How to Live as an Immortal - Chapter 232
Only Noblemtl
How to Live Immortally Episode 232
232 I know who took it
* * *
At the headquarters of FD Shield, Chairman Nicholas suddenly turned his head away from the fountain. So―
“The regular reports from Set Colony were missed?”
“Yes, I sent a message requesting a reply 10 minutes later than the scheduled time, but it’s been 9 hours and I still haven’t received a reply.”
An abnormality that cannot be expressed in words such as a lax discipline.
Even if it wasn’t Quentin, he had his younger brother Wyatt by his side. There was no way he, a thoroughgoing man, would break such a simple rule.
I guess we should consider it as something happening.
It was an era when interstellar communication was possible, but radio waves were still the mainstream within planets. This means that there were plenty of ways to interfere.
Mars was a place where natural disasters occurred intermittently.
A sandstorm near Noakis Landing could have been disrupting communications.
“Have you checked it with satellite?”
“Yes, the analysis is complete.”
Nicholas sighed as he scanned the data that had come into the device. It was only a bird’s eye view, but it was enough to understand the situation.
Because the ceiling of the plant was in full bloom like a flower.
Evidence that a massive explosion occurred internally.
“It’s a mess.”
“We believe that the Outriders have invaded. As you will see in the report below, they are a group that has already taken over a Set colony once.”
Maybe High Conduct had set off an electromagnetic pulse to prevent them from calling for support.
However, from the perspective of having to look at all situations, I couldn’t help but consider another assumption.
The alien species, Blob Kids.
A creature that was expected to open a new era in genetic engineering. Although the information was controlled, there was no way of knowing when it would be discovered. It was that much of an attractive treasure.
“You weren’t discovered by the Martian Defense Force, were you?”
“There has been no official statement.”
Their way of doing business is to ignore it and pretend not to know, but FD Shield was able to get a glimpse of the other side of it.
It was then that the secretary paused as if she had read Nicholas’ mind.
“What should I do? Should I ask Humint to find out?”
“No, I think it would be better to approach this matter cautiously.”
If you weren’t really involved, it was just a scratch.
“First, find out what happened in detail. No, dispatch troops preemptively.”
Whatever the reason, we’ll need support on the scene. If those vagrants have crossed the line, we’ll be able to give them the appropriate punishment.
No, if it’s someone’s plot―
square.
A pair of gardening shears passes over a stem and cuts it.
“I should tell you what kind of place FD Shielder is.”
* * *
Because they had been running without even replenishing supplies, the group that arrived at the seed colony was all bruised and wounded.
Leo, who lost all his heavy weapons including his monster truck, was as good as losing half of his assets, and Justin, who was seriously injured and barely breathing, had to take the wheel.
What’s more, even Gaon has to get a new device issued.
Should we call it a total mess?
Gaon opened his mouth as he looked at Leo reflected in the rearview mirror.
“What are you going to do from now on?”
“I have to live, forgetting the past.”
“It sounds like you’re saying you’re going to step away from the industry.”
“I now have two more mouths, so shouldn’t I start living a normal life like other people?”
“It would be better to hide for a while, since FD Shielder will notice something strange and will search for the returnees and interrogate them.”
And it’s clear as day that the process will be anything but gentlemanly.
Leo nodded and turned away before leaving.
Since his lifelong goal was accomplished through someone’s favor, it was difficult to see his revenge as being achieved entirely by his own power. Therefore―
“I will repay this favor somehow. I don’t know how much help I can be to someone like you, but if you need me, just call me anytime.”
Gaon, who was about to open his mouth, turned his gaze to Jerry, who was supporting Leo.
An android who managed the Set Colony.
Should I call it a case of sympathy for one another? The way he looked at Leo as he came here was unusual. Judging from his circumstances, it seemed like they had known each other for a long time.
Gaon, who was about to readily accept, shook his head.
“I think it’s a way to repay the favor by taking good care of the life you saved for me, Mr. Leon.”
“Leon?”
“And Miss Matilda too.”
[?]
Leo and Nez both walk away with question marks floating above their heads. Their steps are much lighter than when they first met.
Soon, he disappears into the crowd.
There are three of us now―
“There might be four of us soon.”
* * *
Justin felt relieved for some reason after the long and arduous journey, but his temples were still throbbing. It couldn’t be helped, because all he got from the difficult expedition was a lesson in self-reflection.
Personally, I could say that I grew, but that was not the soldier’s concern.
“That’s too bad, I thought at least you could catch the consultant’s tail.”
“What are you talking about?”
“So, because of High Conduct’s interference, we had to come back empty-handed without finding any crucial clues.”
Laurel, his true identity as a secret weapon born in a Martian Defense Force laboratory was quite an impressive fact, but it was meaningless information at this point.
Moreover, since I didn’t know when the FD shield would come, I had to return without even being able to see the place where Blob Kids was born.
Of course, that only applies to Justin.
Gaon, the problem solver, did not forget his duty.
