Chapter 172

Even with my eyes wide open, it’s the same.

I rub my head, trying to shake off a sudden headache, then lift my head, but nothing changes. There’s no stuff.

“Seriously? What the hell… hah.”

This isn’t to say the vault of the high-ranking executive of the secretive Mega Cop is entirely empty.

There are display cases brimming with items likely to appeal to enthusiasts – gold coins, commemorative medallions. There are frames containing paintings I’ve never seen before; whether due to my lack of artistic knowledge or this world’s differences, I can’t say, but they exude a vintage aesthetic.

Various ingots of metals, glowing with strange colors, lie in messy heaps.

Given that this is a world where electronic currency is predominant, there aren’t stacks of banknotes shaped like towers nor are there mountains made from gold and precious materials as one would associate with vulgar wealth.

I seem to recall seeing a documentary about how goods stored at the bottom would rot and need to be discarded if kept in that manner.

Of course, there were chests containing gemstones that surely had an astronomical carat value, meticulously arranged in beautiful showcases, but stealing these wasn’t my objective.

“Aah…! That clumsy bastard Kaijjun, he definitely would have stashed the frequently used items in a conspicuous spot…!!”

Because of this, among all the items listed here, the absence of the most common and simultaneously most critical item – paper – stood out.

It was hard to suppress the slowly rising anxiety and the rather explicit sense that things had gone awry, so I tried scratching my head in a fit of nervousness, but, unfortunately, it did nothing to change the situation.

So, you’re asking why I don’t just head over to the computer in that room and thoroughly search the place? Let’s make use of this moment for a quick educational session.

On the topic of… the 23rd-century common knowledge of our dreary Neo Haven. Hm.

This is all relatively recent knowledge I gleaned from my studies – some web browsing too – fragmented facts interwoven with historical background, so I hope you’ll forgive the lack of comprehensive details.

In the late 2160s, about 30 years ago—during a period when large-scale digitalization was at its peak—an event occurred.

After the singularity explosion in the field of cybernetics jointly researched by Elysium and Enema, excitement grew as new fields and roles emerged, supposedly brimming with opportunities. However, the situation quickly became turbulent when hipster hackers and rogue engineers viewed bypassing corporate restrictions as a badge of honor and a form of qualification.

Amid this chaos, the ruling strata watched with growing concerns, continually trying to recruit the talented ones and placate the reckless ones to restore order.

Data-related crimes persisted, prompting voices calling for harsher penalties and demonstrative actions to be taken. Amidst all this tension…

It was then that the elite net hackers, members of an organization called Dead Link, orchestrated a significant incident—indeed a historical coup.

Through simultaneous actions, they forged multiple electronic official documents and commands. Except for the few instances where superiors were barely able to intervene, the receiving field and rapid-response teams acted upon receiving what seemed to be legitimate orders, leading to a colossal disaster.

This created mass confusion across command chains, alongside effective sowing of discord, culminating in the first reversion to outright armed conflict since the Great War that had once overturned previous Earth powers. The event was termed the ‘Corporate War.’

In any case, after the disputes eventually subsided and the truth was revealed…

There was a push to enhance the dissemination of real-time communications. Additionally, for high-level disputes, where reviewing for potential tampering takes considerable time and rash judgements pose risks, the necessity of maintaining undeniable physical evidence was officially established.

So that was what I was so desperately searching for.

The handwritten ledgers and related documentation that are essentially the required evidence to confirm Kasane’s conspiracy charge.

Were it to be obtained, it would enable the suppression of her with no chance for her to defend herself under the breach of internal regulations.

“…But it’s nowhere to be found?”

I felt my brain was about to shut down from stress, but I somehow managed to regain composure.

There was no time to waste in confusion. When have things ever been this smooth?

Even if the location of the main dish remains a mystery, I must first prepare the side dishes and contact the one who will feature this on the stage.

I quickly settled myself in front of the personal computer in the room.

Plop!

Sinking comfortably into the plush chair, which fittingly embodied the “boss’s chair” feel, I switched on the computer, mindlessly unwrapped a sugary calorie-laden drink, and sent an urgent message to Kaijjun.

[ Tell me everywhere else the target might be besides the vault. Anything goes, even if the possibility is low.]

[…Are you sure it isn’t inside already? I only have fragmented information, so I cannot comment on her personal habits or tendencies accurately. Are you confident about this…?]

