NOVEL NEXT Chapter 208
Episode 208. Copenhagen Analysis (1)
Vacation time is over for now.
Today, we have to work again.
After sending off Patreus, I met up with my comrades in a discreet alleyway behind Geneva. Dr. Chae removed his hood from the shadows.
“Things are moving fast, after all.”
“What did you say?”
“Never mind.”
Dr. Chae let out a sigh.
“Hey, Doc. Meeting at a resort wouldn’t have been so bad. I could’ve spent a day lounging by the hotel pool, sipping non-alcoholic cocktails, and then gone off to fight.”
I scratched my head.
“Let’s do that after this mission.”
“More importantly.”
Dr. Chae looked at me. His face was all scrunched up, looking dead serious.
“You don’t look so good.”
“Huh? I’m fine, though.”
“No, I mean… with my mind’s eye, I can see it. It looks like someone’s cursing Dr. Kim with voodoo magic.”
“Ah… Well, it’d be weirder if that wasn’t happening.”
“It’s not strange that someone’s cursing Dr. Kim with voodoo, but the fact that it’s affecting you, Administrator, is quite unusual.”
Is that so? I scratched my head. I didn’t feel any difference on my skin. I pulled out my phone to check my face.
Nothing looked out of the ordinary.
Dr. Chae muttered something with a serious expression, then suggested we move to a safer location. He led me into a cave to hide.
Shortly after, Hasti showed up too.
Hasti greeted me as soon as she arrived, then made the same serious face as Dr. Chae. Is it that bad? Can they see the curse with their eyes?
Anyway. Hasti and Dr. Chae crossed their arms and muttered seriously for a while. They even mixed in some strange, incantation-like words.
Hasti finally spoke.
“First of all, it’s not immediately dangerous. Considering the protective measures around Dr. Kim, it’s like hitting a rock with an egg. But the fact that this connection exists is… unsettling.”
Dr. Chae shook his head beside her.
“That’s a relief.”
“But you see, if you hit a rock with an egg, the yolk will still remain, right? That’s what we’re seeing. The problem is clearly visible.”
“Hmm.”
“No need to worry. Same-Type Magic creates a magical link by utilizing the similarity between the target and the medium.”
“So we can find the person who cast the voodoo?”
“Yes. You catch on quick.”
The conclusion was clear. I nodded.
“Then let’s find them.”
Hasti flicked her fingers, and the stones inside the cave began to move and carve themselves. A circular magic circle was drawn.
Personally, I’d prefer if the more cautious Dr. Chae tried first. But Hasti’s firepower is more reliable, so it can’t be helped.
Hasti began to dance.
Well, not exactly a dance. It was more like mimicking the waves of the sea, the wind blowing over mountains, or falling leaves.
“Ia! Ia! Ia!”
“Nothing from the east can deceive me!”
“Nothing from the west can deceive me!”
“Nothing from the south can deceive me!”
“Nothing from the north can deceive me!”
“Nothing from zenith can deceive me! Nothing from nadir can deceive me! Nothing can deceive me!”
Invoking the power of beings beyond common sense always comes with risks. The earlier incantation was a process to protect herself.
“O mover of planets! O face of the void, master of all gates, weaver of time, lord of dimensions, this humble being beseeches you!”
“Grant me the power to find the one who dares challenge the laws set by your greatness!”
Hasti made some sounds that sounded like a foreign language, then sat at the center of the magic circle and began to meditate. I held my breath and watched.
A long time passed.
‘I can’t tell if it’s working.’
Dr. Chae whispered quietly.
Hasti will handle it, she’s a skilled and powerful mage. I was curious how the information would be delivered, though.
“55, 676, 12, 568.”
Oh, it’s just coordinates.
Hasti opened her eyes. She kept coughing but didn’t lose her posture.
I’ve seen Hasti’s incantations many times now, and this is what I’ve concluded. It’s a grand ritual, sure, but it feels like she’s just throwing a tantrum at some higher being to get what she wants.
The ritual ended. The coughing gradually subsided, and Hasti spoke with difficulty.
“But… what do these numbers mean?”
“Probably coordinates. Latitude and longitude.”
