episode_0329

A few were handed over to the Inspection Bureau, and we decided to use the rest ourselves. It was a shame they couldn’t be replicated, but with three or four, we’d have them for emergencies.

“Information incineration is terrifying!” At Unit 2122’s words, the other Violets nodded. Indeed, they were an elite unit comparable to the Vanguard or the Iron Guard; their notoriety wasn’t earned lightly. The Foundation’s Patent Decapitation Unit was a group of fanatics. If they discovered any technology or artifact that might displease the Foundation, they would wreak havoc on corporations or academic institutions, claiming outrageous accusations of patent infringement or technology theft.

“You said there was nothing salvageable?” Unit 5564 replied to my question. “Yeah, it all went up in smoke.”

Well, Sophieel Unnie’s intel said that no one who entered afterward found even a single clue. Not a single book or electronic device was preserved. Even if they used methods to read spatial memories, they would never find anything. Those guys specialized in eliminating all information from an entire zone.

Suddenly, I remembered that the Intellectual Property Sealing Enforcement Unit’s duties also applied to people. Awakened individuals with unique abilities who operated freely, not affiliated with any specific academy or clan, were at risk of being kidnapped by them. They called it human asset sealing, I think?

“Well, we’re affiliated with Aegis Academy!” I breathed a sigh of relief. “If we hadn’t entered the academy, we might have been dragged away immediately.”

Of course, that was just a hypothesis for now. But one reason we carefully concealed our identities and acted cautiously was precisely because of those guys. The Luminexa Foundation tended to seal and monopolize everything they deemed dangerous by their standards.

“Wait, then what about Lestrade’s apostle research? Magnavis’s Hivemind Project?” Unit 5564 suddenly raised a question. Were those safe? “Dummy! They’re one of the Four Great Clans. They’re allies, and powerful, so there’s no way they’d touch them.” “Aha!”

Picking on only the weak—what despicable individuals they truly were.

However, even the dangerous Foundation agents couldn’t escape the eyes and ears of us Violets. Eventually, we succeeded in obtaining the valuable medicine they had tried to destroy.

“Well done, everyone!” As I showered them with praise, the V-rats proudly replied. “It wasn’t difficult, Boss!”

As a reward for their great accomplishment, the V-rats were now thoroughly enjoying a food paradise. The rats burrowed their heads into plates piled high with cookies, bread, meat, and fruit, digging in heartily and “swimming” through the bounty. Here and there, some rats were noticeably slumped, their bellies round and bloated as if they couldn’t eat another bite.

“They’re not mice; they’re sewer rats. A type of rat, actually.” At Mr. Yurik’s correction, I shrugged. “I’ll just call them mice!” Regardless of breed or type, “mice” was a name that rolled off the tongue much easier.

“We want to eat like this again next time! Good! Good!” the happy rats squeaked. Seeing them, I encouraged them to keep working hard if they wanted another feast like this. Almond and Cocoa, watching this, would surely be spurred by competitiveness.

“So jealous!” “Include us in the next operation!” The crow and monkeys watched, drooling with envy. Seeing them, the rats raised their heads and wiggled their front paws.

“You guys eat too! It’s delicious! We’re full!” Wow, to make such a generous offer. The crow flapped its wings and asked, “Really?” “You just need to give us something delicious later!” “It’s for family to share!” “There’s lots left!”

As the rats willingly shared the food, the monkeys and crows, overjoyed, devoured it ravenously. Watching the animal friends gathered around the table in harmony, I could glimpse the excellent character of these V-animals.

“It seems they’ve inherited our democratic spirit directly!” Indeed, it seemed everyone connected to us became kinder.

On the TV screen mounted on the far wall, a brief mention of the Intellectual Property Sealing Enforcement Unit’s activities concluded before the topic shifted. Common entertainment shows and trivial issues filled the air. Leaving the animal friends engrossed in their delicious meal, I quietly departed.

**

Inside the misty cryo-chamber, employees bustled with work, while Raihan, seemingly irritated, tapped his finger on the glass surface of a stasis pod. The observation window, encased in bulletproof glass, was cloudy and opaque, as if covered in white, milky frost. The interior of the C-01 cryo-chamber exuded a colorful and fresh atmosphere, but it was as cold and hollow as its owner’s inner self.

“Hmm, to think they actually dragged the Patent Decapitation Unit there and publicly crushed them. Isn’t this a kind of warning?” At Raihan’s words, his secretary cautiously offered an opinion. “Rather than being aimed specifically at us, it seems more appropriate to view it as a general warning about espionage among various organizations and clans. As you know, we’ve already received a thorough warning ourselves.”

As soon as the secretary finished speaking, Raihan swept his hand across the surface of the stasis pod. A blurry human silhouette within was revealed. At one end of the stasis pod, wires of various thicknesses were chaotically connected.

“We’ve prepared the Hellmen for now, but how should we deal with this until then…?” The president of Laplaxia stirred up his employees, engulfed in anxiety. No matter how he thought about it, the root of the problem was the Foundation. The Foundation itself.

Lestrade’s guys had a relatively poor information network. Making fools of the Federal Army was as easy as pie.

“Aaaargh! P-please help me!” —*Crackle!* “The smell of it melting is intense. Is this Stregonix? Wow… we should ask the higher-ups to order one for us too.” “Rather than that, why don’t we order that monster called a Shapeshifter first? The intelligence department would probably need it.”

