episode_0284

Those who tried to swindle money from the start of a request were all swindlers or liars. That’s why she had a bad feeling when the representative from Eckhart University offered ‘knowledge’ as compensation. Knowledge, really? What do they take us for? Naive graduate students?

She glared at the man in the suit before her, opening her mouth with an icy voice. “Knowledge? Are you kidding me? Hey, desk jockey. Be honest. You just don’t want to pay, do you?”

Most clients paid as promised. Not because they were particularly noble moralists, but because the medical possibility of their organs being detached increased if they failed to pay the fixer’s fee. As the weapons dealer Armas had said, if they didn’t want to pay in lead, they had to be honest. And those who spouted nonsense and made excuses often found reasons to delay the request day after day. She suspected the university representatives before her were also of that type.

The chubby graduate students standing next to the man in the suit gasped. Violet’s modulated voice was like a sharp blade, and her fists were already clenching uneasily.

Sensing the situation, Manager Leslie quickly stepped forward to intervene. “Just a moment, Representative-nim. Please calm down.” The manager spoke politely to the university. His mind, sharp with worry over what his childlike but truly unpredictable employer might do, carefully chose his next words.

“Excuse me, but could you please explain in more detail? We are doubtful as to what practical benefit mere theses or books would be to us. If the compensation is ambiguous, we may need to reconsider the request.”

The man in the suit cleared his throat a few times before speaking. “Of course. The ‘knowledge’ we intend to provide is far more extensive than you imagine.” A subtle hint of displeasure was present in his voice.

“To be honest, we thought you would be pleased, but it seems there has been some misunderstanding…” He paused to catch his breath, then continued. “Our university has academic-industrial partnerships with numerous corporations. The knowledge we can provide is not merely academic material. Why would we offer something useless?”

Violet raised an eyebrow. “Then what is it?” The man in the suit calmly continued his explanation.

“First, we will provide you with a capability development enhancement program currently under research and development at our university. It’s an advanced program that analyzes and enhances your unique abilities. For example, awakened individuals who completed the program, though with individual differences, were generally able to improve various stats such as their strength, reaction speed, and agility by more than 20%.” “Hmm.”

He briefly observed Violet’s reaction. The girl’s expression, obscured by the blur and ambiguity characteristic of her recognition inhibition device, was difficult to read, but she seemed less hostile than before.

“Next, there’s our cutting-edge mana observation technology. We have developed an observation system that can visualize and control the flow of mana. We can help you detect the mana field around you in real time, analyze it with the latest algorithms, and find effective ways to control your mana.”

Violet tilted her head skeptically. “Don’t you have something more tangible? Not that vague education or ability development stuff.”

“Ah, in that case, how about access to our university’s experimental equipment? For example, localized gravity control devices, phase interferometers, or high-speed ultrasonic cutters. These weapons are still in the prototype stage, but they will be a great help in the field.” ‘Now, that’s more interesting.’ Violet said, crossing her arms. “Intriguing. Continue.”

“There’s also what’s most needed in the field. Let me introduce our university’s augmentation technology: physical function enhancement using experimental nanobots, and neural interface connections.” “Like cyborg procedures?” “You’re precisely right.”

The man in the suit finished speaking and looked at Violet. “All of this is part of the ‘knowledge’ we wish to provide. What do you think? This technology has not yet been revealed to any company or clan. Isn’t it sufficiently attractive?” Leslie chimed in. “Indeed, it’s impressive.” The man in the suit nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Yes, it is. And to be honest,” His eyes turned to Violet. “We wish to establish a long-term relationship with Dunhind Security Service through this request.”

Violet made a puzzled expression. “What do you mean?” “We heard about the Fused Being you hunted last time. Your skill was quite impressive.” A smile spread across the man’s lips. “If we are to research demonic beasts and various anomalous phenomena, we need a reliable, dedicated security company. Compared to the various companies we’ve hired before, we believe you are the perfect candidates.”

Violet thought for a moment before answering. “I understand that point for now, but let’s discuss it later. What I want is cash. As for the rest… I’ll look into it and decide.” Leslie interjected. “Then, shall we return to the main topic? You mentioned you had the latest information on the professor’s whereabouts, correct?”

