Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 294



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 294

retribution

In the capital city of Edsilla, I am sitting across from Riley at a fine dining restaurant called ‘Finchile’.

“… … I heard that a lot of homeless people have disappeared. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Riley has been catching wind of the mysterious events that have been happening in Edsilla lately.

“is it so?”

Riley nodded at my answer.

“That’s right. It would be better for the homeless people who are of no help to the continent to disappear as soon as possible… … .”

“Hmm.”

It’s a pretty radical statement, but I think I know why she’s saying this, what she wants from me.

Well then, I guess I should keep up the pace too.

“That’s right. They are of no use to society. They don’t want to contribute to meaningful production activities, and they only know how to consume like surplus… … They are like barnacles.”

Riley paused for a moment, then smiled quickly.

“That’s why I wonder if it’s really necessary to investigate this kind of serial disappearance.”

“That’s right. There’s no need to investigate.”

I smiled meaningfully. Riley’s expression suddenly hardened, but she soon nodded in agreement and cut the steak with her knife.

“There’s no need to investigate… … I guess that’s true.”

“Yes. There really is no need to investigate. Trust me.”

I smiled like a psychopath.

As if he knew something. As if he knew it very well.

“… … Really? But if this disappearance is a kidnapping, it would be because of the organs, right?”

Riley asked slyly.

I stopped cutting the steak and looked at her, a hint of doubt in my eyes.

Riley explained calmly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve thought about this before. If I can save ten honest people by dismantling one homeless person-”

“Well, isn’t there something more important?”

“… … Is there something more important than the long term?”

“Haha. Yes. Even those kinds of trash people… … can be made to be of help to society.”

I smiled. Riley followed suit, the corners of her mouth lifting.

“I wonder. What is the method?”

Square─

I answered, slicing a piece of steak.

“Should we stop talking about work here?”

“… … Was this a work-related story?”

Riley hit the nail on the head.

I pretended to be embarrassed and smiled brightly.

“Ah~ Weren’t we talking about work? Haha.”

“… … What. Try this. It’s delicious.”

Riley put a piece of meat on my plate. I eagerly put it in my mouth.

“Oh~ It’s delicious.”

“… … Yes. You’re cute.”

“… … .”

I stopped chewing on purpose.

“Ugh, uhm. Gulp.”

I coughed as if I had a cold, and Riley came over to me and patted my back as if she was worried.

“Oh, are you okay?”

It was a play for each other.

The difference is, I know she’s an actress.

“… … Yes. It’s okay. Ha, hahaha.”

* * *

The research lab at Libra Station.

With the release of AI just around the corner, everyone in the AI ​​department, which has the fewest people, gathered together. The head of the department, Vito himself, called them together.

“The first public release is scheduled for three weeks later.”

Vito said. The other researchers listened quietly. They just listened without responding.

“Are you looking forward to it?”

He doesn’t answer, but just nods.

What kind of plant is it?

I raised my hand.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Then Vito snickered.

He secretly likes this lively atmosphere, since the other researchers don’t even engage in conversation, let alone the usual monologue.

“Okay. Let’s continue with the final check… … Dr. Killian, please come see me for a moment.”

“yes.”

Vito called me into his office.

He said, sitting down on the chair.

“Dr. Killian.”

I stood in front of him.

“Yes. What’s up?”

“Did you have a funny conversation with Mr. Riley yesterday?”

“… … Yes? Oh, were you at that restaurant?”

I know about the tailing. They’re watching Killian’s house, inside and outside, and Growl is having a hard time.

Vito laughed.

“Haha. Yes. I was at that restaurant too. You probably didn’t know.”

“Tell me… … If you have an interesting story, is it the story about the homeless people?”

“Yes. I think the same as Dr. Killian and Deputy Riley, but please don’t talk about it too much outside.”

“Oh, yes. I guess I got a little too excited because the project was almost finished. Sorry!”

I answered forcefully.

“It’s okay. I didn’t call you here to pick on you. It’s nothing compared to what Dr. Killian did for you. Go back to your seat.”

“… … Oh, me. But, Dr. Vito.”

I called Vito over to look at the monitor. Vito tilted his head.

“yes?”

“I’m talking about the doll you showed me back then.”

I’m curious about Akane’s doll.

Of course, you could ask Akane herself, but I think Vito would be more accurate.

“What kind of collaboration did you have with Muagwan… … .”

Vito chuckled.

