Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Trap Springs
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‘There’s still some time before the enemies arrive.’
Before that, let’s think about how to cook up the prey.
The place I’m currently in is Apartment 3, Block C.
It’s a corridor-style apartment, with a hallway on each floor and six units per floor, allowing for a total of six households.
Excluding the basement with essential facilities like generators and communal laundry rooms, the building has six floors above ground. There’s no elevator—movement is only possible via the stairs at both ends of the corridors.
‘They’ll probably scout the layout before coming in.’
Even if they don’t, it won’t be a big issue since they have androids. Just input the apartment data into the androids, and it’s done.
‘But androids have their weaknesses.’
Androids are incredibly smart, but they operate strictly according to their programming, lacking true autonomous thinking.
For example, if you order an android to defend a building, it can easily eliminate intruders approaching on foot or enemies attacking from a distance.
But for irregular attacks—like someone planting a bomb in the basement or bombing from the air—it can’t respond properly.
In fact, when I melted the pirate ship’s cooling system with my acidic blood and ruined it, the android didn’t even register it as an attack.
Humans supplement the androids’ deficient thinking. The enemies will surely deploy a mix of androids and police in reinforced suits.
‘For Mega Corp players, balancing Hulks, mutants, humans, and androids was the true measure of skill.’
The reason Mega Corp is considered a reliably strong faction in the game lies in its flexible playstyle. Players could modify their own genes for a Cult-like one-man army approach or use the ‘Hire’ trait to command masses of troops like an Outspacer.
‘This isn’t a space fortress, so no Hulk mutants. It’ll be humans and androids.’
The problem is their armament.
I’ve confirmed the androids are armed with Gauss rifles recently.
Assuming the police carry similar weapons, they’ll likely come in reinforced suits paired with Gauss rifles.
‘It’s a wealthy city, so they’ll probably wear mid-grade or higher suits.’
If I were on Earth or Mars, I’d have to fight elite soldiers equipped with plasma weapons and high-grade reinforced suits as standard gear, but this place doesn’t have that level of advanced armament.
‘Still, it won’t be a walk in the park.’
Laser weapons can’t harm me, but Gauss rifles are a different story.
I can defend against their primary tungsten rounds thanks to my body reinforcement type.
However, the true value of Gauss rifles lies in their ability to switch ammo for different enemies. Special penetrating rounds would pierce my exoskeleton easily.
‘I need to finish them off quickly before they figure it out.’
Using my auxiliary organ, I calculated the best spots inside the apartment to target the enemies. That’s when Specimens 026 and the Galleron caught my eye.
‘Come to think of it, these guys are predators too.’
Both Sea Demons and Gallerons are high-risk NPC creatures. One’s treated as a quasi-boss, and the other’s nicknamed a dragon.
They’re still just hatchlings, but hunting police shouldn’t be much trouble for them.
‘026 has grown recently, so using psychic powers won’t be hard. The Galleron can handle itself as long as it doesn’t get hit.’
If they both target vital spots accurately, even weak psychic powers can kill enemies easily. I just need to teach them where to aim.
I called them over.
Night fell over the space city, just as it always did.
As the black curtain adorned with starlight draped over the entire city, the residential district alone escaped its domain.
Unlike usual, the residential area was filled with human-made lights, as if it were the entertainment district.
Flashing police lights on armed trucks, headlights mounted on police reinforced suits, dazzling glows from various electronic devices—all drove back the darkness.
The clamor wasn’t limited to the lights.
Police radios crackling, the heavy footfalls of armed androids, siren wails from patrol cars—sounds more familiar to the entertainment district than here—filled the apartment complex.
“Hey, William! Have you lost your mind?!”
The Harbor District Security Chief shouted at William. William, who had been silently checking his reinforced suit, looked up at him with impassive eyes.
“What’s the problem?”
“Calling in armed police to catch one lowly broker’s lackey? Do you have any idea how much trouble this’ll cause?!”
William knew full well that the Security Chief was as greedy as his bulging belly.
He also knew that among that flab were plenty of credits gifted by Broker S.
“And searching the logistics team, which has nothing to do with this?! That’s a clear overreach!”
After leaving the apartment earlier that day, William had immediately relayed all the intel he’d gathered on Broker S to his superiors—not the Harbor District Security Team, but higher up, to the Earth Central Security Team.
As a result, the logistics team was thrown into total chaos by the sudden police raid.
Broker S—no, Sander—had been emergently arrested, and everyone connected to him was dragged off to holding cells one after another.
Sander from the logistics team had been so shocked by his arrest that he suddenly showed strange symptoms and was now unconscious.
Finishing his suit check, William inspected the special rounds for his Gauss rifle and spoke.
“How did you know about that, anyway?”
“What?”
“None of us reported it to Harbor District Security, so how did you know the logistics team was being searched?”