The man in the suit nodded and opened his briefcase. “Yes, that’s right. According to recently acquired information…”

**

To be honest, the ‘knowledge’ the university offered didn’t seem very reliable. The performance sounded plausible, but everything came with the label ‘experimental’ or ‘prototype.’ Of course, even if it was gambling-type equipment that might explode during use, it wouldn’t pose a huge risk to us. Still, there was a persistent feeling that they were trying to swindle us out of money. Furthermore, there was a subtle hint of an intention to use us as test subjects.

“What we need is stable, standard equipment! Or definitely proven high-grade equipment!” “Right, right! We don’t need experimental tools in the military! Violet isn’t a test subject.” Unit 3992, claiming to be part of the conservative faction of the Violet Brigade, put forward an opposing opinion alongside Unit 121. Upon reflection, most Violets found anything less than reliable 3-star equipment or clearly superior 5-star equipment useless. Unless the university was offering something like a nuclear bomb, she was reluctant to just accept experimental equipment whose true nature was unknown.

“Cash is the answer!” “Right, cash is king! Or something else that can be turned into money!” The majority of the Violet Council clamored for cash or easily convertible valuables, while a few Violets cautiously suggested that proven artifacts or equipment might be acceptable. Meanwhile, Unit 2512 on site was listening intently to the university’s briefing. She couldn’t just leave everything to Manager Leslie, who was essentially Violet’s personal underworld data hub. I pushed aside the council’s noisy debate and focused on the information the man in the suit was conveying.

“The professor was last seen near the coast of Libria,” he said. “After you rescued the students here, Professor Bernike had them disembark and then went back out to sea for research. It was a project studying the neurotransmitter activity between the main brain and auxiliary brains of marine demonic beasts.”

Leslie raised an eyebrow. “So what happened?” The man sighed. Worry and fatigue were visible in his expression. “A few days later, contact was lost after the research vessel sent a pirate distress signal. The ship returned safely a week later with the crew, but the professor’s whereabouts were unknown. According to the crew, pirates captured only the professor and took her elsewhere.”

I crossed my arms and asked. “So, what were the search results?” “At first, we thought it was a simple kidnapping, but…” He paused, looking around. Unease was palpable in his gaze.

“What’s unusual about it?” Leslie urged, and the man continued his explanation. “Yes, we successively apprehended nearby pirates. We also secured the ones who initially attacked the ship. But their testimonies… were peculiar. They had only been instructed to kidnap someone on the ship. They didn’t even know who the target was.”

“Even after that, we continued to pursue the clues. Three clans, fifteen fixers, one intelligence agency, and detectives participated. It wasn’t difficult to track down the other pirates who had given orders to the initial pirates.” “And that one repeated the same thing, I suppose. The next one, and the one after that too.” “Precisely. Professor Bernike was being moved through the hands of various pirate groups, as if crossing a stepping stone bridge.”

The manager, who had been listening attentively, whispered into my ear. “This is a typical relay kidnapping used in these parts. It’s a human trafficking method that uses a cell-based organization to hide the final instigator and the route.” Hmm, suspicious. It’s too complicated for a simple kidnapping. Hearing ‘cell-based organization,’ it sounds like someone new might be behind it. “So, it’s not a kidnapping for money, then.” “Exactly,” the man replied. “The route we tracked eventually led to…” He lowered his voice. “It’s only a conjecture, but the path where the last pirate claims to have handed over the professor is located near habitats of pirates or dangerous demonic beasts.” Pirates, or demonic beasts, then.

“And there’s Pax Nova Island, where an anti-clan-leaning naval base is located.” One of the external Violets quickly found some simple data. It was a news report from a few years ago briefly reporting on a naval base relocation, showing an image of the military base island, partly blurred due to security concerns. Manager Leslie, who had been scribbling in his notepad, widened his eyes slightly. “Pax Nova Island? Isn’t that place famous for its slave mines? It also has a Gate.” “Yes, I’m not sure about slaves, but… currently, a pirate warlord manages it. Although, superficially, they appear to be the navy.” Unable to suppress my curiosity, I asked. “Alright, I heard you clearly. So, is it pirates, or the navy?” “We’re not certain, but the intelligence agencies and detectives we commissioned report that the possibility of it being the navy is slightly higher.”

