Chapter 125

Episode 125. The Otherworlders’ Picnic (3)

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The humans of Babylon built a towering structure to reach the gods. As punishment for challenging the gods, humans were cursed with the inability to understand each other. And that, mythologically speaking, is the origin of language.

In a bar atop the Lotte Tower Skyscraper.

The height of this tower is 555 meters.

It was a height incomparable to the ziggurats built by the humans of Babylon. The gathered beings chuckled at the irony.

“Is this everyone?”

Six figures in suits gazed out at the city below. The rest of the people continued their daily lives as if nothing was happening.

“Over there. Somewhere beneath the city, the youngest is hiding. Excluding the youngest and their mother… I believe these are all the surviving Blue Roses.”

Blue Rose-1. Contrabass.

Blue Rose-4. Silver.

Blue Rose-5. Paint.

Blue Rose-7. Black.

Blue Rose-9. Spring.

Blue Rose-11. Spade.

“If it weren’t for Spade’s ability, we wouldn’t have been able to enter this cursed city.”

Without Spade’s cognitive interference adjustment, the six suspicious Blue Roses wouldn’t have been able to roam around Seoul without being noticed.

Blue Rose-9, Spring, being a clockwork-type supernatural phenomenon, wore a mask openly. It’s a miracle they weren’t caught by the police.

“Did you try calling the youngest?”

“What? Blue Rose-13? If we had tried, martial law would have been declared in the city. Or helicopters would be flying around… Anyway.”

Silver grimaced.

“Idiot. Have you forgotten that Blue Rose-13 single-handedly occupied an entire island? Number 12 was torn apart in a single strike. Number 13’s hounds sliced and crushed Number 12’s head.”

“……”

Silence fell over the group.

“Calling them? You should be thinking about assassinating them. I just checked, and it seems Blue Rose-13 is moving with sniping in mind. There’s no way to hit them due to the cognitive disaster spread across a 50-meter radius.”

Silver gestured to the guitar case at her feet. Inside the case was not a guitar, but a high-caliber sniper rifle.

Silver.

A silver-haired girl with red eyes, but she wore a baker’s hat and sunglasses to avoid drawing attention.

To others, she might look a bit crazy, but it’s better than wandering around the city with silver hair and red eyes unfiltered.

Silver was an experimental subject created by Pluto Limited Company using supernatural phenomena. Among the Blue Roses, she was one of the stronger ones.

“Is she wandering around the city?”

“Blue Rose-13 is the king of this country.”

The Blue Roses murmured.

Paint looked up from the magazine she was reading and scratched her head.

“Our youngest is a director?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe we should have stayed on Jeju Island.”

“Jeju is too small. The Foundation could search every inch of Jeju.”

“Is Seoul any different?”

“If we go into the Seoul Underground Tunnel Network, even the Foundation won’t be able to find us. We plan to go down there today.”

The Blue Roses sighed. The tunnel network wasn’t a pleasant place. They had spent the last few days there during the day.

“So. Why are we gathered here?”

Contrabass, who had been sitting slouched in a chair, slowly opened his half-closed eyes.

“It’s noisy.”

“What’s your plan?”

Contrabass spoke in a low voice. The Blue Roses’ eyes focused on him.

“Originally, I planned to go find the youngest. But Silver doesn’t want to fight and die today.”

“That’s bait.”

Director Kim had unusually gone out with a humanoid supernatural phenomenon. The Blue Roses considered going after Director Kim but ultimately decided against it.

“Our position has become ambiguous. The scientists from Jeju who created us have all been reassigned or scattered. Going back would only mean death.”

“Right.”

“We could go back to the youngest and beg for mercy, but we’d likely just be treated as monsters.”

Silver crossed her arms.

“We should have protected Furan properly on Jeju. Or properly retrieved Number 13.”

“Silver. So what are you suggesting?”

Contrabass sighed.

“Endure it.”

“……”

“Our purpose for coming to Seoul has been achieved, so let’s do this. Cooperate with a suitable hostile group, borrow their strength, and retrieve Blue Rose-0.”

