Chapter 134

As I stepped off at James Airport in James City, I felt a subtle yet distinct change in the air.

The structure and appearance of the airport weren’t too different from those in Korea, but there was definitely a different vibe.

Was it because I couldn’t hear any Korean?

Or maybe it was all the English written on the signs?

Even aside from the lack of Korean and the abundance of English, something still felt different.

It was in the layout, the design, and even the little details that didn’t seem important at first glance—it was fascinating.

James walked ahead of me with confident strides but turned back to say, “Welcome to America, and to James City.”

James looked far more free-spirited and bold here than he did in Korea.

Once we passed through the airport gates, the bustling energy of people coming and going filled the air.

Unfamiliar brands lined the shops and dining areas, and exotic yet mouthwatering scents wafted around.

If only Unnie Sehee and Unnie Seoah were here too…

The Reaper lounged comfortably inside a transparent portable quarantine room, curiously looking around the airport.

Its feelers swayed gently as it reacted to everything it saw—so adorable!

I wanted to step into the quarantine room and pet it right away, but doing that in the middle of the airport would probably be inappropriate.

If this were Korea, I’d have just climbed into the quarantine room without a second thought.

As James guided us outside, an expansive view of the city stretched before my eyes.

An impressive wide road stretched straight ahead, leading toward the towering ‘James Tower,’ which seemed to pierce the sky.

Located at the center of roads extending in all directions, James Tower stood out not just in height but in presence, truly representing the city.

“Let’s drop off our luggage first and discuss the schedule!”

James led me and the Reaper to a large vehicle designed to accommodate the quarantine room.

Our ride smoothly glided forward toward ‘James Tower.’

***

The tattooed woman drove alongside her younger sister, following the remnants of what used to be a bustling neighborhood.

They navigated through a labyrinth of old buildings, some cracked and others precariously leaning, revealing their fragile skeletons.

It looked like the area had been abandoned after suffering a major disaster, such as a massive earthquake.

But amidst the decay, surprisingly, signs of regeneration were evident.

Like new skin growing over wounded flesh, new buildings and roads were emerging among the ruins.

Pristine new structures contrasted sharply with the dilapidated ones.

Smooth asphalt roads replaced the broken pavement.

Looking around, the woman commented, “Not as bad as I thought.”

Her voice carried both surprise and relief. Remembering the videos she’d seen of the Songpa Sinkhole incident before moving here, she expected worse conditions—but much of the infrastructure remained intact.

Streetlights illuminated at dusk indicated electricity still flowed, and water pipes seemed operational.

She decided to settle in Songpa District after leaving the quiet Seoul Forest.

The decision was based on two reasons: reasonable prices and its strategic location, which had alchemical significance.

After the Central Research Institute collapsed, Songpa became infamous for its massive sinkhole, though the outskirts remained relatively undamaged.

However, the looming shadow of the sinkhole made residents uneasy, creating an atmosphere of fear.

This unease actually worked in her favor—the plummeting real estate prices allowed her to purchase a home affordably.

Given her guardian’s ability to handle most objects, it proved to be a rational choice.

Another advantage was the proximity to ‘Sehee Research Institute.’

The connection to alchemy implied by the ‘Gray Reaper’ and the nearby ‘Sehee Research Institute’ added appeal.

Suddenly, a cat’s meow caught her attention.

“Meow.”

Turning her gaze, she spotted a pristine white kitten staring at her and mewing softly.

A fluffy, clean baby cat that seemed out of place.

Ordinary people might think, “Ah, someone must have owned this cat.”

But she had a different thought:

“It doesn’t smell like a living being—this must be an Object.”

While observing the fearless kitten carefully, her sister called out,

“Sis, help me with this!”

Glancing back at the white cat, she realized it had vanished without a trace.

Eh, whatever.

In the old world, magical books would’ve been destroyed immediately upon discovery, but this was a different world with different rules.

At first, the safety of this world seemed laughable, but now her perspective had changed.

