Chapter 212
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 212
I continued my pursuit of Valek.
My investigation into the list of prosthetic technicians was nearing its end, leaving only the most troublesome group.
‘A group of engineers from the Akresia Empire, Deus Ex Machina.’
They were an organization known simply as Machina.
They were from the Empire, yet everything I’d heard about them was deeply unsettling.
‘Exiles, kicked out of the Empire for their radical worship of machinery.’
Machina had gone so far as to argue that a super-artificial intelligence should be developed and entrusted with ruling the Empire. For the Imperial rulers, who revered the Emperor as a god, they were nothing but a troublesome band of radicals.
‘They fled the Empire's pressure and exiled themselves to Border City.’
Considering the power and ruthlessness of the Imperial Family, it was a miracle Deus Ex Machina hadn’t been wiped out entirely.
However, the majority of Machina’s core members were prestigious engineers or nobles. That was likely the only reason they managed to escape into exile with their lives intact.
‘Above all, their patriotism, though twisted, is genuine. They never act against the interests of the Empire.’
In fact, Machina had a history of refusing technology transfers despite immense pressure from the Bellato Federation. From the perspective of Border City and the Federation, they tolerated Machina's existence for the technological benefits that trickled down.
‘I didn’t even know an organization called Deus Ex Machina existed.’
Their records had been expunged in the Empire. Then again, they had left over half a century ago and hadn’t caused any major incidents since, so there was no reason their name would surface in Imperial society.
“Is this really the only place left?”
I stared at the building in the distance.
A high-rise shaped like a right-angled triangle, unmistakably Akresian in its design, came into view. Its outer walls were cold metal plates, the only decoration a dark red outline. In every way, the building was a pure reflection of the Akresia Empire.
Below, security androids—a common sight in the Empire—surrounded the structure like stone statues. They seemed inactive at first glance, but the lenses that served as their eyes occasionally pulsed with a cold red light.
‘Machina is merely uncooperative with the Imperial Family; they are still a group of patriots. They must keep up with news from the Empire. There might be someone inside who recognizes my face.’
I pulled out the combat mask I’d worn while guarding Anguis Regina. Modeled after an Equesian combat helmet, the mask had an eerie appearance.
Click.
I aligned the mask with my chin and pressed it into place. A locking mechanism at the back of my neck clicked shut.
‘Hoyot, unfortunately, Machina is an organization beyond my influence. They are so conservative that they don't even interact with the Tarpas or the Vagabundus, who possess superior scientific technology and are friendly to humanity. Naturally, they refuse to have anything to do with the Tajiruns.’
I recalled Japa's advice. The more I heard, the more Machina sounded like a bunch of stubborn fanatics. It was as if they had gathered every extremist the Empire itself couldn’t stomach.
Without Japa's backing, I would have to negotiate with Machina on my own merits. They wouldn't hand over their full-body prosthetic surgery records easily.
Step, step.
I walked toward the Machina building.
Whir, whir.
The gazes of the security androids converged on me. Feeling their optical sensors locked on my position, I stopped at the entrance.
It had been a while since I'd heard the dry, monotonous voice of an android.
– Identify. Business.
The question was mechanical, stripped of even basic sentence structure. Even Imperial androids weren't this curt.
“I cannot reveal my identity. My business is... prosthetic maintenance. It's a highly advanced model, so I can't entrust it to just anyone.”
Before I could finish, the androids moved to form a solid wall in front of me.
– Identity unclear. Access denied.
Their optical lenses blinked in warning.
“My prosthetic is a masterpiece, a concentration of a Tarpa artisan’s technology. No one below your level would even dare to touch it.”
I rolled up my sleeve, exposing my prosthetic arm to the shoulder. Infused with Lapis’s artistry, the prosthetic arm possessed curves that mimicked the texture of muscle fibers, even without artificial skin. Any skilled engineer would recognize its extraordinary craftsmanship just by looking at the neat circuitry faintly visible beneath the surface.
‘Although the Empire's science and technology have branched out over the years, their foundation is based on Tarpa technology.’
Long ago, the Empire had not been as exclusionary toward alien species as it was now. Back then, the Tarpa were the first to make contact and sign a technology agreement. Even if Machina’s engineers disliked alien species, they couldn’t feign disinterest in Tarpa technology.
Those who dedicate themselves to a single field possess an insatiable curiosity. It was like the aggression that boiled within me whenever I faced a strong opponent. If they were true prosthetic engineers, they would want to see and touch such an excellent prosthetic with their own eyes.
‘They must be curious. No, they have to be.’
The androids fell silent, as if awaiting instructions from inside. Their gazes remained fixed on my arm.
– Disarmament required.
An android reached out to me. This was a problem. Right now, I was walking straight into the beast’s maw. The fact that Machina had survived in Border City for decades meant they possessed considerable force of their own.
“Safety guarantee. Weapon required.” I replied, mimicking the android’s noun-heavy speech.
– Access denied.
“Then I’m not interested either. I want maintenance from the best, but I have no intention of dying for it.”
I turned away without a hint of regret.
‘Stop me.’
If this didn’t work, I would have to find another way.
– Transmission from Sigma. ‘I shall inspect that prosthetic myself.’
The voice changed mid-sentence. Someone from Machina had clearly taken the bait.
– Access granted.
The androids parted to the left and right, clearing a path.
The entrance was a solid metal door that completely hid the interior—a reflection of their reclusive nature.
Clank, hummmm.
The harsh clank of a locking mechanism echoed from within, and the heavy door slowly slid to the left.
Clack.
I stepped inside. The metal tiles felt cold beneath the heels of my shoes.
With no climate control, the interior was as chilly as a refrigerator. The building was designed without ventilation, leaving the air stale.
