Chapter 49

Episode 49. The Foundation’s Playground

***

I glanced at Popo climbing a cat tower in the corner of my office. They’re smart. When I’m working, they don’t bother me.

I guess feeding and training them paid off.

Popo aren’t ordinary creatures. They’re made from the same components and genes as humans.

They say gods created humans in their own image, so maybe gods can borrow human bodies to appear in this world?

That’s what Popo are. I tossed a few dog food pellets to the Popo. Clever things. There are three of them in my office right now.

They’ve saved my life multiple times.

There are still some suspicious aspects, and there’s a lot I don’t know about Popo, but even though they were born from terrible sins…

I sighed. The more I learn about Popo, the more questions I have. Well, I’ll just have to take it slow.

Anyway, Popo are my friends.

***

Supernatural Space, The Garden.

It’s one of the subspaces secretly managed by the Foundation. There are probably several subspaces managed in a similar way.

“So, Nanami. The Foundation Headquarters wants the people from Facility 82 to manage one of the entrances to The Garden?”

“Yeah.”

I have no idea what they’re talking about.

“There are a lot of strange things here. Isn’t the facility built by the Foundation Headquarters? Why aren’t they managing it themselves and handing it over to us? It’s not dangerous, is it?”

Nanami tilted her head.

“I don’t know either.”

Let’s think positively for now.

“Okay. What else did the Headquarters guys say?”

“You know how they are. They only say what they want to say. They dodged all my questions. Just gave us the necessary personnel.”

Thud. A brown envelope landed on my desk. Nanami shrugged.

“Anyway, the conclusion is, they built the facility, so they want us to manage and explore the subspace. Are you going to say no?”

Those rude Headquarters guys. Are they too stingy to use their own personnel to manage The Garden?

“No, of course we should try it. I’ve never been inside a subspace myself.”

“Wait, you’re not planning to go in yourself, are you?”

When we encountered The Garden last time, I didn’t enter its gate. In other missions, I’ve never crossed into another dimension myself.

I stared at Nanami.

“Nanami, you’re not a scientist, are you? Of course, I have to go in myself. Aren’t you curious?”

Nanami frowned slightly.

“Fine… Just don’t die. Even if you go into some weird place, make sure you have escorts and an exit route.”

Let’s consider that a blessing.

***

Preparation, preparation, preparation.

First, the most important thing is to study The Garden. I need to look at the supernatural phenomena related to The Garden and the plant samples collected near it.

Let’s check the existing literature. Most of the information about The Garden is classified. But it’s not impossible for me to find out.

Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000.

To most Foundation staff, it’s just a dangerous, off-limits subspace, but in reality, it’s one of the Foundation’s key strongholds.

Of course, studying it will help even one more person survive, even for one more hour.

I pondered for a moment and picked up my phone. The dial tone rang exactly two seconds later. I must have set a two-second delay on my number.

Good.

“Research Department Head. Are you busy right now?”

“Uh, no…”

“I’m going to hold a conference on Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000. Gather the biology, ecology, and subspace experts, and anyone else who wants to come.”

“Got it. When should I gather them by?”

“Is 10 AM tomorrow possible?”

A small sigh came from the other end of the phone. 10 AM might be tough.

“Understood. I’ll do my best.”

Well, what can I do? If they say do it, I have to do it.

The Research Department Head is probably still nervous. Their personality has been pretty subdued. I think they still remember being dragged to the isolation room because of me.

“Research Department Head, do you know anything?”

“Well… I know a bit due to work, but my specialty is humanoid supernatural phenomena. I’ll prepare as best as I can.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you.”

The call ended shortly after.

***

Lee Se-ah sent the conference plan that afternoon. Let’s look at the list of presenters.

First, there’s one presentation on subspace.

One on flora, presented by Science Officer Min. Bishop Oh will present on the symbols found in that area last time.

Ah, I have to speak too?

I guess they thought it would be good for me to give a short talk since I explored that supernatural phenomenon last time. What did I do back then?

“……”

Let me remember.

At the time. After returning from the mission, I conducted molecular biological research on the secured animal and plant samples. I did it myself.

What was I doing back then?

I rummaged through my computer for a bit.

First, there was that giant centipede.

Its genetic information was similar to regular centipedes, but not identical. A different species similar to existing creatures. Contrary to initial concerns, it didn’t twist the local fauna.

But. According to the ecological report on that area, accelerated evolution and peculiar flora have been continuously appearing near that supernatural phenomenon.

Plants and microorganisms are more problematic than animals.

Plants and microorganisms can undergo horizontal evolution. They can exchange genetic information, and plants or microorganisms with unknown genetic information mixed in can cause big problems.

I’ll have to see for myself.

I continued to skim through the data.

The Foundation installed thousands of insect collection traps around where The Garden’s gate opened. A significant number of them contained strange insects.

“……”

I read more of the ecological analysis.

The supernatural phenomenon first appeared a few years ago. No, I don’t know how many years it’s been. The supernatural phenomenon caused these problems within the last few months.

Fortunately, most of the peculiar flora froze to death over the winter. Well, that area drops to around -15 degrees Celsius in winter.

Anyway.

Let’s look at the list of collected insects. They’re not the kind you’d see in Korea, but specimens similar to insects from around the world. Each one is a new species. But they don’t seem like completely new creatures.

I scratched my head.

Clearly, there’s potential danger. But compared to other supernatural phenomena, I’m not sure how dangerous it is. There must be a management plan.

Let’s look at the facility built by the Foundation Headquarters. For some reason, the Foundation Headquarters doesn’t seem to want to just bury this rift.

They could easily solve the problem by sealing it in a concrete sarcophagus. But they’re maintaining a passageway large enough for trucks to pass through.

What a hassle.

The reason is obvious. They probably plan to set up some kind of scientific or military base, like an Antarctic research station. There might already be a few.

But. What’s visible on the surface isn’t everything. The Foundation Headquarters is hiding something. I don’t know what yet.

I turned off my computer.

I’ve prepared my presentation, so see you at the conference.

***

[Regarding Popo’s Teleportation.]

[Author: Humanoid Research Department Kang Cheon]

[So, were these supernatural phenomena originally capable of teleportation? Isn’t that incredibly dangerous? Who was watching when they teleported?]

[No. Honestly, I don’t get it. Did Dr. Kim really train Popo as his hunting dogs? This is very confusing. Is this some kind of cognitive disaster…]

[There are too many strange things.]

***

[Regarding Popo’s Teleportation. Reply.]

[Author: Biology Department]

[We don’t know for sure either. We thought Director Kim just came to feed the Popo. We had no idea he trained them as hunting dogs. We’ll review the mission records.]

[We’ll ask him next time he comes.]

***

[Regarding Popo’s Teleportation. Reply. Reply.]

[Author: Humanoid Research Department Kang Cheon]

[No, asking him next time isn’t the solution…]

[Are you guys idiots?]

[You need to figure out what Dr. Kim did and how he did it. What kind of research are you even doing? Did none of you in the Biology Department know Popo could teleport? Well, you guys handed out Popo as pets in the Director’s Office, so I guess you didn’t think much of it.]

[But Dr. Kim knew.]

[Ah, damn it, now that I think about it, the Research Department Head has been laying low lately. There’s no one to ask… I’ll ask him myself.]

[The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. The Director coming to feed Popo himself? Come on, think about it. He must have come for research or utilization of supernatural phenomena.]

[Ah, I already want to die just thinking about it. Let’s just leave it at that, if the Director’s Office is fine with it, then it’s fine. Sorry for the rambling message.]