February 1st. Busan, International Training Complex.

  Mira’s Assistant prepared himself for the most difficult interview yet. The Chinese group, "Great Wall," was the largest, but also the most closed-off. When Wei entered the room, the air seemed to drop several degrees. He sat perfectly straight, his back not even touching the chair, and stared at a single point on the wall behind the Assistant’s shoulder.

  "Hello, Wei," the Assistant began, trying to maintain a professional tone.

  "Hello," he replied, short and sharp, like the click of a shutter.

  "Tell us about yourself for the protocol."

  "I am Wei. I am 25 years old."

  Silence followed. The seconds ticked by, and the Assistant waited for him to continue, but Wei sat motionless, like a statue. His face was entirely inscrutable.

  "Is that all?" the Assistant raised an eyebrow. "Your education, your path in the Corps, your achievements?"

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  "I am forbidden from disseminating any information that may be classified as secret," Wei stated dispassionately. His voice lacked even a hint of emotion.

  The Assistant sighed and made a note on his tablet: Subject fully suppressed by discipline or directives. Attempting to get him to talk about his colleagues or personal experiences would be a waste of time.

  "Fine, let’s move to the last point," the Assistant said, looking intently at the leader of the Chinese group. "How do you feel about Subject Zero? And what can you tell us about him?"

  Wei did not answer immediately. He slowly shifted his gaze to the Assistant. In his eyes, there was no fear, no adoration, and no anger.

  A minute passed. Then a second. The room became so quiet that the hum of the ceiling ventilation became audible. Wei sat there without blinking, as if immersed in a deep internal calculation. Exactly three minutes passed before he parted his lips.

  "I can say nothing," he said.

  And it wasn't a typical "I don't know." It sounded like a final verdict. Wei wasn't just refusing to speak—he was severing the very possibility of discussing the topic.

  The Assistant switched off the recorder.

  "Understood. You are dismissed."

  Wei stood up, gave a short bow, and exited as silently as he had entered.

  [Assistant’s Thoughts]

  I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temples. China hadn't just sent soldiers—they had sent perfect tools. They will be the hardest to deal with, I thought. Suicide squads who ask no questions. Perfect warriors for a march into the Depths... unless they break first under the pressure.

  "Yanu," I called out.

  "Yes?"

  "Delete the audio recording of Wei. It’s just three minutes of silence anyway."

  "I disagree," the AI responded. "There was more information in that silence than in all of Agnes’s whining. His pulse slowed to 40 beats per minute the moment you said 'Subject Zero.' He wasn't just being quiet. He was mimicking death to avoid giving himself away."

  I froze.

  "Interesting... So China knows much more than they want to let on."