episode_0328

“Nanomachines?”

“That’s what the sellers said! They just said nanomachines would increase our strength! We don’t know anything! We really don’t!”

“Why would they sell something like that to kids like you?”

I asked sharply, pointing the gun at them, filled with suspicion. Logically, it was strange to sell such powerful drugs to kids like them. It almost seemed more plausible that they were a suspicious secret society disguised as students.

“They said it was good, so they sold it to us specially at a cheap price!”

“Do you know who sold it?”

“No! He bought it! I just got it from him!”

At Kalia’s careful question, he opened his mouth with difficulty, glancing around. It seemed to be because of the scorching gun barrel beside him.

“Lies!”

They seemed to be lying, so I lightly struck them a few more times with the stick, but their answer remained the same.

“No! I don’t know! Uwaaaah! He probably doesn’t know the details either! Of course, they said masked people sold it! It’s not like we have X-ray vision, how would we know?”

Hmm, it seems they really don’t know. Moreover, some seemed surprised, as if they didn’t even know about the drug itself. The one who had taken the drug, who was supposed to answer, had long since shriveled up to skin and bones, as if all his strength had been sucked out.

“Wow, only bones are left! Did he die?”

“He really did.”

The one who had taken the drug shivered as if from cold, then died. His appearance had become quite horrific for something caused by an injury. This was despite them clearly having been given a healing accelerant.

“Well, nothing can be done about him… So, what should we do with you guys?”

They were quick to catch on. They looked at us with terrified eyes, clinging to us as if pleading. Now, only our choice remained.

“P-please, save us! We won’t come again! We’ll truly reflect and live our lives!”

“Then what will you give us?”

“Here! Everything!”

They immediately bowed their heads to the ground and hastily pulled out their wallets. It could be said it was quite a polite posture.

“Don’t ever come back!”

“Thank you… Uwaaaah!”

After hitting them a few more times, I called other clones and roughly threw the disheveled guys far away.

“Threats and extortion, I feel like we’ve become a gang…”

“No! This isn’t blackmail; it’s legitimate compensation for damages.”

“…Sigh, let’s just say that.”

We chatted while drinking a beverage nearby.

“…Anyway, this is a big problem. Now even drug addicts are loitering around? I don’t know why the world has become like this. Even if doping is commonplace for hunters… it can’t be just these guys, right? I hope no more gangs come…”

Kalia muttered, sounding worried. She seemed concerned that the surviving thugs would be consumed by revenge, take more drugs, and rush back to this neighborhood.

“Yeah, I guess so. Well, don’t worry too much! If we see guys like that, we’ll put them in a barrel and throw them into the sea!”

“Ah… a barrel?… Okay.”

Kalia looked quite disconcerted as soon as the word ‘barrel’ was mentioned. It was a bit disappointing that she hadn’t yet embraced our righteous democratic spirit of violence. If she fully understood our spirit, she would gain a more proactive will to attack.

Anyway, it was absurd that things ended so quickly.

“What in the world. Nanomachines.”

“These guys won’t come back, will they?”

I tilted my head. This was before a student went berserk at the Aegis Academy outdoor training ground a few days later.

**

The outdoor training ground was chaos itself. The sight of a student reduced to skin and bones, groaning with an oxygen mask on, being carried out on a stretcher, was familiar. What had just happened was quite interesting.

“Alright, the duel will now-”

“U-uwaaaah! D-did I inject too much! Damn it!”

“Huh? Rashid, what’s wrong with you?”

A student suddenly swelled up like a delinquent drug addict. I later heard it happened during a serious duel over a girlfriend issue. By the time Unit 6432, sensing something strange, rushed over via the Violet beacon buried nearby, the rampage was already in full swing.

“Argh! Come to think of it! You were the one who lied first anyway! I’ll kill you!”

“Ah! Ah! Uwaaah!”

The guy, as if suffering from anger management issues, mercilessly beat his opponent in front of him. As his flashing fists swung like a storm, the magical barrier on the skin crackled and shattered. The combination of magic and overwhelming physical force was truly powerful.

