Brrrr—
Hug!
The head of Parang popped up above the surface.
This is definitely the right place.
She looked around.
Mountains, mountains, mountains, mountains.
Well, it’s the Korean Peninsula. Looks like she traveled quite the distance down the river.
Surrounded by thick mountains and a stream flowing in between them. With the dense mist hanging over everything, the atmosphere is quite breathtaking.
By the way, why on earth did they summon me to a place like this?
It’s suspicious, to say the least. Far from Parang’s home.
Did they really think Parang would come?
…Well, if it weren’t for everything I’ve experienced so far, she would have come here completely clueless.
“Oh, it’s a secret scout or something,” she might have thought.
So obvious that it actually makes it less suspicious.
The “World Government” name carries weight as well.
No matter how creepy or uncomfortable it is, it’s still the government.
“Surely the government wouldn’t call me out here to assassinate me?” Perfectly normal thoughts that cleverly exploit weaknesses.
But if the other party is fully aware of these weaknesses, that clever maneuver might just be useless.
Knowing that the government is out to kill her, Parang naturally steps ahead in this grand game.
What would have happened if Silo hadn’t contacted her first?
Anyway.
Parang made her way to the shore and looked around.
Nothing suspicious in sight.
From now on, Parang is planning to act.
Really, a clueless B-grade Hunter.
After scoring big, she gets excited about the chance to connect with the World Government, making her an ordinary civilian Hunter Yu Parang.
She repeated to herself.
“I’m a total mess… I’m a total mess…”
“Guys, she’s really a mess. Trip her and she’ll fall flat on her face, steal her food and she’ll get all mopey.”
Ugh, why is that suddenly coming to mind?
The now completely clumsy Parang shook her head and changed into her suit.
Hmm, nothing much here. The meeting place is…
“Nice to meet you.”
“Uuuwahhh!!!!”
A voice suddenly came from behind!
Parang was startled and nearly flipped over.
Who the heck is this person?
With great effort, she managed to keep her composure and glared at the person before her.
They looked like an officer in uniform with the World Government insignia. Their entire face was white, completely covered with a mask that had no eye holes, making it impossible to recognize them. With dark hair, and they seemed to have a feminine physique…
But what stood out the most were the medals, heaps of them. On the shoulders, chest, and arms. You could practically hear them shouting, “I’m a big deal!”
First off, government goon. Bad person. Dangerous person.
Parang maxed out her alertness while continuing her clumsy act.
“W-who are you?!”
“Are you Hunter Yu Parang?”
A monotonous voice, like one frequently heard at a bank counter. Slightly modified, a mechanical tone mixing in with a gender-neutral voice.
You could tell they were high up and shrouded in mystery.
“Are you Hunter Yu Parang?”
Just like before, the same tone. She nearly forgot her response as her thoughts tangled up.
She had to act shocked, play it off. If they figure out what information she has, they’ll try to kill her immediately. Then she would be left with nothing.
Also, she was the one who asked first, so why did they bluntly ask that? A slight irritation sparked in her.
So she gave a deliberately mediocre response.
“Oh, uh, yes. I am.”
“…Accepted.”
Since the mask covered their eyes, she couldn’t tell for sure, but Parang felt it distinctly.
This woman just acknowledged the river behind Parang.
“Come with me.”
So they won’t attack here, huh?
That gives Parang a bit of leeway.
“Uh, may I ask who you are? You’re from the government, right?”
“Yes.”
“Aha… Would it be possible for you to briefly explain the reason for calling me today? I haven’t heard a word about it. Is it something bad or anything like that?”
“No. Hunter Yu Parang. We just want to cooperate with you. This is just off the record, but I enjoy your broadcasts as well.”
Ah, cooperate. Of course.
You send a strike team after someone you want to cooperate with, right?
Of course, you’d enjoy broadcasts too. You’d want to dig up Parang’s weaknesses with fiery eyes.
Parang sneered internally.
Her tiny mini self-images of Yu Parang were fully prepared to take down the government.
In the barren field below, numerous mini Parangs rallied, each holding torches, farming tools, and cooking utensils, brimming with resolve.
Still, one hopeful fact became clear from that last answer.
The government still doesn’t know that their malicious intentions have been detected by Parang.
Parang gained +1 confidence.
Still, she felt similarly about the government. The title of the woman in front of her demoted to “Government Wen” in her mind.
But she still had to play it right. Respond genuinely.
“Wow, really! What an honor!”
“I’m the one who’s more honored to meet you. It’s difficult to converse here, so could you follow me?”
How urgent is it that they asked her to follow twice? Well, she understands.
For them, lacking sufficient information about Parang, luring her to a definitive home ground is much more favorable.
