Ch.410Appetizer (3)

“Good job.”

The tiny screamer, MPS-03, approached. After crawling up to my head, it spat out the terminal it had been carrying in its mouth.

“Mission complete! Complete!”

“Is your leg okay?”

It moved its soldered leg to salute. It looked a bit rough, but didn’t seem to have any trouble moving.

‘PS-111 can fix it later.’

I gently stroked it with the back of my finger. It hopped around the nest excitedly, just like No. 26 and Adhigh Orr do when they’re happy.

With each jump, the black vesicles covering the floor burst, releasing hazy gas. At a glance, it looks similar to the toxic vapor that automatically forms in the nest, but its composition and effects are completely different.

That’s because these black vesicles and gas are phenomena resulting from a special trait.

‘I got the Ghost Nest trait quite a while ago, but I’m only properly using it now.’

I acquired the nest fusion trait “Ghost Nest” on the Cult planet Beryan02 some time ago. I’ve just been holding onto it since I hadn’t had a chance to use it until now.

‘It’s not a trait that works well on its own.’

The reason lies in the Ghost Nest’s operating mechanism.

When this trait is applied, black vesicles form in the nest as they are now. The white gas they release contains psychic power that promotes various anomalous phenomena.

Inhaling it causes all sorts of bizarre experiences. Hallucinations, auditory illusions, cognitive impairment, sensory distortion—all come as a complete package. As time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish reality from illusion.

Literally being possessed by ghosts.

However, the effect is greatly diminished for beings with resistance to psychic power, or if the target doesn’t properly inhale the gas.

You can see this with the soldier who attacked MPS-03. He moved around the nest normally until his helmet was removed. He only started being affected after losing his helmet to MPS-03.

After inhaling the nest’s gas, he didn’t attack the Hiveformer even when he saw it. He probably mistook it for one of his comrades.

Intoxicated by the gas, he followed all the way to the underground nest without knowing anything, and became a new hiding place for the Hiveformer.

‘These two traits definitely work well together.’

A Hiveformer alone has difficulty deceiving enemies due to its distinctive appearance and movements.

But with Ghost Nest, that weakness is offset. Ghost Nest’s characteristic is that it shows its true value when combined with other traits.

‘Anyway, now that I’ve acquired Hiveformer, I should collect more nest-related traits.’

Come to think of it, I’ve rarely used nests in combat since becoming an adult. Most fights involved infiltrating enemy territory or being ambushed, rather than luring enemies in.

‘I used nests quite often in the game.’

That earned me a certain notorious reputation. Not as famous as “Morph-freak,” but a nickname that visitors to my nest would occasionally use.

‘Well, never mind that.’

An opportunity to obtain samples has just presented itself. I picked up the terminal that MPS-03 had brought.

The list of samples stored in the complex, along with various other information about this planet, was contained in this terminal.

‘Let’s check it out.’

I lay down and connected my auxiliary organs to the nest. A Hiveformer, receiving my will, crept over. It took the terminal and connected it to the hologram projector in the nest.

‘Being large is problematic too.’

My body is too big to operate small computers or terminals. That’s why I had the Hiveformer wearing a human shell do it.

Shortly after, numerous characters appeared above the hologram device. It was a list of genetic samples and Hulk Mutant test subjects.

It contained detailed information including the names of organisms, the planets where they were captured, the names of their captors, and their storage conditions.

However, many of the samples and test subjects on the list were marked in red. These were the ones secretly taken by the administrators guarding AG-01.

Still, there were quite a few samples left.

‘If I’m lucky, I might get a new unique trait here.’

Currently, I’ve unlocked three unique trait synthesis formulas. Among them, there are formulas requiring garbage traits like “Hunger” or “Dwarfism.”

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Dwarfism (not acquired), Hunger, Sensory Atrophy (not acquired), Slow Life (not acquired), Seclusion Orientation (not acquired)」

‘Dwarfism, Slow Life, and Sensory Atrophy shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain. Seclusion Orientation will be the challenge.’