“Stop him! Call the security! Call the disciplinary committee kids!”

“Calm down! Calm down and-”

“I’m invincible!”

Surrounding students were comically sent flying by his unbelievably explosive physical strength. Everyone seemed flustered, unable to find a way to suppress him, as he even possessed regenerative abilities.

“Still, he doesn’t know how to use his strength, does he? He’ll be caught quickly!”

“Wow! Crossbody!”

Still, there wasn’t a big problem. He was strong but rampaged wildly, and everyone was managing the situation well with their learned knowledge. It looked like watching WWE. The bloodied guy was quickly carried away by magic, and fortunately, no one appeared to be dying immediately.

A short while later, a brave savior appeared and suppressed the incident. A large male student, observing, seemed to make a decision and glanced at the large poleaxe he was holding. Thinking the axe was overkill, he put it down and pulled out a nearby tree.

“Calm down. Even if that guy talked to the girl you have a crush on, this isn’t right. Now, hold your breath and slowly inhale…”

“Who are you?! What do you know about Yulia?! Die, you bastard!-”

-Thud!

“Ugh!”

The muscular student’s rampage ended after being hit by Granite’s club. The security guards who rushed over immediately tied up and subdued the unconscious student. His body, which had swelled up like a balloon, slowly deflated.

This incident bore a strange resemblance to what we had experienced a few days prior. The word ‘nanomachines’ flashed through my mind.

“What, how dull…”

“It ended quickly!”

I watched, then waved to Granite. He looked my way, recognized me quickly, and then awkwardly waved back, seemingly flustered.

“You fought well!”

Anyway, I tilted my head, wondering why such things were happening. What in the world was going on in this clean and good Aegis? I found out the reason four days later, around the beginning of June.

[Experimental Nanomachine Enhancer Leaked, Distributed to Students Through the Underworld] [Severe Side Effects of Enhancer… Over 80% of Users Experience Side Effects, Rapid Anger and Exhaustion…] [From Clan Members to Academy Students… Widespread Diffusion of Enhancer…]

It seemed we weren’t the only ones in chaos. Everywhere, muscular balloons with anger management issues, high on drugs, were causing disturbances. The entire academy city seemed to have fallen into a cauldron of rage.

So, who distributed these nanomachines? We quickly deduced the answer. The culprits were obvious.

“Laplaxian!”

“It’s definitely them!”

**

“It’s absolutely not us!”

The Policy Cooperation Director’s voice was filled with earnestness. After Violet had her predecessor transferred beyond the River Styx via truck, the new director who took over had never experienced such a headache-inducing situation.

“Clarify! You must clarify thoroughly! Cooperate unconditionally! This is the Chairman’s directive!”

The Laplaxian External Policy Cooperation Department’s network pleaded innocence against the sudden flood of suspicion from the Foundation. Based on Laplaxian’s numerous incidents and conspiracy records, the Foundation pressed them with annoyance, but unfortunately, this time it truly had nothing to do with Laplaxian.

“To the Laplaxian associates, we cannot help but express our concern regarding your company’s position concerning the recent unfortunate incident. As similar regrettable events have occurred in the past, we request your company’s views and explanations on this matter.”

Although the letter from the Foundation was politely worded, it was imbued with anger and suspicion. Interpreted, it meant the following:

“You bastards, you’re behind this, aren’t you? What have you done now?”

“We are led to question the connection between the nanomachine enhancer technology that this Foundation previously researched and the current incident. We wish to ascertain your company’s stance regarding the aspect of technology leakage.”

“That nanomachine enhancer, it’s something we researched and then halted! You guys stole it and spread it, didn’t you?”

For Laplaxian, this time they were genuinely indignant. Even though they were currently capturing army informants in real-time and throwing them into incinerators, and implanting Cerebromites into the heads of double agents connected to Restraidna or the Foundation. That was that, and this was this. Why would a reputable large corporation madly sell unstable pharmaceuticals through underground channels via criminal organizations? Even to avoid exposing a larger opportunity, their scheme against the Apostles, Laplaxian lowered their tails.