[It’s so neatly organized, I’m pretty sure this isn’t a mistake. It must be hidden somewhere else—at least once. Or… maybe she took it with her.]

I had already thoroughly checked obvious hiding places—like the backs of frames that could have easily housed sheets of paper, or locked drawers—just to avoid doing something foolish like making a fuss when the answer might be right in front of me.

But now, without any real clue, I’m starting to feel a bit unnerved!

But instead of providing a resolution, it seemed that the other side was as tense and caught up in their own complex internal battles.

The reply weighed heavily on me, as though they were piling on more tasks.

[If she has it on her person, we’ll manage our end, but since the execution team from HQ is already on me about clarifying the disappearance of the four trackers, please kindly ensure we don’t have any surprises. End.]

“…What?!?”

That was truly the last message I received.

While the channel remained open, it was clear that continuing our discussion would lead to exposure.

Whether the detection began at the point of emitting a pulse or after Masanari performed his sword dance is irrelevant.

The external situation might be chaotic, but for now, it hasn’t affected me—this is the golden hour.

However…

“Taking advantage of me for free and giving out so many orders!?”

I only realized a bit too late that the person I’m dealing with is less of a villain and more of a bad employer.

No matter how I’d loosely promised assistance for hacking-related tasks, surely there’s a limit! What’s with dumping everything onto me?

It’s quite frustrating seeing someone try to strip away what little resources I have for personal survival. However, he did mention he’s not in a favorable position either, so further pressing won’t yield results.

I’ll take on this responsibility generously—this one time only. Honestly, that’s it!

With this in mind, I attempted logging in using an unconventional method—a direct insertion bypass—into the computer’s main hub, bypassing any user password.

I assumed the process would proceed smoothly, considering my prior experiences of overcoming obstacles.

Until now, I’ve always managed to push through with clever tricks and sheer determination, overcoming any minor resistance.

“…?”

But there was an unusual sensation.

A counterflow that opposed my intent. Like having your hand gripped for an arm-wrestling match, only for the opposite side to suddenly break the rules and yank me towards them.

Almost as if, instead of resisting my intrusion, the system was complying yet probing me for some hidden purpose.

Would it be accurate to describe it as the startled eyes of a fish captured and hauled ashore through the nets? Ugh, more accurately, as something skewered and pierced, making a final desperate attempt to breath its last…

[ Breaching process confirmed. Highly Functional Bio-Arithmetic Operation Module detected, tracing consecutive numbers & model type…. ]

[ Intrusion confirmed. High-function bio-computational module detected. Reverse tracing in process to identify final product model and serial numbers…]

[ ………Error. Fatal error occurred. Sending stress signal to Elysium Main Report Controller M.E.D.E.A…. ]

[ ………Fault. Grave fault occurred. Transmitting negative evaluation to ELYSIUM’s main control module MEDEA…]

“Wha-!? Stop this nonsense immediately!”

I severed the delicate threads trying to slip away into the vast sea of networks.

Hmm, considering the terminal was already compromised and an effort to retrieve feedback data was underway, let’s call it shooting down an unauthorized escape vessel.

Upon reflection, this was my first time extending my reach into Elysium’s security network when it came to breaching various devices, firewalls, and software.

The resistance I encountered seemed weaker than usual… Could the impact really be comparable to just an automatic door? That feels a bit disrespectful to say.

Of course, comparing live responses from expert teams in Paradise’s underground facilities and a generic operating system isn’t exactly fair.

Ding!

Anyway, the connection was successfully established.

With concerns about the dubious Elysium software pushed to another time, preparations to peek into Kasane’s hidden life are complete.

Now, I extract every material that might contain incriminating information—any information relating to “Haylong,” pharmaceutical financial reports, even chat messages—then send all data through the channel.

Including scandalous video footage secretly filmed in a dark cult-like chapel—pretending to protect privacy while engaging in such activities behind the scenes, aren’t you?

“Hmph…”

Rapidly, pages open and close, files copy, and occasionally locked folders appear, but I manage to break them down into their basic components and transfer whatever I can access.

While my eyes are transfixed on the dizzying three-dimensional display on the modern monitor, my mind continuously grapples with another question.

Should I search the entire room by myself?

No, it might be better if I couldn’t find it and look like a fool.