Korea was far more advanced and resilient compared to the kingdom.

Perhaps coexistence with Objects was the better choice after all.

News reports occasionally reinforced this notion.

Escapes from research facilities seemed suspiciously frequent, almost staged.

Could it be part of the ruling class’s plan to encourage coexistence between humans and Objects under the guise of accidents?

Considering how difficult Object containment usually is, these escapes felt unnatural.

“Sis!!”

Interrupted by her sister’s urgent call, she moved toward the truck piled high with moving boxes.

***

The research institute grew chaotic after the Gray Reaper left.

New Objects arrived in large alloy containers, and everyone except the security room monitoring staff hustled to unload them.

Today marked the arrival of new Objects, something Sehee Research Institute hadn’t received in a while.

Ideally, transfers should occur during stable periods, but preparations began long before James contacted them.

Bored, the security room staff watched newly arrived Objects via isolation room cameras and muttered,

“Don’t you think we’ve reached the point where we don’t need more Objects? I heard figurines of the Gray Reaper sold really well…”

“Well,” another employee responded, “to maintain our status as a research institute, we need new Objects. Otherwise, we’d just be a zoo.”

The senior staff member fed pudding to the Golden Reaper cradled in their arms.

Watching the tiny creature nibble on spoonfuls of pudding brought a smile to their face.

“To be honest, this doesn’t feel much like a research institute anymore. Feeding the Golden Reaper feels more like running a daycare for baby Reapers.”

Checking the CCTV screens, one noticed an empty isolation cell.

“Senior, isn’t the Ghost Cat’s isolation room empty? Is that okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, no problem. It’s harmless. Just check every few days like we do with the Gray Reaper.”

Such was the peaceful daily life at Sehee Research Institute.

***

Inside the restricted附属 lab of ‘James Tower,’ I phased through the ghost-like barrier surrounding the isolation room.

It should be fine to wander now.

Research assistants nearby looked worried as they stared at me, but James drew their attention by clapping his hands.

“Relax! The Gray Reaper is harmless and hard to contain anyway, so letting it roam freely is fine.”

The researchers glanced skeptically at James.

One quietly approached him, pulled out an object rod from their pocket, and jabbed James with it.

Electric sparks crackled around James, who shouted,

“Stop! Stop! I’m sane right now, and this won’t affect me!”

After enduring the shocks, James coughed and wheezed.

“Wow, even employers aren’t spared when it comes to mental contamination.”

Yerin remarked curiously,

“Of course. Being an employer doesn’t exempt anyone from mental pollution. In serious cases, immediate termination is possible.”

James added dryly, “So if you don’t want to die, better watch your actions.”

Handing Yerin an enormous rulebook, James explained,

“Take a look. You’ll find rules for even the tiniest things.”

Flipping through the book, Yerin marveled,

“Amazing. But shouldn’t this kind of information be kept secret?”

“Already online. Keeping secrets about Objects only leads to humanity’s extinction.”

The atmosphere here differed greatly from secretive Korean institutes focused solely on containment.

“Alright, before the tour, let’s take care of the most important task.”

Confidently striding down the spacious corridor, James continued,

The high ceilings amplified the grandeur of the space.

Modern design blended clean lines with understated elegance.

Compared to Sehee’s place, this was embarrassing.

Walls painted pristine white featured numerous digital displays showing internal isolation rooms.

Passing cutting-edge equipment, we entered an enormous hall.

The lofty ceiling and luxurious interior resembled a luxury hotel lobby, albeit lacking people.

And at its center floated a colossal black sphere.

[The Unchanging Black Sphere]

An immovable, indestructible Object.

No other external effects noted.

Hmm, so they passed this off as art?

Tub-tub.

Approaching slowly, the surface seemed oddly soft.

Touching it, ripples spread across like a tranquil lake disturbed by a hand.

Voices from James and Yerin faded into the distance.

Warm, liquid-like texture.

I started getting sucked into the sphere…