'This is an unfamiliar enhanced suit.'
I looked down at the lifeless body of Officer 112.
'It seems to be an upgraded suit.'
The defense has significantly increased compared to before. If I were in an unenhanced state, it would have felt quite heavy. Even when I tore through the chest with my nails, it was surprisingly sturdy.
Furthermore, it had additional features like a full-face gas mask attached to the helmet and a psychic power-resistant shield, elements not found in intermediate-level suits.
'It's a basic intermediate-level suit with a few advanced-level suit options added.'
Advanced-level suits boasted significantly superior specs compared to intermediate ones, making them considerably more expensive. It's close to half the cost of plasma equipment, so it could be seen as quite pricey.
'They seem to be developing cost-effective advanced-level suits.'
In the game, megaCorp players had plenty of credits, and they didn't need to worry about the lives of mercenaries. However, in the real world, equipment for protecting living soldiers would continuously evolve in response to new weapon developments.
Of course, being a budget version, the shield attached to this suit was likely far less effective compared to the shields on high-level suits. Still, it should be adequate to block even the standard rounds of Gauss weapons. For an ordinary person who can't afford cutting-edge weaponry, a shield like this should suffice.
Looking at it this way, it's safe to say that the enemies are well-prepared, even if the shield is not as advanced as high-level suits.
'If the opponent were an 'ordinary human,' we would have easily won.'
'Well, that's if they were truly 'ordinary humans.'
After all, they were after Sanders, and now they've come after me as well. They likely consider me to be some sort of spy for the Space Dogs or a smuggler. Before they entered the apartment, Sanders might have been arrested, leading to retaliation against me, the apparent 'parasite.'
'Well, using Sanders is no longer an option.'
I'll need to find another broker or take advantage of the chaotic situation to discreetly raid the Harbor District. If I implant a new parasite in this apartment before leaving, finding a broker won't be all that difficult.
'But on a side note, these guys fight better than I expected.'
The ones who successfully took down the intruders in the apartment weren't me but Number 26 and Adhai.
Before the police entered the apartment, I had instructed Number 26 and Adhai on the weaknesses of both androids and humans. The power source location of the androids, their lack of autonomous thinking, the fragility of human heads, and so on.
As a result, Adhai managed to take down one android on the 1st floor, while Number 26 killed one of the police officers on the 2nd floor.
'Adhai clung to the ceiling.'
It hung from the ceiling and waited until there was only one android left.
Currently, the android assumes the enemy to be human. Unless it was a special species like a wolf or an Insectoid, it was impossible to hang from the ceiling. So, the android didn't consider anything on the ceiling, and it had no choice but to succumb to Adhai's psychic attack, the psychic impact, without resistance.
Psychic Impact was considered the lowest-level psychic attack technique, but it could still inflict significant damage on opponents without psychic resistance. If the target was accurately aimed at, it could even destroy the power source of an android.
'If the android had a shield, Adhai would have failed.'
If the android had prepared even slightly for psychic power attacks, Adhai's attack would have failed. Psychic Impact could be easily blocked even by those with psychic resistance.
'It knew that and targeted the androids instead of the police.'
Although there were super-powered androids as well, they didn't come to this apartment. The only ones with shields were the enhanced suit-wearing police officers. So, it deliberately targeted the androids. Young Blue Gallagon, It indeed had decent skills.
In any case, the guy who successfully destroyed the android made its way out of the apartment through a window and joined Number 26 on the 3rd floor.
'Number 26 did well too.'
Whether it was due to its growth or not, its psychic power had become much stronger than before. Now it could easily cast 'Restraint,' one of the abilities Sea Demons had, which was a powerful mid-level psychic technique. It was a psychic technique that pressurized and oppressed the target using psychic power. The stronger the caster, the more targets it could affect, and the greater the effect of the technique.
Number 26 had hunted with me several times, so it knew well where humans were vulnerable. The guy, hiding in the 3rd-floor corridor, demonstrated the technique of casting a double Restraint on one of the enemies on the 2nd floor who came to search. Thanks to this, the poor police officer found himself in a state where his body and head were separate entities.
'It's still far from perfect, but…'
In the game, Sea Demons could restrain dozens of players at once to the point of suffocation, making it incredibly powerful. Number 26 hadn't reached that level yet, but it had improved significantly. Perhaps it will become even stronger in the future.
'They did well, now it's my turn.'
The groundwork had been sufficiently laid. I felt the vibrations of the enemies coming up the stairs.
I called out to them in the voice of the deceased officer, 112.
"Aargh!"
"!"
Outside, the enemies tensed up.
I sensed there were five humans and two androids. I left through the window, carrying the corpse on my side, and crawled along the exterior wall to move to the neighboring house.
In the meantime, the two androids advanced and broke the door of the house where I had been hiding until a moment ago.
"Begin the search."
Ignoring the cold voice of the androids, I moved to the corridor and exited the neighboring house.
I saw the police officer at the very back trying to enter the house. I pierced his throat with the stinger at the end of my tail. Silently, I caught him as he fell to the ground and then climbed up the corridor wall to the upper floor.
I opened the window of the empty upstairs house and tossed the police officer and the corpse inside.
"…."
Beyond the police officer's mask, I could see terror-filled eyes. After being caught by me, he seemed to have a clear understanding of what he was facing.
He probably thought like this: they should have brought the military instead of armed police. As always, regret comes when it's already too late.
He seemed to want to somehow inform his colleagues about my identity, but it was impossible. The neurotoxin that coursed through his veins, like a snake that had caught its prey, was tightening around his entire body.
I grabbed his head with my combat arm. He sent me a pitiful look, as if he had an intuition about what I was about to do.
'Unfortunately, I can't grant that wish.'
When I applied pressure, my hook-like claws ripped through his head. As the police officer's head turned into something resembling a watermelon sliced by a kitchen knife, a belated reaction came from downstairs.
[This is 106. Respond, 110!]
The colleague who had been behind us just disappeared, so it was only natural that they would be bewildered. I smashed the police officer's communication device, which had been addressed as 110.
'I need to shake them up a bit more.'
Confusion and fear could paralyze reason. Since he still seemed mentally sound, I needed to give him more of the drug. I turned on the communication device of 112.
"Help! He's torturing me!"
[Darn it! 112!]
[This is M01. Everyone stay calm.]
[Darn it! 110, who was right behind me, just disappeared!]
"Oh God! Please help! We're on the 5th floor!"
After shouting like that, I turned off the communication device. I could hear the commotion and voices from the floor below.
The android telling them to stay calm, the police officers protesting that they couldn't stay calm when two of their colleagues had gone missing – the enemies were getting entangled.
While they were in turmoil, I went out of the house and used my tail to destroy the lights in the corridor, one by one. The sound of glass shattering in front of their own doors made the people on the 5th floor stick their heads out.
"Who the hell is making all this noise… Agh!"
"Ahhh!"
They screamed when they saw me lurking in the darkness.
When I growled once, they paled and rushed out of the house. I let the residents who were running towards the stairs be for now.
I followed them like a hunting dog.
Coincidentally, the police and androids were coming up from the lower floor as well.
"Unarmed individuals. Don't shoot."
"Oh, no! These are civilians! Be cautious, everyone!"
The confused police officers hesitated, and I extended my upper arm toward them. Saw-edged tentacles emerged from my palm and wrapped around the android's head, which was beyond the civilian. The sharp saw on the surface of the tentacle was firmly embedded in the small, hard head of the android.
"Enemy attack detected."
The painless android had a Gauss rifle attached to its third arm and aimed it at me, but it was too late. As I pulled my arm back, the android's head, which had been entangled with the tentacle, was pulled out.
"Intrusion. Requesting backup."
"What the hell is that?"
The android behind me recognized my attack faster than the police and sounded an alarm. The police also aimed their Gauss rifles in my direction, albeit belatedly.