“Th-that’s…”
“And there’s something you’re mistaken about, Chief. The one colluding with S—no, Sander—isn’t just some lackey.”
“What?”
“He killed the ex-military bodyguard who was protecting Sander.”
“What?! I didn’t hear about that!”
“Of course not. I reported it straight to Earth Central Security just a bit ago. They took it seriously and approved my request for support.”
“What?! Do you even realize what you’ve done? This is insubordination!”
“Insubordination?”
At those words, William grabbed his superior by the collar. He bared his teeth like a wolf and growled.
“Did you think the higher-ups wouldn’t find out you’re in bed with the broker? You’re finished.”
“H-heek!”
William had no desire to continue talking with his former superior. Leaving the man pale as a ghost, he approached the armed police receiving their briefing.
The entry team consisted of 12 police in reinforced suits and 6 combat androids. The police had numbers 101 through 112 on their chests, while the androids had an “M” and a number engraved on their heads.
The android marked M01 greeted William.
“I’m Detective William from Harbor District Security. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Detective William. I’m M01, from Earth Central Security. Though I’m an android, not human, I’m leading this operation, so please follow my orders.”
“Understood.”
After a brief introduction, M01 finished briefing the armed police.
The objective: capture the organization member dealing with Sander and secure evidence.
Everyone—police and androids alike—knew what the target looked like from photos and a composite sketch taken before he met Sander.
Intel on survivors in Apartment 3 had also been shared.
As William prepared to enter with the other police, M01 called him back.
“You wouldn’t know this, Detective.”
“Know what?”
“Command issued new-model reinforced suits to the armed police. Upgraded in every way, with enhanced built-in treatments and boosters.”
“Good news.”
“They’ve also added compact psychic shields to the existing gear. Press the purple button.”
William pressed the button on his terminal, and a translucent oval shield popped out from his left arm.
“Superpower gear made by the Garmelda family in exchange with the Cult. They sent it a few days ago to congratulate the board on their meeting.”
“Appreciated.”
That ended the conversation.
All that remained was the breach.
‘This should go smoothly.’
The enemies surely wouldn’t expect the police to be equipped with cutting-edge gear.
And Earth Central Security’s armed police were as battle-hardened as any soldiers. With combat android support on top? It was a game they couldn’t lose.
“Breaching. Masks on.”
With that, all the police donned the masks attached to their suits.
“We’ll search the first-floor corridor first.”
Following M01’s orders, police and androids began combing the first-floor hallway. Most areas were empty, but not all—several residents were grabbed by androids and dragged outside.
“First floor clear. Moving to second. Leaving three per floor for safety.”
They were about to start on the second floor when static crackled over the comms.
“M06?”
“What’s going on?”
“Contact lost with one android.”
“Which unit?”
“First floor, 105. M04, 111, check immediately.”
M01 issued calm orders without panic. Moments later, M04 radioed in.
“Can you identify the attack method?”
William felt something off at those words.
The entire first floor had been thoroughly searched by 13 people including himself and 6 robots. There shouldn’t have been any space for an enemy to hide.
“Report any anomalies. We’re resuming search.”
Just as they tried to resume, the lead officer, 101, froze in place.
“101?”
“……”
His body trembled as if forcibly pinned in midair. Then, his neck began to slowly turn.
Recognizing the familiar sight, William shouted.
“Damn it! Psychic atta—!”
Before he could finish, 101’s neck snapped with a crack, rotating 360 degrees. The police officer collapsed like a broken doll.
“Enemy attack!”
“All armed police, activate psychic shields! Androids, secure the perimeter—”
“Aaaagh!”
A scream erupted from the rear.
Whipping around, William glimpsed Officer 112’s feet dangling in the air. Something unidentified had scaled the outer wall, grabbed the cop, and was dragging him away.
“Open fire!”
The police and androids unleashed a barrage. But the thing ignored them, vanishing with the officer.
William and the armed police hugged the corridor walls, staring up—but saw only pitch blackness.
“It’s 112!”
“Confirming. 112, respond.”
Hearing the agonized screams amid the static, William gritted his teeth. M01 repeated mechanically, devoid of emotion.
“112, if alive, respond.”
“Final check. 112, respond if alive.”
“Fourth floor. Confirmed.”
A collective sigh of relief escaped the police as the response came. Of course, everyone knew 112’s life hung by a thread—but better than dead.
“Splitting up. 102 to 105, Chief, me, and M02 search second floor. Rest, fourth floor.”
Less than 30 minutes in, and they’d lost one cop and one android, with another cop in peril.
Thanks to M01’s steady commands amid the crisis, morale didn’t crumble.
But unlike the others, William couldn’t shake a growing unease.
Maybe bringing only police here had been a mistake after all.
The thought crept into a corner of his mind.
It wasn’t cowardice.
He’d seen it clearly when 112 was taken.
The thing grabbing the cop had four arms.