Episode 83. Let’s Go to Jeju Island (1)
****
Nanami was still having fun. The work she had to do was finished in two days, and the remaining four days of the business trip were just spent playing in the hotel.
Going out was a hassle.
Nanami had spent her entire life within the walls of the Foundation. The hotel was like a prison to her. The Foundation was the same, and so was Nanami’s life itself. Going out for no reason just felt awkward to her.
****
I had to prepare for the trip to Jeju Island.
The problem was whether Facility 82 would function properly while I was gone. Right now, even Nanami isn’t at the facility.
“Dr. Chae. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes.”
“If the Research Department Head acts up, just kill him.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not saying to mess him up professionally. I mean physically subdue him.”
“Uh, is that even possible at my level?”
I don’t know.
I’ve never seen the Research Department Head physically subdued. He seems really strong, but since I’ve never seen him fight, it’s hard to say.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“While I’m in Jeju, report to the Director’s Office. You’ll be acting as the Senior Researcher.”
“No, I said I’m not doing that.”
“Dr. Chae, please. Just for a week. I’ll assign Paper Yang to assist you.”
Dr. Chae avoided my gaze. Damn it. Is being the Senior Researcher that bad? Can’t you handle it for even a week?
“Honestly, I think acting as the Senior Researcher should come with hazard pay…”
“You wouldn’t do it even if I offered.”
“Well.”
I sighed.
“Fine.”
“Sorry.”
“Please hold the fort while I’m gone. Call a meeting with the Research Department managers by tomorrow, and figure out a way to keep the Research Department Head in check—”
“Gasp, Dr. Chae! There’s an urgent call!”
“Dr. Chae’s phone is off. Are you messing with me right now?”
Dr. Chae hurriedly left the lab before I could finish. That damn jerk…
****
Project Blue Rose.
14 abandoned facilities.
And the Foundation Jeju Naval Base.
“Dr. Kim. They said they’re sending an aircraft from Jeju. Are we taking the one they’re sending, or our own plane?”
Paper tilted her head.
“Isn’t it rude not to take the plane they’re sending? It’s not like we’re in a situation where we have to worry about them trying to kill us.”
“More importantly. Why aren’t you taking me?”
No particular reason.
“Your place is in the Director’s Office. I don’t necessarily need a secretary.”
“You don’t need me?”
“For a week, it’s fine.”
“But what’s the point of having a secretary if you don’t take them on business trips?”
I shook my head.
“There are things only Paper can do. Work hard in the Director’s Office. Help Advisor An and Administrator Lee.”
“They don’t like me.”
“No way, how could that be?”
But Paper still looked uneasy, glancing around the Director’s Office. I don’t know why she’s like this. How could they dislike her?
“They don’t like me because I’m an outsider. They don’t like that I was hired without any experience or knowledge of the Foundation’s inner workings.”
“That’s strange. Being an outsider unrelated to the Foundation is Paper’s only advantage.”
“Sigh.”
“I’ll be going now.”
It’s already the scheduled time. I dragged my carry-on bag and walked toward the helipad.
****
Helipad 1.
Originally, I planned to take a helicopter, but they said helicopters are too vulnerable for long-distance travel, so they’d send one instead.
A Foundation fighter jet would take 15 minutes, a helicopter about an hour. They said whatever’s coming now would take about 30 minutes.
The Special Forces Team Leader looked up at the sky.
“When are they coming?”
“They’ll be here soon.”
Weird. If they’re arriving soon, a high-speed fighter jet would make a deafening noise, and a helicopter would have rotor sounds.
But there’s no sound, nothing visible in the sky, and barely anything on the radar.
“They’re descending.”
It took me a while to spot the aircraft descending toward the helipad. A light gray helicopter.
“Do you know what kind of aircraft that is?”
The Team Leader pondered for a moment.
“It’s American. A Boeing-made V-22 Osprey. It has two tilt rotors and can perform vertical takeoffs and landings. It has wings, so it’s about twice as fast as regular helicopters.”
“Was that also made by torturing aliens?”
“Who knows?”
After a short wait, the aircraft landed on the helipad. I held onto my collar as the rough wind blew, and dust flew everywhere.
And then it landed.