Tungsten bullets mercilessly rained down on the spot where I had been standing. The civilians who were fleeing late were hit by blind bullets and disintegrated like watercolors in water.
The civilian shields had served their purpose well, and now it was time to step back.
'Damn.'
I quickly retreated, but perhaps because I had grown in size, I couldn't completely avoid it, and I was hit a few times on the tail.
Thanks to my physical enhancement type and various characteristics, there was no significant impact. However, this must have made the enemies realize to some extent how resilient my defenses were.
Ordinary humans would have a hard time noticing if I had taken a significant blow during the fight. But androids were different. Unless their power source was removed and they ceased to function, they would meticulously record every detail of their combat with the enemy.
The enemies would surely change to special rounds with enhanced penetration.
Armor-piercing rounds could damage my external shell. The androids probably instructed them to target my relatively thin arms and tail.
I had regenerative properties, so even if my arms and legs were severed, they would regenerate, but it was a slow process. Losing a weapon like my arm, which was the main weapon of Amorph, was not a welcome development.
So it was best to avoid armor-piercing rounds no matter what.
'That's why androids are a nuisance.'
Their autonomous thinking ability was lacking, but their information-gathering capability was superior to humans. MegaCorp players often used androids for scouting and support.
'Thanks to them, I had some trouble in the MegaCorp battles.'
If you didn't wipe them out in one go, they would transmit all my characteristics, patterns, weaknesses, and so on to the opposing players, which was quite annoying.
'I have to eliminate them here.'
The androids that had been eliminated so far were not due to firearms but rather special attacks. The fact that I was not human would already be stored in the recording devices integrated into the androids.
The police might not know, but I had to destroy all the recording devices in these androids.
Hiding inside the house, I sent a signal to Number 26.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (Come up and help)]
｢Yes. Little guy, the big baby is calling.｣
While calling them, the enemies entered the corridor. Perhaps because they knew that the enemies were not regular humans, their movements were much more cautious than before.
I shouted loudly in the voice of 112.
"I'm here!"
They stopped in their tracks when they heard my voice. Subsequently, the enemies shifted positions to enter the house.
The sound of footsteps and the clashing of firearms and equipment suggested agility and a quiet demeanor, almost inaudible if one wasn't close enough. They certainly showed signs of extensive training.
'Maybe it was unfortunate for them to face me.'
If they were different enemies, I would have easily subdued them. No, if I weren't Amorph, I might not have won this easily.
It was Amorph's super-sense that allowed me to read the movements of the enemies so easily.
I stood by the door, aiming the spine launcher.
'Is this about right?'
I adjusted it to hit the target, which was about 20 cm above my head, and waited for a moment.
When the android came closer to break down the door, I fired the spine. The dull sound was heard as the spine pierced through the door.
"Zzz zzz zzz…"
"Ugh, they're shooting!"
Beyond the small hole in the door, a slightly perforated android's head could be seen, slumping.
I pushed against the door with force from my legs. The latch was torn apart as if it were torn tissue, and the android that had been standing in front of the door was shattered by my charge.
The police officers who finally saw me up close swallowed their breath. Among the wreckage of the android, I crushed the recording device with my foot and then withdrew my serrated tentacle to wrap it around one police officer's leg.
"Ah!"
As the tentacle passed over, the white bones were exposed, and one officer fell. Three other officers aimed their Gauss rifles at me, but I'm not the only monstrous threat they are facing right now. Adhai, who had flown holding onto Number 26, pounced on the police officers.
Adhai's tentacles covered the heads of the police officers. The transparent tentacles broke the glass of the masks the officers were wearing and penetrated inside.
"Ack, ugh, stop…"
The police officer trembled and made bizarre sounds, as the red plate at the tip of the tentacle stuck to the officer's face and began to suck blood.
The tentacle, making a squelching sound, was clearly seen sucking in the red liquid. The police officer, who had lost a large amount of blood in an instant, was in shock and sat down on the spot.
"Uh, aaargh…ugh!"
Other police officers hesitated but kept their Gauss rifles aimed at Adhai. In the corridor, Number 26 emitted a violet energy that enveloped the police officers' bodies.
I grabbed the heads of the individuals held by 26 with one hand each and tore them off. The blood spurting from their necks seemed to float in mid-air, as if defying gravity due to 26's psychic power.
Adhai, which turned one police officer into a mirage, gobbled up the flying blood with its tentacles.
[ZZZZ ZZ (Well done)]
｢Yeah!｣
｢Easy.｣
Someone watching would likely be shocked and nauseated, but I was proud of the companions who had assisted me brilliantly. I wanted to give them some time to enjoy the spoils, but there were still enemies remaining.
'This is the first time I've fought, leaving my back to someone else.'
I had never experienced such a situation while playing as Amorph, both in the game and in reality, as I didn't have friends. Fighting like this was a fresh experience for me.
In future hunts, if I strategically utilized these guys, it could be quite helpful.
'Now, all that's left is the androids on the lower floor.'
Once we take care of them, any obstacles to our escape will be eliminated. The time to savor the spoils will come after the hunt is over.
-x-X-x-
"We need to move up!"
"Calm down, 102. We've requested external support, so we have to wait."
"Damn it! Are we going to let that guy have his way the whole time? We should strike before they wipe us out!"
"It's not possible."
William, watching the argument between his fellow officers and M01, wasn't pleased. In terms of rank, M01 was higher, so it was normal to follow his orders. The reason the police officers were resisting and not following M01 was because M01 was a machine.
'MegaCorp's deep-seated robot hatred persists.'
William, having spent a long time in the military, understood why MegaCorp's people still harbored animosity towards androids and cyborgs.
'Star Union.'
At the time MegaCorp was established, many lower-class workers were forcibly conscripted for space colonization. While there were a significant number of androids, they were a minority compared to humans. Tragically, human lives were cheaper than using robots.
Amid the countless lives being pushed into the dark void, some colonization ships began to choose a different path. The androids managing the colonization ships began to malfunction and rebelled against the upper Capital, using their network to infect other ships' androids.
As a result, the scale of the rebellion grew, and not only androids but also ordinary workers joined in.
A massive rebellion force led by machines, and eventually even lower-class workers, marked the beginning of the Star Union.
The androids of the Star Union argued that, to survive in the harsh environment of space, they needed to replace their bodies with superior technology, and humans voluntarily became cyborgs to adapt.
The ideal community they aimed for was one where machines and humans coexisted without discrimination.
'…That's the Star Union's claim.'
StarUnion presented themselves as a just group resisting the corrupt MegaCorp, but in reality, it was quite different. The rebellion had its origins in the malfunction of machines from the start. A rebellion led by mad machines was unlikely to go smoothly.
The androids of StarUnion even turned unwilling laborers into cyborgs. They went so far as to implant chips into their brains, stripping them of free will.
After the rebellion, they expanded their influence by attacking other exploration ships and forcibly turning settlers into cyborgs. Naturally, the ordinary citizens of Megacorp didn't welcome Star Union. Who would like those who kidnap them and turn them into machines by force?
Although centuries had passed, the resentment against machines still ran deep in the minds of Megacorp's citizens.
Anyway, regardless of the historical context, it was not desirable for allies to argue among themselves in such a critical situation. William was the first to calm down the police officers.
"Hey, everyone, calm down."
"But…!"
"We are police officers. I understand your concern for our colleagues, but don't forget our mission."
"Ugh."
As William calmly appeased them, the police officers also showed a more composed attitude. William then called M01.
"Hey, M01."
"Please, Detective Team Leader."
After the StarUnion's rebellion, Megacorp had imposed several restrictions when making androids. One of them was to change the android's data recording device to a closed system to prevent accidents from being interconnected. Since the android network had been one of the causes of the rebellion, it was a necessary measure.
However, such a restriction was too burdensome, especially in a war where information exchange was critical. Therefore, the commanding androids temporarily had their restrictions lifted.
