◈ Episode 184

PM 11:53.

"Thank you for your cooperation, sir."

"What? By the way, I didn't know you would come in person."

"Isn't it common sense?"

At the urgent call, Chief of Police Allen came running, leading his men. Of course, it was a big commotion that could turn the city upside down, but it was a high-ranking official who was dispatched in such an urgent manner as a low-ranking official.

"I originally preferred to run on foot."

It's better to fight on the spot than to look at documents and attend meetings. Didn't you even pass on the work that the representative should have done to Echidna and Bryce? You have to pay for the food.

Allen chuckled, saying, "I know."

"I'm the same. I need to go back to the beginning."

"Are you a beginner?"

"There were scandals in the past, right? They say it was manipulation, but it's clear that we've lost our prestige. In order to regain trust, we're trying to show our face to the citizens as much as possible."

"Hasn't it been almost three years?"

"If I had thought it would only last a few months, I wouldn't have even started."

Kim Yi-hyeon stuck out his tongue inwardly. Whether it was Kabak or Allen, the civil servants of Cilicia were truly exemplary. There were plenty of corrupt civil servants, but at least his acquaintances had great minds.

'Somehow, when I was receiving reports, the name of the chief of police was mentioned often.'

I didn't know because I was always wandering around outside, but it seems that as life gets tougher, there are people who work even harder.

'It reminds me of the old days.'

In the early days when Dustborne was founded, the relationship with the police, which was extremely strained at the time, has now become much better. Whenever evidence of the company's success is revealed, I feel proud.

The aftermath is a separate matter.

"What happened to the suspect?"

"It's most likely the death penalty."

Allen turned his gaze to the restricted street. Two victims were being taken away by ambulance. Meanwhile, Clara Silvas was being bound in a thick straitjacket and put into a transport vehicle.

The police officers' actions toward Clara were extremely cautious.

"The parasites attacked civilians in the city. And Clara Silvas is a professional player in the League. There are limits to controlling the media when the incident occurred in the city center."

"The aluminum player must be having a hard time."

"The two victims are also someone's family."

Kim Yi-hyeon waved his hand at the words that seemed to tell him not to show unnecessary sympathy.

"I just thought it would be like that, I didn't really think much about it."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I'm not even a fan of aluminum players."

Tragedy is common in today's Polaris.

Just as tragedy struck Chelsea not long ago.

But 'Clara Silvas' was not common.

"There was definitely nothing wrong with the measurement results."

"I'm sorry for any misunderstanding, but there was absolutely no manipulation."

"I have no doubts. It seems like a special case."

Kim Lee-hyun was openly showing his interest.

Allen, wary of his unpredictable nature, had already hammered in a nail.

"...I believe you know. We cannot leave the parasites in the city."

"of course."

The answer was refreshing, but

'Why do I feel uneasy… .'

I couldn't believe it at all.

* * *

The next day.

Kim Lee-hyun faced an awkward situation from the morning.

"Please. I beg you to do this."

Aluminum knelt down and buried his head in the floor. He seemed to have heard news of his younger brother from somewhere and came running barefoot. The sudden request only made Kim I-hyeon uncomfortable.

"To player Asterike… I said things I shouldn't have said. I sincerely apologize to him. It was entirely my fault and it was something I should have done, so I won't say anything about the price."

That's right.

Didn't you suddenly rush in and criticize me?

Asterike was just venting her anger.

"I'll do whatever I can. It may not seem like much, but I've saved up some money. I'll make any deal you need. So please…."

"Please save Clara Silvas."

"...예."

He never said, "Let me meet you just once," which would be a relatively low-barrier request, but Aluminum is a realistic person. He knows his own personality well.

He can't be satisfied with just the last meeting. He might even draw his sword. But it's like hitting a rock with an egg. He doesn't have the skills to rescue his brother and escape from the city alone.

That's why I came to find Dustborne.

"I'm a little embarrassed. Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm a first-division player with a long career. I know the ins and outs of the city."

There are more than one or two companies sponsoring the league. The fields are also diverse. If you attend a few parties hosted by sponsors, your perspective on the city will change. You will realize the powerlessness of individuals.

Above all else.

You learn who the real power brokers in the city are. The current council doesn't care about corporate power, but there is someone who can interfere with their decision-making, even if only a little.

"흠."

Kim Lee-hyeon didn't even try to deny it.

He was a man who could overcome many obstacles.

Dustborn's position was strengthened after the Johanna Feltner incident, but that wasn't all. Dustborn was the strongest tactic to deal with a parasite incident that could occur at any time.

"Do you know what your brother did?"

"...I heard that the victims fortunately survived. Of course, that doesn't mean it's over. I intend to compensate them sufficiently... "

"No, honestly, I like those punks."

They were pretty vicious guys for 'innocent civilians'. They were the type of criminals who cleverly avoided CCTV footage or threatened victims to prevent them from making statements.

