Chapter 212
I continued tracking Valek.
The investigation into the list of prosthetic engineers was nearing its end, and the most troublesome group remained on the list.
‘A group of engineers from the Accretia Empire, Deus Ex Machina.’
They were known as Machina.
Even though they were from the Empire, hearing the explanation made them feel incredibly unsettling.
‘Exiled from the Empire for their extreme worship of machines.’
Machina had even advocated for the development of a super-artificial intelligence to govern the Empire.
To the rulers of the Empire, who revered the Emperor as a god, they were a radical faction and a headache.
‘They fled to Border City to escape the Empire’s pressure.’
Considering the authority and shadow of the Imperial family, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Deus Ex Machina had been completely wiped out.
However, most of Machina’s key members were renowned engineers or nobility. Because of that, they had barely managed to escape with their lives and go into exile.
‘More than anything, their patriotism may be twisted, but it isn’t false. They wouldn’t act against the Empire’s interests.’
In fact, Machina had previously refused to transfer their technology despite pressure from the Bellato Federation.
From the perspectives of Border City and the Federation, Machina’s mere existence allowed for technological trickle-down, so they were left alone.
‘I didn’t even know an organization called Deus Ex Machina existed.’
In the Empire, they had been erased from records.
Well, they had left the Empire half a century ago and hadn’t caused any major incidents, so there was no reason for their name to resurface in Imperial society.
“Is this really the only place left?”
I stared at the building in the distance.
A tall, rectilinear high-rise in the Accretian architectural style came into view. Its outer walls were made of cold metal plates, and the only decoration was the dark red outlines tracing its edges.
In many ways, it was a building steeped in the characteristics of the Accretia Empire.
Beneath it, security androids—commonly seen in the Empire—stood like statues, encircling the structure. At a glance, they seemed inactive, but the lenses that served as their eyes occasionally flickered with a cold red glow.
‘Machina may be uncooperative with the Imperial family, but they are still patriots. They must always be keeping up with news from the Empire. There might be someone inside who recognizes my face.’
I took out the combat mask I had used during Anguis Regina’s security detail. Modeled after an Equessian battle helmet, the mask was eerie in appearance.
Click.
I aligned the mask with my jaw and pushed it into place. The locking mechanism at the nape of my neck clicked shut.
‘Hoyot, unfortunately, Machina is an organization beyond my influence. They are so conservative that they refuse to interact even with Tarfa or Begabunders, despite their advanced technological prowess and goodwill toward humanity. Naturally, they want nothing to do with Tajirun either.’
I recalled Jafa’s advice. The more I thought about it, the more Machina seemed like a stubborn, unyielding group. It felt like they had gathered only the most extreme radicals—even the Empire would shake its head at them.
I had to negotiate with Machina using only my own abilities, without Jafa’s backing. They wouldn’t just hand over the records of full-body prosthetic procedures without resistance.
Step, step.
I walked toward Machina’s building.
Whirr, whirr.
The security androids’ gazes turned toward me. I could feel their eyes on me as I reached the entrance.
It had been a while since I last heard the dry, mechanical voice of an android.
- Identity. Purpose.
Even the most basic sentence structure was omitted. Not even androids in the Empire were this rude.
“I can’t reveal my identity. My purpose… is prosthetic maintenance. It’s a high-end prosthetic, so I can’t entrust it to just anyone.”
Before I could even finish speaking, the androids gathered and formed a wall around me.
- Unverified identity. Entry denied.
The android’s optical lens flickered as it issued a warning.
“My prosthetic is a masterpiece, crafted with the expertise of a Tarfa artisan. It’s beyond your level of expertise.”
I rolled up my sleeve, exposing my prosthetic arm up to the shoulder. Lapis’s artistic sensibilities were embedded in the design—despite lacking synthetic skin, the arm’s curved structure imitated muscle fibers with uncanny realism.
A skilled engineer would recognize the faintly visible, pristine circuitry beneath the surface and immediately understand that this was no ordinary prosthetic.