"You are right, but the special trade center androids at the T&C Special Trade Center have recently changed their policy for EMP defense. They have applied shielding technology, which limits data transmission via the communication network."
"…I see."
William understood that this might be due to the Council. In the space city, the most dangerous weapon wasn't plasma weapons or state-of-the-art battleships or even the metallic gremlins. It was EMP attacks because in a structure where everything was controlled by machines, there was nothing as threatening as EMP attacks.
They raised the EMP protection level in preparation for the Council's arrival, and it seems they also made changes to the androids.
"So, can we deduce anything from that limited information?"
"What do you mean?"
"I want to make sure that the target may not be human. I want to verify."
"Do you mean to say the target could be a different intelligent being?"
"When 112 was taken away, I briefly saw him, and he didn't look human."
"He didn't look human?"
"He had an appearance more akin to a monster or a beast."
"I see. I will check."
M01's eyes lit up green when he said that. It indicated that he was in the process of decrypting the information sent by the androids. Commanding androids could remotely access the data stored by subordinate androids, but during this access, they became completely vulnerable, as intentionally designed by MegaCorp.
'…What a foolish restriction.'
William thought about how many soldiers had suffered due to this damned restriction.
While William was lost in thought, M01, who had finished decrypting, spoke up.
"As you mentioned, it is speculated that it is something beyond a typical human."
"Tell me more."
"M06 on the first floor and M05 in the fifth-floor corridor both suffered high-penetration attacks."
"Like a Gauss rifle?"
"No, M05 had its data storage device destroyed by projectiles thinner than tungsten rounds, and M06's power source was estimated to be destroyed by psychic attacks."
Because they received fragmented information, M01 used the term 'speculated' instead of 'analyzed.' However, William trusted M01's words since he knew that androids' analytical capabilities surpassed those of humans.
"So, it's someone who can use psychic power and has high-penetration weapons. Then what happened to M03, who went upstairs with M05?"
"M03 was destroyed by an attack from an undocumented biological entity."
"What does that mean?"
"After expanding the scope to include registered biological entities, the weapon that destroyed M03's data storage device shows a 90% similarity in form to the tentacles of a large extraterrestrial cephalopod species discovered in the deep-sea of E-101 planet."
William was familiar with E-101 planet. It was a water-covered planet where he had heard Mars's prime capitals were keenly interested.
"There shouldn't be any sea monsters here. So, is the enemy a Hulk mutant?"
"There is no model with the genetic transplant of the particular biological entity among Hulk mutants."
"…Is it a new species, or perhaps an unknown one to us?"
Considering it's believed to be an intelligent entity, it was difficult to classify the enemy as a wild animal. It seemed more plausible to view it as a yet-to-be-revealed prototype of the Hulk mutant.
'Could it be that the Yujin family is trying to challenge T&C?'
The technology for creating Hulk mutants was partially monopolized by the Yujin family, so William's speculation wasn't entirely baseless. He suspected that there might be power struggles among the top capitals during the Council.
If the mysterious adversary had read his thoughts, the process might have been entirely wrong, but the result would have been accurate, he thought.
Whether M01 misunderstood William's thoughts or not, he added, "You don't have to worry. Even if everyone here is wiped out, the information will be safely transmitted to Earth's Central Security Team. When applying camouflage technology, we also upgraded our data storage devices to two, so unless the enemy completely destroys us, the information won't be damaged."
"…That's fortunate."
William smiled bitterly at the android's oblivious comment. Unlike androids, who had no concept of death, he had no desire to die here.
He spoke his thoughts to M01, "I agree with waiting for reinforcements, but before that, the enemy might counterattack. It's better to be prepared."
"I concur with that suggestion."
"Administering the enhancer would be wise."
"While upgrades have reduced side effects, are you sure it's safe?"
"It's better than dying."
"Understood. Authorization granted for enhancer administration."
With M01's authorization, William and the four police officers present at the scene received the enhancer.
Having taken the enhancer after a long time, William shivered slightly from the familiar discomfort and relief. Looking at the similar expressions on the faces of the other officers, it seemed they felt no different.
Then, one of the armed police officers received a call on his communication device.
"It's a communication from 112! I need to answer it…"
"Just a moment. I'll take it."
M01 received the communication device from the police officer's hand and pressed the button.
***
'Aren't they coming up?'
I was hiding on the stairs, trying to eliminate the enemies as they ascended, but I couldn't even catch a glimpse of them.
'Are they buying time?'
If they're calling for reinforcements from over there and waiting, it's not a pleasant situation. They might get reinforcements, but I won't. The longer this takes, the worse it is for my side.
'Should I take the initiative from my side?'
Currently, there are nine enemies detected by my senses. Three androids and six police officers.
One android and one police officer are waiting on the first floor, while the rest are all on the second floor.
'If they gather, I could sweep them all at once.'
My most powerful weapon is the 'Monster's Tentacle.' It's a trait created by fusing the claws and psychic power mechanism from White Gallagon's genes, which were transplanted into my body.
Until now, I've only used it with the enhanced psychic power mechanism, but that's not the true potential of this trait.
[Monster's Tentacle: Inherits and enhances the existing 'Psychic Power Mechanism' trait. Can use psychic power.
*Note: Use the power of the dragon carefully.]
Just like Adhai, the Blue Gallagon, used the tentacles for a psychic impact, all Gallagons use their tentacles in their mouths for psychic abilities.
'While it's a trait I couldn't have naturally as the 'Tentacle of the Dragon,' I obtained an organ that looks exactly the same through fusion… I should be able to use Psychic Breath.'
The mentioned psychic power and the power of the dragon in the text box refer to the White Gallagon's unique ability, the 'Psychic Breath.'
As the text box warned, the Psychic Breath is a powerful ability inspired by the heat rays shot by the protagonists of classic Japanese monster movies.
In the original, I could easily take down this apartment, but I can't produce that level of output. Of course, I should be able to sweep away the enemies in the corridor with a single blow, but the problem is the enemies on the first floor.
'The problem is the ones on the first floor.'
Psychic Breath consumes a massive amount of energy, leaving me vulnerable immediately after use. If the enemies on the first floor decide to attack as I unleash the Psychic Breath, I won't have a way to defend myself.
'Let's keep the Monster's Tentacle as a trump card.'
I decided to turn on the communication device one last time to lure the enemies out.
[This is M01. Speak. 112.]
"It's torturing me! Please! Please, help me!"
[Is the one torturing you a human?]
The android asked me with a dry tone.
'Is it a human?'
Did they assume I was human and not fight me as a result? Why this sudden question?
'Do they know I'm not human?'
As far as I know, MegaCorp androids can't share information with each other. By design, MegaCorp prohibits information sharing among robots due to a past robot uprising.
'They might have seen me when I captured the police.'
It's possible. Upon reflection, one of the police officers seemed to have kept an eye on me until the end.
It was a very brief moment, and it was dark, so I assumed they couldn't see me, but maybe that wasn't the case.
While I was pondering this, the android on the other side continued.
[Based on your late response, there is a greater than 70% chance that you are not number 112. From now on, we will consider number 112 to be martyred.]
"Ah."
With that, the android disconnected.
'Hmm.'
Certainly, the android is quick on the uptake, as even with a slightly delayed response due to my thinking, it immediately realized that I'm not 112.
'This kind of situation hasn't happened in a while.'
In the game, the mimicry mechanism was a unique attribute I possessed, so many players fell for it. However, as time went on and I became more famous, players devised their own countermeasures. They checked speech habits or speaking styles, asked for information only known to colleagues, and used various methods to identify me.
'Well, I can't deceive them.'
I resolved to destroy the communication device. The method of unsettling the enemies and then launching a surprise attack is now difficult to use.
'Is the only option left is a direct confrontation?'
Going down and attacking the enemies head-on. Frankly, it's not my preferred method.
