Chapter 9

Episode 9. Supernatural Space – Garden (4)

***

I put down the phone connected to the headquarters. “We’ll handle it as requested”? What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t request anything.

I couldn’t help it. Suppressing the urge to just let it go, I picked up the phone again.

*Click.*

“Hello, this is the Foundation Headquarters. What do you need this time?”

“You said earlier that the matter was handled as per my request. Could you explain specifically what was handled according to my request?”

You crazy bastards. I hurriedly spat out my words before the call got disconnected again.

“……”

A brief silence.

“You’re Dr. Kim from the Director’s Office at the Foundation Seoul Branch, right? You’re requesting support due to a supernatural phenomenon of a scale that’s difficult to handle internally.”

“That’s correct.”

“Ah, congratulations on your promotion, Dr. Kim.”

“Thank you.”

The headquarters staff continued.

“Building a new facility isn’t easy. As per your request, we’ll construct a facility to control the entrance of Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000. Additionally, a team of experts will be sent to your facility to research the phenomenon.”

“Can you cancel that?”

I never requested such a thing. A new facility to contain the supernatural phenomenon, or whatever…

The Foundation headquarters was exactly as I expected. They acted as if they knew who I was, what I would request, and what I needed.

They knew everything, yet refused to explain anything properly. A terrifying something.

“It’s not impossible, but it’s not easy. For this type of supernatural space, we don’t recommend destroying it through drastic means. The principle for any supernatural phenomenon is containment before destruction.”

“Understood.”

“Then, good luck.”

*Click.*

I put down the phone.

***

A staff member from the Research Department Biology Division came to see me.

“Who are you?”

“Hello! I’m Choi Sian, an intern working in the Biology Division of the Research Department. I’ve come with the analysis of the samples you sent us regarding Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000.”

“Ah, hello.”

He was a cheerful-looking male employee.

Since he introduced himself as an intern, he probably wasn’t a researcher, just a regular staff member. He was wearing a black suit, but it lacked the eerie vibe of the Men in Black. Maybe it’s because he’s new?

“The details of the operation were explained by Science Officer Min from Recovery Team 1. They said Dr. Kim did something amazing and returned safely. The praise was widespread.”

“Did they now?”

That’s unexpected.

Dr. Min seemed like a stiff person.

“The results were as you expected, Dr. Kim.”

“Good.”

“The plant samples were mutations of existing organisms, and the giant centipede that was killed mostly matched the genetic sequence of a regular centipede.”

“Was the centipede’s body recovered?”

I only took tissue samples from the giant centipede into vials. Listening to him, it seems they went back and collected more samples.

“Well, the biological samples from that supernatural phenomenon are currently occupying one of the Biology Division’s isolation warehouses. Some of them are still alive.”

I nodded.

“Is there a summary?”

I didn’t need to hear all the technical details. Intern Choi continued.

“Yes, we’ll upload the research results as soon as they’re compiled. There’s so much new stuff. The researchers are excited, saying there’s a lot to discover.”

“Since the containment of that supernatural space is already complete, there doesn’t seem to be a need to continue the research.”

Intern Choi nodded again.

“Right. The issue is the identities of the humans found dead near the subspace rift. They’re said to belong to a group hostile to the Foundation, but since the samples were transferred outside the Research Department, we don’t know the exact details.”

“A hostile group?”

“The corpses were identified as occultists. One was slaughtered at the altar, and the others died for unknown reasons. It’s unclear whether it was a group suicide or if they died for other reasons.”

I messed up. I’m the senior researcher in the Director’s Office, and I need to maintain authority. I can’t let it show that I don’t know something.

“Good work. Please send the research results to the Director’s Office. I’ll review them slowly.”

Intern Choi awkwardly bowed and left.

***

Back in my office.

There are more than a few mysteries. The fact that there’s a supernatural space with strange creatures inside isn’t hard to understand, but…

Where does Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000 lead? Who were those people performing rituals to summon this phenomenon?

Why is there restricted access to information related to this phenomenon, and why is the Foundation headquarters so sensitive about it?

I scratched my head.

Even after thinking about it for a while, no answers came. The crystal clock in my hand ticked away.

“Dr. Lee, what do you think?”

[The Foundation headquarters is always like that. They think they’re omnipotent. They love to flaunt their power, and they really can do a lot.]

“Why is that?”

[The Foundation is the most powerful government on Earth. No one knows what’s going on inside, but the Foundation headquarters wants to maintain its power by shrouding itself in mystery.]

That seems plausible. Most of humanity doesn’t even know the Foundation exists, so there’s no way to check their power. I don’t plan to take the crystal clock’s words at face value, though.

[Even if someone or something opposes the Foundation’s policies, what can they do? No one knows what the Foundation does or where its leadership is.]

“That could be true.”

[There must be a reason why the Foundation is so concerned about Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000. I just don’t know what it is yet.]

I nodded.

“I’ll investigate as much as I can with the Director’s Office authority. If necessary, I’ll call the headquarters again. Let’s comb through the Foundation’s database thoroughly.”

I’ll definitely find out.

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000]

[Garden]

[Risk Level: Dangerous]

[Supernatural Phenomenon Classification: Space]

[Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000 is a subspace where unique flora grows. Occasionally, a dimensional gate connected to this subspace opens in specific areas, requiring the installation of facilities to prevent the escape of supernatural creatures.]

[Due to the possibility of infectious diseases within the subspace, direct human entry is not recommended. Exploration is prohibited without special approval.]

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000]

[Garden]

[Risk Level: Friendly]

[Supernatural Phenomenon Classification: Foundation Facility]

[All information about Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000 known to regular Foundation staff is false. There are no otherworldly infectious diseases in this subspace.]

[Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000 is a type of subspace currently managed by the Foundation. The area managed by the Foundation within this subspace is estimated to be approximately 400 square kilometers.]

[Currently, about 5,000 Foundation personnel are stationed inside Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000. The Garden is a major fortress and research facility for the Foundation.]

[The Garden was once the stronghold of a hostile group called the ‘Gardeners,’ but after a long siege, the Foundation occupied this subspace.]

[P.S. It is believed that the interior space of Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000 has an effect that promotes the life activities of macroscopic organisms. However, the effect is too weak to measure accurately.]

***

[Supernatural Space Exploration Log]

[Author: Support Division Supernatural Space Exploration Team]

[Seismic waves were detected by the Foundation’s seismographs. The epicenter was calculated to be in a mountain in Gyeonggi Province, where no fault lines exist.]

[Surveillance fixed-wing drones were deployed.]

[Details of the operation are attached.]

[Deployment results. A supernatural space was visually confirmed in the skies over Gyeonggi Province. Fog and electromagnetic distortions covered an area of approximately 1 square kilometer.]

[Safety team deployed.]

[Details of the operation are attached.]

[After informing the authorities of a chemical spill, cooperation was secured to evacuate the surrounding area and restrict civilian access.]

[Exploration team sent in with quadcopter drones.]

[Details of the operation are attached.]

[The quadcopter drones crashed. It was determined that unmanned machines cannot directly enter the supernatural space due to electromagnetic interference.]

[Manned exploration team deployed.]

[Details of the operation are attached.]

[With approval from the Director’s Office, Recovery Team 1 organized an exploration team and entered the supernatural space. The manned exploration team confirmed the existence of Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000.]

[At the center of this area is a subspace rift leading to Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000, believed to be the cause of the supernatural phenomenon.]

[The Foundation headquarters is currently showing interest.]