Chapter 75

Episode 75. The New Chief Researcher (1)

***

This is the Foundation’s Humanoid Containment Room… no, actually, it’s the reception room. This person is a civilian who hasn’t done anything wrong, so they’re not a containment target. Anyway, the person inside the containment room was really angry.

“Hello, Ms. Kim Min-ah.”

“Wait, who are you?”

I sighed.

“I’m a bit busy, so let’s get this over with quickly. What do you want in exchange for keeping quiet?”

“Medical bills to fix my leg, and 100 million won.”

Simple enough. I nodded.

“Alright.”

“Wait, that’s it?”

“Let’s get out of the Foundation facility quickly.”

“Wait, hold on. Who are you people to shoot someone in broad daylight, act like 100 million won is pocket change, and what the hell is even going on…?”

“I can tell you what’s going on. But then you won’t be able to leave this facility.”

My counterpart shut their mouth.

“What did I even do wrong?”

I glanced at the file with this person’s name on it. An internet broadcaster, into occult, horror, urban exploration, that kind of thing.

“Well. Blood type O, attended Sogang University for two years before taking a leave of absence. Subscribed to both Netflix and Disney+. Why’d you do that?”

“That doesn’t seem like a mistake. Wait, how much do you even know about me?”

“Well, the mistake is this. You were looking for ghost stories and ended up finding the real thing. Admirable effort, though.”

“Wait, so I got shot because I found something I wasn’t supposed to find? What the hell…?”

“You can stay here if you want. I don’t really care. Do you know how many people die here every day?”

“Of course not.”

“I haven’t counted either.”

Right, I don’t need to do this myself.

“Anyway, get out quickly. I hope we never meet again. And try to avoid the real stuff. This might happen again.”

What’s the problem?

It feels like I have the same conversation every time. The Foundation has countless people locked up, and only a handful of them accept their containment.

It’s only natural, though.

***

Well, even so, a civilian without supernatural abilities isn’t even part of the problem. If necessary, we could’ve just erased their memory and sent them back. We just had a bit more patience and time today.

Advisor An looked at me.

“You’ve been busy these past few days, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“We think it’s time to appoint a new Chief Researcher. While the Director was away, we’ve been selecting candidates for the Chief Researcher position.”

I scratched my head. It wasn’t something I was particularly looking forward to, but if that’s what the Director’s Office wants.

“Who is it?”

“We’re still debating. For now, we’re considering Dr. Chae from the Metaphysics Department, Dr. Kim from the Mechanical Division, and Dr. Lee from the Humanoid Research Department.”

At first glance, it seems like a lot, but in the end, none of the people I have personal connections or direct involvement with are interested.

Basically, no one wants to be the Chief Researcher. Can’t be helped.

“What about external candidates?”

“We haven’t looked into that yet.”

“Hmm, department heads and division heads are out. If they move, we’d need to find replacements.”

“Then, the only internal candidate left is Dr. Chae. Should we ask Dr. Chae?”

I shook my head.

“Find three external candidates too. We’ll interview them and decide.”

“You don’t like Dr. Chae?”

“It’s not that. She’s practical, but Dr. Chae is essentially a mage dealing with supernatural phenomena, so handing her the position outright feels a bit off.”

Advisor An nodded.

“But Dr. Chae isn’t a humanoid supernatural phenomenon, right? She’s a Type Blue, a mage…”

“Her classification is lower, but she’s still a humanoid supernatural phenomenon. Anyway, prepare the interviews. We’ll also consider external candidates.”

Advisor An left my office.

I have a conference later, but at least today I only have to listen.

***

The conference.

But what was today’s conference topic again? I checked the printout I received earlier. Clockwork Devices, Clockwork Dragon, and Ganymede.

Interesting topics, but honestly, I’m tired of hearing about Ganymede. This is only the third time I’ve met the damn thing.

The presenter was Dr. Chae.

“Today’s first speaker is Dr. Yeon, who has dedicated her life to the research, management, containment, and elimination of Clockwork Devices.”

Dr. Yeon looked at the screen.

“Let’s think about what Clockwork Devices are. This is where the problem starts. Clockwork Devices are not human. At least, most of them aren’t.”

