Chapter 51

Chapter 51. The Foundation’s Playground (3)

***

Here, in front of the facility surrounding the entrance to the Garden.

“Checking the exploration team. Recovery Team 1, are all 8 members participating in the exploration present?”

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. All members are on-site.”

“Is the Research Department Head here?”

“Research Department Head Lee Se-ah, on-site.”

“And me as well. All 10 members participating in the exploration are here. We will enter the interior of the Garden shortly.”

I briefly scanned the people gathered. Lee Se-ah was holding something strange I had never seen before. It didn’t look like a gun…

“What on earth are you holding?”

“A Soviet-made Laser Gun.”

“……”

A Soviet-made Laser Gun? What kind of nonsense is this? I stared at the bizarre weapon Lee Se-ah was holding for a long time.

“Where did you get that made?”

“They don’t sell it now. It’s Soviet-made.”

“Is it a Supernatural Phenomenon?”

“Probably not.”

Lee Se-ah is such a peculiar person. I have a truckload of questions, but getting an explanation about that thing would probably take hours. Let’s move on for now.

“Since everyone’s here, let’s board the vehicles.”

***

The operation was simple.

Inside the Garden, there’s a bunker built by the Foundation in the past. First, secure the Foundation’s facilities, then use heavy equipment to explore the forest.

What we need to find inside the Garden…

We’ll figure it out once we reach the bunker inside the Garden. It’s said there’s no one in the bunker right now.

“Then, let’s proceed.”

The path into the Garden is large enough for vehicles to pass. We can travel by vehicle to the bunker.

Of course, the terrain of the Garden itself is rugged, so exploring the Garden will have to be done on foot.

“Starting the engine. We’ll enter now.”

The Infantry Fighting Vehicle’s engine sputtered. It was more like an Armored Personnel Carrier than a proper Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Anyway, the vehicle started moving.

The moment the vehicle passed through the dimensional rift, all the electronic equipment we were holding flickered. The Infantry Fighting Vehicle itself, not being electronic, seemed to be functioning normally.

“Research Department Head, have you been to the field before?”

“Hmm, once or twice? I’ve never been to a Subspace, though.”

We entered the interior of the Garden. The interior of the Armored Vehicle was completely sealed. I connected a terminal to the external camera of the Armored Vehicle to look at the scenery outside.

“……”

A breathtakingly beautiful sight. On both sides of the dirt path, an eerily blue forest stretched out. Flowers, birds, and butterflies in every color of the rainbow and beyond.

“Don’t be enchanted by the supernatural. Poisonous mushrooms are usually the most colorful.”

Lee Se-ah muttered.

“Shut up.”

***

We reached the bunker without any special incidents.

The Armored Vehicle stopped.

“We’ve arrived. Recovery Team, please disembark and secure the perimeter of the bunker on foot. I’ll open the bunker door.”

The Armored Vehicle’s door opened, and the soldiers of Recovery Team 1 swiftly moved to secure the perimeter. I grabbed my gear and stepped out.

“Moving to the bunker entrance.”

I ran toward the bunker entrance with my Gas Mask on, and Lee Se-ah hurriedly followed.

“This way.”

We reached the bunker door. I adjusted my headset and connected the radio.

“Recovery Team 1. Report.”

[East side of the bunker, no anomalies.]

[West side of the bunker, no anomalies.]

[South side of the bunker, no anomalies.]

[North side of the bunker, no anomalies.]

“Bunker entrance secured. Opening the door.”

I operated the keypad, and the bunker door slowly opened. We entered the bunker built by the Foundation in order.

***

I walked into the bunker next to the Recovery Department Head. I wasn’t expecting a fight, but the atmosphere wasn’t one to let our guard down.

“Is this an abandoned bunker?”

I shook my head.

“I believe it’s a newly built bunker.”

“Even if I don’t know much, it looks like an abandoned building. The facility seems quite old.”

“……”

That’s true.

“The Foundation Headquarters said they built the facility, but maybe it was built a long time ago?”

“Seems like it.”

“Well, they never said the buildings inside the Supernatural Space were new. Let’s stay alert and move carefully.”

