Despite the tension between the two Mobile Task Forces due to Luo Shu, containment operations had to proceed. After all, Prester John was still a Keter-class anomaly—they couldn't just leave him unchecked.
At Barbie's request, an operational briefing was held.
From Achilles' Heel, Barbie had brought a full team: familiar faces like Jianjia, Aiolos, White-Eyes, and a few others Luo Shu didn't recognize. "Oil" was absent—useless in this kind of operation.
Hammer Down, given their numbers, sent only unit leaders: Peter, the squad leaders, and the nuclear weapons specialist. Even Luo Shu, as a D-class, was required to attend.
Jianjia looked awkward when she saw Luo Shu. Caught between Barbie's grudge and her friendship with him, she maintained a careful neutrality. Luo Shu sent her a discreet message:
"Don't stress. I don't want our issues with Barbie to affect us."
Jianjia's cheeks flushed—whether from relief or misunderstanding the word "us," Luo Shu couldn't tell.
The rest of Achilles' Heel, however, eyed Luo Shu with open suspicion. They all knew: while the mission was officially about SCP-3221-2, Barbie's real target was him.
The Briefing
Barbie clapped her hands, silencing the murmurs.
"Focus. Whatever personal issues exist, SCP-3221-2 takes priority."
Aiolos, as intel officer, began:
"Prester John, though Christian, has been corrupted by Sarkic and Broken God influences. His faith is now a fusion of the three, affecting even SCP-3221-1's inhabitants."
"His body was modified in the 5th century—part flesh, part machine. He's a Tier-5 reality bender: converts humans on contact, reverts ballistic weapons to raw materials."
Barbie cut in: "Nu-7's CBRN team is authorized to deploy tactical nukes if necessary. Even if it doesn't kill him, it'll wipe out his forces."
No wonder they brought a nuke specialist.
Then, her gaze landed on Luo Shu.
"Since conventional weapons fail, our goal is to return him to SCP-3221-1. That's where our containment expert comes in."
Luo Shu almost laughed. So I'm the sacrificial lamb?
"A Tier-5 bender would turn me into a zealot before I could blink," he countered.
Peter backed him: "Luo Shu's good, but not that good."
Barbie smirked. "He's contained multiple Keters. And don't worry—we're not sending him unprepared. Jianjia, explain."
Jianjia pulled up a satellite map. "The Pamirs' Hume levels are naturally high. Here, a Tier-5 can only exert Tier-4 strength."
Luo Shu understood now.
Hume Index = (Individual Hume) / (Ambient Hume).
Higher ambient Hume (like the "Roof of the World") = more stable reality = weaker benders.
Prester John's 900+ Hume, devastating elsewhere, would be throttled here.
Jianjia added: "I'll boost ambient Hume further, suppressing him to Tier-3 or 4."
That's her role. As an Anomalous Ally, she'd protect Luo Shu—something even Barbie couldn't override.
The mission just went from "Hell" to "Nightmare" difficulty.