episode_0286

One week before the mine infiltration, Seijis and we discussed the internal infiltration plan in depth.

“The important thing to remember is that Pax Nova Island is controlled by a naval faction with anti-clan tendencies. Have you heard of the Federation’s factional politics?”

I answered confidently.

“Yes! There are pro-clan factions and anti-clan factions, and also pro-council factions and anti-council factions, right?”

The military, one of the Federation’s two major pillars, is entangled in a complex web of political forces, much like kudzu vines.

Broadly, they are divided based on their closeness to the council and their friendly relations with civilian forces represented by the clans.

There are soldiers who are close to council members but wary of clans, and others who are friendly with clans but clash with the council.

Of course, there’s also the possibility of disliking or liking both.

“You’ve hit the nail on the head. But that’s only a superficial distinction; the internal situation is a different matter.”

At the ensuing explanation, our heads began to throb.

“Ugh!”

The Federation military is superficially divided into four main factions.

The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Strategic Weapons Force, along with the younger generation of smaller factions that survived amidst the larger powers.

“In terms of scale, the Army faction is the largest, but the Navy possesses airships, so it cannot be underestimated.”

In truth, airships were originally owned by the Air Force.

However, a dispute broke out.

The Navy asserted that ‘airships that fly by buoyancy are a type of ship, and naval officers handled the airships of the International League Army before the establishment of the Federation, so how dare the rootless Air Force step forward?’

Ultimately, after a factional dispute, the Navy ended up taking the airships.

As a result, the Air Force can only operate fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft; they cannot touch ‘airships’ equipped with anti-gravity flotation devices and exceeding a certain displacement. That is the regulation.

Outraged by this miserable reality, the Air Force ended up joining forces with the Strategic Weapons Force faction, which oversees strategic weapons and special forces units.

Although the troop numbers of the two forces are small, they reportedly play a role in balancing the two large factions due to the importance of air supremacy and weapons of mass destruction.

“The rest are the younger generation who insist on tearing everything down and rebuilding it, and those who step back from this conflict and remain neutral, but they aren’t very important to us, so there’s no need for further explanation.”

“So, what does all this have to do with our mission?”

“It’s important. The dynamics I just explained created the strange characteristics of the area where the operation will be carried out.”

The next moment, a photo of a man in a beret appeared on the screen. The eyes of us Violets, who were sitting in the factory, were all drawn to it.

“The man you’re seeing now is Colonel Kurt, the leader of the naval warlord faction that controls Pax Nova Island. He was an ordinary naval officer, but he gathered soldiers and mercenaries who followed him, murdered his superior, and seized the entire island, establishing his own kingdom. He currently claims to be the island’s regional commander.”

“What? Isn’t that a rebellion? Why is the Federation neglecting it?”

Even Seijis, who was continuing the explanation, chuckled as if dumbfounded.

“In principle, yes. But Colonel Kurt denied it, claiming it was ‘an unfortunate accident that occurred during a friendly duel.’”

“And he justified seizing command by claiming he bought the regional commander position from the previous commander.”

Indeed, it’s said that in the Federation military, if you want a high-ranking or specific position, it’s possible to buy the position or rank with money through a transaction with the current holder.

“Furthermore, he paid a large sum of tribute to the anti-clan faction’s generals and made contracts to supply minerals and superconductor materials to military-affiliated companies at rock-bottom prices, thus getting things smoothed over as a mere oversight.”

Ultimately, Pax Nova Island has become a sealed military zone where one can enter but not leave.

“So that’s the background, but how do we infiltrate?”

Seijis tapped the screen with his finger, and the display changed.

“Through that broker and various pieces of information I know, I’ve identified three main routes. First, the trade route through the mines; second, the supply transportation route.”

Ah, I see. No matter how powerful, self-sufficiency is impossible on a small island. It’s a structure where they sell minerals to raise funds and import necessary supplies.

“Lastly, there’s the worker inflow route.”

“Workers?”

“Do you remember the superconductor story from a moment ago? Pax Nova has mines. Colonel Kurt operates this main source of income to procure supplies, and it’s presumed he’s utilizing a large amount of slave labor.”

