Zuo Le

[Code Name] Zuo Le

[Gender] Male

[Combat Experience] 2 years

[Place of Birth] Yan

[Date of Birth] Apr 30

[Race] Phidia

[Height] 175cm

[Infection Status]

Medical tests have confirmed that no infection is present.

[Physical Strength] Standard

[Mobility] Outstanding

[Physical Resilience] Standard

[Tactical Acumen] Excellent

[Combat Skill] Standard

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Standard

Zuo Le, a 'Candleholder' of the Sui Regulator, the secret agency handling Yan's Feranmut problem. Currently stationed at Rhodes Island on supervisory duty, he regularly reports back to Yan. Sometimes participates in missions for Rhodes Island as a part-time field operator.

Imaging tests reveal clear, normal outlines of internal organs, and no abnormal shadows have been detected. Originium granules have not been detected in the circulatory system and there is no sign of infection. At this time, this operator is believed to be uninfected.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 0%

Operator Zuo Le shows no signs of Originium infection.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.13u/L

Despite extensive time in the field, Operator Zuo Le's training allows him to avoid risks of Infection.

[Report 1]

Rhodes Island's situation is consistent with existing intel. The company maintains a regular armed presence for escorting supplies and resolving small-scale Infected conflicts. There is currently no indication that they have borrowed the power of the Sui proxies in such conflicts.

Numerous persons of interest from various countries have been spotted on Rhodes Island. Minister of the Judicial Review Office Lin Qingyan's association with the organization was known, but that of Lady Ch'en, niece of Lord Wei, was not. I confess to being surprised to find her at an Oripathy pharmaceutical company after she resigned from the L.G.D.

She presently shows no signs of associating with the Sui proxies.

[Report 4]

Jul 9:

At 0900 hours, Nian entered an Engineering Department workshop, exiting at 1700 hours. Further investigation indicated that three engineering operators were in the same workshop, engaging in games of Mahjong with her. The three of them lost 121.5, 76, and 59 Lungmen Dollars to her respectively. The amount wagered was legal under Yanese law.

Note from Nian: The kid sat down with me and played two rounds under the pretext of questioning. Since when was he so bold? And is the Sui Regulator gonna cover the 130 LMD he lost to me?

[Report 11]

I discovered that Ling is a regular at a 'bar' on Rhodes Island that only opens at night. Chongyue teaches hand-to-hand combat to field operators, Shu tends to plants in the greenhouse, while Nian and Dusk have attempted to influence the cafeteria's menu to no avail... In other words, no different from last month.

It seems the investigation has run into an impasse.

'Caught this guy trying to sneak into the archives.'

When Jieyun apprehended Zuo Le and brought him to us, we praised her for her vigilance, and decided to sit down and have a good talk with him.

Nian and her siblings are here as guests of Rhodes Island. While they rarely show up together, their unique position means that any movement by any one of them is bound to draw attention. We have become accustomed to dealing with important people from important factions, and the fact that the Sui Regulator has opted to send just a single Candleholder should be taken as a sign of friendship—or, at the very least, non-hostility.

Ultimately, we tacitly permitted Zuo Le to keep an eye on our Yanese VIPs, provided that he does not provoke them. We believe that he has the professional knowledge to act appropriately.

A little bit of peace and quiet is always a good thing, in times like these. We hope that he will successfully adjust to life on Rhodes Island.

[Classified Log]

Feramuts played a major role in early Yanese history. The Yanese people broke from the ancient beliefs in gods very early on, giving rise to the conceptual equivalent of the Feranmut.

Yanese scholars discovered a site believed to be the remains of a god. Carcass-shaped mountains reached the clouds, along with broken arches filled with holes. Countless smaller creatures lived within, their bones weaving a complex structure in these holes. Underneath the carcass was withered vegetation and decayed remains, but that decay gave birth to new life. That was the turning point, when the country's scholars came to understand the Feranmuts not as gods, but as living creatures that could be studied and understood. This gave rise to the position of Candleholder and their motto: 'Carry the fire that drives out the shadows of the Feranmut, and travel amongst the people to learn their troubles.' The imagery of the Candleholder may have originated from the scholars walking into the remains of the Feranmut with their lanterns, and the connotation of seeking truth and understanding.

[Classified Log 2]

Record of a secret operation in October of 1087:

Tracks of the Feranmut ■, believed to have departed Yan one thousand years ago, were detected 40km to the northwest of Yumen. The reason for its return is unknown. Yumen entered a state of alert, and five battleship squadrons were deployed, supported by two additional squadrons from Lungmen. Through the blinding dust and sand kicked up by the battleships and the nomadic city, the silhouettes of 'mountains' could be seen on the horizon. After two days of standoff, the Feranmut began moving towards the south, away from Yanese territory.

The scene was witnessed from atop the core city by garrison commander Zuo Xuanliao, dozens of veteran Tianshis, and a four year-old child.