“Wow. Dr. Killian is a very inquisitive person.”

“Ah… … haha.”

Is this a compliment? Or a warning?

“There was an artificial flesh project.”

First of all, it seems like he intends to give an answer.

“Artificial flesh?”

“Yes. It was a project to create an artificial body… … but it was hard. The puppeteer Akane was able to create a body, but it was too slow. You could say it was a cottage industry.”

That’s right. Akane makes each doll by hand. It takes at least three weeks to make a doll that looks exactly like a human.

“Also, the body itself quickly rotted away. It couldn’t bear the weight of the soul.”

“… … Wow. Well, if we put our AI into an artificial body-”

“Artificial human. Homunculus?”

Vito continued speaking instead. I nodded with an eager face.

He smiled faintly.

“In fact, that project has already been successful.”

“… … You said it was successful?”

“Yes. The details are Libra’s secret. I’ll tell you later if you become a collateral branch.”

“Oh… … As expected, you are a doctor. You have put in a lot of effort to overcome human limitations. It is truly amazing and I respect you.”

“Haha. What again?”

Vito shook his head as if he couldn’t stop himself.

“Dr. Killian will be like that soon.”

“I would be honored if I could.”

“Yes. Go back.”

“yes!”

I bent my waist 120 degrees. Vito let out a pleasant snort.

“Okay, then go quickly.”

This guy is surprisingly honest.

Well, I guess they’ll be watching Killian 24 hours a day.

Now, to Vito, Killian seems like a person who is more innocent and harmless than anyone else, and who he respects infinitely.

“yep!”

… … It means that Growl is having a hard time.

* * *

“An artificial human with an artificial body…?”

The residence of the Endex building. Soliet asked.

“uh. ”

I nodded.

Silver let out a snort.

“Okay, then go quickly.”

This guy is surprisingly honest.

Well, I guess they’ll be watching Killian 24 hours a day.

Now, to Vito, Killian seems like a person who is more innocent and harmless than anyone else, and who he respects infinitely.

“yep!”

… … It means that Growl is having a hard time.

* * *

“An artificial human with an artificial body…?”

The residence of the Endex building. Soliet asked.

“uh. ”

I nodded.

“They’re all connected. Nightmares, human experiments, homunculi… … . All of them.”

Then he looked back at Soliet. Soliet answered in a low voice.

“… …Eternal life.”

“that’s right.”

The desire to live forever.

Nightmares, human experiments, and homunculi all lead down that same path.

“The question is… how many families are involved.”

Libra is certain. Other suspects are Aventaher, Arcne, Glofeld, Pencia, and Kruan.

Among them, Glofeld contacted my card reading house.

“Then, surely my father too… … .”

Soliet’s expression became serious.

“I don’t know yet. Probably not. It’s more likely that it’s the elders. It’s Libra’s main operation. Bribing the elders.”

Collateral members who have become elders of the family surprisingly have a strong voice. This is because they have the decision-making power on important family matters, and are especially involved in the succession structure.

“But… … It’s strange. Artificial humans, or homunculi, have already succeeded.”

“Yes? You said it was successful?”

“Uh. According to Vito-”

“Ah! Then, don’t you think Ms. Sierin will be able to judge it?”

“……oh.”

Sierin. I opened my eyes wide too.

“That must be true. That woman can read souls.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

If artificial humans—homunculi—exist, and are still alive and moving, they will definitely be detected on Sierin’s radar.

“Okay. Then I’ll ask Sierin to do that too.”

“Zion. But can you contact him?”

“of course.”

Then Soliet pouted her lips.

“I’ve been blocked.”

“……why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I contact you too often… … .”

“I get calls every day.”

“… … Yes? Why, how come I get calls every day?”

Soliet narrowed her eyes as if she found it suspicious.

I picked up my smartphone and showed it to Sierin’s text.

[hey.]

[Hey hey hey hey.]

[Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey.]

[Please arrange this for me one more time.]

[Oh, seriously, reply.]

[No reply?]

[I asked you to reply.]

[Please arrange it one more time ㅡㅡ;]

[please]

[Hey, but you can only look at one dot at a time? Can’t you ask about multiple things?]

[Then can you do it three more times instead of just once?]

“Look. They’re crazy about card stores right now.”

“… … Hmm. That’s definitely true.”

Solliet put her hand on her chin. I looked at her intently.

When I think, I sometimes play with my lower body. I tap my lips and cheeks with my fingers.

