Chapter 31

Episode 31. The Forgotten City (2)

***

It has been 24 hours since the solar eclipse began.

This is the Foundation Information Department Control Room. We’ve gathered here due to the emergency caused by the eclipse, but so far, no incidents have occurred.

One side of the control room is covered entirely by screens. Everyone gathered is staring at the massive display.

“Are there really no abnormalities?”

“For now, there’s nothing suspicious enough to be considered a large-scale supernatural phenomenon. However, over the past 24 hours, over 700 missing person reports have been filed with the police…”

How is that not suspicious?

“So there *are* abnormalities. Have we requested cooperation from government-affiliated police or related agencies?”

“Dr. Kim. There’s an anomaly on the map here—roads are inexplicably cut off.”

Administrator Lee looked up at me.

“Really? Was it always like that?”

“We’re not sure yet. The roads in this area just… stop for no reason. We can’t figure out why. Should we send someone to investigate? What do you think?”

Roads just… cut off? Something feels off, but I can’t remember what’s wrong.

I frowned.

“Couldn’t it just be the end of the road? Or maybe it’s cut off due to an accident or something.”

“If there were a small village or town at the end of the road, it would make sense. But there’s nothing there. I don’t get it.”

I stared at the map on the screen. Between the two cut-off roads, there was indeed nothing.

“The roads stop here, then reconnect further ahead. There’s nothing in between. Just an empty clearing where three two-lane roads converge.”

Something feels fishy.

“Did you notice this today?”

“Yes.”

That can’t be.

“Has this never happened before?”

Administrator Lee furrowed her brow.

My mind feels foggy. I should be able to figure something out, but why can’t I think of anything? There must be a conclusion to draw from the information we have, but I can’t figure out what it is.

Wait. I *did* draw a conclusion, but I can’t articulate it or make it clear.

Why?

I crossed my arms and stared at the screen.

There’s a problem here that needs solving, but I don’t know how to solve it. I can’t even put the problem into words.

“Can you zoom in on the map?”

The Information Department staff pulled up the map on the screen.

“Administrator Lee. What color does the strange part of the map where the roads cut off appear to you?”

“Uh… green… I think?”

“……”

“It’s not green—”

There’s no color.

How can a city have no color? That doesn’t make sense. Wait, what has no color? What was I just thinking?

It’s confusing.

I feel like I’m on the verge of understanding.

“Dr. Kim. Why are you here?”

I blinked. I can’t remember.

“I was… looking at the map. But what are *you* doing here, Doctor?”

Everyone in the Information Department lab blinked. Wait. What were we all doing here?

I sighed. I don’t remember what’s going on, but I know what needs to be done.

“Sigh… It’s a cognitive hazard. Activate the Lethe Protocol. Call the Cognition Department here.”

***

The Cognition Department staff arrived within three minutes.

“Would you like some gum?”

“Ah, yes.”

I absentmindedly popped the gum the Cognition Department staff handed me into my mouth. It tastes weird.

“I apologize for the deception, Senior Researcher. To break through the cognitive hazard affecting everyone in this room, we had no choice. What I just gave you was LSD gum.”

“Oh.”

I blinked again, and the edges of my vision began to melt into a rainbow of colors. I’ve heard about this before.

The Foundation sometimes uses certain narcotics to counteract cognitive hazards.

GHB erases memories to remove cognitive disasters, while LSD removes supernatural amnesia effects and makes the invisible visible.

I looked back at the map.

Yeah, that’s what felt off. The area where the three roads appeared to be cut off was covered in clouds. Beneath the clouds, the faint outline of a city could be seen.

The name of the city was displayed on the screen. It must have been there earlier too, but the cognitive hazard prevented us from noticing.

Yulje-myeon, East of Gangwon Province.

This isn’t just about forgetting or not seeing something. The cognitive hazard is actively erasing the very concept of it.

We need special psychoactive substances to adjust our perception and recognize the information about that city.

This is insane. What kind of supernatural phenomenon could erase an entire city from maps, memories, and people’s awareness?

“Right. It seems something has covered the city with clouds and created a cognitive hazard to prevent us from recognizing any information about it.”

“……”

Administrator Lee stood up.

“What should we do?”

We don’t know what’s going on yet, but in terms of scale, this is comparable to a war.

“I’ll contact Headquarters immediately. Everyone else, prepare for deployment.”

I ran toward the Director’s Office.

***

Whoever these bastards are, they didn’t just erase a small city from the map—they erased it from people’s memories too.

I sat in the Director’s chair. It’s an urgent situation, and no one’s watching, so it’s fine, right? It’s not like it’s a throne or anything.

I hurriedly picked up the phone in the Director’s Office. No time to take a deep breath.

*Click.*

It connected.

“Hello, is this Foundation Headquarters?”

“Yes. Director Kim, what’s the matter?”

“We’ve just confirmed that something has swallowed an entire city.”

“That must be very concerning.”

Is this person insane?

“Due to the cognitive hazard, it’s difficult to recognize any records or surveillance of the city. We need immediate support from Headquarters.”

“Please hold.”

“Okay.”

There was about three minutes of silence on the other end of the line, but the call didn’t disconnect.

“Dr. Kim. Are you still there?”

“Yes. I’m on hold.”

“Currently, the 9th Administrator is the closest to your location at Facility 82. Given the gravity of the situation, the Administrator will personally take command on-site.”

“Wait, who’s the Administrator?”

“They’re departing from Jeju Island now. They should arrive within 15 minutes. Once the Administrator enters the facility, we’ll need to initiate a facility lockdown.”

From Jeju Island in 15 minutes?

How the hell do you get from Jeju Island to Seoul in 15 minutes? Are they riding a missile?

“Understood. Wait, so—”

“Prepare Helipad 1.”

“Helipad? What are they coming in—”

*Click.*

Damn it, you bastard.

The connection to Headquarters abruptly ended. Every time I call Headquarters, I can’t help but wonder what the hell these people are even doing.

***

Sirens echoed through the facility walls.

[Initiating Lockdown Protocol.]

[This is not a drill.]

[The Administrator is en route to this facility. All personnel are to return to their stations and await further instructions until the lockdown is lifted.]

This is urgent.

As I was leaving the room, I bumped into Nanami, who was entering the Director’s Office. Nanami looked extremely confused.

“What’s going on?”

“The Administrator is coming personally.”

“What? When are they arriving? Why is there a lockdown so far in advance?”

Nanami stared at me, but I shook my head. Sorry, Nanami. I don’t know anything either.

“They said they’d be here in 15 minutes.”

“Sigh… Got it. Get dressed and come with me to greet them. Tell the other staff to stay hidden.”

“Nanami, have you met the Administrator before?”

“Nope. Let’s meet at Helipad 1.”

Nanami went to prepare.

***

The Administrator is landing at Helipad 1, they said. There’s no way a helicopter can get here from Jeju Island in 15 minutes. This is bizarre.

15 minutes isn’t even enough time to safely switch vehicles. How the hell are they getting here?

“Oh, I see it.”

“Really?”

I looked up at the sky.

A triangular fighter jet was diving sharply toward the facility. I held onto my coat as the strong wind whipped around me.

A moment later.

The Foundation’s fighter jet landed vertically on Helipad 1 with a deafening roar.

Must be Overtech. I’ve never heard of a fighter jet like that existing in reality.

The rear hatch of the aircraft opened, and soldiers in black combat gear disembarked in perfect order. The guns they carried were unfamiliar—definitely not conventional firearms.

At the center of the group stood a man in a black suit, carrying a square briefcase. *Tap, tap.* His shoes touched the helipad.

“Director Kim. Where are you?”

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