Chapter 123: The Otherworlders’ Outing (１)

****

[Operation Name: Operation Two Lures]

[Filed by: Dr. Ahn]

[Miss Hasti is mentally stable. She seems happy in her own way. She has started using magic again when alone in her containment cell, so we are monitoring her.]

[Miss An Yuri comes across as prickly, but in my professional opinion as a psychiatrist, that is simply her pre-existing personality. Miss An Yuri herself seems happier and healthier than when she first arrived.]

[This is not about anthrax.]

[If you would permit a somewhat extreme approach, I believe both could be raised into normal members of society—or of the Foundation.]

[Even setting that aside for now.]

[Hasti and An Yuri appear ready for an outing in the near future. The other anomalies—Cosmos, Kairos, the Fake Expert, and the Angel—are not yet.]

[In fact, of the four I mentioned, Cosmos is the only one who wants to go out. The Fake Expert very much enjoys talking with Foundation experts and pretending to be clever.]

[To restate the conclusion: with proper safeguards in place, an outing is entirely feasible. There is the possibility of external interference, but that is not something I am in a position to discuss.]

****

Operation “Two Lures.”

In the meeting room sat the Section Chief of Recovery Division 3, Dr. Ahn, Dr. Chae, and a few others. I was the one tasked with explaining the operation.

“I’ll keep it simple. The operation is this: we take two high-output humanoid anomaly to downtown Ilsan, spend about half a day there, and come back.”

Hasti and An Yuri.

Those two needed to be taken out.

Originally the plan was to take them into Seoul proper, but we judged that if something went wrong, Wireo City would be easier to respond to than Seoul.

Most of the new cities around Seoul were designed as fortress cities, which makes running this kind of operation easier from our end.

“The operation has three main objectives.”

“First: fulfill our contract with the humanoid anomalies in question, and allow them to spend one day playing outside Foundation facilities.”

“Second: tailing, protection, and assassination training for the agents deployed on-site. Specifically, training for conducting operations in an urban environment.”

“Third—and this may be the most important item—when you take high-output humanoid anomalies into a city center, there’s a strong chance something will come crawling out of the woodwork.”

Dr. Chae was dozing off.

“Whether it’s Pluto LLC scum after new merchandise, or the Orchestra looking for battle slaves, someone is likely to target a high-value asset.”

“Anyone who takes the bait will be eliminated. That’s the outline and purpose of the operation. Up to here—any questions or objections?”

I clapped my hands.

“Then let me explain the method. First, we split into two teams: the Hero team and the Mage team. Each team will visit six waypoints total.”

“Foundation agents disguised in civilian clothes will be waiting at each waypoint, and two tailing teams will follow and escort them.”

“Finally, two helicopters will be on standby, landed on nearby buildings. If anything seems off, they can take off and track both teams from the sky.”

That was the entirety of the operation plan.

****

“Who’s going as handler?”

I looked at the Head of Support.

“One will be me, the other will be Dr. Chae. Given compatibility, it’s better if I go with Miss Hasti and Dr. Chae goes with Miss An Yuri. If it comes to subduing them…”

Dr. Chae.

She dropped her pen while dozing.

“Huh? Me?”

“Why did you think you were called to this meeting? Did you think you’d just sit there in silence and leave?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway. During the operation, Dr. Chae will be Miss An Yuri’s handler.”

“Uh, understood.”

Dr. Chae nodded.

“Director. We don’t actually have to take them out for real, do we? I feel like we could’ve pulled this off with a mock village or some other means.”

“Well… there are several reasons. The Group of Interest might take the bait today. That’s why we’re proceeding with this.”

Dr. Ahn nodded.

“I’m in favor.”

The others mostly seemed agreeable too. Only Dr. Chae was clutching her head.

“So. Sorry, but—I have to entertain a Returnee for an entire day?”

“Is the tentacle monster you see every day more to Dr. Chae’s taste…? Just put up with it for one day. We can hardly leave it to the Head of Research, can we.”

“I do think the tentacle monster would be more comfortable.”

A face that looked needlessly serious. With the salary Dr. Chae pulls in, though. Surely this much is expected of her.

