Chapter 132

Chapter 132. Escape (1)

****

The surviving Blue Rose individuals gathered deep within Poi Station. This place is a labyrinth lurking beneath Seoul, the forgotten end of Line 11.

It was also where an abandoned bunker was located. Anything worth stealing had likely already been looted by the Foundation, hostile groups, or the government.

There were four surviving Blue Roses.

Blue Rose-1. Contrabass.

Blue Rose-7. Black.

Blue Rose-9. Spring.

Blue Rose-11. Spade.

“Hey. Where are Silver and Paint?”

“Uh, I think they went to fight the Foundation soldiers. They probably died fighting.”

Contrabass let out a sigh.

“Why are they dying like idiots? I told them to just run away…”

“Maybe they were trying to buy us time?”

Spade muttered softly, while Black fiddled with the greatsword at her waist.

“I heard the Poi Station Underground Bunker was cleared out recently. Is it really a good idea to stay here? Who are we planning to contact?”

“Cleared out? It was more like a field trip for courage. The Foundation hasn’t come near this place in almost a decade.”

“Is that so?”

“We’re planning to find and contact the Colorless Orchestra hiding underground. I don’t know where they are, but we’ll find them soon.”

“How long are we going to wander around?”

“Until we find the city of humanoid supernatural phenomena deep underground. You’ll understand when you see it. Just follow me for now.”

Contrabass quickened her pace.

“A city? Under Seoul?”

“Yeah. It’s not just under Seoul. Most major cities have labyrinths underground. What’s in them depends on the situation.”

“Wait, I know what a labyrinth is, but I’ve never heard of a city being underground.”

“I’ve never seen it myself either. I just heard it exists, so I guess it’s true.”

They reached the lowest level of the Poi Station Underground Bunker.

“Keep your weapons up. Make sure to check for people, or things that look like people.”

Black swept her flashlight across the darkness.

“It’s still so narrow that we have to walk in a single file. I can’t imagine how a city could exist in a place like this…”

“I never said it was a human city.”

“Disgusting and creepy.”

Black muttered.

“Don’t overthink it. It’s literal. They’re an underground organization, so they live underground. There’s no other way to survive without the Foundation noticing.”

Everywhere under the sky is within reach of cruise missiles, drones, or helicopters. Even the deep sea isn’t free from the Foundation’s surveillance.

The only place to hide is beneath the city. The city’s noise blocks any potential sound information, and its chaos obscures most magical surveillance methods.

“Remember this well. There are four of us.”

“Why’s that?”

“Mimics live underground.”

Most mimics can’t imitate humans well, but some are very good at it. Once you start getting confused, it’s endless.

****

Sogong-dong Station Underground.

Me, Nanami, and four special forces members were sitting on the floor. We planned to wait until the botulinum toxin we used a few hours ago lost its potency before returning.

“Dr. Kim. Can’t we leave now?”

“City Hall Station is a place where thousands of people pass by every day. If even a trace of the toxin gets on someone’s clothes, it could cause a major disaster. The same goes for deploying a chemical cleanup team.”

Botulinum toxin can cause irreversible damage to humans with just a few nanograms.

“That’s something you should’ve thought about before spraying humanity’s worst poison everywhere.”

“Well, I panicked. I was scared fighting a high-grade humanoid supernatural phenomenon.”

“Botulinum dust bombs are on par with nuclear warheads, right? If you used that in a crowded place, you could’ve killed thousands.”

That’s true.

“Just wait a few more hours. I thought Silver from the Blue Roses would be as strong as the Reality Adjuster or Blue Rose-12 we saw earlier.”

“The one I fought was also quite powerful. It created a large phase space and moved freely within it. It’s probably dead now, though.”

I killed Blue Rose-4, Silver. Nanami probably killed Blue Rose-5, Paint. Both were high-grade humanoid supernatural phenomena and mages.

“We could chase the remaining Blue Roses, but I think the risk outweighs the potential rewards. What do you think, Dr. Kim?”

I nodded.

“Today’s operation is over. Leaving Sogong-dong Station to chase enemies in the labyrinth is insane. It’s too out of control.”

