Chapter 213

There’s an intent behind Cadillac’s randomly dropping the Celbrosix wrap.
“I wouldn’t say there’s animosity toward labs.
There was no conflict in the game. Cadillac was the place where the professor slept, but it didn’t play a big role in the story. It’s just set up as a powerhouse on par with Harenhal.
‘I might be wary, but….’
If the Regent views Rap as a terrorist who has shaken Shran, he’ll be wary. He wields influence beyond the reach of a single corporation, and perhaps even a sense of justice.
It’s not all negative, though.
“Cadillac and Shran didn’t have the best of relationships.
There is no conflict that continues to this day. It was just that Shiran was like a great wall. An empire that Harenhal and Cadillac could never hope to surpass, held together by a great warlord.
Then, out of the blue, Celbrox Labs put a dent in the empire.
No, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I blew a hole in it.
The Emperor’s vacant throne has been filled by a young prince. Xilan will not fall, but the balance of power has shifted. It’s like blowing your nose without touching it, so to speak.
For the regent, this meeting is also an opportunity.
When you need an excuse to be proactive like Harenthal.
“Sounds like the right punching bag won the wrap.
I’m sorry, but I’m going to tell you that you’re looking for the wrong number.
“You didn’t know? You mean you didn’t even attempt to investigate the Chief’s well-being? I find that hard to believe. I know this isn’t a court of law, but you might want to be a little more careful what you say…….”
“Major General Kushan was taken into custody at the end of June last year, and I’m going to recite the events that have transpired since then. It’s just my assertion, but I’m sure there are others here who can corroborate it.”
Kim glanced at a few people and then opened his mouth.
“In early July, I was working in Kilikia as a representative of Dustborn Corporation when people from the lab came to me asking for help. They told me that Major General Kushan had been detained on Shiran.”
No embellishments, just the facts.
“It was baffling news. I didn’t know who was behind it, but I felt threatened, so I went to Bastitera with my lab.”
Harijo Metsokalu of the Kilikia Council shook his head in thought. “There’s no doubt about it,” Adrian backed him up.
In the middle of it all, my eyes drifted to Maximilian.
Two entities known to have an alliance. The head of Dustborn, who was attacked shortly after Rap went to visit Dustborn. Needless to say, there’s something artificial about it.
I was engrossed in Kim’s explanation.
“That’s it.”
“……?”
“I’ve been in Bastitera for a while now, so what more can I say? With all due respect to Prince Adrian, it’s a hard place to get news from the outside world, so I figured it was safe.”
“I can vouch for the royal family of Bastitera on this,” he said, “and the Cellbrox Labs, including the acting head of the labs, have often stayed at the royal castle in their homeland and done the royal family favors.”
Adrian shook his head.
“I also connected with the newest albatross in attendance.”
Anima, whose presence had been muted for fear of sparks, shuddered. He closed his eyes tightly as the attention focused on him. Words he’d once heard rang in his ears.
– Even Xu Lan will be enemies with Cao Jin.
– Or jump on the bandwagon.
What seemed like a pipe dream at the time became a reality.
“There was an unsavory incident with ……, which I won’t go into detail as it’s a separate case, but it was settled amicably thanks to royal mediation and the generosity of Celbrosys Labs and Dustborne Corporation.”
Anima decided to jump on the “bandwagon.
“We’ve heard of the tragedy in Shiran. It’s a heinous act and the terrorists deserve what they get, but we don’t think it’s fair to link them to Celbrosys Labs.”
“Hmm.”
Führer Klawbert read the tide. In the absence of hard evidence, the loudest voice would prevail. It was obvious which way Libra was leaning.
I decided to add some weight to it.
After all, I owe Dustborn a favor.
“I don’t understand why the Xurans arrested Major General Kushan in the first place. What right does Xuran have to do that?”
And then Maximilian drove a wedge.
“There is only one thing I can reveal here. Heinz Millarck, known by the name of Kushan, is a human subject to Imperial law, and we have proceeded accordingly.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard of that here, too, which means it’s going to be like this.”
Sitting cross-legged, Kim blurted out.
“Heinz Millarck has not personally committed any crimes on Shiran. He was scheduled to be judged by Imperial law, but has disappeared in an act of terrorism….”
He looked at the regent with a grim expression.
“I’m sure there’s some sort of allegation against Heinz, and I’ll be happy to cooperate with the investigation if Shiran asks me to, but labeling him a terrorist is a bit much.”
Trim tails and blur talking points.
Historically, it’s a strategy that always works.
“……I apologize if my tone was harsh, I was just pointing out the relevance and didn’t mean to imply that Celbrosix Labs is a terrorist organization. I apologize if that was misleading.”
As expected, Regent Reindorf took matters into his own hands.
I poked him once, and he freaked out because he was beaten so badly.
But not yet.
The talks have only just begun.
“Then let’s get back to the point.”
Now that my mouth was free, I put my foot down.
“I’m sure we can fill in the blanks on the anomalies that Führer Klawbert is referring to, such as the spike in the pollution index within a certain radius, the outbreak of parasites, and so on.”
“Exactly, and by any chance, have they already started working on it in the Celbrosys Lab?”
“We first observed this phenomenon around October of last year.”
“…That long ago?”
