Ch.411Appetizer (4)

The large warehouse located at the harbor.

Various sentient beings move about busily. Humans, cyborgs, rock walkers, insect-men – despite their different species, they share one common trait: they all wear reinforcement suits painted with camouflage.

Surprisingly, these individuals armed with equipment better than the planet’s regular army are pirates. The infamous pirate group, the Sinoni Cartel.

On the second floor of the warehouse, Ventris, the vice-leader of the Sinoni Cartel, was looking down at the warehouse. Just then, one of his executives approached him.

“Vice-leader. The hacking team will be ready in five minutes.”

“Deployment?”

“Assault team and support team are all in position. The separatists are ready too.”

While reporting, the executive manipulated a mechanical device to display a hologram.

A large holographic model of a city appeared before them. Small circles were marked on the outskirts of the city.

This hologram represents the research complex attached to the commercial city. Those circles are Ventris’s subordinates.

All prepared to attack the research complex.

“Good. When the hacking is complete, send in the separatists first, then the assault team. The rest should stand by.”

“Understood.”

The position of the troops, their armament status – everything is according to plan. Ventris nodded with satisfaction after checking the hologram.

“Ah, Vice-leader? Are we really allowed to act on our own?”

But the executive spoiled the good mood.

“The boss told us to stay put…”

“Speak properly. He said to finish preparations first and then wait so that no problems arise.”

The current head of the Sino Group is pursuing some plan. The details are confidential, so Ventris only knows because the boss told him.

‘He said we need to take control of several planets for the plan to succeed.’

Planet AG-01 in the Zer-11 star system is one of those targets.

Ventris’s mission is to secure the planet before the Sino Group’s core forces arrive. To do that, he needs to remove any potential threats here first.

“And aren’t I being careful to avoid detection as long as possible? Do you think I’m some sucker throwing credits at the defense force for nothing?”

“Well…”

“We need to clean up those terrorist bastards anyway. Isn’t it better if we can make them wear each other out like this?”

“That’s certainly true, but still, provoking Noble Capital is…”

“Anyway. I’m considering all aspects, so don’t ask anymore.”

There was irritation in Ventris’s voice. The executive realized it would be dangerous to press further and kept quiet.

Just then, all the lights in the warehouse suddenly flickered. The hologram’s light also dimmed momentarily before returning to normal.

“What was that?”

“Seems like lightning struck.”

“What about those guys we sent to fix the terraforming machine? Are they just fooling around? Why is it still like this?”

“The condition is worse than expected. I checked earlier and they said it would take a few more days…”

“Tsk, idiots.”

Ventris clicked his tongue at the sound of thunder continuously striking outside.

“What about communications? I hope they won’t be cut during the operation?”

“Yes. We’ve maintained that area in advance, so there won’t be any problems.”

Just then, a message appeared on the hologram indicating that the hacking team was ready.

“Preparations complete. Ready to proceed.”

“Ah, good. Proceed immediately.”

“Understood. Assault team, move in.”

As the order was given, the circles marked on the holographic city began to move.

–

Black visitors enter the research complex filled with rain, mud, and fog.

They moved nimbly like hunting dogs tracking prey, despite wearing heavy reinforcement suits. They showed no hesitation even when crossing fields filled with mines and combat drones. After passing through the most dangerous zone, they stopped behind a building.

“Did everyone make it through?”

“Yes.”

“No problems, sir.”

The leader of the assault team sent by Ventris quickly checked the subordinates who followed him. There were 20 of them – exactly the same number as when they entered.

While the Sinoni Cartel primarily deals with wild animals, that doesn’t mean they can’t handle people. They’ve carried out several infiltration operations, so everyone was familiar with the procedure.

“This is Josh. We’ve entered the eastern sector.”

“The separatists have already taken the watchtower. Join them.”

“Understood.”

They ran toward a long building nearby.

“I’ll enter the code. The rest keep watch.”

“Yes!”

The leader at the door entered the security code he had received two days ago. The security for the watchtower’s main entrance was disabled, and the solid metal door opened. The twenty pirates quickly entered the tower.

“What? Why are the lights off?”

The inside of the building was pitch black. Even the emergency lights weren’t on, despite others having entered before them. Assault team leader Josh immediately contacted headquarters.

“The power is out inside the watchtower. Did they really take it over?”

“We just got a message from them. They said they used an EMP on the building.”

“What? Why suddenly…”

“We’ll sort that out later. They said they’re waiting on the upper floor, so go up and join them.”

Despite the sudden variable, the executive at headquarters showed no sign of agitation.

‘This guy, he wasn’t usually like this?’

Not only was it strange that the separatists used an EMP, but the executive’s excessive calmness was also bizarre.

“What should we do?”

“…Everyone move with maximum caution. If you see anything, shoot immediately.”

Though he couldn’t understand the situation, Josh had no choice. He and the pirates began walking down the corridor, each holding their weapons.

Even with the electricity cut off in the building, the thermal vision function in their helmets made the interior clearly visible. Maintaining formation, they soon reached the stairs.

“Be careful of what might come…”

While speaking to his subordinates, Josh realized something strange.

There were a total of 20 people here including himself. But now he could only see 14.

“Where are the ones who were at the back?”

“Huh? Oh, wait?”

The pirates who turned around only then realized that their comrades had disappeared.

“They were definitely with us just now!”

“Same here!”

The corridor between the building entrance and the stairs is connected by a single passage. The length of the corridor itself isn’t very long. It’s impossible to disappear without a sound in just a few seconds.

