Chapter 178

Turtle-turtle… rather, shuffling.

Perfectly as planned. Not only achieving the primary goal but also exceeding even the secondary targets, Kajun walked through the corridor, having not just survived the tightrope of life but having also secured a solid foothold and an extra lifeline.

He carried with both hands various types of reports and balance sheets, and lacking a free hand, he even had an electronic document unfolded over one eye.

There were still data points that hadn’t been firmly committed to memory after a night of work. And inevitably, materials would only emerge after the field recovery and forensic team’s tasks were completed, leaving him unable to put down his work even at this early morning hour.

[Notice: The cerebral cortex regeneration work on the four trackers recovered approximately within one hour of death is complete. It has been confirmed that most short-term memories have been overwritten by the battle with the next-generation tracker prototype “Gamma.” Long-term memories can potentially be revived through additional stimulation, but fragmented scenes are considered lacking in value as evidential material for prosecution. However, there are exceptionally rare records of inter-tracker combat, marking this sample as highly valuable…]

“Hmm…”

He scratched his chin lightly with a finger.

In the end, it seems unlikely to gather useful information for courtroom battles, so the content suggests that he will need to pass their brain samples to the company’s gene modification department or combat curriculum developers.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Once Kasane realized she was in no position to sell anyone out, she refused all testimonies or personal defenses and remained silent, aiming for the opportunity to revive in the distant future.

If that happens, erasing all material records regarding General Tien would allow her to replace his enema informant as negotiated. Nonetheless, she would still need to meticulously maintain other miscellaneous connections and trade partners.

Flapping… swish.

Pages turned, and the cyberware wildly scrolled, refocusing on the desired items.

With that in mind, he wanted to check if there had been an official announcement regarding Kasane’s verdict sent to a certain location overnight, but… as expected, such purges aren’t exactly matters one would brag about. The only upper directive was, “The enema assets under her management will be overseen by Director Edamatsu and operate normally.”

By stepping back a pace to broaden his perspective.

When external documents were included in his search scope, a sensational newspaper headline soon popped up.

‘The reclusive star, a massive tree that pierced through the ages. Ohtsuge Amagi, is she stretching her limbs again?’

‘What could provoke even the retired chairman to move? Who is the nobleman Edamatsu that brutally trampled the flower of high society?’

‘A favorable trend? Or a disastrous upheaval after years?? What experts predict about enema stocks…’

Ultimately, the attack on the research facility and the consequential stiffness in relationships remained submerged.

Well, who really knows how many people are aware of this development? According to what the Chairman heard, he was incensed to learn that a top-secret project was aborted there. Kajun certainly wouldn’t find it easy to meddle from that point.

What’s important now is… the dazzling performance and intense charisma of our executive director that closed last night’s event. A master who left an impression beyond expectations, whether pouring drinks or grabbing hair.

“Heh heh heh…!”

As expected. The exhilarating thrill of recognizing the best talents and the anticipation that the executive director’s aides gained wider maneuvering room flowed pleasantly across his face.

Through the hastily set-up hologram device by the dispatch team leader.

Although it was a video call, many were curious about the chairman’s anger displayed after so many years, and the punishment dealt to Kasane.

Interest in the executive director, who took on the role of executor for this major execution, was also considerable.

Particularly, some spectators sensitive to shifts in power dynamics were even more so. Even now, his communication implant, which was with the secretary on the day of the event, was overheating from incoming contacts.

But indeed… what might ordinary people think upon witnessing that scene?

An impartial medical conglomerate like Enema that punishes with no mercy even those belonging to a ruling family? Or would they fear that even a figure of that level could be abruptly demoted and confined in such power struggles within high society?

The public’s gaze or the citizens’ answers would become clear from the next quarter’s hiring support rates.

What could turn into a major problem right now…

[Results of the inspection of Lieutenant Min, who succeeded in ‘capturing’ her, and a guard who appears to have been entangled in a biochemical attack of the same nature – after being hit by a malfunctioning sprinkler in the president’s office, apparently collapsed, presumed to be due to an unknown waterborne pathogen… Internal neurons and neuroglia seem to be rejecting signals emanating from the brain.]

This is it. Undoubtedly, the impulsive sacrifice that his secret assistant, the witch, must have left as a warning.

“…I never expected such a small act of mischief to provoke such a terrifying reaction.”

Kajun lifted the edges of a document bundle partially, nervously fixing his professionally trimmed hair.

How to express this accurately… it feels as if a sudden gunfire was shot from a guard’s looming anger simply because he threw a single test shot to see the caliber of the matter?

