouldn't be surprised if I found out one day you were the number one most wanted on Public Security's most wanted list.; (That's about right...); Thanks for your... approval?; You tell Asha about the Public Security survey...; Asha: I see, you're just helping out an officer you know. Well, as long as you're okay, that's what matters.; Asha: Actually, last time I was at Lumina Square, I saw Public Security had set up a promotional booth. I heard that on the day of the lecture, lots of media outlets will be in town conducting interviews.; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): It seems like Public Security is really putting a lot of effort into this exchange event. It might be worth checking out, don't you think?; Asha: "Exchange event"... That may be the case for regular citizens like you and me, but for "some people," it could mean something entirely different.; You mean...?; "Some people"?; Asha: Nothing. I was just mumbling to myself.; Asha: Anyways, thanks for bringing the survey over, but unfortunately I don't really have time that afternoon. Please pass that on to the officers for me.

(Interact with Apartment Gate): (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Spike should live here. Try ringing the doorbell.; Doorbell: DING—; Spike: Darn salespeople!! It never ends!!; Spike: I've said it time and again!! I've got no teeth, so I don't need your electric toothbrush!!; ...; No no, actually I'm...; Spike: What, not the toothbrush? Well then, I've got no hair, so I don't need your darn curling iron either!!!; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Spike, we're the managers from Random Play.; Spike: ...; Spike: Oh, the video store. One moment...; Soon after, the door finally opens...; Spike: Oh, both of you came out. How many videotapes have we forgotten to return this time? I'm sorry. My memory is short. I'm old.; (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): No no, we're actually here for something else.; Could you please take a look at this survey?; Spike: Hmm? Now there's an unsettling face. That Bringer lad, isn't it? Sorry, my eyesight's not what it used to be, I can't read the words clearly, could you youngsters read it for me?; You tell Spike about Public Security's security event...; Spike: Hmph, for the sake of urban security and the safety of us residents... that sounds lovely!; Spike: If they really cared about the residents, they wouldn't be chasing around after Proxies. In the end, all the benefit is just for TOPS...; Spike: Thank you both for bringing the survey over, but as you can see, these legs of mine aren't so stable. I don't really want to go wandering off as far as Lumina Square.; Spike: Could you please tell the officers?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): I had a bad feeling from the moment Asha spoke. Sure enough, Spike refused as well. And they were clearly hinting at something.

General Chop's the only one left...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): I'm not sure if General Chop is back yet or not. Let's go take a look.

Find General Chop at the noodle shop

(Talk to General Chop)

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

Hollow Hero

Video Summary: It's harder to earn people's trust than to pursue criminals, and losing heroes is more devastating than not having any at all.

Story Description: General Chop revealed the underlying reason for the rejections: Inspector Bringer, once a hero adored by all, has recently grown too close to the "businesses" side of his work, causing resentment among the residents.

General Chop: Hello Wise, Belle.

General Chop: Some customers mentioned you were looking for me — I understand you're helping those two officers from Public Security hand out questionnaires?

So you already know.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍So you already know. / So you already know, then.‍)

General Chop: Haha, one of the perks of running a store on the street is being well-informed.

Would you take a look at the questionnaire?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): General Chop, would you (‍mind taking / take‍) a look at this questionnaire?

General Chop: I'll pass. I figure it's about that seminar in Lumina Square.

General Chop: Anyway, please tell the officers I have other things to tend to that day.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍*sigh* I knew it... / I knew it...‍) I had a feeling General Chop would say no before we even got here.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍And after I told Zhu Yuan and Qingyi we could help. / It'll be hard to break the news to them later.‍)

General Chop: Oh? Have other people said no too?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Yeah! Asha, Spike... Oh, and I think Tin Master and Enzo said no this morning too. / Yeah, we went to see Asha and Spike just now, but they turned us down. And this morning, Tin Master and Enzo said they were away on the day of the seminar.‍)

Is there something going on?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Is there something going on?

General Chop: It's no big secret, it's just... some of us older residents on Sixth Street know some things you're not aware of.

Everyone's behaving strangely.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍You know, it is a little strange everyone is refusing. Maybe the seminar isn't as simple as we think. / It's a little strange everyone is refusing, like it's not just a simple seminar.‍)

General Chop: You've got that right.

General Chop: Do you two know who the guy on the questionnaire cover is?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Isn't that Inspector Bringer? I heard he came up with the event. / That's Inspector Bringer. He started the event.‍)

General Chop: Then have either of you heard of the Hollow Hero from the Eridu period?

Nope.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍I've never heard of it. / Nope, never heard of it.‍)

General Chop: Well, for a while back then, that's what the residents called Bringer.

That's Inspector Bringer?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍So, you're saying / So you're saying...‍) Inspector Bringer was the Hollow Hero?

General Chop: That's right.

General Chop: Before the fall of the old capital, Bringer happened to be the commanding officer in my precinct.

General Chop: After being promoted from the frontline, despite being an inspector, he still got involved at the ground level and interacted with the residents, so they regarded him highly.

General Chop: Then he went missing in a Hollow during a rescue mission. But just when everyone thought he was done for, he miraculously made it back out.

General Chop: Just like that, he became known as the Hollow Hero. He was then transferred to the HQ in Janus Quarter and quickly advanced through the ranks over the years.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍That's a pretty inspiring story. / Sounds like a great story.‍)

General Chop: It used to be. But these days, people say the Hollows have drained the Hollow Hero of all his courage.