Here, she could consider the different scenarios that could unfold for her.
Majorly divided into three.
And I stupidly looked at that number again.
First, if the World Government tries to assassinate her.
Second, if the World Government attempts to capture, kidnap, or neutralize her.
Third. If the World Government attempts to win her over.
The likelihood decreases the further down the list, while her potential gains increase.
Parang, who had already drafted plans for each scenario, quietly plodded along.
A bit tense, she followed the government wen ahead.
And so she trod along the mountain path, plodding along.
After swimming six hours a day, Parang could easily outclass an average person in stamina.
While keeping an eye out for any potential snipers, she had to act discreetly, relying on peripheral vision, hearing, and intuition to stay alert.
As she ascended the steep mountain path, showing no signs of maintenance.
After climbing for some time, finally, something that looked man-made appeared before Parang.
Surrounded by barbed wire, a thick-looking outer wall, and somehow camouflaged in the mountains, it was painted gray.
The epitome of a “secret base in the mountains.”
If she managed to snag a passing baddie, she could pinpoint the location perfectly.
Since there had been no gunshots along the way, the likelihood of “assassination” slightly diminished among the three possibilities she had considered.
“Please wait a moment.”
The government wen walked up to the barbed wire and touched something.
Peeking over her shoulder, Parang saw her press the buttons on a thick switchboard that looked like a power panel.
In due time, a cold male voice came from the internal speaker.
“Blood, tears.”
The government wen responded.
“Poison, water.”
BEEP—clang.
An alarm sounded once, and the door opened. Seems like it was a passphrase.
Parang cautiously stepped inside. The teleportation device in her suit’s pocket was ready at any time. Of course, the one hidden in her hair was as well.
“No technology exists yet to block or distort warps.”
That was the confirmation she received from Silo.
If it’s impossible even with Silo’s technology, then surely no one on Earth could do it.
Parang’s escape will not be obstructed.
Silo had mentioned they would take control of the station Parang planned to warp to, so there’s no worry about encountering trouble right after arrival.
She had brought two teleportation devices, one within reach and another deep in her pocket.
Minimizing the chances of any issues with her safety.
She approached the inside of the barbed wire door, feeling tense.
Earlier, the underbrush and trees had hidden everything well, but the inside was a little different than Parang had imagined.
Upon entering, it looked like something out of a movie set in a military base from a past life.
Muscular men and women lined up doing push-ups in one corner, and on the opposite side shiny military weapons that were well-maintained.
As someone who doesn’t know much about military equipment, Parang observed that the wheeled ones must be tanks, and the pointy ones must be missiles or something like that.
There were barracks casting shadows here and there, and likewise, several muscled men and women cooling off with a hand fan.
Since they showed no interest in Parang, they must have been informed beforehand.
Parang made sure to observe their eyes and expressions closely.
‘They don’t seem to be under any kind of spell or anything.’
They were obviously robust soldiers.
Pretending to be appropriately impressed, she continued to follow the government wen.
And then, they arrived at the bunker.
The government wen pulled out a keycard and placed it against the keypad next to the door.
Then she leaned in closely, staring intensely at the keypad.
It looked like some sort of iris recognition or something similar.
“Turmeric powder.”
“Let there be light.”
Another passphrase.
Then the heavy door creaked open, and Parang was allowed to enter the dark, foreboding secret base of the World Government hidden within the forest.
Inside was a dreary gray corridor where not a single person was visible.
Paths branched off here and there, creating a crosstown without any signs to guide the way.
Yet, the government wen moved without a hint of hesitation, finding her way.
Parang did her best to memorize the route as she followed.
So they trudged on for quite some time.
Finally, the government wen and Parang arrived at a thick steel door.
Visibly sturdy.
“Let’s go in.”
Upon opening the door, the layout bent at a right angle, making the inside invisible.
Following the government wen inside.
The corridor that Parang thought was L-shaped turned out to be U-shaped, designed in such a way that one couldn’t see inside from the outside.
Then at last. Parang passed through the corridor and got a look at the room.
Inside, everything was gray, with various machines welcoming her.
A chair resembling an operating table with multiple sharp arms, a bed with chains, and a furnace heating up on one side.
There was also a bathtub and a toilet.
Plus, a surveillance camera in each corner, totaling four.
The walls were filled with bizarre-looking metallic objects.
‘Oh.’
Only then did Parang comprehend the World Government’s intentions.
Why they had lured her to this remote place and why they hadn’t executed her immediately.
What they wanted from her was crystal clear from this space.
‘This is my first time in a torture chamber.’
Thank goodness she packed for departure.
Clang.
The sound of the steel door locking behind Parang echoed through the corridor she had just come through.
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