Chapter 85

Episode 85. Abandoned Foundation Facility (1)

****

Hotel swimming pool, mojito, Nanami.

Well, mine was non-alcoholic since I don’t like alcohol. But who drinks during work hours? I glanced at Nanami lying on the sunbed next to me.

“We should’ve gone to the beach.”

“Beaches don’t have room service. Though I could’ve arranged something if I looked into it more.”

“Still, the weather’s a bit disappointing. It would’ve been nicer if the sun was a bit brighter.”

“Dr. Kim. Call the Foundation Headquarters and ask them to change the weather.”

“Hmm.”

I’m not sure if that’s possible. Then again, I’ve never seen the Foundation Headquarters reject my requests. Except when they ask for explanations.

“Next time, let’s swim with whale sharks in Okinawa. Or find a better hotel.”

“Nanami. I appreciate the concern, but why are you so fixated on having fun all of a sudden?”

“No particular reason. I have money, so I should spend it, but I’m not sure where.”

“Simple enough.”

“Honestly, I’d rather go back to Seoul soon. Jeju is boring. These facilities feel like they’re for strangers.”

“It’s been a while since I went out without a pistol in my pocket. Feels a bit tense.”

“Jeju really has nothing. All the hostile groups have been wiped out. There are only a few abandoned Foundation facilities here.”

A small blessing, I guess.

“Good work.”

“Do we really need to stir things up? There’s no evidence that the Foundation Jeju Naval Base caused any problems. We don’t even know what we’re looking for.”

“Blue Rose. It’s not that there’s anything wrong, but I just want to know what the Foundation is up to.”

“Obvious. They’re probably creating monsters or artifacts. Things like Dr. Kim or me. And something else only God knows.”

“Is that so?”

Nanami nodded.

****

Kennedy died riding in an open car. Shot by a CIA agent—no, a civilian sniper with no backing—hiding nearby.

It’s a bit worrying, but the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair was surprisingly nice.

“The sea breeze feels good.”

“Yeah.”

“But, is there no speed limit here?”

Nanami didn’t answer.

She just accelerated.

“Anyway, Dr. Kim. From now on, we’re going to check out the 14 abandoned facilities on Jeju Island one by one.”

“Why?”

“You said you wanted to. I’ve packed our gear. Unless there’s a whole army waiting, there’s no one who can stop the two of us.”

I nodded.

It takes two hours to drive around Jeju Island. Even with 14 facilities, we’d have time to spare after three days.

“Ah. The first one is pretty close. It’s a facility by the beach. We’re calling it Blue Rose Facility 12 for now, but I’m not sure what it is.”

Seeing it in person might be different.

I looked out the window.

“Isn’t this a restricted zone?”

“Did you fasten your seatbelt?”

I did, but…

Bam!

Nanami rammed straight into the fence, and it tilted. The car stopped a few meters later. The bumper’s probably wrecked.

I got out of the car.

“Isn’t this a rental?”

“I’ll pay for the repairs, whatever.”

The car bumper was, as expected, completely smashed. Nanami got out of the car with her gear. I grabbed my bag too.

“It’s not dangerous, right?”

“If it were dangerous, we wouldn’t be so careless…”

Nanami stopped talking.

A boat was docked next to the concrete building by the beach. The building was pretty big, but more importantly, the yacht was huge.

“Damn it. I should’ve worn my uniform.”

Yeah.

It looked like a civilian boat, but who would believe a yacht docked next to a restricted Foundation facility was civilian?

I pondered for a moment.

“What should we do?”

Instead of answering, Nanami drew her greatsword.

“Those people, they’re hostile, right?”

“I’ll cut them in half.”

People that suspicious couldn’t possibly be friendly. I holstered my pistol.

Let me make one quick call.

“This is Dr. Kim. Urgent notice to the Jeju Naval Base. Coordinates 33.22, 126.23. Please confirm there are no Foundation assets in the area.”

I got the number last time.

