"You're saying there was data left on Project Noah?"
"Strictly speaking, all direct records related to Project Noah had been destroyed. However, what caught my attention were the numerous changes that occurred within Ark during the period when Project Noah was underway."
"What do you mean?"
"While there's barely any information left about Project Noah itself, one thing is certain—it was a project massive enough to determine the fate of Ark. Naturally, it influenced every sector within Ark—economy, military, culture—and the changes during that period were so deeply embedded in the system that they couldn't be erased."
In short, she had analyzed all the phenomena that occurred in Ark at that time.
At first, it sounded utterly preposterous. But if the speaker was a highly advanced AI, the story changed.
"You could've found some clues from that, then."
"Yes. While I couldn't uncover what Project Noah specifically was, by analyzing the changes presumed to be triggered during its timeframe, I could backtrack and make educated guesses about its nature."
It sounded easy enough when said aloud—but this was something only an AI with the capacity to hack into both the White Line and Red Line's databases and analyze them comprehensively could accomplish.
"What did you find?"
"One of the most intriguing parts was the metrics related to Ark's total production volume."
"Production volume?"
"Yes. As you know, Ark has limited space, and naturally, the resources within it are limited as well. There are few, if any, elements that could cause production to increase. Yet, beginning around the time Project Noah was presumed to have been executed, Ark's total production volume increased significantly. It was clearly abnormal."
"That does sound strange."
"It is. So, I analyzed data concerning Ark's primary industries—mining, agriculture, forestry—but found nothing that could have contributed to a significant increase."
No matter what Project Noah was, for a place like Ark, limited in both resources and space, to see a massive production spike from just one project…?
As Carmen said, it was blatantly suspicious.
"That's not all. After analyzing that data, I conducted a full accounting audit of all primary industry sectors in Ark. And I uncovered another fact."
"At the time, Ark's production numbers were manipulated. More precisely, the total production volume was recorded accurately—but the sources of production were falsified."
"What do you mean?"
"It means that the sudden increase in Ark's production during the time Project Noah is assumed to have taken place wasn't because production actually increased within Ark."
"Then… are you saying resources sufficient to boost Ark's total output were imported from outside Ark?"
Carmen shook her head.
"That would be the most plausible assumption. But after analyzing all entry and exit records within Ark at the time, there is no evidence that materials of such magnitude were brought in."
"So massive volumes of resources that dramatically raised Ark's production simply appeared out of nowhere?"
"Based on current data analysis, yes."
So, following Project Noah, an enormous amount of resources began flowing into Ark…
The more I learned, the deeper the mystery of Project Noah became.
'Come to think of it… wasn't the White Line's rise to power in Ark also linked to Project Noah?'
With that in mind, the theory that resources were funneled into Ark during Project Noah seemed almost certain.
If the White Line had truly managed to vastly increase Ark's total production through some unknown method, then it wasn't surprising that they'd come to hold power.
"Is the production boost that began then still continuing today?"
"A sharp question. From what I've found—yes."
I'd asked just in case, but Carmen confirmed it.
"In other words… it's possible that Project Noah is still ongoing?"
"We can't say for sure. The increase in production could be a result of Project Noah's aftermath—or it might be that the project is still in progress."
"Either way, the effects of Project Noah are still being felt today."
"Exactly."
That meant this was an opportunity to learn about Project Noah.
If it had only existed in the past, perhaps the trail would have gone cold. But if its impact persisted into the present, there had to be traceable evidence.
"You said Ark's production increased. Can you tell where that growth occurred?"
"At present, that remains unclear. But one thing is certain—the White Line's material flow surged dramatically during that time."
"The White Line, huh…"
The most immediate thought would be that the White Line opened some sort of trade route using Mt. Noah as a corridor…
'But that's ridiculous.'
If that were the case, there's no way I—currently residing at Mt. Noah—wouldn't have noticed it.
More fundamentally, smuggling that volume of resources into Ark from the outside would be practically impossible.
'If something like that were already happening, there'd be no reason for the Silk Road episode to exist.'
I might not know everything about the outside world's power structure, but I knew enough to realize how improbable that theory was.