‘Though the Empire’s technology has branched off over time, its foundation still lies in Tarfa’s craftsmanship.’
The Empire of old had not been as xenophobic as it was now. The first alien race they made contact with and established a technological alliance with had been the Tarfa.
Even if Machina’s engineers despised alien species, they wouldn’t be indifferent to Tarfa’s technology.
Anyone deeply immersed in a field is naturally curious—just as my aggression flares up when I see a strong opponent.
For a prosthetic engineer, the desire to examine and touch a remarkable prosthetic should be inevitable.
‘They must be curious. No, they have to be.’
The androids fell silent, as if waiting for orders from above. Their gazes were locked onto my prosthetic arm.
- Disarmament required.
An android reached toward me.
This was a problem.
Right now, I was nothing more than a piece of meat walking straight into a predator’s jaws.
The fact that Machina had survived in Border City for decades meant they possessed considerable violent capabilities of their own.
“Safety guarantee. Weapon necessary.”
I mimicked the android’s clipped speech.
- Entry denied.
“Then I’m not interested either. I want the best maintenance possible, but I’m not about to throw my life away for it.”
I turned away without hesitation.
‘Now, grab me.’
If this didn’t work, I’d have to find another way.
- Sigma’s transmission. ‘I will inspect your prosthetic.’
The voice changed midway through. It seemed someone from Machina had taken an interest in my prosthetic.
- Entry granted.
The androids scattered to the sides, clearing a path.
The building entrance was a solid metal door that revealed nothing of the interior, emphasizing its secrecy.
Clank. Whirrrr.
A rough, mechanical sound echoed from inside as the door’s locking mechanisms disengaged. Then, the metal door slowly slid open to the left.
Click.
I stepped inside. The sensation of my shoe soles pressing against the metallic tiles felt cold.
There was no heating or cooling system, making the interior as chilly as a refrigerator. The building was designed without ventilation, leaving the air heavy and stale.
‘So, they’re all full-body prosthetics, huh.’
For those with full-body prosthetics, air quality and temperature control were meaningless. No matter how harsh the environment, they could endure it without issue.
I frowned slightly beneath my mask and walked forward as a dotted line on the floor flickered, guiding me.
The corridors of the Machina building were devoid of even the most basic decorations—no paintings, no ornaments. The ceiling, walls, and floor were all the same uniform metal, stretching endlessly.
‘This place is terrible for mental health. Not that anyone here is sane to begin with.’
If this were an Imperial building, there would at least be artistic pieces glorifying the Imperial family. That would’ve been preferable.
Whirr.
The elevator doors opened. Stepping inside, I saw that the floors weren’t numbered but labeled with letters instead.
‘Alpha to Omega…’
The elevator moved automatically to the Sigma floor.
‘My senses are on edge.’
I trust my instincts and my trained intuition. If I weren’t an Akies Victima, I would never have set foot in a place like this.
My head felt hot, a faint headache creeping in. My heightened perception picked up every detail, even distinguishing the individual grinding sounds of the elevator’s gears.
If there was a trap in the elevator, I would detect it instantly.
My parallel tactical thinking, detached from my conscious perception, was already formulating a tight escape plan.
When I faced a dangerous situation, I simulated solutions in my mind. Every time I devised a way to overcome a threat, a surge of exhilaration welled up inside me.
It always felt strange. It was enjoyable, yet at the same time, it reminded me that I was fundamentally twisted.
I could never live an ordinary life. That was why losing my violence meant the end for me.
Remember Hemillas' words, Luka.
Without human impurities, I was nothing more than a battle machine—a monster that pursued only stimulation and slaughter.
Hemillas' legacy continued to fill my mind.
…A flood of sentimental memories weighed heavily on my thoughts. It was probably because this building followed the Empire's architectural style.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened.
A dense, metallic stench mingled with the stagnant air. The poor air quality made me feel like gagging. This air was harmful to living beings.
