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HELIO SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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Chapter 386
Getting into LV-06 was surprisingly easy.
That was thanks to the metallic gremlins drawing all the attention. Without them, it would’ve taken a lot longer.
[ZZZ ZZ (What about them?)]
｢They’re gone!｣
Number 26 answered my question, its silver tentacles raised like antennae.
｢They said they’ll come back if I call! I did good, right?｣
[ZZZ (You did well.)]
It could communicate with the metallic gremlins even when they were outside the star system, using those very tentacles. That’s why I’d asked it for a favor right as I entered the planet’s atmosphere, it made the gremlins withdraw.
'They could’ve won even if they stayed to fight…'
But that would’ve cost us in numbers.
I’m planning to ask them for help again when the real battle with the rankers begins. It’d be wasteful to burn through them now.
Anyway, the gremlins pulled back safely. Until I call for them again, Number 26’s new friends will drift through other star systems.
I let them be and turned my focus to what was happening outside the ship.
'It’s been a while since I came to a Megacorp colony.'
The ship I’d infested had landed in a quiet park. Surrounding it were rows of buildings dense, urban structures, the kind you'd see in a real-world city.
And yet, there was barely a trace of life.
Too few humans for a city this big.
But I had a pretty good guess why.
'I guess they’re not filming yet.'
In 'Space Survival', Megacorp was actually a pretty popular faction.
Humans were the main species, and its society and culture resembled modern-day civilization. It was easy for new players to relate to it.
But ask any seasoned player what the most evil faction in the game is, and most would point to Megacorp without hesitation.
That reputation mostly came down to one thing: the ‘Employees’.
According to the lore, Employees aren’t considered full humans. They’re treated more like smart livestock or living machines. Since androids cost more, Employees were the cheaper alternative, essentially disposable tools.
And they were treated even worse than slaves.
Ironically, while the cult empires who also use slaves were categorized as good factions, Megacorp was reviled. This was why.
To escape the status of Employee, one had to repay their debt referred to formally as repayment through resolution.
Failure to do so meant the debt passed on to your children.
The residents of the colonies were typically those who failed this repayment... or their descendants. It varied depending on the colony, but for the most part, colonists lived worse than slaves or livestock.
'No wonder Megacorp is considered infamously cruel.'
Of course, there are players who actually like Megacorp for exactly that reason. The dystopian setting where human rights are practically nonexistent is a staple in many sci-fi stories.
'But that kind of admiration only makes sense in a game.'
LV-06, the place I’d come to, was a colony created solely for entertainment. Every aspect of the planet was dedicated to producing content for its corporate owners. The parks, the buildings, even the people they were all part of the set, tools for making shows.
'Looks like this zone is for period dramas or something.'
The vibe of the park and the style of the buildings felt strangely familiar. Probably modeled after pre-Megacorp Earth civilization.
Megacorp citizens loved their entertainment intense and visceral. If someone didn’t actually bleed or die on camera, they weren’t satisfied. That’s why the content Megacorp made was often beyond extreme.
'This place is probably no exception.'
Once filming starts, the air will reek of blood.
｢Big One｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Outside｣ ｢Wanna go｣
｢I wanna go outside too.｣
While I was observing the surroundings through my connection with the ship, lost in thought, Number 26 and Adhai both spoke to me.
'I guess they’re getting bored staying still.'
After we landed, Sechan, Mother of the Sky, and MPS-05 had gone out. They were looking to make contact with Sechan’s connections. There’s supposed to be a communication hub somewhere in that forest of buildings, so they should be back soon.
'Until then, maybe I should tell them a bit about this place.'
Maybe it would interest Number 26. Lately, it has been showing a curious fascination with human language and culture. I’d seen it several times, using a psychic-powered terminal to watch human media and study on its own.
'Though for it, watching was probably closer to absorbing through the skin.'
In contrast, Adhai showed just as little interest in the cultures of intelligent species as Number 26.
To be precise, it wasn't that she was completely indifferent her interest was simply limited to a very narrow field.
'She only cares about fields that help her hunt.'
Like human weaknesses and strengths, their weapons and defense systems. Very Gallagon-like of her.
In truth, Number 26 is the outlier here—despite being an Apex creature, it takes an interest in human culture.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (We still need to wait)]
“The communication just ended. Estimated time of return: 32 minutes.”
[ZZZZ Z ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (In the meantime, I’ll tell you about this city)]
｢I know what a city is! A nest where people live!｣
｢Dwarves｣ ｢Nests｣ ｢Information?｣
Number 26 immediately perked up with interest. Adhai, on the other hand, looked like she was just going to listen out of boredom.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (This is a place where movies are made)]
｢Movie?｣ ｢What’s that mean?｣
｢What’s a movie?｣
“A movie is a type of video that appears on the terminal the Main Controller uses for studying.”
｢Studying｣ ｢Meh｣ ｢No fun｣
As expected, Adhai's reaction wasn’t positive.
The moment she heard the word 'studying', her interest dropped, and she curled up and began grooming the scales on her wings.