'They're probably watching me closely from the other side.'
Unluckily, the police who received the enhancer are probably waiting for me. With upgraded combat suits and the effects of the enhancer, they're even more formidable. Armed with Gauss rifles and enhanced by the enhancer, they're not to be underestimated.
'I might have to prepare to lose an arm or a leg.'
Of course, I have no intention of running away. At the very least, I need to take care of all the ones on the second floor. They know I can mimic the voice of the monster, after all.
'…I should try a proper pincer attack this time.'
Just because I took down one of the enemies doesn't mean I'm going to be hunted down. They might have noticed something, but they still don't know that we're a group of three.
I explained the plan to the others and then stood up.
'Well, Let's go.'
This time, I need to have faith in my tough exterior and the combat abilities of the group.
-x-X-x-
｢Big baby, be careful.｣
｢danger｣, ｢careful｣.
[ZZZZ (you too)]
As I mentioned in advance, I sent the guys first. We've succeeded without any problems before, so we should succeed easily this time too.
'I need to do well.'
With them dispatched, all that's left for me is to enter.
'So which route should I take?'
There are a total of three routes available right now. There are paths leading down to both ends of the corridors and a route along the outer wall of the corridor.
'They're probably monitoring the corridor.'
The space from the stairs to the corridor is very limited, and my body isn't as small as before, so the moment I enter, it will turn into a beehive. Even with a physical enhancement type, it's difficult to come out unscathed from a concentrated barrage of tungsten rounds.
'Going along the outer wall won't be easy either.'
This method has already been used once, so it's highly likely they'll be cautious. If the police have used awakening agents, they'll quickly detect my attack thanks to heightened senses.
'Or should I go through the lower house as I did earlier?'
Using the window to descend and launching an attack from the second-floor house. It's the same method I used when secretly abducting Police Officer 106.
It's a decent method, but if the enemy can predict my attack, the effectiveness will be diminished. The strategy route itself is more complex compared to other routes, which increases the risk of being discovered by the androids along the way.
'It might be better if I divert their attention.'
Maybe there's no good method.
"Oh."
As I was thinking about it, I suddenly had a good idea.
'I completely forgot about this since I got here.'
I should try using the useful attribute I often used on the research ship again.
I moved as quietly as possible and descended to the third floor. Beyond the concrete floor of the corridor, I could feel the movements of the enemies.
The faint electromagnetic waves emitted by electronic devices, the unique scent of artificial skin mixed with rubber and iron, the stillness of their bodies. It was all intermingled with the scent of sweat, the movement of muscles that had swollen thicker than usual, and the rapid heartbeat.
It was a dual performance created by both machines and humans.
'The police have used enhancers.'
A surging power turned into heat, oozing through the skin and clothing.
When hit with the enhancer, your physical abilities increase, and your senses become as sharp as an animal's. If I had gone downstairs without any preparation, the police would have detected it immediately and attacked me.
'Thank goodness.'
Enhanced senses don't mean your cognitive abilities expand.
The enemies likely expect me to enter from the end of the corridor or the exterior wall, not that I'd attack from the 'ceiling.'
Judging by the positions of the enemies, the androids are guarding the front and rear, while the five humans are stationed in the middle, just like the androids, splitting their focus between the front and back.
I inflicted wounds all over my body with the extended claws on my battle arm, causing my exterior to crack, and black blood flowed from within.
'I need a lot of blood.'
To melt the thick floor, I repeatedly inflicted fresh wounds on the healed areas. Once I judged that the floor had melted sufficiently, I made a deep cut in the wound. Blood gushed out like a fountain from my wound and scattered all over the corridor floor.
'It's done.'
In a few minutes, a large hole would be created in the floor, and the acidic blood would drip down beneath it.
I made sure the acidic blood was properly melting the floor and then opened the nearby door and leaped into the house.
Swiftly traversing the house, I opened the window and crawled down to the lower floor.
***
"Hey! It's acidic!"
"Everyone, be careful!"
The enemies were perplexed as they saw the acidic blood pouring down from above.
By now, I had already entered the lower house. The door to the house that leads to the corridor was firmly blocking my way.
I exerted all my strength and pushed the door directly outward.
With a loud crash, the door was pushed out into the corridor, crushing the police officer who had been standing in front of it. Blood splattered out through the gap in the door and spilled onto the corridor.
"Ugh?!"
"It's an enemy attack."
The enemy probably didn't know I could strike both the ceiling and the side at the same time. An android with 'M01' written on its head quickly recognized me and raised a gauss rifle.
As the muzzle was about to point at me, I grabbed the head of the police officer next to me and pulled him toward me. The android, programmed not to shoot a comrade, hesitated for a moment but then immediately fired at me.
'As expected, it's an android.'
Even though he's using a person as a shield, he's precisely targeting only me. The pain from the area where I was hit by the bullet started to throb.
In the meantime, other police officers also managed to break free from their confusion and regrouped. Except for the police officer I was holding onto, the rest had distanced themselves from me.
"Everyone, regular bullets are ineffective. Switch to armor-piercing rounds."
I don't know if he's the commander, but while two other police officers were shooting at me, the remaining two quickly switched their ammunition. The gauss rifles the police officers were carrying transformed with mechanical sounds to match the armor-piercing rounds.
'This is bad.'
I needed cover, so I went back into the house. Behind me, armor-piercing rounds pierced through the wall. One of them passed through my tail.
'Even walls can't stop armor-piercing rounds.'
I didn't plan to just stand there, so I shook my bleeding tail vigorously. Black drops of blood splattered and stuck to the bodies of the police officers who followed.
"Damn!"
"His blood has an acidic effect!"
Amidst the staggering police officers, I moved through the window to the neighboring house.
'Ugh. Armor-piercing rounds seem more effective than in the game.'
On the other side of the wall, I heard the sound of the police officers searching the bathroom and kitchen.
"Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
A police officer, held in my hand, struggled to get free while I checked the tail wound. Thanks to the enhancer, the police officer's strength was by no means weak, but being held by the head, they couldn't exert much force. I applied more pressure quietly to make them stop.
"..."
When my hook-like claws scratched his helmet, it made a chilling sound, and the police officer immediately quieted down.
'I should make more use of this guy.'
I activated the parasitic colony on my lower right arm. It's a level 5, one level higher than Sander's.
'In the game, level 5 didn't let you do much, but I wonder how it'll work in reality.'
A creature resembling a black centipede sprang out from the hole of the parasitic colony and attached itself to the police officer's body.
"Uh, what is this? Stop it!"
The police officer panicked and writhed, but because I had a hold of his head, his resistance was extremely limited. I grabbed the creature trying to escape with my fingers to bring it to his face.
Just as the creature was about to crawl into his nostril, a loud noise accompanied the wall collapsing.
"Target located."
An android with 'M02' engraved on his head broke through the wall. It was a combat-specialized android, with gauntlets attached to both arms except for the third arm.
As soon as M02 spotted me, he punched my head. I quickly grabbed his wrist with my battle arm, but at the same time, a metal spike shot out from his head towards mine.
The sound of metal contacting metal echoed as sparks flew from my head's exterior. To prevent him from impaling me with the spike, I extended my serrated tentacle.
The serrated tentacle swept across M02's face. The artificial skin covering his face, riddled with saw teeth, was all stripped away, and the metal skeleton inside was severely damaged.
"Error detected. Requesting support."
"I will provide support."
M01, who had appeared from behind, wrested the Gauss rifle from my hands. The still-recovering tentacle was mercilessly torn by the armor-piercing rounds.
The damage was limited to the tentacle, but I felt pain throughout my arm. I retracted the remaining tentacle while hiding behind M02.
"Malfunction. Attack required."
"M02, you've done well until now."
M01, without paying attention to my actions, aimed the gun at M02 and me with the intent to kill. M02, with inferior defense compared to me, became a sitting duck in seconds.
