NOVEL NEXT Chapter 250
Episode 250. Seven Ancient Gods (4)
[Altar Beijing Branch Command Center. Internal Meeting.]
[Author: Beijing Branch Command Center.]
C1: We’ve had many meetings at the Foundation branches in China, but this seems to be the first in Beijing. Has there been any contact from Headquarters?
C2: A document arrived. Strangely, it was sent on paper. Very old-fashioned paper with a seal stamped on it.
C1: Huh?
C3: Yes. There’s a rumor going around behind the scenes. They say Dr. Kim has secured the Imperial Seal of Qin Shi Huang from somewhere.
C2: Ah. So that’s the background.
C1: Seriously? Dr. Kim securing the Imperial Seal? Honestly, it sounds like a claim with little credibility. We’ve heard this kind of talk before.
C3: It’s plausible. If Qin Shi Huang is considered a kind of deity, there could be multiple related artifacts. Whether it’s the “real” Imperial Seal or not doesn’t seem to matter.
C2: Secured the Imperial Seal.
C3: And there’s also talk that the artifacts related to the Imperial Seal gathered by Dr. Kim this time aren’t just one or two.
C1: This is a different approach from other Administrators. They usually prefer to stay hidden.
C3: Yes.
C1: Seeing Dr. Kim actively pursuing power and its symbols is somewhat terrifying, but on the other hand, it’s reassuring for the governed to see the face of their ruler.
C2: No. Other Administrators also went through a process of gathering power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries amidst chaos.
C3: We should ask the Emperor.
—-
C1: Let’s move on to the next agenda. Aren’t we currently fighting the Foundation’s enemies across the Central Plains? The remnants left in China.
C2: Yes.
C1: Can we really expect support from Headquarters? The Central Plains are vast. Just dealing with the remnants and maintaining Beijing alone takes a lot of time and resources.
C3: This is a bit of a unique situation. The Chinese government doesn’t want excessive intervention from the Foundation, especially its high-level combat assets.
C1: Naturally. So, Headquarters has no intention of supporting the remnant cleanup unless something special happens?
C3: I heard the Administrator went to Osaka a few days ago. As soon as they arrived, they grabbed the Osaka Branch Director by the collar.
C1: Oh my. Let’s not ask.
C2: It’s better to live as if Headquarters doesn’t exist. Even if it’s someone like Dr. Kim, who we know by face.
C3: Did you see what happened in the U.S.? Dozens of data centers, completely unprotected.
C1: Back to the main point. I’m curious if it’s true that the Imperial Seal has been secured. Isn’t the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum also under containment?
C2: Whoever claims to be the Emperor. Dr. Kim may have succeeded in conquest, but she must prove she has the qualifications and ability to rule the world.
The fourth god. Ganymede.
Ganymede’s containment facility was located elsewhere due to its danger. Far from densely populated areas or Foundation facilities.
It was an island in the West Sea controlled by the Foundation. Civilians didn’t even know it existed.
“Ah, hello, Administrator.”
“Yes.”
“Operator ‘Cosine.’ I’m the research lead for the Ganymede containment facility. It’s an honor to meet you today.”
An employee using an operator codename instead of a real name. Nothing particularly strange about that.
Cosine was wearing a gas mask. It seemed to be used instead of a face. They might not be human or could be a cyborg…
“Explain the situation.”
“Yes. First, Ganymede’s main body is contained in a large-scale containment room. Electromagnetic shockwaves and electronic warfare equipment surround the entire island, and preparations are complete to fight without electronic equipment if necessary.”
“Okay.”
“Ganymede itself seems happy. We’ve been playing with it non-stop.”
“Playing with it?”
I tilted my head.
“In three shifts, we’ve been talking to Ganymede non-stop. To prevent Ganymede from engaging in other… activities.”
“Good method.”
“Have you seen The Hobbit? Legends say dragons love riddles and wordplay. It’s the same principle.”
“Why?”
“It’s probably how transcendent beings communicate with humans. Humans are too simple and stupid to just talk to.”
I’ve heard this many times, but it’s not very relatable. Is it really because humans are stupid? Magic can’t exist without contracts and linguistic agreements, so maybe…
Anyway.
“Let’s go see.”
“Ah, the three-shift system is still running. You can talk to Ganymede later.”
“Alright.”
One thing that sets the Foundation apart from other organizations.
Supernatural phenomena, especially gods, don’t adjust to anyone’s schedule or circumstances. Even if it’s the most powerful authority on Earth.
“Well, it’s kind of playing around.”
The facility’s control tower, or Panopticon.
A point overlooking the entire containment facility.
Currently, only Ganymede is contained here. There’s no real need for a Panopticon here.
Hasti sat with her legs crossed.
“This is strange… This seems like the command center of the facility. Why is it empty?”
“It’s not the command center.”
The Panopticon isn’t for commanding, it’s for surveillance. You can’t command from a spot that would be the first to be destroyed in a bombing.
That’s too dangerous. The real command center is deep underground. Facilities designed with nuclear war in mind.
“Why did you bring me here? As an escort?”
“No.”
Ganymede is an entity embodying information and logic, and belief in it. Hasti, who can degrade and corrupt information, is the best way to control Ganymede.
That’s why Hasti was brought here.
Hasti seemed a bit bored, though.
“There’s a powerful entity contained in this facility, right? Hasti is the best at controlling such entities.”
“Don’t tell me. The Clockwork God?”
“Yes. That.”
“Creepy.”
I agree.
Among the enemies we’ve faced, the Clockwork God’s toys were the most terrifying. They didn’t fall even after being swept by an underwater nuclear explosion.
We had to deal with them using information degradation.
“Why was Ganymede brought here and contained? Because phenomena as dangerous as this are rare.”
It was useful during the civil war.
But considering Ganymede’s ability to easily corrupt machines, it’s hard to imagine what would happen if containment were breached.
Hasti tilted her head.
“That. I can feel the thoughts from here. Gods can influence humans through dreams alone, right?”
“Yes.”
Anyway, we have to wait until this shift ends. I sat with Hasti in the Panopticon, overlooking the facility.
Hasti sipped her coffee.
Shift change is at midnight. We have no choice but to wait a few hours. It’s a good thing Hasti’s here.
Meanwhile. Even for the Foundation, finding people to work day and night on a remote island not on any map isn’t easy.
Not just anyone can do it.
Dr. Ji looked up at Ganymede.
[Upon closer inspection, you don’t seem very smart. Disappointing. The Foundation sent a fool to talk to me.]
Ganymede took the form of a giant owl. Bronze feathers covered clockwork mechanisms and mechanical tentacles twitched beneath.
Ganymede… grew back. From the fragments of the machine it once inhabited.
“Huh?”
[Your personality is unbearably dull, your conversation topics boring, your knowledge shallow, your achievements nonexistent, and your abilities pitiful.]
“I see.”
It does this sometimes.
Ganymede has a strange personality. Sometimes, when it meets an employee it doesn’t like, it hurls insults as if they were mortal enemies. Listening to eight hours of vitriol is maddening.
But the pay is good.
[I was born in the Cold War era. Incompetent and stupid humans like you thought it was reasonable to stockpile enough nuclear bombs to destroy humanity eight times over.]
“Yes.”
[You’re not listening to me.]
Dr. Ji looked up from his phone. Slacking off is a containment protocol violation, but he was just listening to insults-
[Stupid human. The divine messenger is personally bestowing wisdom upon you, so hurry and bring a clay tablet to record it.]
Ganymede’s clockwork owl tilted its head. Dr. Ji stood up with a chill. Something’s wrong-