Chapter 139

Episode 139. The Horror of Dunwich (3)

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[Undercover Investigation]

[Author: Dr. Chae]

[Why are you doing this?]

[You could leave it to the Special Forces or other members, or even to me. There’s no need for Nanami and the Director to move personally.]

[Where is the guarantee that the Machine Cult or other hostile groups will take the bait and come looking? Like when you took Hasti out, isn’t there some trick involved?]

[Above all, last time, the Machine Cult’s angel that came to retrieve the ‘Clockwork Eye’ was difficult to deal with even with naval support, wasn’t it?]

[Where is the guarantee that the two of you can subdue such a monster again?]

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[Undercover Investigation. Reply.]

[Author: Nanami]

[The plan has been verified by the Precognition and Remote Viewing Departments, and we will receive real-time support from both departments during the actual operation.]

[I understand Dr. Chae’s concerns, but I don’t think there’s much need to worry about this operation.]

****

A plan to strike against the Foundation has been formulated. Black and Spring are still powerful supernatural beings.

Black is a priest of the Black Sun, and Spring is a broken god, a component of the Machine Cult.

“We will attack a small Foundation facility near Wirye City this time. The artifact we aim to seize is the Clockwork Eye.”

“Isn’t that what you want? It would be better to seize artifacts related to the Black Sun. Like the Black Flower, the sword, or that egg… There are many possibilities.”

Spring shook her head.

“They’re all in the Seoul Branch. Unfortunately, they’re not targets we can attack.”

“Well, I guess so.”

Black sighed.

“But is there a reason the Foundation is keeping the Clockwork Eye elsewhere? It feels strange. It’s not a trap or false information, is it?”

“I don’t know.”

It’s just intelligence from within the Foundation. The Machine Cult’s humans have their own means to track fragments of the Machine God.

It’s a clear fact that the broken fragments of the Clockwork God are in the Wirye City facility.

Though why that is remains unclear.

“The fact that the Clockwork Eye is there is clear. I have no idea why it’s there, though.”

The Foundation doesn’t fully understand the Blue Roses, and the Blue Roses don’t fully understand the Foundation.

Those who might know anything are either imprisoned or dead, keeping their mouths shut. It’s like blind people taking orders from the mute and fighting each other.

But it’s true that if you get stabbed by a sword, you die.

“Anyway. There’s a hidden Foundation facility in an abandoned factory south of Seoul. We’ll go there and seize the artifact in question.”

Black nodded.

The situation isn’t clear, but ultimately, Black and Spring have one goal: to raid the hidden Foundation facility in the abandoned factory and escape with the artifact ‘Clockwork Eye.’

“What about the Contrabass group?”

“They’re planning to infiltrate Facility 82 on the same day. They should be fine.”

Spring checked her mask again.

“Contrabass and Spade. They’re going to try and retrieve Dr. Chloe, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not sure. If they can make contact with Dr. Chloe, she might have the ability to help them escape.”

Black had to nod at that. He didn’t know what Dr. Chloe was hiding, but she wouldn’t have walked into the Seoul Branch without a plan.

That wasn’t something Black needed to worry about right now.

The Machine Cult recently successfully occupied one of the Foundation’s dock facilities. Though they were soon repelled by the Special Forces.

Still. How many hostile groups can claim military superiority over the Foundation, even if only for an hour?

The method they used was as follows:

They mobilized construction trucks and excavators to damage the facility’s outer walls, then quickly subdued the facility using the Machine Cult’s combat assets. The method Black’s group would use this time was similar.

This time, two large Machine Cult trucks were heading to the facility in question. The trucks carried a few Mimics, some clockwork dolls, and Black and Spring.

Spring was holding a rifle she had obtained from somewhere, and Black was holding a greatsword.

“Can we win?”

“Winning isn’t our goal. Just buy time outside the facility. I’ll go inside and retrieve the artifact.”

****

In reality, there was no facility at this location.