According to the subsequent explanation, about half of them were slaves.

The other half were reportedly affiliated with subcontractors of subcontractors of subcontractors.

According to information from Cascadia, some of those indebted to the council and military-affiliated financial institutions were sent here.

“I see…”

It’s not surprising. The wicked capitalists in this world consider exploiting people with debts or weaknesses a wise management strategy for cutting labor costs.

“First, approaching through that route is the first step. The second is to infiltrate and confirm the Professor’s whereabouts. Finally, it’s to rescue the Professor and make a swift escape.”

“For the Professor’s safety, the escape must be swift and perfect. Although the Professor is also an awakened one, she’s not as strong as you. It would be troublesome if she got injured by rashly engaging in combat.”

As it’s a rescue operation, handling it as quietly as possible would be the best course of action.

After finishing the explanation, Seijis suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at me intently.

“Come to think of it, there’s one more option.”

“What is it?”

“It’s entirely dependent on your capabilities, Violet. Are you confident you can quickly detect and neutralize the main defense facilities, generators, and surveillance systems? Neutralizing just the anti-air network is enough. I’ll go in myself then.”

Oh, it seems Seijis plans to be directly involved.

“Of course! I’ll blow everything up! Leave it to me!”

“Good, then let’s first begin internal reconnaissance, and if conditions permit, we can switch to the second plan. If the reconnaissance results look good, occupying the entire island might be worth considering… if possible, it would be better to deal with it now.”

As I listened to Seijis muttering to himself and wondered, the words he had spoken earlier caught our attention.

“Wait, occupy the island? So, we can take it over?”

Seijis shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but if the island is occupied, the person to hand it over to has already been decided. As I explained earlier, this island has a complex political background. Instead, that person will undoubtedly be deeply grateful to you and will give you a generous reward. You can look forward to it.”

Hmm, I don’t know exactly who Seijis mentioned, but they must be a good person.

Regrettably, taking control of the island will have to be postponed. After all, we already have the Karnak Archipelago.

“…Understood!”

As the briefing was nearing its end, Seijis emphasized, as if not wanting us to forget.

“Colonel Kurt is a paranoiac. If he intentionally kidnapped the Professor, it’s obvious he’ll make outrageous demands. The safety of the hostage is paramount. Remember that.”

I see. Given Seijis’s repeated warnings, it seemed the Colonel was not just any dangerous person.

“But what kind of demands could be so dangerous?”

We tilted our heads, puzzled. I knew well that engineering and science were distinctly different fields, and that a scientist or two creating something instantly on their own was the stuff of movies.

Even in Rustroom, where all sorts of eccentric geniuses gathered, the only ones capable of such a feat at this point were future students who had not yet enrolled.

“Don’t worry too much, Seijis! She’s just a scientist, after all. What could she possibly do that’s so amazing?”

At our reaction, Seijis mumbled something incomprehensible, as if something had occurred to him.

“Still, you never know. We should pray that that crazy woman doesn’t cause any trouble inside…”

“…?”

**

At the same time Violet and Seijis were holding their meeting, deep underground on Pax Nova Island.

The Professor was dragged by soldiers to a damp and eerie underground hangar. After being blindfolded and traversing countless stairs and four elevators downwards, her eyes were finally freed from the darkness.

Beyond the vast space, permeated by the salty scent of the sea, a man in a beret awaited her past the dim lights.

From the man’s appearance, as he toyed with a glinting red artificial eye, the Professor instinctively realized.

That this person was the island’s true ruler.

“Ah… I’m aching. So, you’re the one who called for me? Colonel? There must be a reason for treating a person so barbarically, right? If not, just kill me now. I don’t have much time.”

“Otherwise, return my prosthetic arm that you stole. I’d also appreciate it if you’d remove this bothersome collar. I’m not a pet, you know.”

Bernike tugged at the cold metal collar, sneering.

Although her tone was relaxed and leisurely, her appearance was anything but. Just hours ago, soldiers had suddenly dragged her away and mercilessly beaten her without pause.