****

Personnel deployed for this operation: six base-cover teams and two tailing teams. Eight teams of four, thirty-two people. Add helicopter pilots and the rest, and it’s a major operation with forty Foundation agents in the field.

I doubt any group will actually bite the bait, but it wouldn’t be strange if one did. For now, the plan proceeds on the assumption that someone shows.

“Dr. Geum. We’re going out today?”

“Yes. Get in the car.”

Hasti quietly got into my car.

“Come to think of it. I’ve never been outside Foundation facilities in this world. This is… I feel like I’ve seen it on TV. It’s a moving iron box?”

I nodded.

There was a television in Hasti’s containment cell, true. I didn’t know she watched it that closely.

“That’s right.”

“It’s not even surprising anymore.”

“Well, buckle your seatbelt.”

Hasti fastened her seatbelt.

I hadn’t shown her how, but she must have figured it out from watching me. Or maybe she’d seen it on TV too.

This was also part of the experiment. Several cameras and microphones placed inside the car were observing Hasti’s every move.

The engine started.

“You know what happens if you try anything funny today, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

It’s been a while since I drove a Foundation protocol vehicle myself. No, wait—it’s the first time, isn’t it? I’d never had occasion to drive one myself before.

“Dr. Geum. What’s the schedule for today? I’m not just left to wander around on my own, am I?”

“The plan is food. A movie. A café. You won’t be on your own… I’ll take you to most places. It’s for your benefit, Miss Hasti, more than ours.”

“Understood.”

Hasti looked out the window.

“Still, I’m excited! It’s been so long since I’ve been outside. Oh, right. I heard the Hero is going out today too—where do you suppose she is, and what’s she doing?”

“Miss An Yuri? She’s probably having a lovely time with Dr. Chae.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

I’ve never spent personal time with Dr. Chae, so I wouldn’t know. She might be absolutely suffocating inside.

“Oh, there should be some snacks in the passenger-side glove box. I was eating them yesterday.”

“Really?”

Rustle, rustle.

I heard the sound of something being eaten beside me.

“By the way. Is there anything uncomfortable in your containment cell these days? Any necessities you need?”

“I’d like more books. I want to learn more about this world.”

That might be a bit dangerous.

One might think, what do books matter when she has an iPad—but the talismanic symbolism of books can’t be dismissed.

“Uh, I’ll look into that.”

“Oh, right. I want to learn to paint—could you bring some paints and brushes into my containment cell?”

“I’ll pick some up on the way back.”

Hasti brightened. The tragedy of humanoid anomalies, I suppose—through the rearview mirror, Hasti’s eyes were filled with nothing but a childlike delight this time.

Making a mockery of all my efforts in layering multiple containment procedures for today’s outing.

“It may sound foolish, but I want what’s best for Miss Hasti. Whether that’s fixing the dimensional exploration machine, or adapting to the Foundation and modern life… either way, that’s what I hope for.”

“Hah, thanks.”

I was just smiling.

****

Meanwhile, inside Dr. Chae’s vehicle, which had departed at a similar time, only an awkward silence filled the cramped interior.

“…”

“…”

It wasn’t that Dr. Chae was incapable of speech or dull company. She simply had a modicum of decency.

Dr. Geum and Hasti might be the sort of oddballs who could fight hard enough to crack each other’s skulls and then sit down to a shared meal laughing, but—

Dr. Chae found the Returnee uncomfortable to be around.

What had the Foundation done to the Returnee? Abducted her with inhaled sleeping gas, infected her with anthrax, carved out her heart, imprisoned her.

Dr. Chae wasn’t shameless enough to act like she was doing the Returnee a favor by granting a single day out after all that.

“…”

“…”

A sigh.

“Um… would you like a drink?”

“What’s the strongest thing around here?”

At least this time, the response was positive.

“I can’t drink since I have to drive later, but I can bring you some sanitizing ethanol, Returnee.”

“Fine.”

“The scheduled itinerary is a meal, a café, and a movie, but… if that’s how you feel, Returnee, let’s reroute to a place that sells proper baijiu.”

The Returnee seemed to be in better spirits. Dr. Chae let out a small sigh of relief inwardly.