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Chapter 59

“The head of the Eden family is visiting earlier than originally planned. There must be no mistakes.”

“Of course, Administrator!”

Laila Chemblin, the de facto ruler of the city, nodded silently in response to the crisis management team leader’s answer. While the head of the Eden family was known to the public as the Black Lion, displaying his bravery, within the upper echelons of MegaCorp, he was treated slightly differently. Laila defined Denver Eden, the noble of Mars, in this way.

[TL/N- Chamberlain changed to Chemblin]

‘Eccentric.’

Generally, humans from The Noble Capital and The Prime Capital were not kind to those below them. They either treated them as slaves or as possessions, like Akira Yujin or in a business-like way like Laila.

Among the elites who enjoyed popularity among the public, the head of the Eden family was the only one who could be considered different.

‘Thanks to him, we’re the ones suffering.’

Laila maintained a poker face outwardly, but inside, irritation and anger were building up.

Originally, Denver was scheduled to come two days from now, the day before the council meeting. However, Laila had received intelligence that Denver was coming to the city earlier than planned.

‘Enjoying a surprise show, isn’t he?’

It was clear that he had orchestrated such a move to showcase his uniqueness to the public.

But she couldn’t just leave it for him to come anytime. If she treated a popular guest like him poorly, the citizens would start pointing fingers at Laila, and if that happened, her father, Samdam Chemblin, would be greatly disappointed in her way of handling of the situation.

‘…cunning bastard.’

While Laila suppressed her frustration and anger, on the other side, police officers from the security team gathered for a meeting.

“Security team at the port district, is everything cleared?”

“Damn, it was a mess with the smugglers, and then this. We really went through a lot.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Oh, and William, who played a significant role in tracking the smugglers this time, well done. If it weren’t for you, we could have embarrassed ourselves in front of an important guest. Haha.”

“…Thank you.”

“Well, as the head of the port district’s detective team, you’re still here for now, but soon you’ll hear good news. Look forward to it.”

While William received congratulations from everyone, his inner discomfort was unmatched.

They didn’t know anything. They had no idea about the grave danger the city was currently facing.

‘…Eden.’

In the past, William was a soldier. He had served not in a regular crisis management team but in Denver Eden’s direct secret unit, where they experimented with new Hulk mutants.

‘It was where they demonstrated the improved Hulk mutants.’

The idea of improving the Hulk mutants was essentially a declaration of competition with the Yujin family. Therefore, Denver had devoted great effort to maintain the confidentiality of the project.

As a result, everyone in that unit was given a disguised background. William, on paper, was recorded as working in the crisis management team under the Eden family.

However, in Williams’ opinion, Denver wasn’t a bad person. Rather, he was surprisingly decent, close to humane, unlike the other ruling class of The MegaCorp. Officially, Denver denied the existence of the secret unit, but he secretly took care of the people in the unit, providing them with assistance or support.

If it weren’t for that incident, William and his colleagues would still be working under Denver.

‘If that damn bastard hadn’t experimented and fooled around with the specimens…’

One of his comrades from the secret unit betrayed Denver. He escaped along with the prototype of the new Hulk mutant and disappeared.

Fortunately for Denver and William, this information was not relayed to the Yujin family. However, due to the need of maintaining confidentiality, the unit was disbanded, and William and his colleagues each went on to live their new lives.

‘Only If his Highness still remembers me…’

If he could convey the situation he was in to Denver, perhaps he could resolve and fight against the existence threatening this city. While William was lost in thought, suddenly alarms echoed from speakers installed all over the Earth.

It was a signal that a ship was entering.

In response to the signal, the dark sky above the port district momentarily flickered. The hologram was affected as the double-layered shutters at the port district operated.

Subsequently, a crack over 200m in the sky appeared. A colossal warship emerged as the massive shutters opened, showcasing its grandeur.

The state-of-the-art warship was adorned with a golden trim on a white base, reaching an astonishing size of 700m in length and 100m in height, visible even from the Earth’s borders.

Thanks to the light pouring from the dome-shaped ceiling lights, the warship resembled a hero’s ship from ancient myths.

“Finally, a new model after five years.”

Muttered Laila as she saw the warship for the first time. The warship descended at a slow pace and landed on Earth.

Following that, the ship’s doors opened, and individuals clad in silver armor reminiscent of medieval European knights walked out. They were Eden’s Archangels, a well-known unit within MegaCorp.

In reality, what they wore were not actual armor but advanced reinforced suits colored silver. Despite being far from medieval or traditional, Denver intentionally styled them like that due to his emphasis on image.

‘So ceremonial.’

Laila clicked her tongue, but at least from a civilian perspective, Denver’s decision seemed to receive considerable approval. This was because all the soldiers and police officers on Earth were looking at the Archangels with longing eyes.

