Episode 306 – Traces (1)
–
“I’m sorry for asking you to meet me when you were busy.”
“haha. no. Seniors.”
In an office with a stiff atmosphere, two cult members are sitting across a desk.
They both had yak horns on their heads, but other than that they had no other resemblance. The male cult member, who looked almost middle-aged, was unusually wearing the uniform of the Megacorp crisis management team. On the other hand, the female cultist sitting in front of the office desk wore a cult-style purple military uniform.
“I should have contacted you sooner. “Is the accommodation I provided okay?”
“The accommodations in the ‘water fortress’. “I heard it was good for a long time, but it was beyond my imagination.”
“It is not a waste to treat you and those who saved you at the imperial palace.”
“It was such an undeserved kindness that it made me question whether I could accept it. Thank you so much. Alshas.”
“Seniors! “Lift your head up!”
A cult member wearing a Megacorp uniform bowed his head politely. Then the female cultist, Alshas, waved his hands as if he was embarrassed.
“When Senior Nern contacted me, I offered a prayer of thanks to the great Providence. “For giving me the opportunity to repay the favor I received from my senior.”
“Alshas…”
“So please raise your head.”
At her dissuasion, Nern had no choice but to raise his head.
Well-maintained silver hair and a face with mature beauty and elegance. Nern faced the face of his junior, who was much younger than him, and recalled the past.
A long time ago, Nern and Alshath served on the same ship.
At the time, Alshas could not properly adapt to ship life. It’s probably because he boarded a ship at a particularly young age. She wouldn’t be here if Nern hadn’t saved her several times from the threat of Outspacer.
‘That crybaby is now the captain of the imperial carrier.’
The cult that shed tears every time a battle ended is no longer here. Nern glanced at the badge on Alshas’ right chest.
An emblem with a small circle within a gold diamond. Nern received a badge that looked exactly like that when he became the captain of the ‘Judge of Damos 08’ 10 years ago.
When did an unreliable subordinate grow up to become the commander of the imperial carrier ‘Defender of Berzan 02’ that protects this planet?
In fact, he knows that several years have already passed since she became captain. Still, I couldn’t let go of the feeling that time was passing so quickly.
“Anyway, are you really not going to come back? Now the empire is in chaos. “It’s time to need a hero like you.”
“Didn’t I tell you? “I have no intention of going back before I complete my revenge.”
“Are you talking about the three-headed devil? I know this because I have seen the records. Subjugation is impossible without cooperation with the empire.”
As soon as the words ‘three-headed devil’ came out of Alshas’s mouth, Nern felt his body suddenly stiffen. This is because the fear from when I faced that monster still lingered in my body.
“You would know. The Empire cannot afford to use its power to catch that monster. Even if it were there, that council would probably oppose it.”
“If I help you…”
“Then if you are kicked out of the innovation faction, that will be the end of the empire.”
“….”
“They are humans. It is true that they are a weak and primitive race. “But they are the only key to helping me get revenge.”
Sihyeon Eugene, the owner of the group that currently houses Nern, can use an artifact with great power. It’s unclear why she can use it, but it doesn’t matter anyway.
She would be able to kill even a three-headed demon with the relic she possesses.
“Is it because of that artifact?”
“okay. “You heard it, so you remember it.”
“Thanks to you, my senior and I survived, so of course I remember. I never thought someone who could use that scary artifact would appear again. “I didn’t expect it at all.”
Alshas was also on the ship when the artifact was activated. However, because she was hospitalized, she was unable to see the artifact in action. By the time she heard about the artifact, Nern had already hidden it on a planet.
“Anyway, I came to meet you today for something related to that.”
“yes?”
“Please help relic user Sihyeon Eugene meet with a member of the innovation faction.”
“You mean the innovative member?”
“We need different types of weapons and ships. The Providence faction is advocating rearmament, so they will never try to hand over their weapons. But…”
“Are you saying that the innovative faction that advocates disarmament is different? “That is correct.”
