Introduction

The Agent Story centers around Grace Howard, also known as the Iron Witch, a brilliant and slightly eccentric head technician at Bog Industries. As a highly skilled technician, Grace finds herself entangled in a high-stakes mission involving cutting-edge machinery. The player’s role in the story is to assist Grace in extracting critical data from a prototype’s logic core, a process that requires careful precision and technical expertise. Along the way, players will face numerous challenges, including combating hostile forces and managing a mechanism that spirals out of control. This mission offers a deep dive into Grace’s character and her unconventional methods, making it a crucial part of the Zenless Zone Zero Grace Agent Story Guide.

Throughout the mission, Grace’s deep attachment to machines becomes apparent, often seeming to place their well-being above that of humans. She has a special bond with her beloved machine companion, EOS, a small robot she refers to as her “little cutie,” showering it with affection and care. A crucial part of the mission involves helping Grace awaken the prototype’s logic core, and her expertise extends to debugging the logic cores, fixing malfunctioning systems that might otherwise lead to disaster. The story delves into Grace’s complex relationship with technology, her values, and her dedication to her work, making the mission not just about extracting data but understanding the deeper emotional connections she forms with the machines she works with.

How to Start the Questline

The first chapter of Grace Howard’s Agent Story unlocks once you complete the storyline “Chapter 2 Insert Story: Mission Impossible.” This sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in the game, immersing you in a high-tech, high-stakes mission. To begin the quest, head over to the video archive within the Random Play section of the game.

Once there, keep an eye out for an email from Grace Howard, the highly skilled head technician at Bog Industries, which will appear in your inbox. The email is from Grace herself and discusses an important commission she’s working on, one that requires your expertise.

The tone of the message conveys a sense of urgency and anticipation, marking the beginning of your involvement in her mission. As you read through the email, you’ll quickly realize that this task is not only critical to Grace but also carries significant risks, drawing you into the complex and fast-paced world of Bog Industries and the high-tech projects Grace is involved with. This marks the official start of Grace’s story, and from here, you’ll be thrust into an adventure that requires both your combat and strategic skills.

Walkthrough

The Grace Agent Story is divided into three main parts, each filled with important steps and interactions that drive the narrative forward.

In Part 1, after accepting the order, the player must head to the video rental store and use the HDD system to complete the task. Once finished, the player returns to the store and receives a message from Grace Howard about Betty Brenda, her rival and an old acquaintance. The player then discusses the events with their sibling/brother and rests to exit the story.

Part 2 begins once the player reaches Internot level 31. The player then returns to the video archive to begin Chapter 2 of the story. After receiving a message from Grace, the player meets her at a construction site and follows her instructions in front of a machine.

The task involves interacting with a box and barrel in a specific sequence: Box – Barrel – Box – Box – Barrel, or “red, green, red, red, green.” After Grace’s remote control runs out of battery, the player stays behind to watch the machine, deciding to clean up by moving the box and barrel in turns. Once the hull shows signs of life, the player examines it. At that moment, Betty arrives, attempting to restart the mechanism, but Grace intervenes just in time. The player then returns to the store to talk to their sibling. Completing this part rewards the player with 25 Polychromes, 400 Internot Credits, 12,500 Denny, 1 Ether Coating, 2 Amplifier Energy Modules, and 4 Expert Journals.

In Part 3, after reaching Internot Level 32, the player begins Chapter 3 of the story through the video archive. While walking along Sixth Street, the player notices Betty and an officer having an animated conversation. Approaching Betty reveals that Grace has already lost because Betty has prepared a presentation and arranged a meeting with representatives from the Three Gates.

The player then heads to the video rental store to discuss the news with their sibling and sends a message to Grace. It turns out that Betty set the meeting place at the Lemnos subcavern. After the conversation, the player accepts the order and uses the HDD system to complete it. Once finished, the player goes back to the video rental store to talk to their sibling, completing the quest chain.

Key Story Elements and Character Interactions

In the Grace Agent Story, several key elements and character interactions shape the narrative, providing depth to the player’s experience. Grace Howard, the central character, has a profound attachment to machines, often prioritizing them over human relationships.