General Chop: Now, Bringer presents himself as a hard worker, but we older residents can see through it. He's just putting on an act in front of the cameras.

General Chop: What's more, in recent years he's clearly been cozying up to TOPS. He's implemented a number of measures under the guise of benefiting the public - but it's those big corporations that benefit in the end!

General Chop: He's aiming for Commander of Janus Quarter in the upcoming municipal election. Launching a safety campaign right now, even putting his own image on the questionnaire. His motives are pretty clear, doncha think?

Seems like he's trying to advertise himself.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Sounds like Inspector Bringer is trying to advertise himself through the seminar.

Seems like he's using public resources for his personal gain...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍It seems like Inspector Bringer is using public resources for his own gain. / I get the feeling Inspector Bringer is using public resources for his own personal gain.‍)

General Chop: Hmph, exactly... Holding the seminar is a good thing, but I can't go knowing what Bringer is up to.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Thanks for telling us all this, General Chop.

General Chop: I'm just sorry I can't be of help this time around.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Well, we've visited all the neighbors. It might be awkward, but it's probably time we go back and tell Zhu Yuan and Qingyi the news.

Inform the Public Security officers of the results

(Talk to Zhu Yuan or Qingyi)

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

Action and Heart?

Video Summary: It's harder to earn people's trust than to pursue criminals, and losing heroes is more devastating than not having any at all.

Story Description: Zhu Yuan was also troubled by her boss's tarnished reputation. It turned out Bringer was Zhu Yuan's rescuer and a hero she deeply respected. It was just then that an incident occurred on Sixth Street...

Zhu Yuan: *sigh* We've gone up and down Sixth Street, but we haven't even gotten ten people to register for the seminar!

Qingyi: We've done our best. Let's get a drink and take a break.

Zhu Yuan: Easy for you to say, but the conference hall we're in can fit 300 people, y'know? As things stand, it'll be more than half-empty!

Qingyi: Inspector Bringer must have chosen this area because there's a lot of residents nearby, thinking it would be easier to find people to participate.

Qingyi: Shame many of them are from his previous precinct. A lot of them have complaints about him.

Zhu Yuan: *sigh*

Qingyi: I was just wondering why you're in such low spirits today, when I've never seen you discouraged by difficult tasks before. But, then I remembered... the Inspector saved your life once.

Qingyi: Not being able to accomplish what we'd hoped, on top of seeing him come under fire... it must make you feel even worse.

Zhu Yuan: Mhm... If Bringer hadn't rescued me in that Hollow back then, I wouldn't even be here, let alone be a Public Security Officer.

Zhu Yuan: I understand he's no longer the hero he used to be, but... can someone who gave up his anti-Corruption gear to a child be such a bad guy?

Zhu Yuan: Sure, he's had some dealings with TOPS, but it's inevitable, especially when many of our devices are jointly developed with TOPS...

Zhu Yuan: And besides, doesn't he always say he lacks sufficient authority to make changes? If he gets elected, maybe he might be able to turn public opinion around...

Qingyi: Worshipping an undeserving deity is sycophancy. Failure to act when action is needed shows a lack of courage.

Zhu Yuan: What...?

Qingyi: It means when someone flatters undeserving people, it's considered an act of sycophancy. If one should stand up for what is right but remains indifferent, it shows that person is a coward.

Qingyi: As Public Security Officers, we need to be clear about what we should and shouldn't do.

Qingyi: There may be many different ways to interpret Inspector Bringer's actions, but only he knows whether he has a clear conscience.

Qingyi: If his deeds were pure, even if he's misunderstood for the time being, things'll work out in the end.

Zhu Yuan: Yeah, you're right... —Hold on, someone's coming.

Sorry for interrupting you guys...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Sorry, are we interrupting you two?

Zhu Yuan: We were just chatting. Did you go talk to the residents?

We gave them the questionnaire, but...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): We gave them the questionnaire, but (‍everyone said they were busy on that day... Looks like we couldn't be of much help. / they all happened to be busy on that day... Sorry for not being very helpful.‍)

Zhu Yuan: It's okay, we're just grateful you tried at all.

Zhu Yuan: We're almost done with distributing the questionnaires here, too. Then, Qingyi and I will be heading back to the office...

General Chop: Wait a minute! Officers!

General Chop: Huff... Oh good... you didn't go... Huff... Huff...

Is something wrong?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍General Chop, did you run all the way here? Why? / General Chop, what's happened to make you run all the way here?‍)

General Chop: It's hard to explain, but just now, there was a crime committed over there, and it's at a stalemate! Please officers, you have to go take a look!

Zhu Yuan: A crime? Let's go check out the scene!

General Chop: Great! Please, follow me!

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise / Belle‍), let's go see what's going on!

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Unproductive Visit
Chinese (Simplified)	碰壁的走访
Chinese (Traditional)	碰壁的走訪
Japanese	挫折する訪問
Korean	난관에 부딪힌 방문 Nan'gwane Budichin Bangmun
Spanish	Una visita en vano
French	Visite infructueuse
Russian	Неудачный визит Neudachnyy vizit
Thai	การเยี่ยมชมที่ถูกปฏิเสธ Kan Yiamchom thi Thuk Patiset
Vietnamese	Chuyến Thăm Trắc Trở
German	Vergeblicher Besuch
Indonesian	Kunjungan Tanpa Hasil
Portuguese	Visita Improdutiva