Chapter 302
Chapter 302
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 302
Chapter Title: Berzan 02 (1)
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By the Cults' own lore, their homeworld differs greatly from Earth. High temperatures, scant water—much like Earth's deserts. Without their psychic powers, they never could have developed civilization on such a barren rock.
Berzan 02's environment bears a striking resemblance to their ancestral planet. Endless red sands and rocks, dotted here and there with rare blue oases. All hallmarks of the Cult homeworld.
Just as their forebears forged an empire on the sands, their descendants raised colossal cities on the crimson plains.
A forest of skyscrapers sprawled across the vast desert, their pale ivory facades reflecting the sand's glow in shades of red.
It had been a full day since we'd arrived here with the aid of my new servant.
On the day I infected Knowledge Manager Charas, I'd relayed all the intel gleaned from her and her ship to PS-111.
Details like which vessel would get us onto Berzan 02 without issue, and how far along that ship was.
While we spent two days aboard the battleship, they had sneaked onto a large freighter bound for the Aur Sector.
Adhai, the fastest mover in our group, had carried PS-111 and Specimen 026, making boarding a breeze, or so they said.
Of course, it wasn't entirely smooth sailing. PS-111's massive bulk nearly pinged the radars mid-transit. But according to him, Specimen 026's quick thinking got them through undetected.
At any rate, the freighter they'd hitched on was due to arrive today. Right now, Charas and I were waiting in the port district.
"They're here."
Charas spoke from the cockpit of her personal shuttle.
Through the reinforced glass at the front, we watched a massive ship touch down. A drab, elongated gray rectangle— a Star Union manpower supplier, just like the one we'd raided on the way to Adhai's homeworld.
Berzan 02 was one of the Empire's top slave trading hubs. For a manpower ship, no better spot to stock up on cyborg fodder.
Somewhere inside that behemoth, our group was hiding.
As the ship's hatch opened, cyborgs disembarked. No sign of them unloading cargo. On the return trip, though, it'd be packed with frozen containers full of humans and assorted races—the polar opposite.
"What now?"
"We wait."
The cyborgs had all unloaded, but eyes were still everywhere. I bided my time until the area cleared out.
'This should do.'
After about three hours, the passing Cults and outsiders had thinned considerably.
"Get ready."
At my command, she maneuvered the shuttle close to the manpower ship's side, just as we'd discussed. As we drew near, a side hatch popped open like it had been waiting for us.
Our rear door slid open in sync. The moment the openings aligned, three familiar silhouettes emerged.
They scrambled aboard Charas's shuttle in a flash. Mission accomplished, Charas gunned the engines and peeled away from the port.
"A 2-second margin of error, but within acceptable limits. No major issues."
｢Little big one, hi!｣
｢Big｣ ｢one｣ ｢why｣ ｢got｣ ｢smaller?｣
Meeting again after days apart, they were as quirky as ever.
Shrunk down, Specimen 026 perched on my head. Adhai pawed at my shaggy fur with a front foot.
"Where to, then?"
Charas asked from the controls.
Four monsters aboard her shuttle, and she didn't bat an eye. Reality was so surreal here, it all just felt like one long nightmare to her.
I turned to PS-111 at her question. His red-lens eyes flickered as he synced with MPS-05 for the update.
"'Middle child' has secured a hideout and is standing by. Head there."
While I'd waited at the port, Sky Mother and MPS-05 had scouted a spot for me to hole up.
'Clever Weakling' lasts 7 days. Once it wears off, I'll balloon back to full size.
'Already three days transformed.'
Four days left—not guaranteed to find Rank 22 in time. We had the communicator's location, but if he wasn't nearby, we'd have to comb the whole planet.
Just in case the hunt dragged on, I'd asked her to prep a base ahead of time.
PS-111 crawled to the cockpit at my words. The 7-meter humanoid spider (tail excluded) approaching made Charas flinch.
"Head to the old hover bus center on Glory Street."
"...Understood."
The shuttle wove between towering buildings toward our destination.
As we flew on, the red-lit skyscrapers thinned out, replaced by increasingly ominous structures.
'So that's why Glory Street...'
I knew the place. On the city's outskirts, near a massive slave market— a busy Cult haunt.
But the view beyond the reinforced glass was anything but glorious.
'It's fallen on hard times.'
No sign of the slave market that should have been bustling. Half-buried in sand, the buildings stood as a ghost town.
Charas set the shuttle down before a massive triangular building, like a flattened pyramid. From within the neglected structure emerged Sky Mother in her beastkin guise.
｢That's why it was cheap—it's a 'dump.'｣
｢Built for the slave market originally. But a big market popped up elsewhere, tanking this street—and the center got shuttered.｣
She was spot on. En route, we'd seen no other ships or Cults besides Charas's shuttle.
｢And the broker spilled some interesting beans.｣
｢Better if you see for yourself inside.｣
Her amber eyes, deeper in the red reflections, curved into crescents. Answering my question with a smile, she led us in.