Alshas frowned slightly. Even if she was the captain of an imperial carrier, it was not easy to force lawmakers to sell weapons.
Moreover, the people they are selling to are entities whose identity is unclear. You never know when they might cause harm to the empire. If Nern had heard this offer, he would have flatly rejected it.
Nern, who knew what she was worried about, quietly waited for an answer.
After a while, Alshas sighed briefly and nodded.
“This is my chance to return the favor, so can I turn it down? “The person I regard as a gift is here, so I will talk to him.”
“Really?”
“yes. He is a well-versed megacop among the innovative faction. “Maybe we can communicate well.”
“Thank you!”
“If you are so grateful, please return. “There are many imperial carriers here.”
“Hmm, anyway, how is your brother?”
Alshas chuckled when he saw Nerne clearing his throat and talking.
“Brother Alkadi is still the same. As you know, you cannot escape your noble hobby.”
“There’s nothing to say that much. “He is definitely a resourceful person.”
“You are probably the only one who thinks positively about you, you idiot.”
Contrary to her sarcastic tone, her expression was not bad.
From what Nern remembers, the Alkadi Alshas siblings had a good relationship. This is rare among cults that have a vague awareness of brothers and sisters.
“How about giving this a chance? If it were your recommendation, it wouldn’t be difficult to become a counselor to the governor, right?”
“It’s hard to give up a crappy hobby. “Congressmen will oppose it.”
“Tsk. “Why are there so many people, including those of the Providence faction, who are so obsessed with slavery?”
“Are you talking about the missing youngest priest? I heard that all the slaves have disappeared…”
The important story was over, but Nern did not leave.
They met for the first time in a long time and talked about various events that had occurred recently.
–
‘A water fortress.’
I swallowed the delicious piece of meat and thought about what I had seen during the day.
Last night, I broke into Alkadi’s mansion and planted parasites on him. He is quite famous on this planet. So, instead of using the normal mode, I decided to control it in a way that mainly controls the body, just like Charas.
There were two main things I asked of the cult with the most slaves on the Streets of Light.
Information and products.
First, I asked him for a ledger listing all the slaves he had ever sold.
He refused, saying he could never give me that even though I was right in front of him. He said he couldn’t hand it over because it was his bottom line.
Of course, his refusal did not mean much in a situation where parasites had taken over part of his brain and spine. After inflicting pain on the bastard, I gave the order again.
Please bring the ledger.
It was only after he had expelled all the contents of his stomach that he listened to me. After receiving a small data chip from him, I then asked about the creatures he had.
If Alkadi had only sold slaves, he would never have achieved as much wealth as he does now. As expected, he had many creatures for sale or collection.
‘I didn’t know there were Apex-class rare creatures.’
Of course, he told me to bring them too. Send it secretly to the place where I am hiding.
After being hit hard once, he obeyed my orders. Alkadi swore to me that he would never let anyone else catch it.
That’s the end of the matter. After leaving it to the guy to clean up after me, I returned to the hideout.
As soon as I got back, I called PS-111.
The guy was analyzing the reinforced suit brought by the enemy in order to improve his metal body parts. I asked him to analyze Alkadi’s data chip after he was finished.
I said it was okay to take it slow, but PS-111 went through all the massive amounts of records overnight. He selected only Coldblood slaves sold by Alkadi and showed them to us through the hologram of the Hover Bus Center.
While going through the list, Heavenly Mother said one person was suspicious.
The reason for doubt is that it has already been 10 years since she last saw No. 22 in person. He was a young Coldblood when we met, so he should have grown up by now.
Moreover, the 22nd ranked player is a target of the ruling faction, including Jason. It is highly likely that he hid his appearance under a completely different guise.
‘Well, he seems certain.’
Anyway, Coldblood, estimated to be ranked 22nd, went to a new owner staying at the Water Fortress just two months ago. It’s only been a few months, so I guess I’m still in the water fortress.
‘The problem is that it’s not easy to break through the water fortress…’
I thought as I chewed the food Alkadi sent me.