"What about other changes?"
Since that was all she had on production, I asked about other areas.
If Project Noah caused wide-scale changes in Ark, the evidence wouldn't just be in production figures.
"Next would be military changes. Prior to Project Noah, the most powerful military force in Ark belonged to the Black Line. But after the period presumed to coincide with Project Noah, most military provisioning rights were transferred to the White Line."
"If the White Line seized control after Project Noah, that makes sense."
"Yes. Following that were cultural changes. There was a significant boom in Ark's cultural industries."
Civilizations only begin to blossom culturally once their basic needs—food, shelter, safety—are met.
Art and culture don't thrive on an empty stomach.
Meaning, the conclusion was simple.
"So, Project Noah's production boost didn't just exist on paper—it tangibly improved life inside Ark."
"Yes, exactly. It's one of the strongest pieces of evidence proving that Project Noah wasn't just a fabrication."
The more I learned, the more questions piled up.
What kind of project could completely transform Ark through just one initiative?
"And this is somewhat separate, but… there's also a research record from A.E.L."
"A.E.L.?"
"Yes. It was the institution conducting ether research in Ark at the time."
"What record?"
"Even then, ether was still a mystery, and numerous papers and studies focused on it. One of them concerned the Ether wavelengths surrounding Ark at the time."
Carmen continued.
"In short, starting around the presumed period of Project Noah, the ether wavelengths around Mount Noah and Ark began to change drastically. Before that, Mt. Noah wasn't remotely deserving of the name 'Spiritual Mountain'—it was just a regular mountain."
"Meaning…"
"Yes. The massive ether magnetic field present at Mount Noah now—it may have been artificially created."
One of the main reasons for the conflict between Ark's Lines is, naturally, their proximity to Mount Noah.
Due to its unique ether wavelengths, the closer one gets to Mount Noah, the more instinctively monsters avoid the area.
As a result, Ark naturally divided into frontline and rearguard zones.
Thus, the Black Line—furthest from Mount Noah —became Ark's frontline, while the White and Red Lines, closest to it, became the rearguard.
But if that ether wavelength had been manufactured…
"…That's incredible."
"Yes. I found related notes in the research journal of A.E.L.'s former lead scientist—Amy Pilgrim."
"Pilgrim, you say?"
At that name, I couldn't help but react. Carmen nodded.
"Yes. That's right. Maybell Pilgrim, the current director of Special Purpose Weapons Research Lab, is her descendant."
"Descendant, huh…"
I didn't think Maybell Pilgrim knew anything about Project Noah—but it wouldn't hurt to dig into her about it.
One way or another, I'd be meeting with Mabel again soon anyway.
And then—
"Ah."
"What is it?"
Carmen spoke.
"The Tarkov inspection team just arrived. They'll be raiding this location shortly."
"Tarkov?"
Tarkov—an ultra-massive military contractor.
What could it mean that their inspection team was descending here?
"Are they after you?"
"Yes. If we're caught, Tarkov will legally strip us of everything we have."
Tarkov, Sentinel Protect's parent company, had sent an officially authorized inspection team.
While underworld groups like the Belov Family resorted to direct force, those with true power in Ark used more refined methods.
Legality. Procedure. Authorization.
Those words made excellent excuses for the powerful to oppress the powerless.
"I see. So, what now?"
"If we're caught by Tarkov's team, the result you're after will never happen."
Carmen's meaning was crystal clear.
To bring about a true Mechanical Revolution, she was asking me to act.
"So, there was a reason you kept me here."
"Please don't misunderstand. I only passed along what needed to be said."
"You're quite the smooth talker."
Despite her words, there was no way an android like Carmen hadn't foreseen this.
More likely, with access to all the Rose Line's CCTV systems, she'd known about their approach from the start.
'No helping it now.'
The situation had reached this point, but Carmen wasn't lying.
If she and the rest of the Machine Cult were captured, Tarkov would slap them with every possible charge and seize everything they owned—legally.
"Fine. I owe you anyway. I'll play along with your little game this once."
===BREAK===
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