Chapter 26

Episode 26. The Returnee (3)

***

We’ll have to wait for a while.

The Returnee is safely contained, and the Humanoid Research Department is drooling over them, but I have no idea what to do about it.

I get that the Returnee’s mana circle is fascinating, but we can’t just dissect them because it’s interesting. The Research Department Head is throwing a fit, though.

I sat in my office, sipping coffee.

Administrator Lee was sitting in front of my desk, holding a Popo in her arms.

“Are they handing out Popos in the Research Department now?”

“They’re cute, aren’t they?”

They are cute. I looked at the Popo. It had a puppy-like face, with round, fluffy fur.

“Get me one too.”

“What do you usually do after work, Senior Researcher?”

I thought about it.

“Me? I usually just go home. If I’m too lazy to go home, I head to the Director’s Office duty room.”

The duty room is better organized than my house. Especially since my house hasn’t been properly cleaned since I came back from my advisor’s funeral.

The Director’s Office duty room has a coffee machine, a high-performance computer, a decent bed, and a toaster. Anyway, it’s like that.

“Anyway, what brings you here?”

“Just wanted to show you the Popo. I brought coffee and snacks. And…”

Administrator Lee placed a cookie jar on my desk. Does she want something from me? I liked the cookie jar. Though it was a bit modest for a bribe.

“Administrator Lee, you can just say it.”

“You’re going to be busy from now on. They’re causing a ruckus again today. We need to report to Headquarters about the Returnee’s other dimension, research the Returnee, replicate supernatural weapons…”

It wasn’t anything particularly important.

I started eating the cookies, and Administrator Lee was staring at me as I ate.

“Administrator Lee, you can relax a bit in private. This is my office.”

“Ah. Okay.”

“Let’s grab a meal next time.”

“Sure!”

Administrator Lee Ji-hye left my office.

“Oh, I’ll bring the Popo right away.”

***

The Popo was cute.

I should bring a cat tower to the office later. A little white fluffball was wandering around my office.

The Popo soon found a spot in the corner of my desk and started dozing off. The Crystal Clock ticked.

[What’s up?]

“We’ve captured someone suspected to be a Returnee. But everyone has different ideas on what to do.”

[They’re causing a fuss about dissecting them again, huh? The Humanoid Research Department is really something. Anyway, did you get a dog? Where’d it come from?]

“Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030. Popo.”

[Its name is Popo?]

“No. The general name for the species is Popo. I need to think of a name… What would be good?”

I’ve never had a pet before. I’m not even sure if Popo counts as an animal.

[Just call it Popo.]

I’m curious. I heard they can talk. Can I teach it to clean or do other useful things? Like a guide dog. Popos are probably smarter than guide dogs, at least.

***

“Dr. Kim, come to the Director’s Office.”

Nanami was pressing her temples with both hands. The Support Department Head and the Security Department Head were discussing something with Nanami.

The Support Department Head, Security Department Head, and the Director’s Office Aide. It’s the first time I’ve seen all three in one place.

“An invasion?”

“We’ve decided to respond as such.”

“What’s going on?”

“An unmarked military vehicle is attempting to enter Facility 82. Normally, we’d just destroy it, but the vehicle’s identity—”

I looked at the Command Center screen.

A white Humvee. There’s only one group in the world that uses white-painted military vehicles. At least as far as I know.

“……”

“It’s a UN Peace Corps vehicle. Does this happen often? Can we destroy it?”

Nanami shook her head.

“We can’t destroy it. The International Supernatural Phenomenon Management Agency is under the UN, and that’s them. We need to find out what they want.”

“Should I handle it?”

“This is a military matter. The soldiers will negotiate first, and if there’s a research issue, I’ll ask.”

“Understood.”

I stood up.

“Facility lockdown until the situation is resolved. All non-essential operations are halted, and all personnel are to remain armed and on standby.”

***

The International Supernatural Phenomenon Management Agency.

They have about 10,000 employees, but they can mobilize resources from the UN and its affiliated organizations as needed. Given their status, they’re the only hostile group the Foundation can’t overpower with force.

…Or so it says in the Director’s Office manual.

