Chapter 127: 127:Delta 4
The towering walls of Delta Four gradually grew larger as Silver guided the vehicle along the final stretch of highway. By now, the road had become noticeably busier.
Contractor convoys travelled in both directions, cargo trucks hauled supplies between sanctuaries, and Association patrol vehicles regularly passed by, their insignias glinting beneath the midday sun.
After spending nearly a week travelling through quiet Green Zones, the sudden return to civilization almost felt overwhelming.
Ravenna rested her elbow against the window as she looked outside.
"...It’s bigger than I expected."
Silver nodded.
"It almost matches Delta three."
His eyes swept across the immense defensive wall surrounding the city. Reinforced alloy plates had been layered over thick concrete, while dozens of automated defensive turrets overlooked the surrounding plains.
Watchtowers stood every few hundred metres, each occupied by armed guards equipped with high-powered rifles and long-range observation equipment.
Outside the walls, several temporary camps had been established for merchants and independent contractors waiting for permission to enter.
"It’s just as large," Silver continued, "but not quite as wealthy."
Ravenna looked toward him.
"That’s why it’s Delta Four?"
"Exactly."
She listened quietly while he drove.
"The Delta Sanctuaries aren’t named according to their size. They’re ranked according to overall economic output."
He pointed toward the sprawling industrial district visible beyond the western wall.
"Delta One controls most advanced manufacturing."
"Delta Two is famous for research."
"Delta Three focuses on military production."
He smiled faintly.
"Delta Four earns most of its wealth through trade."
Ravenna looked back outside. That explained the endless lines of transport trucks. Warehouses stretched almost as far as she could see. Rail lines crossed one another like giant webs.
Large cargo cranes moved containers between freight yards while merchant companies unloaded goods arriving from smaller settlements.
"It’s busy."
Silver laughed.
"Very. If Delta One is the political heart of Delta sanctuaries, then Delta Four is where everyone comes to make money."
The line at the main gate moved surprisingly quickly. Each arriving vehicle stopped beneath a reinforced checkpoint canopy, where Association personnel inspected identification cards, vehicle registrations, and cargo manifests.
When their turn finally arrived, an elderly officer approached the driver’s side.
"Identification."
Silver handed over both contractor cards without hesitation. The officer scanned them. A small device emitted a green light.
"No outstanding warrants. No restricted cargo."
He glanced toward Ravenna before returning the cards.
"You two are coming from the Detroin sector?"
Silver nodded.
"We are."
The officer’s expression immediately became more serious.
"I heard about what happened."
"So did everyone else."
"We’re sorry for your losses."
Silver thanked him with a small nod.
The officer stepped back before signalling another guard.
"Open Lane Six."
Heavy mechanical locks disengaged. The enormous gate slowly began to slide open. Beyond it, Delta 4 finally revealed itself.
Vehicles filled the streets. Contractors walked openly with weapons strapped to their backs.
Markets overflowed with merchants advertising beast materials, medicinal herbs, armour, firearms, and countless supplies gathered from the surrounding Green Zones.
Electronic billboards displayed Association notices alongside bounty requests.
Unlike Delta 3, however, the buildings appeared older. Functional rather than luxurious.
Silver smiled to himself.
"...Feels nostalgic."
Ravenna tilted her head.
"You’ve been here before?"
"No, but it almost resembles home, I guess, if that makes sense."
He slowed the vehicle as pedestrians crossed the road ahead.
"We’ve been away from civilization, and I’ve now noticed how long it has been."
Ravenna continued watching the city pass by.
"It’s... comfortable."
Silver understood what she meant. Delta 3 had always felt grand, probably because he was raised there. Delta Four, by comparison, felt lived in.
Workers laughed outside repair shops. Children chased each other between apartment buildings. Street vendors argued loudly over prices. There was noise everywhere.
Nearly twenty minutes later, they finally arrived at the Contractors Association Headquarters. The building occupied an entire city block.
Unlike ordinary Association offices found in checkpoints, this headquarters resembled a government complex. Contractors entered and exited constantly.
Reception desks stretched across the enormous entrance hall while electronic mission boards displayed hundreds of available assignments.
Ravenna looked around quietly.
"...There are so many people."
Silver smiled.
"This is normal, and this isn’t even busy season."
After parking the vehicle inside the Association’s secure contractor garage, the two entered the reception hall.
A receptionist greeted them politely.
"Welcome to Delta Four Association Headquarters. How may I assist you?"
Silver placed their contractor identification cards on the counter.
"We’re here regarding the Detroin incident."
The receptionist’s expression immediately changed.
"One moment, please."
She quickly contacted someone through her communicator. Less than two minutes later, another Association employee arrived.
"This way."
Instead of taking them toward the public service counters, the employee led them into a quieter administrative section of the building.
Several researchers could already be seen waiting around a large conference table covered with reports, photographs, and biological samples preserved inside sealed containers.
One middle-aged researcher stood as they entered.
"So... You’re the contractors who reached the source organism."
Silver nodded.
"We were among the survivors."
The researcher gestured politely.
"Please, have a seat."
The meeting lasted nearly an hour. Silver calmly described the events from the moment they entered Detroin until the Moonlight Flower was destroyed.
He deliberately omitted any mention of the characteristic core resting safely inside his System storage. Everything else, he described honestly. He couldn’t afford his statement to be different from the others.
The researcher filled page after page with notes. Occasionally, another scientist interrupted to ask about details concerning the plant’s behaviour.
"Were the controlled civilians still capable of independent thought?"
"No, they responded only after sensing nearby survivors."
"Were the roots autonomous?"
"They reacted faster near the flower. They became noticeably weaker after the core was destroyed."
Every answer only deepened the room’s understanding. Finally, one elderly researcher folded his hands together.
"There remains one unresolved issue."
Silver met his gaze calmly.
"The core."
The room became noticeably quieter. The elderly man continued.
"Our recovery teams searched the greenhouse thoroughly. We found traces of concentrated plant essence but no core fragments."
Silver nodded slowly.
"We noticed."
"You did?"
"When we returned after the fighting, the fragments were gone."
Several researchers exchanged uncertain looks.
"Gone?"
Silver spread his hands slightly.
"When I destroyed it, the core shattered, we left immediately because civilians still needed help. When everything settled down, I went back. There was nothing left."
The elderly researcher narrowed his eyes.
"You expect us to believe someone collected microscopic fragments during the middle of a disaster?"
Silver remained perfectly composed.
"I don’t know who did. I’m simply telling you what I saw."
Another researcher leaned forward.
"Or... perhaps you’re still carrying it."
The room fell silent.
Ravenna’s expression immediately cooled. Silver, however, simply looked at the researcher without the slightest hint of irritation.
"If I had it... why would I come here and voluntarily spend an hour answering your questions?"
No one answered. He continued calmly.
"I understand why you’re suspicious, so would I but I don’t have the core. I didn’t hide it and I certainly didn’t keep it."
The elderly researcher studied him for several long seconds. Silver never looked away. Eventually, the man sighed.
"...Very well, we have no evidence suggesting otherwise."
He closed the report.
"But should new information emerge..."
Silver nodded.
"I’ll cooperate."
The researcher offered a small nod in return.
"We appreciate that."
The tension in the room eased, though Silver noticed one younger researcher still watching him thoughtfully.
As Silver and Ravenna rose to leave, he couldn’t help thinking that this likely wouldn’t be the last time someone asked about the Moonlight Flower.
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