“What does Blue Rose-0 have to do with us?”

The gathered Blue Roses murmured again, and Contrabass frowned. What kind of stupid question is that?

“Even though it was dismantled and reassembled, Blue Rose-0 is the source of our power. We will free Blue Rose-0 and regain our maximum strength.”

“Is the Foundation our enemy?”

Blue Rose-1 shook her head.

“The Foundation is pragmatic. Supernatural phenomena that don’t cause problems are treated as if they don’t exist. We won’t antagonize the Foundation until we deal with Blue Rose-0.”

Spade raised her head.

“That’s overly optimistic. Under the sky, on the ground, is there anything the Foundation doesn’t know? Didn’t the Foundation create us?”

“That’s your role, Spade. Use your cognitive interference to erase our tracks diligently.”

“Don’t raise your voice. The civilians here might start paying attention to us.”

Contrabass nodded.

“Contra. Let’s say everything is fine. So, which hostile group will take us in?”

“Well… let’s go underground first.”

****

The picnic ended without incident.

As per my original plan. In fact, the operation name being bait, and all the talk about baiting the supernatural group, was all a lie.

Just playing with otherworlders wouldn’t have been enough to get everyone to cooperate with the operation. That’s why I added all that talk about bait and training.

“My thoughts are this. Miss Hasti is respected here, has abilities, and has a returnee like family by her side.”

“So?”

“You’ve probably heard this proposal before… just say the word. We’ll give you an employee ID and a resident registration card. Please work with us.”

“What happens then?”

“You’ll likely study miracle science and magic with our team. You’ll go through the in-house graduate program. You’ll also get a salary.”

Hasti leaned her head against the passenger window.

“I want to talk to the returnee.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll consider it positively.”

Is this the extent of our results?

“I don’t understand why you keep trying so hard to recruit us. To you, aren’t we just dangerous monsters?”

“It’s not just that.”

“Hmm?”

“The world is full of dangerous elements. There are those who capture supernatural humans for materials, sell them as slaves, and many who want to dissect them.”

“Well…”

“I’d like to say it’s anarchy, but even the government would do the same given the chance. What the Foundation protects isn’t just ordinary humans.”

“Is that so?”

“When Pasteur discovered vaccines, medicine became, in a way, a social laboratory. Under the guise of protection.”

“Control through knowledge, you mean. Protecting both the normal and the abnormal.”

“I don’t know if others in the Foundation think the same, but that’s how I see it. As long as I’m a Foundation executive, my subordinates will act accordingly.”

Hasti sighed again.

“You’re saying it’s the lesser evil.”

“I’m not trying to justify my actions or anyone else’s… I’m just saying I’m doing my best in my position. If Miss Hasti sits at a desk, you might be able to join that conversation.”

“Right.”

Rustling sounds. Hasti seemed to be eating some snacks from my car.

****

[Job Application]

[Author: Dr. Chloe]

[Document delivered through the Personnel Department.]

[Hello, Director Kim. I’m sending this through the Personnel Department. I want to transfer from the Jeju Island Branch to the Seoul Branch.]

[I have extensive experience and achievements in researching supernatural phenomena, especially humanoid ones. I also have field experience and combat experience, much like you, Director.]

****

[Job Application. Reply.]

[Author: Advisor An]

[Dr. Chloe, didn’t you die during the Jeju Island Branch siege? Whatever you’re doing, we’ll investigate thoroughly.]

[The Head of Personnel will need to meet with you, Director. The security level of the entire facility has been raised due to this document. The Head of Personnel should come to the Director’s Office immediately upon seeing this document.]

****

[Job Application. Reply. Reply.]

[Author: Head of Personnel, Dr. Min]

[I never sent such a document, and the Personnel Department never sent one either. It seems someone with Foundation security clearance really sent it. Uh…]

[Is it really Dr. Chloe?]

[Ah, and by the way. I’ll go to the Director’s Office today, but I’m not sure if I did anything wrong yet. It’ll come out in the investigation.]