Ep. 84
–
“I will conclude my presentation with this. “Does anyone have any questions?”
The dissection team leader carefully put down the microphone he was holding with trembling hands.
Monument conference room.
In this place, people who can be said to be the pinnacle of power within Megacorp are gathered.
Prime Capital’s elders and matriarchs.
Noble Capital and current CEO Akira Eugene and T&C’s Thompson family.
In addition, there are elders from other Noble Capital families.
The Megacorp leaders were silent with shocked faces upon hearing the dissection team leader’s announcement.
One of them muttered.
“I didn’t know that Mr. TNC had deep knowledge of genetic engineering…”
Although Akira Yujin was present, such a remark was made, but no one pointed it out to him.
Even Akira Eugene was so shocked that he couldn’t control his facial expression.
‘More than four types of genes are perfectly combined. ‘Was that what was supposed to happen?’
I was sure that Akira Eugene would not have been as surprised as he was at this moment even if he had heard that the Earth had split apart.
That’s because the content announced by that shabby-looking man was far beyond the Eugene family’s genetic technology.
‘Dangerous.’
As soon as he thought that, someone in the conference room raised a hand.
It was Wei Zhao, the man who controlled Megacorp’s media.
“Haha, there must be a generational change at Noble Capital too.”
Generation change.
It was a remark that pointed out that the relationship between Eugene and T&C might reverse after this announcement.
At the same time, it was implied that Wei himself would change his position.
As a journalist, he could change his position faster than a bat.
Starting with Wei’s words, the atmosphere in the conference room completely changed.
In a friendly atmosphere to T&C.
Lila smiled at that sight.
‘Finally!’
Her health had been very bad for the past few days, but this moment was so thrilling that she forgot all about the pain.
Her current appearance was such that it was safe to say that she was a living mummy due to her illness.
In that state, his eyes were shining brightly with madness, so he didn’t look normal to anyone.
But there was no one here to point out that fact.
That’s because the presentation by the head of the dissection team was so valuable that it would make even her father, Saddam, lose his mind.
While everyone was enthusiastic about the results of the presentation, only one person was struggling to calm down the anger rising inside.
‘Damn thieves!’
Denver, the head of the Edgerton family, gritted his teeth.
Lila and the head of the dissection team treated it as the result of long-ago research, but Denver knew.
What was the result of today’s announcement?
‘He was originally mine!’
If his relationship with Lila hadn’t been so bad, he might have been able to get the spoonful too.
In return for helping subdue the monster.
However, the relationship between the two completely broke down, and Vickers, the vice-captain of the Silver Lion Knights, who could explain this, never showed up.
‘If this continues, T&C’s financial support may also be cut off.’
There is only one reason why Saddam gives him money.
This is because when the new Hulk mutant appears, Akira Eugene’s position becomes narrower.
But now there is no need for that.
Because they can make it themselves using the monster’s corpse.
‘No, it’s not over yet.’
Denver’s eyes sank coldly.
The results they boast of having achieved themselves were obtained solely from the corpse of that monster.
If the body disappears, the future he feared will never come true.
‘We have to get our hands on that body!’
Coincidentally, his knights are detained in the guest room of the Monument.
If I order them to take ‘appropriate’ measures, it wouldn’t be impossible to get my hands on a corpse somewhere in this building.
While Denver is hatching a dangerous plot, Akira calls in Code Black disguised as his bodyguard.
“Find out about the author.”
“All right.”
“If necessary, you can bring Code Red.”
“…We will deal with it urgently.”
Code Black quickly left, but Akira’s eyes were fixed on the dissection team leader.
The head of the anatomy team who receives such intense attention from Megacorp’s leaders.
Any other time he would have been very happy.
If it weren’t for the fact that “it” had built a nest in his house.
Four days ago, he escaped in a Monument security team’s truck and hid in his home.
Thanks to this, he had to sleep in the basement feeling like he was being watched.
