Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Martin's Disappearance (1)
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The scientists were devastated.
They were plunged into grief. The ones who had rushed into the lab at John's emergency summons wailed at the sight of Martin's stolen spot.
I stared blankly at the scientists clutching their faces.
People kneeling and crying out to God for mercy.
Was it really that bad?
Of course, they weren't just wallowing in despair. Things moved quickly. It was the first time I'd realized John Mullen could act so swiftly.
Led by John Mullen, the scientists moved in perfect unison, shoving desks aside and preparing for the meeting.
They even prepared a chair for me.
Why?
"Miss Hilde, have a seat. The meeting's starting right away."
"I'm sitting?"
"Yes!"
The scientists chorused their reply and pulled me down into the chair.
"The meeting's starting!"
So why me?
But the scientists showed no sign of letting me go. The ones who'd exchanged names with me while following their master back and forth through the lab clung tightly to my clothes.
I'm not even one of you people. Sure, I come to the lab often, but I'm no scientist.
Anyway, I was stuck sitting there when Yoon spoke up.
"CCTV footage."
"Already reviewing it."
John replied.
It was shocking that he'd answered so promptly, but even more so that he was actually staring at the massive screen like his eyes might pop out. It hadn't even been an hour since he'd hit the red button to assemble everyone.
Was he always capable of moving this fast?
But no one seemed surprised. Instead, they nodded vigorously, as if affirming that John was someone reliable enough to trust completely. Yoon just gave a slight nod without questioning the response.
The master scanned the grief-stricken scientists.
"From now on, we're operating under the presumption of guilt."
Where the hell did that principle come from, you madman?
"Write up your detailed movements from yesterday until now and post them on the board."
"It could be someone from outside the lab. Shouldn't we check alibis for the entire headquarters?"
"I think we need to investigate not just headquarters staff, but outsiders too!"
"That's a valid point. It's valuable enough for an external company to covet."
"I'll pull the logs for outsiders who entered headquarters!"
The scientists erupted into lively chatter. I listened in a daze, picking up snippets from here and there.
They were dead serious. They showed no reluctance whatsoever to disclose their own movements—in fact, they seemed to think it wasn't enough on its own.
Other methods for catching the culprit were suggested too. Check the time Martin's power was cut. Figure out what tool was used to sever the cable. Trace the tool's purchase origin. Is there still power left in Martin's main body? Could the last signal Martin sent provide a clue?
I only half-understood the back-and-forth.
But I could tell Yoon was furious right down to his hair tips.
"If the culprit's among you, come clean now while I'm asking nicely."
The master laid down the threat.
"I'll go easy if you confess. If I catch you, it's straight to the interrogation room."
Can Black Badgers threaten civilians like this?
I heard gulps of swallowed saliva under the pressure. But no one objected. The scientists nodded solemnly.
I let out a hollow chuckle as I watched their determined faces.
But seriously, who the hell stole Martin?
Cute little Martin. The lab's idol.
I watched the unfolding chaos with keen interest. I wanted to keep watching as long as possible, but I couldn't. The master, who'd received a call from someone, looked up from his phone and fixed his gaze on me.
Yoon's eyes locked straight onto mine.
"Rookie."
"Ah, am I still a rookie?"
"Come with me."
After barking at the scientists to get started on investigating Martin, he cracked his neck. It looked important.
I apologized to the scientists clutching my clothes and scurried after the master as he headed out of the lab.
***
It was Ye-hyeon who'd called.
A single room far cleaner and spacious than the one I'd been hospitalized in. A space so quiet my ears rang. Following the master inside, I gasped at the sight of the Supreme Commander lying there.
Ye-hyeon was sprawled out like a flattened rice cake, all limp and mushy.
The men brushed off my shock. Yoon strode right up to the man who looked unmistakably unwell. His superior, paler than usual, rolled his eyes.
Having spotted me, Ye-hyeon met Yoon's gaze.
"Why the emergency assembly?"
Yoon and I sat side by side in the chairs by the bed.
"Martin's gone."
"Ah."
A short sound escaped Ye-hyeon.
He really must be in pain. His blank expression as he stared at the master said it all. He didn't have the energy to be shocked or angry even over scientists kneeling and wailing....
Ye-hyeon turned his gaze to the ceiling.
"No big deal, then."
No, it isn't?
"Why isn't this a big deal?"
"It's just a machine."
Ye-hyeon responded to Yoon's protest.
"Not like it'll cause major issues, right? No secrets stored in it?"
"Nothing's stored, but."
Yoon glowered down at Ye-hyeon sullenly.
I watched the master's reaction with considerable amusement. So he grumbles at Ye-hyeon too.
The master grumbled.
"Headquarters property got stolen. Shouldn't you at least be annoyed?"
"You'll find it, no problem."
Ye-hyeon remained nonchalant. With his IV needle-pierced right hand resting on his stomach, he lay straight and stared at the ceiling.
Then he muttered to himself.
"Martin.... eats way too much electricity...."
So that's the issue.
I suppressed a bubbling laugh.
And stayed silent, eavesdropping on the seniors' conversation.