The knights who disembarked from the ship stood in a row, leaving only the middle one. The knight in the middle and also the one wearing the thickest and largest armor was holding a flag with a lion depicted on it, he raised it high and shouted.

“The great lord of Mars and the Black Lion of Eden, Lord Denver Eden, has arrived!”

In line with his introduction, Denver descended last. In contrast to other knights, he wore black-based armor with gold decorations. He was the man who, unlike the others, had a sense of authority. Denver removed the helmet upon descent, revealing a man with black skin and white teeth. He smiled, waving his hand.

As Laila had hurriedly prepared soldiers and police officers to match their protocol, she nodded to the crisis management team leader beside her.

When he promptly applauded, the soldiers and police officers at the port district cheered in unison.

Denver responded to the cheers, shaking hands lightly and enjoying the applause as he leisurely passed through the well-organized ranks of the knights.

Finally, those at the pinnacle within MegaCorp faced each other.

The person to break the short silence was Laila.

“I, Laila Chemblin, daughter of Samdam Chemblin, greet Prime Capital Denver Eden, the lord of Mars and the Black Lion of Eden.”

“It’s been a while. Who would have thought that the little girl from not long ago would become such an impressive lady.”

“Thank you. However, for now, please address me as the General Manager, Lord Denver.”

Denver chuckled while looking at her smiling face but scowling eyes. He scanned the surroundings again and muttered in admiration, as if saying, “This is it. I also paid attention to security, you know. Samdam will be pleased.”

[PR/N- Here Denver is appreciating the security arrangement organised by Laila]

“I appreciate the compliment.”

“Give the reporters some time. That’s why I brought the prototype battleship.”

“The reporters are already waiting outside Earth harbor.”

“Oh, really? Impressive!”

Denver nodded with an impressed expression. While Laila inwardly criticized his nonchalant demeanor, she didn’t show it.

‘Someday, for sure…!’

Although the seven Noble Capitals and Prime Capitals within MegaCorp were collectively known as the Seven Great Houses and Seven Aristocrats, the gap between the two classes was quite significant.

CEO candidacy was exclusively allowed for Noble Capitals, and Prime Capitals only had voting rights among the elders and the head of the family. However, the Prime Capitals still actively utilized their authority, as the King Makers also held considerable influence.

Denver, with his extravagant smile and flamboyant laughter, was an example of such behavior.

Despite his rude promotion of his new warship, it was merely an external show. His real intention was to test Laila, who was in charge of preparing for the board meeting.

Laila, her family, T&C, were they qualified for the next CEO, and did they have enough influence to bet on within the Eden family? That’s what he wanted to find out.

“Haha, you’re still flawless.”

Seeing no significant reaction from her, Denver laughed heartily. It was a signal that the first test was over.

Laila sighed inwardly and spoke again.

“Leave the rest to others and accompany me to the Administrative Zone. I have some questions about the new battleship.”

“It would be a shame to just go like this after coming all this way. I’d like to chat with the people here.”

“…I’ll wait.”

Since it was evident that he would do what he wanted anyway, Laila didn’t object. Denver, smiling, approached the soldiers and police officers.

As Denver was recognized as a star among MegaCorp’s public, there were many individuals among the soldiers and police officers requesting for his autograph. Despite this somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere, Denver responded to all of them, while he was greeting everyone, a familiar face caught his eyes.

“No, you? Will… No, NH01, isn’t it?”

“Long time no see, Your Highness.”

When Denver mentioned his past code name, pretending to recognize, William nodded and respectfully acknowledged. Denver, initially pleased to see him, patted his shoulder, but a strange expression crossed his face.

“Was your body always like this? I don’t remember seeing you this thin”

“…….”

Seeing Denver’s concerned attitude, it was clear that he still had a favorable opinion of William, his former subordinate.

‘If he’s addressing me like this, he should understand the significance of my actions.’

William made up his mind.

“Huh?”

With those words, William pulled out a laser pistol and aimed it at his own abdomen.

***

‘Hospital.’ As far as I remember, there are three large hospitals in the space city that can treat serious injuries. One is in the Administrative Zone, while the rest are in the Commercial Zone.

‘The hospital in the Administrative Zone is only accessible to Third Capitals and above, so William can’t go there.’

The signal sent by the parasite is coming from the Commercial Zone. Since the hospital and the station are close, it would be best to go through the subway line.

‘Route is set, but the problem is that it’s early evening now.’

Since it’s the commercial zone, there would still be many people shopping at this hour. Being close to the hospital and station is good news, but it also means there will be a lot of people around the station, especially nearing the end of working hours.

