The searchlight from the tactical helicopter brightly illuminated the pitch-black sky of Cloud Park.
From the landed Air MPV, countless armed troops poured out endlessly. They quickly subdued the scene and installed hologram control lines everywhere.
Seeing the ‘Monolith mark’ engraved on the helicopter, MPV, and troops, not many power plant employees were considering resistance.
In such an atmosphere, a man dressed in a suit walked toward the waste heat power plant.
“Yes. Yes. Understood. Chairman, yes. Then I’ll submit the report later. Yes.”
The man, Justin Borg, who had just ended the call, loosened his tie slightly.
Justin Borg gestured a signal, and the troops, quickly bowing their heads, entered the interior of the waste heat power plant at a rapid speed.
Noticing their backs, Justin Borg quietly mumbled in an unsure tone.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve been on-site. I wonder if I’ll be okay.”
Responding to his complaint was an armed subordinate who was well-equipped.
【What are you talking about, Team Leader?】
The subordinate skillfully spun his gun around. He offered the gun’s grip to Justin Borg, shaking his head as if in disbelief.
Justin Borg chuckled at that and grabbed the gun’s grip handed to him by his subordinate.
“…Hey. How long has it been since I quit being a team leader? How many ranks do I have to be demoted to be called a team leader again?”
It was quite an informal attitude.
A faint chuckle escaped from beneath the subordinate’s tactical goggles, a scar etched on his lips twisting with amusement.
【Kukuk. Even if you say that, you’ll always be my Team Leader. The kids still can’t believe it. They hear that the mad dog who used to be the team leader is now in the secretary position.】
“It was just a foolish past.”
【It’s a legend to me!】
“Shut up.”
Justin Borg deliberately ignored his subordinate’s words.
It was a tale from a reckless past.
It was also something his upper-class family was desperately hiding.
It wouldn’t be good if it became known that the eldest son of the family joined the Monolith Security Department and Response Team while hiding his identity just because he disliked being ‘Lower-Class.’
Justin Borg quickly shifted the topic.
“Forget the old stories. What’s the current situation?”
【Some power plant employees are resisting, but they’ll be subdued soon. The problem is the ‘Underground’ shared in the data…. It’s just a matter of time.】
Justin Borg nodded in agreement.
He couldn’t argue with that.
Since Monolith had mobilized, the future expected for the power plant was already set.
At that moment, a round light appeared in Justin Borg’s mechanical eye.
An unregistered number. But Justin Borg, sensing who was calling, calmly accepted the call.
“Who is this?”
[What the hell are you doing!]
A loud voice followed.
[That’s an area protected by the city! It’s a power plant, a power plant! You haven’t even officially declared a corporate war!]
The voice was quite familiar.
Justin Borg recalled the names of several council members and responded nonchalantly.
“But the companies permitted by the city─ No, let me put it plainly.”
He shot back in a sharp tone.
“Applying the ‘Corporate Special Law Article 3 Clause 1’ that only applies to ‘Monolith,’ the city-side can’t say anything about our procedures. I believe you’re aware of that as well.”
The subordinate nearby muttered under his breath, ‘As expected, it’s a mad dog…’ while eavesdropping on the conversation.
“It seems like you were someone who heard the voices when the bill passed through the city council.”
The other side exploded in anger at the remark.
[…That’s because I didn’t expect you would use it for something like this! And this isn’t just my opinion! The city of Neon will officially condemn Monolith’s actions!]
Justin Borg let the other’s words go in one ear and out the other.
In fact, now that the ‘Chairman’ had given orders, he didn’t need to listen.
However, Justin Borg indulged in hearing what the other person had to say, using it to relieve some stress he held towards the city council members.
Just then, several armed security staff emerged from inside the waste heat power plant, seemingly determined to fight.
One of them soared high into the air utilizing the cyberware installed on his leg. In an instant, he positioned himself behind Justin Borg.
A sharp blade protruded from his palm, grazing Justin Borg’s throat.
“…Everyone freeze! Is this scum your superior?! If anyone moves, you’ll see blood spray from his throat—.”
The guard mid-sentence lightly spun in the air.
The guard who fell in front of Justin Borg looked up at him with a blank expression, not understanding what had happened.
Justin Borg, gripping the guard’s wrist, shoved him forward and, with an expressionless face, fired the gun.
The guard’s knee was shattered.
“Graaah!!”
As the loud scream echoed around, a bewildered council member, still trying to grasp the situation, exclaimed.
[So, what was that scream just now?]
“That just means it’s time for this nonsense to end.”
[…What does that mean?]
Ending the call, Justin Borg moved forward.
【By the way, Team Leader.】
A subordinate watching the whole scene asked Justin Borg.
“Why?”
【Uh, some civilians who came with us just entered the power plant. Is that okay?】
There was a hint of worry in his voice.
【As I said earlier, I expect there will be a professional team in the Underground.】
Justin Borg slightly turned his head back.
“Probably, it’ll be fine.”
While recalling the women who had followed from that ‘building,’ Justin Borg said nonchalantly.
“Among them is a devil, Red Horn.”
【……!! Is that true? Damn it, I should have asked for an autograph!】
Then there was also a suspiciously strong-looking girl, suspected of being a delinquent.
Of course, a regular ‘sushi restaurant part-time worker’ was tagged along too, but there was nothing to worry about.
In any case,
It was time to handle the ‘task’ he was assigned.