“It’s not that I don’t have any information.”
Gaon took out a piece of plastic from his bosom and handed it to Justin.
“What is this?”
[Principal Researcher, Carlson Cho]
It was a temple ID card.
“There’s evidence that Alpha Stroke was involved. It came out after all the Blob Kids were dealt with.”
“Alpha stroke… … .”
“The Blob Kids aren’t something that occurred naturally, they’re experimental subjects that they created on purpose.”
“Now that I think about it, Noah Yang said something like that. Now I understand. Well, I guess only a megacorp would be able to do that kind of research.”
“Find out what research he did, where he lived, and why he disappeared.”
Of course, I left it to Dobby too. I think that if we investigate both online and offline, we will be able to get to the truth more clearly.
Especially since he is a person who is involved with Megacorp―
“You must never get caught.”
“Okay, I’ll take the lead on this myself. But I don’t think I can do it right away in this state.”
Justin smiled awkwardly and pointed to his arm that wouldn’t go above his shoulder. Even though he had used all the spare parts, it was barely moving.
“I think I need to go to the Mars Defense Force and get some maintenance done. Is that okay?”
“That’s right. In this case, it’s not important to handle it quickly, but to handle it quietly.”
At that time, Gaon also had something he wanted to handle on his own.
[Master, when are you coming?]
* * *
It was confirmed by the Set Colony that the technology established by Croft had been leaked. And it was from a project that was presumed to have been led by a consultant, Blob Kids.
The Croft that Gaon knew would have gone into hiding if he had gone into hiding, and he wasn’t the kind of person who would have done things so sloppily. That’s why he was selected.
Perhaps something happened while I was away that could provide an answer. That was why I responded to Aimer’s call right away.
“Since you called me like this, I guess you found out something?”
Aimer, whom I met at Cafe Velvet, was leisurely stirring her coffee cup with a spoon as usual.
“I figured out that there was nothing to figure out.”
“Don’t joke around.”
“Really, contrary to your expectations, the guy just went back and forth between home and work. Oh! That’s not true.”
Aimer, who is covering her mouth with an ominous expression, is making a serious statement.
“He often comes to the store. I guess dry firewood burns well. It feels like I’ve caught a glimpse into his private life, and it’s hot and humid.”
He opens his eyes wide like a servant of a nobleman who has witnessed his wife’s shocking misconduct, and never fails to deliver a long speech.
What was the evaluation of the store I visited, what was the time of my reservation – there was no yellow press, but it was still not useless information.
“What if that was a trick to get in touch with Ryong-young?”
It was a method that thrived in the shade. It was also the assumption that should have come to mind first.
One, Aimer countered head-on.
“Even though I heard it from the next room?”
“You didn’t see it yourself, did you?”
The technology to play a desired sound over a canceller has been developed long ago. It was also standard in the underworld where many people wanted to work secretly.
“If you say that, I have nothing to say. But I did my best. I followed you for 24 hours and 39 minutes, right?”
When he said that he wanted to show off even his head, he really wanted to do that, but it was Gaon’s decision to hire a troubleshooter who wanted to borrow a cat’s paw. It’s not like anyone can be blamed.
When Gaon suddenly got up from his seat, Aimer was startled and covered her head with both arms.
“Where are you going?”
“Oramic Bionics. If what you say is true, then there will be no problem.”
“Even if I go now, I won’t be able to see you.”
“why?”
“I went on a business trip to attend a conference.”
“What conference?”
“How should humanity prepare for the 6th generation of genetic scissors? No, that’s the topic. What was it called? The 2321 Earth Genetic Engineering Conference, that’s what it was.”
When I searched through the device, it was a real event. It means that Croft didn’t make up a schedule that didn’t exist on purpose. The strange thing was that it was in that place.
“earth……?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can follow you to Earth.”
“You followed me to the spaceport, right?”
“then.”
“Boarding a space cruiser?”
“… … I haven’t seen that.”
Aimer hit her forehead with a face that said, “Oh no,” but that didn’t mean she didn’t have an excuse.
“You know too, my lord, that the security checks at the spaceport are exceptionally strict. It’s not because I’m annoyed. It’s definitely not because I’m annoyed. I told you twice because it’s important.”
I hate to deny it, but it’s true. Weren’t we unable to use spaceports for hundreds of years because of the lack of temperature devices?
“Did you record the entire stalking process?”
“Oh my, so that’s why I’m an android.”
Gaon, who had downloaded all the footage shot from Aimer’s perspective, immediately skipped the minor steps and moved the playback bar to the last part.
An alley located near an intersection.
Croft’s vehicle entered there―
“It’s been replaced.”
“Can you see that?”
An academic conference held on Earth, and a vehicle that changed midway. It was a skill I had seen somewhere before.
Yes, Professor Preston, who created Eden, also created an alibi in this way. With the help of the Lucesia Family, the 4th Dark Lady.
But in Croft’s case, it was a little different.
Because he has enemies in Yongyeong.
“I know who took her.”