Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 306
Only Noblemtl
Episode 306 – Traces (1)
–
“I’m sorry for asking you to meet me when you’re busy.”
“Haha. No, sir.”
In a stuffy office, two cultists sit across a desk from each other.
They both had yak horns on their heads, but apart from that, they had nothing in common. The male cultist, who looked to be middle-aged, was strangely wearing the uniform of Megacorp’s crisis management team. The female cultist, sitting at her desk in the office, on the other hand, wore a purple cult-style military uniform.
“I should have contacted you earlier. Is the accommodation I arranged okay?”
“The accommodations at the ‘water fortress’. I’ve heard it’s good before, but it’s even better than I imagined.”
“I wouldn’t mind treating you and those who saved you to a treat at the palace.”
“It was such an overwhelming kindness that I hesitated whether I should accept it or not. Thank you very much, Alshas.”
“Senior! Raise your head!”
The cultist in the Megacorp uniform bowed his head politely. Then the female cultist, Alshas, waved her hand in embarrassment.
“When Senior Nern contacted me, I offered a prayer of thanks to the great providence for giving me the opportunity to repay the favor I received from you.”
“Alshas, you… .”
“So please raise your head.”
At her persuasion, Nern had no choice but to raise his head.
Well-groomed silver hair, a face that exuded mature beauty and dignity. Nern looked at the face of her junior, who was much younger than her, and recalled the past.
Long ago, Nern and Alshas served on the same ship.
At the time, Alshas had a hard time adjusting to life on board the ship. This was probably because she had boarded the ship at such a young age. If Nern hadn’t saved her from the threats of the Outspacers so many times, she wouldn’t be here.
‘That crybaby is now the captain of the Imperial Carrier.’
The cult that used to shed tears at the end of every battle was no longer there. Nern glanced at the badge on Alshas’ right chest.
An insignia with a small circle drawn within a gold diamond. Nern received an insignia that looked exactly like this when he became the captain of the ‘Judgment of Damos 08’ ten years ago.
When did that once insignificant subordinate grow up to become the commander of the Imperial ship that protects this star, the ‘Defender of Berzan 02’?
In fact, he also knew that it had already been several years since she became a captain. Still, he couldn’t help but think that time really did pass quickly.
“By the way, Senior, are you really not going to return? The empire is in chaos right now. It’s time for a hero like you.”
“Didn’t I tell you? I have no intention of going back before I finish my revenge.”
“Are you talking about the three-headed demon? I know this from the records. It is impossible to subdue it without cooperating with the Empire.”
As the words ‘three-headed demon’ came out of Alshas’ mouth, Nern felt his body stiffen involuntarily. This was because the fear from when he had faced that monster still lingered in his body.
“As you know, the Empire does not have the resources to hunt that monster. Even if it did, that council would oppose it.”
“If I could help….”
“If you do that and get kicked out of the reformist faction, then the empire will be finished.”
“… … .”
“They are humans. It is true that they are a weak and primitive race. However, they are the only key that can help me avenge my grudge.”
The current leader of the group that Nern is in, Sihyeon Eugene, can use a relic with great power. It is unknown why she can use it, but it doesn’t matter anyway.
If it were her, if it were the relic she possessed, she would be able to kill even the three-headed demon.
“Is it because of that relic?”
“Yes. You heard it too, so you remember.”
“Thanks to you, my senior and I survived, so of course I remember. I never expected that someone else would be able to use that terrifying artifact.”
Alshas was also on the ship when the relic was activated. However, she was hospitalized and did not see the relic in action. When she heard about the relic, Nern had already hidden it on a planet.
“Anyway, I came to see you today about something related to that.”
“yes?”
“Relic user, help Sihyeon Eugene meet with the reformist council member.”
“Are you talking about the progressive congressman?”
“We need various types of weapons and ships. The Providence faction insists on rearmament, so they will never hand over weapons. However… .”
“Are you saying that the reformists who advocate disarmament are different? That’s true, though.”
