Why Were You There?
“Why did you come out of there?”
“Must be the expensive booze—no hangover at all.”
After finishing my shower, I sat in front of the terminal in my room. Only then did I have the luxury to think back on last night’s conversation with Gideon with a clear head.
I had confirmed to Gideon the existence of the enemy Vance, but I still wasn’t sure why Vance had chosen him as his target.
There had to be something beyond a simple power struggle.
‘Even in the game, Gideon’s fall was a pretty significant quest line.’
I wasn’t the type to meticulously follow the story, but the tragedy and impact had been so profound that fragments of information still remained.
Gideon was strong-willed and capable,
yet at the same time he was portrayed as a character far removed from corporate efficiency.
Therefore, he had become an eyesore to pragmatists like Vance.
‘Vance had targeted the project under Gideon.’
I didn’t remember the exact name,
but it was a classified, high-risk research project.
Gideon had warned of its dangers and pushed for its shutdown, while Vance had sought to monopolize the technology to strengthen his own power base.
“That’s what it comes down to.”
I turned on the terminal and used the temporary security clearance Beta-3 granted by Gideon to begin searching the Icarus internal database.
Of course, searching directly by Vance’s or Gideon’s names would be foolish.
“High-risk materials, project, last five years…”
Countless data streams swept across the screen.
Most materials inaccessible at the current clearance level were still being relentlessly searched.
Then, finally, I found a record that caught my eye.
Project codename: Genesis Seed.
Responsible department: 7th Research & Development Division (directly under Commander Gideon)
Project status: frozen
Access level for related materials: Alpha-1 or higher
“This can’t be everything.”
With this as a lead, I could dig deeper.
I entered new keywords into the search again.
“7th Research & Development Division, funds, personnel transfers.”
This time, information about Vance’s personal movements poured out.
As expected, most were locked behind high security clearance,
but I could uncover a few intriguing points.
In recent months,
funds of unknown origin had flowed from Vance’s direct department to subcontracting companies or retired researchers related to the 7th Research & Development Division.
And multiple records of abnormal access attempts to the 7th Research & Development Division’s internal security system.
“Not concrete evidence yet.”
It was enough to confirm a strong suspicion that something was being plotted.
“I’ll have to ask him directly.”
After all, my security clearance completely blocked access.
I rose from my seat and headed to Commander Gideon’s office.
Commander Gideon was still reviewing the tactical situation map on the hologram screen.
Upon noticing my entry, he didn’t take his eyes off the screen for a moment.
“Already in need of my help?”
“I believe I may know why Vance is targeting you, Commander.”
My words stopped Gideon’s gesture.
He slowly turned his head and looked at me.
“Go on.”
“Genesis Seed project.”
For a split second, surprise flashed across Gideon’s face.
He stared at me blankly, then no longer questioned further and let out a short sigh.
“How much do you know, exactly?”
Gideon let out a long, deep sigh.
“Genesis Seed is a terrifying spark. I tried to keep it safe and shut it down for the sake of humanity and the corporations’ future.”
His voice was filled with torment.
“Vance, that bastard, wanted only to monopolize and exploit it for greed and power. I had a rough idea, but was he trying to drag me down by reviving the project?”
“Commander, we must use it against him.”
“Use it against him?”
“Yes, I have a good idea. It’s to…”
Just as I was about to explain the specific plan,
a frantic knock at the office door interrupted the flow.
“What? Urgent matter?”
“Oh, an emergency report from the internal audit team. The Commander must check it immediately.”
“Come in.”
The secretary’s eyes widened in surprise the moment she saw me standing in Gideon’s office.
A subtle contempt and suspicion passed through her gaze.
“Doesn’t matter if I come along?”
“…It would actually be better if I listened with you.”
The secretary looked at me meaningfully and continued.
“In the internal audit team, an internal report and investigation regarding an unseemly affair has been filed.”
“Affair?”
Gideon’s brows furrowed sharply.
If it were trivial, there was no way a report would reach the Commander himself.
“For starters, take a look.”
The secretary passed the data pad to Gideon.
Gideon examined the contents with a serious expression, and his face froze in ice.
Without a word, he passed the data pad to me.
“What is this?”
Sharp photos floated on the screen.
Last night, me drunk and collapsed with Yuna.
Photos taken from multiple angles, as if they had checked every nearby CCTV.
‘Cleverly shot.’