If the other party hadn’t been lenient, he would surely be dead, and he had received a letter conveying that next time, should he provoke further nonsense, it would lead to even worse consequences, making him even more cautious.

…Is that a woman, shrouded in enigma, still lurking somewhere watching him?

[A highly unusual case, distinctly different from being brain-dead, marked by a vegetative state with cerebral damage. Despite being perfectly excised from physical reality, her intact brain is actively emitting signals. Consequently, an Elusium researcher expressed a desire to acquire ownership at the cost of tens of billions of credits.]

[Dr. Evangeline evaluated that this is a divine specimen that could significantly assist in progressing both Elusium’s ‘closed world’ research and Exatech’s ‘perfect brain in a container’ implementation.]

“…”

What thoughts might a person who is essentially half-dead be grappling with? A mind drifting in eternal darkness until its nourishment ceases, condemned to never return to reality or flow into the afterlife?

From the outset, is Lieutenant Min, considered the expendable in existential theories or skeptical thinking, still alive? Is she truly herself?

The representation of a woman rendered useless is trapped within a narrow skull.

Yet, thanks to that, he learned a significant lesson.

While planning and realizing that plan is crucial, it’s equally essential to safeguard one’s physical safety. Combining true strength with external power is immensely important.

Had Kasane not let her guard down, fully encompassing the fact that the social circle head is in the heart of the city, and had she taken all her trackers with her, she wouldn’t have been in this predicament.

“Phew… well, that’s fine. Then this too is a decisive point.”

Now, he must move on to his final battle.

First, he needs to obtain permission from his boss concerning the official retirement process and administrative actions to satisfy the demands expressed previously by Anastasia Makarovitch.

He was confident he could persuade, but this time he found it hard to be certain.

He realized that it was too lighthearted to describe that the executive director was charmed; it was clear that she demonstrated an unexpectedly serious and obsessive demeanor, something Kajun was beginning to want to confidently consider himself as her closest associate.

“Director, it’s Kajun. I would like to enter for a work report…”

As soon as he organized his dizzying vision and passed through the familiar corridor to open the door to the director’s office.

Crash!! Crunch!!

Show, holding Anastasia’s resignation letter with an aura capable of ripping apart one or two people with sheer will, made no distinction in his gaze as he looked at the shattered little potted plant and could only internally sigh, wishing that the guest holding the keys to persuasion would arrive swiftly.

“What is. This. Nonsense? Can you explain it to me in a way that I can fully understand…?? …No, bring her here directly. If this is a complaint about rudeness in the car, I must apologize personally.”

“I’m sorry, but I had no choice. She already left the building, so I must first identify her whereabouts before inviting her back.”

The unspoken follow-up, ‘Moreover, she might not even agree to return,’ was tactfully swallowed.

Indeed, if he had to choose words, it would be appropriate to express that it was rather out of his hands.

The party in question hastily threatened to fulfill the promise, only to disappear without a trace, and with a strange figure now involved, he couldn’t afford to let her negative influence on Edamatsu linger.

Creak! The corner of the crumpled desk he had grabbed screamed in compression.

“She would not leave on her own, Anastasia wouldn’t… Could it be that there was external pressure? Is it possible her father acted?”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing those words, Kajun cautiously set down the pile of documents in a corner and pondered.

What response would lead to some level of agreement while he muttered to himself, alternating between this rabid dog and a stray?

Without knowing enough about the relationship between her and the other party or their visiting intent, it would be dangerous to speculate too soon, but it was certainly a consultation request with enough coercive power to be labeled pressure.

“Although that may not be the chairman’s intention, I did hear something about external pressure… Oh, it seems the individual just arrived at the main lobby. It’s fortunate that you two, who share a common acquaintance, can converse more quickly than I could provide details.”

“…?! Whoever it is, make them come up quickly! Even now, some incident may be occurring with Anastasia…!”

Regardless of whether the secretary delivered a vague response or not.

Edamatsu, who had been trembling at the thought of the angel he reveres being somewhere in the wild, managed to regain his composure.

But like emotions can be further categorized, his calmness was the result of external influence far outweighing his own.

“It’s been a while, yet Enema is still so white and dreary! I feel like it’s been two years since I last attended, yet nothing seems to have changed, so I’m relieved? Paradise was an absolute mess with desk rearrangements… department shifts… utterly chaotic; it almost drove me mad.”

The audacious entrance of the golden-haired man and the unreserved greetings exchanged, even though this was their first meeting, left Show unable to provide a distinct response.