‘Someone save me!’
But his cries never went out.
–
‘Hmm?’
A familiar thought wave flew from somewhere.
Among the five parasites, this is the one that took up residence on the head of the dissection team leader.
‘I sensed stress and shallow resistance from the head of the dissection team?’
With those words, the guy reported that he had inflicted ‘appropriate’ pain on the insolent host.
‘Is it because of the house?’
Currently, I am leaving Monument and using the dissection team leader’s house as a temporary hideout.
‘Team leader-level personnel are given houses in administrative districts.’
In special trade centers, cult members and high-ranking government officials are provided with free housing and private cars.
William, whom I preyed on before, also lived in the administrative district, and the cultists who are currently my slaves all live around here.
‘Besides that, the dissection team leader is very useful.’
He regularly reports information about me to the city’s general manager.
Because of that, the upper echelons of Monument are unable to relate the sudden disappearance of employees to me.
‘Furthermore, the information leak that we were concerned about was not that big.’
The head of the anatomy team said that my genetic information was not registered in the Megacorp data archive.
They said it was because of an order from the general manager, but I could guess why.
‘It must be because of greed.’
In the case of the Egerton Knights, they were greedy to capture me, but ended up getting the revenge on me.
Like them, the ruler of this city hid the research of the head of the dissection team in order to monopolize the rights to me.
Because of this, the research on me is being entirely carried out by the head of the dissection team and his ‘subordinates’.
‘Though those above don’t know that the researchers are dead.’
It was a mistake made because the top decided that the project team should be operated with a small number of people in order to maintain confidentiality.
‘Foolish.’
They were so obsessed with the illusion of ‘performance’ that they had no idea what was happening in reality or what was wrong.
‘The city is dying, but this is an achievement.’
Currently, death is spreading in this space city.
A death named Space Bacteria Strain.
Those who came out of the sewers and fought are still diligently spreading an unidentified disease throughout the city.
Space bacteria themselves are not lethal enough to kill people.
At most, it’s just a cold virus.
However, because it combined with all the contaminants in the sewage, it has become so terrifying that it can now be called a plague.
‘If it weren’t for the Edgerton Knights, it wouldn’t have spread to Monument and the administrative district.’
If it weren’t for them, it would have ended with the defense fleet being neutralized.
My intention was to infect only those who were the most hindered in getting out of the city.
However, thanks to the knights participating in the subjugation war and later being detained under the pretense of lodging at the Monument, the range of transmission became much wider than I intended.
Most of the people inside the monument must have been infected by now.
‘It’ll probably get out of hand in a few more days.’
There is no problem more serious than the spread of a plague in an enclosed structure floating in the middle of space.
Moreover, what if the structure’s managers are the first to fall victim to the plague? It was clear that this place was going to get completely out of control.
Of course, if the upper management of Monument, including the general manager, had recognized the risk and responded early, the space bacteria variant would have been easily eradicated.
‘But now they’re preoccupied with other things.’
Thanks to their foolish judgment, I was able to easily fulfill the evolution conditions.
「’Sub-Adult – > Sub-Adult’ Evolution Conditions
Transformable Intelligence 20/20 (achieved) Humanoid Intelligence 20/20 (achieved) Intelligence using psychic power 12/20 (Not achieved) 」
‘Now there are only 8 cult members. ‘There’s some left.’
Before coming to this house, Wolf was on the night shift in the security team. After coming here, he preyed on additional cult members in the administrative district.
Thanks to this, there isn’t much left until all the evolution conditions are met.
‘By the time I finish eating, the defense fleet will be completely disabled by the pandemic.’
If that happens, I can leave here with No. 26 and Adhai.
Even if you wanted to chase me in the first place, there wouldn’t be enough soldiers and officers on the ship.
Of course, there is a way to bring androids aboard, but Megacorp no longer carries androids on board its ships after the Star Union rebellion.
