Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Something Seems to Be Going Wrong (9)
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Sabrina's explanation was concise, containing only the crucial points.
The fact that Nemesis had kidnapped Reine to conduct large-scale human experiments, and that David's reason for the terrorist attack was to save her.
That the blackout and sleeping gas were to minimize potential casualties, and all that remained was for him, having rushed to the VIP banquet hall, to rescue Reine.
After hearing the whole story, Raven stroked his chin and nodded to himself.
"Hmm... so that's what was going on. Hexahemia Syndrome, you say."
"Do you know much about the illness Reine has?"
"It's a known illness to those in the know. A rare disease where blood reacts with mana. So, this was the suspicious business Nemesis was up to."
Raven acknowledged that there were no major logical contradictions in Sabrina's claim.
Planning large-scale human experiments to create a Hexahemia serum was hard to accept from a common-sense standpoint, but it wasn't like there were only one or two psychos in this city who'd do such a thing.
If a stable supply of Hexahemia serum was established and Metahuman prosthetics completely dominated the market, the economic value generated would be enough to make anyone's eyes spin.
However, this was, after all, a one-sided claim from the perpetrators of the attack.
Whether the content could be trusted was a different matter from the claim having no logical flaws.
"Part-timer. Did you try to help because you thought what she was saying was true?"
"I-It's not a lie! It's true!"
Unjustly suspected, Sabrina reacted vehemently.
But Raven was a cold adult of society who valued solid evidence over emotional appeals.
Even if the fight with Lexi was unavoidable due to the urgent situation.
To get his help here, she had to persuade him in a convincing way.
Could she... really do it?
*Hmm... there's no visible evidence. I can't just say, 'I know because I read the original story.' No, I can't even speak in the first place.*
In the original story, they somehow figured it out.
Now that I was in this situation, I had no idea what to use as proof.
Besides, from the midpoint onward, things had gotten so chaotic that the original story was practically meaningless.
So, as I racked my brain, trying to figure out how to expose Nemesis's scheme, a strange woman's voice suddenly came from the entrance of the hallway.
"Hey! What are you doing over there! This is a restricted area!"
At the piercing, hysterical voice, the three of us naturally turned our heads in the direction of the sound.
There stood a woman with an arrogant face, wearing red glasses.
I recognized her face. I'd forgotten her name, but she was definitely the head researcher for the Hexahemia human experiment project... the very person who ordered Reine's kidnapping.
Why is this person here? Shouldn't she be in the VIP banquet hall?
Puzzled by the sudden appearance of evidence, I realized that not much time had passed since the blackout.
*Aha, was she busy managing staff downstairs before the blackout? This is... quite lucky.*
I urgently tugged on Raven's collar to get his attention.
Then, I pointed at the woman, gesturing that we absolutely had to catch her.
If we searched her pockets now, we'd find something significant. I was sure of it.
"Security! What is security doing! There are strange bastards running wild in our area! Kill them all... Gack!"
*Whizz—thud!*
The pistol Raven had lightly thrown spun through the air and struck the researcher squarely on the forehead.
She must not have exercised much; she showed no sign of noticing the incoming pistol until the moment of impact. Her reflexes were practically sloth-like.
*Slump.* The researcher's eyes rolled back as she collapsed on the spot.
Having unexpectedly thrown his favorite pistol, Raven scratched his head and muttered in disbelief.
"I can't believe this is what it's come to..."
"...!"
"She says not to worry."
"I can see that for myself, kid."
I clenched both fists and nodded at the sighing Raven, as if to tell him not to worry.
Then I scampered over to the fallen researcher, rummaged through her pockets, and found a data chip that looked suspicious at a glance.
I had a feeling. This was it, one hundred percent!
"This is... Let's check what's on it."
Raven took the chip from me and inserted it into his terminal.
An absurd amount of data flooded in, enough to make his terminal lag.
Just how much data was stored on this tiny chip?
As Raven carefully read through the contents, a frown formed on his brow.
"This is..."
"What is it?"
"It looks like a presentation for the VIPs. It also details the large-scale human experiments you mentioned. This... is too damning to be brushed aside."
See! I told you it wasn't a lie. Why do you have to be so suspicious and tire people out?
As I shrugged my shoulders as obnoxiously as possible, as if to blame him for his suspicious nature.
Annoyed, Raven grabbed the top of my small head with his palm and pressed down firmly again.
Aack, this'll stunt my growth!
"Hmm, I just had an interesting idea."
"An interesting idea?"
