Chapter 77

Episode 77. The New Chief Researcher (3)

***

[Blue Rose-0]

[Author: Admiral Furani]

First of all, thank you for asking for the opinion of the Foundation’s Eastern Fleet. But that aside, I cannot agree with this policy of the Administrator Council.

Why are you planning to send Blue Rose-0 to Jeju Island? Is it because the artificial sun deployed in the Aden Gulf was made in Korea?

Of course, I know that the Foundation has secrets that must be hidden. And I also know that it is necessary.

I beg you, Administrator.

Please stop. Halt the assembly of Blue Rose-0, or at least send it somewhere else. This region is one of the most densely populated areas on Earth.

Even if it looks prosperous from the outside, it’s a powder keg that could explode into war at the slightest problem. Have you discussed this with the supernatural research groups of the three nations?

No, why are you even assembling it?

I know it’s beyond my authority to question the Foundation’s policies. But isn’t this too much? Why are you assembling Blue Rose here, and in a Foundation naval facility at that?

Where is Blue Rose-13? Why are the Blue Rose numbers increasing? Why do you keep making these things?

I know this is a life-risking letter, but I must offer my sincere advice.

***

[Blue Rose-0. Reply.]

[Author: The 8th Administrator]

Thank you, Admiral Furani.

The reason for reassembling Blue Rose-0 there is that it is necessary to reassemble Blue Rose-0 there. Thank you for your question.

I will consider better ways to manage Blue Rose-0. Oh, right. Blue Rose-13 is being managed at the Foundation’s Seoul Branch.

Admiral Furani. I understand this is a document sent at the risk of your life. I will exercise a bit of overreach and consider this document as if it never existed.

***

Dr. Min from the Special Machinery Division seemed to be in a very good mood. Well… I feel a bit sorry for Dr. Min, but crazy people looking happy is never a good sign.

“Director! Come and take a look at this.”

“What is it this time?”

“I’ve made a machine for dimensional exploration. It can send probes to other dimensions, and the probes can send information back to us.”

You’re making some really strange stuff.

“Why are you making this?”

Dr. Min ignored my question.

“There are supernatural phenomena that enable communication across dimensions, right? The mirror and laptop handed over to the Precognition Department.”

I nodded.

“Yes. Using the materials from those supernatural phenomena, I made a machine to explore other dimensions. It can send objects the size of basketballs to other dimensions.”

“Can you bring them back?”

“Not yet. We haven’t found a way to make a machine on the other side that can cross dimensions. Well… it seems to be a limitation of our technology.”

“I see.”

“But we can receive information.”

I need to see it for myself.

It was the machine in question.

A strange object about the size of a refrigerator. A probe machine with legs was placed on a round transmission plate. Is that thing being sent to another dimension?

“That’s what’s being sent to another dimension.”

“Does it have to be that?”

Dr. Min nodded.

“That probe is the only one that can transmit information back to our dimension. Well, these are mass-produced, though.”

“Why mass-produced?”

The answer to the question was obvious upon reflection. They probably made as many as the number of dimensions they wanted to explore, or even more.

“Currently, over 15 probes have been sent to other dimensions from the Seoul Branch. We’re receiving transmissions from 20 probe screens.”

“…”

Let’s do some subtraction.

“Where did the extra five come from?”

“We don’t know specifically. It seems that sometimes a single probe can be sent to multiple dimensions due to errors.”

“Can you send people?”

“We can send anything, but we don’t know if there’s a way to communicate or if humans can survive in other dimensions. For now, we’ll only send probes.”

I think I’ve seen enough.

“Activate it.”

***

We put on goggles and looked at the dimensional travel device through thick, bulletproof double-paned glass. Computer screens surrounded us.

“Start the transmission.”

“Understood.”

Dr. Min grabbed the microphone.

“First Osmium Engine Core, mirror synchronization initiated.”

“Second Osmium Engine Core, laptop synchronization initiated.”

“Probe superposition state initiated.”

“Feynman Reality Anchoring Device activated. Starting to lower reality concentration through reflux.”

