How to Live as an Immortal - Chapter 289
Only Noblemtl
How to Live Immortally Episode 289
289 I am a murderer of the Imhyeop.
* * *
The Mars Defense Force only intervenes in matters that affect the fate of Mars.
It was a transcendental shackle befitting an extra-legal institution, but now it has become a meaningless restriction. The upper limit varies depending on how you look at the matter.
Nowadays, the line between gain and loss is so blurred that it is a matter of choice.
The ‘Insanity Project’ could be seen as one of them.
The Mars Defense Forces remained silent even as criminal organizations trained unauthorized private soldiers.
Even though it was inhumane, it wasn’t much different from running a PMC in Megacorp.
It must have been considered that it would be a huge loss to fight against the four major dark forces by projecting human power.
A balance imposed by political dynamics.
Still, they were able to utilize it thanks to the stain they left on the Miyauchi-gumi.
okay-
Last night, there was room to leave Alice’s escape as a result of the intervention of the Martian Defense Forces rather than her own will.
* * *
[Do I really not have to go with you?]
“You must have heard the outline. It’s better to go alone. Moreover, it would be better if you were by Miss Seventy’s side.”
Right now, at this moment, the only one who can console her in her dejection is Kenji.
[……I get it]
Immediately afterwards, there seemed to be a noise of thanks, but the call was cut off before I could hear it in detail.
It’s not that I can be honest.
Gaon, who was humming softly, stood on the edge of the cliff and looked down.
The coast of District 27 covered in thick fog.
Because there were so many cliffs and reefs, it was a place not open to the public.
But that is only an external excuse.
Underneath that sea was a testing ground that the Miyauchi-gumi had painstakingly prepared. A crucible for gathering orphans and boiling them in one place.
I had already heard all the information from Kenji.
Only execution remains.
The moment you take a step, kicking off the ground, gravity pulls your entire body towards you.
with a splash!
A dive from a 20-meter cliff. Gaon, who entered the sea in an instant thanks to the height, unfolded a mandala to secure space.
There is a secret base at a depth of 60 meters, but that is only a relative location; the entrance to it is 200 meters deeper.
It was a level that required a submarine to enter, but this story only applied to those who had not reached that level.
Gaon, who had gained a lot of weight due to wearing protective gear, slowly descended while melting into the ocean current as if such restrictions did not matter.
Slowly, so that the radar detecting the vicinity mistakes the presence of an intruder for a fish.
As the moonlight that had faintly illuminated the water disappeared and the dark ink began to engulf the surroundings, Gaon opened his eyes and created a vortex with the power of a spiral.
He swam as if he was shooting and arrived at the bottom of a rock so large that it could be mistaken for a mountain.
When I raised my head, another sea spread out above my head. It was a blue hole, which is created when there are water surfaces of different depths.
Even if you estimate it vaguely, it’s probably a few dozen meters wide.
As we quickly threw ourselves inside and climbed upward, an underwater cave came into view.
It was a remote area that anyone would have expected to be untouched by human hands, but unfortunately, the interior was at the cutting edge of civilization.
The common space was filled with inorganic iron tiles, and the floor was covered with marble mats.
A submarine was anchored at a dock that looked like it could be used by the military. Evidence that the Miyauchi-gumi had been hiding in this area for decades.
Gaon, who had stepped onto the once-processed road, was able to encounter a huge iron door that looked like a bulging bank vault. Its shape was almost like a cogwheel.
It was so tightly locked that it seemed like it was sealed.
As if he didn’t want the contents to leak out.
“… … .”
Activate the overrun built into the protective gear. This was a jammer that not only caused interference but also jammed signals.
Rather than burning out integrated circuits with uncontrolled electromagnetic pulses, they worked with telecommunications companies and relay stations to block the source entirely.
If the battle control program, Overseer, is a tool to lead the scene, Overrun is a device to control the scene.
“Come on.”
Gaon, who had blocked the escape route, waved his hand toward the CCTV installed in the ceiling.
bang!
Immediately after, a bullet flies in from behind.
Even though he knew they were the Mars Defense Force, he fired without warning. It was truly a choice befitting a descendant of an outlaw.
Gaon leaped to the firing point in one stride and cut down one guard before the fireball could form.
No, two. Maybe, three—
“Eek. I… … .”
The fourth guard swallows dry saliva, unable to even let out a final scream. But before the slinger can move, his head flies off.
Gaon, who had harvested the lives of those working at the outpost, returned to his original position and cut the vault door in half.
Although it boasted a thickness of a full three meters, it was nothing more than a bundle of straw in front of him.
Kookbang!
There was a loud noise as it collapsed, but no one detected the abnormality. Internal communication was cut off. Gaon strode through the secret base without any resistance.
