◈ Episode 197

If anyone is thinking of drifting into the gaming world, I'd like to give one piece of advice as someone with experience.

Instead of going to the gym, enroll in an acting academy. While the martial arts you learned half-heartedly will lose their meaning once you acquire a gun, acting skills can be used for a long time.

It is the same even now.

'It's really difficult at times like this.'

Kim Lee-hyun was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed. When he raised his head slightly, he saw Leila stiffly standing across from him. He sighed inwardly and lowered his gaze again.

His eyes fell on the file placed on his thigh. It was a paper filled with numbers and technical terms. Naturally, it was impossible for Kim Yi-hyun to understand it with his knowledge.

But I saw through the context.

'Research reports.'

Research conducted in the past at Cellbrox Lab. And it is a 'progress' that continues to this day. The businesslike sentences written about the test subjects evoke a slight sense of disgust.

Even if I only looked at it for a moment, my eyes felt tired.

As soon as I stopped reading, Leila spoke as if she had been waiting for me.

"What do you think?"

"First of all, the content is complicated. It's hard for a blind person like me to read."

"Ah, ah! I was short-sighted. You probably don't have any expertise in this field."

He hesitates as if he didn't know.

"Would it be better if I explained it in detail?"

"There's no need to do that. It's not like I'm tutoring a student or anything."

"I guess so? Maybe I should have added a comment after all…."

It is the appearance of seriously reflecting on something that was said in jest.

Kim Lee-hyun let out a small laugh, then hardened his expression again.

"It's already late, but can you show this to me?"

It is not a report that is haphazardly piled up in a record room. It is permeated with the misguided sense of mission of scientists and the greed of politicians. It is a document that should never be made public.

One of the great secrets and original sins of Cellbrox Labs.

It is now in Kim Lee-Hyeon's hands.

"Yes. I have the director's permission. To be exact, he gave me the decision-making authority. Even if he hadn't, I think he would have agreed. I think it's too late."

"okay."

"I don't know how much you understand, but to put it simply―"

After taking a deep breath, Leila continued.

"This is the research report of Subject 004, 'Leila'."

She spoke about herself in a stiff manner different from usual.

"The research itself started over 50 years ago. At that time, Cellbrotics Lab was a different group in many ways than it is now. It had many external ties, such as close ties to the royal family of Shalem."

Entanglement. It was an expression I had heard through Kushan a while ago.

"I'll explain it in order so that you can understand it easily. It all started in 1977 when Lab discovered the first parasite. Shiran heard about it somehow and decided to get involved."

"I heard that you conducted joint research."

"Yes. The person who was dispatched at that time was the director. At the time, he was the chief researcher of the Shiran Imperial Family. I heard that at first, he was a cold-blooded person without any blood or tears."

Leila smiled faintly as if reminiscing about the past.

"The person who told me about it, Helena, was the former director of the research institute. The professor was working in the lab as a senior researcher. It became a large-scale project with many other people involved."

An illustration was drawn in Kim Yi-hyeon's head. A lab with researchers in gowns moving around busily. It was similar to the present, but with noise in the background.

"Although there was only one parasite, the research themes were diverse. Among them, the most important topic was the utilization of parasite factors. As a result, amazing results were achieved even by modern standards."

A typical example is immortality.

And here is Leila in front of Kim Yi-Hyeon.

"I succeeded in synthesizing an artificial life form by combining the genetic information of Parasite and Director Helena. That's how I was born in a special incubator. The name Leila was given to me by my mother."

The title of mother was filled with longing and affection.

In fact, in the flashback scenes during the episode, the relationship between the two was quite strong. They had a bond that could be called family, beyond that of a researcher and a subject. Leila learned about the world from Helena.

That's a story from the past.

Helena is long dead. There are no remains, and even her empty coffin is buried in the aftermath of the disaster and cannot be found. At this point, Leila's only remaining family is Kushan and the Professor.

"I may look human, but biologically I'm much closer to a parasite. At some point, I stopped aging, and since I'm already more contaminated than anyone else, there's no way I'll mutate."

Leila smiled self-deprecatingly.

"What do you think after hearing this?"

As the long explanation continued, he seemed more calm than before. However, he also seemed to have given up. As if he knew the answer, as if he was prepared to be hated.

This is the problem.

'Should I at least pretend to be surprised?'

I was thinking about my reaction and then I gave up.

It's not like I'm filming for YouTube, what's the reaction?

"What do you think?"

"That, that's unpleasant. That's disgusting..."

"Why should it be unpleasant and disgusting?"

Kim Yi-hyeon slowly looked back on his actions. From some point on, he was treated as a crazy person whenever he had the chance. It was very unfair and regrettable, but of course he knew the reason.

If you look at 'Kim Lee-Hyeon' from a third-party perspective, it looks like this.

A vicious criminal who, when he feels something is wrong, first injects drugs and then sees what happens.

Despite knowing top secret information from several groups, their identities remain shrouded in mystery.

'It's terrible.'

It's a good thing there's no doppelganger type monster in Polaris. If there were, I'd immediately stop all my plans and hunt it down and kill it.

"The person I know is just a useless, kind fool. Even now, look at you, you're showing your weaknesses. If everything I've seen of you up until now is a lie, then I'll start to distrust humans."

As a separate story.

Kim Yi-Hyun can kill Leila whenever he wants. Whether it be through assassination or a direct confrontation. So Leila is not something he should be afraid of.