“Our company explicitly states that it has no connection whatsoever to the current incident. We deeply regret that our company has been unjustly suspected due to this matter. However, we promise to actively cooperate with the Foundation to uncover the truth of the situation and to transparently disclose all necessary information.”

“We are innocent! This time, we are truly wronged! We will spare no effort in cooperating!”

Fortunately, the culprit was quickly revealed. It was a former researcher from a Foundation-affiliated clan who had stolen data, set up his own lab, and committed the act. Unfortunately, the side effects were too severe, so it was quickly exposed. Only then could the Foundation stop blaming Laplaxian.

“It is understood that your company asserts no involvement in the current situation. Is that correct?”

Stripping away the elaborate linguistic veil to grasp the essence, these words could be interpreted as follows:

“You guys have absolutely nothing to do with this, right?”

“Our company reiterates unequivocally that it had no involvement whatsoever in this unfortunate matter.”

“Yes, we are not involved.”

“We are pleased to confirm your company’s non-involvement in this incident. We look forward to continuing a constructive partnership based on close cooperation and trust between our two companies.”

“Alright, let’s work hard.”

Raihan slumped into his seat and grumbled. Should he consider it a small comfort that one of the fruits fallen from his rotten family tree was the Foundation’s Secretary-General?

“Damn it! Still, I guess we’re lucky. The important thing is, we weren’t exposed. And as a bonus, we got our hands on one of these nanomachines.”

A bizarrely shaped syringe sample rattled noisily in his palm. His secretary lowered her voice and whispered cautiously.

“Still, you should be careful for a while. The Foundation’s intelligence network is still intact.”

“Damn it, what am I going to do about that…”

Raihan’s grumbling continued as his gaze fixed on the screen before him. A female announcer, captivating with her overly revealing attire, was passionately speaking.

[Novosk Research Institute, Illegally Testing and Selling Pharmaceuticals-]

‘Those crazy broadcasters obsessed with ratings, why are they even broadcasting a suppression operation of insignificant guys?’ Even though the Foundation had decided to carry out a kind of public execution to punish the reckless individuals who dared to tamper with their perilous technology.

The place captured on screen was a small building standing tall on the border between the East and South. The outside of the building was tightly surrounded by local police, and in front of it, Inspection Bureau agents were stationed en masse, like a surging tide. Beyond that, clans of all sizes were armed and waiting with bloodthirsty, murderous eyes. As it happened, many of the victims were gullible academy students who had fallen for the promise of power. A situation that would understandably anger the clans.

Raihan didn’t know it, but a miraculous invention, born from his life’s work of patents and Laplaxian’s core technologies, serendipitously combined by the hand of the goddess of chance, was also there.

“Unnie! So I can go in too, right?”

Violet’s eyes were full of excitement and anticipation. She was planning to steal the nanomachine enhancer. She was curious what it would feel like to try it once.

“Yes, but don’t overdo your abilities. Got it?”

Violet nodded and readily agreed to Sophieel’s admonition. As she had also experienced people who had taken the enhancer several times, it wasn’t difficult to ask an acquaintance, an Inspection Bureau agent, to participate with her.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Violet’s mind. Hadn’t she heard that this side would also soon have an inspector? She didn’t know what methods Seijis used to coax and persuade the current director, known for being incompetent and foolish, but it was clear he had done something extraordinary. In any case, both siblings becoming inspectors soon was an unexpected development even according to the original story.

Well, good things are good things, she muttered to herself. It was as good as having two good protagonists now.

Inside the perimeter, it seemed quiet on the surface, but through the windows, unsettling silhouettes swayed back and forth. The main gate held firm, and defensive turrets rose menacingly, but it was obvious they would soon fall.

As Violet prepared to enter, following the Inspection Bureau agents, she suddenly felt a sharp ringing in her head.