Fortunately, they hadn’t touched her precious cerebrum. The Professor silently thanked them for that, while openly expressing her indignation at having been assaulted.

“So, what exactly are you plotting?”

Sharp gazes, as if capable of piercing even the guards’ armor plating, fixed upon her, but the Professor paid no mind and continued to speak.

“For a high-ranking officer to confront me directly, doesn’t that mean there’s some special mission? It’s common sense that you wouldn’t just leave someone like me alone after capturing them, right?”

“The lack of mention about outside contact means ransom isn’t the objective. At the very least, sending my voice or a body part to threaten them would be the normal procedure. Savages like you wouldn’t hesitate to do that.”

The Colonel remained expressionless and motionless, simply listening to her venomous words.

The officers lined up around him couldn’t hide their disgust, yet remained silent, their faces flushed with rage at the insults poured upon them, like mute dogs who had swallowed honey.

Watching that scene, the Professor felt a thrilling pleasure and gained conviction. Her deductions were accurate.

The Professor continued to wag her tongue, spouting words.

“I considered other possibilities too. Like, perhaps it’s a barbaric and vile intention. I mean, I’ve fallen among these crude, foul-smelling apes, haven’t I?”

“But it doesn’t seem to be that. Not treating me roughly and maintaining a superficial politeness suggests it. Even with a paragon of intellect and beauty like me defenseless here. At least they don’t seem to treat me as insignificant. Even if they resorted to violence in the end.”

Bernike haughtily swept back her white hair, which shimmered with a reddish tint at the ends, and boasted.

The soldiers surrounding her seemed ready to pull their triggers at any moment, but the Professor appeared utterly confident.

‘Whatever the reason, your objective is to use me. If you were going to kill me, you would have done so already.’

“Alright, Colonel Kurt. Don’t you have any intention of telling me what your scheme is? It must be something dignified, excellent, and productive, I assume?”

The Colonel scrutinized Bernike from head to toe, then replied coldly.

“To be direct. Make weapons as I instruct. Then I will grant you your freedom.”

Bernike crossed her arms and burst into laughter, as if dealing with an undergraduate who had plagiarized her thesis.

“Oh, Colonel. Isn’t that a bit too preposterous? You must have watched too many movies. Or are you addicted to games? You seem to have quite a bit of experience, but oh dear, can’t you already distinguish between reality and fantasy? Good heavens! How pathetic. I have an acquaintance who’s a psychiatrist; should I connect you?”

“Thank you, but I decline. I am perfectly fine. Even if I did gaze into the darkness in the deep sea.”

“Ah, let’s stop the unnecessary chatter, what are your conditions—”

The Colonel, who had been staring at the Professor as she cackled mockingly, received a switch from a bodyguard.

A light click.

—Crack!

“…!”

A thrilling shock coursed through her entire body.

As icy water was thrown over her, Bernike, regaining her senses, found herself sprawled flat on the damp concrete floor, which smelled salty.

“Have you come to your senses, Doctor?”

“…Ugh… As if you didn’t expect that? And my title isn’t Doctor, it’s Professor. Appointed for life. You’re quite impatient, aren’t you? Alright, what exactly do you intend to assign me?”

The Colonel gestured with his chin towards one side of the hangar. One of his subordinates swiftly brought something out.

What appeared was a metal object clearly emblazoned with a purple phoenix emblem. It trotted nimbly on four legs, then lay flat before the Professor and barked.

“Woof woof!”

The robot dog wagged the machine gun attached in place of its tail and sniffed.

“Mech Hound. I heard you designed the core part that controls this creature’s brain and central nervous system. Is that correct?”

“It’s a cute little thing. My masterpiece from my first professional job. It’s true I contributed to its development when I worked at the Foundation. But what about it?”

The Mech Hound wagged its machine gun playfully, acting cute.

“You are a talented individual, excellent in both theory and practice. And your groundbreaking achievements are not few.”

Bernike, who had been intently observing the Colonel, scoffed in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me you want me to create an ultra-high-performance killer robot dog? The idea is decent. But why should I do something like that?”

At that moment, as she snickered, Bernike found herself firmly bound, submerged deep underwater, then pulled back up.