Therefore, it won’t be easy to track me down in this city unless I can somehow deal with the strain of space bacteria I’ve unleashed.
‘Everything is moving according to plan.’
I finished my break and got up.
‘Anyway, the kids are doing well, right?’
Because the distance was so far away, it was not easy to talk to each other.
The waves I shot went through, but they kept cutting out in the middle, making proper communication impossible.
You can keep trying, but this is where cults reside.
Beings sensitive to psychic power can eavesdrop on the waves emitted by Nana 26.
‘It would be possible for the cult in the 1st Central Management Office.’
The cult there is completely different from the cults I’ve caught so far.
It’s dangerous even if you fight one-on-one with one person, but if all three attack you together, you’re sure to lose.
‘Because the yak horn cult is very strong.’
Cults have different types of specialized psychic powers depending on the shape of their horns.
For example, goat horns are specialized for secondary type and goat horns are specialized for close combat type psychic power skills.
When using a technique that matches the appearance of one’s horn, the power becomes more than twice as strong.
‘Yak horns are specialized in four types of psychic power-based techniques.’
It is strong in 4 types of close combat, long-distance combat, buff, and crowd control, and receives more than 3 times the synergy when using skills of that type.
Although my defense has become stronger due to my characteristics and type, the psychic power used by the Yak Horn Cult is still difficult.
‘That’s why I’m targeting other cults too.’
I left the dissection team leader’s house.
The targets I will be hunting today are two cultists from the 2nd Central Management Office.
After tracking them for two days, we found out that they are lovers and live in the same house.
‘Both goat horn cults. Combat power is not high.’
Thanks to its psychic resistance characteristics and complete organic characteristics, its defense against psychic powers is very high. There is no cult in this city that would harm me except the cult of Yak Horn.
Besides, I have no intention of competing directly with them.
‘It was this way.’
I ran toward the cultist’s house, disabling the camera with my hijacking ability.
Trees neatly planted on well-maintained streets.
White houses and green lawns can be seen everywhere.
The image of the administrative district was reminiscent of a country housing complex in an American drama rather than a dystopian space city.
Perhaps because it was still before work time, there were no people on the streets.
Although the auxiliary system detected that there were people in the house, they did not show any signs of surprise when they found me.
‘There it is.’
A house with a traditional cult pattern painted on the gate.
I stood in front of the house and looked at the front door.
Looking at the handle and keyhole, there didn’t seem to be any special security device.
I activated the Ghost Claws trait.
Thanks to the trait, my hands turned translucent with a light purple tint.
I put my hand through the door and slightly deactivated only the tip of my fingernail. And then I unlocked the inside of the door.
The door opens with a rattling sound.
‘good.’
After successfully infiltrating, I looked around the house.
The structure of the house was identical to that of the head of the dissection team.
‘Three rooms and a bathroom on the first floor, two rooms and a bathroom on the second floor. And the basement.’
Although both houses had the same structure, the feel was completely different.
Compared to the home of the head of the dissection team, which gave off a nerd-like feel, this place looked much nicer.
Looking at the wooden dining table and furniture with clearly visible growth rings and the chairs with an old leather smell, the entire house had a strong antique feel.
‘I guess I can just hide here.’
I crawled into the basement.
–
“Oh brother, don’t do this here….”
“Why is it good?”
“We just got off work. “Let’s take a shower first.”
“Let’s take a shower together?”
“really!”
“Tsk tsk, okay. “It will be set up, so wash it slowly.”
The cult couple, who had been kissing passionately as they entered the house, pulled away in disappointment.
The female cult member was about to go up to the second floor when her lover suddenly called to her.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“uh? Whoop?”
As she turned her head, a male cult member gently grabbed her face and kissed her.
“Chul haa oh chul oppa… haeu!”
While kissing, the male cult member skillfully used his psychic powers to sweep her back.
The female cult member, who felt a moment of electric ecstasy, let out a moan.
