Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Forward Again
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Shin-ju turned his head toward the alien beast.
“Of course, they could file a complaint…”
*Hooo… hooo…*
The alien beast was fast asleep, its breaths deep and steady.
“What can you do? It’s alive and sleeping right there.”
“Haha… my…”
Furen let out a laugh of genuine surprise and asked.
“Then… can it be woken up again?”
“Well… it could wake up if there’s some external stimulus, but…”
Shin-ju nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“It won’t wake up unless it’s hit with a shockwave powerful enough to destroy a planet.”
“Haha, so there’s a chance it could wake up, and you didn’t definitively kill it.”
“Yes. If you truly wish to wake that alien beast, you just need to deliver a shock on par with destroying a planet.”
“A Planet Destroyer, who values the balance of the universe, only uses that power when absolutely necessary, so they wouldn’t act so carelessly. The power of a Planet Destroyer is their last resort. Isn’t it… ironic?”
For some reason, Enri and Furen found themselves convinced.
Even the alien beast war on Bluerobic had been a war to reduce the population, not to blow up the planet itself.
“Using that much power just to wake up one alien beast, enough to destroy a planet?”
Shin-ju smirked at Enri and Furen.
“It makes no sense. If they do say something, I’m confident I can argue my case.”
*Squeeze—!*
“Ugh…!!”
Shin-ju suddenly felt an immense pressure.
When he came to his senses, Furen was hugging him tightly.
“Uh… sister…?”
Enri’s face flushed as she looked on, flustered.
Caught in Furen’s powerful embrace, Shin-ju was completely bound, unable to move an inch.
Even in that state, Shin-ju tried to shrink his body to minimize contact as much as possible.
“Ms… Ms. Furen??”
Startled, Shin-ju stared off into the distance.
“Thank you.”
Furen, still holding Shin-ju tightly with her eyes closed, offered her sincere gratitude.
“For saving my sister.”
Shin-ju’s face turned red.
“N-no, not at all. It’s a police officer’s duty to save people.”
Just as the awkward atmosphere was passing, the sound of sparks crackling could be heard.
“Shin-ju! Shin-juuu!!”
Jekovic’s voice echoed from far away.
Shin-ju’s group turned their heads toward the sound.
In a corner of the factory, Jekovic was visible, struggling with Bol-code.
`[Let.go.]`
Bol-code was swinging its arm, trying to shake off Jekovic who was clinging to it.
*Beep~*
Speeder watched Jekovic with a pathetic look and sighed heavily.
Seeing this, Shin-ju realized something new.
It seemed Bol-code possessed no aggression, let alone any offensive functions.
He was simply carrying out his work, like a factory.
Shin-ju looked at the corpses lying on the conveyor belt.
Of course, Bol-code had to be held accountable for his crimes.
But before that, he needed to find out exactly who was behind this, who had ordered Bol-code to do such a thing.
`[Was.it.the.Planet.Destroyer.who.ordered.you.to.do.this.directly?]`
`[I.cannot.tell.you.]`
He was persistent.
As he chanted, large bubbles floated up from the book.
The bubbles flew toward the corpses on the conveyor belt and absorbed them.
`[What.are.you.doing?]`
`[Collecting.the.bodies.These.bodies.will.be.returned.to.their.families.and.comrades.]`
Bol-code’s red eye, set in its palm, stared silently at Shin-ju.
`[You.have.committed.a.wrong.and.you.will.be.punished.for.that.wrong.]`
The bubbles containing the corpses floated gently in the air.
`[Whatever.you.do.that.will.not.change.]`
Shin-ju looked into Bol-code’s eye.
`[I.didn't.want.to.do.this.either.but.as.of.today.this.factory.is.shut.down.]`
At the words “factory shut down,” Bol-code’s hand trembled.
After a long moment of trembling, Bol-code sent a hand signal to Shin-ju.
`[Nekhes.]`
Shin-ju instinctively cried out.
The three Bluerobic sisters turned their heads to look at him.
Bol-code continued to send signals.
`[There.was.a.request.from.a.Nekhes.]`
`[What.kind.of.request?]`
*Whirr, grind—*
Bol-code slowly sent another signal.