Damn it, the water’s saltier than I expected.

“Cough… You scum-spawned mongrels!”

The Federation Navy’s waterboarding was quite rough. The soldiers repeatedly submerged and pulled out the Professor, who was screaming as if she were suffocating.

When she emerged from the water, the waiting Colonel, seemingly having run out of patience, drew an electromagnetic pistol and aimed it at her.

“You have no choice, Professor. If you obey my orders, you can leave this island safely. Otherwise…”

Bernike had no choice but to shut her mouth. Her magic level wasn’t enough to block it. Provoking these dullards was an interesting pastime, but she didn’t want a heavy metal bullet lodged in her head.

“Alright, what exactly do you want me to do?”

The Colonel chose to show her directly instead of speaking.

Lights flickered on in the hangar, which had been enveloped in an eerie silence.

Bernike, squinting for a moment at the brightness, realized why the scent of the sea was so strong.

In the middle of the vast space, illuminated by bright lights, seawater gently lapped.

It was an underground submarine docking facility.

Where a submarine should have been, a colossal creature resembling a mixture of an octopus and a whale was half-submerged.

“Professor, I heard you have made groundbreaking discoveries and inventions regarding the nervous systems and brains of awakened ones and demonic beasts.”

Perhaps due to anesthetics, the demonic beast was subtly heaving as if breathing, firmly bound by massive restraints.

Numerous drug injection tubes were embedded in its body in various places. The Professor chuckled at the bizarre and absurd sight.

“Oh, it’s a Paronodon. How did you capture it? Don’t tell me… you…”

“Yes, capturing it alive was quite a struggle.”

Colonel Kurt spoke with a serious expression.

“My demand is simple. Develop a device to control and manipulate that demonic beast within a month. Just like you created the Mech Hound. Then I will release you. You can do it, can’t you?”

By then, her bonds had been released, and she staggered to her feet.

“Damn it, do you think a scientist is some kind of magic lamp? I don’t have tools, surgical instruments, or even medicine, so how am I supposed to make anything? I don’t even have a portable comprehensive diagnostic scanner. What am I supposed to do when you’ve even taken my precious prosthetic arm…?”

The grumbling Professor was silenced as soldiers carried in countless pieces of equipment and supplies.

“I will provide ample equipment and support. Yes, I’ll also return your prosthetic arm.”

The Professor alternated her gaze between the advanced equipment, clearly emblazoned with the Laplaxia logo, and the demonic beast. She saw a possibility.

‘Wait a minute, how many years has it been since I last did something like this?’

This sensation, felt after such a long time, made her heart pound slightly.

A peculiar glow began to emanate from her golden eyes.

“You’re insane.”

As she gazed at the bound Paronodon, Bernike’s eyes gleamed with increasing excitement.

Colonel Kurt asked the Professor, who was lost in thought, staring blankly at the monster.

“So, will you refuse?”

Bernike twisted the corner of her mouth in a strange way.

“No, this will be interesting. Let’s start right away.”

When the Colonel offered his hand for a handshake, the Professor gladly took it, her face alight with pleasure.

**

One week after the meeting.

While the slave Violet worked in the mine, preparing for a large-scale rebellion, we reflected on the past week.

“It took longer than expected.”

“It could have progressed faster, though.”

One week into the full-scale infiltration, the Violets executed their infiltration through various routes.

“Not here. These guys don’t know.”

After wiping out a paltry pirate gang, unit 431 reported while stuffing the defeated soldiers into oil drums.

—Splash!

“Confirmed here too! They were just smugglers.”

“Please spare us! We only smuggled gold bars and antiques! Really!”

“But why were children found under the roof of your house? And without clothes?”

“Th-that’s…”

—Rat-a-tat-tat!

Five small human trafficking organizations were crushed like walnuts in a press, but there was no sign of the Professor, or even a white-haired woman remotely resembling her.

Only grim sights remained.

“Whoa! I finally reached the mine! This is the sea off Pax Nova main island!”

Then, Unit 2881 finally caught a lead.

Just in case, she had shaved her head bald and secretly blended into a specific smuggling route, and it was the correct choice.