'That's why I hate androids.'
Not being mentally shaken, my usual tactics like feints and ambushes were ineffective. I used the deactivated M02 as a shield and aimed my spine projectile organ at the third arm of M01.
"This damn monster!"
Just as I was about to fire, the police officers arrived to support M01. Over the debris of the broken wall, a barrage of armor-piercing rounds rained towards me.
'I just need to shoot this and get out.'
While my head and chest, the most fortified parts, remained unscathed, other areas didn't. My exterior has its limits to withstand bullets. While my limbs were pierced by bullets, I managed to fire the spine-bone.
A spine-bone shot from my lower left arm's tip swiftly flew and destroyed the Gauss rifle attached to M01's third arm.
"Weapons are damaged."
While the android was momentarily staggering, I hurled a police officer lying on the ground at them. Infected by parasites, he should be able to hinder their movements, at least to some extent.
"Cease fire, everyone!"
As expected, when their colleagues came flying, the police officers immediately ceased fire. I sent a mental message to the parasite to go wild and then dashed out of the house.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"103! Snap out of it!"
"Ugh…"
I rushed down the corridor towards where they would be waiting for me by now, after everything was finished.
***
"Ugh, aaaaaahhh!"
"103!"
"My, my head!"
103 rolled on the ground, clutching his head. The police officers hurriedly restrained him. It wasn't easy to calm him down, given that he was a well-built adult man in a reinforced state.
"Please, calm down!"
"For the love of God! Someone, get this out!"
While other police officers held him, William quickly operated the terminal attached to 103's wrist. The treatment within the reinforced suit injected into 103's body, but his condition showed no improvement.
"What is this…"
"It's not poison; it's suspected to be a virus or some tiny organisms that have infiltrated the brain."
M01 answered William's question. With its third arm destroyed, M01 had collected and was wearing the power bunker gauntlet that M02 had used.
"…What can we do about it?"
"I'm not a medical android, so I can't treat it. We need to transfer him to the hospital immediately."
"Damn it!"
William uttered a string of curses.
I don't know who Sander had dealings with, but he's a formidable presence that surpasses the Hulk mutant by far. His array of attack methods is incredibly diverse, and what's even scarier is that he knows how to use them effectively.
"Aaaah!"
"Damn it!"
"M01, try something, anything!"
"We need to track the target. The target has been identified as an extremely dangerous combat organism. If the target hides in another apartment, we can expect severe casualties."
"Damn it! We can't leave him like this!"
While the police and androids argued about what to do with 103, his condition deteriorated rapidly.
"Aagh! I'm… I'm sorry…"
"103?"
Suddenly, 103's expression changed drastically, and he jumped up from his seat. He then shot the police officer holding onto him with the Gauss rifle.
"Urgh!"
"105!"
105, with a hole in his abdomen, collapsed, coughing up blood.
103, who had just shot his colleague, was shedding tears but had a strangely twisted smile.
"Hehe! I should have done this earlier! Hehehe!"
"103, snap out of it!"
"103 is in a poor condition. Judging that he is being controlled by the parasite, I will subdue him."
M01 approached 103. The mentally unstable police officer turned his Gauss rifle towards M01 to shoot, but he was too slow. M01 struck the back of 103's neck, causing him to lose consciousness.
"Subdued."
"105, don't lose consciousness!"
"Ugh…"
"Administer the treatment!"
"Please!"
William quickly administered the treatment to 105, but honestly, it didn't look promising.
The treatment isn't a panacea, so unless they get him to the hospital immediately, 105 has no chance of survival.
William got up, leaving 105 unconscious.
With 105, who had a hole in his abdomen, and the unconscious 103, only 102, William, and M01 remained in this place.
"…M01, the situation is not good. Call for the androids and police officers on the first floor immediately."
"Understood."
If the three of them were to confront Sander like this, they would be wiped out. If he were to bring out some new attack method, they would undoubtedly be annihilated. M01 agreed with William this time and connected the communicator.
"This is M01. We need those on the first floor to come up."
[Bzzt!]
"This is M01. Repeating: everyone on the first floor, please come upstairs."
[Bzzt!]
"…"
M01 repeated the same message, but all they received through the communication device was static. It was clear what that noise meant.
'There's not just one!'
Only now did William realize it. While the creature had been buying time, its comrades were lying in wait on the first floor, targeting the androids and the police.
"It appears the creature executed a pincer movement."
[Note:The pincer movement is a tactic in which forces attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation at the same time.]
The android's words drove the point home. They had fallen into a trap prepared by unknown entities.
-x-X-x-
They were on the stairs leading down to the first floor. Thankfully, both of them didn't appear to have any significant injuries.
[ZZZ ZZZ(Well done)]
｢Big baby, you're bleeding｣
Number 26 expressed concern when it saw my body riddled with holes. It tried to extend its tentacles to lick my wounds, but I quickly withdrew.
[ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (My blood is dangerous)]
｢?｣
I gestured towards the droplets of blood on the floor. The creature in front of me, with a peculiar nod, seemed to understand.
｢Understood.｣
[ZZ (Yes)]
Before the enemies could catch up, I checked my body. The tentacles were severely damaged and would take more than an hour to recover. The penetrated areas were healing as new flesh grew, but it would take about 10 minutes to fully repair.
'The injuries are worse than I thought, but the operation went well.'
There were only two police officers and one android left as enemies. Thanks to the police officer controlled by the parasite who shot his own colleague, we had one less enemy to deal with.
Unfortunately, the android quickly dealt with them, so we couldn't expect more significant results.
'There are three enemies left.'
Ideally, we would face them one-on-one, but that wasn't possible. The first-floor enemies weren't foolish. By now, they would have realized we weren't alone and would come prepared.
'I have regenerative abilities, but they don't. Unlike me, Number 26 and Adhai won't recover from critical injuries. A gunshot wound is potentially fatal, and if it's severe, they could die.'
'I might have superior regenerative abilities, but…'
We can't tell whether they have that trait or not, so we can't rush into a fight.
'Should I use the monster's tentacles?'
The enemies on the first floor have been taken care of, and the remaining enemies are gathered on the second floor. They can't move freely like me, so they'll likely come through the corridor. If I use the monster's tentacles to fire a psychic breath in the corridor, the enemies won't be able to escape total annihilation.
'The downside is that it's impossible to deal with unexpected situations.'
After using the psychic breath, I'll be temporarily incapacitated. It lasts roughly between 3 to 5 minutes.
'The enemies are also in a disadvantageous position, so they probably requested reinforcements earlier. Delaying further would make things harder when the enemies increase.'
The new reinforcements will likely be several times greater. With my current abilities, it won't be easy to annihilate all of them.
'Let's use the monster's tentacles.'
Coincidentally, the enemies are approaching, following the traces of acidic blood on the floor.
Before welcoming them, I instructed Number 26 and Adhai.
[ZZZ Z ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I'll be momentarily weakened after this attack)]
｢?｣
[ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZ (You'll have to protect me this time.)]
｢Big baby, are you growing again?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (No, it's different this time)]
｢Got it. I'll protect the big baby.｣
｢I｣ ｢Don't｣ ｢understand｣.
｢The big baby is a baby, so he takes naps sometimes.｣
｢Understood.｣
It's not really a nap, but there's probably no need to explain.
I pushed them back and extended my head down the hallway to assess the enemies. As soon as anything popped out, they fired armor-piercing rounds.
Thanks to the strong exterior of my head, it didn't turn into a beehive, but the pain didn't entirely go away.
'…I need a better armor strategy.'
Several possible gene essences that could be obtained in this city come to mind, but right now, I'm in the middle of a battle. Clearing my mind, I used the walls and the outer shell of my head as cover, firing controlled bone shots at the enemies.
"Dammit!"
"Please use me as cover for shooting."
"I know!"