But if she had moved the document somewhere completely secure upon entering the room earlier?…

…This is futile. If all we’re theorizing about is wrong, this mansion offers numerous possible hiding spots. No conclusive reasoning can come from this.

Moreover, would she have really taken the item herself? Consider this:

The person, so paranoid as to order all her guards to endlessly guard her room’s entrance, would she really have taken the crucial item personally? It doesn’t add up!

Especially since her dresses, with their tight and revealing lines, offer no place to hide bulky papers—perhaps only small capsules.

Kasane Amagi is competent. While she might have been slightly complacent like her loyal subordinates who had died protecting her, her competence isn’t in question.

So, it makes more sense to assume it’s still in the room. Why wouldn’t she choose the safest, most high-probability action if she were rational?

It simply means she moved it out of the vault since it was already compromised.

“…It’s definitely still in here.”

It’ll be found. The only remaining issue is whether this frail hand of mine will have enough time to clean up the evidence and escape without a trace.

So, in the end, I’ve circled back to the beginning again, short of manpower…

“…Full reactivation of Wicked Anthology Laser Sensors.”

Though I’ve technically not completed the hacking yet, I withdraw my hands from the computer and slowly rise.

“Reset detection target, all opaque medias… Can I just search for paper alone? Hmm, no, that’s not the type of equipment this is.”

I move to the center of the room. This is the best spot for meticulously examining the three-dimensional blueprint developing in my mind.

A certain female hacker from a secret society once reconstructed battlefields using only crude sound data, extracting necessary intelligence.

If that’s possible, surely with the exceptional quality of equipment and cooperative mechanized assistants at my disposal, finding what we’re looking for shouldn’t be too much to ask?

“Initiate Scan…!!”

A sharp sensation, akin to a harsh cough, pierces one side of my brain, and like an out-of-body experience, my vision expands.

Despite noted disadvantages of low resolution and terrible penetration power, these were negligible. The overwhelming number of sensors and antennas installed in every direction resolved any blind spots, leaving gaps for my mind to fill in the visual voids from actual sight.

Without any physical movement, I comb through the room’s nooks and crannies.

The feeling of omnipotence creeping into reality as my awareness alone sifted through crevices, between quilts and mattresses, pocketed within meticulously arranged outfits—was quite thrilling… cough!

Nonetheless, every minute gap, including spots impossible for even needles to penetrate, is probed with concentrated electronic waves.

With multiple versions of “me” actively investigating at once, the result compilation is so efficient that the time-to-efficiency ratio is astonishing.

“Really? Really not emerging?”

I clenched my lips, resisting the pull towards negativity.

There shouldn’t be any fault in my reasoning… That’s what I believe. I also pushed aside the insidious whispers questioning if I was merely clinging to wasted time.

Either it’s found, or it isn’t.

Faced with only two possible conclusions, I believe I’ve collected substantial circumstantial evidence leading to the answer.

Then why isn’t it here? Why…

“…Ah…”

A blurry white object appears in the distorted field of view, caused by shaking my head. The modeling of light wavelength and real white color overlaps strangely, creating something that resembles a void.

With the safe wide open, what item could still maintain a semi-sealed state against my full-on scanning?

…Ah, right. The fridge. Makes sense it wouldn’t show up well. …Wait…

“…”

Frowning, I traverse the room, which flaunts a comfortable open-space design except for its bedroom, bathroom, and the separately designed safe room—towards the kitchen area.

I redirect every sensor array available.

Focusing on the floors and shelves, I scrutinize, searching for any trace of Kasane moving hurriedly.

And in a kitchen drawer slightly ajar, I discover thin, transparent objects—vacuum-sealed plastic bags meticulously used by Kasane to distribute her personal medications.

Come on, surely not. Surely this can’t be…

In such an instant, could she possibly have executed an ingenious maneuver stemming from paranoia that was far too outlandish?

“…Wow, you’re a real master planner, aren’t you…”

Thus, from the very bottom compartment of the fridge, I retrieved a sealed, slightly crumpled folder containing the sought-after ledgers and contract documents.

As a bonus from the top shelves, I also found high-class desserts, certain to more than offset any calories consumed and soothe an upset stomach.

…Is it appropriate to appreciate her efforts in sealing it without leaving any trace of it being touched by others?

Such dedication truly deserves acknowledgment.