082

Ep. 82

–

Monument's conference room.

Today is the 5th day since the board meeting began.

The team leaders in the conference room all lowered their heads and kept their mouths shut.

We have gathered here several times since the board meeting, but the atmosphere has never been as bad as today.

The reason was the city's master, Laila, who sat at the head of the table.

With a chill running down her face, she opened her mouth.

"The board has completely failed over the last five days."

"…."

"I don't have to say who it is because of."

Someone swallowed their saliva at Lila's declaration.

There were two people who played the role of reef in this board meeting.

One is Akira Eugene.

The king of the Eugene family and the ruler of Megacorp was walking around actively lobbying outside the conference hall.

'You seem like a dirty bastard. 'It's an unspoken rule that the CEO doesn't come to the board meeting.'

Under Megacorp law, election campaigns by CEOs or CEO candidates are illegal.

Of course, isn't it the natural order of the human world that everything set by law cannot be followed?

All families lobbied well before or during the election.

Since we all do this together, we are just whispering to each other.

But Akira went beyond the limit.

He openly met with elders from other families and made a deal with them about what he would give them in return if they chose him.

Because it was clearly illegal, Laila protested, but it was canceled due to interference from the pro-Akira faction, including Wei Zhao.

It was difficult up to that point, but there was a more serious problem.

'Thomson, you damned zealots!'

Among the two surnames forming T&C, Thompson's people were actively hindering her.

They welcomed the idea of a CEO coming from TNC, but were opposed to Saddam Chamberlain becoming CEO.

Even now, the superiority/inferiority relationship between the two surnames is about 6 to 4, with Chamberlain leading.

It was obvious that if Saddam became CEO, the gap would widen even further.

So, the people of Thompson Castle were engaging in all kinds of mischief against the Prime Capitals who came to the city.

The T&C family is a family created by combining the Thompson and Chamberlain surnames.

Even though Chamberlain's side says they are different from Thompson, outsiders see the two as one.

In other words, every time Thompson does something stupid, the image of Chamberlain as a whole, including Saddam, is bound to fall to the ground.

Thompson's problem is one that even her father, nicknamed Snake, could not solve.

Of course, this is an issue that even she cannot solve.

"If this continues, I will be stripped of my position as general manager, and when a new manager comes, all of you who I personally appointed will also be kicked out."

It's just as she said.

Regardless of the situation she finds herself in, T&C immediately ousts anyone she deems incompetent.

If Laila is kicked out, all the people she elected will either be kicked out to the outskirts or have to find something else to do.

"I believe that no one expects such a future."

"It's all natural! General manager!"

All team leaders jumped up from their seats and shouted loudly.

Lila nodded silently.

Because it was a difficult time, I deliberately maintained discipline.

If she loses her dignity, those here will probably have different feelings.

'But the fundamental problem has not yet been solved.'

A breakthrough was needed.

Her eyes turned to the head of the dissection team, who was new to this place.

"Anatomy team leader."

"Yes yep!"

Even before entering the conference room, his complexion had turned pale and he straightened his back when Lila called him.

"Have you registered the genetic data collected from the monster?"

"Oh, I haven't done it yet."

According to principle, when a new organism is discovered, its genetic data must be registered in the Megacorp data archive.

However, people who make a living from genetic information, such as the Eugene family and the Edgerton family, often treated genes as corporate secrets and did not register them.

Lila thought for a moment and then opened her mouth.

"Please postpone registration and continue with the research. "I will take responsibility."

"Oh, I understand."

"And can you announce your current research results right away?"

"yes? Well, it won't be difficult if you prepare for it, but…" "

Then, please complete it by tomorrow afternoon and report it to me. "If we are satisfied with the results, we will present them during the board meeting when we introduce the new business division."

All team leaders were surprised by Laila's bombshell announcement.

The city's manager was a cautious person, so every project was always carefully reviewed before proceeding.

Everyone can't help but be surprised that she is suddenly working on a new project.

"I'm only going to give a general introduction anyway, so there's no need to put too much pressure on it. "There are many things to consider, such as the budget and manpower related to the project, so we will consider those aspects step by step after the announcement."

"Yes, yes!"

All team leaders looked at the anatomy team leader with envious eyes at Laila's decision, which was quite unconventional.

As long as the results are good, rapid promotion to the head of the dissection team is no different.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

The head of the biological management team, who was sitting next to the head of the dissection team, gave him well-wishes with an expression of envy.

