[Eridius]:Carmen, the truth is dangerous. So dangerous that if we uncover it, all of us could die a horrible, horrifying death.
He paused.
[Eridius]: And I'm not talking about just dying.
His expression became completely serious.
[Eridius]: Every record of our existence could be erased. Our names, our identities, our history... everything.
He slowly pointed toward the floor.
[Eridius]: Even the dirt we've walked on.
Then toward the air.
[Eridius]: Even the air we've breathed.
Eridius stared at Carmen.
[Eridius]: That's how dangerous the truth is.
[Everyone]: (⊙_(⊙_⊙)_⊙)
[Eridius]: Now, tell me. Can you bear the weight of that truth once you know it?
[Carmen]: If it means saving the City from this disease, then yes. No matter how terrible the truth is, I won't turn away from it.
[Eridius]: ...Very well. Then let's start with the Great Rebellion.
[Note: Most of the information came from the fandom and Discord services]
He paused, taking a sip of his coffee.
[Eridius]: You see, humanity wasn't always free. In the old days, we were slaves.
He tilted his head.
[Eridius]: Actually, calling us slaves would be far too generous. We were livestock. Breeding stock to produce tools, disposable labor, and emergency food whenever our masters got hungry.
Everyone screamed at the same time.
[Everyone]: What.
[Eridius]: What? You wanted the truth.
He shrugged.
[Eridius]: Anyway, after countless years of suffering, the Head finally took up arms alongside the leaders of the first twenty-seven Wings.
[Carmen]: Wait. Twenty-seven?
She frowned.
[Carmen]: But there are only twenty-six Wings.
[Eridius]: Let me finish.
He took another sip of coffee before continuing.
[Eridius]: After that, humanity fought a war so bloody that the stars themselves seemed to dim. When the slaughter finally ended, the Head opened the Fog and established the City, appointing the twenty-seven Wings as its managers.
He paused.
[Eridius]: With the help of advanced technology, humanity entered an age of peace and prosperity.
He stared into his cup.
[Eridius]: And then the AI rebelled.
[Carmen]: Wait. The AI rebelled? But the City used AI!
[Eridius]: Yes. That's why I said let me finish.
He sighed.
[Eridius]: Nobody knows exactly why the rebellion happened. Some say the stars had a hand in it. Others believe there was something else at work. Whatever the truth, the conflict lasted for years and devastated the City.
His expression grew grim.
[Eridius]: Almost all the advanced technology was lost. Civilization collapsed, and humanity was forced to rebuild from the ruins of its former glory. One Wing disappeared, leaving only twenty-six.
He gestured vaguely toward the world outside.
[Eridius]: That's how the Outskirts, the Backstreets, and the Ruins came to be. And somewhere along the way, the old profession of Fixer was replaced by what we now know as the modern Fixer system.
He paused, looking around at the stunned faces.
[Eridius]: That's the broad outline, anyway. The details are a mess, and don't expect me to explain every little thing.
Nobody spoke.
Eridius continued regardless.
[Eridius]: At some point in the City's history, a red mansion appeared. Within it, the twenty-six Bloodfiend Elders came into existence, each eventually finding their place within one of the Wings.
He leaned back in his chair.
[Eridius]: And remember, the City was still recovering from the AI rebellion. Its infrastructure was shattered, its technology crippled, and its people were struggling to survive. The balance of power was fragile.
His gaze sharpened.
[Eridius]: Then one Bloodfiend Elder changed everything. After a bloody conflict, humans and Bloodfiends finally reached an agreement.
He spread his hands.
[Eridius]: And that, my friends, is why the Backstreets were destined to remain the Backstreets.
A brief silence followed.
[Eridius]: A place where the Head could abandon whatever it didn't want to deal with, where the Wings could throw away their problems, and where the people unlucky enough to be born there could spend their lives trying to survive.
He took another sip of coffee.
[Eridius]: Of course, there were plenty of other important events throughout the City's history, but I've forgotten most of them.
He shrugged.
[Eridius]: Anyway, did you know that Sweepers are actually human?
[Carmen]: Wait, wait, wait. Sweepers are human?!
