Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Ep. 51
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Jade, who had stepped out of the house, waited for his colleagues in front of the complex.
Just as he finished smoking two cigarettes, a black sedan appeared in the distance. Jade waved a hand, cigarette still dangling from his lips, and the vintage mid-sized sedan approached him.
The car pulled to a stop, and Jade opened the passenger door. Behind the wheel sat a woman with goat horns sprouting from her head and a mane of white hair.
"You were supposed to come discreetly."
"What if I borrowed an official vehicle and raised suspicions?"
The woman's name was Janet Russell. As her horns suggested, she was of the Cult species.
"We need something this size anyway if all five of us are piling in."
"...Tch, can't argue with that. Where are the others?"
Jade clicked his tongue and climbed into the passenger seat. As he did, a man in the back shed his stealth camouflage and revealed himself.
"Dwayne Russell reporting back on orders."
"It's been a while."
Dwayne Russell was a gaunt man with a gloomy demeanor. He was one of Yujin's subordinates who had infiltrated this place, handling the sniper role. That's why he wore an advanced reinforced suit equipped with optical camouflage.
A standard advanced suit was akin to powered armor, but Dwayne's had been heavily modified at great expense, making it far lighter than the original. In trade-off, its defense had dropped to mid-grade levels, but since Dwayne operated from the rear supporting his teammates, it wasn't a major issue.
"That leaves Frost and Hoff, right?"
"Frost is in the entertainment district. Hoff... here he comes."
A hulking man with a sporty haircut, Hoff Russell, was approaching with a cello case slung over his shoulder. He went around to the trunk and knocked on it.
"Open up."
"This is an expensive car, you know."
Janet grumbled as she popped the trunk. Hoff stowed the cello case inside and slid into the back seat.
"Long time no see, everyone."
"No issues with your gear?"
"Of course not. Though I doubt we'll even need it."
"Don't let your guard down. You never know what incident might pop off."
"Yeah, yeah. Mom. Dwayne, you little shit, how've you been?"
Hoff brushed off Jade's warning and turned to Dwayne beside him.
"Ugh, that asshole is a prick every time I see him."
"Why are you picking a fight again, you bitch?"
"...Janet. Cut the crap and let's move."
"Roger."
The children of the Russell family, infiltrated into the T&C Special Trade Center, always operated as a team. Having carried out dozens of joint missions, calling them a veteran squad was no exaggeration.
"Lord Jade is right. A soldier must always be prepared."
Dwayne Russell, the most soldierly personality in the team. He handled rear support and sniping.
"What good are weapons anyway? Useless once you run out of ammo. Psionic powers are the real deal."
Janet Russell, the team's sole woman. Not only was she a Cult, but she possessed an extraordinarily powerful and rare ability.
"Dumbass bitch. Maybe you'd wise up if a grenade got lodged up your ass."
Hoff Russell, proficient with all manner of weapons but specialized in heavy arms. He had a rough personality, but in combat, no one was more reliable.
"...You all fight every time we meet."
Jade Russell, the leader and demolition expert. Thanks to the Metallic Gremlin gene from Sihyun Yujin, he could destroy nearly any kind of metal.
Finally, though absent here, there was Frost Russell, who served as the team's vanguard.
Each had highly specialized roles, and years of joint operations meant their teamwork was seamless.
That said, they hardly got along personally. Jade, as leader, kept on good terms with everyone, but the rest were distant.
'They're fine during ops, but off-duty, it's always like this.'
Still, they kept work and personal matters strictly separate, so Jade didn't interfere much.
The car racing through the dead of night halted near the edge of the entertainment district. After a short wait, a cyborg came sprinting from afar.
"I'm the last one, huh."
"Long time. Frost."
"Good to see you too, Lord Jade."
The cyborg, Frost Russell, grinned as he hopped into the back seat. The moment he did, the expressions of those already seated soured.
"Damn, who'd you fuck up this time?"
"Huh? That obvious?"
"Yeah, asshole. You reek of blood."
"Heh heh."