There’s a reception room on one side of the facility.

I put on my earpiece, grabbed my pistol, and moved with the soldiers. I wanted to go in full combat gear, but Nanami wouldn’t let me.

“Wear a suit or a lab coat. If the Director shows up in full combat gear, it’ll look weak. If there’s a fight, I’ll handle it.”

For some reason, Nanami was carrying a sword.

Beep.

My earpiece connected.

[Director, this is the negotiation team. If they had a major demand, they wouldn’t have come like this.]

“Got it.”

[We’re strictly bound by protocol. We’ll give what we can, and if it’s not possible, we’ll say no.]

“Understood.”

“Let’s move.”

“But having fully armed soldiers in the negotiation room would look strange. The Special Forces and Nanami will wait outside the reception room.”

“Do that.”

“There won’t be a fight.”

It’s just like a real battle.

We’ve planned meticulously, and the best experts are gathered, but until we’re on the scene, we have no idea what’s going to happen.

I took a deep breath and straightened my tie.

This is the reception room prepared by the Foundation.

Beyond this, the enemies are gathered. From here on, it’s the real deal. I slowly walked into the reception room with my advisors.

Actually, I could’ve been here five minutes earlier, but the advisors objected. Especially Advisor An. They said arriving too early would make us look desperate.

I crossed my legs and sat down in the reception room.

I bowed my head to the other side.

“Hello. I’m Dr. Kim, Senior Researcher at Facility 82’s Director’s Office.”

“Hello.”

I sighed.

First, let’s confirm the negotiation counterpart. Two officers from the Peace Corps and one executive. Their identities are still unconfirmed, and their purpose is unknown.

[This is the Foundation’s facility. They’re not in a position to make demands. Respect the other side, but be firm about the demands.]

“I’ll keep it short. I’ll give you five minutes. State your demands.”

The Peace Corps personnel bowed their heads.

“Dr. Kim, we apologize for the rudeness. We would like to take custody of some of the humanoid supernatural phenomena currently under the Foundation’s management.”

“……”

This is insane. On the other end of my earpiece, the support team was already shouting and causing a commotion.

[This is outright war! There’s no need to listen to this madness any further, and those agents should be locked up in containment immediately.]

Is this… a negotiation expert?

Wait a minute, guys. We need to hear the demands before we decide whether to kill them or not.

“That’s a tough demand. What’s the reason?”

“We know the Foundation is managing several humanoid supernatural phenomena. Most of them deserve to die or must be contained. But not all of them.”

“True.”

“Among the humanoid supernatural phenomena, we would like to take custody of Miss Ahn Yuri. She’s not a dangerous supernatural phenomenon; she’s just a civilian.”

On the other end of my earpiece, people started shouting again. The Support Department is angry.

[Let’s kill them! The retrieval team is on the move!]

[They’ve taken a civilian hostage, destroyed Foundation equipment and facilities, and threatened the Director? We’ll turn them into brains in a jar. Tell the Management Agency to take it or leave it!]

Please calm down.

I sighed.

I understand the Support Team’s position. The Returnee did declare war on the Foundation.

“Miss Ahn Yuri took a civilian hostage and declared war on the Foundation. We might consider other supernatural phenomena, but we cannot approve the transfer of Miss Ahn Yuri. We’ll let you observe.”

“We’ve prepared a file on Miss Ahn Yuri. She’s not a dangerous entity—”

Swoosh.

Papers moved on the reception room desk. I unfolded the documents handed over by the Peace Corps soldiers. There was no new information in the file.

“Understood. Are you requesting Miss Ahn Yuri’s release based on this? But—”

My two advisors whispered among themselves. Advisor An got up and walked over to me.

[Dr. Kim, we need to halt the negotiations and head to the basement immediately. I’m sorry.]

“It seems a supernatural phenomenon has escaped.”

Advisor An whispered in my ear. I stood up immediately upon hearing that.

“I apologize. Let’s take a five-minute break and resume negotiations.”

The Returnee has escaped. How?

Last time, they tore the door off, but this time, we had sufficient safety measures in place. Did someone infiltrate the facility?