Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Blue Galleron Hatchling
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Earth Central Security Team.
It's the highest security organization within the T&C Special Trade Center, overseeing not only police stations and planetary security teams across each Earth domain but also the crisis management teams stationed in administrative districts.
Normally, it wouldn't be this hectic, but with the board meeting just around the corner, the place was buzzing with activity.
"What happened with the Star Union terrorists? When's the interrogation report coming up?"
"Who the hell approved Ezerton's fleet deployment request? You call this a report?"
"All Entertainment District Security Team members, assemble in Conference Room 5!"
Papers flew everywhere as uniformed security personnel dashed back and forth.
In the midst of the chaos, the only quiet spot was Conference Room 4.
The Harbor District Security Team's detective squad was plotting to round up all the criminals they'd been tracking before the board meeting kicked off. Total Administrator Layla Chemberlin had issued a strict order to the Earth Central Security Team: eliminate all potential risks.
"What about Broker S?"
"He halted smuggling operations after the board meeting announcement, but cases spiked this month. We've confirmed six instances just in the past week. Basically, he's smuggling daily now."
"Suddenly ramping up at a time like this? That's suspicious."
Detective Squad Leader William tilted his head at his team's briefing.
Broker S was a target they'd been after for the past six months. They had the evidence locked down, but the guy had so many credits greased up top that interference kept pouring in, and they'd failed to nab him.
After that flop, they'd just kept tabs on him. Now, with the board meeting approaching, this was their shot at a proper arrest. Even corrupt officials couldn't defy a direct order from the Noble Capital patriarch and ruler of the space city.
"No changes in his smuggling methods?"
"That's peculiar too. He usually handled interplanetary smuggling relays, but all six recent cases targeted people inside the city."
"Maybe because surveillance is tighter now?"
"No. Deals inside the city aren't profitable. Broker S is cautious. A guy who squeezes max profit from minimal trades—would he really do something that sloppy?"
They finally had a chance to catch him, yet he was slipping up like this. William should've been thrilled, but something felt off.
"The trading partners should be identifiable, right? Who's he dealing with?"
"That's a new face he hasn't traded with before."
"New face?"
"We spotted him three days ago. A guy wandering around in pajamas—slippery as a ghost. Never catches on camera."
"Not sure if he's from the Space Dogs, but he seems professionally trained. We've tailed him multiple times, but he gives us the slip every time."
William let out a groan. Broker S was headache enough, and now this tough new criminal shows up.
Judging by S's past deals alone, it wasn't odd for the Space Dogs to have their eyes on him. With S's skills, he could practically print money.
But William held back from jumping to conclusions.
'Of all times, right now? That's not like S.'
There had to be a reason for the ultra-cautious S to go so reckless. William gathered his thoughts and issued orders to the team.
"Have the ones who tailed Pajama Guy whip up a composite sketch and send it to surveillance for analysis. Contact the Harbor District to check when he came in. Keep eyes on Broker S's movements too. Just in case—the Space Dogs might make separate contact."
"Yes, sir!"
"Dismissed."
The meeting wrapped, and the team filed out, but William stayed seated. Propping his arm on the table, lost in thought, he finally picked up his communicator.
'Using a friend feels iffy.'
He was an old squad mate from back in the day, now retired and working security. William knew exactly who he was guarding.
'Broker S.'
William sent him a message.
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'10:55 PM. About time he shows.'
I'm waiting for Sander with No. 26.
We're near the border between the Commercial District and Harbor District. Unlike the Entertainment District, shops here shut down by 9 PM, so hardly anyone's around.
'Close to the secret passage too.'
There are cameras, sure, but compared to the camera-riddled docks, it's way easier to move around.
'Not the only reason I switched spots, though.'
The real reason for changing locations: the watchers.
Three days ago, disguised as the neighbor guy, I met Sander near a dock crane. It went smooth, but I sensed watchers keeping tabs from afar.
Sander's under my control, so no resisting me. The watchers were probably the cops who'd been tailing him. Getting caught by them would be a hassle, so I switched venue and time.
11 PM, Commercial-Harbor border.
Sander griped about the change, but it was pointless rebellion. His only option was obedience.
'Here he comes.'
Speak of the devil—a refrigerated truck painted black rolled toward the meetup spot.
It stopped, and Sander hopped out, wiping sweat from his brow.
It's been a week since he offered up the seized creatures to me.
His face was unrecognizable—gaunt enough that you'd believe he'd lost two-thirds of his body weight.