For once, the Führer is surprised. The air in the hall reverses once more. Some reacted with hope that something had been accomplished. Others stared at Kim with suspicion.
His overly competent behavior was off-putting.
How a single company can be so catastrophically sensitive.
Well, it’s a self-explanatory problem.
“We call it a ‘crack’ in the Cellbrox Labs, and it’s a crack.”
After a brief pause, a booming voice rang out.
“We have succeeded in extinguishing the rift on our own, and I’m sure His Highness Adrian can testify to that as well, but since this is a matter of public record, it would be better for you to see for yourself.”
I had the material ready to go. The video appeared on the screen.
“This is bodycam footage from Dustborne Corporation’s operations about two weeks ago. This is the second crack in Bastitera, and myself and my staff took matters into our own hands.”
There was no manipulation whatsoever. It was recorded as it happened. The powerful men of the world watched in stunned silence as the rift disappeared.
“I can’t believe this is possible.”
“This is ridiculous. How on earth does….”
“Mr. Acting Lab Director, can you assure me that the footage has not been manipulated in any way?”
The response has been mixed. It was so different from what they expected. We didn’t utilize any mysterious high-tech equipment, we just made contact, and it was hard to take it at face value.
But it was none of his business.
“It’s your choice to believe it or not.”
It’s the truth, so what can you do.
“To clear up any misunderstandings, it’s more of a personal ‘spell’ than a ‘study,’ and I think you can understand why we’re not comfortable sharing our methods.”
Labs and dustbones have no reason to hide now.
As it has become an indispensable and unique presence on the continent.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re willing to sit on the sidelines of a continental crisis.”
It’s a no-brainer.
I don’t think they released the video for bragging rights.
They decided to take the plunge because they had a higher and nobler purpose.
“As always, we will spare no effort to save lives within reach and stabilize the continent.”
So in a nutshell-.
“Anyone is fine. I promise to give you the help you deserve whenever you ask for it.”
Crawl on your own if you don’t want to die.
“Do you have any questions?”
Everyone’s jaws dropped.
The giants of the continent began to look at each other. Kim’s intentions were blatant. Coupled with the earlier altercation, it almost seemed like this meeting would be different.
Some are already in line, others are not.
But there’s one thing the latter group of people are mistaken about.
It’s important to note that just because you’ve caught a break doesn’t mean you’re safe.
‘That asshole…….’
Everyone felt the same way.
* * *
After dropping the bombshell, Kim took a step back and observed the situation. Questions flew in with mixed intentions, such as expectations and doubts, but the answers were consistent: “Yes,” “Of course,” and “Of course.
That’s when the heated discourse began.
There was a lot of information sharing. Some openly asked for help, saying that a crack had opened in their country, and others offered to send researchers from their ivory towers.
Unlike the last meeting, there was a sense of urgency.
Of course, once the talks were over, the labs and dustbones would be inundated with requests. Some purely for their own security, some for their own pleasure.
But it was clear that something called a “string” had been created.
A sense of unity against global threats.
The first day ended a little later than planned. Upon returning to her assigned accommodation, Kim was met with stares not unlike those she had received at the conference.
The look of disbelief, or whatever.
“Why are you looking at me like that? If you have something to say, say it.”
“No, ugh….”
Leila swallowed hard. Some of Kim’s comments hadn’t been discussed in advance. But from Rap’s perspective, it was hard to criticize him.
A position that Kushan had asked her to take on. Besides, if it were Leila, she wouldn’t have been able to get away with it as easily as Kim did when Rap was criticized.
Personality aside, both Harenthal and the Albatross were Kim’s “insurance policy. In Kushan’s opinion, Kim was the best person to attend the meeting.
I never thought it would come to this.
“First of all, I’m sorry you’ve had such a difficult time.”
“Uh, I was nervous, too, and I just started blurting out nonsense.”
“Well, you did, ahaha.”
Nervous. It’s a word that doesn’t seem to fit him at all.
“…… Phew. That was a little different than I expected, but I guess it’s for the best, because now I can ‘help out’ in the lab without feeling like I’m being a dick. But I do have a concern.”
“What are you worried about?”
“Are we really the only ones who can do this?”
Kim and Leila are the only ones who can close the rift right away. Until another breakthrough is found, they will have to travel across the continent to close the rift.
Inevitably, rap’s stature would rise to absurd heights. Leila was more perplexed than excited. But that was a minor problem; there was a more fundamental question.
Is this realistically possible?
“Even if the lab and dustbones acted in isolation, their limits are clear: while we’re running a long way to close the crack, another crack will open somewhere else, and if its velocity exceeds our predictions….”
Of course, there are other hopes. In the meantime, you can do some research on an ivory desk or in a lab, and by then the continent will be fucked, but you’ll still be able to call in sick.
But Leila knows “Kim Yi Hyun”.
That he is not a man of such untidiness as to lean on such illusions.
“There’s a way. No, I think there is.”
Ebony eyes flicked in one direction in the waiting room.
There sat a professor with a complicated expression on his face.
His gaze dropped quickly, and that was enough for the professor to realize that he was running out of time to think. Kim was demanding answers.
After the meeting was dismissed, the professor went to see Kim separately.
“Show me how.”
The professor made up his mind.
Facing your past.