Ready the Easterlies

Is there anything else I can help you with, Endministrator?

Because this is our way of life.

R-really? Could it be the canned bamboo shoots in the drawer… I remember I closed it properly...

Ahem. I rarely leave this room when working late... So Mi Fu stocked some instant food for me.

But we should head over to Fangxing Avenue. That's where the real food is.

Absolutely! Gacha, mugs, plushies ... which ones are you interested in?

Oh, there's a limited-edition sticker set released this year. I managed to secure an extra set...

It's right across from the Main Pillar. You will see it when you step outside.

Ah, it's just that Xiaowu... her ideas can be quite... unconventional. Alongside the brilliant stuff, there's also the downright bizarre. You'd best... keep an eye out.

On Talos-II, every habitable zone is precious. Hard-won, harder to keep.

The Wuling Science Station was built on the edge of danger. But thanks to a generation's sweat and stubbornness, look at what it's become.

Such is the Yanese spirit. We won't surrender our way of life... Not our food, our trade, our culture. None of it.

Not even when living at the heart of the Blight Tide.

Of course... Wuling City's birth carries far greater significance.

But that's not a story for now... I will tell you when you've learned this city properly.

And if you are referring to a business collaboration, Wuling can grant Endfield licensing rights to use Chubby Lung's IP.

Very well... I will await your good news.

Sealed the deal? I told you, she won't bite.

Alright, gossip time's over. Don't you have things to handle? Off you go then.

Close...? I guess? I do look up to her though.

But honestly, I've never been able to figure out what she's thinking. I guess I don't really have to. I just do what she says.

Trust?

Honestly, between her and me, that topic's long past needing discussion.

"Hello everyone, I was assigned by Tianshi Zhuang to..."

Please what?

Oh, you must be the guests from Endfield!

Wait, no. I shouldn't mention Tianshi Zhuang first.

"I'm a Wuling Watchguard... Hmm... I'm Trainee Watchguard Lifeng..."

Maybe I should start with a proper greeting since they're VIPs...

"Distinguished guests from Endfield, Endministrator, Supervisor Perlica, Miss Chen Qianyu, please..."

WHOA!

Greetings. Are you waiting for us?

Y-yes, Ma'am!

Greetings! I'm Trainee Watchguard Zhuang Tianshi. Please allow me to lead you to the designated spot.

Sure thing, Mr. Zhuang Tianshi.

Wait, no! It's Lifeng. My name's Lifeng!

Sorry, this is my first time on duty...

Hey, relax! You serve under Mi Fu, right? That's impressive for your age! And please, just call me Qianyu.

T-thank you! Your passes are all set, please follow me.

Uncle Ji! I'm back with...

Tianshi Zhuang's message sure travels fast, huh?

Oh, come on. Lifeng was going on about it all afternoon yesterday.

Wow, such dedication!

I-I just don't want to mess things up...

Kiddo, if you're this easy to fluster, you'll never make it as a watchguard!

Alright alright, take these passes and get going.

Yes, Sir!

Right this way, everyone.

Isn't that Shuang and Yan Ning?

You know them? Wanna go say hi?

Uh, it's fine. They're probably busy dealing with the Blight...

Lifeng! Lifeng!

Endmin?

Okay! Got it!

Contact below! Fall back NOW!

Not bad at all! First official duty, and you already look the part! What's next? Tagging along with Captain Mi in a blaze of glory, putting out "fires" all over the place?

Look, I didn't become a watchguard to show off...

Alright, you two. The Automated Industry Complex is important business. Stay focused.

Everyone's been counting the minutes, and finally, here you are!

Let me introduce myself. I'm Yan Ning, head of the Wuling Xiranite Application and Tech Production Unit. And this is my student, Bai Shuang.

Right now, we're handling hazard monitoring for this area, gathering intel to see if we need to roll out boots-on-the-ground measures.

I heard the Endmin was here in Wuling, so I got things prepped early... Bai Shuang, turn the apparatus, three degrees to the right!

There's something about the Aggeloi and the Blight that you should know...

How did Aggeloi breach the array?

Yan Ning, you said everything was under control... How bad is it really?

Well... I must apologize to everyone from Endfield.

With Xiranite reserves running low, we prioritized the safety of the city proper by deactivating some of the Tianshi Pillars here. That's why the array was compromised.

We planned to reactivate them before your arrival to clear out the Blight and Aggeloi, but...

Don't blame yourselves. We understand what you are going through.

Thank you... Fangyi must have briefed you.

Tianshi Zhuang and Wuling City are shouldering more than she has admitted.

We need to deploy the PAC as soon as possible...

Qianyu, Tianshi Zhuang said you're going to build a "factory," and it'll top every other Xiranite production facility. Is that true?

Does this factory support automatic Xiranite production, so the Tianshi won't have to work day and night in the lab anymore?

Yes. That's exactly what we want to achieve with the AIC Factory!

Alright then, everyone, let's pick up the pace!

The Aggeloi in Wuling come from an Ankhor deep within the Blight Tide. Wherever the tide flows, they follow...

We're truly sorry... Every resource is stretched thin!

While you head to the reserved site, we'll continue doing everything we can to contain the Blight disaster.

Now if you'll excuse us, we have to hurry to the next location... Lifeng, please take care of them.

