Chapter 2

Episode 2. Chief Researcher of the Director’s Office

***

Nanami. Alias.

Aide to the Director of Facility 82. If the Director were still around, she might have been recognized as the second-in-command of this facility, but now she can’t even be a mascot.

She was pondering.

All the pieces of the puzzle fit together suspiciously well. Nanami, and the Director’s Office, had their concerns resolved all at once.

The Director’s Office was vacant, and three chief researchers had already died. Among the Foundation Scientists, no one wanted to risk their lives working as the chief researcher in a Director’s Office without a Director.

Currently, there are four people working in the Director’s Office. According to the organizational chart, two are missing. Including the Director, three.

No one in the current Director’s Office holds a Ph.D. Administrator Lee Ji-hye is dismissed for being too young, and Nanami is dismissed for being a Foundation test subject.

The other aides aren’t dismissed, but they aren’t helpful in research either.

The most important task of the Foundation is research. Yet, there’s no one in the Director’s Office to participate in research or make judgments about it.

The Director’s Office is desperately in need of a new researcher. Coincidentally, a humanoid supernatural phenomenon with a Ph.D. and military experience has been captured.

Just as the precognition team had said.

Some might call it a coincidence, but Nanami didn’t believe in coincidences. Most Foundation Staff didn’t either.

Dr. Kim met all the conditions the Director’s Office had in mind. Being an outsider, Dr. Kim wouldn’t know the internal situation of the Foundation well, and as a supernatural phenomenon, they couldn’t refuse the Foundation’s job offer.

Nanami briefly recalled Dr. Kim’s dazed expression. In many ways, it was a perfect match.

To Nanami, Dr. Kim seemed smart and quick to grasp situations. Although their personality seemed a bit peculiar, how many people in the Foundation have a completely normal personality?

Some adjustments might be necessary.

Chief Researcher of the Director’s Office. If Dr. Kim has the capacity to handle the position, they will. If not… they’ll follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.

Either way, Nanami doesn’t lose.

Still, Nanami thought Dr. Kim would do well. Surely, they wouldn’t commit suicide like the three before them. That’s impossible, right?

Let’s proceed as planned. Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124, Dr. Kim, will take the position of Chief Researcher in the Director’s Office. Whatever happens, it’s better than leaving it vacant.

***

Here is the Isolation Room.

I still haven’t escaped from this place.

After being here for so long, I’ve gotten used to it. The screen in place of a window in the isolation room pretends to show a virtual outside. It reminded me of Plato’s cave. Unable to see reality, only the shadows on the wall…

Outside the window, or rather, inside the screen, a parrot was sitting. I don’t know why.

While I was spacing out-

Today, Nanami entered my isolation room. This time, she was in a suit instead of combat gear.

Creak.

The iron door of the isolation room closed behind Nanami.

“Dr. Kim. Do you have a moment?”

“Yes.”

It’s not like I have anything else to do while locked in the isolation room. How could I not have time?

Nanami. She’s quite a peculiar person.

When she was in military uniform, she covered her face with a gas mask and goggles, but without her gear, Nanami’s face looked quite harmless.

A pretty face, light brown hair, and clear eyes.

I don’t know much, but being the Director’s aide must be a high position. She looks younger than expected for her role.

I think Nanami is also a supernatural phenomenon.

Or maybe a Foundation test subject. Anyway, she doesn’t seem like an ordinary human.

Apart from that.

My human evaluation of Nanami is, well, on hold. I still don’t know her well.

Given the circumstances, it seems Nanami was the one who kidnapped me and is keeping me isolated. I can’t think of her entirely positively.

If it weren’t for Nanami, I would have been dissected somewhere by now. Of course, this is Nanami’s opinion, and I don’t know if it’s true.

Nanami raised her head.

“As I said, I want you to work with me in the Director’s Office. But first, there’s something you need to do.”

“Tell me.”

Nanami checked her nails.