The police officers cursed as the spines flew towards them. The androids, having lost their ranged weapons, were now using the power bunker to break through the concrete wall and use it as cover.
It seemed like a good idea, but it was clear that our opponent was formidable. The cover was meaningless against Psychic Breath.
I activated the monster's tentacle, and the long tentacle that reached my shoulder began to move slowly.
'Huh?'
In an instant, I felt a sudden depletion of energy throughout my body, which almost made me collapse in place. The glossy exterior I had moments ago turned pale, and the powerful tail that had been at its peak collapsed onto the ground.
'…This consumes an enormous amount of energy.'
It felt like all the energy that had been flowing through my entire body had been sucked into my head. From my claws, tail, four combat arms, even the little arm on my chest, all the strength was drawn in, and the tentacle that had absorbed almost all of my power shone with a distinct purple hue. There was so much psychic power concentrated at the end of the tentacle that even a human with limited psychic detection abilities could feel it.
The tentacles, which had accumulated an immense amount of energy to the point where the air crackled, all pointed forward and concentrated their ends.
"High-level psychic power detected. Evacuate immediately."
"What?!"
The purple radiance flowing from the tentacle tips converged in mid-air. The enemies desperately tried to retreat, but it was too late.
In the dark corridor, a subtle purple glow permeated, and the gathered energy in mid-air was finally released.
A pure psychic energy beam raced through the corridor. The concrete wall that covered half of my body disappeared without a trace, and any spot touched by the energy beam turned into the same state.
There was no sound. Psychic power didn't make any noise. The only noise came later as the debris of the destroyed corridor collapsed.
Nothing remained in the wake of the violet storm. The android, along with the wall he was holding, literally turned to dust, and the police officer who activated his shield belatedly had half his body vanished, collapsing to the ground.
However, the police officer who had been standing by the outer wall of the building on the second floor managed to survive, thanks to the shield deflecting him out of the apartment.
"Ugh!"
He fell from the second floor, but the effects of the enhancer quickly had him back on his feet. I wanted to chase after him as he tried to escape, but my body wouldn't respond.
｢You｣ ｢Amazing｣ ｢Great young one!｣
As I listened to Adhai's thoughts expressing awe at the majesty of Psychic Breath, I lost consciousness right there.
***
"Damn it! Damn it! This is insane! It doesn't make any sense!" William, with a partially broken leg, repeated the same words as he desperately tried to escape. The unimaginable reality left him unable to regain his composure.
'We need the military! We need the military!'
The idea that he was dealing with a new recruit was beyond absurd. How arrogant was this judgment? This guy was a monster, an evil force ready to turn the city into ashes.
They should prepare not for a council but to deploy the entire defense fleet to the residential zone.
'Is it crazy to think that the Yujin family controls such a monster?'
He had completely misjudged it. Sander hadn't traded with that creature. Maybe he was a slave, manipulated by the parasitic beings that controlled the police.
"It doesn't matter how many victims there are! We have to kill him!" William, who had completely lost his mind, shouted, making more radical statements than he would ever consider in his right mind.
He was always a rational person, but the human mind has its limits. Faced with an unbearable presence, everything becomes futile.
As he continued to limp away, William saw police buses approaching in the distance.
'Six of them? There's no way he can be stopped with that many armed police buses!'
"Stop!"
A man in reinforced armor emerged onto the road, causing the police buses to come to a halt. An android disembarked from one of the buses and supported him.
"We need to confirm your identity. Are you Detective Team Leader William?"
"Don't go! You mustn't go under any circumstances!"
"Assessing the chaotic situation. Considering the difficulty of continuing the battle, we will proceed to transport you to the hospital."
"Listen to me! If you go like this, we're all going to die!"
The android repeatedly restrained William, who only kept saying that they would all die. The unconscious William was loaded onto the bus, and it departed once again.
When they arrived at the apartment, the target was nowhere to be seen. All that remained were the broken android remains, human debris, police officers with abdominal injuries, and unconscious police officers strewn across the scene.
***
"Are you awake?"
"…Where am I?"
William, as he opened his eyes, looked around. He was inside a medical capsule. Behind the semi-transparent glass of the capsule, a medical android nodded politely to him.
Various electronic devices were emitting light behind the android, and in the hallway outside, he could see nurses and other androids rushing around.
"…A hospital."
"That's correct."
"What about the others? What about the mission? Is everyone safe?"
"When support forces entered Apartment Complex C, Building 3, the target had already escaped. Therefore, there were no additional casualties."
William felt a profound sense of numbness hearing the android's words.
"…Letting him get away was an unforgivable mistake."
"You don't need to worry. We've already collected the secondary memory storage devices of the androids. The Global Security Team will soon locate the target. Please rest assured."
"…."
Even with the android's words, William couldn't find peace of mind. After all, M01, the android who had stored all the memories, had vanished without a trace, erased by the enemy's powerful psychic attack.
The memories of the other androids were fragmented, and it remained uncertain whether the higher-ups would truly understand the extent of the threat posed by the target.
Therefore, the only one who had retained complete memories was William himself.
"I have a message to convey to the higher-ups right now!"
"You're in the middle of treatment. Discharge is not possible."
"Darn it! It's urgent!"
"It's not possible. You must remain stable until at least tomorrow."
"Hey! Listen to me!"
Saying that, the android operated a device next to the capsule. Then, an automatic injection of medication entered William's arm through a tube.
William tried to remove the syringe, but due to the rapid onset of drowsiness caused by the medication, he once again lost consciousness.
How much time had passed, he wondered, as he woke up again.
"Whoa!"
The hospital room was dark, suggesting it might be nighttime. Besides William, there was someone else in the room. When he pressed a button on the device, there was a sound of air escaping, and the capsule's lid opened.
"Who are you?"
"I'm from higher-ups. Would you be fine to report immediately?"
"No problem."
William was awakened and the capsule was opened by his interlocutor, who happened to be a police officer. Wearing a police uniform and having a bandage around his neck were the only noteworthy aspects about him.
'Hmm? Where have I seen him before?'
William had an excellent memory when it came to people, considering his work on the detective team. Although he didn't recognize the man's face, his physique seemed familiar.
'He's not from the Harbor District, but where have I seen him?'
He had met this person recently.
"We have a car waiting outside. Follow me."
"Okay, just let me grab my things."
In any case, he had to report to the higher-ups quickly, so William only gathered a few belongings and followed the man.
During their journey, there were medical androids working the night shift who tried to stop them, but they encountered no issues. The individual guiding William had displayed his police electronic badge and provided identification, which was sufficient to allow them to proceed.
Once they reached the parking lot outside the hospital, the police officer pressed a button on his car key. The headlights of a regular car, not a police car, blinked in the distance.
"Get in."
Seating himself in the driver's seat, the police officer said nothing more.
'Why aren't we in a police car if we're going to report to the higher-ups?'
William felt puzzled. It appeared that they were not currently carrying out official police duties. The officer's attitude indicated a lack of interest in potentially deceiving him for nefarious purposes.
William reached into his pocket and grasped the laser pistol he had concealed.
'The electronic badge he showed to the androids is different, but I also have one.'
The badge the officer had displayed was different in format, but William possessed the same kind. This electronic badge, used by law enforcement authorities, contained a unique ID and pattern that made replication or forgery impossible. Additionally, if someone else attempted to use the badge for identification, alarms would immediately sound, rendering theft and use by others unfeasible.
Although the officer's behavior was unusual, as long as he held the badge, William was certain he was indeed a police officer.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he eventually got into the car. The police vehicle, with William on board, left the dimly lit parking lot behind. Leaving the brightly lit hospital behind them, the car navigated the midnight roads.
The car ride was silent. The police officer simply focused on driving, while William continued to wonder about the identity of his companion.
'If the last person I saw from the Global Security Team was… Could this be an armed policeman?'
"You…"
"We've arrived."