The head of the dissection team whom everyone envied, despite his appearance on the outside, was a killer on the inside.

'What the fuck! What crime have I committed to suffer like this?…'

The head of the dissection team cursed inwardly.

Even now, there was a horrible bug nestled inside his head.

But I couldn't say it.

Because he saw his subordinate researchers being eaten alive by monsters.

His dream is to live a long and healthy life.

If you have a lot of money and power, that's it.

"Then please do me a favor."

"Yes…"

Leila, who assumed that the awkward expression on the dissection team leader's face was due to nervousness, picked up the tablet pad that was lying on the mahogany table.

"Shall we start the meeting now?"

Was he tired because of the board meeting?

Lila coughed once and started the meeting.

–

'The predation effect didn't work this time.'

I felt regretful and picked my teeth with my long fingernails.

Today is the fifth day since I entered this building.

There are a total of 7 cult members I have captured so far.

On the first day, I hunted a cultist from the 3rd Central Management Office, and on the second day, I spent the entire day sleeping due to the aftereffects of the hunt.

On the third day, I started hunting again and until today, I have caught and eaten two people every day.

The targets are cults belonging to the power management office.

'Because management rooms 3 through 6 are not particularly difficult.'

Management room 3 was the only exception, with only two cult members working there, and management rooms 4 through 6 had a total of three cult members.

I ate up all the rest, leaving only one person in each management office.

There is only one reason I left.

This is to make it a new minion.

'Because we also need someone to handle retirement.'

If it had been any other time, the HR team would have been suspicious, but not this time.

'The board of directors actually benefited.'

It is said that the number of cult members voluntarily resigning has increased due to a significant increase in workload due to the board of directors. Thanks to this, the human resources team did not feel suspicious about the large number of retirees in the management office.

Of course, I went out last night to check if there were any problems with the working environment, but by then everything had already been completed.

All remaining cults from the 3rd Central Management Office to the 5th Central Management Office have become my slaves.

And today, I captured two cult members from the 6th Central Management Office and enslaved one.

"…Are you finished?"

Anna, who was waiting while I was eating, asked me.

Next to her, a cultist from the 6th Central Management Office, newly infected with parasites, was standing with a gloomy expression.

He seemed very uncomfortable with the fact that he had handed over his colleague.

'I was really sad too.'

From the 4th day, I hunted the cult without using the hunting symbol.

This is because after the representation effect ends, there is no food to fill the stomach.

'I can't help it because I emptied the freezer on the third day.'

Because of this, the predation effect was not as effective as expected.

'no. 'I gained new fusion characteristics and unlocked the type, so it's quite a gain.'

The number of characteristics gained by eating the remaining sample researchers and cult members is quite high.

Among them, there are two characteristics that can be used.

'Pain Reduction' is an attribute related to the new type 'Ghost Claw', a fusion attribute of the supernatural power series.

First, ghost claws.

It is a fusion characteristic that combines the characteristics of 'Beast's Claws' that he possessed and the characteristics of 'Psychic Whip' that he obtained by killing the cult.

The claws at the end of the current combat arms are different from before. It looked like a large hook, but became thinner like a sickle, and its surface glowed a vivid purple.

'Ghost claws can easily penetrate even solid walls.'

I held in my hand the MasterCard that the cult member I had just captured was carrying.

As I tightened my hand, the card passed through my hand and fell to the floor.

It would be perfect if the range were effective throughout the entire body, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

Transmission is possible only up to the hand.

Still, when fighting a heavily armored enemy, it is quite beneficial as you can attack through the armor.

In other words, it is useful when fighting thickly armored enemies such as Edgerton's Knights or Hulk Mutants.

'Then comes pain relief.'

Relief of pain is, surprisingly, a trait acquired by the researcher in the aftereffects of the first day of hunting.

'Was it the researcher who told you never to get married?'

I don't know what kind of marriage he had, but it doesn't seem to have been a very peaceful life.

Pain Reduction is a trait that is applied in a passive form like a complete organism, and its effect is simple.

'Pain relief.'

When a player receives a fatal injury in the game, there is a certain probability that a debuff with negative effects such as panic or seizure will occur, but if there is a pain relief feature, this can be alleviated.

What this means is that it is a trait that allows one to maintain one's sanity even after receiving a fatal injury.

'It's a trait I really need.'

I screamed when I was cut by a blade claw during my last battle with a knight.