I moistened my lips inside the mask and parted them slightly. Inhaling slowly, I regulated my breathing.
The entire floor was a single open space. Research equipment and facilities lined the walls, packed tightly together.
‘That man must be Sigma.’
At the center of it all sat a middle-aged man. Though he appeared human, there was something inorganic about his presence. It was a common sight in the Empire. Most full-body prosthetic nobles who had lived for over a century exuded that kind of atmosphere.
Clatter.
The man stood up and walked toward me. The deep red research coat he wore had the name "Sigma" inscribed on it.
“My apologies. I don’t usually handle partial prosthetics, so the ventilation here is lacking. If you need a respirator, I can prepare one for you,” Sigma said.
“No, I’m fine.”
Polite speech naturally came out of my mouth. It seemed my instincts as an Imperial soldier were still ingrained in me.
Sigma had an Imperial aura about him, and he was probably four or five times my age. He was the embodiment of an experienced Imperial noble.
“This must be your first time at Deus Ex Machina. I am Sigma. Here, we abandon our original names and refer to each other by codes and symbols.”
Sigma treated me with gentlemanly courtesy, but his tone was flat and devoid of emotion.
‘My senses are confused.’
It was hard to tell whether Sigma was a full-body prosthetic human or an android. If he were human, even with full-body prosthetics, there should have been some unconscious signals, but there were none.
“It wouldn’t be proper to keep a guest standing. Have a seat.”
Sigma gestured toward a metal chair.
As I leaned back, the rigid metal pressed uncomfortably against my spine.
‘For now, I’ve made contact.’
It was time to ask who had recently undergone full-body prosthetic procedures here. Of course, they wouldn’t answer so easily.
“This prosthetic was crafted by a Tarfa artisan.”
I extended my exposed arm, rolling up my sleeve further to buy time and survey the situation.
Sigma’s gaze locked onto my arm. His cybernetic pupils expanded and contracted repeatedly, like a camera lens adjusting its focus.
‘Does he even have a human brain in there?’
He was far too rigid to be human. Even his involuntary movements were mechanical.
“Ah, right. This is why you were sent up here.”
Sigma muttered to himself. A strong sense of unease washed over me. My hand almost reached for my weapon.
Hissss.
At that moment, a sealed door slid open.
A man in a half-unbuttoned shirt, revealing most of his chest, strolled in with a sly grin. Despite being a full-body prosthetic, he wore glasses—an eccentric choice.
‘Jin Gaw? Why is he here?’
Jin Gaw, the Director of the Empire’s 4th Research Institute, was standing right in front of me.
Stay calm. Do not let your heart race.
I forced myself into a state of extreme composure.
This place was likely filled with countless sensors detecting my biometrics.
“Sigma, my friend. Border City always has something entertaining every time I visit.”
Jin Gaw spoke as he walked over to a sink and began washing his grease-stained hands.
“Your curiosity never fades, no matter how old you get.”
Sigma responded respectfully to Jin Gaw.
Up until now, I hadn’t considered Jin Gaw’s presence in my calculations.
I quickly restructured my thoughts and reevaluated my assumptions.
‘It’s not strange for Jin Gaw to be here.’
Jin Gaw was authorized by the Imperial family to engage in foreign exchanges.
Deus Ex Machina may have severed ties with the Imperial family, but they were still a pro-Empire faction. It wouldn’t be surprising if they had connections with Jin Gaw, who was a highly respected scientist.
‘Even though Jin Gaw is the head of an Imperial research institute, that doesn’t mean he blindly serves the Imperial family. Machina must be well aware of that.’
Jin Gaw was a man of pure scientific rationality. His ideals likely aligned with Machina’s.
But that wasn’t the issue here.
Only one thing mattered now.
‘Did Jin Gaw recognize me?’
Judging from Sigma’s behavior, the person who had approved my entry was Jin Gaw.
Step. Step.
Jin Gaw wiped his wet hands on his clothes as he approached me.
“…So, we meet again.”
He grinned as he spoke.