Everyone in this car had killed at least hundreds, experts in murder. But Frost took it to another level.
'Even without missions, he kills regularly.'
Frost, a cyborg with over 80% of his body rebuilt—nearly an android. The team's close-quarters specialist, he was the most vicious member of the Russell family.
Among cyborgs who turned to Mega Corp life, cases like Frost weren't uncommon. After unwillingly becoming mostly machine, their minds broke, craving only extreme stimuli.
Torture, murder, violence against others, and so on.
Space Dogs were closer to their shattered psyches, so 80% of such cyborgs became space pirates. The remaining 20% headed to places like this Special Trade Center, rich in "entertainment." As seen, Frost fell into the latter.
'At least it doesn't hinder missions.'
Frost only killed those he was "allowed" to off-duty, so Jade wasn't too worried. The persistent blood stench was a drag, though.
"We're here."
Janet snapped Jade from his thoughts. Beyond the passenger window loomed stacks of containers.
"Everyone out and gear up."
While the others checked their equipment, Jade approached the chain-link fence surrounding the yard. Grasping it, he stood still—and thick wires snapped, the fence tearing open.
"This big enough?"
A hole large enough for three people abreast had formed. Jade hopped over into the yard, followed by the others once ready.
"Which way?"
"This way. Dwayne, rear guard as usual."
"Aye."
With that, Dwayne's form melted into the shadows overhead.
The rest followed Jade through the forest of containers. Thanks to the Metallic Gremlin gene, he could distinguish identical-looking ones by their metal scent.
He led them unerringly, as if reading a map. Reaching the target, he placed a hand on the terminal.
Mouths on his hand chomped the device, sparks flying. A click echoed from within the sturdy steel door, and it swung open.
"Hm?"
Stepping inside, Jade sensed something off. Cryo-tubes for Gallerons should chill the air, but it was just warm.
'What the...?'
A bad premonition hit. He rushed to the cryo-tube and pried open the lid.
"......"
"Huh? This the right one?"
Janet, following in, tilted her head. Jade had no words.
The cryo-tube was empty.
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"This is the container with the creature you mentioned."
William, summoned by me twice now, maintained his polite demeanor. The parasite embedded in his brain inflicted pain whenever negative thoughts toward me surfaced.
Politeness aside, he clearly resented me, popping painkillers constantly.
'Just give up; it'd be easier.'
I idly wondered what trait I'd get from eating William's flesh. No guarantee of 100% gene essence absorption, but if so, what might it yield?
'He's the epitome of human stubbornness.'
Despite the agony, he never stopped plotting against me. Calling it immortal will wouldn't be amiss. More fitting than pirate first mate material, even.
'Hoping he becomes useless soon.'
Whether William knew I planned to devour him, he just kept his head bowed.
'Anyway. Let's check it out.'
I dismissed him and opened the container.
It held 30 Walking Woods.
Plant-based creatures from jungle planets, akin to Plant Lizards.
Cute fairy-like things about 30cm tall slumbered in cryo-capsules, oblivious to their peril.
'Popular in the game too.'
Like Bubble Amoeba's appeal from looks, Walking Woods drew fans for their small, adorable forms. Plenty of enthusiasts hunted only them.
I chased them too—not for cuteness, but traits.
Their trait: Natural Recovery.
A fusion material for my Regeneration trait.
Aimorphs prioritize higher-effect traits when duplicates exist. Natural Recovery yields to Regeneration.
Only if Regeneration fails against trait-nullifying attacks would it kick in—rare cases.
'Not needed now.'
Natural Recovery offered no immediate edge. Useful for Transcendence System maybe, but otherwise meh.
So this time, I passed them to No. 26.
'Recovery traits might aid growth.'
If the mutant Bubble Amoeba evolved into Seed Demon, it'd progress by eating same-planet, same-habitat creatures. Thus, ocean-planet fare was ideal.
No marine life in smuggled animals, but I don't quit easy.
New hypothesis: Like Aimorphs, could it evolve by eating gene/trait-specific creatures?
No. 26 showed no change from random eats. Beyond mere nutrition.
