Ch'en the Holungday: Pathways

Operator Record Pathways
Avoid apathy, abandon habits, endure instability, maintain pain.

Unlock conditions

• Raise Ch'en the Holungday to Elite 2 Level 60.
• Have 200% Trust with Ch'en (the Holungday).

Characters

Ch'en Hoshiguma Swire Lin Yühsia Contestant Criminal Dossoles Police Officer

Backgrounds

1 2 3

“

With the championship over, everything has returned to normal, including Ch'en's Dossoles "holiday." That said, it doesn't seem like she is having a great time.

”

<Background 1>
[At the streets of Dossoles, a criminal is running away, being pursued by Ch'en, but are eventually cornered.]
Criminal	Don't hurt me, Miss Ch'en. I won't do it again!
Ch'en	Your eyes and the hand behind your back tell a different story. This looks like a great place to hide your lackeys. You have a bunch of them here, don't you? Get them out.
Criminal	Hmph, I shouldn't have expected any less from you. Come on out, everybody!
[The criminal's friends come out of hiding and surrounds Ch'en.]
Criminal	Get her!
???	Hold that thought.
Criminal	Who?
[Hoshiguma reveals herself.]
Hoshiguma	Sorry to intrude. Give us a second. Ch'en, what gives? You're in a fight, and you didn't think to call me?
Ch'en	Here you are, anyway.
Hoshiguma	Heh, Ch'en, I've noticed you've gotten cockier ever since you went to Rhodes Island.
Ch'en	Enough. I'll leave you half.
Hoshiguma	Sure thing.
[A fight breaks out, and despite their numerical advantage, the criminals are easily taken down by Ch'en and Hoshiguma.]
Criminal	Grr, it's all of us against you alone, and you still got the upper hand.
Ch'en	You put on a show to lure me into fighting you, then you want to ambush me. Why all the hassle for little old me?
Criminal	All of us would be making a killing right about now if it wasn't for you, Ch'en. I don't get it, all eyes in the city are on you and Lin right now, and the mayor's got your back. You could have all the fame and fortune you wanted. Why can't you go shoot some commercials and go on your talk shows and leave us alone?! You could be rolling in all the dough, but you have to stop us from making money.
Ch'en	This has got nothing to do with you. Now come with me to the police station.
Criminal	Hah, the police station. The jails at the police stations here have been sitting empty for so long. Guess they will finally get to fill them. I'm not sure if you know this, Ch'en, but as soon as the man I'm working for gives the cops a call, we'll all be out of there before you walk out the front door.
Ch'en	You'll remember this lesson I taught you, though.
Criminal	Yeah, of course I will. How could I ever forget such a badass? Heh.
Hoshiguma	Let it go, Ch'en. There's no talking to these guys. Let's try breaking his hand. That will keep him from giggling.
Ch'en	I won't do that, and don't you dare. Not like I have the authority to stop you, though.
Hoshiguma	I know the drill, but you don't really think I listened to you just because you were my boss, do you? Well, I can't break his hand, but I can at least gag him, right?
Hoshiguma ties a rope around the criminal's mouth before giving it a strong pull.
Criminal	Nnnnnngh–
Ch'en	Whatever you want.
Hoshiguma	Okay, let's take them to the station.
<Background fades out and in>
Ch'en	These men are suspected of destruction of property and attempted to assault me in a premeditated manner. I'll leave them to you.
Toady Dossoles Police Officer	What? They'd attack you, Miss Ch'en? P-P-Please, leave them to us! I promise they'll get what's coming for them.
Criminal	Nnnnnnngh!!
Toady Dossoles Police Officer	You can stop winking! Now that you got on Miss Ch'en's bad side, there's nothing the men behind you can do for you.
Ch'en	Give them the punishment they deserve. That's all you need to do.
Toady Dossoles Police Officer	Of course! Anything you say.
Ch'en	Hm? What's going on over there?
<Background fades out and in>
Contestant	You know how much work it took to earn that kind of money?! How could you even say that?!
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	And what'll you do about it? I'm in a bad mood today. If you don't want to spend the rest of the week in jail, then scram!
Contestant	You... *Sigh*!
[Ch'en approaches the Dossolesian policeman and DWC contestant.]
Ch'en	What's the matter?
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	M-Miss Ch'en? N-Nothing. This guy's being unreasonable, is all. Haha.
Contestant	Ch'en?! I'm not being unreasonable. I saved for a whole year just to join this championship. I even won a little money and put it right on my card. Then somebody stole my card while I was walking down the street this morning! That's why I came to the police station to ask for help catching the thief. But as soon as I told him how much I had in the bank, he laughed at me and told me to leave!
Ch'en	Is that so?
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Yes, uh... No... What I meant was...
Ch'en	Where can I check the surveillance drones' footage?