“Huh? Unnie, this…”

At that moment, everyone’s cell phones in the vicinity simultaneously rang with a loud noise.

[Please withdraw beyond a radius of one hundred meters immediately.]

The message appeared simultaneously on electronic media and all types of communication networks.

“In accordance with patent and intellectual property rights protection procedures, the Foundation has decided to take full charge of this matter.”

A bizarre voice, piercing into their very minds, echoed.

“This has been agreed upon with the Lustrum administrative authorities.”

“In my head? Is it a mental wave?”

“What is this sound?!”

As the people around them panicked, only Violet looked around with a bewildered expression.

“A mental wave? I can’t hear anything…”

Immediately after, the air rippled as if torn. A steel door appeared right after. It materialized naturally, as if it had been there from the start. The door opened, and what suddenly appeared were armed agents.

[From now on,] “the sealing and containment procedure for Novosk Inc.” “will be carried out.”

As soon as the solemn declaration ended, heavily armed combat agents in vivid orange and black CBRN suits strode forward to the door. Among them, figures in black suits began to take out and inspect something long and shimmering silver. In front of the sudden appearance of these uninvited guests, no one dared to speak. The atmosphere emanating from them was chillingly desolate, like cold steel. A sense of déjà vu, as if one’s flesh would be torn off if they were even slightly provoked.

As most people stood dumbfounded, one hunter, as if jolted awake, shouted, “Th-those things! They’re them! The Patent Decapitation Unit!” Before he could even finish speaking, a translucent dome began to envelop the building. Like a giant soap bubble swallowing the building, the dome was completed in an instant.

“You people, what are you doing without a word…”

Someone opened their mouth as if to protest, but the figure in the protective suit coldly cut them off.

“Discussions with higher-ups are complete. Once the procedure is finished and the containment is lifted, you may enter.”

The voice was cold and resolute. The tone, like that of a machine, contained not a hint of emotion.

By the time the people, who had been standing blankly as if possessed, came to their senses, they had vanished beyond the dome.

**

Inside the Novosk Research Institute, it was as chaotic as a poked beehive. The representative himself was leading the charge, hastily packing his belongings. People in various uniforms were frantically organizing documents and busily collecting important items everywhere.

“Aren’t we going to get caught like this? Look outside!” a staff member cried out in a terrified voice. But the representative remained calm.

“Caught, my ass! It’s fine. I knew this would happen, so I secured a building with an underground passage! The Inspection Bureau guys won’t know about the underground passage, will they?”

Annoyance was evident in the representative’s tone. He had been blinded by momentary profit and rushed the research too quickly. There was a good reason why the Foundation had discarded it. The nanomachine enhancer was overly unstable and clumsy. He had only intended to make a quick fortune, but he didn’t realize that academy students would use it so widely. Unfortunately, some of them were even the children of high-ranking officials.

“So hurry up and pack your things! This is your lifeline! Your bread and butter!” The representative grumbled inwardly. Although it had failed due to budget constraints, the Foundation’s technology was incredible. So much so that he couldn’t understand why they would just leave it unused and gathering dust.

Once they escaped from here, there was a way to survive. The nanomachine enhancer was unstable, but useful enough. If he could somehow find a backer to sell it to or negotiate with, he could survive.

‘Where should I go? Arcit? No, going to the Federation also…’

The representative’s thoughts abruptly cut off at that point. The thick security door, built with a lot of money, was opening by itself.

“What?! Who opened it! Close it right now!” The representative yelled, but his shouts were completely drowned out by the voice that followed.

“Pavel Novosk.”

That mechanical, lifeless voice mercilessly cut off his words.

“Pavel Novosk, representative of Novosk Research Institute, senior researcher of Altridge Operations, and a C-grade hunter. It has been confirmed that you have violated Luminexa Foundation patents LN-7424-BNC and LN-9312-NCC related to bio-fluid nano-enhancers, Foundation Regulation RR-27, and associated Lustrum Intellectual Property Protection Articles 13, Paragraph 2, Article 27, Paragraph 1, and Article 33, Paragraph 3, by unauthorizedly seizing and improperly using Foundation assets. There is no room for excuse regarding this.”