Basically, by disguising themselves as local clans or gangs backed by Laplaxia and launching surprise attacks, the unsuspecting army or local cooperative organizations were swept away with little resistance. Genetically engineered brain-manipulating beasts were implanted into the minds of surviving members. Skilled warriors and trained soldiers instantly became tamed beasts.

Arcsite? They usually remained indifferent unless it was a shared problem, so there was no need to worry about them. Other external forces, such as the Obsidian Legion, were currently busy with their own affairs elsewhere. Indeed, the most troublesome entity was none other than the Foundation.

The Foundation was very displeased with some who had once been part of them. In technical theft or data acquisition operations like this, they were always one step ahead of Laplaxia. The president himself was a Foundation director, so he knew this better than anyone.

“Even by mobilizing our cooperative board members, there are limits to understanding the Foundation’s movements and responding proactively. Elder Brother’s suspicion is simply too strong…”

Returning to his office, Raihan, with a sour expression, scanned through the report and then erupted in annoyance again. “By the way, these kids, you still haven’t found their whereabouts? Even though it wasn’t that important a project! I’ll have to give Human Resources a stern lecture.” What appeared on the screen were profile photos of several girls.

“This case also became difficult to pursue further because the Foundation itself initiated an investigation. The mercenaries dispatched to the dungeon are presumed to have been annihilated after encountering a super-heavy tank chimera.” “Always with that chimera, chimera…!” The president’s face contorted once more as Lestrade’s obsession with the Colossus came to mind. The Colossus, which the Lestrade family was risking their lives to develop, was ultimately no different from a chimera. How could an artificial chimera project, which supposedly amplified human power and granted transcendent authority, possibly be a solution to an interdimensional invasion…?

The president rose abruptly from his seat, beaming brightly. Recognizing his usual habit, the secretary stepped back a respectful distance and awaited his words.

“Let’s throw them a bait. A red herring, that is. Choose one that reeks. Contact our friends at the Foundation. Let’s request a list of discontinued projects or technologies.” “President-nim, are you saying…?” “We want to distract the Sealing Enforcement Unit’s hounds. First… let’s ask our contacts to leak some technology, and we’ll also release a few dormant technologies or personnel lists through a shell company. Oh, and it would be good to scatter this too. Didn’t you say the Foundation people are looking for her?” Smiling broadly, Raihan pointed to a girl featured in the leaked data.

The girl in the photo, labeled [Trinity], looked at the camera with curious eyes. Her orange hair was lush and curly. “That radioactive kid is no longer our concern.”

**

Violet was constantly plagued by studies, year-round. We couldn’t avoid studying, especially with so many professors watching us with particular interest. Moreover, even our friends kept trying to teach us something. Adela Unnie suddenly asked if I was interested in using forks and knives, and Daphne said she’d teach me more about makeup. It was annoying. Why on earth were they doing this?

“I hate studying! Isn’t it enough to just be good at fighting!” “Right! Heroes don’t study.” For us Violets, who defeat evil clans and punish monsters, things like general knowledge and history should be unnecessary. If we had to learn something, wouldn’t combat magic, military science, or explosives manufacturing be better?

Just a moment ago, when I asked Professor Albert about this, he sighed. “Violet, you rascal. Your friend, who was locked in a laboratory for over ten years, is so dedicated to studying. Why don’t you learn from her? You pick up fighter jet piloting in no time, but why do you struggle so terribly with things like this…?” “I don’t think it’s necessary!” “There’s no useless knowledge in the world! Even if this History of Mana Engineering class is just a general education course. The reason we learn this knowledge is—” Ugh, it’s too complicated to argue against. Moreover, lately, they keep comparing me to Trinity. She had been busy preparing for the academy entrance exam recently.

What was surprising was that Trinity was quite clever, more than expected. She also spent a considerable amount of time sitting at her desk. “Is that fun?” “No, it’s not.” Enrica sighed deeply, like a boiling kettle. At that moment, the Geiger counter on her person beeped loudly.

“But entering Vesperia is difficult. I’m confident in practical skills, but they say I shouldn’t neglect written exams. I have to pass this time. That way, when my lab friends wake up, I can help them adapt as a senior.” “Why don’t you just defer for a year and enter with your awakened friends?” At my jest, Enrica hesitated for a moment. Then, with a rare look of determination, she firmly shook her head.

“No! Even if they wake up, it’ll be hard for them to study right away. The doctors said they were asleep for a long time. Plus, they all have no parents. If I go in a year earlier and prepare things for them, it’ll be much easier for them to adapt to the academy.” “Ah…” I couldn’t hide my embarrassment. To think she had been thinking such things.

“And I’m confident. I will definitely pass. I’m going to become a great Archmage.” “Like that Adriana?” When I brought up the name of the hero Archmage of the Great War, Enrica shook her head.

“Huh? No. I don’t manipulate electromagnetic fields. That witch uses traditional lightning magic. I’m involved with the theory of relativity.” It seemed she had misunderstood my meaning. Anyway, Enrica’s admission preparations proceeded smoothly. The scholarship official provided everything needed, and obtaining identity verification and admission recommendations was not difficult.

There were only a few things I could do to help. Making delicious meals for her, and taking her to the academy on the day of the exam.

Thus, in early June, the Vesperia Academy entrance exam day swiftly arrived in the blink of an eye. “Good luck!” “Okay!” Enrica walked towards the main gate of Vesperia Academy with confident strides.

“Someday, let’s go to that academy too!” “Someday? No, we go when we want to!” I was already looking forward to the day our clones would be buried behind that magic academy’s campus.