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HELIO SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 385
The first task upon returning to the Gallagon nest was moving the Mountain Crawler.
Transporting the massive creature nearly 100 meters long onto the Giga Cracker wasn’t particularly difficult.
Although classified as a superweapon, the Giga Cracker was originally a mining vessel. It had a large gate designed for loading minerals. By reshaping the eroded ship to fit within that gate and docking it, I successfully transferred the Mountain Crawler aboard.
I left its care to the Coldbloods and the Mini Screamers. In truth, there wasn’t much management required just periodically transferring minerals to the Giga Cracker for it to feed on.
After that was taken care of, I asked for a few necessities for the others. I wouldn’t be stopping by Adhai’s nest I was heading straight to the Megacorp colony.
The first to bring me what I requested was PS-111.
“I have retrieved the MPS-05.”
It set the Mini Screamer down in front of my main body.
[ZZZZZ (Been a while.)]
“Deploy! Deploy!”
The tiny Mini Screamer, MPS-05, had a metallic spider-like body with eight legs and a woman's face. It raised one limb in greeting.
This miniature Screamer was specialized in disrupting and establishing communication links. It would be useful for infiltrating the Megacorp research facility.
‘I remember it came in handy back when I infiltrated Verzan-02.’
MPS-05 scurried up my body, swiftly connecting itself to my ship.
‘Now that I think about it, I should consider transferring one of my newly acquired traits to it.’
Consuming the Metallic Gremlin had granted me more than just the ‘Warped Organism’ trait. I had also acquired ‘Electromagnetic Interference’, a key component of the ‘Metal Absorption’ trait that had aided my survival for so long.
When combined with ‘Dexterity’, Electromagnetic Interference could be synthesized into the Metal Absorption trait, allowing control over machinery for a brief period. If I transferred it to the Mini Screamer, it would become a significant asset.
‘Or maybe I should just give it to PS-111 instead?’
Using the ‘Double Helix Monolith’, a reward from reaching Type-2 Space Monster status, I could grant it up to two traits. I had already given it one before, leaving room for just one more.
‘I gave it Silent Maneuvers last time.’
Among the creatures obtained from the slavers at Verzan-02 was a Snow Banshee, a silent predator that left almost no tracks even when walking on snow. Its trait, when extracted, became ‘Silent Maneuvers’.
Since I already possessed this trait, I had transferred it to PS-111 before consuming the Snow Banshee myself.
Silent Maneuvers maintained defensive capabilities while significantly reducing weight perfect for infiltration missions. PS-111 had been quite pleased with the upgrade.
If I also gave it Metal Absorption, it would become an expert in stealth and cyber warfare.
‘Not like I need Electromagnetic Interference anymore.’
Ever since I acquired ‘Dark Veil’, which could neutralize detection systems, Electromagnetic Interference had lost much of its importance. Metal Absorption was still useful, but with PS-111 around, I didn’t necessarily need it for myself.
‘I'll think about it more later.’
Not long after PS-111 delivered the Mini Screamer, the others returned to my ship.
｢Big One｣ ｢Food｣ ｢Brought it｣
｢It's baby food for little ones!｣
｢It's weird how something that looks like a mushroom tastes like this.｣
“Yeah.”
The four who had gone to Adhai’s nest dumped their haul in front of my main body a towering pile of sliced, oyster-mushroom-like plants.
These plants grew around the Gallagon nest. I had eaten them once before.
‘They tasted like canned apricots with almond milk.’
The combination sounded strange, but it was surprisingly palatable.
｢Big One｣ ｢Why｣ ｢Little kin｣ ｢Food｣ ｢Eat?｣
Adhai tilted her head, confused. She had a point these plants were primarily food for young Blue Gallagons. They were highly nutritious and packed with moisture, making them a staple in their diet.
Just then, Number 26 lifted a tentacle with an air of knowing confidence.
“I know! You're trying to fertilize, right? Fertilize!”
“It’s storage, not fertilization. Please be mindful of your pronunciation.”
[Z ZZZZZZZ (That’s right. I’m storing it.)]
The encounter with the metallic gremlin group turned out to be a fortunate event. However, there is no guarantee that things will go as smoothly in the future. Due to the side effects of ‘hunger’, my actions and thoughts must remain unaffected.
So, I asked them to gather food for me whenever I get hungry.
‘Well, it's not like I'm the only one eating.’
I looked at the Mother of the Sky, who had gone out with the children to gather food. In her griffin form, she took a bite of a plant fragment.
｢If we cook this, it should be fine to eat. There’s no poison.｣
“There’s actually a soup made from mushrooms that look very similar to this.”
｢Really?｣
“I’ve made it a few times with Sister Penelope.”
“I find your suggestion interesting. I would like to confirm it myself.”
“Really? If we get the chance, I’ll make it for you.”
The griffin and the screamer sisters, whose human minds remained relatively intact, were discussing how to make the food more enjoyable.
“......”
Behind them, I saw Sechan frantically eating his food. Having only survived on a few calorie bars before we arrived, he had lost a lot of weight.
Even though he was infected with parasites, it didn’t mean he had surpassed human limits. If he didn’t eat, he would starve to death.
‘He knows the place I’m going to, LV-06, very well.’
I need to keep him alive as much as possible until we reach our destination.
｢Then, I’ll bring more baby food to store.｣
｢Same species｣｢Support｣｢Food｣｢Movement｣｢Please.｣
[ZZ (Okay)]
｢I’ll go too.｣
“I will too.”
