I Became a Mad Scientist for the Foundation

Episode 212. The Last Martial Artist (1)

The compass pointed north.

We followed Jörmungandr and sailed north. I always thought Jörmungandr was fast, but I’m not sure how fast it really is.

It might be some kind of teleportation technique.

Without equipment, it’s hard to prove. But since Jörmungandr was dragging sunken ships from all over the ocean, it’s not impossible.

North, just north.

The jet ski’s speed approached 100 kilometers per hour. The wind hitting us was bitingly cold. I wondered when we’d arrive.

The scenery around us began to change.

The sky turned blue, then gray again. Soon, a frosty white fog appeared. The northern sea started showing small icebergs within our line of sight.

Drift ice, I think they call it.

“We’re getting close!”

Jörmungandr’s voice echoed across the sea again. I still couldn’t see anything, but Cosmos, who was monitoring the sea with magic, screamed over the radio.

[Ah!]

Something appeared on the horizon.

A massive concrete wall stretching meters, even tens of meters above the sea surface. I was stunned by the surreal sight. How on earth did the Foundation build something like that…?

The island was much larger than it looked, completely surrounded by that concrete wall. I couldn’t tell what was behind the wall yet.

“Wow… this is insane.”

[Yeah, it is.]

“Cosmos, either dive underwater, wait, or run away. I’m going in alone.”

The island’s defenses won’t be easy. It’s about time Jörmungandr gets attacked. If the island is in sight, we’re within tens of kilometers at most.

It’s time for anti-ship missiles to fly. I don’t think the enemy would waste a missile on a single jet ski, but it’s too early to relax.

A sonic boom-like explosion echoed from afar. I reflexively ducked, but it was pointless.

At this distance, if they’re firing artillery, it’s at least a 155mm cannon. Ducking won’t make a difference.

[Something’s coming.]

A situation similar to the Glass Palace.

The cognitive disaster fog might hide Thule Island from the world’s eyes, but it’s not all advantages.

I briefly considered diving, but the enemy didn’t seem to have pinpointed the jet ski’s location. The artillery just now was aimed more at Jörmungandr.

Shells rained around Jörmungandr, and water pillars shot into the sky with each hit. From this distance, it looked like a toy… but assuming they’re 14-inch shells.

Each one could easily flatten a city block.

An anti-ship missile struck the massive sea serpent’s body like a bullet, and Jörmungandr let out a painful cry as it submerged. The artillery continued.

In fact, it grew louder. We were approaching the facility. It seems Jörmungandr can’t get any closer.

With the enemy’s firepower this strong, a large entity like Jörmungandr would have a hard time approaching.

“Jörmungandr. Can you still move?”

“Of course! This is nothing!”

Oh, another anti-ship missile incoming.

Jörmungandr charged toward the facility again, but the enemy’s coastal guns fired in unison. The sea serpent was forced to hesitate under the barrage of water pillars and missiles.

Anti-submarine helicopters are probably on their way too.

I’ve done my part. I’m close enough to the enemy facility. I grabbed my subspace bag and pulled out a pill.

It’s something we air-dropped for this operation.

Supernatural Phenomenon O-2323. Anti-gravity Tylenol.

Not all supernatural phenomena are conventional. This is a prime example. Supernatural Phenomenon O-2323 makes the user float into the sky for a few hours.

For no reason.

By the way, the students who discovered this took it indoors, played around, and accidentally went outside, dying. Their bodies were found dozens of kilometers away, carried by stratospheric jet streams.

Anyway. I attached compressed air thrusters to my arms and legs, swallowed the anti-gravity Tylenol, and slowly unfolded my clockwork wings.

[But. Won’t there be anti-air defenses or something? It doesn’t seem like you can just fly up. Shouldn’t we prepare-]

“You’re running away, right?”

Payback’s a bitch, you bastards.

I pulled out a personal rocket launcher from my subspace bag. It wasn’t anti-tank or anti-air. This time, it’s a nuclear warhead.

