Ch.408Appetizer (1)

“When the hell is this damn rain going to stop?”

In the research complex attached to the commercial city.

The security team members responsible for the complex’s safety were looking out the window from inside the tall guard tower.

“These T&C Special Trade Center bastards, they have so many credits but won’t even fix the terraforming machines.”

“Shut up.”

“Am I wrong? I’ve been rotting here for 4 years already, and there hasn’t been a single day without rain. Fucking T&C bastards.”

“Are you drunk? Don’t drink so much.”

The team member who had been cursing detached the hip flask from his waist and put it to his mouth. The strong smell of alcohol vibrated with each movement of his Adam’s apple.

“Ugh, you’re drinking that stuff only drug addicts enjoy.”

“What? Want some?”

“Get lost, junkie.”

The security team member looked at his colleague who was gulping down cheap synthetic alcohol mixed with drugs with a look of contempt. He clicked his tongue and pulled out a metal rod from his chest.

“Ha. You’re one to talk about drugs.”

“Hey. What you’re drinking is a drug that would make you sell your parents, but this is a cigarette. An officially verified and sold cigarette.”

“What verification? They’re both drugs all the same.”

One soldier drinking while on duty, and another puffing on an e-cigarette laced with drugs.

This was a common sight in the research complex’s guard tower.

“Did you know? Those pirates who came in recently brought tons of Volf slaves.”

“Volf? What’s so great about those hairy, smelly women that everyone’s going crazy?”

“Tsk tsk, once you taste those thighs and waist, you can never forget it.”

“Ugh, disgusting just thinking about it. I’d rather have cyborg women. At least they look somewhat human.”

“Are you crazy? What’s good about those oil-reeking tin cans?”

“You don’t know anything. You separate the top and bottom parts and then front and back…”

The guard who was high on the drugs in his cigarette suddenly stopped talking.

“What? What were you going to say about front and back?”

“……”

He removed the cigarette from his mouth and moved closer to the window. Then he shined his flashlight outside.

All that could be seen in the space illuminated by the white light was the curtain of rainwater and darkness.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I just saw a large shadow.”

The research complex is surrounded by open fields with no buildings nearby. From the guard tower, anyone approaching can be clearly seen with the naked eye.

“There are landmines everywhere. Didn’t you just see wrong?”

“Maybe?”

Just as he put the cigarette back in his mouth, there was a flash of light outside the window. A powerful roar followed.

“Oh? It’s real?”

“Huh?”

“There really is someone out there?”

“What?”

The guard who had been drinking pointed at the window covered with raindrops.

Another flash of lightning.

For an instant, the darkness lifted as lightning struck the field.

It was a brief moment, but they both clearly saw it.

Hundreds, no, thousands of humans standing in the field.

“Damn, none of the landmines went off?”

“No.”

The fields surrounding the research complex are filled with landmines and combat drones. Inside the complex, anti-ship cannons are positioned throughout to prevent aerial intrusions. Only the soldiers guarding the research complex know the safe route.

“…Are they outside the perimeter?”

“Shit, it’s too dark to see anything.”

Even with their faces pressed against the window, it was too dark to see properly. They hurriedly put on their helmets.

As the thermal cameras attached to their helmets activated, they could clearly see what had been hidden by the rain and shadows. What they saw through the cameras shocked them.

“Huh? Where did they all go?”

“They were definitely there!”

When the cameras turned on, the thousands of humans who had been standing motionless in the field were nowhere to be seen.

Only black moisture, like shadows, remained where they had been.

–

At the same time the security team members in the guard tower spotted the strange visitors.

A secret transaction was in full swing in the security team leader’s room inside the complex.

“You want me to disable the research facility’s security system?”

Amid empty bottles rolling on the floor, garbage, weapons and power armor covered in dust from long neglect, and incongruously luxurious mahogany desk and furniture.

In this ironic space where filth and luxury coexisted, a middle-aged man was continuing his call with his feet up on the desk.

“What? No, I’m not refusing. There are just a few things I need to consider.”

The man’s name was Alex. He was the head of the security team, one of the pillars protecting the research complex.

“I don’t oversee the entire research facility. My authority is limited. Yes. Yes. As you said, I need some time.”

After T&C Special Trade Center cut off interest in the conflict zone, all soldiers in AG-01 became corrupt. Drug use and debauchery were basic, and many secretly sold the remaining equipment on the planet to line their own pockets.

They had essentially become no different from pirates, and Security Team Leader Alex was particularly bad.

He had been trafficking high-value goods like genetic samples and secret documents left by T&C administrators. This was possible because his position as team leader allowed him free access to the closed research facility.

Even now, he was trying to sell important information from his workplace.