“If the navy kidnapped the professor, what could be the reason? Also, how is the relationship between your university and the Federation factions? Did you do anything to displease them?” The man shrugged and replied. “We’d like to know that ourselves. We are merely a university, a research institution. We have never had friction with any factions of the Federation military. We also wonder whose sensibilities we might have offended. And the professor is even less likely to be such a person.”

A fascinating image suddenly came to mind. A scene from a movie where a millionaire playboy scientist is kidnapped in a cave and builds an armored suit. “Is there any possibility that the professor’s research could be used for military purposes?” The man hesitated for a moment before answering. “It’s not entirely out of the question. Professor Bernike founded and supported several venture companies, and she personally holds many patents. Among them are some that could be repurposed for military technology. For example… augmentation procedures for awakened individuals, or limited biological manipulation and control.” Biological manipulation, huh? Could it be demonic beast control, even?

I took a deep breath, processing the situation. “So, what’s our mission? You’re not asking us to infiltrate a naval base and extract the professor, are you?” The man hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “You don’t necessarily have to. However, we would appreciate it if you could confirm the professor’s whereabouts. Even if you don’t directly rescue her, if we can just confirm she is there, our university can protest to the Federation and have her extracted.”

That’s more reasonable than I expected. Even for a clan hired through an anonymous network, raiding a naval base would have been an excessive demand. “We would appreciate it if you could proceed as quickly as possible. We need to track Professor Bernike’s whereabouts and bring her back safely, ideally as soon as possible. In the worst case, even her body would suffice. The professor is a talent entrusted with very important work.”

I exchanged glances with Leslie. A mission that looked far more complex and dangerous than we had anticipated. It was merely a conjecture, but we might end up having to infiltrate a naval base. Seeing our hesitation, the man in the suit clung to us a bit urgently. “These students told me. They said you are excellent fixers. I found out you even hunted a warship Fused Being recently, didn’t you? Fused Beings combined with sunken vessels are rare. It’s even rarer to hunt one while keeping the hull intact. We trust you. Your skill has already been proven. Please, we beg you. The future of our entire university depends on this.”

With that, he extended a blank check. Seeing it, the manager looked at me with an uneasy gaze, then stood up, saying he would talk somewhere else. Once the university staff were out of sight, the manager urgently muttered. “You mustn’t take this request.” “Why?” “You felt it, didn’t you? Those university people are hiding something. That professor, she’s definitely involved in something strange. And it’s full of danger.”

“Indeed, the ocean is vast. Whether we can find her is ambiguous even for us—” “Look at how they contacted us through an anonymous network. Why do you think? It’s obvious. Other clans refused, so they came to us. Offering high compensation right off the bat, it’s clear evidence of high risk. If the search fails, that’s better. As you heard, the Federation military is involved! Boss-nim. This is dangerous to touch. We must refuse.”

Rationally speaking, the manager was right. “A military base? A navy that does pirate work?” “A naval base?” My heart pounded uneasily. To think such suspicious organizations existed beyond the Southern Sea. This request was clearly strange to anyone. They even said there was a possibility the navy was involved. But why should I run away? If it’s a military base, wouldn’t it be huge? “There’ll be tons to raid! A treasure vault!” “Lots of meat and weapons, right?” Besides, they said demonic beasts were teeming there. And there was a Gate.

Just as the scales of my mind were tipping towards acceptance, the decisive blow landed. -Vrooom! The vibrating sound; the moment I saw that message, I nearly jumped. [I’ll come to your place. I have something to tell you.] [Professor Bernike Brodman, have you heard of her?] The scholarship officer sent the message. Could it be that she also knew about this matter? If I explained well, perhaps I could get her assistance. Then, there was even less reason to refuse.

As soon as I returned, I declared confidently. “Good, I’ll do it. Let’s sign the contract right away.” “Boss-nim…?” Ignoring the manager who was trying to hide his flustered expression, I demanded of them. “Alright, but you absolutely have to pay whatever I ask. Got it? And throw in that ‘knowledge’ you were talking about as a bonus.” “Understood…”

I finished the contract and rose from my seat. The tense atmosphere seemed to have eased slightly. “Alright, continue future communications through the previous channel. We’ll take our leave now.” As we stepped outside, the graduate students had already followed us out. They were fidgeting, as if they had a lot to say.