“Let’s switch! This is too hard!”

“Alright, you’ve planted clones in the mine, right? Find an uninhabited space beforehand!”

Contrary to the information, mines seemed to be scattered in various locations.

Judging by the guards’ conversations and various circumstances, it seemed that mines were scattered not only on the main island but also on the surrounding smaller islands.

That’s why they must have covered such a small island with concrete and even built structures for the miners.

“Good, bring the fishing boats closer!”

If ordered, they could immediately move from the island’s mines to the main island, but for now, they intended to test the defense capabilities of the main island’s naval base.

If it was easier than expected, they planned to charge in directly.

Looking around, many fishing boats were visible along the coast of Livria.

According to the slave Violet’s visual information, fishing boats occasionally appeared beyond the horizon near Pax Nova, and seeing them come and go frequently suggested they weren’t attacked recklessly.

“It’s boat number 12! A hole in the hull! Gulp! It’s sinking!”

“It’s sinking!”

Of course, as expected, the path to the island was not easy. While the Livria coast was endlessly peaceful, this particular area felt ominous once entered.

Demonic beasts swimming in the water frequently attacked boats, tearing at their bottoms, and occasionally, demonic beasts the size of whales would appear.

“Is there any way to avoid the demonic beasts?”

“Hmm, I don’t know either.”

Nevertheless, through sacrifice and effort, a few fishing boats managed to approach the island.

“Good, it doesn’t seem like they’re firing yet… it’s a helicopter!”

As expected, attack helicopters with searchlights swooped down with fierce momentum. The Violets on board quickly jumped into the sea.

“Since it’s come to this, we’ll just have to swim there!”

They quickly retrieved oxygen tanks and flippers from their inventory, equipped them, and proceeded towards the island.

Fish with sharp teeth relentlessly tried to bite them, but they struck them down with their swords and continued forward.

“Are these also a type of demonic beast?”

“Seems so. Still, the infiltration is easier than expected, isn’t it?”

At that instant, a Violet, cutting through the water, spotted a round object floating underwater, about the size of a basketball.

“What’s that?”

Just as she, feeling suspicious, was about to pass by without touching it, a light attached to one side of the sphere blinked red and then exploded.

“Oh, it exploded underwater!”

“It’s a mine! Be careful!”

So this is the underwater defense system Seijis mentioned. It’s formidable.

A new obstacle blocked the path of the diver Violets, who had narrowly avoided the explosion’s shockwave.

A thin net subtly spread underwater. Some Violets became entangled in the net.

“Ack! It’s a net! I’m caught in the net! Untangle me!”

“Wait! I’ll cut it right away.”

The Violets trying to free themselves from the net felt it suddenly tighten. It was constricting, stinging. It hurt. Argh!

What followed was a horrific sight.

“Huh? Why am I in the network? Did I die?”

“Kyaaaah! Unit 4012!”

The divers who witnessed the ‘cube steak’ Violet were engulfed in shock.

“Let’s quickly move to the beach! It’s dangerous!”

Perhaps due to the previous explosion, the silhouettes of boats and warships with searchlights were already looming on the water’s surface above them.

—Bang! Crash!

“Is that a grenade?”

“It’s a portable depth charge!”

Not long after, the battered Violets barely managed to crawl onto a shaded spot on the coast.

“We almost got wiped out if we had just charged in recklessly…”

“Indeed…”

The results of the surveillance network test were harsh. Still, they had to take comfort in the fact that they had at least landed on the main island.

“First, I’ll plant the hibernation bodies and then rest!”

For now, I need to prepare the mine slaves for rebellion and grasp the layout of the main facilities and defense systems. And then…

“I need to find the Professor!”

Fortunately, finding her wasn’t difficult.

The next day, on the eighth day since the operation began, we found a white-haired woman leisurely strolling around the island. Soldiers were monitoring her, but she appeared more free than expected.

“Found her! It’s the Professor!”

As soon as her location was confirmed, searches elsewhere were halted. Now, it was time to plan the full-scale rescue operation.

“Landfall! Explosion!”

“Airdrop!”