The hover bus center's interior screamed haunted ruin. Cracked walls exposed rusty girders; sand blanketed the floor.
'Spacious, though.'
Worn, but plenty big even for my Adult form. Yet Sky Mother pressed on deeper, hinting there was more.
'Stairs?'
A hover bus hub with a basement? Descending after her revealed a vast underground chamber laced with unfinished tracks branching every which way.
'Now I get why she said to see it myself.'
Looked like they'd planned a subway extension here too.
｢Abandoned midway—too much opposition, apparently.｣
The Cult homeworld was a sandy desert ball. They weren't fans of digging underground.
Sure, they'd build subways if needed—like that space fortress I'd seen—but Berzan 02 hardly warranted it.
'And who'd ride it in a dead-end street anyway?'
I surveyed the half-built station.
'Actually perfect.'
Ideal hideout. No lines to other districts was a bonus. I could always extend them if needed.
｢And there's still more.｣
"I'll explain from here."
"I. Explain."
Reunited with MPS-05 upon entry, PS-111 stepped forward.
He fiddled with a terminal in the corner. Sparks flew from the cavern ceiling. Mechanical groans echoed from beyond the walls, and a worn camera on the wall projected a several-meter hologram of a sphere.
'That's... Berzan 02.'
Colorful markers dotted the planet's image.
"Map of the planned hover bus center and surrounding slave markets on Berzan 02."
｢Considering Rank 22's species, highest odds they're posing as slaves in one of these markets.｣
｢Yeah. Best to start here.｣
Rank 22's kind were Coldbloods—persecuted by the Empire. On a Prophetist stronghold like this, masquerading as a slave would be the smart play.
'Solid starting point.'
I leaned in close to the Berzan 02 map.
'Slave markets sell critters too.'
Slaves were the mainstay, but a hub like Berzan 02 traded rare beasts now and then.
'Not Kasha Arma level, but decent pickings.'
Hunting our target while scooping gene essences? Efficient.
The white room.
A woman with long black hair sat in a chair there.
Head bowed low, she was flanked by two figures standing behind her. Their faces were shrouded in black mist, like mosaics.
The faceless ones leaned close to her ear, whispering relentlessly. So persistent you could feel their expressions despite the obscurity.
The room filled with murmurs no longer whisper-soft. Yet she sat stock-still, as if deaf to the echoing din.
Suddenly, she lifted her head.
Black eyes mirroring her hair stared straight ahead.
The woman spoke.
｢You ■■ to ■■■.｣
"Gasp!"
Sihyun Yujin jolted awake, gasping raggedly. Her face reflected in the bio-capsule's clear wall.
Sweat-matted hair framed features eerily like the woman from her dream.
'That dream again.'
Since reviving in this clone body, her dreams stayed consistent: the mystery monster that killed 'Sihyun Yujin' striking again.
That nightmare had plagued her relentlessly—until it vanished completely.
Precisely after acquiring the relic on the Galleron homeworld.
Now, her dreams were these.
Two beings whispering endlessly to her.
At first, their voices soothed like guiding lights for her lost soul.
But some turning point flipped it—they repulsed her. Not guiding, but puppeteering.
Once that clicked, sweet dreams soured to horrors. Now, sans bio-capsule, sleep eluded her.
"Mountains beyond mountains, huh."
A wry mutter, and Sihyun rose from the capsule.
The glass parted, cool air kissing her bare skin. AC chill evaporated her sweat.
Lights kindled softly, bathing the room in natural glow.
Elegant, exotic—geometric murals on walls and ceiling, alien to Mega Corp aesthetics.
In this incongruous space, Sihyun stepped out unfazed.
The nightmare's unease had faded, but sleep held no appeal.
She grabbed her robe and pad from beside the capsule. As always, starting her day early.
'Harder to source more manpower now. Time to prioritize quality over quantity...'
Robed thinly, she dove into work. A knock shattered her focus.
"Come in."
The ornate door swung open. In slithered a reptile-human hybrid laced with insect traits.
A Coldblood—rare in Mega Corp. Smaller than average, silver collar around its neck.
"Did you cough, Lady Sihyun Yujin?"
"Meeting time already?"
"Yes. Lord Minseok Yujin awaits in the first-floor parlor."
"I'll be there soon. Have them wait. I'll dress myself."
"Understood."
Words aside, the Coldblood fetched her clothes and offered them. Sihyun's eyes narrowed faintly, but she said nothing.
She knew why. Treating her like royalty stemmed from its slave status.
And on Berzan 02, such sights were commonplace.
Dressed, Sihyun paused at the door.
"Thank you, always."
The Coldblood merely bowed, no reply. She hadn't expected one.
Once the room's mistress departed, the bowed Coldblood slowly raised its head.
Slitted reptilian pupils captured her retreating back. Whatever thoughts brewed there, only it knew.
After a moment's gaze, the Coldblood began cleaning as usual.