Alshas furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Even though she was the captain of an imperial carrier, it wasn’t easy to force the council members to sell weapons.
Moreover, the people they are selling to are beings whose identities are unclear. There is no telling when they might pose a threat to the empire. If Nern had heard such an offer, he would have rejected it outright.
Knowing what she was worried about, Nerun waited quietly for an answer.
After a moment, Alshas nodded with a short sigh.
“This is an opportunity to repay your kindness. How could I refuse it? Since the person I consider a benefactor is here, I will speak to him.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He is a true MegaCorp expert among the reformers. I think we can communicate well.”
“Thank you!”
“If you are so grateful, please return. There are many imperial carriers here.”
“Ahem, by the way, how is your brother?”
Alshas chuckled as he watched Nern change his subject while coughing.
“Your Majesty Alkadi is still the same. As you know, he is unable to escape from his noble pastimes.”
“You don’t have to say that. He’s definitely a resourceful person.”
“You must be the only one who thinks highly of my brother, the loser.”
Despite her sarcastic tone, her expression was not bad.
As far as Nern can remember, the relationship between the siblings Alkadi and Alshas was quite good. It was rare for a cult to have such a vague sense of sibling camaraderie.
“How about giving me a chance? If it’s your recommendation, it shouldn’t be difficult to become an assistant to the governor.”
“It will be difficult until you give up your obscene hobby. The lawmakers will oppose it.”
“Tch. That guy from the Providence faction is like that too. Why are there so many people obsessed with slavery?”
“Are you talking about the youngest priest who disappeared? I heard that all the slaves disappeared as well… .”
The important story was over, but Nern did not leave.
They met again after a long time and talked about various recent events.
–
‘A fortress of water.’
I swallowed the delicious chunk of meat and thought back on what I had seen during the day.
Last night, I broke into Alkadi’s mansion and planted a parasite in him. He’s a famous person on this planet. So I decided to control him in a way that mainly controls his body, just like Charas, instead of the normal mode.
There were two main things I asked of the cult with the most slaves on the streets of Gwangmyeong.
Information and products.
First, I asked him for a ledger listing all the slaves he had ever sold.
He refused to give it to me even though it was right in front of me. He said it was his capital and he couldn’t give it to me.
Of course, his refusal didn’t mean much, since the parasite had taken over part of his brain and spine. I gave him the pain and then ordered him again.
Bring the ledger.
It only listened to me after it had expelled all of its contents from its stomach. After receiving a small data chip from it, I asked about the creatures it had.
If Alkadi had only sold slaves, he would never have amassed such a great fortune. As expected, he had a large collection of creatures for sale or collection.
‘I didn’t know there were Apex-level rare creatures.’
Of course, he told me to bring them to him too. He told me to send them secretly to the place where I was hiding.
The one who had been badly beaten once obeyed my orders. Alkadi swore to me that he would be careful not to let anyone else catch him.
That was the end of my business. I left the guy to clean up after himself and returned to my hideout.
As soon as I got back, I called PS-111.
The guy was analyzing the armor the enemy had brought to improve the metal body parts. I asked him to analyze Alkadi’s data chip after he was done.
I told him he could take his time, but PS-111 spent the night going through all the massive records. He singled out only the Coldbloods from the slaves sold by Alkadi, and showed them to us via the hologram in the hover bus center.
As we were going through the list, Mother Heaven said that one of them seemed suspicious.
The reason I’m suspicious is because it’s already been 10 years since she last saw Number 22 face to face. When they met, he was a young Coldblood, so he should be an adult by now.
In addition, the 22nd player is the target of the ruling faction including Jason. It is highly likely that he has completely hidden his appearance.
‘Well, the guy seems to be sure, though.’
Anyway, Coldblood, who is estimated to be number 22, went to his new owner in the Water Fortress just two months ago. It’s only been a few months, so he’s probably still in the Water Fortress.