Reflecting: Tentacle growth only after Sihyun Yujin and smuggled animals—neither ocean-linked.
Strong foe hunts and special animals trigger growth. Aimorph-like conditions.
Seed Demon path likely trait-acquisition growth. Hence, deep-sea-like self-healing creatures.
'Test trait-bearing prey first.'
I called No. 26.
｢Yeah!｣
Starving, No. 26 lunged at the cryo-capsule. Using tentacles, it operated the terminal just like I had.
'Learned, huh.'
Grown smarter? It opened the capsule effortlessly.
Cold vapor escaped as the lid rose; No. 26 thrust tentacles in, yanking out a Walking Wood.
"Kek!"
Pulled from sleep, the Walking Wood snapped at the waist and died. No. 26 ballooned its body, swallowing the corpse whole.
About five minutes to absorb. Then it eyed the next.
'Digestion sped up too.'
Small size or growth? Digestive juices seemed stronger, nearing my Acidic Blood.
Under my watch, No. 26 devoured 10 Walking Woods. Satiated, its movements slowed.
｢Full now.｣
｢Okay.｣
I hadn't expected it to eat all anyway. Adhai atop my head drooled, awaiting its turn.
｢I｣ ｢Endure｣ ｢Endure｣
I patted it approvingly.
Meanwhile, No. 26 digested the 11th. As Walking Wood remnants vanished in its pink translucent body, it shuddered violently.
｢!｣
Its body swelled. I startled, fearing error—but no pain signs.
The form shifted: upper half thicker, lower sprouting small fin-leg clusters. Tentacles doubled to six, size ballooning to ~60cm. Once smaller than Adhai, now reversed.
'Resembles Seed Demon.'
Scale to 20m, elongate fins, and it'd match combat form perfectly.
Unfamiliar with changes, it waddled awkwardly on tiny fins relative to bulk. Cute scurry, but I knew: those fins would morph into blades dwarfing saw-tentacles.
Wandering the container, it eyed me, flashing quizzically.
｢Big baby got small.｣
｢I grew?｣
First time, so confusion. I explained via my changes.
｢Me too?｣
｢Yay!｣
Thrilled at growth, it bounced in place. Not just volume—weight too; container shook slightly.
'Gotta be careful ambushing with this one.'
Shoulder/head rides over; too big now.
Post-celebration, No. 26 retracted tentacles and legs. Just larger, but same Bubble Amoeba look.
｢I'll protect big baby!｣
I stroked it in praise. Bigger now; texture shifted from water balloon to soft stuffed pillow.
"...The monster multiplied."
William, watching outside, muttered uneasily.
Stimulated by No. 26's change, Adhai poked my head with its claw.
｢Adult｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Grow｣ ｢Want｣
｢Good news｣
Honestly, no clue on Galleron growth. Non-standard biology likely needs special conditions—unknown for now.
'Galleron, so probably psychic-power linked.'
Post-type acquisition, consider Galleron growth.
Adhai scarfed the rest.
Meal done, we exited.
Sending William off, as I turned to leave—visions flashed before me.
'What?'
Predator Sense triggered; I whipped my head aside. By a hair, the bullet shredded a rear tentacle instead.
'Ambush.'
Sharp pain sharpened focus. Using jaw-under auxiliary organs—tentacles—I pinpointed the source.
Senses converged; organs read air trails from the shot.
Something at port district edge. Too far for exact spot.
'Sniper!'
I ordered the kids and William behind containers, then shifted position. No more shots—out of range.
'Why now?'
William silent, so not cops. Reporter tailing me freshly dead—no links.
'Head-piercing round means no ordinary gun.'
Plasma-grade sniper rifle with alloy rounds? Only one: Sniper Coilgun.
'Few in this city pack that.'
If any, armed police would've. Board meeting days off still.
'Not cops, but expensive gear for my assassination.'
One name surfaced.
Arnold Russell, near-killer on Yuseong's research ship.
'...Here for the Galleron.'
Of all days. And not alone.
Four unknowns entering auxiliary organ range.