Fortune Cookie (3)
Licorice and I were sitting on a makeshift bench next to the shuttle. The harsh winds of the ice satellite were howling around the town, but we didn't particularly feel the cold.
The primary outer wall surrounding the town dispersed the wind, and since we had succeeded in replicating the heating unit, the warmth function of our suits had improved significantly.
Of course, it wasn't quite the same as the ones Celestia gave Nadia and me; they had communication functions and the exact same heating capabilities. Still, they were sufficient to maintain our body temperature.
Back when we dealt with the monster—still presumed to be a mimic—in the waste disposal area, we had used ordinary heating units without any communication functions.
"From now on, always take a security robot with you wherever you go."
Licorice spoke up as she looked at the bleak sky, which marked the start of Titan's fickle weather. Her voice was low and gentle, as if what she was saying was just a passing comment.
"If we get a jamming field generator."
"I said from now on. No matter where you go."
She insisted that she meant ever since before, and spoke as if she already knew about the conversation we'd had that morning, idly twisting the ends of her hair around her finger.
"So, in the end, you've decided to go?"
"Well... I have to. It's not like I have a choice. If the pureblood supremacists attack this place, we won't stand a chance."
I couldn't say it openly in front of Eric, but I already knew what my answer would be. It wasn't a matter for hesitation. And yet I'd hesitated, probably because everything seemed so daunting.
"... I see."
"Didn't you say you set up a secret bunker somewhere? Now that we have the shuttle, I thought it'd be good to check it out at least once."
"That's why I came to you. Do you think I'd come to see you at this hour for no reason? It's not a bunker, but there's something in the residential area that could help."
"... Really?"
"What do I have to gain by lying to you?"
When I looked at her in surprise, Licorice gave a small, smug laugh. Her nose tilted slightly upward—it was obvious that she was pleased.
Lately, I'd been noticing that her attitude toward me had changed compared to back when we met with perception-inhibiting masks on—
'... Hmm.'
How should I put it... it felt like she'd gotten kinder. Honestly, until I'd seen her face and heard her name, I'd only called her 'the broker', and she usually just maintained an emotionless, businesslike attitude.
I had it better than most, honestly. Even when she treated clients like rocks, I was still acknowledged just a notch below her own security robots. It sounded a little odd, but it wasn't wrong.
"As I said, it's not a bunker. There's no food, so if you get stuck there, you won't last long. But, you can make up for the lack of manpower. There are security robots stored offline in that warehouse."
Licorice tapped on her bracelet, calling up a holographic window, and sent me a file containing the location information. The residential area map unfolded in 3D, then zoomed in on a specific coordinate.
It was the sector with the central tower of the residential area—the area with the strictest security. That was Sector A. Judging by the location, it was definitely an unauthorized space.
"Sector A... I'm surprised you managed to set up a warehouse here without being caught. Wasn't this place supposed to be crawling with security robots?"
"It's darkest under the lamp, isn't it? The first time is hard—after that, it's easy once you've succeeded once."
"Amazing."
When I complimented her, even if only superficially, Licorice couldn't help but grin proudly for a second before quickly regaining her composure. I, who'd also been about to snicker, pretended nothing had happened.
Licorice shot me a suspicious look, but she couldn't find anything odd about me. When it came to controlling my expression, I was a step ahead of her.
I smoothly changed the subject.
"But is it really okay for you to tell me about this? I mean, I was just asking. Just so you know, I don't have any credits. Well, I do have about 400,000 left."
Her look asked if I'd even pay her with that, and she replied she wouldn't take such pocket change.
"I don't want credits. I already told you, and so did you—we're in the same boat. The only reason I'm telling you this is because it helps both of us."
"......"
"Your survival rate in the residential area goes up, and if you come back with even one security robot, my safety naturally improves. Anyway, there's no one else I'd tell. Tools are worthless unless they're used. Don't you think so?"
Licorice said she set up the place just in case, like a fortune cookie. Rather than let it rot in the residential area, it made sense to use it like this—and yet I could see a hint of regret at the corners of her eyes.
"I didn't expect this. Isn't this the first time you've entrusted something to me like this?"
"Not really. I mean, we haven't seen each other as often as Woof-woof over there, but I called you as my escort sometimes, didn't I?"
In reality, Licorice would summon me in the early morning, and all I ever did was stand beside her and glare at the clients. That was it.
'The pay was sweet.'
Even on the rare occasions when hostilities broke out, I didn't have to intervene. The security robots would always storm in and end things at once.
It was the very definition of easy money. I would have kept savoring it until it lost its sweetness, but that wasn't up to me. If the broker's side didn't contact me first, I wouldn't even know something was happening.
Frankly, I sometimes wondered if I was even necessary. But I knew my place, so I never got greedy.
If I were to judge objectively, my relationship with Licorice was ambiguous to call 'trust'.
From her point of view, it was like she picked up a stray dog.
The reason I could live like a proper person right now was seventy percent thanks to Licorice. It could even be ninety percent, but I left twenty percent aside for my pride.
