Chapter 69

Episode 69. Project Blue Rose (2)

***

I limped my way to the Director’s Office. The doctors in the research lab tried to stop me, but there was something I absolutely had to handle myself today.

The memorial service.

*Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Tap-tap.*

The sound of my cane and footsteps echoed through the facility’s corridors. The Director’s Office was farther than I thought.

The Foundation loses employees often. But it’s not easy to hold a memorial service and attend every time someone dies, like a regular company.

If we went to every employee’s funeral, we’d never get any work done. It’s not like employees die one or two at a time.

So, the Foundation holds periodic events for the deceased. It’s not like we don’t hold memorials at all, but the burden of attendance is lighter…

Anyway, it’s an important event. I set down my cane and struggled to sit at my desk.

“Director Kim. You’re already discharged?”

It was Administrator Lee. She looked at me like I was a patient. Well, I *am* a patient, but not *that* bad.

“No. I just stepped out for a bit.”

“Oh dear, you’re not well.”

It’s something I have to do. The joint memorial service isn’t something I can postpone just because I’m sick. I can manage to stand and give a speech for a while.

“Don’t push yourself. Should I write the speech for you?”

I shook my head.

“Then, I’ll bring the last joint memorial speech the previous Director used.”

“Yes, please.”

I’m not doing any research right now, and I’m not in any condition to go out into the field. I might as well do this.

“Should I print it out for you?”

“Yes.”

Administrator Lee quickly left my office. I slumped into my chair. The previous Director, the previous Director… What kind of person were they?

***

I stared at the speech on my desk. Then I stared at the person who brought it.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Lee Yoo-yeon, a doctor from the Foundation’s Emergency Medicine Department. I came to check on the Director.”

“Ah, yes.”

I waited for a moment, but the doctor didn’t leave. She even brought something like a first aid kit.

“Are you going to stay there?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. It’s a medical order.”

How annoying.

“Can’t you wait outside?”

“I was told not to leave even for a moment without a special reason. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“If you have to stay here, then sit down. You can sit next to the cat tower.”

“Thank you.”

Am I that scary? Kind of funny. The doctor cautiously sat next to the cat tower. A Popo on the tower showed some interest.

“Doctor, do you think I’ll recover?”

I slowly flipped through the previous Director’s speech. The doctor pondered for a while. It doesn’t seem like an easy illness to cure, this sleepwalking thing.

If the cause of the symptoms is correct. I can’t help but think it might be due to supernatural phenomena or radiation from the UFO.

“I don’t think so.”

“Actually, it’s entirely up to the Director. If you just give the word to use supernatural phenomena without limits, I could heal you even if your head were split in half.”

“Can’t it be cured without using supernatural phenomena?”

“No, it’s possible. But it would take time and effort.”

Time and effort. Expensive things.

The previous Director’s speech. It’s clearly well-written, but it’s too exaggerated and lacks sincerity. Doesn’t seem like words that suit me.

A Popo sat on the doctor’s lap.

“Um, can I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“How much of it is true? There are rumors that the Director came to the Foundation one morning, killed gods, crushed the Foundation’s enemies, and is like some mythical figure.”

I scratched my head.

“I don’t think I should explain my personal information or the operations I’ve participated in to employees who aren’t involved. Have you ever been out in the field?”

“No. I’ve only ridden Doctor Helicopter a few times.”

“It’s probably more than you think.”

The doctor nodded.

“Um, I have to go out for the joint memorial service. Is that okay? Are you going to follow me there too?”

“Going out is fine, and I’ll follow you.”

I nodded.

***

The joint memorial service is held outdoors. There’s some kind of memorial monument owned by the Foundation on a nearby mountain.

We got off the helicopter.

Black suits. Black shoes. Black ties. Even black sunglasses. The Foundation employees moved in groups to the location where the memorial service would be held.

“This looks quite impressive.”

“Indeed.”

Honestly, it looks like a mafia gathering. Come to think of it, are we the mafia?

The atmosphere was inevitably somber.

There have been particularly large incidents recently. It’s no wonder there are so many casualties.

A light rain began to fall from the sky, and black umbrellas started to open one by one. Still, no one among the Foundation employees was crying.

I guess you just get numb to it.

I looked at the memorial monument.

The black stone was engraved with countless stars. No names were written. Well, it would be problematic if someone used the monument to steal the identities of deceased Foundation employees on a large scale.

Administrator Lee walked up beside me.

“Everyone is waiting. Please give your speech as soon as you’re ready, Director.”

“Yes. I’ll go now.”

I leaned on my cane and moved to the podium. Administrator Lee held an umbrella over me.

***

“Today is a sad day when we send off those we love. Even if we add that it was a sacrifice for the community, the nation, the Foundation, humanity, and providence.”

“I don’t know if it can ease the sorrow of those who have lost friends, family, and colleagues.”

“If you need someone to blame, blame me.”

“Blame me for not double-checking the operation, for not reviewing the research plan, for not taking enough safety measures. It’s okay to curse me for the sacrifices that occurred.”

“I’ve always thought that way.”

“The Foundation expresses its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Their sorrow is our sorrow, the Foundation’s sorrow, and the sorrow of providence.”

“We share their grief, celebrate their lives, and honor their sacrifices.”

“We thank them. Their sacrifice and dedication were to protect humanity and providence. Their eternal memory will remain with us all. We will always remember and be grateful for their sacrifices.”

***

The speech wasn’t long.

Neither was the event. As soon as the speech ended, I took the umbrella from Administrator Lee.

“That was a great speech.”

“Bishop Oh. You’re here.”

Bishop Oh was also wearing a black suit, but unlike us, he had a Roman collar and a silver cross around his neck.

“I couldn’t miss such an event. I made time in my busy schedule. Ah, though not as busy as the Director.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“The colleagues we sent off today must have gone to heaven, right? These days, I think heaven is just eternal rest. Thinking about doing something even after going up there seems exhausting.”

“Do you still believe in heaven?”

Bishop Oh looked surprised at my question.

“Look around. The world is so full of magic, what’s so special about heaven?”

“Well… that’s not the point. I’m just curious if you still believe in the existence of a god who creates and maintains heaven.”

“An omnipotent and benevolent being doesn’t seem to exist. That doesn’t align with the world I’ve seen. But, does it have to be omnipotent? There’s just war in heaven too.”

“I see.”

“You’re busy, don’t waste time dealing with an old religious nut. Go take care of your business.”

“Bishop Oh—”

Bishop Oh disappeared into the crowd of black suits in an instant. My injured leg couldn’t keep up. I stood leaning on my cane.

Let’s go back quickly. There’s a lot to do, and this poor doctor should rest or get back to work.

***

[Operation Report]

[Author: Special Forces ‘Moon of Seoul’]

[The joint memorial service is the most serious security vulnerability in Facility 82’s activities. It’s held periodically at a fixed location, and a significant portion of the Foundation’s leadership gathers in one place.]

[It’s an opportunity for the Foundation’s enemies.]

[To ensure the safe execution of this event, we’ve hunted down as many members of hostile groups within the country as possible over the past month.]

[We’ve requested support from the Foundation Busan Branch, Foundation Headquarters, as well as the Peacekeeping Force, Korean police, and the Response Bureau.]

[72 members of hostile groups and their collaborators have been killed or contained. There are notable activities among the hostile groups, so please analyze them.]

[Especially, there are abandoned facilities in southern Jeju Island that the Foundation used. We need to clean them up so hostile groups can’t access them.]