The same habits before and after the regression…

I got up from my seat.

“Zion. Where are you going?”

“To work.”

It was almost time to go to work as a chaser.

* * *

A dark back alley. A quiet lakeside with no surveillance or tailing. I’m sitting on a fishing chair, waiting for someone.

Soon, people will come.

rustling-

The sound of footsteps on leaves echoed. I looked out at the lake and said.

“Mr. Jeff.”

“yes.”

Jeff Garner came up and stood behind me.

“Have you heard the news?”

“Yes, of course.”

Belmore’s car exploded, but I got caught in it instead.

This is why the inside of the intelligence agency cooled down so rapidly.

I said, shaking my fishing rod.

“They say an investigation team has been formed.”

Jeff listened to me quietly.

“Team Leader Belmore does not want that kind of investigation. He has no intention of forgiving those who dared to target him.”

In fact, rather than forgiving, Bellmore is investigating on his own, thinking, ‘Isn’t it the work of someone outside the intelligence agency rather than inside?’

You are so foolish.

“Yes. I expected that.”

Jeff Garner’s voice lowered.

He is an agent specializing in assassination. Even the strongest of the strong would die if they were to face him unprepared.

I looked back at him.

“If you go over it once, it becomes twice, and if you go over it twice, it becomes three times… … So, you have to cut it off right away.”

“yes.”

“This is an order.”

I handed him my personnel file.

Four intelligence team leaders under Gedler.

However, we will not kill the team leaders, but their right-hand men. Since we have the justification anyway, we will cut off all four of their right-hand men.

They are trash who deserve to die.

“Kill them all.”

This is also Belmore’s image construction.

He must never tolerate this. He must show an extremely cruel side to those who launch a preemptive strike.

“But you must not get caught.”

At the same time, he must be cold. He must hide himself like a cold awl.

Even if everyone can guess that it was Belmore’s doing, there should be no evidence to point to the fact.

“Not even the slightest evidence should remain.”

Belmore must be such a scary and fearsome figure. He must be seen as an extremely dark and sophisticated beast. He must be seen as a dark figure that no one dares to talk to.

Any word directed to Belmore must first go through me.

“… … Yes. I confirmed it.”

I nodded.

Before I knew it, Jeff was gone.

Boom-!

Just then the fish bit the bait.

… … .

The next day, Belmore woke up on the sofa in the club room.

“… … Ah. My head.”

I drank a lot of alcohol last night.

Things have been so complicated and entangled lately, I’m so frustrated, so I’ve been binge-watching for the first time in a while.

“ha…….”

He sighed and got up. He stumbled out of the club.

It was broad daylight on the street, with the sun shining brightly.

“… … Ah, it’s dazzling. Hey! Taxi!”

As I was taking a taxi to work, suddenly…

The words of Zion came to mind.

A warning from the second-in-command that Gedler is targeting him.

As for Belmore, it’s really hard to believe and unbelievable, but there’s nothing he can do about it since it’s already happened.

Belmore shook his head, leaving the taxi door open.

“No, no. Go. Go. I called you wrong.”

“… … What the hell is this kid?”

“What? A kid? Hey, you just said kid-”

The taxi took off in a hurry. Belmore frowned as he glared at its rear.

“저딴 미친 개새끼가…….”

Anyway, he ended up choosing his own two legs.

I walked to work at the information office.

“It’s good to exercise as well.”

Because sweating is good for curing a hangover.

Belmore ran for an hour to reach the underground intelligence office.

“Ahem.”

He walks down the hallway of the information bureau with a heavy expression on his face.

Thud thud. Thud thud.

“… … What is it?”

But his gaze keeps getting caught. Quite a few people from the information agency keep glancing at him as he walks.

Could it be because of the SUV explosion incident that Zion was involved in?

I feel embarrassed for no reason.

Belmore walked quickly and arrived at the team leader’s office.

“… … What? Where did the secretary go?”

There was no secretary.

Did you take a vacation today? If you were going to rest, you should have told me in advance.

“Oh my… I was going to ask you to make me some honey water.”

As soon as Belmore sat down in his office chair, he turned on his computer.

I tried to access the information agency’s internal server right away to check the progress of the explosion incident.

“Oh, what is it?”

A hot topic was uploaded just this morning.

Bellmore blinked in confusion, then clicked on the case file.

“What… three Chasers died?”

The Chaser assassination case was something of a very suspicious affair.