'Am I actually trustworthy?'
I looked at Licorice with that question in my eyes. She, catching on to what I wanted to ask, briskly dismissed my doubts.
"It's not good manners to pry too much."
"I haven't actually asked anything yet."
"Don't argue."
"......."
While my mouth was shut, Licorice continued. Back to the main topic—the warehouse of security robots in the residential area.
"Keep this in mind. Don't even think about taking them all. I'm telling you the location to increase your chance of survival, nothing more."
"Understood."
"And since the residential area system is down, the doors might not work. There's an emergency energy storage system but don't rely too much on it."
The residential area received energy from Heaven. With Heaven's unstable energy supply, the area was likely pitch dark now.
"I can just force it open, right?"
"Exactly. That's one of the reasons I'm sending you. You're the only one who could open those doors without equipment."
I slowly clenched and unclenched my fist to check my condition. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I felt stronger than before. Suddenly, something came to mind and I looked up.
"This is unrelated, but... Do you know Carrot well? You don't have to answer if it's awkward."
"Why—ah, because of the blood, huh."
Licorice always got to the point. She already knew even though I hadn't explained. When I nodded, she let out a hum and crossed her arms, leaning back as if thinking.
"I should ask him directly, but if I go see him now, Nadia will..."
"Woof-woof will bark like Woof-woof. I get the situation. Still, even for you—or because it's you—I can't tell you everything about him. It won't do you any favors. I don't even know everything myself. You understand?"
"Yes."
"Good, Hyun-woo. I trust you'll use your judgment. Listen—because I'll only say this once."
Licorice looked around before making a meaningful expression. She tapped her bracelet and sent me an encrypted message. A hologram window opened for my eyes only. The encrypted message arranged itself.
【Carrot is involved in the Immortality Experiment.】
"......!"
I drew a sharp breath—his identity was beyond what I'd imagined. The Immortality Experiment. It was humanity's worst, driven by greed, once filling Mars with only death.
The only reason the military abandoned rescue and turned Mars into a sea of fire was to stop the Immortality Experiment. Its consequences still lingered and people still talked about it. Many restrictions stemmed from the incident.
'Come to think of it...'
Carrot's data had included the word 'Immortality Experiment'.
I'd thought it was just for reference, never guessing he was actually involved. Never in my wildest dreams.
"Is that possible? Wasn't that, what, seventy or eighty years ago?"
"Seventy-five years. It was a time of constant disasters. The Titan Riots happened around then, too. There were explosions of problems on other satellites as well."
"... How old is he, then? He didn't exactly look ancient..."
I found it strange to think he could be over a hundred. Of course, these days, being over a hundred wasn't so unusual, but it was still surprising if you pictured Carrot's appearance.
"It's because he injected nanorobots into his body. A half-success, I'd say. And just to be clear, he's more of a victim. He wasn't the mastermind."
"......."
I held my tongue. I had no right to judge. Licorice kept glancing at my face, talking about how she didn't bring him over for nothing and how she'd hired him after a rough search only to land in this situation.
But I couldn't pay her any attention. I was starting to sense why Carrot looked at me so worriedly.
Just as I was about to sink deeper into thought, Licorice clapped her hands.
"Enough. That's enough about this subject. If you learn any more, it'll just put you in danger."
"... You're the one who told me everything."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
Licorice shot me a look, then turned away with a "hmph."
Up until a few days ago, she felt like an older sister. Now, not anymore.
That feeling only lasted a moment. She glanced at some people working nearby on repairs, then shifted her gaze to me, as if there was still something she wanted to say.
"How much do you know about Myosotis?"
***
I was standing on a rooftop, absentmindedly gazing up at the sky. It was even colder now that it was night, but it was better than staying inside. My chest felt tight.
It was because of the conversation I'd had with Licorice earlier.
【Before the Fall, Myosotis was involved with the pureblood supremacists.】
Before the Fall. Then, is it different after the Fall? Or should I see it as the same?
Celestia had told me that they had no connection with the pureblood supremacists, and only pretended to be involved in order to search for their lost family.
If that's true, then there's no present connection. If not, the opposite is true.
'Ten years ago, she was still a child.'
I didn't think she could have known everything at that age, even if she was from a megacorp and not an ordinary person.
'... Guess I'm not that smart after all.'
I didn't know what Licorice's intention was, telling me that. I didn't think she was lying. I didn't doubt the evidence she'd shown me. There was nothing for her to gain. She understood how dangerous division could be. Judging from her expression, she wasn't trying to sow discord, but just warning me not to trust too easily. The problem was me.
If I'd known nothing, I wouldn't have had to think this hard. Knowledge really is poison, as they say. My head throbbed. I'd probably used up my quota of thought for the day.
Finally giving up, I let out a long sigh, watching the snow that had begun to fall.
That was when someone appeared through the rooftop door.
The person, dressed in a white suit, seemed surprised to see me stretched out on the rooftop, as if they hadn't expected anyone else. I was just as surprised; I scrambled to my feet.
And when I saw who it was—Carrot.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】