Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Saladian's Revelation
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A bald man with healthy brown skin.
The visitor was Saladian.
"You're staying in a nice place."
"I hear your accommodations are just as good, Saladian."
Idle chatter between people who weren't bound by money.
Despite being a guest, Saladian entered without hesitation and plopped down on the sofa in the corner.
"So, can I hear what you have to say?"
"Getting straight to the point? I thought we were pretty close."
"A friend I can punch without hesitation? Sure."
"Pfft! As expected, not your age at all."
He slapped his knee, laughing heartily at whatever was so funny.
After the laughter subsided, he sank even deeper into the sofa, more relaxed than ever.
"Fine, then. If it takes time to get closer, let's talk business first."
"What do you know?"
"No, no. There's a hierarchy here. Shouldn't you show yours first?"
"......All right."
I stood from my chair and moved to the seat across from Saladian's sofa.
As I did, I projected the information Albert had just given me onto the central table.
"I believe this monster is a joint creation of Mutant Medical Inc. and the Elrohim Church."
"Why do you think that?"
I never imagined I'd be the one to mention those two names together.
I'd thought they had vanished into the dustbin of history by now.
But the monster's existence completely overturned that assumption.
"As you can see from the data, the monster shares many similarities with the test subjects Mutant Medical created back in the day. And with that many alien factors packed in, its tissues should have necrotized and died no matter what. But it's alive. The only ones who can handle something like this so well are the Elrohim Church. That's why I said it's their collaboration."
"How do you know so much about them?"
"I've got history with both."
I said calmly.
Honestly, learning this unexpected fact didn't sit well, but I didn't want to show any weakness to Saladian.
"That said, I heard both were thoroughly dismantled so they couldn't cause any more trouble. I have no idea how this could be possible. Especially if they're hitting a conference site with terrorism......"
"Someone else did it."
"......?"
Saladian didn't answer my puzzled look right away.
Instead of responding, he changed the subject as if he was about to.
"But a guest is here, and you won't even offer tea?"
"......Of course."
I called Sia.
No sooner had I done so than she opened the door and set down the tea.
She must have prepared it in advance.
"I didn't know your preferences, so I went with a mild herbal tea. Is there anything else you need?"
"Hmm...... No, that's fine. You can go."
"Understood."
Sia caught my eye and gave a slight wink.
Once Sia left, Saladian lifted his teacup and sniffed it.
"Tea brewed from leaves dried from desert flowers. Did you prepare this?"
"She's a capable adjutant."
"I see."
I took a sip of my own tea.
She must have researched and prepared it for Saladian. All I had to do was enjoy.
Saladian savored the aroma a bit longer before slowly setting down his cup and speaking.
"Now that my throat's wet, shall we begin? Truth is, I don't know much about Mutant Medical or the Elrohim Church. But I have a good idea who pulled off this incident."
"Who?"
"The military."
"......Pardon?"
"The military. I've seen things similar to that monster before. And it was tied to the Union Army."
I steadied my shaking heart and quenched my dry throat again.
"Is that true?"
"Believe it or not, I didn't lie."
It was hard to believe, but his attitude left no choice.
Why the military, of all things?
It would be more believable if remnants had revived and started operating in secret.
Bad guys like that, I could smash them two or three times over.
But the military was different.
"Not long ago, on Diubai—the planet under my command—the military ran a solo op. It was to assault a hatchery, but they seemed confident, so I figured they'd handle it......"
"It failed."
"Yeah. I had to step in. But while entering with my squad, I saw something strange."
That strange thing was something like the monster.
"Are there records from back then?"
"View them somewhere secure."
Saladian pulled a memory stick from his pocket, placed it on the table, and slid it over.
I took it and handed it straight to R3D3.
Whatever was on it, R3D3's abilities could sort it out in seconds and show only what mattered.
Soon, the data transmitted to my retina.
Saladian was telling the truth.
I couldn't verify if it was tampered with, but it seemed genuine for now.
"......It's real."
"Already checked?"
"But why show this to me, of all people?"
"Among those gathered that day, you, Leonard, showed the most interest in the monster. I figured you were involved or had good intel. Plus, you're a captain."
"You were probing."
"Right. But seeing how you handle it, no need to worry."
Saladian was cautious because this tied to the military.
Someone pretty high up, at that.
I'd suspected as much.
To pull off something that scale on Earth, humanity's mother planet, you needed serious backing.
'Touch the wrong thing, and it'll blow up big.'
Darmosa came to mind first.
Human experimentation was strictly banned by Union law.
He was still sane enough not to touch it.
So Darmosa was off the suspect list.
But everyone else was suspect.
