Chapter 71

Episode 71: The Veil of Ignorance

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon Utilization Complex System]

[Number 1]

[The Veil of Ignorance]

[The Veil of Ignorance is structured in multiple layers to efficiently achieve its objectives. It is divided into levels, from the simplest and most superficial Level 5 to the most complex and secretive Level 1.]

[The Veil of Ignorance is currently maintained by the actions of 36 supernatural phenomena and the execution of 13 protocols. For detailed information, refer here.]

[Level 5.]

[Censor mass media and social media according to the Foundation’s will. Cooperation from major media and internet companies is required. Use necessary means to secure their cooperation.]

[Convince the public that supernatural phenomena do not exist.]

[Spatially isolate supernatural phenomena from densely populated areas. Ensure that as few people as possible live in areas with high supernatural activity.]

[Level 4.]

[Minimize the number of supernatural phenomena existing or operating outside the Foundation’s control.]

[Compartmentalize the Foundation’s activities as much as possible to ensure that information about the supernatural phenomena handled by the Foundation does not reach personnel without direct operational relevance.]

[Level 3.]

[Install frequency transmitters affecting brainwaves in densely populated areas to implant the idea that supernatural phenomena do not exist into humanity’s subconscious.]

[Spread memetic factors as widely as possible to discourage belief in supernatural phenomena.]

[Level 2.]

[Manipulate the probability of supernatural phenomena being discovered by ordinary people using expansion physics and metaphysics.]

[Predict and preemptively prevent events that could threaten the Foundation, especially the Veil of Ignorance.]

[If an event threatening the Foundation, especially the Veil of Ignorance, occurs, retroactively destroy or erase it from history.]

[Level 1.]

[Identify individuals who have witnessed or are related to supernatural phenomena.]

[Erase the memories of those who have witnessed supernatural phenomena. Convince them it was due to other reasons or make them dismiss it as unimportant.]

[Recruit as many individuals related to supernatural phenomena into the Foundation as possible. If this is not possible, use other means to remove them from society.]

***

I stared at the underground laboratory. A government-funded research institute? Yeah, right. If the government could do something like this, the country wouldn’t be in this state.

“This is where you’ll be working, Mr. Kim.”

I nodded.

“What exactly do you people do here?”

“Research.”

“You’re not affiliated with the government, are you?”

“Mr. Kim. Please, have a seat.”

I sat on a random chair in the lab. A young woman with black hair looked at me. Her badge read “Dr. Lee Se-ah.”

This woman… Her badge clearly says “Doctor,” but she looks like she’s barely out of high school.

“I’m Lee Se-ah. You can call me Dr. Lee.”

Lee Se-ah… Pretty? Not sure. She’s more… strange than pretty. It’s jarring to see a senior researcher with that face.

Her expressions and thoughts were hard to read, and her tone was odd. It wasn’t that she was inarticulate, but it felt like talking to an alien.

“You’re Mr. Kim. Master’s from Seoul National, served in the military, strongly recommended by Professor Park, and your personnel verification from the Response Bureau is complete.”

“I guess so.”

“Dr. Lee. Answer a few questions for me.”

“Straight to the point, huh?”

I looked at Dr. Lee again.

“What exactly is this place? What am I supposed to do here?”

Lee Se-ah hesitated.

“The Korean government has a task force for responding to supernatural phenomena. Led by the Response Bureau, it’s a coalition of personnel and organizations from the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Defense, and some corporations. They’re negotiating with us.”

“Okay.”

“They want at least one of their own, a Korean, to participate in the Foundation’s work. That’s why you and Professor Park are here.”

That makes some sense.

“So, we’re here because of government influence? This isn’t a government-run research project, but a private one?”

“Private…? The Foundation is a non-governmental organization. We do a lot of good work, so don’t worry. Interested in making a donation?”

“No.”

Donating the salary I get from the Foundation back to the Foundation? What kind of meaningless ouroboros is that? Dr. Lee was probably joking.