This obsession with technology is a defining trait of her personality, and she is described as being almost infatuated with machines. Her intense focus on her work and her creations frequently leads her to ignore or neglect the people around her. Betty Brenda, Grace’s rival and a former acquaintance, frequently clashes with Grace due to their differing views on technology. Betty describes Grace as a “weirdo who treats machines like people,” underscoring the tension between their philosophies. This rivalry deepens as the story progresses, particularly when Betty attempts to undermine Grace’s efforts.

One machine, EOS, is especially important to Grace. EOS is a small, mechanical creature that Grace shows an extraordinary amount of affection for. Despite its mechanical inner workings, EOS is described as soft and fluffy, making it a unique blend of technology and warmth. Grace enjoys petting and hugging EOS, treating it almost as if it were alive, which emphasizes her emotional connection to machines. Others in the story recognize this attachment, and some even attempt to use EOS as a means of gaining favor with Grace, recognizing how much it represents her feelings toward technology.

A significant part of the narrative revolves around the player’s involvement in assisting Grace with the awakening of a prototype’s logic core, a vital piece of technology she is tasked with retrofitting and debugging. This logic core is a powerful and old piece of machinery that consumes a lot of energy. Grace’s efforts to modify and enhance it are crucial, as the logic core could unlock the potential for mechanical creations to develop independent consciousness, even potentially granting them a soul. This quest to understand and unlock the power of the logic core forms the backbone of the player’s journey and interactions with Grace.

The conflict with Betty Brenda continues to escalate throughout the story. Betty, as Grace’s long-standing rival, constantly challenges her views on machines and their role in society. Betty’s competitive nature leads her to steal critical data from Grace during a troubleshooting session, further deepening the rift between the two. The dynamic between Grace and Betty drives much of the conflict in the story, with Grace’s focus on her machines often putting her at odds with Betty’s more human-centered approach to technology.

Finally, Grace’s reputation as the Iron Witch is a defining aspect of her character. Initially, she was called the “Frosty cold iron witch” in a derogatory manner, reflecting how others viewed her detached, machine-focused nature. Over time, however, this nickname evolves into a title of respect, symbolizing Grace’s exceptional skills and her unwavering dedication to her work. The title “Iron Witch” becomes a reflection of her strength and mastery over technology, solidifying her status as a highly respected, albeit enigmatic, figure in the story.

Confrontation with Betty Brend

Betty Brenda is a central figure in the Grace Agent Story, serving as Grace’s primary rival in the tech industry. Their rivalry dates back to their time as classmates and dorm mates at the Rose Institute of Technology, although Grace has no recollection of Betty. The two have fundamentally opposing views on machines: while Betty treats machines as tools to be used and discarded, Grace forms deep connections with her creations, even showing them affection. This difference in perspective drives much of the tension between them.

The competition intensifies as Betty and Grace vie for tech cooperation with Three Gates Corp, with Betty determined to outdo Grace in a technological showdown. Betty’s goal is not just to win the tech battle but to humiliate Grace in the process. During this conflict, Betty resorts to stealing data from Grace’s prototype logicore while the player is troubleshooting, giving her an unfair advantage in the competition.

Betty also demonstrates her modded Guardian Mech, Witch Hunter Alpha, showcasing it as a symbol of her technological prowess. She claims the mech’s personality OS is superior to Grace’s, but it is later revealed that the OS is actually plagiarized from Grace’s data frame. This revelation leads to a dramatic confrontation during a meeting with Three Gates representatives at an old construction site in the Lemnos subcavern, which serves as the backdrop for their final showdown.

Grace confronts Betty during this meeting, revealing Betty’s plagiarism by using Witch Hunter Alpha’s questions that only a mech utilizing Grace’s data framework would be able to answer. This triggers an unexpected turn of events: the Witch Hunter Alpha mech goes out of control due to the corrupted data. The player must then collaborate with Grace to subdue the rogue mech and prevent further chaos, solidifying the rivalry between the two while highlighting the stakes of their competition.