'The Union Army is a massive organization. One bad apple anywhere wouldn't be surprising.'
The military had been involved in both dismantling Mutant Medical and crushing the Elrohim Church.
Meaning they were the only group that could have both their tech and data.
Tech related to human experimentation was supposed to be scrapped, but if someone saw the potential, it'd be tempting.
'But it's neither a Nexter nor a Contaminant.' Nexters were Mutant Medical's ultimate goal, close to humans. Contaminants were the Elrohim Church's new breed of monsters, alien-like.
Totally different aims.
But the military, with both techs, mixed them haphazardly.
The result: the monster.
'What the hell do they plan to do with it?'
Just glimpsing it gave an intensely unpleasant feeling.
Maybe others felt different, but to me, it was more monstrous than any alien.
As I recalled that sensation, Saladian's voice returned.
"Showing the monster at the superhuman summit was probably a test."
"They picked the wrong targets."
"If it hadn't been us, it might've meant something. Tough for regular superhumans. Depending on matchup, even top ones would struggle. They seemed hard to handle."
"Hmm......"
I thought Saladian was grading generously.
In my view, regular squad members could take maybe five at most.
Assuming they knew the traits.
For regular soldiers, they'd be a disaster.
The monster's resistance and regeneration would render energy guns and even tank shells useless.
Plus, the monster got stronger over time.
No telling the endgame, but through damage and recovery, it grew stronger and faster.
All it lost was its human appearance.
We ended it quick, so no final form, but definitely several times stronger than start.
"Why dig into the military's own event?"
"Does sweeping trash need a reason?"
"......"
"I'm sick of fighting aliens daily, and now allies pulling weird shit? Can't let that slide."
Saladian said firmly.
"I get why they touched it, but they shouldn't have." Uncontrollable tech causes catastrophes.
The military was mishandling tech they'd lucked into, ignoring the risks.
It made me deeply uneasy, like an accident was coming.
"Let's cooperate. What do you need from me?"
"Got a few days?"
"......Yeah, about three should work."
"Clear your schedule for me starting today."
Saladian grinned and continued.
"You catch moles by turning the earth upside down."
*
Changing plans suddenly to leave Terra drew a strong protest from Fontana.
Reason: I hadn't kept my promise to help with the 'Wings' production.
He'd requested experimental data multiple times while I was around.
But no choice.
With humanity's greater good on my shoulders, skipping minor tests was fine.
Fontana jabbed that I was just annoyed, but I excused it as a tight schedule and boarded the Insignia quick.
'Diubai......'
After entering the AD Drive, I moved to the captain's quarters, closed my eyes, and pondered.
Saladian pulling me in had two big reasons.
Share the burden and leverage my fame.
The military's work was shady.
Mutant Medical got publicly dismantled just a year ago for ethics violations and superhuman terrorism.
Yet here they were, following the exact same path.
No clue how far up it went, but exposing it would make them flinch.
Quiet burial impossible with two superhuman captains involved.
Plus, with me—the recent hot topic—included, I could bust any cover-up.
'Rooting them out completely...... Tough.'
I didn't want to topple the Union Army.
The Union was our biggest ally.
The army was the crucial pillar holding the Union framework.
'Have to rely on self-correction.'
I'd already contacted Darmosa before departure.
If we synced, we could end it quietly.
Stealthily.
Lost in thought, I sensed a presence.
Right nearby.
So stealthy, barely any air movement.
Still, I kept pretending not to notice, eyes shut.
Curious how it'd play out. It reached right in front of me...... then nothing.
'My imagination?'
Now even doubting if anyone was there.
So I opened my eyes.
"......"
"......"
Roze was there, close enough our noses nearly touched.
"Eek!!"
".........!!"
First real scare in ages.
Roze screamed first, so I didn't, but I was more shocked.
Dumbfounded, I yelled.
"What the hell? Why are you the one freaking out!"
"Lemon opened his eyes suddenly......"
Roze, now sitting slumped, looked wronged.
I sighed and extended a hand.
She grabbed it quick and stood.
I waited till she dusted off her butt, then asked again.
"What were you trying to do?"
"......Well."
Her eyes slid away from mine.
I shifted to follow, and they darted the other way.
Infuriating.
No answer this way. So I grabbed her face with both hands, fixed it, and forced eye contact.
"Eung......"
"Spit it out straight."
She couldn't shake her head, so her eyes wiggled.
Usually, this'd make her spill any secret.
"Let go......"
Something off today.
I peered closely at her face.
Her complexion looked brighter than usual.
'Makeup? Oh, she did makeup.'
So natural and light, I hadn't noticed right away.
It blended perfectly, like she had or hadn't.