The culprit? The parasite lodged in his brain.
When implanting parasites via the Parasite Swarm, you set the control level on the host—from Stage 1 (weakest restraint) to Stage 5 (strongest).
Sander got a Stage 4. Any hint of resistance, and the parasite clamps down hard.
Because of it, he'd suffer through meals, sleep, and work.
Obey me. Don't defy my will.
'Games even pop a message on parasite infection.'
Saw it in a video from a player hit by my parasites. Infection triggers messages on certain actions. That's tolerable, but each message drains HP. Players who couldn't purge it with gear or traits often just suicided—resets the effect.
'Can't do that in reality.'
Only option: endure the pain.
I stepped out from the alley near the spot and appeared before Sander.
He'd seen me plenty, but still gulped in shock.
Quickly, though, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
"...I brought the goods you asked for, so please..."
I'm scary, but the parasite in his head is worse. In 24 hours, it'll kill him.
'Still some time left.'
I held my arm near his head and activated Parasite Swarm.
"Gaaahhh..."
Sander's eyes rolled back, mouth gaping. Then the parasite wriggled out his nostril. It shuddered once outside and died.
'Good job.'
A fresh parasite emerged from my palm slit to replace it, entering Sander the same way.
"Kuh—cough!"
Moments later, he snapped back, hacking hard. He brushed off the dead parasite on his knee like it creeped him out.
I stared silently, and he cleared his throat awkwardly, handing over papers.
"...Ahem. Here's the specimen list."
To inspect closely, I used a combat arm to take the documents from Sander.
"......"
He flinched as the invisible arm snatched them—clearly spooked.
[Zzzt zzzzt zzzzt (Am I that scary?)]
「Big Baby's cute.」
[Zzzzt (Thanks)]
「Yeah.」
I stroked No. 26 on my shoulder gratefully and flipped through the papers.
'Plentlizards and a Fairywing today.'
Plentlizards resemble stegosauruses but are classified as plant-type creatures, not dinosaurs. They possess Robust Vitality—my second acquired trait—as an innate ability.
'Five Plentlizards. Not a ton.'
Big guys, so trucking multiples ain't easy. Probably max eight per truck like this.
'Next, one Fairywing.'
Fairywing: palm-sized carnivorous bird, eyeless, blue crow-like with hooked teeth. Nicknamed "flying piranha."
'Huh? Mutant?'
Mutant Fairywing? Never saw that in the game.
Intriguing, but only one—probably mutant rarity. Multiple would've been gene essence bait, but solo's iffy.
Done checking, I pointed at the truck with a finger. He whipped out his terminal in a hurry.
"I'll—I'll open it up."
He fiddled with the wireless terminal linked to the truck, and the cargo bay hissed open with mechanical whirs.
「Cold.」
[Zzzzt zzzzt (Wanna stay here?)]
「Nah. Reminds me of home.」
Makes sense—Seed Demon's deep-sea dweller; this chill's nothing. Sander shivered—maybe the cargo cooler, maybe me—and backed off.
"I'll wait here then."
I ignored him and climbed into the cargo bay.
Alloy cages held five anesthetized Plentlizards. I bent the bars casually and stepped inside.
"Ah, no need for me to open... yeah."
Sander started to offer but shut up at my feat of strength.
'Kill and eat first.'
I snapped their necks one by one.
Midway, one not fully sedated lashed its spiked tail at me—couldn't pierce my exoskeleton. My combat arm crushed its skull.
With them done, I sampled the massive plant-beast meat.
'...Feels healthy.'
Aimorphs are omnivores by lore, but lean carnivorous. Plentlizard meat had a vegetal tang—not my fave.
「Tasty? 」
[Zzzt (Nah)]
「Big Baby needs to grow, so eat it all.」
She's right. Gotta evolve more—gotta chow down.
Forced it all down, but no Predation Effect triggered.
'Tch. Too bad—next time.'
Cyborg Russ's list had 30 total Plentlizards. 25 left—bound to score something.
'Dessert: mutant Fairywing.'
Bird, so maybe chicken-y? I cracked the cryo tube.
I froze at the sight inside.
「What's up?」
'......'
No. 26 asked, but words failed me.
Blue reptilian skin.
Tiny back wings, head horns.
Long tentacle bundle instead of mouth.
'That's a Galleron.'
Not a Fairywing in the cryo tube.
It was a Blue Galleron hatchling—the space dragon's young.