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Huh? Uh... We can watch them right here in the station... It's been a while since we used them, though.
Ch'en	Show me.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Yes, ma'am!
Ch'en	You come too.
Contestant	T-Thank you, Miss Ch'en!
<Background 2>
[The Dossolesian policeman takes Ch'en and the contestant into the police station's drone control room.]
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	The room's a little stuffy. Sorry about that.
Ch'en	It's fine. Give me the key. We'll take it from here.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Yes, of course. Uh... If you need me for anything, please don't hesitate to ask.
[The policeman leaves.]
Hoshiguma	Well, the equipment here sure looks advanced. More so than anything we have back home. But all this clearly isn't getting much use. It's honestly a waste.
Ch'en	How's the surveillance equipment back at the department? Has it been upgraded yet? I brought it up once before I left.
Hoshiguma	Nope, but we got the approval, at least. It'll probably take a good while still.
Ch'en	That's good.
Hoshiguma	Do you know how to use it?
Ch'en	It's a Columbian system, so I can at least read it. The authentication, on the other hand... Grr, should've kept the guy here. Let's give this a try...
Ch'en says and holds her phone up to the authentication terminal. A crisp sound of approval floats out.
Ch'en	Alright, looks like they did give me all the permissions... *Sigh*.
Hoshiguma	What's so bad about that? Maybe you should consider getting a job here. These men listen to you. It's got to be a happier place to work.
Ch'en	I'll pass.
Contestant	Hey, um, I don't understand what you're saying there.
Hoshiguma	Oh, we're both from Lungmen, just chatting away in our language. Don't sweat it.
Contestant	Okay, you two keep on talking.
Ch'en	You seem to have calmed down.
Contestant	Right. It puts my mind at ease when you are willing to help me. Everyone in the city knows you're not like the cops. With you helping me, I'll be fine even if we don't end up catching the thief.
Hoshiguma	Relax. Ch'en and I have dealt with hundreds of cases like this one, if not thousands.
Ch'en	When was it stolen? The more details you can give me, the better.
Contestant	It was about eleven o'clock, maybe right in the middle of Knox Avenue? That place right in front of the big bar there.
Ch'en	Isn't that around where Lin Yühsia's bar is...? You wait outside. I'll look into it for you, but you can't be here seeing all this. Don't worry. You gave me more than enough details. Even if the cameras didn't get anything, there were probably witnesses.
Contestant	Okay, thanks for the help.
The contestant leaves the control room to wait outside.
Hoshiguma	Heh, that's just like you, Ch'en. Folks trust you, no matter where you are.
Ch'en	The local police should be dealing with this.
Hoshiguma	It's not so bad to set an example for them, no?
Ch'en	Only if they are willing to learn.
Hoshiguma	Haha, that's true.
Ch'en	Come help me. Set the time from 10:00 to 12:00. I'll watch these two feeds. You check the other two.
Hoshiguma	Sure thing.
Ch'en	...
Hoshiguma	... You know, Ch'en?
Ch'en	What?
Hoshiguma	Maybe I shouldn't say it...
Ch'en	You always end up saying it anyway.
Hoshiguma	Haha. Well, you were absolutely swagger when you talked to those incompetent guys just now.
Ch'en	This is how I used to talk to everyone back in the department too. It's a force of habit, but you're right. I should fix it.
Hoshiguma	No, you're not getting me. Back home, you knew everyone in the department like the back of your hand, and every time you yelled at someone, you were pushing them to do their jobs. But you know what these men are like. You know you can't change them, so everything you're having them do is only superficial. That's not the Superintendent Ch'en I knew.
Ch'en	I...
Hoshiguma	Oh, don't get the wrong idea. I'm trying to say this is a good thing. A really good thing.
Ch'en	Beating around the bush again.
Hoshiguma	Oh, don't say that. Hey, I see the guy.
Ch'en	What time?
Hoshiguma	10:35.
Ch'en	Okay, let me take a look. There we go... lock on. We'll track his movements.
Hoshiguma	Okay. He's regrouping with his mates. Looks like they're with the local gangs.
Ch'en	......
[Ch'en calls Yühsia.]
Lin Yühsia	If it isn't Ch'en, the heroine everyone in the city is raving about right now. How can I help you?
Ch'en	You free?
Lin Yühsia	Hard to say. Maybe. Maybe not.
Ch'en	Help me find somebody.
<Background 3>
Ch'en, Hoshiguma, and the contestant head to the place where Lin Yühsia said she would meet up with them. There, Lin Yühsia is aimlessly fiddling with a card in her hand. Next to her feet lies an unconscious thief, tied up.
Lin Yühsia	Here. This is your card, right?
Contestant	Yes, yes, yes. That's right. It's mine. Thank you very much, Miss Lin!
Ch'en	I owe you one.
Lin Yühsia	Don't worry about it. Just figured I'd lend a hand. Besides, there's nothing you can do for me, even if you owe me one.
