Inside Elias van Sauer's residence, the air seemed to freeze.
The low hum of the ventilation system was the only background noise at that moment, contrasting sharply with the silent tension between the two.
Osiris' choice hung coldly in the air, like an invisible blade that sliced through all of Elias' illusory escape routes.
Either defend the family secrets, and then be eliminated on the spot.
Either hand over the secret in exchange for survival and a future.
This seemingly simple choice stirred up a ripple in Elias' heart.
For a fleeting moment, the oath of loyalty repeatedly emphasized by his family elders flashed through his mind—those admonitions about honor, responsibility, and sacrifice were deeply imprinted on every stage of his growth.
He recalled the awe he felt when he was first allowed to approach the "ancestral core" as a child, and his father's dedication to maintaining the core for thirty years.
But then, more vivid memories flooded back: the dark red blood clots his father coughed up before he died, the dwindling supply of anti-radiation drugs in the clinic, and the indifferent, habitual looks from senior managers at them, these "consumables."
Those vows of glory seem so pale in the face of cruel reality.
He subconsciously touched his chest, where a persistent, dull ache reminded him that he was following in his father's footsteps.
What would be the point of such a sacrifice if he were to die protecting the family that saw him as fuel?
The instinct for survival, along with the pent-up resentment towards unfair treatment, ultimately overwhelmed the last remaining, formal loyalty to the family.
This choice was not difficult for him; in fact, it brought a strange sense of relief.
He didn't want to die, and he especially didn't want to die a meaningless death like his father.
He barely hesitated, raising his still sickly pale face to meet Osiris' crimson optical lenses, his voice unusually steady with determination: "I choose to cooperate. I don't want to die, and I certainly don't want to die here for those who use me as fuel."
Osiris' mechanical body made no indicative movements, as if the other party's answer was already expected.
He simply responded calmly, "A wise judgment."
Now that the other party has made their choice, Osiris believes it is necessary to demonstrate some leverage in order to strengthen the stability of this fragile cooperative relationship.
He needs to make the other party understand that the value of cooperating with him far exceeds that of sticking to the status quo.
"Your previous guess was partly correct." Osiris' synthesized voice echoed in the small space. "I am not an ordinary archaeological technician. I belong to the Cult of the Machine God."
"Mechanicus…" Elias repeated in a low voice, his pupils slightly contracting.
Despite the speculation, hearing it firsthand still had a significant impact.
The name of the Cult of Mechanics is renowned even in the relatively isolated town of Ronker; it is a colossal entity that spans the stars and holds the lifeline of human technology.
The Van Sauer family's proud "ancestral core" is probably just another ancient relic that needs to be "reclaimed" and "studied" in the eyes of the Mechanicus.
"The radiation damage you suffered stems from continuous damage at the genetic level," Osiris continued, steer the conversation back to Elias' most pressing concern: "The medical resources in Ronker, based on limited understanding of the radiation leak from the 'core,' can only provide palliative care and cannot address the root cause."
The Mechanics Cult's knowledge base already contains a mature system for repairing and strengthening various types of radiation-induced genetic damage.
His mechanical finger pointed to Elias' arm where he had just received the injection: "The soothing agent you just experienced is just one of the basic applications."
A complete cure involves cellular-level gene repair, targeted regeneration of damaged tissue, and remodeling of the immune system.
These technologies are far beyond what this place can achieve.
Elias' breathing quickened slightly.
Osiris' words contained no grand promises, only statements based on technical logic, but this made them all the more persuasive.
He personally experienced the effects of the medicine, and the long-lost feeling of ease was genuine.
If this is merely a "basic application," then a complete cure... he could hardly imagine.
"Our deal can be more specific." Osiris noticed the change in the other party's eyes and knew that the bargaining chip had been activated, so he refined the cooperation framework: "You need to provide all the information about the 'core'—that is, the STC system as you know it."
This includes its precise location, internal structure and layout, security access levels, daily maintenance procedures, deployment and shift changes of security personnel, coverage of the monitoring system, and any known defense mechanisms or emergency protocols.
The accuracy and detail of the information you receive directly affect the level of resources you will subsequently receive.
He paused slightly, allowing Elias to process the demands, before making a promise: "In return, I will ensure you receive a complete biological repair, eradicating the effects of radiation sickness."
Afterwards, I will take you away from Necromonda. Within the Mechanicus system, your technical background and close experience with STC will be of some value.
I can arrange a position for you, perhaps a technical support role in the foundry industry, allowing you to gain a new starting point in a broader environment.
This will free you from the fate of being a 'consumable' item.
This proposal not only solved Elias' immediate problems of survival and health, but also gave him a future that transcended the narrow confines of Ronker Town.
For a young man who had long been disillusioned with his family and longed to escape this place, this was undoubtedly an irresistible temptation.
Elias remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the small room, which was filled with an atmosphere of disease and despair.
He recalled his father's suffering before his death, the indifferent eyes of the family's senior members, and the insignificance he felt while protecting the "core" and the fear of being abandoned at any moment.
Compared to those, the deal proposed by this member of the Mechanicus, while equally fraught with uncertainty, at least offers a visible, upward path.
He took a deep breath and felt a rare sense of relief in his chest, which strengthened his resolve.
"I accept." Elias' voice was clear and firm, without the slightest hesitation. "I will tell you everything I know. About the 'core,' about the defenses, about how the Van Sauer family both depends on and fears it… everything I know."
Osiris' mechanical head tilted slightly to one side, its optical lens locked onto Elias. This subtle movement lasted for about two seconds, seemingly confirming the other's resolve.
"The deal is done," the synthesized voice announced smoothly. "Your cooperation will be recorded from this moment on. First, I need to understand the scope and reliability of the information you possess. There's no need to show the details immediately; let's start with a general overview."
Elias nodded, feeling as if the burden on his shoulders had been lightened somewhat.
He realized that he was no longer just an object to be slaughtered, but had become a collaborator with bargaining power, even though that bargaining power was the secret to his family's survival.
The atmosphere in the room remained heavy, but it had shifted from one-sided coercion to a fragile cooperative relationship based on the exchange of interests.