Payment in Flesh at the Cafe - 2
A narrow room. Far too cramped and stark—a barren cube—for the leader of the WSC, whose decisions shaped the world's survival. There, Isabelle waited for Brunhilde, teacup in hand.
"Loyalty."
"Good to see you. Straight to business."
"Yes. Understood."
Organizational restructuring, target analysis, agent recruitment. They had to plow through a mountain of tasks in no time, and weariness etched their foreheads.
"Today, we're setting objectives for the newly restructured Damage Control division. It might move fast, so keep up."
"Understood."
"First, codename Astaroth. We'll assume he operates on the mindset of an 'adult Korean male.'"
Brunhilde shook her head.
"Isn't that too hasty? When we analyzed the AP emissions from him, your judgment as Chief Protector—that he's a god, or something akin to one—was spot on."
AP phenomenon. Anomalous Phenomenon. Abnormal occurrences. Phenomena untouched by human hands, from minor ghosts to the stirrings of outer gods.
"And?"
"He might act with the identity of a god—"
Isabelle shook her head.
"Sure, possible. Not unlikely. But it's a meaningless line of thought."
"Why?"
"Because in that moment, there's nothing we can do."
Brunhilde bit her lip hard.
"Treating him as a god, believing we can't kill him, thinking we must submit—any of it could be the result of his hypnosis already."
"Resistance is futile."
"Yes. No seduction, persuasion, inducement, or control possible. Best to shove it to the back of our minds. Assuming we haven't considered Astaroth's emergence until now."
We had to focus on what we could do. Couldn't let delusions of meaninglessness erode our will to fight.
"With that premise, first objective: Satisfy his desires."
"Women?"
"Everything. Women, money, friends, relationships, honor. All of it."
"He could achieve that with one hypnosis, couldn't he?"
"Think the reverse. Why bother using hypnosis for what he already has?"
Isabelle let out a deep sigh.
"Suppose he feels a craving for money. Wants to buy something, or just flaunt wealth."
"I'm listening."
"Then, like turning Witae into his slave, he could enchant people's minds."
"..."
"For example, alter common sense so every person in Korea donates a dollar to him as a matter of course. Not hard, right?"
"It'd devastate the economy, sure... but if that's the extent—"
"What if he implants that every Korean becomes his sex slave, and a slave's assets belong to him?"
"Horrific."
"Exactly."
His power had endless potential for abuse. No limits, and the risk to human society was immense.
"Money's easier, in a vulgar sense—just rattle the economy a bit. But hearts are dangerous. Every man dead, every woman a widow begging for his love."
The WSC existed to ensure the world's survival. Matters unrelated to extinction-level threats? Low priority.
He could claim any celebrity from TV or streaming if he wished. But that wasn't their concern.
Local, national, global—his reach extended everywhere. Civilization could crumble at his whim.
"So we provide it instead. Make sure he never feels the need to resort to hypnosis for satisfaction."
"Understood. Then why not announce it publicly and seek international cooperation—"
Isabelle shook her head.
"We'll seek cooperation from international bodies. Secret channels with the Korean government and assembly too, ensuring Astaroth faces no discomfort."
"Wouldn't going public be better? We can fabricate reasons. Release undisclosed tech, declare he's essential for it—"
"Worth trying once prepared. Already planning it, with a dedicated organization. But we can't do it."
"...Risky."
"Yes. He must never catch wind of the WSC's existence, no matter what."
The most direct, perilous extinction scenario from Common Sense Alteration: Discovery of WSC, realization they're trying to stop or control him, turning the entire organization into his tool. Abandoning their survival mandate, letting preventable apocalypses slide.
"Ideally, he receives our support without even knowing it."
"Desires grow endlessly."
"Precisely!"
Someone rolling dice blindly rejoices at a 6, contents with a 4. But if they learn an organization rigs it to 6, any 4 breeds resentment.
"Good. Preparations are mostly set. The new agents from Korea—are they training well?"
"Yes!"
"Let those lacking in looks use WSC cosmetic facilities."
"Even that..."
WSC artifacts could prevent—or trigger—planetary doom. But now wasn't the time to hoard.
"Administer A-rank security implants to all. Ready for deployment in a month."
"Yes!"
"Now, to the main point."
Isabelle connected her prepared video file to the screen.
"Cafe footage. You've seen it?"
The video showed In Jisan entering the cafe.
"Yes. Major AP reaction, but no anomalies no matter how many replays."
"Really?"
"Yes. Astaroth, diligently working his corporate job, vanishing for hours—abnormal, as was the AP. But in the cafe, all he did was..."
Brunhilde forced the words out.
"Enter to order, return to his seat, re-enter to order, then go to the storage room with others. That's it."
"Right. I thought it odd too. Clear anomaly, but no gap visible. That's why we're here."
Isabelle gently stroked the solid cube wall.
"Made of special alloy. One of a kind—scoured the solar system for the metals to build this tiny space."
"...!"
"Not official, but we call it the clean room. Here, we evade external AP interference."
"So something changes?"
"Let's check."
It was the cafe he frequented. Cameras and mics already installed.
"...What the hell is that?"
A sound they hadn't heard before. Brunhilde bit her lip.
"Instant reaction. The staff and manager perceived him in a distorted way."
"How...?"
"The recording probably had this from start to finish. But we treated it as white noise."
Unease began to creep in. Brunhilde was engulfed in massive dread.
"Th-thinking back... Bowing so low to a customer, casually entering storage with staff—all of it abnormal! Every bit!"
Isabelle smiled faintly.
"You're too shocked. This is the being who could end the world. Thought distance across oceans would spare us?"
"Ah..."
Brunhilde had thought herself prepared. No panic, no surprise, whatever happened. But watching her worldview shatter before her eyes was agony.
"Don't forget. We're in his range too."
"Leaving this room terrifies me now."
"Don't think these thin walls block his power forever."
Isabelle gently stroked Brunhilde's hair.
"Giving up, my knight?"
Brunhilde bit her lip until it bled.
"No. I'll do it. Just give the order."
"Good! Silver lining: We gained intel! Hooray!"
"No need to force cheer..."
Isabelle smiled faintly.
"My consideration, alas. Anyway, what hypnosis do you think hit us?"
"Not direct. More like... just... that... unease?"
"Yes. Hypnosis that erases unease. And with Witae, we didn't feel it?"
"No. If 'a sex slave fucking her master isn't unease-worthy' was implanted, we'd never have noticed Astaroth's birth."
Brunhilde was a warrior. Desperate straits, but she analyzed fiercely.
"Good. Variables exist, but hypnosis on unease means we can't relax. Now..."
Isabelle replayed the video.
"Let's see what kind of man he is."