"Is this information not disclosed even within the lab?"

"Only a very small number of people, including the director, are aware of it. It's a sensitive issue."

"I see. But I think everyone has guessed to some extent. It's been about five years since we've known each other, and neither you nor Kushan nor the professor have aged at all. We just keep quiet."

"Hahaha, I have been asked serious questions before…."

I returned the folder to Leila, who smiled shyly.

"Thank you for letting me know."

"No. As I said before, I think it's too late. I've received help from Mr. Hyun many times, and I still owe you my debt."

That's common sense. Kim Yi-hyun also has many secrets. Secrets he won't tell even to someone he trusts. Even after hearing Leila's story, my thoughts haven't changed.

"I understand your intentions, but it doesn't really change anything. I was surprised that you're twice my age. Why do I feel like I've grown older every time I scold that bastard Pablo?"

"Oh, experience, huh…! The expression is a bit off."

"You're at least 50 years old, right?"

"That may be true, but… ugh."

Suddenly, I remembered the community right after Leila's identity was revealed. The explicit word 'frame' was posted one after another. There was even a post that made fun of the old man by cutting up scenes of him being lectured.

That's roughly the level of awareness.

There were a lot of hints that he wasn't an ordinary human being. It was something that users could easily accept. For Kim Yi-hyun, who had already figured it out, it was just a surprise.

Leila's calm attitude was a small salvation for her.

"...Thank you, Mr. Hyun."

"Sir, you may lower your voice."

"Please don't do that in front of anyone."

"Even though I don't think there's a hierarchy, a 20 or 30 year age gap is a bit much."

"Oh, I really don't like it! You even speak informally to the manager!"

If you think about it, Kushan is close to 100 years old. That's more than three times as old, let alone two. He's an adult who should be respected like an ancestor, but there's a reason he's being rude.

"That's because he talked back from the first time we met."

"Then I, I'll speak informally too. You too... Aaah! I can't do it!"

"Please accept it, sir."

"Eeeeeeeee!"

Unlike him who is laughing heartily, she is stomping her feet and almost causing a fight. It would be a shame to end it with just one verse. But since it would be boring if I got used to it, I guess I'll just use it when I forget about it.

'Anyway, did it go well?'

A situation that could have become a landmine depending on how you react.

At this point, I felt relieved as it seemed like it had ended amicably.

* * *

The city of Vastite has become very busy recently.

Lab and Dustbone come and go every day to renovate and search the lab, and the royal family is busy dispatching knights based on reports. Meanwhile, inspections have become stricter to keep an eye out for spies.

Anima, who had just arrived at the palace today, also sensed the chaotic atmosphere. Not knowing the details, he couldn't help but feel his feet tingle.

Because it all seems like it's because of my bad boss.

"How many times do I have to tell you before you understand…!"

Anima trembled as soon as she saw Irene.

"Please! Didn't I tell you to do it even if it means causing trouble?"

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to do this! It was an act of God…."

"No. I mean, force majeure. It's something that happens when you can't help it, even when you weren't given any reason to. But you're not the captain, are you? You're the one who provided the cause for the problem to occur, so this is the result."

Tears welled up in Irene's eyes as she was harshly beaten.

"Hehe! Me too, me too, I'm reflecting. I'll behave better from now on."

A look like a wreck and a voice that is completely dead. It's a sight that naturally evokes sympathy. Anyone would feel weak, but Anima didn't even take a grain of salt.

"Do you think crying is everything? I can cry too. Ugh!"

"Yes, why are you crying! Ugh!"

"What should I do, I'm already shedding tears at the thought of having to take care of the captain?"

Even though half of it was acting, the other half was real.

"If I touch it, it has to be here…."

Cellbrox Labs and Dustborne. They have not been involved since the operation in Howland. Anima developed a strong antipathy towards the lab after hearing the truth about the disaster.

Of course, Dustborne is a separate entity. It's unlikely that a mercenary company that's only been around for a few years would be involved in research from the distant past. But that doesn't mean they're only being friendly.

To sum it up in one word: caution.

I witnessed their true colors in the underground cistern. Two Pecatums that breathed out fierce flames like hellfire, and did not die even after being stabbed all over their bodies. Snipers with unrealistic skills.

And Kim Lee-Hyeon.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

"What, what…?"

"I will accept any and all requests as long as they are not at an impossible level."

"Huh? Do you really have to go that far? No, I know it was my fault, but we're not the type to just hang ourselves in one place. Why don't we just save face and avoid each other from now on…?"

Albatross is an organization that swings its force as usual. Basically, even if they do 'good', violence is violence. There were many enemies to begin with, and it is not surprising that they have one or two more.

but.

"You have to choose your opponent."

This is the most dangerous type. The size of the organization may be small, but since they are not tied down to any one place, they are free to act. In other words, if they want, they can chase after you like a mad dog.

In Anima's judgment, Kim Ihyeon was a human being who could handle such things.

'He's the kind of guy who staged a terrorist attack at a summit.'

In short, he is a competent man, although he has some screws loose.

If possible, it is better to avoid looking unpopular.

"Ha. What kind of request will he make...."

The worries that had been troubling Anima were quickly resolved.

As soon as he finished his formal greetings, Kim Lee-hyun got to the main point.

"I plan to terrorize the Shiran Palace soon."

what?