94 – Central Factory 001 (2)
The Mirsith Incheon Branch was originally a building that competed in height with Tuenho.
Not only spaces to accommodate many employees but also facilities for welfare, from break rooms to game rooms.
Spaces spanning several dozen floors were prepared for people, and
Even more space was allocated for the ‘labor’ of humans.
Moreover, facilities for basic part replacement to precision repair, as well as warehouses storing their war machines for emergencies, were prepared underground.
Among them, there were separate spaces for storing new weapons and models…
“——— Just get to the core!”
“I’m trying to tell you that it’s completely changed from the beginning to the end.
Can I say it straightforwardly? The blueprints you brought are useless.”
“This half-wit?!”
The desk seemed like it could topple over at any moment, but what caught everyone’s eyes in the room was nothing other than the newly projected three-dimensional hologram.
The exterior and internal structure modeled after outdated blueprints, and…
“Compare it with some structures I surveyed with cameras and drones until a few days ago.
There are no ventilation ducts where there should be, offices that should have been set up for employees have completely collapsed, and new devices have been installed.
Security systems have been completely overhauled, and on the outer walls, there’s something that looks like a giant mechanical arm. Do I still look like I’m just babbling nonsense?”
A silhouette, faint but sharply captured, in the darkness.
Clutching something, a colossal entity moved along the rail of the wall, enough to evoke a sense of stillness.
“——— So, are you saying that Ténhu’s informants are spreading falsehoods?”
“I remember how they put it. Expired? The deadline passed? It must be that.
Considering that the artificial intelligence you all talk about engulfed this city decades ago, it’s strange to think it would still be the same.”
“To believe that they completely transformed that massive structure in just 20 years is rather foolish.
What does this kid know -“
“Great Commander, don’t we have pictures? It might be better to trust what this person is saying.”
The confident man, glancing at the photos, soon retreated, as if he could be trusted only on this matter.
“Thanks for providing the information. Indeed, the information you presented seems reliable, but it’s such an unconventional facility.
Do you know what it’s used for?”
“Do you see those servers in the photos?
Those are means to physically move them.
Not only servers but also… power mechanisms would be involved.”
“Why would they do that?”
With a twist of the wrist, more pictures and floors appeared.
Numerous thick cables ran towards the floor, ceiling, and each floor.
“We need to investigate what’s below ground.
And I showed you the pictures of the servers in motion first, but… here.
Physically carrying the servers or moving the power mechanisms involves much more.”
“…Physical destruction of the server. And to do it without moving, immediately… although, it’s inefficient.”
“If the server is physically torn out, from that moment, there’s no way to access the information from outside.”
Upon hearing this, the man standing in front of the boy nodded.
Then, he immediately began to move his fingers, typing characters into the pad.
The sound of typing that had been filling the quiet room, however, began to slow down gradually.
“So, accessing from the top is impossible… is that what you’re saying?”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s a brute-force mechanical arm that immediately disposes of the server if an external access is detected,
but if you go inside…”
“That mechanical arm might catch a person.”
The interior quieted down again.
Except for the occasional murmuring of the masked woman who was busily moving her hands to control several drones –
And the hairy man next to her, who was busily moving his eyes while looking at the screen together.
” ——— So, are you saying there’s information underground?”
The voice that had always been rough calmed down, and the drifting eyes sharpened.
“There isn’t.”
“…What?
The simple word from the boy twisted the man’s face, which until just before that moment had been worth seeing.
The veins beginning to bulge in his neck were telling.
He was about to yell.
“Before you get too excited, take a look at the pictures.”
A massive exhaust pipe.
A colossal amount of smoke billowing out from there.
“It may not be hot, but it’s emitting an incredible amount of humidity, enough to strain the visibility and internal circuits.
I don’t know what’s going on down there, but it’s impractical for a drone to go in.”
“Putting a drone in a case and throwing it, do you know how it’s done? It’s widely used in Tenu.”
“Have you measured how high vertically it goes?
In the past, I wouldn’t know, but now the design has completely changed from the original, so… I’m worried if a person can even go in that direction.
Oh, before you say anything else, take a look around at the rest of the passages.”
Once again, the captain lowered his body at the faintly drawn red lines.
Eyes armed with drones, meticulously installed in every crevice along with sensors and backgrounds, turned toward at least one drone appearing for each.
“Still, this should be the only passage. The temperature might be a bit high and extremely humid, but with proper protective gear, I think we can go down. What do you think?”
The screen eventually returned to the massive mouth emitting white steam.
And this time, only the sound of exhaling breaths filled the room.
“——— Sergeant Lee, can we procure protective gear?”
“If we search the warehouse where the waste is left, we should be able to find it quickly.”
“…Didn’t you bring any separately?”
In a slightly mixed question with a sigh, the king captain abruptly stood up and approached.
His extended arm harshly grabbed the boy’s collar.
“The brat has been talking too much since earlier. Can’t you just do as you’re told?!”
“Ugh – listen to people until the end. It’s been about 20 years since anyone went into that building, there’s no way the quality is still intact – “
“That mouth, that stubbornness, always complaining without even checking! You peninsula people are all the same – “
“Master Wang, please calm down!”
The woman wearing a mask sighed as she touched her forehead, while the one with blue eyes hurriedly reached out her hand to separate them.
But when the sound of metal clashing against metal and the barrel pointed upwards, there was no movement.
“Listen well, you little thing. You may not know where you’ve been fooling around, but you certainly don’t have more experience than me.
Have you ever set foot in the battlefields where corporations fight? Do you know anything about the affairs of corporations?
If you think you have some ability and keep interfering in the affairs of adults – “
“Our father is one of the few survivors of corporate wars – I’ve heard stories about it many times. Since I was young.
So put that down and stop acting like an old man.”
“Old man? You insolent – “
“Enough! Master Wang, I will apologize on their behalf. It was said out of concern, so please forgive them generously.
They may have some skill, but aren’t they still just a child?”
The rough face of the man softened in response to the polite attitude.
However, his eyes remained as sharp as ever, full of determination…
“If you’re so confident, then bring the clothes needed to enter.”
In the end, he turned around and walked away.
As the weapons were collected and the continentals followed suit to vacate the room, the boy finally let out a cough.
“Ugh, seriously. No matter what I say, it doesn’t matter.”
“Judging by the way he speaks, it seems he’s full of energy.”
An Westerner, eyebrows twitching, approached with a shadow cast over his smile as he brushed off his wrinkled clothes.
In the subtly altered air, both men swallowed hard and sniffled at their noses.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“…Are you one of the rare survivors of the corporate war, and your father as well?”
The term ‘corporate war’ had only one meaning.
It referred to the armed conflict that occurred at least thirty years ago between Mirsis and Tenho, a conflict that still loomed large among mercenaries and corporate figures.
As rare as someone could be called a survivor, it was equally scarce to find someone who could prove it.
“Can you tell me who your father is?”
The voice trembled.
As if the face beyond the mask had twisted.
It was as if maintaining silence until now was a lie.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Sister.”
“Did your father really participate in the corporate war?”
Leaning slightly forward with a solemn attitude, the boy said –
“You lied in front of that old wrinkled guy.
It’s been thirty years since the corporate war; how many people do you think have survived for that long?”
He untied the knot that had held the tension in the air.
Stumbling knees and a swaying body gripped by black gauntlets.
“Careful now.”
“Well, it’s not like it’ll be so easy to find…”
“Someday, we’ll meet.”
A woman with a mask.
A man with a mechanical hand.
The boy silently stared at the two.
Gently caressing the neck that had been captured with my hand, I surveyed the surroundings.