‘The problem is that it is not easy to break through the water fortress…’
I thought as I chewed on the food Alkadi sent me.
The Water Fortress is the capital of this planet and the largest branch of the Prophet’s Council. Its defense level is also incomparably high.
Also, if there is another player other than the 22nd in Berzan02, there is a high probability that he will be in the Water Fortress. The Water Fortress is the center of the planetary economy. If I were a cult player, I would definitely base myself there.
‘No matter what, it’s impossible to break through in two days.’
The duration of the ‘clever underdog’ is only a few days. Most likely, the transformation will be over before entering the water fortress. It is nearly impossible to infiltrate a city with a body several dozen meters tall, unless you are going to engage in an all-out war with the city.
I came here to ask the 22nd about the visions he had during his evolution. I can’t just trash the city, not sure if he’s against me or not.
‘I guess I’ll have to stay here for at least 30 days.’
There is work to be done during that long time.
Preparing to infiltrate, and… .
“Predation effect activated!”
‘good.’
When the container Alkadi sent arrived, I immediately used ‘Symbol of the Hunt’ because I needed to acquire the characteristics of the creature he sent.
The creature I just ate is the remains of a ‘red worm’. It is a carnivorous earthworm that only lives on desert planets and is also known by nicknames such as the sand dragon and the red snake.
This creature’s unique characteristics are deeply connected to me. I acquired them by chance shortly after I fell into this world.
‘I used it very well.’
This trait has been used for a while and has been used as a fusion material. It has been very useful so far and I plan to actively use it in the future.
“Taking away the ‘mimicry’ trait from the ‘Red Worm’s’ biological trait.”
“Would you like to apply ‘Imitation’?”
‘Of course. Check.’
The treasure I had obtained from the cargo hold of the Megacorp research vessel is now in my hands again.
I began to think about the most important issues, taking on the characteristics that emerged from the predatory effect.
I’m thinking of giving this filial piety trait to one of my children. If so, who would be most effective to give it to?
‘The simplest and best one would be PS-111, but… .’
PS-111 is more than half machine and can change his body through modifications. It is not difficult for him to change his voice.
‘It may be useful in its own way, but that’s about it.’
The case of the Heavenly Mother is not a bad choice, since she is the type of child who can most easily predict what will happen if she is subjected to imitation.
‘But I feel a bit awkward giving it to her.’
Since she is a member of the Wolf race, she doesn’t feel any hindrance in external activities. It feels a bit of a waste to give her to someone who is only used in battle.
Of course, she is the only one who knows how scary it is to imitate others. She experienced it the hard way because of me in the game. She has seen and heard it, so if you give it to her, she will use it well.
‘Honestly, I don’t think Adhai will work.’
For Gallagon, a bundle of tentacles serves as a mouth. Even if a mimicry organ is transplanted into the throat, it is difficult to make sounds due to the oral structure.
In fact, if you only consider the oral structure, No. 26 also has limitations, but it has one distinct advantage.
‘The guy can change bodies.’
In the underground storage of the space fortress ‘Kesha Arma’, the guy ate a creature called ‘Faceless’.
Faceless is a creature with the ability to change its body at will.
The guy who inherited that power gained the power to freely change the shape of his tentacles. ‘Mutant tentacles’, an ability that did not exist in the game.
‘Mutant Tentacles is a name I gave myself.’
Anyway, it won’t be a big problem for him even if the mimic organ doesn’t fit his body, because he can just change the tentacles to fit the new organ on his body.
Of course, if that happens, it will be very different from what I imagined. It could be much better than I expected, or it could end up just making a sound that is difficult to call a voice.
‘Should I give it to Mother in Heaven, or to Number 26?’
On the one hand, there is little risk, but the return is predictable. I expect that it will show an operation that does not deviate significantly from my expectations, whether it is good or bad.
The other side is also less risky, but the return is unpredictable, which could be good or bad.
‘… I guess it would be better to give it to him.’
After thinking about it for a while, I finally made a decision.