The Out-of-Control Mech

In the Grace Agent Story, Witch Hunter Alpha, Betty Brenda’s tactical mech, goes into a destructive rampage due to corrupted data in its logic core. This corruption arises from Betty’s use of a plagiarized data framework taken from Grace’s prototype. The instability of the mech is worsened by its extended stay within the Hollow, causing further complications. Initially, Betty plans to abandon the mech, choosing to leave it to the Public Security or HIA while she attempts to explain the situation to the Three Gates representatives. However, Grace refuses to let the situation escalate and insists on taking responsibility to prevent any further harm.

To regain control of Witch Hunter Alpha, Grace carefully analyzes the situation and decides that the best course of action is to override the corrupted logic core. The logic core, plagued by data corruption due to Betty’s plagiarized framework, has caused the mech to spiral into a dangerous state. However, Betty’s control system, which is meant to provide authority over the mech, only offers an emulated control layer, meaning it doesn’t provide direct access to the core’s functions. Grace recognizes this vulnerability and sees an opportunity to exploit it.

By using her deep understanding of logic core systems and her experience with debugging, she formulates a plan to bypass the emulated control and gain direct influence over the core. This move allows Grace to essentially seize control of the mech, taking the upper hand in a situation that was quickly escalating out of control. Her calm and calculated approach under pressure highlights her mastery in technical manipulation, ensuring the safety of everyone involved while proving her expertise in machine control.

During the intense battle with the rampaging Witch Hunter Alpha, Betty provides some assistance, but it becomes clear that Grace’s expertise is crucial to resolving the situation. Although Betty is initially hesitant, Grace takes charge and demands that she hand over the control panel, knowing that she must be the one to execute the plan to stop the mech’s destructive rampage. With the control panel in hand, Grace isolates the mech’s weapons systems, effectively neutralizing its offensive capabilities and minimizing further danger.

She then begins the delicate process of manually rebooting the mech’s system, targeting the corrupted logic core that has caused the malfunction. Her actions are swift and precise, reflecting her deep understanding of both the technology and the urgency of the situation.

As Grace works to reset the core, Betty begrudgingly follows her instructions, though her cooperation is far from enthusiastic. Finally, after tense moments of effort and focus, Grace successfully manages to complete the reboot, restoring control over the once-out-of-control Witch Hunter Alpha. Despite the mech’s significant battle damage, Grace takes a moment to assess the situation and, with a nod of appreciation, praises the insulation code that kept the core from completely failing. She acknowledges the mech’s potential, recognizing that, even in its chaotic state, it still holds great value and strength, a testament to the quality of the design despite the challenges faced.

Grace’s Expertise and Unconventional Methods

Grace Howard is a highly skilled professional with a wealth of expertise that shines through her unconventional methods. Though she may initially appear eccentric, Grace is a consummate professional dedicated to her work. One of her standout abilities is her proficiency in debugging logic cores, a skill she uses to modify and improve machines. For instance, she retrofits a prototype with an ether storage battery to enhance its functionality. Grace is also adept at reverse engineering, demonstrated by her work with the personality OS, where she deconstructs and repurposes technology to suit her needs.

During the confrontation with the out-of-control Witch Hunter Alpha, Grace displays her quick thinking and resourcefulness. She devises a plan to override the corrupted logic core by exploiting its emulated control layer, showcasing her deep technical understanding and adaptability. Known for her unconventional methods, Grace often handles situations in ways that might seem strange to others, but her actions are always driven by her expertise.

Grace tends to prioritize machines over people, a tendency that has drawn criticism, particularly from her rival, Betty Brenda. This is especially evident when Grace barely acknowledges Betty’s help during the situation with Witch Hunter Alpha.

Despite this, Grace has a deep appreciation for machines and their capabilities, even recognizing and admiring the superior design of Betty’s mech, despite their rivalry. The title “Iron Witch”, originally a derogatory nickname, eventually becomes an honorific, reflecting Grace’s growing reputation and respect within her field. She redefines her identity as a self-proclaimed “witch,” not as a figure of malice, but as someone committed to saving people from the dangers of the Hollow while also caring for the machines she works with, recognizing their sacrifices and contributions.