‘I guess it doesn't matter to them since they’re all full-body prosthetics anyway.’
Someone with a full-body prosthetic wouldn't need to worry about air quality or temperature. They could withstand any harsh environment.
I narrowed my eyes behind the mask and walked forward, following a blinking dotted line on the floor that guided me deeper inside.
The corridors of the Machina building were devoid of even a single picture frame or decoration. Monochromatic metal stretched unbroken across the ceiling, walls, and floor.
‘What a terrible layout for one's mental health. Then again, I doubt anyone here is sane anyway.’
An Imperial building would at least have art glorifying the Emperor. Even that would have been preferable to this.
Whir.
The elevator doors opened. Stepping inside, I saw the floors were labeled with letters instead of numbers.
‘From Alpha to Omega...’
The elevator began to move on its own, heading for the Sigma floor.
‘My senses are on high alert.’
I trusted my senses and my trained intuition. If not for the intuition of Akies Victima, I would never have stepped into a place like this.
A faint heat bloomed in my head, followed by a dull ache. My expanded perception picked apart every tiny sound of the elevator’s gears. If a trap were to spring in this elevator, I would detect it instantly.
Meanwhile, my tactical mind, working in parallel to my senses, was already formulating escape plans. Whenever I faced a dangerous situation, I simulated it to find a solution. Every time I devised a way through, a surge of pleasure washed over me.
It felt strange every time. While exhilarating, it also served as a fresh reminder that I was a broken human being. I could never live a normal life. If I lost the violence I possessed, it would be the end of me.
Remember Heilas's words, Luka.
Without human impurities, I am merely a combat machine, a monster chasing stimulation and slaughter.
The legacy Heilas left me filled my mind.
...A sentimental memory cast a shadow over my thoughts. It was probably because this building was so Imperial in style.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened.
The stale air was now mixed with a complex, metallic, coppery smell. It was so foul it made me want to gag—air harmful to any living organism.
I parted my lips slightly inside the mask, wetting them with saliva as I slowly controlled my breathing.
The entire floor was a single, vast room. Various research facilities and pieces of equipment were packed densely along the walls.
‘That man must be Sigma.’
In the center of the room sat a man who looked like a middle-aged gentleman. But despite his human appearance, he exuded an inorganic, artificial aura. He was a type I'd seen often in the Empire—full-body prosthetic nobles who had lived for over a century often carried that same kind of aura.
Clatter.
The man stood and walked toward me. His dark red research coat had "Sigma" embroidered on it.
“My apologies. I don't usually handle partial prosthetics, so the ventilation here is lacking. If you need a respirator, I can prepare one for you,” Sigma said.
“No. I’m fine.”
Polite speech slipped from my mouth automatically. It seemed the instincts of an Imperial soldier still lingered within me. Sigma exuded an Imperial air, and he was likely four or five times my age—the very epitome of a seasoned Imperial noble.
“This must be your first time at Deus Ex Machina. I am Sigma. Here in Machina, we discard our given names and use code names instead.”
Sigma treated me with the courtesy of a gentleman, but his demeanor was dry and devoid of emotion.
‘My senses are confused.’
I was so disoriented I couldn't tell if Sigma was a human with a full-body prosthetic or simply an advanced android. Even for someone with a full-body prosthetic, he lacked the unconscious signals a human would naturally display.
“It is impolite to keep a guest standing. Have a seat.”
Sigma gestured to a metal chair. I sat, and the hard metal felt uncomfortably stiff against my back.
‘For now, I've successfully made contact.’
Now to ask who had recently undergone full-body prosthetic surgery here. Of course, he wouldn’t answer easily.
“It is a prosthetic made by a Tarpa artisan.”
To buy time and probe his reaction, I extended my arm, sleeve still rolled up.
Sigma’s gaze locked onto it. His prosthetic pupils dilated and contracted unnaturally, like the aperture of a camera lens.
‘Is there even a human brain inside his head?’
He was too rigid to be human. Even his involuntary movements were mechanical.
“Ah, yes. This is why you came up,” Sigma muttered.
I felt a sharp sense of incongruity. My hand nearly drifted to the hilt of my sword.
Hiss.
At that moment, a sealed door slid open. A man with a sly grin walked toward us, his shirt unbuttoned to his navel. He was an oddity, wearing glasses despite having a full-body prosthetic.
‘Jin Gau? Why?’
Jin Gau, the director of the Empire's 4th Research Institute, was here.
Calm down. I willed my heart to slow. There were undoubtedly countless sensors here capable of detecting my vital signs.
“My dear Sigma. Every time I visit Border City, there are so many interesting things.” Jin Gau said, standing at a sink and washing his grease-stained hands.
“Your curiosity does not diminish even as you age,” Sigma replied politely.
Jin Gau's presence was a variable I had never considered. I factored his presence into my calculations and re-evaluated the situation.
‘It's not strange for Jin Gau to be here.’
Jin Gau was one of the few who had permission from the Imperial Family to interact with foreign powers. Though Deus Ex Machina had fallen out of favor with the Imperial Family, their loyalties still lay with the Empire. It wasn’t strange for them to have ties with Jin Gau, who was a highly renowned scientist.
‘Even if Jin Gau is the head of a research institute directly under the Imperial Family, he isn't someone who blindly pledges loyalty to them. Machina would know that well, too.’
Jin Gau was a man who put science above all else. In that, he and Machina were cut from the same cloth.
Yes, that wasn’t what was important right now.
Only one thing mattered.
‘Did Jin Gau recognize me?’
Judging by Sigma's behavior, the person who had authorized my entry was Jin Gau.
Step, step.
Jin Gau wiped his wet hands on his clothes and walked toward me.
“We've met before,” he said with a broad grin.