It was a shame because the situation was in my favor at the time, otherwise I would have been in great danger.

Human beings get scared when they are seriously ill and want to run away when they are critically injured.

My body is Aimorph's, but my mind is human.

If you make a mistake, you may lose the battle due to your human nature.

'If there is pain relief, there will be less chance of choosing meaningless options during battle.'

That's not the only benefit gained from the new features.

Since pain relief is a special type of defensive ability, it belongs to a completely different class, not two classes of physical superpowers.

It is a special defense series.

Thanks to this, I currently have a total of 4 types open.

'I've already obtained the physical enhancement and superpower enhancement types. For the special infection defense enhancement type, only the type information has been unlocked.'

If you unlock one more type information here and obtain the fusion characteristics of that type, you can proceed to the second stage of transcendence.

'When I thought about it, I needed 4 types of evolution conditions.'

In order to evolve into a semi-adult, you need to fully acquire four types in addition to eating a specific species.

The problem is this point.

If you go to the second stage of transcendence, you will gain new type information and characteristics related to that type that did not exist before.

In this process, the fusion characteristics are used up as materials, so the opportunity to evolve into a quasi-adult is further reduced.

Conversely, if I evolve into a semi-adult body first, I still have to carry the prohibition that occurred in the first stage of transcendence.

'If you do not advance to the second stage of transcendence, the prohibitions incurred as you acquire new unique characteristics will continue to accumulate.'

Even if not right away, there will definitely come a time when you will have to break through the second stage of transcendence.

'Transcendence stage 2 or semi-adult?'

I thought about it and then shook my head.

'There's no point in worrying about it now.'

Neither of them met all the conditions.

These are goals that both sides must tackle after sufficient preparation.

'It was a one-way street in the game.'

As a completely different situation from the game unfolds, rather than feeling scared, my interest soars.

So much so that one wonders what else awaits after the Eucharist.

I woke up feeling slightly excited.

'Then what should we do next?'

Whether it is the second stage of transcendence or semi-adult evolution, the need to collect genetic essence remains the same.

And the purpose of my coming here is to prey on the cult.

I fiddled with my MasterCard and thought about what to do next.

'There are two types of departments where cults mainly work.'

The place with the most cults is the central management office.

The places I have not currently targeted are the 1st central management room, which manages the Monument central AI computer, and the 2nd central management room, which manages the guest rooms.

The cult in the 1st Central Management Office has only three watchers, but all three are very powerful, and the 2nd Central Management Office has 24 cult members.

The former can be seen as qualitatively superior, and the latter quantitatively superior.

In particular, if you kill all the cultists in the 2nd Central Management Office, the condition of having 20 races that use psychic power is automatically fulfilled.

'The problem is that it's not easy.'

Among the cults in the 1st and 2nd Central Management Office, there is a cult with a soul link. If someone on the same team is attacked while working, the rest of the team will be affected immediately.

'The upper management office must be prepared and attacked.'

Another option other than the central management office is the security team.

The Monument security team consists of a number of Wolff agents and a few cult leaders.

It is a well-balanced department with a structure where Cult, who has a good sense of smell, supervises Wolf, who is good at smelling and is sensitive to environmental changes.

'Wolf and Cult have not yet met all of the evolution conditions.'

Originally, Wolff planned to hunt around apartment complexes in residential districts.

However, because the plan went differently than expected, only the condition of killing 20 humanoid species was achieved.

Here, if you attack the security team first, you can fulfill both of the evolution conditions at the same time: a race that can transform and a race that uses psychic power.

Of course, the number of cults in the security team is not as large as in the central management office.

Maybe 5 people at most?

If you only target the security team, you won't be able to fill the number of cults, even if you don't know the number of Wolfs.

'But the security team can take me out of the monument.'

In addition to standing guard within the building, the role of the security team is also to monitor the entry and exit of people and objects.

If I take control of the security team, I can easily go out to the administrative district and hunt.

In other words, the cult in the first and second central management offices can target people when they leave work.

'I'll probably be nervous at work, though.'

Is that really the case in your own home?

Even if the cult had good sense, they would never have imagined being ambushed in their most comfortable space.

My eyes turned to the numerous screens installed in the management office.

Wolf and members of the Monument Security Team are patrolling the camera-covered hallway.

As they chatted during the patrol, they seemed to have no idea what danger they were in.

'The next target is the security team.'

Those carefree furry creatures are my new prey.

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