The Water Fortress is like the capital of this planet and is where the largest branch of the Society of Prophets is located. The level of defense is so high that it is difficult to compare it to this place.
Also, if there is a player other than 22nd in Berzan 02, there is a high probability that he will also be in the Water Fortress. The water fortress is the center of the planet’s economy. If I were a cult player, I would definitely base myself there.
‘No matter what, it’s impossible to break through in two days.’
There are only a few days left for the ‘clever underdog’ to last. In all likelihood, the transformation will wear off before you enter the water fortress. If you’re going to wage an all-out war against the city, it’s almost impossible to infiltrate the city with a body tens of meters tall.
I came here to ask 22nd about the vision he saw during evolution. I’m not sure yet if he’s hostile to me, but I can’t turn the city into rubble.
‘I’ll have to spend my time here for at least 30 days.’
There is work to be done during that long period of time.
Preparation for infiltration and….
?Predation effect activated!?
‘Okay.’
When the container sent by Alkadi arrived, I immediately used the ‘Symbol of Hunting’. This is because you have to learn the characteristics of the creature he sent.
The creature I just ate was the fluid of a ‘red worm’. It is a carnivorous earthworm that only lives on desert-type planets and is called by nicknames such as the sand dragon and red snake.
The unique characteristics of this creature have a deep connection with me. This is because I acquired it by chance not long after falling into this world.
‘I put it to very good use.’
This characteristic was put to good use for a while and then used as a fusion material. It has been very useful so far and I plan to use it actively in the future.
?Take over ‘mimicry’ from the creature characteristics of ‘Red Worm’.?
?Do you want to apply ‘mimicry’??
‘Of course. check.’
The treasure I got from the cargo hold of the Megacorp research ship is back in my hands.
As I accepted the characteristics that emerged from the predation effect, I began to think about the most important issues.
I plan to give this dutiful son trait to one of my children. So who is it most effective to give it to?
‘The simplest good person would be PS-111…’
More than half of PS-111’s body is a machine, and it can change its body through modification. It’s not difficult to change your voice.
‘It should be useful in some way, but that’s about it.’
In the case of Heavenly Mother, it is not a bad choice. Of all the kids, they are the type that is best at predicting what will happen if imitation is applied to them.
‘But I feel ambiguous about giving it to her.’
Since she is of the Wolf tribe, she does not feel any hindrance in her external activities. It feels a bit of a waste to give it away to be used only in battle.
Of course, she is the only one among the kids who knows how scary imitation is. Because I had a painful experience in the game. I’ve seen and heard something, so if you give it to me, I’m sure it will be put to good use.
‘I honestly don’t think Aadhai will work.’
For gallagons, a bundle of tentacles acts as a mouth. Even if a mimicking organ is implanted in the throat, it is difficult to make sounds due to the structure of the oral cavity.
In fact, considering the shape of the oral structure, No. 26 has the same limitations, but it has one distinguishing advantage.
‘He can change his body.’
In the underground cellar of the space fortress ‘Kesha Arma’, it ate a creature called ‘Faceless’.
Faceless is a creature that has the ability to change its body at will.
The guy who inherited that power gained the power to freely change the shape of his tentacles. ‘Mutant Tentacle’, an ability that did not exist in the game.
‘Mutant tentacles is the name I gave it.’
In any case, even if the mimicry organ doesn’t fit his body, it won’t be a big problem for him. All he has to do is change his tentacles to match the new organs on his body.
Of course, if that happens, it will be very different from what I imagine. It may be much better than I expected, or it may just end up making a sound that is difficult to call a voice.
‘Should I give it to Heavenly Mother or Number 26?’
On the one hand, there is almost no risk, but the results are predictable. I suspect that it will show an operation that does not deviate significantly from my expectations, whether in a good or bad sense.
On the other hand, the risk is low, but the results are unpredictable. It can be good or bad.
‘…it would be better to give it to him anyway.’
After thinking for a while, I finally made a decision.
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