“Uh… uh… that’s…” The representative stammered, at a loss for words. In the meantime, the resisting staff and mercenary guards had already fallen. The men in protective suits casually dusted off their sparking, gun-like weapons, looking relaxed.

“Official reported damages from the distributed nanomachine enhancer include 12 deaths and 211 injured, in addition to vast material and psychological damages.”

The man in the suit adjusted his sunglasses slightly and continued speaking. The researchers, instantly bound and tied, looked around in terror.

“Therefore, the Luminexa Foundation has determined that you lack the ability to safely and appropriately utilize the intellectual assets in question, and has concluded that all data and knowledge in your possession pose a serious threat to society and humanity as a whole. Consequently, the Foundation has officially ordered a full seizure of your business and research institute.”

At these words, everyone froze solid.

“From this moment, the Intellectual Property Containment Enforcement Unit will commence seizure procedures as of 15:21 today. No objections from the party concerned will be accepted. Activate the Mnemosys Protocol.”

As soon as the final pronouncement was made, a flash of blue light engulfed the interior of the building. Countless white lines rose from the researchers’ heads. The agents in suits took out their silver equipment and mercilessly sucked in these white lines.

“Ah, Uwaaaah!”

Screams erupted from everywhere. Small and large characters from all kinds of documents and books floated into the air. Diagrams, graphs, and numbers written on the documents rose in great numbers, then crumpled, clumped together, and turned black.

All electronic devices began to flicker abnormally. Zeros and ones repeated endlessly, then black and white granules surged like waves from screens and the building’s main structure into reality, then distorted. From walls and lab equipment everywhere, afterimages and emotional currents rose like smoke from a fire.

The nanomachine enhancer test tubes remaining in boxes and the lab scattered, then turned white as if smudged with correction fluid. The whitened objects dispersed into dust and vanished into the air. All kinds of media, all memories left in the space, were greedily extracted, torn, trampled, and crushed.

They would never be found again. Even if all magical and supernatural means were mobilized, they could never be deciphered.

“Ah, no! Not that! Please! Please!”

The representative’s scream echoed. It didn’t come to mind. He couldn’t remember. As soon as his scream ended, he rolled his eyes back and slumped, limp. While agents in orange protective suits bound the employees, other men in suits placed all the contents absorbed by their silver equipment into large, translucent capsules.

The man with sunglasses calmly declared, “15:26, the intellectual property containment and sealing procedure is complete. We will withdraw.”

All information regarding the nanomachine enhancer that Novosk Research Institute possessed was erased without a trace from this location. The knowledge had fully returned to its rightful owner.

No one would ever be able to recreate the nanomachine enhancer again. Nor should they. Knowledge is something only those who are worthy may possess.

Just then, the man in sunglasses’ superhuman hearing was sharply drawn.

“Squeak squeak!”

A light and adorable sound. A rat was tottering and entering a drain on the laboratory floor. The agent in the protective suit asked his superior.

“What should we do about that rat?”

The electromagnetic bolt launcher the agent was holding hummed with a charging sound. The man with sunglasses shook his head.

“That is merely an ignorant beast. No artifact or magic could extract meaningful data from such a creature. Just withdraw.”

It was a simple, clear instruction. The Intellectual Property Containment Enforcement Unit agents calmly exited the scene, holding the information capsules.

**

The sewer rat disappeared into the dark drain. No one paid attention to the rat. Because it seemed insignificant and worthless. But sometimes, in unseen places, the most unexpected beings play crucial roles.

-Clink!

The syringe hitting the pipe echoed clearly. Rats, each with a pair of nanomachine enhancer syringes strapped to their backs, calmly and persistently headed into the darkness.

“Boss! Boss! We’re going! We’re going!”