Why do I keep my weapon right here? I said it before, you need a stable working environment. Anyone who wants to bother you will have to ask my little friend first.

Rhodes Island is a nice place. Everyone follows the rules and goes about their business, like an idyllic island paradise isolated from reality.

Doctor, those students over there, are they all from Chernobog? Middle schoolers from that city...? I see, I need to observe them a bit more.

Were you the one commanding at Chernobog, Doctor? Then you also must have seen the state of things there. How are you able to sleep at night, after all that? I can't get it out of my mind… I just can't…

I've done well...? No, I haven't! I've achieved nothing, I even fled my homeland. A girl like me never does good… Uh, stop that. Why are you patting my head...?

Who needs my protection? Who can I protect? I've been asking myself, since that nightmare... Back then, I saw the malice in people's hearts, it was... it was pouring out all over the place. It drowned the whole city... Under those circumstances, maybe justice no longer means anything, it no longer exists.

Something wrong with my hair? It's... a little messy? Well, it is what it is. I had to cut it myself when I fled the city... Don't give me that look. It's just hair, it'll grow back eventually. Relax, okay?

This device belonged to my father, a police officer who dedicated himself to protecting the public each and every day. I can understand, same as my mother. We've never blamed him. It's just that... Doctor, all that my father did, was it really worth it?

Those people, the civilians, their faces were so twisted. They looked just like the murderers who destroyed our city. But they were the people my father and I were supposed to protect. Doctor, what is actually just in this world? What should I do...? I just don't know...

So sleepy... But I can't afford to... fall asleep…

Thank you for rescuing me, I pledge my life to you. There's not a lot I can do, but if you find some way for me to be useful, please let me know. Codename...? Ummm, just call me Absinthe.

What's the point of watching this stuff?

There's no need for a promotion. Rhodes Island does enough for me… I-I have to take it? But, well… Okay... Thank you.

I still haven't figured out what justice really is. But you told me before that my beliefs mean something... You might be right. I-I want to believe.

Understood. I'll go get ready.

Whoever the squad leader is, what's the status on the... Huh, it's me?

Don't get cocky. Move out!

Halt! Suspicious individuals thirty meters ahead… It's those guys again.

This time…

Copy.

Raid drill! Hands on your head! Don't move!

This time... I must!

No sudden moves!

Stop right there! No tresspassing!

This is your last warning! Surrender or get shot!

Why does it always end up like this…?

If only you were there back then, maybe things would've turned out different…

Mission complete. Doctor, you're not injured, are you?

Do you think any of them were from Chernobog?

It's a panic, we've lost control! We have to retreat now, go!

This terrace... if enough snow built up on it, you could jump off like this and have a great time. Hup!

Wha-What?

Oh, Doctor. Are you thirsty? Come, let's find something to drink.

Arknights.

Papa always used to work this holiday. He wouldn't come home until very late, so my mother and I would wait for him. If I got too tired, I would sit by the window and watch the snow. By the time the sign on the other side of the street was buried, Papa would be home... Doctor, thank you. I'll be fine by myself.

Are you alright? Need something to perk you up?

People say that what's past is past, but is that really true? I feel like some things, you'll always carry with you, but even so, you have to keep moving forward.