Several people who were suddenly declared war witnessed this behavior and pointed their guns at each other, but none of them were able to accomplish their goal and fell to the ground as corpses.
When removing the device―
Disposing of the fallen children―
Or, while deleting research materials―
The human figures were of various forms, but in words, they all came down to one thing. It was bound to be a disaster, but most people didn’t notice until Gaon, covered in blood, raised his sword.
The evil of using each area as a conveyor belt to create loneliness.
Its uniquely closed structure, in which work is conducted in isolation, has led to disaster.
Of course, eventually the yakuza had no choice but to realize the situation. But by then it was already too late.
No matter how many tricks they tried—building a wall, calling in drones, digging traps—Gaon’s footsteps did not stop at all.
“Why on earth is the Mars Defense Force here now… …!”
The rear of the defense line. The old man who was resisting with the others at the forefront let out a meaningful remark, but Gaon ignored him and took his head.
The Insanity Project.
When I heard it from Alice’s mouth, I had a rough idea, but when I saw it for myself, it was completely different. Perhaps even she didn’t know it was a place like this.
If I had known, I would have turned it around even if it meant giving up my position as a swordsman.
Human experiments conducted under the pretext of raising private soldiers. The resulting human rights abuses. There were also those who used children to satisfy their evil desires. No, there were many.
The organ specimens were stuffed in formalin bottles and strewn about on the display stand. It was obvious to anyone that they were already out of the realm of research.
It was an extremely unpleasant place.
What’s even more unpleasant is that the Martian Defense Force, which should have figured out the truth about the ‘Insanity Project’ long ago, just stood by and watched.
“Suddenly.”
It was inevitable that my wisdom teeth would grind against me. But I had to suppress my anger for a moment. My business was not over yet.
Gaon, who had destroyed all signs of free movement within the secret base, moved towards the only space he had not been to.
The depths of the research lab, designed in the shape of a spiral.
As we get closer, the word [jar] appears.
Perhaps because it was an important facility, it seemed like it would require authentication from an official to enter, but a method for doing so had already been prepared.
He lifts one of the wrists dangling from his waist and places it on the control pad.
It belonged to the old man I confronted just now.
As expected, it is easily revealed that he was the one in charge.
As you enter, a wide space comes into view. At the same time, the profiles of the incarcerated children are implemented in augmented reality, and the holograms spread out in concentric circles as you walk.
Because it is a heterogeneous effect, when I reflexively lower my head, the ground beneath my feet becomes transparent.
‘Magic Mirror?’
In other words, a one-way mirror. This was a common item found in interrogation rooms at investigative agencies. As it was a tool for observing the other party unilaterally, it was basically installed instead of a wall.
As expected, children can be seen swarming under the floor.
Their freedom was divided by a mere sheet of tempered glass, but they didn’t even look up, as if they didn’t know that the ceiling was fake. The only thing the kids were focused on was―
‘Headless statue?’
Yes, it was just a sculpture.
It wasn’t that the facial features were not distinct enough to tell who it was, but there was really nothing above the shoulders. It wasn’t broken. The cross-section was smooth. It was as if that was the intention from the beginning.
Looking back, the children’s reactions were unusual.
While some children prayed earnestly with their hands together, others even prostrated themselves.
It seemed clear that it was not a simple object.
‘no.’
Should we say that it gave meaning beyond that?
It was the 24th century, and even the concept of maternal religion had become diluted. It was not that belief in religion had disappeared, but it was impossible to hide the fact that it was non-mainstream—it was a very strange ritual to be performed in a place like this.
It’s even worse when you don’t even think about washing the blood off your hands and feet.
Judging by his appearance as if he had been thrown into the wild, he must have been lonely before he was elected. Competition must have reached its peak.
Because of this, I wonder if children who cannot endure the harsh, even bleak, reality are finding solace in religion, but if so―
‘It can’t be this serious.’
I haven’t heard anything from Kenji either. Perhaps the tone changed when Ryoichi became chairman.
Idolization was a common practice in organizations without a foundation, either to secure legitimacy or to unite members.
As the purpose was clear, the target was also clear.
However, what the children worshipped was not the leader Hoya, but the headless god.
‘what?’
Judging from Ryoichi’s origins, it was highly likely that he was related to either Miyauchi-gumi or Paradise. One thing is certain: it is unlikely that Hoya would have permitted this weekend’s mass.
Gaon turned his back and went straight to the management office to collect all the relevant information. It was all encrypted, but he could just decrypt it.
Before Gaon could even turn his head after retrieving the package, a shuriken flew in and struck the monitor. The fact that he was able to hide his presence until the surprise attack showed that he was quite skilled.
Gaon placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and the ninja made a greeting almost simultaneously.
“Nice to meet you. I am a master assassin.”