It was a loophole in the Cilicia law that required evidence for anything. If they were drug dealers or illegal weapons dealers, they would be caught even if they had to falsify evidence, but they weren't that gullible.

"The incident last night was quite notable. It's already becoming a hot topic. Citizens are shaking with fear that a parasite has appeared, and doomsday theorists are fanning the flames even further."

Clara Silvas threatened the city's security.

For Cilicia, which had once suffered a measles outbreak as a result of the legion, it was like a sore spot.

"If we catch and kill them, the commotion will die down, but we've planted a seed of anxiety. It will cause great harm in the long run. I think you expected that to some extent."

Aluminum couldn't refute anything. He just turned his eyes away. As a result, bloodshed broke out. It was a situation worse than turning oneself in.

"No matter how great a player you are, the results don't add up."

"…Are you saying that the compensation I can give you is not enough?"

"Yes, it is woefully inadequate."

A cold silence fell between them.

After a while, Aluminum got up from his seat and bowed his head deeply.

"I'm sorry for being rude. Thank you for taking the time to come to see me without any prior notice."

When he soon regained his composure, Aluminum's face was expressionless.

'Your eyes have rolled back.'

Kim Yi-hyeon had a gut feeling. If he left me alone, I would definitely die.

I have no intention of helping. Although I have been involved with Asterike a few times, we are not close. Rather, I feel a little discomfort. No matter how precious family is, is it okay for the city to be like that?

"As I said, I will apologize to Asterike separately. Well then, that's all―"

The decision was made by taking all factors into consideration.

"There are ways to make up for the lack."

There is merit to saving it.

"What do you mean...?"

I answered, feeling a small glimmer of hope flash across the other person's face.

"Your younger brother will have to become a test subject."

Clara Silvas.

It's too good of a specimen to be left to die.

* * *

Two conditions are required to end the disaster.

The first is the closure of the 'rift' that connects Polaris and the other world. There is nothing Kim Yi-Hyeon can do about this right now. Not only is Leila's role in the game important, but the rift has not yet been fully revealed.

'This is something we should only worry about after the catastrophe has progressed further.'

The second is the research progress of Cellbrotics Lab.

Closing the rift will not immediately purify the already polluted continent. The continental people must have immunity or strong resistance to pollution.

"That means we need a vaccine."

"...You can make something like that?"

"Is there any reason why it would be impossible?"

Kabak looked incredulous.

However, there are already many success stories.

"Spellcasters are a good example. Pecatums are also significantly more resistant than normal people. In fact, they may be able to overcome contamination on a genetic level even now."

You don't need any great science or technology. Just pair up mutations that are resistant to pollution, such as Pecatum. If you keep going for generations, you will eventually be able to completely overcome it.

Of course, this is assuming that the crack is successfully closed.

"The problem is the general public. Clara Silvas, however, is not a spellcaster. For some reason, she has 'adapted' to being a general public's body."

"Can you call that adaptation?"

Kabak recalled the report he had received from the police. Clara had been detained in a room surrounded by a special alloy on all sides, and her condition had been monitored for several days.

"I heard he's mentally unstable. He's definitely not in a stable state. You never know when he might become a parasite again. It's like he can't control it, and the cycle of change might get shorter and shorter."

"I see it that way too."

It is predicted that humanity will soon be lost. At that time, there will be no difference from other complete beings. It will still be meaningful as a sample, but it will lose its specialness as it does now.

"It's a temporary adaptation. And that 'temporary' is what's important."

A type of parasite that did not exist in the game.

Perhaps vaccine development could be accelerated significantly.

"...I understand what you're saying. But, um."

Kabak showed his discomfort.

As Kim Lee-hyun pointed out to Aluminum, it was an unreasonable demand. It is a time when noticeable results are needed to relieve citizens' anxiety. The method of 'killing them and then running away' is not enough.

but.

"You can fill in the gaps in your achievements by filling in other areas."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

Kim Lee-hyun smiled brightly.

"It was already starting to bother me. Let's just get rid of these rats."

When in a hurry, it's Legion.

* * *

Sergio Carmelo.

Sergio, who was arrested for smuggling larvae, was serving a hard prison sentence. Although he had been trained by the Legion's intelligence unit, his term was very short.

The organization fell apart before it could be fully realized as a spy.

In short, he was clumsy. He was arrested as soon as the police began a full-scale investigation. He was unable to commit suicide immediately after being arrested. To give another example,

"Eh, Edwin?"

Enough to feel a sense of camaraderie towards Edwin Berenice, who came to visit unexpectedly.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Edwin from Dustborne Corporation."

Edwin tapped the pedestal with his characteristic rhythm as he spoke.

It was a common password used in the legion.

That was naturally interpreted as a sentence in Sergio's brain.

'Conversation, eavesdropping. Help, trouble.'

Sergio was overcome with shivers after receiving the password.

A mind exhausted from intense interrogation has come to an extremely convenient conclusion.

'You were infiltrating Dustborne…!'

That day he revealed his comrades' hiding place.