They talked about Martin for a while. Any guesses on the culprit? None, but it'll take shape in a day. We'll beat them the second we catch them. Fine, but no threatening civilians. You always pick on Martin....
The flawless banter cut off at some point.
Ye-hyeon turned his head to look at me.
"Hilde."
"Ah, yes."
Was I listening too gleefully?
I wiped the smile off my face and straightened my back.
The top boss gave a faint smile at my tension.
"No need to be so stiff."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Any questions?"
The questions now came flying without preamble.
I met the eyes of my pallid superior head-on.
I'd been waiting for this moment. Ever since Jin Silver dropped that bombshell on the subway.
But now that the stage was set, picking the right question was hard. I'd meant to bring up Jin. But I didn't want to poke at the wounds of someone sweating and lying there.
He could hold a casual conversation, but he looked utterly drained.
After some thought, I went with something else.
"I'm not human, right?"
Yoon looked up.
He blinked his pitch-black eyes once.
Ye-hyeon's eyes, meanwhile, dropped. As if pitying me. Or regretting having kept it hidden all this time.
Their reactions said it all.
But I wanted verbal confirmation. I looked at the man as white as the blanket over him.
"Did you know?"
A long silence followed.
A chill silence wrapped around us. I waited for an answer amid the room's hush. Yoon had turned to Ye-hyeon too, awaiting his response. Even Yoon hadn't known.
Information not even granted to someone living with Ye-hyeon, who knew about Reen.
Why was he so adamant about hiding it?
"I knew."
Ye-hyeon answered softly after a long pause.
"Sorry for keeping it from you."
"No. I never asked."
I gave a faint smile.
Sadness and guilt flickered in Ye-hyeon's eyes. The man's eyes drooped at the corners as he lay in the hospital bed. The authority he showed in meetings was gone. Ricardo's words came to mind. In private, he's so mild it's almost nonexistent.
It was necessary to hide it, so no need to feel that bad.
But telling him that only made Ye-hyeon look more downcast.
"Don't be so sorry. If it was okay to tell, you would've by now."
"Jin told you?"
He knew like a ghost.
I nodded.
"Yes. He told me. Along with saying I'd have to remember it eventually."
"...Yeah. You'll have to, eventually. For all our sakes."
"I'll try. Luckily, I've recalled some important memories already."
They both widened their eyes at my casual tone.
I gave a wry smile. I hadn't told anyone about what happened on the subway. If I had to tell someone first, it'd be him.
I fiddled with my empty belt, missing the greatsword.
Feeling its absence, I said.
"Kyle's awake."
Yoon narrowed his eyes in confusion, but Ye-hyeon widened his.
"He's looking for me, it seems. Word is I betrayed them. That's why he's so desperate to kill me?"
The IV hand clenched into a tight fist.
The Supreme Commander didn't answer, just stared at the ceiling.
That was the answer. All that intel was true. I wasn't human. I'd betrayed my comrades. And Kyle, their current leader, had awakened.
Damn it.
So that's why there was no Hildebert Talib anywhere in Center Core. Of course Ami couldn't find my name when I dropped through the portal....
"If not human, what are you?"
Yoon's flat question pulled me back to reality.
"A creature? Like that Rank 10 you stabbed to death?"
Ye-hyeon thought long and hard.
He stared at the ceiling with complicated eyes before closing them. I memorized my superior's refined face, slick with cold sweat, as I sorted my thoughts.
The creatures targeting me. The mysterious Reen trying to kill me. Lee Ye-hyeon had exiled me beyond the Core to protect me from Reen's goal. But now that I'd returned and Reen welcomed it fervently, Ye-hyeon showed no sign of kicking me out again.
That meant he'd taken some measure while I was gone.
Thanks to his inscrutable actions, I sat here peacefully. I pondered those behind the world. Ones above the law. Hidden power-holders dreaming of immortality. Reen, whom I'd apparently known.
And his master.
Ye-hyeon broke the silence with eyes still closed.
"Titan."
His distinctive husky voice.
"The elders called them Titans."
***
The next day, I headed to the lab.
The talk ended there. I'd dumped something too heavy too suddenly on a sick man. Ye-hyeon thanked me for telling him, but he needed a nurse call right after I finished, so it hadn't been harmless.
We ended the conversation and left the room. Yoon shoved his car keys at me and told me to rest at his place.
"You can drive, right?"
"Not sure if I even have a license...."
"Registered it."
Crazy.
"And it's on autopilot most of the time anyway. You'll drive better than some newbie human who just got theirs. Just take it."
I obeyed.
After spending the night obediently in the guest room at the master's house, I retrieved my things from there. The sword from Yoon. Creature guidebook. Portable first-aid kit, etc. Packed them up and headed straight to headquarters. No other calls, so I went to the lab.
The chaotic lab.
John was by the master's desk.
John Mullen, eyes bloodshot red, peering at the screen. I froze at the bizarre scene before me.
And stared motionlessly at the century's genius scientist.
"You haven't slept since then, have you?"
"Finished checking 126 people's movements."
John turned his burst-vein eyes to me.
"Just 362 more to go."
"...."