Chapter 266
A situation where an answer didn’t easily present itself. Being tied down here at the landing pad wasn’t good, but moving somewhere else was even more dangerous.
The infamous “Chrome Monster” was roaming around right outside. From the perspective of an Escort who had to prioritize the VIP’s safety, it was an option that could never be chosen.
Time passed as we simply fretted anxiously.
Perhaps because the tension had eased after regrouping with our companions, Alexandra suddenly flushed and twisted her legs together.
Seeing this, Ms. Kali approached Alexandra and whispered something, then exchanged a glance with Team Leader Hank before the two of them moved off somewhere alone.
Team Leader Hank bluntly spat out as I watched their retreating backs, thinking things like, “Where are they going? Isn’t it dangerous for just the two of them to move separately? Why aren’t the rest of us following?'
“The Young Lady needs to do her business too.”
…Aha. Unlike the escorts, Alexandra must not have received the waste secretion control modification.
It naturally made sense why she only went with Ms. Kali. After all, she couldn’t exactly take me or Team Leader Hank along to the restroom.
“So, what should we do? Do you have any good ideas? Anything is fine, so speak up.”
Team Leader Hank said, looking at me and Mr. Eres Shore.
He didn’t seem to be asking with high expectations. It just looked like he was willing to hear our opinions once since it was a frustrating situation.
Even so, it was surprising enough that Team Leader Hank was kindly asking for our thoughts like this. It was even more so because he was speaking while looking in my direction, having consistently ignored me coldly until now.
Is this what it feels like to be acknowledged? I guess this is why people need to build up achievements.
My shoulders shrugged slightly with pride. I couldn’t think of anything in particular, but I was racking my brain, wondering if I should say something anyway.
Bzzzt -
My Cyberwatch vibrated.
What is it? Wasn’t communication completely cut off?
As I looked at it in confusion, a text message arrived.
[J: To the restroom.]
My eyes widened as soon as I saw it. It was the unidentified Helper!
Was the Helper also at the landing pad like us?
Based on how they were telling me about a meeting place like this, it seemed they either had more information to pass on, or perhaps some equipment to support us.
'I’d prefer it to be the latter if possible…'
I didn’t want to learn any more nerve-wracking information like “Terror attack scheduled in 1 hour”. I read the room for a moment before raising my hand.
Team Leader Hank looked at me as if surprised and asked.
“Oh, right. Aaron Nakamura. Any good ideas?”
…Damn it. What cruel timing. I averted my gaze and cleared my throat before speaking.
“Not that… um, may I also go to the restroom for a bit?”
“…”
Was it just my imagination that a vein seemed to bulge out on Team Leader Hank’s temple for a moment?
I felt like I could hear his inner thoughts saying, “This punk… I try to be nice to him and he starts this again.”
“…Of course. We don’t know what might happen, so get back as quickly as possible. And, next time, I highly recommend getting the waste secretion control modification before working.”
There was a bite to his words, but considering Team Leader Hank’s filthy temper, this was truly the kindest response he could muster.
I replied that I understood and hurriedly ran toward the restroom.
I don’t know why this unidentified Helper likes the restroom so much. Are they a constipation patient? Why is every meeting -
[J: Stop.]
At the Cyberwatch notification, I stopped my steps midway to the restroom. I stood in place, puzzled.
[J: Look around.]
Look around? But there’s nothing here?
At most, there was a glass structure where an aerial vehicle belonging to an unknown family was parked. Wondering if there might be someone inside the aerial vehicle, I peered in and discovered something strange.
A light was blinking in the vehicle’s trunk.
Is there something inside?
When I carefully pressed the flashing button, the trunk popped open upwards with a whirring sound as the lid folded back. In the space that was subsequently revealed, a small silver case was placed.
As I thought of the terrorists I had encountered today, the thought “Could it be a bomb?” crossed my mind, but it was too small for that.
When I opened it, it contained a pentagonal syringe with three transparent white needles inserted side by side.
The needles were extremely small, and when I picked it up and shook it slightly, I could feel an unknown liquid sloshing inside.
I didn’t know what this was, but the fact that the Helper gave it to me meant…
[J: Inject it near your chest.]
I figured as much.
I glared at the top of the pillar-shaped syringe with eyes full of suspicion.