William, who had just thought of asking a question, saw that the car had stopped. Looking outside, he realized that they were not in the administrative district.
A quiet street with no one in sight, dark alleys, and a nearby manhole.
'This is the border between zones, right?'
It was a place William was familiar with, serving as the border between the residential and harbor districts. Because it straddled both areas, the respective security teams often avoided patrolling here, making it ironically a place where crimes happened if people forgot about it. There were no cameras or streetlights.
"Get out."
"What is this all about?"
Quickly, William drew his laser pistol and aimed it at the officer's throat.
Now he remembered. The person with him was one of the armed police officers who had been dispatched to capture the monster at Apartment C-3. At that time, he had been wearing a helmet and a mask, preventing William from seeing his face clearly, but now he recognized him.
"Get out, and you'll find out everything."
"What do you mean?"
The officer, or rather, Number 103, didn't offer any resistance. He just kept repeating that William would find out everything once he got out.
"What could it be?"
William had seen what had happened to Number 103. He had shot his own colleague under the influence of an unknown organism.
"I'm sorry, Captain."
"What?"
"It's already too late."
In the dark car, he turned his head towards William and chuckled. Number 103 was looking at William's face, or more precisely, at what was behind him.
'Behind?'
Before William could turn to look, it was too late. The sound of the passenger window breaking accompanied a sharp object piercing William's neck from behind.
As soon as he felt a stinging pain, he realized his entire body was paralyzed. He couldn't move a muscle, not even his fingers to squeeze the trigger on his laser pistol.
Then a powerful force pulled him out of the car. He was thrown to the ground, but there was no pain.
Finally, William came face to face with "it." Four thick toes that resembled hooves at a glance, reverse joints that seemed completely different from a human's, and muscular layers to support the heavy body.
A long, thick tail that seemed like it could be used as a belt dangled near the hip area. The legs were covered in armor-like outer skin from the waist to the chest. Small arms sprouted from the chest area.
The creature had more than just arms. In addition to what would be equivalent to human arms, there were two pairs of arms positioned at the shoulders and armpits. While they resembled the smaller arms, they were much larger in size. Among the arms, the one beneath the left arm was uniquely different, featuring a long, rod-like structure in place of a hand.
The fingers attached to the ends of the other arms numbered four, and their nails were hook-like and sharp, making them appear highly threatening.
Up to this point, the creature's appearance was already nightmarish, but what truly horrified William was its head. The head was reminiscent of reptilian creatures, but with two horns, an outer covering that resembled a helmet encompassing the entire head, and a cluster of tentacles at the back of the head, this creature could by no means be considered typical in any sense.
Number 103 got out of the car and knelt before the creature.
"I've brought him as ordered."
The creature briefly glanced at him, then turned its gaze back to William.
The creature opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth.
"I never miss my prey."
The voice that flowed from the creature's mouth was eerily familiar. It was the voice of 112, one of the police officers who had entered the building during the operation.
As the creature's head approached, William let out a scream. However, there was no one to hear his scream except for himself.
-x-X-x-
Samuel Jae-sung, the head of the Earth Central Security Team's armed police force, was having a headache. It was all because of the young journalist sitting across from his desk.
Her name was Kevin, a senior reporter from the DailyMars branch located in the commercial district.
"I'd like to ask the Team Leader, who is the chief person in charge, about the recent riot incident in the residential district and the reasons behind it."
"I've already told you, I can't talk about that. You should ask the residential or harbor district for information about it."
"They told me to come see you, the head of the armed police team in charge of the operation, if you're not the one in charge, then who is? Oh, is it one of those secretaries running around outside?"
Jae-sung felt irritation rise at her impertinent tone, but he couldn't speak to her rashly. The DailyMars was operated by the Zhao family, one of the Noble Capital families, and it was less than a week until the council.
He was aware that the Noble Capital and Prime Capital families were constantly at odds, and as a Third Capitalian himself, if he caused trouble with a media outlet operated by Prime Capital, Laila would likely personally send him to the Entertainment District.
'Do I have to handle this as well…?'
Jae-sung had a pile of urgent tasks to handle, but the eccentric woman had no intention of leaving. It seemed like she wouldn't budge until he provided some information, so Jae-sung eventually gave in.
"I'll ask again. In the Residential Zone…"
"Enough! I get it. I'll tell you the name of one of the Operation Survivors, and you can inquire with them."
"Dealing with a strange name…"
"He was the first to report this incident to the Harbor District Detective Team, so he should know best."
Kevin, seeing the pleading look in Jae-sung's eyes, nodded. Having grilled him for two hours, she was fairly confident that the information she had was likely accurate.
"If it turns out to be a lie, you can expect our article tomorrow."
In response to her warning, Jae-sung glared at her and remained silent. Kevin smiled provocatively and left the office.
"The Harbor District, then."
Kevin left the building and turned off her communication device.
"Oh, wait. Could you tell me about the detective who participated in the last operation in the residential district? What? No, it's not about that. I just want to ask something. Yeah. Yeah. You're on vacation today? Where? Uh-huh. Thanks."
After turning off her communication device, she headed to the subway. Even though it was well past the morning rush hour, the station was quite crowded.
As a city built above space, private vehicles were only allowed for government officials. Special-purpose vehicles could be used by hospitals, police, and other similar organizations. As a result, the subway stations were always crowded like this until it closed at 11 PM.
Kevin arrived at a subway station located in the residential district's administrative area. The destination the informant provided was not far from the station.
Clean and colorful houses lined the streets paved with marble. Compared to other districts, it looked luxurious. Kevin whistled in amazement.
Upon arriving at her destination after walking along the marble-paved sidewalk, she looked around the house before pressing the doorbell. The subject's house was clean, like the others, with one key difference: every window was covered with curtains. It was as if they didn't want anyone peering inside.
'It might become a big scoop, so I can't afford to miss it.'
Kevin was a typical MegaCorp reporter. In other words, she didn't care at all about what her interviewee thought, as long as it served her scoop and promotion.
'If they are in a mentally difficult state, all the better.'
They would spill everything as soon as she asked. With a fake smile on her face, Kevin pressed the doorbell firmly. She waited for a response, but there was none.
"Huh?"
Seeing a car parked in the private parking lot, it was clear that the subject was at home.
Kevin pressed the doorbell again.
Still no response, but she didn't mind. She could keep pressing it until they came out.
After ten minutes of continuous ringing, a sound finally came from inside. Footsteps approached, and the door opened a moment later.
The man who opened the door could be described as a living skeleton. Kevin extended her hand to the man, who looked like a terminally ill cancer patient.
"Hello, Team Leader. I'm Kevin, a senior reporter from DailyMars. You're Detective Team Leader William, right?"
"…"
William scanned her from head to toe with sharp eyes. He tried to close the door immediately, but Kevin had already placed her foot in front of it, expecting him to do so.
Without success in closing the door, William finally spoke.
"…What do you want?"
"I'd like to ask about the disturbance in the Residential Zone."
"I have nothing to say."
"There were quite a few casualties during that operation. I'm curious about the cause, and who you were chasing. It would be great if you could cooperate for the sake of MegaCorp citizens' right to know."
"I'm not obligated to answer."
"If you don't answer, then I'll have no choice but to write an article based on limited investigative material."
In other words, she threatened to fill the story with unfavorable content. William's expression twisted in clear frustration. It was a fierce, wounded wolf-like look, but she showed no fear at all.
The standoff ended with a sigh from William. In a tone devoid of any irritation, he asked her, "What exactly do you want?"
"It's a bit awkward to discuss it here. Can we go inside and talk?"
Contrary to her words, she entered the house without waiting for William's response.
"The atmosphere inside is quite different from the outside."
As Kevin had described, the inside of the house was a complete mess. Unwashed clothes, leftover food dishes, and other items were scattered around haphazardly. To make matters worse, it seemed like the place hadn't been ventilated for a while, as there was a nauseating and unpleasant odor.
