In the evening, Tilan received a call from Alanna while taking the lion for a spin, and then headed to the designated location.
"This place is rather remote." She observed the area below as she arrived overhead at the destination.
This was the outer edge of Zone 4, close to the borders of Academy City. The area was vast and sparsely populated, with expansive main roads surrounded by large patches of open space. Only a portion had been utilized, transford into factories and amusent parks.
Getting out of the car, Tilan spotted Alanna and Suoga waiting by the roadside, with two hoverbikes parked not far away.
"Gen didn't co. I've sent him to look for other helpers." Alanna was the first to speak.
"Now, let's go et soone."
"Who?" Tilan asked out of curiosity.
"He's an old friend of mine, one of the people who helped uncover the strength of the 'Connectors' back in the day. Because of his unique situation, he rarely participates in team activities, so quite a few people might not know him." Alanna explained.
"This is my first ti hearing about him, too." Suoga admitted. She had just learned of his existence.
"Let's talk as we walk. I'll lead the way." Alanna skillfully mounted one of the hoverbikes nearby and started it up.
Tilan remained in her car, activating the auto-driving system to follow along, while listening to Alanna continue detailing the situation through the communication earpiece.
"To be honest, the earliest contact with the power of the 'Connectors' dates back to high school. During that ti, I participated in a rather unique sumr camp, where one of the activities included imrsing ourselves in the Ai Jieka Network and using its power for training and exploration."
"During that imrsive experience, a few of us students encountered unexpected issues—chaotic and disjointed perceptions."
"Entering the Ai Jieka Network involves projecting consciousness into a high-dinsional tispace where information flows rapidly. The flow of ti inside can be several tis faster than in the real world. For instance, in the real world, an hour might pass, but in that space, a body might perceive three hours—like watching an extended movie."
"The advantage of the Ai Jieka Network is undeniable. When the school held the sumr camp, their intent was to use this for specialized training and to prepare us for inter-academy competitions later on."
"However, the training was experintal at the ti—being the school's first attempt—so there was a lack of experience, resulting in the mishap I ntioned earlier."
"Upon entering the Ai Jieka Network, so students experienced cognitive disturbances—sensations and perceptions beca jumbled. For example, sothing that should have been experienced visually was instead felt as a bizarre, alternate form of perception. Others swapped feelings inadvertently—what should have been '' beca imbued with sensations from other people."
"This chaos led to mass disarray on-site. Young students couldn't handle the strain and so succumbed to ntal breakdowns. I and a few others, after the initial disorder, had to forcibly stabilize our minds, painstakingly disentangling our consciousness from that of others."
"The process was incredibly difficult. Most of us were panicked and lost, except for one person who remained remarkably calm—as if unaffected—and had extensive knowledge of the Ai Jieka Network. It was by following his guidance that we gradually extricated ourselves from the turmoil and clarified our awareness."
"Once the episode concluded, we survivors were sent to one of the finest psychiatric hospitals for evaluations. Regular check-ups followed thereafter, fostering our familiarity with each other."
"Though the incident was perilous, it unexpectedly served as a turning point for the four of us involved."
"You could even describe us as reckless back then. The four of us recreated the accident on-site afterward, albeit controlled and cautiously, with ample preparation this ti."
"And as you might have guessed, this marked the origin of the 'Connectors' ability."
"Predictably, such attempts faced disapproval from teachers and adults. So, we kept everything confidential, ensuring no outsiders found out. The shared 'connection' deepened our trust and closeness, guaranteeing none of us betrayed the secret."
"After discovering this ability, the four of us excelled academically. Tasks that typically demanded imnse ti and effort—morization-heavy and challenging subjects—beca collaborative to tackle and resolve."
"This breakthrough granted , in particular, surplus ti during high school, which I used to expand my singing career. My youth and charm, paired with the public image of being an exceptional, well-behaved student, earned widespread admiration and popularity. Compared to other aspiring singers or entertainers of my day—many of whom failed academically due to overcommitnt—my early fa ca easily, ensuring my admission into a prestigious university rather than fading into obscurity."
"Later, with my growing status as a singer, my identity drastically shifted. Increased recruitnt brought new mbers onboard, and the other two mbers of the original four chose not to challenge for leadership, allowing to take charge. While they retained 'Connector' abilities, their recognition within the Z-team remained limited. If one were not a long-ti mber, they might know nothing of this past."
"Were any of them involved in betrayal this ti?" Tilan asked curiously.
"Rest assured, they're still on my side. They've even reached out and comforted in the past couple of days." Alanna laughed joyfully through the earpiece.
"That mysterious organization has investigated many people among us, but the earliest events are sothing they'd find hard to unravel—known only to the four of us."
"Alright, we're here. The person we are about to et is that individual—the one who directed us at the scene and led us to safety during the Ai Jieka Network incident."
Finishing the tale, Tilan removed the earpiece and glanced outside the car. They had arrived at a large rehabilitation center.
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