The pirates hurriedly operated their terminals to check their detectors.

“What is this?”

“How did this happen?”

The signals of the crew members displayed on the detector totaled twenty. The problem was that five of them were on different floors, not the first floor. The only way to go upstairs in this building is to use the stairs in front of them.

“Damn it! Let’s get out of here right now!”

“Yes!”

Since the situation was clearly not right, Josh abandoned the missing members. The pirates hurriedly retraced their steps.

But once again, reality betrayed their expectations.

A tree had grown in the corridor that had been empty when they entered. The withered branches touched the ceiling and walls, and in the middle stood a gaunt trunk covered with dried bark.

“……”

The pirates said nothing. They were overwhelmed by the impossible reality.

‘An illusion? Or poison gas? How did it penetrate our helmets? Could it be psychic power?’

Josh tried to analyze the situation, but it wasn’t easy. Even if they were hallucinating, the fact that several crew members had instantly moved to different floors was undeniable.

“H-hieek?! A-another comrade has disappeared!”

And as if reading his thoughts, five more people at the rear disappeared again. Like before, there was no sound or warning.

It was as if the corridor had swallowed the pirates whole.

‘We need to get out of here fast!’

This was no time to hesitate. If they could just get past that tree, they’d be outside. Josh tried to maintain his composure as he gave the order.

“…Cut down the tree.”

One subordinate slowly approached the tree. With trembling hands, he activated the “Blade Claw” attached to his arm.

The ultrasonic saw blade that protruded from the back of his hand vibrated, making a familiar noise. The owner of the saw blade slowly raised his arm.

Just as he was about to cut the branch, the subordinate hesitated.

“Did you hear that?”

“What was that just now?”

Other crew members also looked confused. The pirate stopped trying to cut the tree and brought his face closer to the branch.

The sound came again. This time Josh clearly heard it too.

“Laughter?”

The laughter of a young girl could be heard from inside the tree. It was a clear voice that reminded one of a pure spring. It was so beautiful and lovely that the tension seemed to dissipate immediately upon hearing it.

Otherwise, they would have noticed right away that the withered branch was aiming its tip at the back of the pirate’s head.

“Watch out!”

“What?”

The moment Josh shouted belatedly, the branch pierced through his subordinate’s head.

–

“Huk, huk, huk…”

A pirate in a reinforcement suit runs across a foggy street.

His right arm was gone, and there was a deep wound on his back. Even though he was a cyborg with physical abilities superior to humans, his current injuries were very serious.

“Kheuk, huk, huk…”

After running frantically, he hid behind a nearby building. The mechanical eye behind his cracked helmet moved constantly.

‘Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!’

The cyborg pirate kept checking if anyone was coming while recalling what had just happened.

The assault team he belonged to was heading toward the Gene Center in the southern sector, guided by an executive. Though they hadn’t encountered any enemies during the move, no one found it particularly strange because they had seen people walking around inside the building.

The problem erupted at the park near the center.

While passing through the park filled with neglected dead trees, they heard singing. The innocent humming of little girls echoed through the eerie park.

The pirates stopped running when they heard the music, and that’s when the horrific nightmare began.

The street trees that had been standing quietly began to move and attacked the assault team.

‘Damn it! I’ve never seen trees that lure with songs before!’

Moreover, these trees drank the blood of living creatures.

Each time a branch stuck into the bodies of his comrades, the street tree seemed to come alive. Vitality bloomed in the bark, and the singing became increasingly beautiful.

Everyone tried desperately to resist, but failed. The enemy there wasn’t just evil tree monsters.

Spores that sprayed acidic liquid everywhere, bizarre plants that released strange smells making comrades harm themselves, giant insects with human faces, earthworms wearing human skin, and more. Beings one would fear to see even in dreams slaughtered the pirates.

While his comrades were being attacked, the cyborg pirate secretly slipped away.

‘I need to get back to headquarters quickly!’

Joining another team isn’t a good idea. If those monsters are in each sector, they would also face annihilation.

After resting briefly, he ran again.

The module implanted in his head kept sending warning signals due to the pain rising from his wounds. Though he desperately wanted to rest, stopping here would be the end.

He ran without stopping until he left the complex. Fortunately, no monsters seemed to be following him.

“Whew, g-good.”

His eyes see the black field created by mud and cloud shadows. Mines and combat drones are scattered throughout the field. He can only escape by following the exact path they came in on.

The cyborg pirate crossed the field carefully, making sure not to deviate from the safe route. When he was about halfway across, a light flashed inside his helmet’s visor.

It was a communication from headquarters. They seemed to have just noticed that he was leaving the complex.

“…Why are you contacting me only now?”

“Sorry. We were late preparing the rescue ship.”

A lie. The Sinoni Cartel had never sent support troops to rescue crew members.

“Damn it! All the comrades who entered the southern sector are gone.”

“All gone?”

“Yes! Everyone’s dead except me!”

“I understand. Tell me your location and I’ll send a rescue ship there.”

“…Really?”

The cyborg pirate hesitated before reciting the coordinates of his location.

“The outskirts of the southern sector.”

“Yes. Where will the rescue ship land? I’ll head there.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“What?”

He asked in confusion, but the answer came not from the communicator but from elsewhere.

With an eerie mechanical sound, the mines buried in the ground simultaneously jumped into the air.

“Thank you for cooperating with the experiment.”

The flash emitted by the forcibly activated mines enveloped him.