“Core activated.”

“Energy charging initiated.”

“Activating Hawking Spacetime Coordinator.”

“Starting countdown now.”

The button was pressed.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.”

*Poof.*

With a strange sound, the probe disappeared.

***

We stared at the screen.

“Is that the other dimension we found?”

“I don’t know. There’s no way to control where it goes. But from what we’ve observed, there seems to be distance between dimensions. Some are close, and some are far.”

“If someone broke through the dimensional wall and came here, would that world be a close dimension or a far one?”

“Probably a close one?”

I pondered for a moment. If we’re lucky, we might be able to send Ms. Ahn Yuri back to her home. She still has value to the Foundation, though.

I’ll have to think about it.

I looked back at the screen.

“Where is that?”

“I don’t know. It looks like human buildings…”

Damn it.

“Check the dimensional concentration.”

Dr. Min frowned.

“Uh, reality concentration abnormal. It’s not part of any known world. It seems to be some kind of interdimensional space, but what it is…”

“I think I know what it is.”

“What is it?”

The probe looked around.

Endless corridors, endless bookshelves, and floors, walls, and ceilings made of bizarre materials.

“The Infinite Library.”

It’s the home of Cosmos and Kairos.

***

The research results were shocking.

The Head of the Precognition Department crossed his arms and stared at the screens. Other Foundation scientists were deep in thought. Screens, probes, research materials.

On one screen, blue plants were growing. On another, a lunar-like desert. On yet another, a concrete jungle.

And the most recently launched probe—

Had arrived at a library.

“It seems the Librarians were telling the truth.”

“Ah.”

Cosmos and Kairos, locked in the Foundation’s isolation room, and the Librarians I killed at Yulje-myeon. The Librarians Nanami killed while chasing Cosmos.

The Library was a real place.

I sighed.

“Life is really strange.”

While the researchers in the control room discussed, argued, and stared at the screens coming from other dimensions, the Research Department Head entered the control room.

Without anyone noticing.

“So, when are we starting the invasion of other worlds? The Research Department is already stockpiling weapons.”

“Isn’t that a firing squad offense?”

“Ah, I misspoke. The Research Department is not stockpiling weapons.”

Lee Se-ah avoided my gaze.

“Why would we invade other worlds? Sure, it’s possible, but wouldn’t we just export the problems of other dimensions here?”

“No. The Foundation’s power comes from the supernatural phenomena it manages. If we gather supernatural phenomena from multiple worlds, wouldn’t we become stronger?”

“Ms. Lee Se-ah, you have a very strange idea about what the Foundation does.”

I placed my hand on Lee Se-ah’s head, and she reluctantly bowed to me. Well, as long as I can control her, it’s not a big deal.

“Alright. Draft a proper large-scale exploration plan for other dimensions. I’ll have to think about whether to execute it, though.”

Honestly, everyone has probably thought about it. Under my command, the Foundation even started oil drilling in the Garden.

It wouldn’t be strange for me to question it.

“Research Department Head, follow me.”

***

I took Lee Se-ah out of the control room. For some reason, she followed silently. Today, I’ll end this.

Let’s extract as much of the mystery Lee Se-ah is hiding as possible. No need to drag this out any longer.

“By the way. Where are the works you’ve hidden, Ms. Lee Se-ah? And. I already know there’s something on Jeju Island.”

“Director—”

I pressed the Research Department Head’s neck.

“Alright. I’ll talk.”

I let go of the Research Department Head. Lee Se-ah coughed for a moment. Probably acting. She didn’t even get a scratch from a bomb, after all.

“It’s time to solve the problem.”

It’s ironic.

The Foundation prides itself on controlling supernatural phenomena. But the worst anomalies, the greatest mysteries I’ve seen in my life, are the Foundation itself.

Reality Adjusters, monsters, Clockwork Dragons, the Garden—everything. In the face of the Foundation’s power and the supernatural, they’re all just jokes.

I crossed my arms, and the Research Department Head sat on the floor, looking up at me.

“What do you want to know about my works?”

It seems there’s more than one or two.

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