Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Jeg of Steel
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A dark monitor room.
It was thick with cigarette smoke.
Amidst the smoke, silver hair, touched by the light, swayed gently.
And so, enveloped in smoke, Kim Cha-yoon looked up at the monitor.
The monitor was frozen on an image of Shin-ju casting ‘Lunar Eclipse’.
The ‘Old Book’ was reflected in her golden eyes.
She gently twirled the cigarette between her fingers.
“The Old Book…”
she murmured quietly.
Bio Vanguard’s grand design was growing increasingly opaque because of that one Old Book.
Meanwhile, M.I.X, standing before Cha-yoon with his hands behind his back, stared silently at the monitor.
He, too, was looking at the Old Book.
Bio Vanguard had exploited humanity’s inferiority complex and desire for strength, distributing weapons to every nation.
South Korea, in particular, was a country with a strong desire to become a great power.
It was a nation fond of tacking a “K-” onto any project to show it off.
M.I.X had capitalized on South Korea’s unique inferiority complex to reap enormous profits, using that money to create even stronger weapons and sell them back to other countries.
In this way, Earth gradually transformed into a planet that could not survive without alien weapons.
M.I.X maximized profits while standardizing the military strength of all nations, raising the bar for everyone.
Some enlightened politicians and sociologists warned against buying more weapons, but the instinct of the weak to become strong was irresistible.
With everyone armed, a society formed where they could, in a way, ‘respect’ one another.
The Milky Way slowly revolved across M.I.X’s face.
*Isn’t this true peace?*
There is no such thing as free peace.
Only when there is fear pointed at each other do people begin to respect one another.
M.I.X lowered his head.
*I can show ‘Him’ my masterpiece.*
Open a colosseum with the strengthened humans, present it as entertainment for Him, and take even greater profits for myself.
Even the Bluerobics, a warrior race, will be drawn to Earth, providing more diverse spectacles.
This is progress.
But that human, Park Shin-ju, who possesses the Old Book.
He was a nuisance.
The only one who could stand against His plan.
Even he, who had experienced countless planets over hundreds of light-years, could not discern the true nature of the Old Book.
There was too little information, other than that it was a record written by a wanderer who roamed the entire universe.
He had asked ‘Him’ as well, but the only answer he received was that the time was not yet right.
M.I.X knew of one book similar to the Old Book.
A grimoire called the ‘Necro’.
He believed that the only object capable of countering the Old Book was the Necro.
And the one person who knew the whereabouts of the Necro was…
Shin-ju stood before Bol-code, citing violations of bioethics laws and informing him that a summons would be issued later.
The being didn't seem to understand, but it didn't matter.
He then confiscated the core that powered it (the factory), taking measures to ensure it could no longer operate.
Once the situation was more or less under control, Shin-ju left with the three Tankobichi sisters.
The four of them returned to the place with the giant cylinder where they had previously fought the alien beast.
They were there to find a trace of Kai.
A space with a massive pyramid.
A giant cylinder was installed in the center of its apex.
But.
“She’s gone!!”
Sharin shouted.
The figure of the Dark Elf woman who should have been inside the cylinder had vanished without a trace.
“Did they move her already?”
“Well, after the commotion we caused, they must have scrambled.”
Furen gently stroked the cylinder with her hand.
Enri had already walked around to the back and found the entrance to the cylinder.
“There are traces here.”
Shin-ju followed Enri around to the back.
There was a rectangular opening, and below it, a trail of green liquid had been dragged along.
“They must have been in a real hurry.”
Shin-ju followed the trail with his eyes and looked up.
In a distant corner, he could see another passageway with an open door.
“Over there.”
The group of four followed the trail toward the open door.
Shin-ju and Enri crossed the threshold first.
The two of them looked up at the long, stretching corridor.
As Enri and Shin-ju, having spotted something, stared with wide eyes, Sharin and Furen appeared behind them.
They, too, widened their eyes a moment later.
Giant cylinders lined both sides of the corridor.
As if possessed, Shin-ju slowly walked down the corridor, looking around.
Inside the cylinders, various alien species were submerged in green liquid.
“They’re all patients. Ah…!”
“So this place is also a hospital.”
“A hospital and a research lab for biological experiments, all in one.”
Surprisingly, Sharin caught on quickly.
“So they were researching treatment methods here.”
While Enri murmured, Furen was lost in thought for a moment.
“Yes… it was the same when I first came to Earth.”
“What do you mean?”
“Earth is also a civilization that achieved progress through destruction.”
Shin-ju realized what Furen was trying to say.
Earth’s scientific technology had also been able to develop through countless wars.
During World War II, horrific biological experiments were carried out, and thanks to them, medical technology advanced by leaps and bounds.
“Does it mean something can only be gained by sacrificing someone else…”
Shin-ju muttered, looking up at the cylinders.
*Scrape—scrape—*
A dragging sound came from somewhere.
“…You hear that?”
At Shin-ju’s question, the three sisters nodded with serious expressions.
Something was definitely moving inside that dark passage.
Shin-ju opened the Old Book, summoned a glowing orb, and sent it flying toward the end of the corridor.
As the orb illuminated the corridor, the tips of a woman’s feet became visible at the far end.
*Scrape—scrape—*
Slowly, the body of a large woman came into view, followed by the silhouette of a man embracing her.
“Kai… Kai!!!”
Shin-ju narrowed his eyes, tilting his head as he re-examined the man’s form, then shouted with a voice full of conviction.