Conditions met. Coordinates uploaded.

We are good to go, Endmin. Please issue the command.

Wow, orbital drop ... never seen it before.

Wanna wave to our operators up there? They can see us, you know!

Not so fast. We've got prep work first.

Hey! Don't treat me like a kid! I aced Dynamics and Intermediate Physics. Top of my class!

T-top?! But Dynamics was practically written in eldritch runes...!

...Heh. There you go, finally smiling. Just relax a little! Our Endmin's here, everything will work out.

Yeah, seeing the PAC myself really gives me hope... So, what's next?

Endmin, let's review the Wuling AIC Plan.

We must hurry over.

I got the data, but...

Are the results unfavorable?

The Blight ahead of us is ... spreading.

Yes. Normally, there's no way it would spread this fast.

Which means my earlier calculations were...

Everyone, the AIC Factory...

Three months, right?

Fangyi, level with us. Do we even have three months' worth of Xiranite left? You wouldn't falsify reports to your own people, would you?

Bit by bit, we're losing ground. Until what? You start feeding your own flesh and blood into the production of Xiranite?!

......

I will handle everything. But I do need all of you to stay focused on your own posts.

Fine...

You do your job. I'll do mine. Should've known better than to worry you'd work yourself to death.

Bai Shuang, take the data and submit it to the Xiranite Central Laboratory. And do follow the standard procedure, address it to Viceroy Zhuang.

Endmin...

Mm. Access permissions have been granted. Please go to the Xiranite Central Laboratory. I will see you there.

Tianshi Yan Ning, Tianshi Bai Shuang, bye-bye for now!

*Sigh* That was pathetic...

Endmin ... you're the only ones who can help her now.

W-what? But even if there's Blight inside the array, shouldn't the widespread Xiranite across Wuling reduce its activity...?

The clock's ticking. Quickest path to the lab's through the housing blocks!

Alright! Now that things have settled down, let's go find Tianshi Zhuang and figure out our Xiranite production plan.

Mm... Let's go.

Endmin, after things calm down in Wuling ... could I please have a tour of Dijiang?

Whoa, you're not even a full-time watchguard yet, and you're already thinking about job hopping?

That's not what I meant!

It's just that ... I still have a lot to learn.

It's a promise then! See you around, everyone!

And we can swing by Hongshan Swordmancers later.

Yeah, might as well go there and grab sharper toys. We've got plenty of fights ahead...

Perlica...?

Please halt. There have been frequent Aggeloi sightings outside the city. No one's allowed through right now.

If you're here on official business, please present your passes.

Don't worry, just small scratches.

Endmin, production details for Fluid Pump and Fluid Supply Unit have been attached to the Wuling AIC Plan.

A landslide? And it took out the irrigation channels too. This feeds the experimental fields... This is quite a headache.

Let me call Uncle Ji. Hope he can get Tianshi Engineers from the city to help us.

Don't. Everyone's busy enough as it is. Let's handle this ourselves.

Bai Shuang, go get another Tianshi apparatus. After that stunt you just pulled, clearing this mess should be no problem.

But ... won't that take a really long time?

You got a better idea? Just leave this dry canal as is? The farmers won't be happy.

*Weep*

Ah, the Automation-Core!

That's right! We can use the AIC Factory. Time to see what Tianshi Zhuang meant by "creating something out of nothing"!

Hmm... The Depth readings still haven't stabilized. We really can't afford to waste any time...

Never thought we'd be the ones asking for help... Endfielders, we're counting on you.

Yan Ning, Shuang, are you guys okay?

S-sorry, I got jump-scared by a pantailbeast... I thought it was an Aggelos so...

I-I'm not blaming you! Glad you're safe. But this water will be gone soon if we don't act fast.

Let us begin.

If we don't fix it soon, it won't just affect the water supply, but it'll also disrupt monitoring at the far end of the system.

The Xiranite-related AIC technologies are still in preparation. Perhaps we could first...

AHHHHH!

That's Shuang! What happened?!

Let's go check on her...

Hmm... We have temporary power supply solutions, but they will take time to implement...

Heh, now that we've seen what Endfield can do, it's time for Wuling to shine a little.

Bai Shuang, didn't we prepare a final batch of Xiranite Relays and Electric Pylons before?

Ohhh, that's right! I get it now!

With Xiranite this scarce, these are practically luxury items. Even critical operations get limited quota.

But I'm sure Endfield Industries can make better use of them than I could.

So please, go ahead.

If we want to automate the Originium industry ... how should we handle the power issue?

They can automatically connect to nearby Xiranite power facilities. Should be able to help.

It's working! Ma'am, the Fluid Supply Unit's working!

So this is the AIC Factory... Not just convenient, but its facilities show remarkable Originium compatibility...

Ma'am, next time we do field experiments, can we bring a set of this equipment with us?

Heh, we're gonna need more than one set.

Huh...?

What's wrong?

Depth readings are gradually increasing... We might be approaching the Blighted zone.

Well then, since we're already here, we'll help all the way!

Given how Wuling's Aggeloi are waterborne, we may encounter some further in.

Then I'll...

No. You stay and keep an eye on the AIC Factory. What if the Aggeloi show up here instead?

The factory is crucial and we just got it running. We can't afford any damage to it.

But I...

Alright, fine. I'll stay and watch over everything here.