"…Ask your questions quickly; I'm busy."
Kevin sat on the messy chair as if it were her own home. She took out a small recorder and gestured to William if it was alright, and he waved his hand as if saying, "Go ahead."
"Well, let's start with an overview of the operation in the residential district."
The interview lasted for over an hour. William, initially gruff, gradually answered most of her questions. However, despite his cooperative attitude, as the interview went on, William's condition deteriorated.
He took some pills several times during the conversation. The pills he took were known to be the most potent painkillers available, and Kevin was aware of their strength.
'There doesn't seem to be any obvious physical trauma. It's not even an antidepressant for PTSD,' she thought.
Even after taking the pills, he continued to press his temples with both hands. He pressed so hard that blood was almost oozing from his temples.
The interviewee was clearly in distress, but she had no intention of stopping the interview. If he died during the interview, it would only add more sensation to the story from her perspective.
'Why does he keep looking at the watch?'
William frequently checked his watch, which seemed unnatural. According to the grapevine, he was currently on vacation. Despite appearing to have nothing urgent, he seemed extremely agitated.
'Could this be a big scoop?'
An interview is not just about answering questions. The subject's behavior and reactions to questions can also be a valuable part of the story.
She silently celebrated the hunch of a possible big story.
As the interview was about to conclude, she asked William one final question.
"You mentioned that this person, Sander, is already deceased. Do you have any information about the perpetrator who was dealing with him?"
"…."
For the first time after the interview, William remained silent. Kevin didn't miss the fleeting reaction.
When she asked about the perpetrator, he subtly trembled around his eyes. It indicated that he knew something about the criminal.
"I'll ask again. About the one who was dealing with…"
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"I can't answer this. Not for my sake, but for yours. If it's a threat against me, be it DailyMass or Prime Capital Zhao family, you should never underestimate them."
"For my sake? What does that mean?"
She didn't quite understand, but it seemed like William was being sincere.
"If you're trying to threaten me, remember, DailyMass, or even the PrimeCapital Zhao Family, will never forgive you."
"PrimeCapital? Can such useless entities really protect you? Be careful. Now that you've entered this house, I'm not sure if my warning will mean anything to you, but…"
With those words, William stood up, walked to the door, and stood there silently.
It was a gesture that meant, 'It's all over; leave.' Kevin recalled all the information she had gathered during the interview.
She had already achieved her goals. There was no need to stay in this dirty house any longer.
"Thank you for cooperating with the interview, Detective Team Leader William."
"…"
William, with an expression that said there was no need for unnecessary chatter, subtly indicated that she should leave. As she was heading out, just before William closed the door, he offered one last piece of advice.
"You said your name is Kevin, right? It's better not to go out alone at night."
"What are you talking about?"
Without waiting for a reply, William closed the door.
"What nonsense is this?" Kevin thought, irritated by what she perceived as a veiled threat. She was about to press the doorbell to confront him when her communication device rang.
"It's the Director."
It must be to report on today's interview.
"Yes, Director. The interview is finished now. What? Who am I? Of course, it was a success. Yes, yes, I'll head there right away."
She gave up on voicing her complaints, answered the call, and ran back to the subway station.
Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her from within the house.
It was William, who had been inside the house. He had been observing her until she disappeared and then picked up his communication device.
***
'Looks like this is about done.'
I had been crouching all day, but now I stood up. The mucus that had dried on my outer shell fell off as dust.
I stretched all six of my arms.
'It took longer than I thought because of the extensive range.'
This place where I stood was my nest, hidden within the city's secret passages. The passage that used to be nothing more than discarded garbage by past laborers had transformed into something resembling the insides of a living organism. Brownish mucus flowed down the walls, ceiling, and floor, and spores were constantly ejected in various places.
If a regular organism were to enter here where the ventilation system was absent, it probably wouldn't last long due to the peculiar air.
'Building a big nest was the right choice.'
The completed nest had a diameter of 500 meters. Compared to the enormous city spanning 60 kilometers, it was relatively small. However, when linked, it covered about a quarter of the city, including all of the residential zone and roughly a third of the commercial and entertainment zones.
Unlike research vessels, the city was full of activity, so it would be difficult to detect the precise movements of both humans and machines. However, if I concentrated, I could monitor the movements of the enemies targeting me.
As I got up and stretched, a sudden hunger washed over me.
'Creating the nest depleted most of the remaining energy.'
After the battle with the armed police, I had been receiving a steady supply of food through a new slave.
William, the head of the Port District's detective team. I didn't kill him after capturing him through Armed Police Unit 103.
"He's a clever one, so it would be a waste to just eat him."
William was the only person who had found me independently and was one of the people who pushed me into a tough battle. In the long run, he was a useful person for me.
At least compared to the mostly insane Unit 103, he was a much more useful slave. So that day, I spared William and instead devoured Unit 103.
Seeing me eat a living person right in front of him, he had completely lost his sanity. Even before I implanted the parasite in his head, he had already fully submitted to me.
Of course, his submission and the parasite were separate matters, so I implanted the parasite in his head. Like most people, he shuddered, but he offered no further resistance.
Turning William into a slave allowed me to obtain all the information related to the broker he had, and thanks to that, I knew exactly where the smuggled organisms were stored in the containers.
I didn't need to enslave the personnel of the materials management team or the contraband animal surveillance team. I could directly raid the containers.
'Well, I might need William's help when it's time to go.'
Since I couldn't do anything about the cameras, I was still relying on him.
William, under the pretext of focusing on security in the Port District, had the authority to change the camera placements and android patrol routes at will. Within the Port District's security team, he seemed to have a fair amount of influence, and there was no one within the team who doubted his intentions.
Every time there was a change in cameras or patrol routes, he reported the surveillance's weak points to me. Thanks to him, I could easily roam around the Port District.
Of course, I couldn't go to eat smuggled animals too frequently, as it would raise suspicions, so I only did so once every three days.
'Today happens to be the day to get some smuggled animals.'
I was contemplating whether it was time to wake up the sleeping ones when a communication device lying on the floor started ringing.
'William?'
It was surprising to receive a call when it wasn't time to replace the parasite.
'Come to think of it, I've been receiving signals continuously since earlier.'
While I was building my nest, messengers from the parasites had flown over several times. They were reporting that my host would cause harm to me, so they would inflict suffering.
It wasn't betrayal. The parasite within him was at stage five. Even if he merely contemplated betrayal, he would suffer excruciating pain and die.
The messengers from the parasite were more like a mild warning, considering this.
'Something must be going on. Let's answer.'
I answered the communication device with 103's voice.
"What's going on?"
"There is someone pursuing the owner."
"Pursuing the owner?"
"Yes. A journalist from DailyMass, an agency operated by Prime Capital."
Operated by Prime Capital?
'Media control, huh? That should be the Zhao Family.'
The Zhao Family, as per the setting, controlled the media, entertainment, and other media-related sectors through Prime Capital. They were a bunch of people who dealt with information itself, rather than direct combat, which made them quite annoying in the game.
'Even on a planet with fewer than 100 residents, they criticize the governor.'
If they couldn't enter a planet directly, they'd launch satellites nearby to broadcast within the planet. This eccentric group had an overwhelming information network, making it difficult for players hostile to MegaCorp to compete.
'I've been searching for a way to block their signals too.'
Here in reality, I was growing in a completely different way from the game, but ultimately, the time had come.
'A journalist, huh.'
If the opponent was a journalist, it was already decided that I needed to eliminate her. If I left her alone, she would be endlessly troublesome.
'They've taken photos of her with the cameras installed in the house. I will send the pictures via email.'
Then, an alert popped up on the communication device screen, indicating the arrival of an email.
'I guess I'll have to deal with this side today.'
There was a woman with brown hair sitting at the dining table. She had no idea about the fate that awaited her; she simply smiled.
-x-X-x-