[Eridius]: Yes. Well, technically, they're what's left of people who have undergone a rather horrifying transformation. There's a lot more to it, but I don't remember all the details.
He paused to take another sip of coffee.
[Eridius]: Oh, and there's also a theory that the City itself might be a Singularity.
[Ayin]: The City... itself?
[Eridius]: Potentially. A Singularity that operates on human emotions, or something along those lines.
He waved his hand dismissively.
[Eridius]: Don't quote me on that part. I'm not entirely sure how it works.
Silence.
Carmen stared at him.
Ayin stared at him.
Gebura stared at him.
Even Kali looked as though she was reconsidering several of her life choices.
[Eridius]: What? You wanted to know about the City!
[At B Corp]
[Beholder]: Wow even I don't know most of that information what about you Arbiter.
The Beholder stared at the surveillance screen, watching Eridius casually sip his coffee as though he hadn't just dropped several historical bombs on some of the most dangerous people in the City.
[Beholder]: ...Wow. Even I didn't know most of that information.
He turned his enormous eye toward the Arbiter standing nearby.
[Beholder]: What about you, Arbiter? Did you know any of it?
[Garion]: That is my boy!
Garion's voice carried unmistakable pride.
[Garion]: Though he went a little too far with that indiscretion. We never said people weren't allowed to learn about the City's history.
She crossed her arms, looking increasingly pleased with herself.
[Garion]: Honestly, the more I see his knowledge and abilities, the more I want to adopt him.
[Beholder]: Isn't he already your son on the paperwork?
[Garion]: I still need his signature on the adoption papers.
[Beholder]: ...Then why haven't you obtained it?
[Garion]: Because the little rascal keeps avoiding me!
Garion clicked her tongue in annoyance before turning her attention back to the screen.
[Garion]: Besides, I want him to tell me about the Great Head's deeds again. He left out some details last time.
[Beholder]: You mean you want to hear those stories again.
[Garion]: Naturally. The Great Head's accomplishments deserve to be remembered.
A brief silence followed.
[A Corp Arbiter]: I want to hear them too.
Both Garion and the Beholder turned toward the Arbiter from A Corp.
[Beholder]: ...You were listening?
[A Corp Arbiter]: Of course. This is potentially the most interesting historical discussion I've heard in decades.
[Garion]: See? Someone understands!
[Beholder]: You're all supposed to be terrifying representatives of the City's highest authority.
[Beholder]: You're discussing adopting a thirteen-year-old boy and asking him to tell bedtime stories about the Head.
[Garion]: Historical accounts.
[A Corp Arbiter]: Educational historical accounts.
[Beholder]: ...I'm surrounded by lunatics.
On the screen, Eridius took another sip of coffee.
Somehow, the boy had managed to turn a casual conversation into a potential historical crisis—and acquire even more powerful people who wanted to adopt him.
And judging by the events unfolding on the screen, that feeling was probably justified.
[Back with Eridius]
Eridius set his coffee cup down and looked directly at Carmen. For once, his usual sarcastic smile had disappeared.
[Eridius]: Now, Carmen, tell me. What are you going to do?
Carmen fell silent for a moment. The drunken amusement from earlier had faded, replaced by a quiet determination.
[Carmen]: I will continue searching for a way to cure the City's disease.
She lifted her head, her eyes filled with resolve.
[Carmen]: And I will fight for it. Just as the Head and the first Wing leaders once did.
The room grew quiet.
Ayin's expression changed slightly. Gebura stopped playing with her glass. Even the usually unbothered Kali turned her attention toward Carmen.
Eridius stared at her for several seconds.
[Eridius]: ...I see.
He picked up his coffee again.
[Eridius]: So, you're planning to challenge the entire City, change the lives of countless people, and potentially get yourself killed in the process.
[Carmen]: When you put it that way, it sounds rather unreasonable.
[Eridius]: Because it is unreasonable.
[Carmen]: But you understand why I have to do it, don't you?
Eridius paused with the cup halfway to his mouth.
For a moment, he looked genuinely troubled.
[Eridius]: ...Unfortunately, yes.
He took a sip.
[Eridius]: That's the worst part, Really don't do it.
[Chapter end]