If not for the fact that the documents sent by the supercomputer "White Blood Cell" included a file package labeled "Project Edita Committee," Luoshu might have assumed that Project Edita didn't exist in this world at all.
After excluding SCP-CN-145 and SCP-CN-1906, the progress of Project Edita in this world could be roughly determined.
This must be the same world as the one containing SCP-CN-146!
In this world, Site-CN-06 was indeed established in 2002, with no records of relocation.
After combing through the data provided by "White Blood Cell," Luoshu only found references to four other Edita projects.
In other words, this world's research into parallel universes began and ended with SCP-CN-146.
After the first Edita space lost contact with other parallel universes, the Foundation halted Project Edita over fears of an XK-Class Reality Restructuring Scenario caused by the collapse of the Edita space.
The other three anomalies included in Project Edita were all discoveries made during the first Edita space period.
After SCP-CN-146 was sealed, no similar anomalies appeared in this world.
This situation was similar to how Luoshu had never found records of SCP-239 (The Witch Child) during his time at Site-19.
According to lore, SCP-239 only appeared after SCP-343 ("God") was shattered.
Since "God" still existed here, the Witch Child shouldn't.
Realizing this, Luoshu didn't feel relieved—instead, his expression grew graver.
Before, he had suspected that he might be a native of this world, with his memories altered.
But now, he suddenly understood: that wasn't the case at all!
If he were truly native to this world, the original memories unearthed by the W-Class Mnestic Enhancers shouldn't have included these "non-existent" projects.
Could he be someone who traveled back in time via SCP-052 (Time Traveling Train) from a future where "God" had already been shattered and the Witch Child had emerged?
No!
The existence of SCP-CN-146 and SCP-CN-1906 was a contradiction—they couldn't coexist in the same parallel universe.
So, had he crossed over from another parallel universe?
If so, given the range of projects in his memory, he must have visited more than one SCP world.
But this theory had its own problems.
He didn't possess any ability to traverse parallel universes.
If this world's Project Edita had stalled at SCP-CN-146, how had he arrived from another universe without alerting the Foundation?
The more Luoshu thought about it, the more confused he became. He decided to stop dwelling on it.
If he kept investigating, the truth would reveal itself eventually.
Researching Project Edita had left him mentally exhausted, and he didn't have the energy to review other documents right now.
Since he had already used up today's two "Unobservable" charges, he wouldn't be visiting Site-CN-06 tonight anyway—there was no rush.
So, what should he do today?
Flipping through The SCP Field Guide, Luoshu stopped at Page 44—Aeolus.
His Counter-Distortion ability had turned into an "X." To reactivate it, he needed to see Aeolus in person.
Since he had nothing else planned today, he might as well go mess with the guy.
Heh. He'd only left the capital two days ago, and now he was heading back.
This was what they called "heading into the tiger's den!"
After lunch, Luoshu hired a car back to the capital.
However, he didn't return to Site-CN-02 to confront Achilles' Heel head-on—that would be suicide without his Unobservable charges.
Instead, he took a roundabout approach.
The car dropped him near the supermarket where SCP-CN-722-5's lair was located. He slipped into the same alley as before.
Finding the spot where SCP-CN-722-5 had attacked him two days prior, Luoshu activated Spatial Tunnel.
As he'd guessed, the two tunnels SCP-CN-722-5 had opened were still there—one leading to her nest, the other to the Keter-class Unit inside Site-CN-02.
He stepped into one of the tunnels and instantly appeared in a dim, cluttered room.
SCP-CN-722-5 was sitting on a makeshift wooden bed, staring blankly into space.
Startled by Luoshu's sudden intrusion into her "bedroom," she nearly lashed out with another Black Tiger Steals Heart.
Once she recognized her "friend," her face lit up. "Oh, it's you!"
Thrilled to have a visitor (other than her fellow child laborers), she eagerly invited Luoshu to sit.
Seeing her genuine happiness, Luoshu felt a pang of guilt.
You really think of me as a friend, but I'm just here to use you...
Ah, whatever. I'll try to treat you better from now on. I promise not to use mental enslavement on you or your little friends again.
But for now... he still needed her help.
"Friend, I need a favor!"
"Friends help each other. Just ask!"
Luoshu wasn't sure if SCP-CN-722-5 was naturally this trusting or if it was the effect of the "Anomalous Friend" milestone from The SCP Field Guide.
Either way, it only made him feel worse.
Still, he pressed on.
"You know Achilles' Heel, right?"
"Know them. Enemies!" Her expression instantly twisted with hatred.
This was the result of Luoshu and the other child laborers gaslighting her two nights ago.
Not that Luoshu was about to correct her—having SCP-CN-722-5 view Achilles' Heel as enemies was only beneficial.
"There's a guy in Achilles' Heel named Aeolus. I need you to kidnap him for me."
SCP-CN-722-5 nodded without hesitation. "Okay, I'll go now!"
As she stood up to open a new spatial tunnel, Luoshu suddenly remembered something.
"Wait—don't use Black Tiger Steals Heart on him! I need him alive!"
If Aeolus died at the hands of a child laborer, the whole plan would be ruined.
SCP-CN-722-5 smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. 'God' forbids us from harming Foundation staff."
Despite the grotesque hole in her face, her smile was oddly pure.
This innocent girl had been hurt and exploited time and time again—fate had been cruel to her.
Alive, she'd been betrayed by her boyfriend. Dead, she'd been turned into an SCP and used as a pawn by that old bastard "God."
Luoshu silently vowed: If he ever got the chance, he'd kill "God" and give SCP-CN-722-5 the peace she deserved.