The story about a facility here was just a lie to deceive the hostile groups. It was the same abandoned factory where Ganymede had summoned the Clockwork Dragon, which I had destroyed.

If it’s a trap, it’s a trap.

Nanami and I were waiting here. Of course, to lure out the Machine Cult, we had to bring the real ‘Clockwork Eye’… but that was a minor issue.

“I still feel uneasy. Dr. Kim, why were only the two of us assigned to this mission?”

“Because we don’t know when the Blue Roses might attack Facility 82 or appear elsewhere. Minimizing the personnel involved was the way to go.”

“Doesn’t seem like a great idea.”

“There’s a light tank on standby nearby. It’s not like we have no support. It’s just that we don’t need many people.”

Nanami nodded.

“So, if we take the Machine Cult’s artifact outside the facility, they’ll swarm like moths to a flame? That seems a bit odd.”

That was the plan. Last time something similar happened, they swarmed like moths.

Whether things will go according to plan is unknown. In fact, military operations rarely go as planned, regardless of the difference in strength.

Nanami picked up binoculars. A large truck was approaching from a distance.

“It’s really strange. Why does everything always go your way? Those are Machine Cult soldiers, right?”

“The Precognition and Remote Viewing Departments are acting on my orders. I know the most likely future.”

Nanami laughed.

“Anyway. Prepare for combat, Dr. Kim.”

A loud noise erupted, and the light tank’s cannon fired. I monitored the situation from cover. Could the light tank handle this?

The tank’s cannon fired a few more times, and shortly after, the large truck that had been stationary was completely reduced to dust.

“Are they dead?”

“Don’t raise the defeat flag, Dr. Kim. If those guys could be killed by a light tank, they wouldn’t be opposing the Foundation.”

I frowned.

“The smoke is making it hard to see.”

“From the tank’s angle, they might see it. The wind is blowing this way. The smoke too.”

The tank seemed to spot something and began moving busily, firing its machine gun forward. I looked down.

Something was moving in front of the tank. I couldn’t see clearly, but the tank began reversing and firing again.

“Visibility is poor. Is this even meaningful? Or is it just suppression fire?”

“They might have optical equipment.”

I picked up the radio.

The tank has done all it can. If we wait any longer, it might get blown up. Nanami alone can cut through a warship.

“Maintain suppression fire and retreat. We’ll take it from here.”

[Confirmed. Retreating as quickly as possible.]

Gas mask, invisibility cloak, Gauss Musket.

All equipment was ready. I began descending from the rooftop of the abandoned factory. From the top, I could see the entire interior of the factory.

Let’s see.

There were more enemies than expected. I thought only two Blue Roses would come. Several humanoid supernatural phenomena had entered the factory.

Some were awkward-looking Mimics holding guns. Some were clockwork dolls. Others, I couldn’t tell. I scanned the area.

Firing would reveal my position. If possible, I’d rather catch a real humanoid supernatural phenomenon than these dolls or Mimics.

[Nanami, do you see the Blue Roses?]

“Not yet.”

[Let’s scatter for now.]

I still don’t understand the nature of these clockwork dolls the Machine Cult uses. Are they people? Dolls? Cyborgs? Or something in between?

Let’s catch one this time and find out. It might be all three. Or maybe each one is different.

Nanami hid behind a pillar with her sword. I continued scanning the factory interior. If the Blue Roses don’t show up soon.

I’ll have to kill whatever’s in front of me.

Bang!

Something fell to the ground, and I raised my gun and moved. It’s a shame the tank can’t enter the building.

Bang!

Another one. This time, even though I hit its head, the clockwork doll didn’t fall. It just turned its head toward me.

Is the invisibility cloak not working?

I quickly ran down the stairs. A position where you can see everyone might also mean everyone can see you.

Hiding behind the terrain on the lower floor should make it harder for the enemy to pinpoint my location. I aimed and took down another one.

The blood it shed wasn’t red, so it wasn’t human. Still no sign of the Blue Roses.

They’ll show up soon.

“Command Center, please confirm the surroundings.”