Yuna’s flustered expression looked like a victim of an unwanted situation, and me, drunk, distorted into a scoundrel trying to cover her.
“Commander, this is…”
When I tried to explain and looked up, Gideon snatched the data pad from me and slammed it onto the floor.
“Vance, that bastard, really stoops low. He’s trying to sow discord between us.”
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
“S-Secretary. Aren’t you just going to drop it like this? How can you handle a clear-cut case this way…”
The secretary looked at the shattered data pad on the floor, unable to hide her panic, and asked in a trembling voice.
“Don’t you know how serious this is? According to Icarus regulations…”
“Just do this much, this is Vance’s vile scheme.”
“But Commander! This is raw material transmitted directly to the CCTV—no tampering at all.”
She glanced at me with ill will and said.
Gideon clicked his tongue at her persistence.
After all, for her, this reaction was almost normal.
Gideon, who trusted me so deeply it was terrifying, was the one to be feared.
“Then, have the parties verify it directly.”
“Ah, understood.”
The secretary, catching the meaning, hurriedly bowed and seemed to call Yuna.
Not long after, the office door opened and Yuna entered.
She looked puzzled at the sudden summons,
then glanced at the heavy air lingering in the office and the shattered data pad on the floor, sensing something was off.
“You called for me, Commander?”
She greeted with proper respect,
and Gideon approached her and handed the data pad the secretary had just brought.
“Look at this.”
“T-This is…”
Yuna’s face flushed bright red as she checked the screen.
Her silver eyes shook with confusion, but she soon spoke calmly.
“Last night, my teammates and I had a casual drink in the lounge.”
Casual?
After drinking several rounds of strong booze,
Yuna continued her explanation with a brazen face.
“Afterward, on our way back to the dorm, he tripped because of the alcohol and fell. I tried to help him up and fell together.”
Yuna furrowed her brows as if embarrassed.
“Without reporting it to the person involved, they went straight to the top. What kind of handling is this…”
She muttered as if puzzled, then glanced at me and continued.
“Jinwoo never intended to harm me. I prove his innocence, Commander.”
“Did you record the statement just now?”
Gideon asked the secretary, who nodded silently.
“Internal audit team—I'll explain it myself. You may leave.”
With that, he looked back and forth between Yuna and me.
“Since we three are gathered, Yuna, I think I should tell you too.”
“What do you mean?”
“The last mission to Sector Echo-14—that trap Julian Vance set for me.”
“A trap…?”
Her reaction was one of utter disbelief.
She had recognized the mission’s danger,
but never imagined it was connected to an internal conspiracy targeting the Commander himself.
She lost her words for a moment and looked at Gideon as if overwhelmed by shock.
“All evidence points to his doing.”
Gideon stepped forward one pace in front of Yuna.
“He wants to steal the Genesis Seed project and topple me.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I met you there for the first time yesterday, but years have passed. Back then, you were so small…”
Gideon smiled as if looking at his daughter.
“You never once disappointed me in the meantime. You’ve always devoted yourself to Icarus, and you’ve carried out every mission with superior skill.”
“Thank you.”
“Vance will undoubtedly use your relationship with me and your relationship with Kang Jinwoo to sow discord and attack.”
“I understand. A pest that harms the corporation must be crushed.”
Gideon gave a satisfied smile at Yuna’s answer.
“Then now, do you want to hear the good idea I mentioned? To use it against him?”
“Vance is blind to the Genesis Seed. His greed and obsession for the project will be his greatest weakness.”
“True, his actions to strengthen his position were clear.”
Gideon nodded as if recalling old memories.
“So we’ll leak the information we want to Vance. Of course, fake information, not real.”
“What kind of fake information?”
“For example, information that the project’s secret materials are being secretly smuggled outside. Anything is fine.”
“It could be a dangerous gamble, though?”
“Vance has already moved a step ahead of us. He can’t just sit and wait, can he?”
“You’re right.”
Gideon fell into thought for a moment.
“But to make Vance fall for the fake information, the information’s credibility must be very high. Without an internal collaborator, it’s impossible.”
“You’re right, Yuna. That’s why we need an internal collaborator who can perfectly deceive Vance.”
At my words, both Gideon’s and Yuna’s gazes turned toward one place.
It seemed their minds had conjured the same face.
“Don’t tell me it’s Laser? I’ve seen them meet in private a few times.”
“Jinwoo, how do you know that fact?”
What the heck.
I just mentioned it casually.
Why is Laser’s name coming up here?