`[He.asked.me.to.cure.an.illness.]`
After his conversation with Bol-code, Shin-ju walked over to where the others were.
Furen stared into the distance with a troubled expression, while Enri and Sharin were quietly lost in their own thoughts.
The mastermind behind the bio-experimentation wasn’t Bio Vanguard.
Bio Vanguard had merely acted as a broker.
“The Nekhes…”
Though their beliefs, ideologies, and skin color were different, they were still comrades from the same home world, who had lived together maintaining the balance.
To think it was their doing.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered the possibility, but it was also true that he had been intentionally ignoring the uncomfortable truth, not wanting to believe it.
Furen suddenly recalled the Nekhes woman she had seen in the large cylinder.
“It was her.”
Furen’s eyes hardened with resolve.
Meanwhile, Shin-ju was also lost in thought after hearing Bol-code’s story.
A Nekhes man had come to see Bol-code.
The man was a Nekhes with androgynous charm.
His identity was ‘Kai,’ real name Ticano Vendett.
Kai had gathered test subjects to cure a woman suffering from a rare disease.
He had first contacted Kim Cha-yoon of Bio Vanguard, stolen Tibee-ra’s music while working as an idol, and used that music to lure more Bluerobic refugees to Earth.
Kai’s and Bio Vanguard’s objectives aligned.
The Tankobichi sisters.
Specifically, bringing the second sister, Sharin, and the eldest, Furen, to Earth.
Kai planned to use the two strongest individuals from the Bluerobic planet in his bio-experiments.
According to Bol-code, the young Bluerobic children who failed to produce results in the experiments were to be disassembled on site.
One child who had shown some results was spared, but it seems that child escaped while they weren't looking.
It was unclear whether the other, relatively intact Bluerobic comrades had helped the child escape, or if the child had managed to flee on their own initiative.
Because of this, any hope that the Nekhes might possess some shred of morality was completely shattered.
Shin-ju thought of the Nekhes woman he had seen a few hours ago.
According to Bol-code, she would cry out in immense pain at the slightest stimulus.
Shin-ju guessed her illness was CRPS, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
If so, it was highly likely she had been severely injured while fleeing from the Planet Destroyer’s alien beast.
The condition was an incurable disease, with no known treatment even on Earth today.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a condition where nerve damage in the brain causes hypersensitivity, making any contact register as pain.
That was why they had been conducting experiments involving continuous brain transplants and replacements. If Kai was desperately searching for a cure, it all made sense.
Shin-ju pondered the relationship between Kai and the woman in the cylinder.
From Bol-code’s story, it was highly likely they were mother and son, or brother and sister.
“I won’t forgive them. I’ll kill them.”
Sharin growled.
“To think we’re going through all this hell because of that one person…”
“Sister, we must apprehend them and hear their side of the story.”
Even in this situation, Enri maintained her composure, remembering her duty as a police officer. Her eyes had grown cold.
“…Let’s follow legal procedures first and then assess the situation.”
“Hmph…!”
Sharin snorted, clearly displeased.
Shin-ju watched her carefully.
He had to consider the possibility that Sharin might kill Kai, making it look like an accident.
`[So.where.is.Ticano?]`
`[I.don't.know.I.don't.know.where.he.went.after.we.first.met.]`
Shin-ju stroked his chin.
Could he have fled to a completely different place?
Unlikely.
Since the woman was here, it was highly probable that he was still hiding somewhere on Taumiel b1.
“Excuse me, I have something to say! Please listen to me!”
Shin-ju gathered everyone around him.
“I believe the Nekhes named Kai is still on Taumiel b1. My original purpose for coming here was, in fact, to arrest that man, Kai.”
The people around him listened quietly.
“So, from now on, this is truly my job, and you all don’t need to accompany me.”
Shin-ju looked at Jekovic, Jason, and Speeder.
“These three police officers will take the refugees back to Earth.”
“Then… h-how do we get there?”
At a refugee’s question, Shin-ju glanced at Speeder.
Speeder, sweating, gave a thumbs-up with an expression that said she had finally finished.