“Alright. Over there, we’ve brought a sample you need to examine. You’ll record the macroscopic structure of the sample and perform molecular biological analysis. Once you’re done, we’ll bring the next sample.”

I turned my head. In a bathtub in the corner of the lab lay a giant eyeball. What the hell? How did I miss that?

“What’s that?”

“A whale’s eye. It just came in from Jeju Island. A stranded whale was caught.”

That’s not a whale’s eye.

The shape of the pupil isn’t mammalian, and the size… It’s enormous, bigger than a soccer or volleyball.

I frowned.

“Why not just call it a rabbit’s eye?”

“It’s a rabbit’s eye.”

Lee Se-ah answered shortly, and I sighed. I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

“Dr. Lee. Wouldn’t it help the research if I knew what’s really going on?”

“Take it slow. The Foundation will evaluate you and your work. We need to see how much we can trust you and what your capabilities are.”

It’s a bit unpleasant, but it’s understandable.

They have to evaluate their employees too. I sighed and looked away from Lee Se-ah.

“Then… let’s work hard together.”

Lee Se-ah nodded mechanically.

***

The samples I had to examine grew stranger by the day. The eccentricities of the Foundation researchers also intensified daily. Though, the people themselves were kind.

I stared at the femur in front of me.

“This… is clearly a piece of a human.”

“Mr. Kim. Is that a problem?”

Of course it’s a problem, you lunatic.

“It must have been donated for research. It’s common. Every year, countless people donate their bodies for the advancement of humanity and science.”

“Dr. Lee… Don’t you laugh at your own words? You’re joking, right?”

“A little.”

Still, Lee Se-ah doesn’t lie much.

“Record the sample. Check a few molecular biological characteristics, then hand it back to us. We’ve already handled the ethical considerations.”

That’s terrifying.

“Oh, and never go into the basement. The Expansion Physics and Metaphysics Departments have locked up something strange down there.”

“Something strange?”

“I shouldn’t tell you, but I’m making an exception. Never approach it, and never talk to researchers outside the Biology Department.”

I nodded for now.

***

The blue rose is freezing to death.

Lee Se-ah thought of the two as completely different people. Nanami, who had retrieved a young-looking scientist, and the clumsy doctoral student she had worked with before.

In reality, they were completely different people. Their life experiences, appearances, personalities, and abilities were all different. It would be strange to say they weren’t different.

“……”

Well.

Lee Se-ah was a child raised by the Foundation.

Though not a test subject, she had spent her entire life within the Foundation. She was raised by Foundation scientists.

While other children were learning multiplication tables, she memorized the periodic table. While others were learning multiplication, she was studying calculus. It wasn’t until much later that she realized this wasn’t normal.

In that context.

The director who worked with Lee Se-ah, and the clumsy researcher she had worked with before, were objects of great curiosity to her.

Are all outsiders this dumb?

It took Lee Se-ah a while to realize.

Mr. Kim wasn’t dumb. In fact, he was among the smartest of the smart outsiders.

More importantly, being dumb or not wasn’t the point.

Director Kim had moved his subordinates, turning them into his people, and had broken all the Foundation personnel who had been hostile to him.

The Head of Precognition, the Head of Research, the Head of Personnel, the Humanoid Containment Department… Thinking about it, there were quite a few.

***

I absentmindedly fiddled with my hair.

As I sat in the hospital bed, the Head of Medical walked over. This time, he didn’t bring a group of medical staff, so it seemed like good news.

Or really bad news.

“Director Kim. How’s your body holding up?”

I nodded vigorously at the doctor’s question. It seemed like I was finally functioning at a level similar to before the dive.

“Everything’s fine.”

“Hmm… Let’s check the last test results again. Ah, all the measurements are normal this time. You can be discharged today.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Time to return to work.

Soon, I’ll be able to uncover the truth about Project Blue Rose. I’ll also be able to chase down the other things the Foundation is hiding.

First, I’ll head to Jeju Island.

I’ll uncover the hidden truths about Project Blue Rose that the Foundation is concealing. I don’t know what I’ll find, but I hope it’s a clearer answer than what I’ve got so far.