‘…What on earth is this hassle?’
Justin Borg thought about the existence of the ‘Wizard’ and gently rubbed his aching stomach. It had become a chronic condition.
—
“Oops.”
As Catherine lowered the neck of the security guard she had grabbed, the unconscious guard fell to the ground.
“Is this it?”
Following Catherine’s hand motion, the thick safety gear crumbled away.
I turned my gaze to the back of Catherine.
The fallen security guards were strewn everywhere, like the crumbs from Hansel and Gretel.
Eve responded to Catherine’s statement.
“No. Currently, the number of neutralized Underground forces is estimated to be about 5%.”
“…That’s an incredible number.”
Catherine muttered in exasperation.
The power plant was massive. Consequently, the size of the laboratory was considerable too, which meant the number of security personnel stationed there was also significant.
Honestly, it seemed like if Eve snapped her fingers, they would all fall down. Yet, perhaps for Catherine’s stress relief, Eve didn’t rush to act first.
Catherine, leading the way, spoke up.
“Alright, let’s keep going.”
About fifty kids followed behind her.
In any case, they had given up on stealth.
They had to rescue roughly 150 children going forward, and with time passing, they were bound to get discovered.
I continued chatting with Natasha, glancing at Catherine and the kids.
“Anyway, the number is said to be about 200.”
[Hmm. That probably means some of the kids might have been sold by their parents.]
“…That’s likely.”
I didn’t deny it.
Natasha, projected on the hologram screen, sighed as if dismayed.
[…Then we should consider that part too. Anyway, we’ll figure out a vehicle and personnel to transport those kids.]
“Thanks. I’m a bit worried about leaving the kids in the hands of Monolith employees.”
[…It does seem a bit out of place.]
Considering the cleanup afterward, it was most suitable to ask Natasha.
[Then don’t get hurt.]
“Yep.”
I ended the hologram call.
I finally caught my breath.
Having finished all the preparations, it was now just a matter of rescuing all the kids from the Underground.
I stared at the fifty or so kids huddled together next to Catherine.
They seemed to be in a state where they would naturally feel fear from seeing Catherine fight, but perhaps due to Catherine’s warm atmosphere,
The kids ran towards her with smiles.
“Wow, amazing!”
“…Hey, hey! Don’t come near! You’ll get blood on you!”
Catherine frowned and backed away.
However, the kids’ overwhelming numbers didn’t stop there.
“Gyeomjok, is she a goddess?!”
“Me, me too! I want to hug her!”
“What’s a ghost? Gyeomjok is the best!”
By the way, the reason Catherine was called ‘Gyeomjok’ by the kids was partially my mistake.
When the kids asked for her name, I had replied with Gyeomjok.
“…….”
“…….”
Maybe because of that, I felt a strong glare from Catherine in the back.
I tried my best to ignore that glare and turned my gaze forward.
I could hear a buzzing sound.
It seemed several security guards were gathered, and the noisy sounds continued.
Had the Monolith employees already come down?
Just as I was about to move forward and check around the corner,
At that moment,
A mass of ‘people’ brushed past me.
“…?”
The flying individuals were all wearing full-face helmets. They were the security guards stationed here.
…Is there really someone this reckless among the Monolith staff?
As I subtly glanced at the direction they flew, I was greeted with guards with limbs twisted.
“It’s really crowded. How many times is this now?”
That voice belonged to someone I recognized.
A red-haired King of Rights appeared around the corner, wearing gigantic mechanical gloves, specialized Colossus Machin…
What’s his deal, showing up so soon after I contacted him?
The power plant above must be a maze-like structure.
If that were the case, there wouldn’t have been any reason for me, Catherine, and Eve to have wandered around for dozens of minutes.
With Andrea, Maya, and Julia also present beside Andrea.
“Ah!”
Maya’s eyes met mine just as she was looking around.
Their gaze turned toward us.
“You’re here! We received your message!”
“…Thanks, but…”
What’s with the blood on your face?
It doesn’t look like a wound…
I couldn’t bring myself to ask the reason.
Following Maya, Julia came running with the blue flames from her blade extinguished.
“…I also came.”
“Yeah, thanks, Julia.”
Julia was surrounded by the remains of security guards with severed limbs. Even if the guards’ limbs were prosthetic, it was still a gruesome sight.
Andrea walked toward us, her footsteps thumping in my perception.
“Is this the group of kids you were talking about?”
Andrea waved her massive hand.
At her shocking appearance, the once boisterous kids grew eerily silent.
““…….””
I could hear the sound of someone swallowing.
I understood the kids’ reaction.
Honestly, it was a bit frightening.
And as soon as Andrea took a step closer, the kids collectively took a step back. It was as if they had rehearsed the movement.
“?”
Noticing something odd, Andrea moved forward again, causing the kids to step back once more.
“…What’s up?”
Thinking back, Andrea fought in a way that was (very) rough.
It wasn’t for nothing that she had the nicknames ‘devil’ or ‘Red Horn.’
Though saying this, it was a bit of a comparison to how the kids liked Catherine.
…Hang in there, Andrea!
—
“But you arrived really quickly. Wasn’t the power plant setup like a maze? I thought it would take at least 30 minutes to navigate.”
“…Huh? You just had to go in a straight line.”
“……?”
“……?”
I slowly turned my head to look at Catherine and Eve, who had guided me.
Both quickly avoided my gaze.