“This woman is an Earth traffic officer and a gate researcher. She has just dismantled the gate-blocking barrier that was spread across this factory.”
Shin-ju turned back to the refugees.
“She will open a gate to Earth for you. All you have to do is pass through it.”
The refugees’ faces brightened considerably.
A mixture of hope and relief washed over their faces, the realization that they could finally escape this place.
Shin-ju pulled Jekovic aside and made a request in a low voice.
“Please handle the refugee registration and guide them to the residential area.”
“Yeah… well, that’s not too difficult…”
Jekovic nodded with a worried expression.
“By the way, are you sure you’ll be okay investigating alone?”
Jason also approached, voicing his concern.
“Don’t overdo it. You shouldn’t rely too much on the Old Book.”
“Haha, well, the gate seal has been broken, so don’t worry too much.”
Shin-ju smiled lightly as if it were no big deal, reassuring them.
“If things get dangerous, I’ll open a gate and escape immediately.”
“Alright. Stay safe.”
Jekovic nodded.
Jason, having finished his headcount, holstered his pistol and began to move.
“Anyway, it would be good to separate the refugees. Let’s have half of them stay in Korea and the other half in the U.S…”
“I will remain here as well!!”
Furen’s voice suddenly boomed.
“No, Ms. Furen, you don’t have to…”
Shin-ju’s expression was complicated at Furen’s declaration.
He had somewhat expected this, but…
“No! I must see this Nekhes named Kai with my own two eyes.”
She was unyielding despite Shin-ju’s attempts to dissuade her.
Shin-ju said no more.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand how she felt.
“Me too!!”
Sharin also raised her one arm high.
“Just a moment, Ms. Sharin.”
Shin-ju’s expression turned firm.
“You’re a bit of a risk, Ms. Sharin.”
“Hmph!! I know what you mean! I won’t kill him, so don’t worry!! Arrest!! You want me to arrest him, right??”
“Th-then me too!!”
Enri also raised her hand.
“Just in case, I’ll stick close to Sharin’s side.”
Shin-ju looked troubled.
At this rate, it seemed like more people would volunteer…
He subtly glanced over at Kirina.
But surprisingly, she was just standing there quietly.
“Ms. Kirina? Are you okay?”
Kirina raised one corner of her mouth into a smirk.
“Heh, why? Did you think I would just tag along?”
“Yes. To be honest… I thought you would.”
Kirina smiled in understanding and closed her eyes.
“I have some sense, you know? As the action leader here, I have a duty to safely escort the refugees.”
Then she opened her eyes again and looked straight at Shin-ju.
“For the safety of our comrades, even after we arrive on Earth, I need to keep my wits about me.”
Kirina turned to Furen and bowed her head.
“This is also an order from Lady Furen.”
Seeing Kirina’s actions, Furen wore a faint smile, as if proud.
Although she had often acted childishly, he could now see why she was Furen’s right hand.
“Alright then! Thank you.”
With a refreshed mind, Shin-ju opened the Old Book.
He recited a simple incantation.
A gate opened in a corner of the factory.
The sound of car horns could be heard.
And through the gate, the middle of Gangnam, Seoul, came into view.
“To think we couldn’t do something this simple…”
Speeder raised both hands and blew her whistle.
“Alright, follow me. I will guide you to the police station!”
“Speeder! After Korea, it’s America!”
Jekovic and Jason raised their hands and called the refugees to a halt.
Soon, the three of them and the refugees approached the gate.
Jekovic, Jason, and Speeder passed through the gate, and it was the refugees’ turn to cross.
Just before passing through, the refugees turned to look at the three Tankobichi sisters.
And in unison, they bowed deeply to them.
“Then, please come back alive.”
The three sisters bowed their heads in response.
A moment later, the refugees straightened up and, without looking back again, passed through the gate.
And so, the gate closed.
The surroundings became quiet.
*Hooo… hooo…*
In the middle of the factory, the dinosaur-like alien beast slept soundly, its breaths deep and steady.
Shin-ju looked at Furen, Sharin, and Enri in turn.
“Shall we go finish the job now?”
The three Tankobichi sisters nodded in unison.