“Safe travels.”
After the children made a few more round trips, we had gathered enough food for about a week. Since the journey to LV-06 would take about five days, this should be enough.
‘Well then, let’s go.’
After confirming that the children had settled in their desired spots inside the ship, I prepared for the hyperspeed voyage. As the ship around me was enveloped in a blue light, the metallic gremlin group nearby began to move in the same direction.
‘Originally, I wasn’t going to take them, but…’
To intelligent beings in space, metallic gremlins are like reapers. If we enter the star system with them, everyone will be focused solely on the silver clouds. Meanwhile, I can safely land on the colony while disguised as a ship.
Soon, a strong pressure hit the outer walls of the ship, which was covered in biological tissue.
An area that transcends light and space guided me. Together with our new friends, we flew toward the star system, far from here.
***
MegaCorp Officially Designated Colony LV-06
Every MegaCorp colony operates with a specific goal in mind.
Some colonies focus on human resources as their main product, while others focus on resource extraction from planets. LV-06, located in the N-51 star system, is no different.
The primary product of this colony is entertainment.
The owner of LV-06, the Prime Capital Zhao family, uses the planet as a filming location for entertainment. Most of the buildings on the planet and the humans who reside there are essentially part of a set created for these productions.
As a result, the fate of the colonists is determined by what kind of entertainment the owner wants to create. For instance, they might drop bombs on their heads for a war film or force families to kill each other for a realistic drama.
It’s a place where all sorts of unethical acts happen, all for the sake of providing enjoyment to consumers. This is LV-06.
Not long ago, however, this place, which was almost a living hell, has grown relatively quiet.
About a week ago, when the head administrator and director of the Entertainment Resource Improvement Research Institute, Li Zhao, returned to Mars, the entire planet became unsettled.
But that wasn’t all. Only a short time after the civil war ended, a sudden announcement from the MegaCorp CEO created a subtle tension among the colony's administrators.
｢Next, we have news. Within NobleCapital, there are positive responses regarding CEO Akira Yujin's proposed Temporary Federation Initiative. If this goes through, it will improve relations with the Star Union and the Cult Empire....｣
“Yes. There are no major issues in the research institute. Yes. Yes. We will continue to monitor it.”
The executive office, furnished with luxurious furniture, was a place of quiet activity.
A man, his gaze fixed on the holographic news broadcast coming from the device on his desk, was speaking into a communicator.
"Yes? You’re referring to the construction work? The one buried ten days ago underground... Ah, no! I didn’t mean to imply that! Absolutely not!"
Something seemed to have gone wrong, and the man quickly stood up, bowing his head toward the device.
"I’ll check it and report back immediately! Chief Manager Li Zhao. Goodbye."
The man, the secretary to the chief manager, let out a small sigh as he looked at the now-terminated communication device.
"Phew, I have to check the security of the lab, confirm the unnecessary underground construction issue... Tch, looks like I won’t be getting any sleep tonight."
He clicked his tongue and turned his attention back to the holographic news.
"The Star Union has agreed to share information about Outspacer special entities as a gift for the ceasefire, and MegaCorp has responded on the matter..."
"Heh. No matter how terrifying Outspacers are, agreeing to a ceasefire with those crazy tin cans... Huh?"
He suddenly fell silent when a red message appeared above the news.
"N-51 Sector, Metallic Gremlins sighted... What?!"
As soon as he understood the content of the message, the secretary’s face turned pale. He hastily began typing on the computer beside the holographic device.
"Metallic Gremlins! And in large numbers?!"
Caught completely off guard, the secretary was on the verge of losing his mind.
As long as he remained on the planet, he would never have to face an attack by Metallic Gremlins. They couldn’t fly in a planet's atmosphere.
But that didn’t mean he could relax. The communication satellites set up outside the planet, the fleet monitoring the sector, were all vulnerable. If something happened to them, it would be entirely his responsibility.
Moments later, the entire defense fleet stationed at the colony deployed to hunt down the group of Metallic Gremlins. A map of the sector appeared on the holographic device, showing the movements of the fleet.
The triangular-shaped marks, coming from the colony and space fortresses, circled around the X-shaped mark. They would collide with the X mark in just a few minutes.
‘Please…!’
He prayed for the damage to be minimal. At that moment, something strange occurred on the holographic display.
The X mark, indicating the group of Metallic Gremlins, suddenly vanished.
"Huh? What’s going on?"
He was flustered, wondering if the enemy had interfered with the detection system, when a new report came in.
"Group disengagement confirmed? What? Did they really flee?"
Unable to believe the report, he directly contacted the defense fleet via communicator. The response was the same.
"Hah, hahaha."
Only after he was certain the crisis had passed did the tension ease, and he slumped back into his chair.
‘I guess I should have a drink.’
Though there were tasks Li Zhao had assigned, in this mood, he didn’t think he could write up a proper report.
Just as he was about to leave his office, his personal communicator in his pocket began to ring. He checked it and furrowed his brow slightly.
"Huh, when did this guy come here?"
The person who had sent the message was a business partner he had known for quite a while.
‘I was about to have a drink anyway.’
It wouldn’t be too bad to be treated by the other party. After a brief moment of hesitation, he activated the communicator.
"Is it Sechan? Didn’t he say he was busy with the recent deal?"
He left his office, speaking with the person who was somewhere on the planet.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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