[Yühsia picked up a call from Swire.]
Swire	Yühsia?! I try on just three outfits and you vanish. Where the hell did you go this time?
Lin Yühsia	I saw an old lady having trouble crossing the street, so I gave her a hand.
Swire	We're on the fifth floor of the mall! How in the world would you spot an old lady?! And the street down there's a pedestrian zone! I'm giving you five minutes to show up, or you're dead!
Lin Yühsia	Okay.
[Swire hangs up.]
Lin Yühsia	You can help me carry Swire's bags.
Ch'en	I'll pass.
Lin Yühsia	Then I've got no use for you. You can deal with this guy. See you.
Ch'en	See you later.
[Yühsia leaves.]
Hoshiguma	Well, this I'll never get used to. How are you getting along with Miss Lin, of all people?
Ch'en	You think I'm getting along with her?
Hoshiguma	Sure do.
Ch'en	Well, okay. Take good care of your card. Don't lose it again.
Contestant	Of course, of course. I really don't know how I can repay you, or Miss Lin. You went through all this trouble for me.
Ch'en	Police have to protect the citizens and their interests.
Contestant	Are you two cops?
Ch'en	I used to be... She still is.
Contestant	I see. I wish the police here were all as honest as you...
Ch'en	Even if you're not a cop, as a human being, you should always offer a hand to those in need.
Contestant	That's what I used to think as well, but ever since I came to this city, it kind of feels like I had it all wrong...
Ch'en	You're not a local?
Contestant	Nope. I'd say most of the job hoppers here aren't either. My family's from a Singas village. One day, a fight broke out between the Singas and True Bolívarians. Our whole village was destroyed by True Bolívarians. Lots of people died. I was lucky enough to be hunting up in the mountains at the time, and that saved my life. I ran away as soon as I saw what had happened to the village. I wanted to be a soldier, but the army didn't want me. I had no choice. I heard it's easy to make a decent living here, so I came.
Ch'en	That must be a painful memory. Sorry for bringing it up.
Contestant	To be honest, whenever I think back on it myself, it all feels like a dream.
Ch'en	What makes you say that?
Contestant	I'm 35 now. I spent some 20 years back in my hometown, and it hasn't even been 10 years since I moved here, but sometimes... Sometimes it feels like the life I once had was all a lie. Back then, I thought it was the right thing to do to help out, but when I heard what you said just now, it felt like it's been a really long time since I heard anyone say anything like that. It's been a long time since I even thought that way myself, too. To tell the truth, if the shoe was on the other foot at the police station, if I was a bystander like you instead of someone asking for help, I definitely wouldn't have lent a hand. And I knew it was pointless to go to the cops, but I was pissed. I didn't expect anyone there would help me, but then you showed up. In this city, you can get lots of things done if you have money, but you can forget about it if you don't. And if you want to climb the ladder, your best bet would be to try your luck, join a gang, gamble, or steal. You'd be an idiot to try to get there by working your ass off.
Ch'en	The championship is trying your luck?
Contestant	Of course. I'm a coward. I'm not brave enough to gamble, let alone steal. For someone like me, the championship's the most stable way to hit it big. Men like me don't actually try to win. Just making it through the prelim earns you some decent money. If you win the first round, you get yourself some fame and even more money.
Ch'en	......
Contestant	I work at a restaurant here. I can talk to the boss and treat you two and Miss Lin to a meal.
Hoshiguma	How about it, Ch'en? Why don't we call Missy too?
Ch'en	Alright.
Contestant	Wonderful. I'll head back and tell the boss. I'm sure he'll be over the moon to know Ch'en and Lin will be eating at his restaurant. See you later, then.
Ch'en	Yeah.
[The contestant heads off.]
Ch'en	...
Hoshiguma	What's the matter, Ch'en? Not going to escort him back?
Ch'en	Hoshiguma.
Hoshiguma	Hm?
Ch'en	I need you to do me a favor.
Hoshiguma	Oh? Well, if the sun isn't rising in the west now. Let me say this up front: I have no money. If you need some, try Missy.
Ch'en	...
Hoshiguma	Okay, I'll knock it off. What is it? I've known you all these years, and this is the first time I ever heard you ask for something. Just say the word.
<Background 1>
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Hmph, acting all high and mighty. The mayor's got her back, and she actually thinks she owns the place. If I had the mayor pulling strings for me, I could throw my weight around too.
Ch'en	Ahem.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Oh, uh... Umm... You're back, Miss Ch'en.
Ch'en	Sure am.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Haha, and that guy behind you must be the thief.
Ch'en	Yeah, I'll leave him to you.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Of course. Not a problem. I'll make sure anyone who dares to upset you gets what they deserve.