‘I have an active plan, but I don’t intend to engage in a full-frontal confrontation with the city. Moreover, killing people in the station would risk exposing the nest.’

‘But I still have some time.’

According to the signal sent by the parasite, William is currently in a serious condition due to self-harm. In that case, the medical staff would most likely try to prioritize saving him right now instead of trying to find the cause of why he tried to harm himself and since that is the case then the likelihood of extracting the parasite first will be low.

‘But avoiding detection by the parasite may be difficult.’

Being hospitalized with severe injuries, there is no room for luck for him.

‘Since the parasite keeps reporting, let’s wait until nightfall.’

While waiting, I should think about how to infiltrate the hospital. The hospital William went to is the one where he was admitted after the battle in the former apartment complex.

‘Back then, I didn’t approach the hospital directly. Instead, I sent an infected armed police officer to bring him out.’

‘There are many androids in the MegaCorp hospital.’

In MegaCorp, doctors specializing in patients with serious injuries, require genetic modifications, or those above Prime Capitals are handled by genetic modified specialists. Other than that, doctors deal with normal patients only when they board the ship.

Since most patients are treated with medical capsules, androids take care of them instead of advanced personnel like doctors.

‘It won’t be difficult to fight since they’re not combat models, but…’

Medical androids pose a headache in a different sense.

‘Everyone should carry a call bell.’

When a medical call bell rings, it is immediately relayed to the central AI of the hospital, and appropriate measures are taken according to the AI’s judgment. If I attack and the android rings the bell, the police and military will immediately be dispatched to capture me.

Because of these difficulties, even in the game, hospitals are one of the difficult places to infiltrate. Even for me, who is adept at infiltration, hospitals are not places I particularly want to attack.

‘Unless I have EMP features or concealment features, entering is… ah.’

As I think about concealment, a suitable method came to my mind.

The high-grade reinforced suit obtained from the sniper in the harbor area.

This suit is equipped with a concealment function.

‘If I activate the suit and consume it, wouldn’t the concealment effect occur?’

Although it is made of synthetic fibers as a base for easy modification, I mixed in a special metal to implement the concealment effect, making it applicable to my characteristics.

‘The duration of metal absorption is more than 20 minutes.’

Originally, it should be 20 minutes, but as my body has further strengthened due to the state of ‘perfect organism’, It should have a duration of about 20 to 30 minutes.

However, though 30 minutes is not a short period, the more I delay, the more disadvantageous it becomes as the surveillance network inside the hospital becomes tighter.

‘If I want to deal with William quickly, I need to know the structure of the hospital first.’

Fortunately, I have a way to know the structure in advance without directly going to the hospital.

I returned to the nest in the Commercial Zone with the kids.

[ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Don’t touch me)]

｢Going to the nest?｣

[ZZZ (Yes)]

｢Be quiet. Don’t disturb.｣

｢?｣

Number 26, who had seen what I was doing in the spaceship before, understood and took Adhai with him, moving away from me.

‘I don’t need to spread the distance too much.’

It’s just being considerate, so there’s no need to point it out.

I comfortably lay on the nest and rested my chin on the sticky surface. My auxiliary devices also touched the gooey surface of the nest.

As always, I felt the sensation of floating in the air, and suddenly, like being sucked into a hole, I shot downward.

It’s a familiar sensation from the time of the link, as I’ve done this many times.

‘Find the hospital.’

My auxiliary devices received my command to locate the hospital among the things on the ground. The first sensations that come to me are the sounds created by the city—footsteps of people walking, the sounds of people doing business in shops, and the chatter on the streets. The most noticeable sensations were the sounds produced by the city.

The sensations that followed closely behind, like pursuing me, were related to the sense of smell. The smell of food from a restaurant, the smell of sweaty clothes from office workers, and the smell of still unpurified polluted air, and more.

In a way, the commercial zone might be called the essence of this city.

In the flood of sensations, I picked up the distinctive smell of the hospital, commonly associated with preservatives or disinfectants.

‘An 8-story hospital close to the station.’

Among them, William’s location was in the surgery room on the 3rd floor.

The whole 3rd floor had a strong smell of disinfectant mixed with the pungent smell of blood and the smell of humans. It was clear that the surgery room and the intensive care unit were located together on the 3rd floor. After surgery, patients would enter the nearby intensive care unit for recovery.

‘Everything can be resolved on the 3rd floor.’

Besides, I thoroughly searched for places within the hospital where the server room and central AI computer might be located. The place where the most electrical signals were detected was the basement on the 2nd floor.

‘Alright. This should be enough.’

Having finally understood the overall structure of the hospital, I disconnected the link.

Now that the preparations to enter the hospital were complete, all that remains is to wait until nightfall.

Before the day is over, William will die in my hands.