“Haa… Chureup jjong yes! Jyuup Oppa…Ugh! “Stop that!”
Barely able to come to her senses, she pushed her lover away with both arms.
Her neck and ears turned bright red and she opened her eyes.
“Really, oppa!”
“what? why?”
“…Ugh.”
When I saw my lover’s smiling face, I didn’t feel angry even though I wanted to.
She sighed and went up to the second floor.
“Then let’s get ready.”
The male cult took out a bottle of fine wine and two glasses that were secretly hidden in the corner of the cupboard.
It was an item specially transported from Earth for today.
I was about to go up to the second floor with a gift when I heard a voice from above.
“Oppa, the hot water doesn’t come out!”
“also? okay! “I’ll check in the basement!”
The male cult member who shouted at his girlfriend opened the basement door while holding a gift.
“huh? “Why is he like this again?”
I turned on the basement light but there was no response.
He wondered whether he should go down and find a flashlight.
“I’m sure nothing will happen.”
The male cult went down to the basement with wine and glasses.
I was familiar with the structure of the basement because I had often experienced this. It was a basement where he couldn’t see even an inch in front of him, but his movements were unimpeded.
“Was it this?”
He started a machine that controlled the water temperature.
The light coming from the machine changed from red to green, and my girlfriend’s voice of gratitude was heard from above.
“Go up and see…”
The moment he was about to turn, he felt something.
That there is something behind him.
The wine bottle in his hand hit the cold floor and shattered
.
The liquid flowing there was too red to be considered the color of wine.
–
“Heh heh heh.”
The female cultist hummed as she was bathed in warm water.
She was in a good mood because she left work on time for the first time in a long time after working overtime recently.
‘I heard it’s a surprise. What is it?’
Before coming home, her boyfriend said he would give her a surprise gift.
Originally, they were going to give it during the year-end vacation, but since the work environment has been difficult recently, they decided to give it today.
She wondered what her boyfriend’s gift was, but he didn’t tell her until the end.
I’m just asking you to look forward to it.
As I was thinking about how amazing of a gift it was to say that, I heard the bathroom door open behind me.
‘come!’
She looked back with her heart pounding in her arms.
–
‘Today was so easy.’
The cult couple had no idea that I was in the house, probably because they were planning to have some fun among themselves.
So they were defeated individually without even a single resistance.
‘I never would have thought that even an urban cult would let down its guard to this extent.’
If you go to a planet where cults live, even the Goat Horn Cult would not have been able to defeat them so easily.
Anyway, having achieved my goal, I left the house and headed to the hideout.
Since it was evening time, there were few people on the streets, so I took a different route than when I came here.
‘Now we just have to catch six more people and it’s over.’
The dissection team leader’s house was not far.
‘uh?’
Someone was standing in front of his house, visible from afar.
As soon as I recognized his presence, a brief scene appeared before my eyes and then disappeared.
「I encountered an unavoidable being.」
「I died.」
‘What?’
The moment I realized that it was a danger prediction effect sent by my predator senses, my fighting arm was cut off.
‘Huh?!’
“Pain relief activated!”
I almost lost consciousness due to the overwhelming pain, but the pain relief was automatically activated and the pain was quickly relieved.
I quickly threw myself back.
Just in the nick of time, the sidewalk block I was on was shattered by an intangible object.
‘Psychic Whip?’
The object that cut off my arm and turned the road into rags is a weapon made with abilities I know well.
But as far as I know, that ability cannot produce this level of destructive power.
“Is that really what it was?”
A woman standing in front of the dissection team leader’s house.
That woman, wearing black clothes reminiscent of mourning clothes, was the one who made the impossible a reality.
“It is not difficult to achieve that level of research results if we capture and study that area.”
As she stretched out her hand, a bright purple whip appeared out of thin air.
Before she knew it, a yak horn had sprouted from her temple.
“I must offer you to Lord Akira.”
A whip that was over tens of meters long flew at me.