“…”

Nanami was eating something.

“Hey, Nanami. What are you doing?”

“Eating combat rations.”

“You’ll die. We’re waiting for the neurotoxin to break down.”

Then again, I doubt Nanami would die from something like that. That’s why she’s doing it, right?

Nanami didn’t die. We watched her chew on the combat ration bar, and honestly, it was baffling…

****

Meanwhile. Foundation Seoul Branch.

A car arrived at the main gate of the Seoul Branch. The Foundation soldiers stopped the vehicle but… could only scratch their heads.

“I’m Dr. Chloe, a science officer from the Foundation’s Eastern Fleet. May I enter?”

Her black hair tied up like a student’s, with beast-like yellow eyes. The guard blocking Dr. Chloe couldn’t shake off an eerie feeling.

Moreover, it was questionable whether there even was an Eastern Fleet, and no scientist from such a unit was scheduled to enter the Foundation today.

The two guards at the entrance checked if their guns were loaded and then walked over to Dr. Chloe’s car.

“You’re not on the list. Who are you?”

“There was no prior arrangement. If you contact the executives of Facility 82, they’ll likely grant me entry.”

“That’s against protocol.”

“Just let me talk to someone in charge. I’m here for something very important—”

The guard pressed a large red button in the guardhouse. The Foundation’s sirens began to blare, and Dr. Chloe sighed.

The Foundation’s security team is different from field units or units operating in the field. Inside Foundation facilities, there are fewer restrictions on equipment or technical support.

The ones dispatched to capture Dr. Chloe were heavily armed Foundation soldiers equipped with reinforced exoskeletons and Gauss weapons.

Within seconds, multiple gun barrels were aimed at Dr. Chloe. She raised her hands and slowly stepped out of the car.

“Don’t move!”

Dr. Chloe raised her hands.

“I’m Dr. Chloe, formerly employed at the Foundation’s Jeju Island Branch. I have information on the Blue Roses. I can help you, so please connect me to someone.”

“Direct connection is not possible.”

Still, they couldn’t just shoot a Foundation scientist who might be an ally with crucial information.

One of the guards connected the radio.

“Facility 82. Connected to the Director’s Office.”

It took some time for a response.

[This is Research Department Head Lee Se-ah. The Director is absent, and so is Nanami. I guess that makes me the highest-ranking person here, right?]

“Uh, I guess so?”

[Research Department Head Lee Se-ah, currently the highest-ranking officer in Facility 82’s chain of command. Did the person who just arrived say they’re Dr. Chloe?]

“Yes.”

[Dr. Chloe died in Jeju. I don’t know what this is. Security, subdue or eliminate the supernatural entity. The Recovery Department is on its way to the scene.]

The security team looked at Dr. Chloe.

“Orders are to restrain Dr. Chloe and bring her in! Resistance will result in lethal force. Extend your arms behind your back.”

“Wait, I came to help, and this is how you treat me…”

Dr. Chloe grumbled for a while but had no choice but to be restrained. She was moved with gun barrels aimed at her head and back.

“Target subdued. Dr. Chloe is currently being transported to the isolation room.”

[Good work. She didn’t resist, right?]

****

[Blue Rose Fragment Analysis]

[Author: Humanoid Research Department Kang Cheon]

[I’m trying to find the Blue Rose list, but most of the records are gone. Someone must’ve deleted them on purpose. Well… they did wipe out an entire Jeju base, so it makes sense.]

[Anyway, we recovered fragments from two Blue Roses. The completely burned fragments of Blue Rose-4, Silver. And the mutilated fragments of Blue Rose-5, Paint.]

[Let’s start with Silver.]

[There wasn’t much left of the body, but analysis shows it was made from supernatural phenomena provided or borrowed from Pluto Limited Company. Of course, there are also elements derived from humans or Blue Rose-0.]

[Paint is in a similar situation.]

[This one seems to have been made from supernatural phenomena provided by, what’s their name, anyway, supernatural artists.]

[I think we’ve been wrong about what the Blue Roses really are. They’re not just people injected with giant octopus blood or something.]

[Sigh. Nothing’s easy.]