“Clockwork Devices manage several high-level supernatural phenomena. The most important supernatural phenomenon they manage is this.”

Dr. Yeon was a bit all over the place.

Her presentation skills were lacking too.

“Supernatural Phenomenon P-4198. Exactly what it is is classified, but it’s a phenomenon that turns organic beings into Clockwork Devices. And the heart of the Soviet aircraft carrier we found recently is similar. It’s a phenomenon that turns Clockwork Devices into organic-like monsters.”

I raised my hand.

“Wait, what’s the heart of the aircraft carrier?”

Dr. Yeon thought for a moment.

“You don’t know? It’s the core of the Clockwork Dragon we recently eliminated.”

“Ah.”

“It was installed on the Ulyanovsk-class aircraft carrier and sold off somewhere after the Soviet Union collapsed, but now it’s resurfaced. It’s a phenomenon that absorbs metal or mechanical devices to create monstrous machines.”

Dr. Yeon continued.

“Later, supernatural historians will explain, but Soviet scientists were very interested in Clockwork Devices.”

I looked at the printout.

“Clockwork Devices are the product of a mechanistic worldview that has persisted since the Enlightenment. The belief that the universe operates according to specific rules, manifested as supernatural phenomena.”

Complicated.

“Clockwork Devices themselves describe it as a mechanistic worldview manifesting as miracles.”

That’s not the point, though.

“Ah, I didn’t explain what Clockwork Devices are. Clockwork Devices are essentially a religious group. They worship machines. Depending on the sect or the supernatural phenomena they secure, they aim to improve human forms using inorganic or metallic materials.”

“Wait, what does Ganymede have to do with this?”

“Ganymede is the pinnacle and manifestation of their worldview. To them, it’s probably like Noah or Jesus.”

Why, though?

“What is Ganymede? A human soul inherited by a steel entity, the Foundation’s hunting dog, dominating the magical world, evolving into a divine being, right? Ganymede is probably a prophet in the religion of Clockwork Devices.”

Ugh, damn it. This is exhausting.

***

The conference didn’t last long.

“Director, can I have a moment?”

I looked up. This time, it was Dr. Chae looking at me. What could it be?

“Follow me.”

Dr. Chae followed me.

“Um, I’ve thought about the Director’s Office’s proposal. Being the Chief Researcher would be an honor, but I’m not sure if I’m the right person for the job…”

“If you want it, Dr. Chae, it’s yours.”

“I’m not sure if I want the Chief Researcher position… Honestly, you know, Director? No one in the Foundation wants the Chief Researcher position in the Director’s Office.”

Dr. Chae frowned.

“Director. Do you really need me? There are capable external candidates, and internal candidates too. The Research Department Head or the Mechanical Division Head could do it.”

The Research Department Head would love to be the Chief Researcher. The Mechanical Division Head would too. But I’m not sure if they’re trustworthy.

“That’s the problem. The ones who want to step forward… I can’t trust them.”

Dr. Chae sighed.

“So, the fact that I don’t want it is a reason to drag me into it? Or—”

“Exactly.”

“Ugh, fine. I’ll be the Chief Researcher.”

“Good. Start at the Director’s Office tomorrow.”

“No.”

“Director. I can’t do it. I don’t want to do that kind of work, I don’t have the ability to handle that responsibility, and I don’t want to die.”

Dr. Chae.

I don’t even need to bring her to my office.

“Go back to the Metaphysics Department.”

***

Dr. Chae ultimately refused. That’s why the Chief Researcher position fell to me. Everyone thinks you die if you become the Chief Researcher.

I sat in my office.

“Dr. Kim. What’s going on?”

Nanami was leaning against the cat tower in the office.

“I want to find a new Chief Researcher.”

“Do you think I’d be looking among the contained people if it weren’t desperate? The problem is, there’s not even a single Ph.D. among the people contained in Facility 82…”

I looked at Nanami.

“Are you serious?”

“We could look among civilians, but it doesn’t seem easy. Finding someone even close to what the Foundation expects from a Chief Researcher is hard…”

Nanami pulled up a chair and sat at the desk.

“Should I get you some coffee, Dr. Kim?”