“Speak if you have something to say. Is it related to the request?” The graduate students, pale from lack of sunlight and with hollow eyes, opened their mouths. “Th-that’s not it. Please, Hunter-nim. Please, please find our professor…” “Please! Our graduation thesis is due soon! It’ll be troublesome if anything happens to the professor…” They were undoubtedly students who loved their professor. I vaguely promised to do my best and got into the car.

As the car started and moved forward, the murmuring voices of the students could be heard. “But will the professor be alright? I’m sure she’ll yell at the pirates too, asking if they know who she is…” “Who knows, given her temper… I doubt she’ll be staying quietly… What should we do?”

**

“You, there.” Contrary to the concerns of her master’s and doctoral students, Professor Bernike was doing ‘well’ in her own way. Her ‘well-being,’ however, was a nightmare for those around her. “Are you giving me this dog food to eat right now?”

The white-haired woman lightly tossed the plate onto the table with a flick of her hand. The plate clinked and rattled. While the soldier stood at a loss, the hastily summoned officer grimaced at the continuous complaints about the side dishes. Damn it, he couldn’t hit this ‘esteemed guest’ despite the superior’s orders to treat her well.

“Excuse me, Professor. This is the third time—” Bernike elegantly cut off the officer’s words. Her voice was laced with icy scorn. “Do you people think this is pasta? It’s mushy! I told you to boil it so there’s a white core in the center. Has your sense of taste atrophied from eating only salty water? Or is it your gustatory cortex in your brain that’s atrophied? Perhaps your taste receptors were all destroyed by group meals? Should I explain it again? This isn’t pasta; it’s a lump of carbohydrates. Oh, have you heard of the amino-carbonyl reaction? How can you cook when you don’t even know such basic culinary chemistry?”

She paused for a beat, then continued in an even more scathing tone. “This isn’t pasta; it’s gruel. You navy people, no, pirates. How low must your intelligence be if you don’t even know what pasta is? I suppose you ‘sea-dogs’ don’t even know the difference between the words ‘navy’ and ‘pirate.’ At this level, I’m starting to suspect you put a monkey in charge of cooking. Oh, my apologies. That would be an insult to monkeys. At least a monkey knows how to peel a banana.”

She now continued speaking without pause. “What do you think your esteemed Colonel-nim held me here for? Simply to imprison me? Or did he call me to lecture you morons with goldfish brains? To raise your intellectual level? If it’s the latter, that’s truly commendable. But even so, it seems impossible with food like this. Could it be that your brains have atrophied from a lack of protein intake? Is this how you think guests should be treated? Is this the attitude of someone hosting a guest? Or is this truly your best? If so, that’s truly a sad state of affairs. Do it again. And this time, please, I beg you, make something edible for humans. Even Felinaunt vomit would be better than this.”

The officer in charge, already exhausted by Bernike’s continuous extravagant demands, reached the limits of his patience. Ultimately, the man’s rage exploded at the arrogant hostage. “This bitch, really!” A smacking sound echoed in the room.

With a small flash, the palm bounced off. “This damn…” While the officer seethed with anger at the fact that the slap, delivered with such fury, only brought pain to his own hand, the professor, though wincing slightly from the sting, smiled triumphantly.

“Hahaha! Oh dear, it doesn’t hurt because of my mana defense. Even with restraints, basic defenses remain, you know. Didn’t you learn that in the academy? Oh, right. You probably couldn’t even get into an academy. Did you attend pirate school instead? Or were you just a bum picked up from the sea? Don’t be too disappointed though, Mr. Goldfish! You did a little better this time; your meager physical force barely breached the outermost layer of my defense. Truly amazing. Have you heard of brain plasticity? Oh, sorry. Was that too difficult a word? Simply put, it means your brain still has hope. Though that hope is as small as an ant’s tear, mind you. Truly astounding.”

“I’ll kill you!” Even before the pistol the officer drew, the professor’s sarcastic smile deepened. “Oh dear, that’s a 7mm pistol, isn’t it? That self-defense toy won’t even penetrate the epidermis and dermis layers, let alone pierce the skull of a weak awakened individual like me. Why didn’t you call your awakened superiors instead? Then again, if you were capable of such strategic thinking, you wouldn’t have just threatened me like a primate, would you? Your cerebral cortex is probably thinner than a banana peel. Hahaha!”

Watching Bernike cackle while sitting in restraints, the naval personnel ground their teeth.