Unlike a typical syringe, there was no plunger to press. It seemed to be a type where the drug would automatically be injected once it was inserted.
“…Can I trust the Helper?”
The answer was NO.
It was a Helper sent by the Iron-faced Family Head, Eugene Schneider.
And my relationship with Eugene Schneider was built on threat and coercion rather than trust.
The information the Helper provided was certainly useful, but injecting an unidentified drug into my body was another story.
'I’ll keep it for now, but… I hope I never have to use it.'
Unless I was pushed to the brink of death, I didn’t think I would ever use this syringe.
Feeling somewhat uneasy, I checked to make sure no one was watching before pocketing the syringe and returning to my spot, only to find that Alexandra had arrived before me.
The strange thing was that only Alexandra was there, and Ms. Kali was still nowhere to be seen.
It was when I was looking around, trying to read the room to see where Ms. Kali was.
THUD - !
Along with the heavy noise of something crashing down, the entire vast landing pad went pitch black. Because the connected exterior was in the dead of night, a clear, pitch-black darkness rapidly rushed in.
Everyone emitted light in their own ways to secure their vision, then pulled out their weapons and kept their guard up against their surroundings.
I am used to these bizarre phenomena by now.
It was the typical tactic of terrorists to cause confusion in the surroundings and launch a Surprise Attack.
What group was it this time? The lights went out, so was it the Luddite again? Or a Surprise Attack by the Ninja?
Either way, the landing pad was full of highly skilled escorts, and because they had already received their terrorism prevention vaccination, everyone was on high alert.
Even if the Chrome Monster Rodrick Smith himself were to appear in person, it would be difficult for him to withstand the concentration fire of this many people.
Furthermore, the Dolls guarding the runway wouldn’t just stand by and watch the terrorists' attack either…
Woooooong - .
As expected, something appeared.
However, it wasn’t exactly what I had expected.
A massive hologram, large enough to touch the ceiling of the landing pad which was over 20 meters high, was projected into the air.
There was no way the terrorists had diligently set up something like that. Seeing that the hologram was being projected from the Departure Area’s control facility, it seemed to be the doing of the Meredith Family.
“What are they trying to do?”
It wasn’t like they were trying to finish their incomplete new product presentation after locking up the visitors.
Just as I tilted my head in confusion, the blurry hologram image locked into sharp focus.
And once again, something that completely missed my expectations popped out.
It was a single person’s figure. However, its facial features were crushed into the form of a polygon mesh, making them difficult to recognize.
The surrounding background was the same. green code strings floated up, piercing the eyes in a distracting manner.
The Figure looked down and opened its mouth. A modulated voice buzzed, filling the area inside.
[Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, Raver, Ladam… blah blah blah, everyone.]
[I am Zodiac.]
[And this Phantom Gentleman Zodiac currently has… an 'asset' that the Meredith Family values very dearly.]
The appearance of Phantom Thief Zodiac, and on top of that, the stolen asset of the Meredith Family he mentioned!
The shocking statement threw everything into an uproar.
We had been guessing that Phantom Thief Zodiac might have stolen Meredith’s new technique, but to think he would declare it so boldly like this!
Do you need this level of guts to become a master thief who robs nobles and Megacorp executives blind?
“Anyway, what is his intention?”
In a situation where it wasn’t even certain who the culprit was, kindly saying “I stole it” directly was not a wise decision no matter who looked at it.
It only seemed like he had some sort of purpose.
'Or it could be the work of an impersonator using Phantom Thief Zodiac’s fame to draw all the attention to himself…'
[Therefore, I propose a trade to the Master of the Mirror Castle, the Meredith Family.]
[I will return this 'asset'. It seems this is not an item that this Phantom Thief Zodiac can handle, after all. Hahaha…]
[Furthermore, I promise not to hand over information about it to any person, group, or organization. If you don’t believe me, we can even make a contract. You should know that this Zodiac is a person who always keeps his word once spoken.]
[However, there are two conditions.]
[First, let this Phantom Thief Zodiac out of the Mirror Castle safely without applying any harm or pressure to me.]
[Second, this asset… if its source exists, I would like to take a look at it. Just a look, mind you, just a look. I have absolutely no intention of touching it, so you can rest assured.]