Ch'en	Also...
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Something else?
Ch'en	I talked to Lady Candela just now, and, uh...
Hoshiguma	What Miss Ch'en here is saying is that she knows she stands out too much, and that may have made your office here look bad. So she paid Lady Candela a visit and asked her to consider increasing your performance bonuses. And out of respect for Miss Ch'en, Lady Candela allocated a decent amount of money. Anyone from the station who has made a meaningful contribution will get a bonus. And to help all of you earn the bonus that Lady Candela has set aside, Miss Ch'en will also be holding lectures, teaching your teams the techniques she used back when she was a police officer.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	May I ask... how much is the bonus?
Hoshiguma	This much for each case.
With her finger, Hoshiguma draws a number in the air in front of her.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	M-Miss Ch'en, you are incredible! I'll go tell everyone right away!
Ch'en	It's nothing... And this guy's going on your count.
Impatient Dossoles Police Officer	Thanks! Thank you very much!
[The policeman leaves.]
Ch'en	........ Phew...
Hoshiguma	Did that feel bad?
Ch'en	It certainly didn't feel good.
Hoshiguma	But if you ask me, "What can I do to motivate the police here?" I'd tell you this is the simplest and most direct way to go about it.
Ch'en	But... this isn't right still.
Hoshiguma	You're right. It isn't. And I can name all kinds of reasons. First, you just got here. You may be brimming with charisma, but they still won't bow down to you right away. Just think about how long it took you to get those nitpickers to work with you when you first joined the bureau. At times like this, moolah is the simplest way to get someone on board.
Ch'en	If I remember correctly... I beat them into submission. You were the last one.
Hoshiguma	I never caved. Plus, it's a little arrogant to ignore what you've got on hand and rely only on yourself. And that's especially if it's money, authority, and power that you have available. You might as well use it.
Ch'en	Is that the impression everyone had of me?
Hoshiguma	You've put in enough effort over the years to convince everyone in Lungmen. This isn't Lungmen, though, and you aren't planning on staying here that long, so how will you prove yourself? Next, both of us heard the guy's rambling loud and clear. Do you really think the cops turned out like this because they don't want to do their work? Were they born this bad? Do they really think it's right for cops to get in bed with gangs, and they are actually happy to release someone as soon as the phone rings? This is a police station. They know they're the police. It's not that they don't want to stand up to all that. They can't. They're too afraid to. They might've had the courage before, but reality wiped it all out. Trying to reason with them is a futile exercise. Might as well do what you know works. Those are all reasons, and you should also know you shouldn't have done that. But you did, and that's the truth.
Ch'en	I know.
Hoshiguma	You know, but you don't understand it well enough, Ch'en. Before, I would probably be worried sick that you were getting yourself killed over something stupid. But you've actually changed since you left Lungmen, and, in my eyes, you've changed for the better. Now, Ironically, I'm afraid you'll lose sight of yourself.
Ch'en	Will I?
Hoshiguma	Who knows? I guess I've said too much. It doesn't matter how afraid I am. This is your decision to make, and I won't interfere.
Ch'en	And you're sure you won't stand in my way again?
Hoshiguma	Oh, still holding grudges, huh? It's hard to say, though. You know I don't think much of promises.
Ch'en	Heh, Hoshiguma not thinking much of promises. Now that's a new one. ........ I don't know how to answer yet, Hoshiguma. Just like how I still have no idea how I'd judge what just happened here and this place itself. I'm afraid the only thing I can do is keep on walking.
Hoshiguma	That will do, Ch'en. That's more than enough. What I said might have been scary, but don't forget. You have lots of friends around you. If you come across anything you don't know, there's nothing wrong with asking their help.
Ch'en	Really?
Hoshiguma	Really.
Ch'en	Okay, then maybe you should give the lecture.
Hoshiguma	What?
Ch'en	You're an active duty police officer, I'm not. Besides, didn't you say I should ask my friends for help? I'll be the student this time.
Hoshiguma	*Sigh*... If that's your call, how am I supposed to say no? But actually, I'm bringing Missy too. I can't be the only one to suffer.
Ch'en	Sure, and feel free to get Lin Yühsia on the stage.
Hoshiguma	*Sigh*... There goes my holiday.
Ch'en	Hoshiguma...
Hoshiguma	Hm?
Ch'en	Seriously, the sun here shines way too bright.
Hoshiguma	It is pretty bright, isn't it? But at least that's the sun, Ch'en.
Ch'en	Maybe.