Admiral Furani’s aide. Admiral Furani refused to meet me until the end, but I got the aide’s phone number instead.

[What’s the matter?]

“33.22, 126.23. Please confirm there are no Foundation assets in the area.”

[No Foundation assets.]

Good. Now we kill them all.

****

The plan was simple.

Use the scuba gear in the car trunk to move under the boat, then Nanami cuts the boat in half with her greatsword.

We’ll figure out the rest later.

We started diving about a hundred meters from the boat. There should be waves pushing us toward the sea like a headwind.

Nanami gestured underwater, and we turned toward the ship.

The sea was clearer than expected. With the ultrasonic goggles, visibility was pretty good. The ship’s outline was clearly visible underwater.

That’s it.

Nanami drew her sword. Wouldn’t it rust if dipped in seawater? It’s just black metal, so it’d probably rust a lot.

Bubbles started forming near the sword.

Nanami swung it.

A shockwave spread out, and a person-sized hole opened in the hull. Nanami gave me an OK signal with hand gestures.

I poked my head out of the water.

We climbed aboard using the anchor line. Well, the boat might sink eventually, but a well-made one could last about an hour.

“Hands on your head!”

I aimed my gun at the people on the boat. Who the hell are these people? I quickly scanned the area.

“Wait. These people are innocent.”

I turned my head toward the voice. Something was walking toward me. I told you not to move.

Trigger. My gun fired, and the approaching person grabbed their leg and fell.

“I said don’t move.”

My gun lowered slightly.

****

I know this person.

Daemos from Pluto Limited Company.

“No, seriously. These people are just civilians here for fun. I’ve always cooperated with the Foundation, helped you guys. Is this how you treat an ally?”

Daemos was holding his leg, but there was no blood. Probably upgraded somehow. Just a bruise, I guess.

I stared at Daemos.

“Explain what you’re doing here. Civilians, get off the boat and go home.”

“……”

No one moved. After an awkward silence, Daemos spoke.

“These people live here.”

“……?”

“On the boat?”

“Yes.”

“They live on a boat owned by their employer?”

“Yes.”

“And they work here too?”

The civilians nodded. Disgusting, these bastards. Hostile groups are truly humanity’s enemies.

I attached a bayonet to my rifle.

****

Daemos’ yacht was half-sunken. We moved Daemos to the beach.

“Daemos. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you.”

“Wait, hold on!”

“Thought of a reason?”

“There’s a supernatural phenomenon on the yacht. There are a few artifacts in the yacht’s safe—”

Not the answer I wanted. I pressed the bayonet against Daemos’ face.

“Wait! What are you even mad about? I’ll give you money. I’ll donate my wealth to society, just let me live.”

“Closer to the right answer.”

“Whoa, tell me what you want.”

“A humanoid supernatural phenomenon. Hand over something useful to the Foundation.”

Daemos nodded.

“Got it. Got it…”

“You’ll send it, right?”

“If I send it to Seoul, my life is spared, right?”

Well, what can you do.

I’ve pushed enough.

****

This should be enough.

Daemos and his group fled toward the sea on their broken yacht. Probably has some supernatural phenomenon that can fix boats.

“Cockroaches.”

I nodded.

“Well, let’s check out the facility. Who knows what’s there? Maybe the Pluto Limited Company guys came looking for something.”

They must’ve had a reason to come.

****

The abandoned building was dark inside.

It was clean, though. No recent signs of use. The facility was very small, with only one containment wing.

“What was this place used for?”

“I think it was a prison.”

Grrrrrr.

Nanami’s iron sword scraped the corridor.

“Not sure, but it seems like a prison used for Project Blue Rose. One of Project Blue Rose’s creations was probably stored here.”

“……”

Lame.

“What about the Pluto guys?”

“No idea. Probably supplying the Foundation with supernatural phenomena or artifacts. They must’ve remembered this location.”

So they hid here? No idea why they came. The abandoned facility looked surprisingly desolate. I pondered for a moment.

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