Among the four traits, “Seclusion Orientation,” like Hunger, can only be acquired from specific organisms. Getting it requires some luck.

‘Still, with this many samples, it’s worth trying.’

I briefly skimmed through the long list and moved on. Next came records of stellar activity observed at AG-01.

Regular reports sent by terraforming machines sensitive to environmental changes made up the majority, with observation records from ships traveling through the system mixed in.

‘I should leave this to PS-111.’

“Report. Report.”

While examining the hologram, MPS-03 scurried over to me.

“Variable occurred during mission execution.”

‘Variable?’

“Confirmation, needed. Needed!”

It operated the terminal and hologram device with its pointed metal legs. The stellar records were replaced by new data displayed on the hologram.

What appeared was a large map. Judging by its structure, it was clearly a map of the research complex that MPS-03 had infiltrated. Above each building on the map were codes consisting of complex mixtures of numbers and letters.

“Intruder. Computer, communication, used.”

From what it was saying, this appeared to be communication data sent by the soldier who attacked MPS-03.

‘An internal map is quite important information.’

Megacorp research facilities are generally highly secure. Even this place, where combat occurs frequently, has mines and drones deployed everywhere.

In such a situation, sending a map with such detailed information externally? And during a power and communications outage? This must be the work of a corrupt soldier trying to sell important information.

‘The important thing here is who’s buying the map.’

The reason someone would want a map containing all the information about the research complex is simple. They’re probably planning to attack this complex.

Needless to say, the value of this map is incomparable to ordinary genetic samples or test subjects. And taking such a risk to smuggle it out would require substantial compensation.

‘It would be difficult to bribe a soldier with just an average reward.’

The buyer has enough strength to physically attack the complex and enough wealth to bribe a soldier with access to confidential information.

As far as I know, there’s only one force in this area with that kind of power.

‘Separatist terrorists.’

I heard about them from Jeff, whom I captured in the commercial city.

He said a separatist organization committing terrorism on AG-01 has teamed up with pirates to target genetic samples.

‘The pirate cartel supporting them belongs to the Sino Group, right?’

The Sino Group, formed by the union of several cartels, is a pirate group believed to be led by a Space Dog ranker. I’ve also encountered cartels belonging to the Sino Group.

According to Jeff, the name of the cartel that made contact with the separatists is Sinony. They’re pirates belonging to the same group as the ones I encountered, just with a different name.

If they’re pirates managed by a ranker, they could easily take down a research facility.

‘But it’s strange. Why would a player target this place?’

AG-01 isn’t attractive enough for Space Dog players to target. If they’re after genetic samples, there are many better places than here. In my case, I came to AG-01 looking for traces of Arcane Orca, not thinking about genetic samples.

‘Or it could be independent action by subordinates.’

Jeff said Sinony Cartel’s main source of income is hunting dangerous creatures and smuggling rare organisms.

In the game, pirates who hunt dangerous creatures sometimes used Hulk Mutants as combat assistants. If the Sinony Cartel wants to obtain Hulk Mutants for the same purpose, it’s not particularly unreasonable.

‘I’ll have to ask directly to be sure.’

Whether they really came here for Hulk Mutants or have another purpose.

To confirm this, I need to capture a member of the Sinony Cartel.

‘A fight with them is hard to avoid anyway.’

They’ve secured a map of the research facility. The attack will start within 2-3 days at the latest.

And the owner of the research facility they’re targeting is me.

The humans guarding the complex have all been dealt with by Hiveformers, and the nest is consuming the tall buildings from the inside. Not only that, PS-111, who isn’t here right now, is busy conducting information operations to hide my existence.

‘I’m not going to let some pirates take what’s mine.’

I gave orders to all Hiveformers in the research complex.

To bring me the genetic samples of the organisms I specified.

‘I was thinking I should put my nest to use, and this is perfect timing.’

In the game, many people visited my nest and gave praise.

The Sinony Cartel will feel exactly the same way.