Boggy visited Seta who had just undergone surgery. The latter was still under the effects of anesthesia and remained deeply asleep, with his sister watching over him by his bedside.
Boggy had a brief conversation with Sadie, asking her to take good care of her brother, then left the hospital.
But before she could step out of the main entrance, she saw Sadie hurrying after her from behind.
"Captain."
"What's up?" Boggy stopped and turned around.
"I'm coming with you," Sadie said bravely.
"Coming with me where?"
"Today is the day the vice-captain is supposed to return. You're going to the surface to find the vice-captain, right?"
Boggy was somewhat surprised. It seemed that she had not expected the usually silent and reserved girl who always stayed in her brother's shadow to possess such keen observational skills.
She was slightly taken aback and then shook her head, "The surface is too dangerous."
"It's precisely because it's dangerous that you need more hands," Sadie said, "Take me with you. I can help."
"And your brother..."
"He's out of life-threatening danger now. I can ask my mother to help me take care of him," Sadie said softly, "But the vice-captain is alone right now."
Boggy's expression grew stern, "You have to think this through. This trip will be very risky, and we might not be able to come back. And I'm not sure if the vice-captain is still alive."
"I have thought it through. The vice-captain once saved my brother," Sadie declared, "I can't abandon him."
"All right then." Boggy no longer hesitated, "Get ready, and I'll see how we can get back to the surface."
The Giant Curtain consists of three levels, with one above the ground and two below. The three levels are connected by four massive elevators.
The original builders had considered the possibility of the top level being compromised, so by cutting off the elevators and sealing the elevator shafts, the two lower levels could temporarily be secured.
However, living underground indefinitely was not practical; resources were one aspect. As long as the supplies were sufficient, the existing water and food could support them for two to three months without problems. The bigger challenge was energy.
But what surprised Boggy the most was the figure at the center of the conference room.
—Methe.
The daughter of Dionysus, the same girl that Twin Sunflower had helped escort back to the city.
Under the gaze of so many important figures, she was clearly a little nervous, yet her thoughts remained clear. Seeing Boggy and Guli walk in, she continued.
"In any case, that is the result of my teacher's research... those red sands, they have affected the minds of those beasts."
Zheng Shi Xun frowned, "Why didn't you report such important information earlier?"
"I only knew that my teacher was conducting a very crucial study, but she kept the details of her research confidential. It wasn't until after her death, when I was sorting through her belongings, that I found her research notes," Methe replied.
"Realizing the importance of this notebook, I immediately sent it to the Hunter's Guild."
"You are saying these red sands... they are not naturally formed?" President Yuzz, who had been resting with his eyes closed, now spoke.
"That's right, according to my teacher's research findings, based on her theory, they come from some kind of beast we have never seen before, and it's very likely that it is behind this beast tide."
"In other words, if we take down that beast, we can solve the current crisis and save the Giant Curtain?" Wei Cha asked.
"Uh... I can't provide any guarantees for you. This is just my late teacher's conjecture. She was a geologist, not a biologist."
"Then let's quickly bring in a few biologists," Zheng Shi Xun muttered, "and have them research these red sands."
"There's no time," said Qin Zhao. "Whoever is behind this beast tide is undoubtedly very clever.
"The rate of damage to the solar panels has exceeded our expectations; now less than half of them are still operational. In another two days, we might lose over 90% of our solar panels and will not be able to maintain the operation of the city."
"So, Vice-President Qin, your suggestion is..."
"We need to find that thing and take it down."
"Then let's recruit all the manpower we can, hunters, legal enforcers, my fitness coach, and put together an army," Zheng Shi Xun said.
"The number of beasts outside has already far exceeded the limits of what we can handle."
Yuzz spoke, "We are no match for them in a direct confrontation, and as you've heard from Vice-President Qin, that thing is clever. Once it's on guard, we might never get a chance to approach it again."