“Ticano!!! Ticano Vendett!!!”
Shin-ju yelled Kai’s real name and dashed forward.
Sharin and Enri followed behind him.
Furen, meanwhile, watched Kai’s form for a long time with sad eyes before slowly starting to walk.
The Dark Elf boy, sweating profusely, was crawling down the corridor with the woman on his back.
The silent universe.
The Graudis was flying through the galaxy.
Silverfire orbited the Graudis, glancing at the scene unfolding beyond the spaceship’s window.
‘Frontline.’
Before Silver’s eyes, a massive mechanical planet appeared.
The planet itself seemed like one giant factory.
The Graudis landed on the rooftop of a shabby building.
Silver stepped out of the ship and looked at the city’s scenery.
A mechanical city skyline, reminiscent of both steampunk and cyberpunk, stretched out before him.
And so, after a long time, Silver visited his home planet.
He came down from the rooftop, raised one arm, and tried to make contact.
A moment later, a heavy mechanical sound echoed in Silver’s ear.
“I’ve arrived, Jeg.”
*—Understood.*
*Whirr—clank—*
Next to where Silver was standing, a tin can-like tube shot up.
And a door opened.
*—Get in.*
Silver crouched down and squeezed his body into the tube.
*Whoooosh*
Silver’s body instantly began moving through an underground tunnel.
The underground lights zipped past his face.
Suddenly, the tube’s speed increased, and Silver’s body began to shake.
*Ding!*
An arrival chime rang out.
*Shhh—*
The tin door opened.
Silver managed to pull himself up and out of the tube.
A vast underground factory unfolded before his eyes.
An underground bunker factory, awash in blue light and holograms.
Silver walked forward, savoring the familiar atmosphere of his home after so long.
A short while later, he stopped in front of a giant computer.
It was a computer inscribed with neat, pentagonal, geometric alien symbols.
Wires were connected to it haphazardly from all sides.
“Jeg.”
Silver called out the name as he looked at the computer.
“Kadu Oara. No, on Earth they call you Silverfire, don’t they?”
A heavy mechanical voice boomed from the computer.
Kadu Oara.
Silverfire’s original name.
“Please, just call me Silver. It’s more comfortable these days.”
*Pshhh—*
White steam hissed from the computer.
The computer began to transform, spewing white steam like a living organism.
Silver took a step back and watched.
*Whirr—clank, clank*
A giant white robot appeared.
Its white helmet glowed with blue eyes, and steam billowed from a mask that resembled iron bars.
Meanwhile, a research claw-hand was attached to its back.
It was the same mechanical hand that appeared whenever Shin-ju summoned Jeg of Steel through a gate.
The general manager of the weapon development system for the planet Frontline and an SSS-class hero.
‘Jeg of Steel’ revealed his complete form.
“Those Bio Vanguard bastards have crossed the line.”
“Yes, sir. We can’t stand by any longer. Illegal arms distribution, biological experiments, and…”
Silver paused for a moment before continuing, trying to keep his voice as emotionless as possible.
“It seems they’ve also done terrible things to the young individuals of our Frontline.”
Jeg listened to Silver’s words in silence.
*Pshhhhhh—*
Thick white steam billowed from Jeg’s body.
“Park Shin-ju will uncover the truth one way or another. We must use this opportunity to pull them out by the roots.”
Jeg’s voice was low as he looked at Silver.
“Tell Park Shin-ju. My unit will be visiting soon.”
Jeg paused for a beat before continuing.
“I intend to confiscate all of Bio Vanguard’s weapons.”
Silver’s eyes widened at Jeg’s words.
“You mean…”
“That’s right. Bio Vanguard’s ‘weapons business’ will be completely withdrawn from Earth. And I will make sure they can never conduct that business again.”
A brilliant blue light shone from Jeg’s eyes.
“…In effect.”
Silver thought it over once more before speaking carefully.
“In effect, you’re declaring war on M.I.X.”
“We may have to be prepared for a fight.”
Jeg looked at Silver.
“You seem quite anxious.”
“I am a ‘police officer’.”
White steam hissed from Jeg’s body.
He nodded.
“I understand. You are to remain neutral.”
Silver bowed his head deeply.
“Then I will make my own preparations. It seems I’ll be speaking with my comrades here after a long time.”
Silver nodded as if to say he understood.
*This was much bigger than I thought.*
*So, they're really making their move now.*
“Um… have you been in contact with Shin-ju by any chance?”
“Not recently. Is something wrong?”
“He is investigating the ones behind the biological experiments.”
“Hmm, I expected as much. He wouldn’t just stand by in this situation.”
“There is something that worries me.”
“What is it?”
“Shin-ju won’t oppose the withdrawal of Bio Vanguard’s weapons business. However, he has always found another way.”
Silver looked up at Jeg and continued his explanation.
“If a fight breaks out… it will be considered an outright invasion. If that happens, depending on the situation, Shin-ju might have to stand against you…”
“I know. He, too, will act as a police officer in his own way. He will surely use the Old Book to stop me.”
“…Then what will you do?”
A brief silence fell between Silver and Jeg.
Soon, a low electronic hum emanated from Jeg’s mouth.
“At that time… I cannot back down either. Depending on the situation, I may have to see things through to the end with Bio Vanguard…”
Jeg looked off into the distance.
“It seems…”
Jeg’s blue eyes emitted a lonely light, like a calm blue sea.
“I’ll have no choice… but to fight him.”