The moment they entered, they were stunned.
It was a completely different world from the one they knew.
Plants grew everywhere, the air was clean, and the buildings stood intact—untouched by the ruin they had grown accustomed to.
They stood frozen in place as the captain spoke:
"Follow me. And don't try anything stupid."
They nodded and continued moving.
After passing the gate, they turned toward a set of nearby metal facilities.
The captain approached another scanner and presented a different badge.
The gate opened immediately.
A mechanical voice welcomed them:
"Welcome, Unit 219 Captain of the Shelter Guards."
The captain continued inside, while the vagrants looked around in awe, overwhelmed and fearful of the unknown.
After a short distance, he stopped before a glass room, where a young woman in a white coat greeted him.
As soon as she appeared, the captain and the soldiers bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Doctor Lina," the captain said.
The vagrants followed his lead, bowing as well—confused by his behavior.
She responded with a calm smile, observing the vagrants. Then her gaze shifted to the examiner.
"You serve the Lorraine Family, don't you?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied politely.
Doctor Lina nodded and walked toward the door.
"You may enter now."
The captain turned to the group and ordered them inside.
Inside the room, he began explaining:
"This chamber is built with advanced technology. It has the ability to cleanse the radiation accumulated in your bodies."
One of the vagrants asked, confused:
"What is radiation?"
The captain replied:
"Radiation is a form of energy you cannot see. It exists in the air, the water—everything around us.
This chamber is the only one capable of removing it.
So whenever a guard unit returns, or new individuals arrive from outside, they must pass through here before entering the outer city."
The vagrants nodded, not fully understanding, but too afraid to ask more questions—even Rath, who watched everything with eager eyes.
Then the captain said:
"Choose a place and sit down. Do not move until the doctor allows it."
A mechanical sound echoed through the room.
The purification process began. Strange lights filled the chamber, accompanied by a peculiar gas with an unfamiliar smell.
"This may cause itching," the captain said. "Don't worry—it's normal."
They all nodded.
They sat in silence, hour after hour passing slowly.
When the clock struck four, Doctor Lina's voice echoed through the chamber, instructing the soldiers to leave.
As for the vagrants, due to their condition, they were still saturated with radiation and would require more time to recover.
The captain and his soldiers exited the room and headed to a nearby chamber where the doctor was waiting.
They bowed respectfully. She motioned for them to sit.
Then she asked the head servant:
"What is the purpose of the Lorraine Family in bringing these vagrants?"
He replied nervously:
"It is an order from the head of the family… I do not know their intended use."
She stared at him for a long moment… then said:
"It doesn't matter."
The servant let out a quiet breath of relief