"Yeah, this data. I'll send it as is, without changing a single word, to a reporter I know. What's more sensational than this these days? 'The Hidden Darkness of Nemesis, the Premier Prosthetics Company for Metahumans: Illegal Large-Scale Bio-Experiments?' Something like that. An article with a headline like that will get explosive views in no time. Nemesis will be torn to shreds from all sides in an instant."
As he spoke, Raven immediately sent a message somewhere on his terminal.
A reporter he knows... Hmm, that would certainly have an impact. He's a notorious paparazzo in the entertainment industry, after all.
But even a notorious paparazzo, as long as they're a big name in the industry, can be a useful tool if used correctly.
I didn't need to look ahead to know what would happen next.
The Dragon Mayor, practically having a seizure over the Nexus Project he could never pin down, would be the first to react to the article and order an investigation.
The police, who rushed in to catch the terrorists, would suddenly find themselves detaining the Nemesis personnel on site, now suspects instead of victims, and would meticulously investigate whether the plan was real.
Then, naturally, the human experiment plan they were about to pull off would come to light. Amidst all the chaos, the terrorist leader, David, would disappear with Reine, and that would be the end of it.
Huh? Wouldn't the police eventually catch them if they pursued relentlessly?
The magnanimous Dragon Mayor, after calculating the details of the incident and the scale of the damage, would tactfully order them to be let go, so there was no need to worry about that.
Thanks to the relatively moderate methods of a blackout and sleeping gas, there were no casualties, and our hot-blooded Dragon Mayor would insist on personally compensating for the damages, even if it meant opening his own wallet. Who would argue with that?
*Hah... it's over. I managed to patch things up somehow. When I saw David and Lexi run into each other, I thought my heart was going to leap out of my mouth.*
The tension automatically drained away, replaced by a wave of fatigue.
Realizing that things would now resolve themselves without any further intervention from me, the fatigue I'd forgotten in my heightened state of tension came rushing back.
Come to think of it, I've been running around all day without even eating.
When I get off work today, I'm definitely binging on a steak sandwich. Double meat, for sure.
As I rubbed my starving stomach and looked around, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.
But, where did Alice go? Why is only Raven here?
"...?"
"Hm? What's wrong? Looking for Alice?"
"...!"
"She probably got a good whiff of the sleeping gas and is sleeping soundly. She should be waking up soon, though."
Ah, so she breathed in the sleeping gas.
I chuckled at the thought of Alice, who had been missing for a while, then a sudden question popped into my head and I whipped my head around to look at Raven.
...Wait, does this guy use telepathy?
How does he know what I'm thinking just by glancing at me?
"I'm not reading your mind. I'm just observant. You're so easy to read, I can see exactly what you're thinking."
"...!!"
"What, was I right again?"
Scary! That's even scarier than him actually being able to read minds!
I shuddered, shrinking away at Raven's absurd ability.
But, am I really that easy to read? You can't even see my expression thanks to the mask...
As I despaired over my utterly pathetic poker face, Raven suddenly placed a hand on top of my head. His clumsy attempt at comfort made my heart ache twice as much.
*Rumble...*
Just then, I felt a faint tremor, as if the building was shaking.
A sensation that told me something unusual had just happened.
"This is..."
"No way, David!"
We exchanged urgent glances and rushed out of the hallway.
When we reached a large window with a view of the outside, I spotted the figures of a man and a woman flying in the sky far away.
"That's that fool David and Reine...!"
"Oh, like a scene from a painting."
"...!"
A blood-soaked man flying through the air, tightly embracing a woman in a dress.
At a glance, it was a picturesque scene.
Perhaps it was because the shards of glass scattered around them glittered as they reflected the sunlight.
It was as if the world itself was blessing them.
Leaning my hand against the window, I watched them and recalled the conversation they would be having up in that blue sky, based on my memories of the original story.
-You fool, you didn't have to push yourself so hard, bleeding like that. For someone like me...
-Reine, you are precious to me. It is thanks to you that I, who would have vanished without even a name to be remembered by, became fully David.
-Hehe, how is that thanks to me? That's something you achieved yourself through hard work, David. I didn't really do anything.
-...And, I'm sorry for not being able to keep my promise... to make you happy.
-You fool, what are you talking about? You already did. I, right now, more than ever...
Yep, childhood friends definitely deserve a happy ending.
Feeling as though all my troubles had paid off, I quietly watched the backs of David and Reine as they landed safely and departed into the distance.
They'll struggle like that for about three days, but after that, it'll be smooth sailing. I hope they don't worry too much.
And so, the Nemesis terrorist incident came to a close with a spectacular climax.
No matter how you slice it, a happy ending is the best. A smile naturally spread across my face.