I sat on the jet ski, hoisted the rocket launcher onto my shoulder, and aimed it at the enemy facility.

Just like what happened to me in the garden. I pulled the trigger toward Thule Island, and the rocket with a small nuclear warhead flew toward the island.

I turned my back to the enemy facility and covered myself and Cosmos with my clockwork wings.

The ground-shaking explosion.

If I were looking at the enemy facility now, I’d see a mushroom cloud rising above the concrete bunker. But the dust, waves, and steam from the nuclear explosion entered my field of vision.

As always, tactical nukes aren’t as powerful as you’d think. Especially against reinforced concrete, the effect isn’t noticeable.

Of course, the concrete directly hit by the nuke would partially glassify and crack. But that’s about it.

What’s more important is the electromagnetic interference from the fallout and the electromagnetic shockwave from the explosion. I’d rather not get shredded by a Vulcan cannon or hit by an anti-air missile.

It’ll take the enemy facility a few minutes to recover. I need to infiltrate during that time.

Having clockwork wings doesn’t mean I can fly like a hawk. It’s more like a duck or goose. So far, it’s just been flapping and barely getting me up.

I could reach places like building rooftops that are hard to get to on foot, but that’s about it.

This time was different.

The fallout and steam from the nuclear explosion turned the air into a muddy mess.

I spread my clockwork wings and moved toward the facility at an incredible speed. Avoiding the enemy’s anti-air network, I flew over the concrete wall-

“Wow, what’s this now?”

Behind the wall was a concrete hell.

There were patches of greenery, but even those were surrounded by perfectly square concrete structures. And this is supposed to be the source of magic.

They built it like a Nazi or Soviet fortress.

Below the towering gray concrete structures, I could see the messy cityscape. I passed between the concrete mountains and towers.

I threw away the thrusters on my arms and grabbed a submachine gun. Enemy soldiers were moving into position everywhere. I sprayed bullets while crossing the city.

First, secure the high ground. I moved to the rooftop of the tallest building in the city, aimed my gun, and landed.

Enemy machine guns fired at me, but it was useless. Only a few defensive spells Dr. Chae cast on me flickered.

The Clockwork Angel withstood Vulcan cannons.

I didn’t plan to test it by getting hit by one, but with the Foundation’s defensive gear and clockwork wings, I should be tougher than the Clockwork Angel.

This level of firepower can’t stop me. I pulled the trigger on the submachine gun, and the soldiers holding their positions faltered under the hail of bullets.

A submachine gun isn’t enough to kill the enemy. The distance is only a few meters.

I threw the submachine gun aside and drew the sword Chilhuk gave me, charging forward.

Three fell to the sword. Two were skewered by the feathers of my clockwork wings. I chased down the last one and killed him.

This stronghold is clear.

Spent casings and crushed bullets littered the ground. I shook off my wings.

This is some nameless concrete tower. I secured the high ground quickly, but where to next? I looked around.

First, observe the enemy’s movements.

Down below, armored vehicles were moving through the streets. I couldn’t move freely and would likely have to use buildings as cover.

In the distance, I saw a few drones.

Let’s assess the situation. There’s a massive bunker in the city center, but it doesn’t seem possible to infiltrate it. I’d like to draw out the enemy’s high-tier combat assets.

The compass was now pointing south.

Administrator Raven assessed the situation.

It’s not yet time to intervene directly. The nuclear explosion was unexpected, but it’s still within the expected range. It’s manageable.

Dr. Kim is there. Thule’s military is moving to suppress the enemy. High-tier combat assets are also pursuing the enemy.

[Special Forces ‘Royal Guard’. Standing by.]

[Special Forces ‘Boramae’. Standing by.]

[Special Forces ‘Arcana’. Standing by.]

[Operator ‘Daimon’, standing by.]

[Operator ‘Blade’, standing by.]

This time, we can win. Once the encirclement around Dr. Kim is complete, Administrator Raven will personally capture him.

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