Ah, yes, I heard you were resting. Don't worry, I'm not here to discuss work.



I'm just delivering this letter for you. It's a personal letter, not work related. I admit to being rather curious.





Player: "It's from Inanna...."

Player...! I'm glad to see you. I... wanted to... Um... Th-thank you.



I'm... I don't know what else to say. You've been inside my head--I've never been close to anyone, Player, not really.



Just my friend here at Stellin, and now you. So... I just wanted to say that.

Player: "You're welcome. You... come here often?"

Oh, when I have time. It's sort of... a place for the outcasts, you know?



I usually feel better after spending some time here.

Oh, uh... Hey, Player?

Player: "Yes?"

Could you help me with something? A little while before we met, I saved a Myugle from some bullies. The poor thing was crying his eyes out, I couldn't just do nothing.



But, even after I made the bullies leave, he couldn't stop crying... He couldn't even talk. I tried to calm him down, but I'm not... very good at that.



Player, you have a calming presence to you, at least... to me. Maybe you can help?

Player: "Uh, I can try?"

Myumyu, myumyu...

(The Myugle is crying mournfully.)

Player: "Hey, what's wrong?"

My... my heart, it... it hurts...!

My... my friend...! Muratan... M-my only friend...



Muratan wouldn't have left... He wouldn't have just left....!



(The Myugle bursts into tears again.)

Player: "I'm so sorry."

His only friend?

That's so sad... The poor thing. I'm so glad you were able to find out what's wrong.



Player, you're amazing.

Player: "What? Why?"

You don't look down on people. You helped him just now, and you helped me, even though you didn't know us.... and even though I... am what I am.



Thank you for not being judgmental.



...You really are amazing, Player. You remind me of a friend of mine.

Player: "Friend?"

Yeah. I have a friend here at Stellin. My only friend, really. So... I understand how that poor Myugle feels.



I'm going to help him. If his friend moved to a different facility, there's bound to be a record of it at the office here. Player, want to help me look?



Check the Secretary General's Documents in the office of the Secretary General and bring the Entry Records here. The document is kept under heavy surveillance, so be careful.

Player: End dialog.

That was fast, Player.

Did you find the entry records?

Player: "Here."

The friend's name was Muratan, right?

Muratan, Muratan... Mura... Ah! Here it is.

Huh? Abyssal Dunes? ...That's strange. I don't know of any facilities like Gates of Joy existing in this region.



Player: "Me, neither."

Hmm, let's start by searching for a place called Temporary ST Testing Grounds within Abyssal Dunes.

Player, let's meet here.

I'll go check whether what's written in the document is correct.

Player: "Got it."

Player, this... this is horrible. When it said Muratan was transferred to a lab, I assumed he'd gotten sick....



But this... What is this place?

I hate it. I feel like something horrendous happened here.

Player: "I'm inclined to agree."

I'm so scared. I don't think Muratan is here. That poor little Myugle... he can't have lost his only friend.

I don't think he's here. I don't want to believe he's here.



Player, let's... let's go back.

Player: "We've come this far, we have to make sure."

=========(((Testing Grounds 1 Research Log)))=========



※ Note: The purpose of this clinical trial is to combat the only known negative effect associated with the use of ST-IX: the desire for continued use, or withdrawal symptoms.


======================================


● Test Subjects for Experiment 1: Beragkin, a Shulack from Gates of Joy, and 5 Humanoids.
-----Subject Numbers: No. 099 - No. 103


Player: "Here goes."

● ST-IX Version A with alteration to chemical [α] administered

--No. 103: Died
--No. 099 - No. 102: Suffered from seizures and unexplainable fever.

======================================

● ST-IX Version B with alteration to chemical [β] administered

--No. 099, No. 100: Died
--No. 101, No. 102: Necrosis in skin tissue. Subjects expressed extreme pain.

======================================

● ST-IX Version C with alteration to chemical [Ω] administered

--No. 101, No. 102: Died


■■■■■Experiment failed due to death of all test subjects■■■■■

Player: "...Okay, then."

=========(((Testing Grounds 2 Research Log)))=========



※ Note: The purpose of this clinical trial is to prepare for the ★ST-X Project, the follow-up to ST-IX.


======================================


● Test Subjects for Experiment 2: Muratan, a Mau from Gates of Joy, and 10 Humanoids.
-----Subject Numbers: No. 182 - No. 191


Player: "I found him...."

★ST-X Version A with enhancement to chemical [Ω] administered

---No. 184 - No. 187: Died instantly.
---No. 183, No. 188 - No. 191: Blisters formed on internal organs.
---No. 191, No. 192: Died after long coma.

======================================

★ST-X Version B with reduced chemical [Ω] administered

---No. 188, No. 189: Died instantly.
---No. 190: Died after suffering from high body temperatures.
---No. 183: Expressed extreme pain.
---No. 183 xxxxxxx


■■■■■Experiment failed due to death of all test subjects■■■■■

Player: "I think I found him."

Ugh... It... Hurts. Ughhh... Is this... how I die...?



...Stellin... You... won't get away... with this!

BuBu Soon... Danger...!

(Muratan's breathing seems to have stopped.)

Player: "He's... gone."

This can't be real... I can't believe...!

That poor Myugle is going to be heartbroken... To think his friend was suffering all this time, that he died like this...!

This isn't right. This is unacceptable. This can't be happening!



Player: "Come on. We have to get to the bottom of this."

....

You're... you're right, Player.

We can grieve later. We should find out what happened here.

Player: "Right."

Player, I'm going to see my friend at Stellin.

I need to ask about ST-Nine and this laboratory. If he doesn't know about it already, he'll want to.



Player... could you... help lay those poor souls to rest? We can't just leave them here.





Player: "I'll do what I can."



These experiments were conducted to fix a side-effect of ST-IX. They were trying create another drug, ST-Nine, and that isn't all. There's another mysterious project....



Everything was carried out in secret and then covered up. I'm sure there's more that Stellin is hiding. Secrets even more horrific.

The disappearance of my older brother Anuk also might have something to do with it... I have to get to the bottom of this. If you want to uncover the truth about Stella and NK-VI, come find me in Stellusia.