I really hate the Foundation Headquarters. Why can’t they just tell us properly, you bastards?

At first, the existence of the Garden itself was classified.

They came to build the facility, then told us to secure the bunker inside, but didn’t even tell us if there were monsters roaming inside.

If the bunker’s broken, just tell us to maintain it. What’s the big deal?

Whatever. Getting angry will only give me a headache.

Let’s not think of the Foundation Headquarters as people. They’re like natural phenomena. Like the gods of the Old Testament, bringing calamity or blessings.

“I hear footsteps.”

“……”

We held our breath, but I couldn’t hear anything.

“Director Kim, do you know anything?”

“No. I’ve already briefed you on everything. Once we reach the depths of the bunker, I’ll organize the secured information and explain.”

The lights inside the bunker were a bit strange.

Some didn’t turn on, some were flickering. Lee Se-ah turned on a large flashlight behind me.

“How big is the facility?”

“…..”

Good question.

“Like other Foundation facilities, the most critical facilities like the Control Room should be in the deepest part. Let’s search the surroundings first.”

The order was given. The members of Recovery Team 1 began searching the rooms of the facility one by one.

“Clear!”

“Clear!”

“Clear!”

“Opening the door to the next area.”

I opened the door, and the members of Recovery Team 1 rushed into the new area. Lee Se-ah’s high-powered flashlight swayed behind me.

“Moving to the stairs.”

***

Here’s the staircase.

I raised my hand to stop my comrades. There are a few things to check here. We need to re-brief based on the secured information.

“Let’s see how many floors there are.”

There were three basement levels.

“Form a defensive perimeter. I’ll explain.”

The staircase is a good structure for defense if enemies attack. The difference in elevation allows for relatively free angles.

The soldiers formed a defensive perimeter in the staircase. Four above me, four below.

“I’ll start the briefing.”

“First. There are no anomalies in the building. No signs of destruction or combat. It seems we just need to secure an empty facility.”

“Second. While searching the area earlier, I checked the expiration dates of packaged food. It seems the facility has been abandoned for about 7 to 10 years.”

“Third. There’s something inside the building. Judging by the footprints, it seems to be a bird or reptile. It might be nothing, but let’s stay alert.”

“Any reports or questions?”

There weren’t any.

There’s one question, though.

The Foundation’s classified documents said thousands of people live inside the Garden.

This facility isn’t big enough for 5,000 people. Are there more facilities? Did they all die? Or is that a lie too? What’s the truth?

“Let’s split up. Members 1 to 4 of Team 1 will move with Lee Se-ah to find the communication room. Members 5 to 8 will come with me to the Control Room.”

Lee Se-ah raised her hand.

“Wait. I’m going?”

I nodded. I don’t know why she’s so scared, that person.

***

The possibility of combat can’t be ruled out.

The soldiers accompanying me turned off all lights and lowered their Night Vision Goggles. We moved toward the depths of the facility with our guns aimed forward.

Darkness where nothing is visible to the naked eye.

But with Night Vision Goggles, it was as bright as day, just with less color.

“……”

[You need to see this.]

What is it? I moved forward and looked at the door. It was hard to read the letters with Night Vision Goggles, but it was the Seed Vault.

“It’s the Seed Vault. Let’s check it out.”

[Yes.]

“You two, stand guard outside the Seed Vault.”

The Seed Vault door opened. A cold wave of air poured out from inside.

Let’s see. This isn’t an ordinary Seed Vault.

There are some real-world species, but it seems mainly to store seeds of unique flora from inside the Garden.

The dates the seeds were collected are also recorded.

The last date was… 5 years ago. Before that, the number and frequency of collected seeds gradually decreased.

“Confirmed. Let’s move to the lower level.”

***

We moved toward the Control Room as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the internal structure of this facility wasn’t much different from other Foundation facilities.

“……”

We arrived at the command center of this facility.

As we stepped into the lowest level, the lights in the command center began to turn on one by one, and doors started opening. I placed my finger on the trigger, but nothing was visible yet.

*Static.*

My tactical headset crackled.

[Hello, Director Kim. We’ve been waiting for you.]

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