episode_0065

Just as we were getting ready to head to the Ahant Aquatic Biology Laboratory.

An upper-class gathering was taking place in a high-rise building in the northern part of Maguspol.

Of course, it was not a simple upper-class gathering.

Coincidentally, some of those in attendance were top level solvers.

It was not the intention of the meeting organizers to have four top solvers gathered in the same place.

“That’s barely enough! There’s no way to win love! Seriously, go for it!”

A person who raises his voice alone, separated from the other three top solvers.

The two amputated arms that were with me from birth were replaced with prosthetic bodies, and another prosthetic body was attached to them…

A sharpshooter with six mechanical arms.

He prefers to hold a sword and a gun with two of his three pairs of arms and scratch his back with the last pair of arms.

Ranking 6th among Magusfall solvers, Jason Spatoy, also known as the Bullet Wizard.

“Where did you get my words?!”

Number 6 shouted at carefully selected victims to please the upper class.

There is one story that the victims heard.

Show off all your talents at a gathering of precious people!

Who could turn down an opportunity like this?

Even if you are already on a successful track, it will be a temptation that cannot be easily rejected.

But another truth that the organizers did not tell them.

The actors who play this tragedy to entertain the upper class must reproduce the tragedy’s contents exactly.

That means… in a duel scene like now between two men surrounding a woman, one of the two actors really had to die according to the original content of the play.

“….”

The actors’ eyes were bloodshot to a scary degree, but there was nothing they could do.

Because there is a kind of coercive power being exercised on this stage.

They cannot regain their freedom unless they end this tragedy. It was that kind of structure.

6th place knew the whole story, but didn’t care.

On the contrary, upon learning of that fact, he became so excited that his eyes glowed red beyond the metal mask he wore under his sharp cowboy hat.

In some ways, it may seem heartless, but that is because it is right.

If the actors were trying their best to portray this tragedy… the audience was just trying their best to enjoy it!

“That monkey hasn’t changed at all.”

“You are saying the obvious. A person’s nature does not change as they get older.”

The two top solvers who were watching the scene from afar opened their mouths.

The two loves were Michael Langabes, ranked 2nd, and Aworth Westcott, ranked 3rd.

The other top solver did not attend in person, but simply sent a station manager in his guise remotely.

“What do you think?”

“I have no thoughts.”

The station manager, who answered the third place question half-heartedly, suddenly picked up a golden grape placed on the table in front of him.

“Are you planning on eating that?”

“Well?”

In response to the second place question, the station manager answered as if he did not know.

Sook.

Even though I said that, my curiosity was piqued.

But of course, even though the stationmaster ate the food… there was no change to the main body in another location.

“…But the grapes are gone.”

“Anyway, there is no normal for high-ranking people.”

“….”

The second place had a lot of things to say to the third place’s words, but as they drank the red blood wine, they swallowed all the words that were up to their throats.

“Ah, uncle. I heard you’ve been broken by that kid lately?”

“I think there’s something wrong with what you say. I have never directly fought that Jinjo called Chris.”

“It’s true that your men lost.”

“The sixth, seventh, and twelfth tribes suffered?”

No sooner had the third person finished speaking than the station chief mentioned three tribes that had recently undergone significant changes.

“Everyone seems to be very interested in me.”

“No, it’s not the uncle, it’s a lot for that kid.”

In response to third place’s words, second place made exaggerated gestures and pretended to be hurt.

“There was also a rumor that the uncle’s daughter was obsessed with that kid.”

“That child would do that. There will be no better opportunity than that.”

Third place stuck out his tongue as if he was tired of the insignificant response.

“Eck, I really don’t understand.”

“Now that I think about it… didn’t you meet that kid in Miller Town?”

“No, I didn’t meet him. I wanted to see it once, though.”

It was the third place and the Colossus group that dealt with the countless rats in Miller Town.

Chris and the Blue Heart Office only performed locally compared to her.

-Just right.

Second place touched the floor with his luxurious cane as if he was disappointed with her answer.

“What, are you going already?”

“I saw some happy faces.”

“If I go back anyway, my daughter and brothers will target me, so why not just stay here?”

The station master near the two casually mentioned a sensitive topic.

“Haha, it would have been nice if I could die like that.”

Second place headed to the elevator as if nothing had happened.

****

Apart from the upper-class gathering, it was already night when we arrived at the institute.

-Tung!

I vigorously kicked the back door of the car we were riding in and put both feet on the ground.

“That’s frivolous.”

“What do you think!”

Lund, in his wolf form, always added one word to my actions.

“I think that building is a research lab.”

Anyway, Sylvia looked around and pointed to a building that looked like a research lab.

“Silvia, are you going to come right in?”

“Yes, because there was no other word from the client. They said they were fully prepared to welcome us… so you can believe it.”

For some reason, listening to Sylvia’s words made me feel more anxious.

“But that car looks really solid on the outside.”

“It’s not like it’s going to be hard, it’s solid.”

That vehicle was a military vehicle gifted to us by Lund and other representatives of the anti-Lidocaine faction.

It’s not an item suitable for an office like ours… but there’s no reason to refuse it!

Of course, I seemed to know what the intention was.

There was a high possibility that that vehicle contained a device to monitor our actions.

I wouldn’t just give something like that out of favor.

Of course, since Lund was accompanying him, there was a possibility that this would not happen.

“Oh my, my waist.”

“What, what should I do if I only strain my waist that much?”

The last people to get out of the car were David and Johnny.

Even though David said he was late because he was busy packing the moving bag containing Sheila, Johnny was groaning.

“Isn’t black oak stronger than plain oak?”

“Sisters, no race can overcome time.”

“…?”