“Except for the Director’s Office and the Personnel Department, no one knows who you are, what you are, or what you can do. It would be good to act.”

“Act?”

“The Director’s Office will help as much as possible. Become the Chief Researcher of the Director’s Office and prove that you have the qualifications to make decisions for the Foundation.”

That’s a lot to ask.

Her tone is a bit strange, but I think I get the gist. She wants me to pretend to have the experience and ability to sit in the Chief Researcher position and deceive other researchers.

After all, they have no way to verify.

“That’s difficult.”

“Even as the Chief Researcher of the Director’s Office, it’s not that high of a position. The Director’s Office without a Director has no power, and there’s a reason the Chief Researcher position is vacant…”

I nodded.

“So, you want me to act smart?”

“Act smart, act competent, act experienced. All good. Gain the trust of other researchers.”

Easier said than done. Acting smart is harder than being smart. Being actually smart and appearing smart to others are completely different issues.

“If I refuse, do I die?”

“You won’t die, but…”

Nanami paused and tilted her head.

“Dr. Kim. I don’t know what you think of me, but I really value you. That’s why I’m asking you to work with me in the Director’s Office.”

Nanami trailed off. She seems sincere, but I still don’t know.

“Understood. When can I leave this isolation room? There must be a verification process, right?”

“Starting tomorrow, the Personnel Department and Medical Department will come to see you. They’re a bit troublesome, but I’ve told them not to cross the line. It should be fine.”

Not very reassuring.

“Why, will you come with me?”

“No, not really.”

“Alright. Do you need anything now?”

I thought for a moment. What do I need? Nothing comes to mind, but I should try to make a request.

“Buy me some chicken. And change my phone.”

Nanami checked her device.

“Chicken… I’ll bring it soon. I can get you a phone, but it won’t have internet access in the isolation room. I’ll change your phone when you get out.”

I was just testing, but she’s actually doing it.

She might be a good person after all.

“Any more questions?”

“Yes. You said I used to work for the Foundation before. What does that mean? Was that also erased from my memory?”

When I first woke up in the Foundation’s isolation room, it was the same. The Memory Erasure Agent probably erased one or two days of my memory.

Nanami turned on her device.

“I don’t know the details either. There’s a record that you worked in a Foundation facility for about four months, but the specifics seem to have been erased. I can’t see it.”

There’s no way to refuse Nanami’s offer.

Of course, refusing would just mean staying locked in the isolation room. I have to accept the offer to get out and do something.

“Then. Good job.”

Nanami said goodbye and quietly left my isolation room. I wonder when she’ll bring the chicken.

***

And an hour later.

Chicken arrived in the isolation room.

Long live the Foundation.

***

[Regarding Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124]

[Author: Research Department Head]

[This is the Research Department Head.]

[Due to Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124, I must contact the Director’s Office. I understand that the Director’s Office intends to utilize this phenomenon.]

[Even if the Director is absent, how can things be handled so haphazardly? If it’s a humanoid supernatural phenomenon suspected to be a Mimic, why is the management so lax?]

[I request that the Director’s Office allow the Humanoid Research Department to study H-1124. This is too dangerous.]

***

[Regarding Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124. Reply]

[Author: Nanami]

[Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124 has agreed to become a Foundation employee. Transfer to the Research Department is not possible. If the Humanoid Research Department wishes, we can arrange a few non-invasive tests under the supervision of the Medical Department.]

***

[Regarding Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124. Reply. Reply.]

[Author: Research Department Head]

[Is inserting electrodes into the skull a non-invasive method?]

***

[Regarding Supernatural Phenomenon H-1124. Reply. Reply. Reply.]

[Author: Nanami]

[Research Department Head. Have you been shot in the head?]

[This is why Chief Researchers in the Director’s Office keep committing suicide. Can you please act your position? With all due respect, is this how a Research Department Head should behave?]

[We just got a new researcher, and you’re already causing trouble. If you want to argue further, come to my office with a gun or figure it out yourself.]