｢Wow! Then can we get movies here?｣
“If the Main Controller wants to use them, we’ll have to modify some things—but yes, it’s possible.”
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (If I find something good, I’ll show you)]
Hearing this from me and PS-111, Number 26’s body shimmered its way of showing joy. Watching that, Isabel looked intrigued and spoke up.
“Number 26, you really do seem smart.”
｢Yup! I am! I’m smart!｣
Just like I had been, Isabel seemed impressed by Number 26’s intelligence.
“There’s nothing visibly unusual about it. Is it related to what it eats?”
She tilted her head after checking with 'Heaven’s All-Seeing Eye', but found nothing.
I had also once examined Number 26 with my 'Insight' trait, and like now, found nothing.
'It’s probably innate.'
Looking back, there have been a few similar cases before like the Black Gallagon that could see the future, or the Mountain Crawler that grew to an overwhelming size.
Number 26’s exceptional intelligence might be just another kind of mutation, like those.
'Adhai’s also a unique case.'
I’ve devoured countless Gallagons in the game, but never encountered one like her with features of both the White and Red Gallagons combined.
Sensing my gaze, Adhai looked up while still grooming her scales.
｢Big One｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Finished grooming my scales｣ ｢How do I look?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (You look beautiful as always)]
She swayed the tip of her tail gently, lying on her side. She seemed pleased with the compliment.
While everyone passed the time in their own way, 30 minutes flew by.
Sechan, Mother of the Sky, and MPS-05 returned to the ship after completing their communications.
“We’ve arranged a meeting. Tonight at 11, we’ll have drinks together.”
“Tonight?”
I had told Sechan to arrange the meeting for a convenient time. I didn’t expect it to be 'tonight'.
But it wasn’t him who answered my question, it was Mother of the Sky.
｢He suddenly got promoted to Chief Secretary of the General Administrator and says he’s swamped.｣
“Secretary? I thought he belonged to the Genetic Design Team?”
｢About ten days before we arrived, the entire upper management was replaced.｣
At her words, I glanced down at Sechan.
“Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“W-Well, when I deal with Client S, I don’t contact other clients. T-They insisted on avoiding possible leaks or complications.”
“So you’re saying that’s why you didn’t tell me?”
“Th-That’s… guh—?!”
The parasite inside Sechan’s head responded to my will, activating.
As agony wracked his brain, Sechan foamed at the mouth and convulsed.
I watched him squirm for a moment, then told the parasite to stop.
Losing control of his body, Sechan dropped to his knees like a broken puppet.
“P-Please! I won’t make the same mistake again…!”
“Enough.”
“……”
“What’s the new General Administrator’s name? Still someone from the Zhao family?”
“Y-Yes! It’s Li Zhao of Prime Capital!”
“Li Zhao?”
That name… I’d heard it somewhere before.
'It’s a common name, but…'
It felt important. The name triggered something in my memory.
Before I could recall it, PS-111 interjected.
“There is data indicating that the new General Administrator of LV-06, Li Zhao, previously worked at the Mercury weapons research facility. Can this be verified?”
“I-I can’t say for certain. But I heard he worked on joint projects with the Garmelda family back then.”
PS-111 fell silent after hearing this.
Its metallic face remained expressionless as always, but I could sense subtle emotion beneath the surface.
It was… unsettled.
As her twin showed signs of disturbance, Isabel stepped closer.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Amorph. I’ve mentioned the name Li Zhao to you before. Do you remember?”
“…Huh?”
The moment I heard her say that, a spark went off in my mind.
Back when I first met PS-111 on that ice planet, it had spoken of its creators.
Chloe Garmelda, head of the Garmelda family.
And…
“Li Zhao, senior researcher from the Zhao family.”
｢Wait. You’re saying the General Administrator here is the one who made PS-111?｣
Just as Mother of the Sky had said—the one involved in developing the prototype 'Mutant Screamer' model of PS-111 had now become the ruler of this planet.
“Yes. The ones who tampered with my genetics were Chloe Garmelda and Senior Researcher Li Zhao.”
“And on top of that, he’s also a high-ranking member of the Star Union.”
PS-111 nodded at my words.
“Is Li Zhao here now?”
“W-What? Oh, no. According to the Secretary Chief, he left the colony two days after taking his post.”
“Where to?”
“I-I’m not sure… b-but! If you order it, I’ll find out no matter what!”
I stopped paying attention to the trembling Sechan and began thinking.
'There’s a high chance Li Zhao is a Player.'
PS-111 was created using the DNA of Penelope, a top-tier Coldblooded Ranker.
The ones who worked on the Mutant Screamer were likely all Rankers themselves.
'I came here assuming there were no Players on LV-06.'
Of course, I had been cautious the entire way here but if the enemy’s a Player, that changes everything.
They might even deduce my invasion… or my relationship with the Metallic Gremlins.
'Well, at least he’s not here right now. That’s good.'
The enemy still doesn’t know I’ve arrived.
In this situation, there’s only one thing I can do.
“Where are we meeting the Secretary Chief?”
Back to the original mission I came here for.
——————
HELIO SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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