“…?”

“Ah….”

When Lund and I responded that we couldn’t understand, Johnny readily admitted that he was wrong.

“Chris!”

Meanwhile, a ferocious beast was rampaging inside the carrying bag David was carrying.

It’s a beast that can kill people with its cuteness if you’re not careful.

“Sila. I’ll open it, so stop scratching.”

David opened the door of the suitcase as if he had lost.

Immediately, Silas jumped out of the bag and landed on Lund’s back.

“Oh!”

While watching that, I walked up to Scylla and Lund and patted them back and forth.

Sila, buried in Lund’s fur, was cute… but it was also refreshing to see Lund with a serious face and not even touching me when I petted him.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get moving.”

“Yes!”

Of course, our director was not one to allow us to keep doing other things with our destination right in front of us.

***

The location of the Ahant Aquatic Biology Laboratory was adjacent to the shining sea.

Although it is not as good as Seneburg Port, the easternmost port to the shining sea.

Although it is not on the coast, it is close to the coast, and there is even a separate lake nearby.

“Is this what a typical research lab feels like?”

As we got closer and closer to the entrance, David looked at the exterior of the lab and said something.

“Why?”

“No, it looks hard just by looking at it.”

That’s right.

It would be a big deal if an aquatic organism that had become dangerous due to genetic modification escaped the laboratory.

“You don’t know it just by looking at the outside, but labs like this are bound to be sensitive to test subjects escaping and external attacks.”

Lund gave David an answer so I didn’t have to explain.

The entrance to the lab was more ordinary than expected.

The sight of people coming and going… was so ordinary that it was impossible to imagine what was going on inside the lab.

“…Please show me your employee ID.”

Meanwhile, as we tried to enter, security guards in drab uniforms stopped us and said,

“From the Blue Heart Office.”

“Oh, follow me.”

As soon as Sylvia finished speaking, a security guard began to guide us, forcing the others to step aside.

“I guess animals are allowed in.”

“Sure!”

As soon as I spoke, Silas jumped on Lund’s back and said, as he didn’t seem to be doing anything to stop him.

‘Hey, there’s no separate portable bed.’

Although I was jealous of Scylla, the lab decided to refrain from turning into a baby bat.

Because there was nothing good about showing the cards in my hand.

As I started walking, Youngmin came close next to me.

I decided to play a little prank.

-Kwaak.

Youngmin acted like a puppy who didn’t know what to do when my hand suddenly touched his.

‘As expected, they make fun of this taste.’

While I was teasing Youngmin, my companions were surprised by what the inside of the lab looked like.

In addition to various facilities, the walls of the laboratory were filled with water, like an aquarium.

The aquatic life seen through the glass was beautiful yet bizarre.

I wonder how these two expressions can coexist, but there is probably no more accurate expression than this.

“Yes, everyone has arrived. What should I do?”

The security guard tried to contact someone at the desk on the first floor. After the short call, he looked at us and said,

“Let’s move towards the Department of Biological Sciences. Our director is said to be there at the moment.”

“Where is the Department of Biological Sciences?”

In response to Sylvia’s question, the security guard asked the lab staff at the desk for guidance.

It’s as if his work ends here.

“Follow me.”

To move according to directions and guidance. It was monotonous, but so far, that was our job.

But as I walked around the lab, there were things I saw.

Apart from security guards, armed troops are present throughout the laboratory.

Aquatic creatures seem to be watching us through the glass.

Researchers from unusual races, including the octopus beastman who whispers while looking at us.

All of this was enough to give us a novel feeling.

“Is that glass safe?”

“Why? Are you scared?”

“No, it’s not like that, but…”

“Don’t worry. I am there.”

Actually, there’s me, there’s Lund, there’s Johnny, there’s Sylvia… In fact, Youngmin is also a significant force in our group right now.

***

Following the researcher’s guidance, we boarded the elevator.

There were various information signs posted next to the elevator buttons.

There were some that were not information boards, but most of them were informing about the relationship between this institute and other companies, such as ‘Iscariot Security System Dedicated Management Site’ and ‘Scientific Facility Maintenance Subsidiary Hi-Sabrens’.

“Chris.”

Before getting into the elevator, Lund, who suddenly looked like a wolf, pulled my sleeve into his mouth and said,

“Huh?”

“I don’t know if you know, but Hi-Sabrence is one of the subsidiaries belonging to my association.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

This might make things a lot easier?!

“But wait a minute.”

I leaned down and whispered in Lund’s ear. So that the researcher guiding us cannot hear.

“Why are you telling me that now?”

“I cannot be aware of the cooperative relationships of all subsidiaries. I only told you because I remembered it too late.”

After all, there are secretaries and subordinates to do such work.

Anyway, I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of my relationship with Hi-Sabrence.

They must have hired us thinking we were just a new office.

-Ding dong!

As soon as the elevator beep sounded, the doors opened.

In the Department of Biological Sciences, we didn’t have to move around to find a director.

The person who greeted us in front of the elevator was none other than Black Goblin Ahant, the director of the Ahant Aquatic Biology Research Institute.

The black-skinned goblin approached us quickly, perhaps because it was small.

“Director Sylvia. Nice to meet you. I can’t tell you how happy I am that Blue Heart Office took on this request.”

“I think you are exaggerating. Nice to meet you, Research Institute Director.”

Sylvia and the research director were the first to exchange greetings.

Ahant’s gaze checked our group one by one.

Meanwhile, I saw him looking around at me and Lund, and it seemed like he liked me and Lund. Although it never means anything good.

“Now, everyone, please follow me!”

We followed Ahant further into the Department of Biological Sciences. Only I knew what was waiting for us there.