'What is that?'

'The enemy.'

Zuo Le has spent almost all his free time honing his combat skills. He eagerly talks to operators hailing from different regions, learning about different styles and techniques for various situations. He also regularly asks other operators to spar with him, showing no frustration whether he's getting knocked down by Waai Fu or losing a footrace to Grani, instead asking them for advice. He appears to have little interest in winning or losing, seemingly training for its own sake. Isn't he a little young to have that sort of mentality? His daily schedule has started to look a lot like Chongyue's...

'I now understand that the martial arts are like farming, permitting neither complacency nor impatience. I need merely complete the task before me, one step at a time... I had been chasing after something or other ever since the day I first learned qinggong, whether it be bandits, fugitives, my father's expectations, or my seniors... Dahuang was the first time I chased a stockbeast, though. You see different things, on the farmlands.'

Zuo Le speaks fondly of his 'punishment' at Dahuang. He learned about agriculture, planted crops himself, and harvested alongside the Tianshis and farmers. Aside from Yumen and Baizao, it is the place he has the most vivid memories of.

'Every martial artist runs into a wall at some point. Overcome it. It's just about putting in the work over time... There isn't much I can teach him. He's more talented than I am.'

- Qiubai

[Classified Log]

'I heard about Dahuang. The Central Judicial Office will intervene if necessary.'

'No, this is a matter for the Sui Regulator. Things are still under control.'

'The sinner, the merchant he is in cahoots with, and the Shanhaizhong... are you not anxious?'

'And what would being anxious accomplish? If it rains, you bring an umbrella. Besides, I've made my own preparations. This file will reach the right people at the right time.'

Zuo Le has spoken of his upbringing in Yumen, a stronghold in northern Yan. He grew up living as a soldier, just like his father and all the defenders of Yumen before him. In his youth he often climbed the city walls in defiance of the rules, for which he was duly punished, but the Grandmaster took notice, and started teaching qingong. Zuo Le would compete against other soldiers in mounted archery, and sneak out with the patrols just to see the sun set in the valley. Standing atop Yumen, one sees nothing but desert to the west, and scattered villages and nomadic cities to the east. When his father told him to 'Protect the people's well-being' for the first time, it left a deep impression on the young Zuo Le. Soon after, he was sent to live with his mother, who had stayed behind in the capital, and studied in the academies of Baizao.

'I thought Father wanted me to become a soldier like him. I thought I was ready to spend my life fighting, or die trying. I thought it would be glorious. But Father's attitude was firmer than I had ever seen him when he sent me back to the capital. My luggage and my ride were already waiting for me when I returned from the barracks, and he practically stuffed me into the car... Life with Mother was very different.'

Zuo Le described Baizao, the capital of Yan, as a solemn and dignified city. The City of Countless Stoves is more impressive than any other nomadic city roaming this land: towers reaching to the heavens, majestic academies, walls that stretch as far as the eye can see... The city itself is the very embodiment of law and order, and this was impressed upon Zuo Le the day he arrived. Perhaps he could have finished his education quietly and become an official like Liang Xun, a position that certainly has its share of responsibilities and restrictions, but one that is much safer than being on the frontlines of Yumen. The reason he chose the path of a Candleholder, a life hardly less dangerous than a soldier's, can be traced back to the day he encountered an old man while browsing through history books in the academy's library...

But enough idle chatter.

From the battlefields of Yumen, to the academies of Baizao, to the tireless travels of a Candleholder, Zuo Le has seen much more than his age would imply. Rhodes Island's first encounter with him can be traced to Operator Kroos's trip to Shangshu. Since then, we have learned much about the conflicts in Shangshu, the Catastrophe at Yumen, and the Dahuang Crisis through operators involved in the events. While Zuo Le was not necessarily at the center of these events, he did consistently brave the dangers on the frontlines, and just from hearing the accounts I could not help but respect the young man. He has always stood tall and shouldered heavy responsibilities with a fire in his eyes... But enough sentimentality. I cannot help but hope for further cooperation with him, even though formally speaking he is only here as an observer from Yan. Idealists always walk similar paths, and he has already started helping the Logistics Department by using his skills to transport supplies.

March 1102

...Repairs at the Sword Forge are complete. I saw a funeral service being held there. I didn't go in.

I remember the old man. I saw him in the barracks before I left Yumen to study in Baizao. He gave me a sword. I still don't know why...

May 1102

'Scribbled picture'

Wheat

'Scribbled picture'

Millet

Wielding a scythe is very different from wielding a sword. The Record of Martial Combat is of little help.

'See and think.'

June 1102

They say millions of crops are harvested each year, but each must be cared for individually. Same, then, for 'all the people.'

I think I understand better now.

Zuo Le's keeps a clean and tidy journal, recording the details of his missions each month, ever since he became a Candleholder. At some point, however, things started to change.

He has allowed you to read it.