“And, well, my position afterward would be awkward… Ah! I’m glad you understand. Haha. Then I’ll send the map and security codes in advance. Hahaha, of course. Yes. Yes. I’ll see you in two days.”

Alex maintained a gentle smile until the end of the call. But when he put down the communicator, the smile had completely disappeared from his face.

“Crazy bastards. Asking me to disable the security system? Pirates with no fear.”

He clicked his tongue while looking at the turned-off communicator.

The person who had just contacted him was an executive from the notorious Sino Group. They had contacted the security team leader to rob the research facility.

Although Alex routinely broke the law, handing over the entire research facility was a different matter.

No matter how indifferent T&C was to this place, they wouldn’t ignore the destruction of the research facility. If they learned the facility had been robbed, they would never let the pirates go unpunished.

No matter how powerful the Sino Group cartel was, the other side was Noble Capital, wielding absolute influence in space. If T&C started a bloody revenge, the Sino Group would instantly collapse.

“Well, it’s not my problem.”

Alex smiled grimly and turned on the computer on his desk.

The pirates had offered massive credits to buy the facility’s security information. The reward for handing over the research complex’s map and security codes was more than he had earned in his entire life.

With this many credits, he could immigrate to the Cult Empire and live comfortably for the rest of his life.

“This actually works out well. I can’t keep doing this job forever.”

It’s an open secret that separatists receive support from the Star Union for their terrorist activities.

But recently, there’s been an atmosphere of reconciliation between the Star Union and Megacorp. If a peace treaty is signed between the two powers, there’s a high probability that Zer-11 will stabilize.

‘Then I’m finished.’

If T&C returns, all security managers here will become mere employees. The security team leader, who had been involved in many illicit activities, would face much more terrible punishment.

So it’s beneficial for him to rob the place now and escape. The pirates will take care of any traces he leaves behind.

If there was one thing he regretted, it was his connections.

“It’s a shame to lose my connection with Dailymas.”

He recalled the famous journalist with whom he had maintained a good relationship until recently. A customer who mainly purchased data left by T&C administrators, with whom he had been trading for about two years.

Wherever you go, befriending journalists is never a bad thing. Especially journalists sponsored by Prime Capital.

Alex knew this and paid considerable attention to the relationship.

When he leaves this place, the good relationship he worked hard to maintain will completely disappear.

“Tsk, can’t be helped.”

Although he had invested significantly in his relationship with the journalist, this was as far as it went.

Having cleanly given up, Alex decided to handle the immediate tasks. He activated his communicator to contact his subordinate in the security team.

“Has the safe route been updated?”

“The update is already complete, and we’re checking before sending it to the system management team.”

“So you haven’t sent it to the management team yet? Send it to me before you do. I have something to review.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, a file arrived from his subordinate. After checking it on his computer, the security team leader immediately copied the safe route to his personal computer.

“Ah, and what about the security code update for the complex?”

“It’s scheduled to be processed today.”

“Delay that a bit. For three days.”

“What? But we need authorization from the management team…”

“Changing security codes too frequently can be a security issue. So I think it’s better to extend the update cycle.”

“But still…”

“Listen. What if terrorists attack during the security code update? Will you take responsibility?”

“No! I’ll update it in three days!”

Alex instructed to postpone the security code update date and ended the communication.

‘Good. Map and codes, all taken care of.’

The management team might find it strange, but there’s nothing to worry about. They’re so corrupt they bring women to their workplace for parties. They won’t care at all whether the code changes or not.

All that’s left is to send the safe route map and security codes needed to access the complex to the pirates. Alex operated the computer to transfer the files.

Suddenly, the lights flickered.

“Hmm?”

AG-01’s weather has been a mess for years due to broken terraforming machines. Sometimes, strong storms cause unstable power supply.

So he didn’t think much of it, but soon the lights flickered again.

The unsteadily flickering lights soon went out completely. At the same time, the computer that was transferring the files stopped working.

“Uh, wait… damn it!”

The transfer was cut off at a critical moment. Having witnessed this with his own eyes, Alex slammed his fist hard on the desk.

After a while, the emergency power came on and the computer turned back on. He tried to transfer the file again, but there was another problem.

There seemed to be an issue with the complex’s communication network as the file wouldn’t transfer. He tried to contact his subordinate via communicator, but it wasn’t working either.

‘Damn terraforming machine!’

He needed to send it to the pirates quickly, but the communication was in this state. If he kept delaying the sending, they might look for another route besides Alex.

Then the reward would be gone too.

‘…I’m not going to let that happen.’

Alex got up from his seat and gathered his weapons and computer.

There should be a way to send files externally at the management team’s office. After putting on his power armor, he left the room.