A few Foundation staff members got off the helicopter.
“Director. We’ll take you to Jeju Island.”
“Thank you, everyone.”
The pilot seemed in a hurry. As soon as I boarded and the helicopter door closed, the Osprey’s rotors started spinning.
****
Currently, South Korea is controlled—no, managed—by three major Foundation branches. The first is the Seoul Branch, the second is the Busan Branch.
The remaining one is the Jeju Island Branch.
A long time ago, there was talk that the Seoul Branch had the power to control all of South Korea. But due to some incident, that system disappeared.
I don’t know what that incident was.
There are plenty of guesses.
Like the series of Senior Researcher suicides, the disappearance of Directors, Project Blue Rose, or… well, listing them out, there are quite a few. I connected my tactical headset to the long-range radio.
Someone was trying to establish communication.
[“Ah, ah. Can you hear me?”]
“I can hear you.”
[“This is Admiral Furani from the Foundation Jeju Naval Base. Welcome. We’ll do our best to assist with your investigation.”]
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
[“Director Kim. Sorry, but what was the purpose of your visit to our facility again?”]
Nanami, hotel, swimming pool.
I’m going because Nanami asked me to.
“It’s part of an annual event. Information exchange between Foundation branches, investigation into Project Blue Rose, and preparing countermeasures for supernatural phenomena in the Jeju region.”
[“As planned. Understood. I’ll brief our researchers as well.”]
“Yes.”
[“Any questions?”]
“Admiral Furani. How much do you know about Project Blue Rose?”
[“Sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re referring to. There are so many projects, aren’t there?”]
He’s avoiding a direct answer.
Does he know something?
****
Admiral Hadley Furani of the Foundation Eastern Fleet.
“……”
—sighed and put down the phone. The Director from the Foundation Seoul Branch, who appeared out of nowhere. Probably a humanoid supernatural phenomenon, likely a creation of the Foundation.
If Director Kim wasn’t a creation of the Foundation, there’d be no reason to entrust such a heavy responsibility to a humanoid supernatural phenomenon. It’s certain that he’s a creation, but who made him and why is what matters.
“Aide.”
“Yes.”
“That. That’s Blue Rose-13, right?”
The aide glanced at the documents. Blue Rose-13, Foundation Seoul Branch, Director Kim… Considering the timing and abilities, it’s probably correct.
“Uh… Probably, right?”
“Why the hell is that guy coming?”
“I don’t know.”
Admiral Furani sighed again.
“Make sure he doesn’t slip out of our surveillance. If possible, get him drunk, deploy a few agents. Just make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.”
“Understood.”
“No need for any tricks. Given his abilities, he’ll figure it out quickly anyway. Just keep him calm and entertained. Maybe he’ll think twice about causing trouble or stirring things up.”
Admiral Furani’s aide pondered.
“Director Kim doesn’t seem like an easy person to handle. Does he like alcohol? Does he drink?”
Who knows.
“He’ll be arriving soon. Will you meet him in person?”
Furani shook his head.
“Do I look like I have a death wish? Why should I meet with those Blue Rose freaks? That guy surviving Yulje-myeon wasn’t a coincidence.”
“Wait. Yulje-myeon?”
“Yulje-myeon and the Fog of Oblivion are a wasteland to summon and gather monsters, to make them fight. So, for whom is this wasteland?”
“Huh?”
“For whom is this wasteland? Who emerged after killing all the other divine entities and trapping them in Yulje-myeon?”
“……”
“You handle Director Kim.”
****
The Osprey soon arrived at its destination. I disembarked, escorted by my Special Forces and the naval base’s military police.
Nanami was waiting at the helipad.
“Dr. Kim, you’re here?”
Nanami’s voice was soft. She didn’t plan to be formal in front of others, but she didn’t want to seem rude or strange either.
“Nanami. Hello.”
“You could’ve just landed at the hotel.”
“This isn’t my helicopter. There are a few things to handle at the naval base too.”
“Ah, really?”
Nanami handed me a tangerine.
“Then you can’t play?”
“We’ll go after the conference.”
“Ah, okay.”
She seemed a bit disappointed. Well, after tomorrow’s conference, there’s not much on the schedule anyway.
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