Since Hell is Us leaves you in the middle of the Hadean warfront, the Ministry of Cultural Primacy in Lethe, i.e., the Propaganda Building, is brought to the forefront. Within, you will be tasked with unlocking Marton Ralst’s safe in order to continue. The puzzle is multi-step, blending subtle environmental clues with a series of historical allusions that test your focus to detail.
Cracking the Computer Password
The initial hurdle is that of Ralst’s computer. As the minister himself is not around, the answer is to rely on his own pride. His office is filled with portraits celebrating Brohm Aster’s life and rule, precisely those located on the second level. Among them, one aspect stands out: the year of Aster’s coronation, where he was crowned King of Hadea.
773 is the password this year to Ralst’s computer. Once entered, the system shows the next piece of the puzzle.
Tuning the Radio Frequency
Your second challenge lies in Ralst’s office with the radio. One of your hints is on a nearby computer terminal at the front desk, where the notice on a LAN Newsboard about recent repairs says the answer outright: the gear in Ralst’s office now uses channel 60.
Go to the radio, rotate the dial to 60, and switch the frequency from FM to AM. It takes a moment for a brief pause, then the painting next to the radio swings out to reveal the hidden safe.
Decoding the Safe
The final one is to locate the combination to the safe. You can’t try yet, however, because you must rescue Maeve Tristana from a Hollow Walker in the hallway first. Once you have freed her, she will appear in Ralst’s office and provide you with a clue with the following suggestive remark: “Each time Marton opened his safe, he said, ‘If only history moved backward.'”
The clue is in the timeline histories of Brohm Aster posted all over the office. By going through the years associated with significant events in his life and then reversing them, the code is cracked:
- 793 – Aster is killed, ending his 20-year reign
- 770 – Bridal War lasts three years
- 754 – Birth of Conrad and Phenelo, children of Aster
- 714 – Aster himself is born and lives for 79 years
Reversing these historical milestones produces the safe code: 20 3 2 79.
The Reward
With the safe unlocked, you’ll obtain the Iron Seal – Rising, along with an important new document that pushes the story forward. Solving Marton Ralst’s puzzle not only tests your observational skills but also deepens your understanding of Hadea’s troubled history, intertwining political ego with the horrors of the ongoing civil war.