I pulled out my phone. Google Maps works offline, so… let’s see. 55 and 12 would be Copenhagen.
If we trust Hasti’s words, it means the Foundation’s Copenhagen Branch is attacking me with voodoo. They probably thought they were safe across the sea.
This time will be different. I’ll go and wipe them all out.
“Dr. Chae, stay in the rear. The four of us will handle the siege of Copenhagen.”
The plan was quickly made, and there was no reason to delay. We didn’t have the luxury to, anyway. Now that we’re in Europe, if we don’t start the offensive quickly, we might lose the initiative.
In the U.S., attacking a major city’s Foundation branch was out of the question. They’re too strong. But Europe is different.
Copenhagen isn’t even a city with a million people. Compared to the siege of Beijing, this battle should be a walk in the park.
“Let me explain the operation.”
I pulled out a tablet. Hasti, the Hero, and Nanami nodded at my words.
“The targets are the sorcerers at the Copenhagen Branch. The Copenhagen Branch is uniquely split into two locations. The facility on Saltholm Island to the east is strictly controlled, and there’s another Foundation facility to the south of Copenhagen.”
The problem is, we don’t know which one is more important. So we’ll have to take out both.
“Here’s the plan. First, we dive into the sea, cause a storm and tidal waves to create chaos, then infiltrate both facilities. Once inside, we’ll set up a ‘teleportation gate,’ and the Golden Team waiting at the Hong Kong Branch will take over the facilities from the inside.”
This time, the Hero raised his hand.
“What if the enemies die?”
“Do as you please. Just avoid civilian casualties. If you can subdue them without killing, that’s fine.”
The Hero nodded.
“Alright. Nanami and I will attack the southern facility in Copenhagen, while the Hero and Hasti will assault Saltholm Island. Don’t forget. The targets are the sorcerers in this branch. If you find evidence of voodoo, kill them all.”
Operation begins.
A massive cumulonimbus cloud appeared over Copenhagen. As if the gods were angry, thunder and lightning struck relentlessly over the city. Streetlights began to flicker out one by one.
The furious waves and wind howled as if they would tear the buildings apart. Sirens warning of the storm echoed throughout the city.
Seeing that the preparation phase of the operation was going smoothly, we dove beneath the sea.
Taking over a Foundation branch is something we’ve done many times now. Compared to the effort and resources poured into the siege of Beijing, Copenhagen’s defenses were almost cute.
But we can’t let our guard down.
I double-checked my equipment. These days, I don’t use big flippers for underwater missions. They’re just too cumbersome when you need to move fast.
I use smaller flippers that I can run in, and for underwater movement, I rely on thrusters. There are tumbler-sized ones for limbs and slightly larger ones too.
Anyway.
We arrived in front of the Foundation facility. Nanami cautiously peeked her head out of the water.
“How’s it look?”
[Total chaos.]
Time to get out of the water.
I loaded my Foundation-Made Rifle and detached the thrusters. Since the wetsuit doesn’t offer much bulletproof protection, I had to equip a bulletproof shield on my arm.
“Let’s go.”
The barbed wire and breakwater were already damaged. Despite the heavy rain, the Foundation soldiers on guard spotted us, but—
At this range and in this weather, who could possibly hit anything? Unless they had special equipment. I aimed my rifle at the enemy—
The surroundings were so noisy that I couldn’t clearly hear the gunfire from either side. Kind of pitiful, really.
Falling while on guard duty in this weather? You’re better off playing dead.
I have to shoot them before Nanami kills them. If Nanami attacks, their bodies will be torn to pieces and scattered everywhere.
Normally, I’d throw smoke grenades, but with the thunderstorm, it didn’t seem necessary. I unfolded my Clockwork Wings and flew to the front of the facility.
“Nanami.”
No questions asked. Nanami swung her greatsword, and the locked gates of the Foundation facility were crushed and sliced open. Weaker than I thought.
As the gates were breached, the Copenhagen Branch’s security team rushed out, but this time, Nanami sheathed her sword and charged forward.
Nanami grabbed and beat the security team members. At least she didn’t slice them with her sword, so that’s a small mercy. Their reaction speed was nowhere near human.
We stepped over the fallen guards and entered the enemy facility.
Time to start the search.