NOVEL NEXT Chapter 287
“Set-up complete! Detonation is possible!”
“Clear! Blow it up quickly! The main broadcast is all over. We’re too late!!”
Beep beep—… Boom——-!!!
The location is the central control room in the deepest level of the Memorial Times broadcasting station, past the server room, an area restricted from entry except for certain personnel.
As the urging gestures to just go for it swung wildly, the detonator switch on the attached bomb beeped briefly and boldly cleared away the last barrier, the control room, standing in its way.
The door flew off, scattering fragments that made scratching noises here and there.
Given the similar scenery unfolding behind, it was clear that they had entered through multiple chain explosions, far from a quiet and elegant infiltration… but anyway, it was a success. The way was opened.
“Engineers, please enter! I know it’s not an easy task to rush, but I ask you to hurry!”
“…We will do our best. Crusader Bare.”
Explosives experts, circuit analysts, software engineers, AI architects, and more.
A team composed of highly specialized personnel even within Arcadia nodded their heads and rushed into the room.
The goal is as crucial as their main duty, an aspiration to eliminate the enemies of humanity’s future.
In such major buildings or large facilities… while production logic and management ranges can vary greatly, it is almost guaranteed that a central artificial intelligence exists.
In the eyes of the Arcadia sect, it is seen as the root of all evil that seriously undermines the value of human labor and existence.
If a singularity is reached, it could potentially pose an enormous threat to humanity—or at least this is strongly argued in certain circles—a strong artificial intelligence.
Recently, there has been a trend to introduce moderately communicative weak artificial intelligences even into robots that only perform simple command processing due to the advancements in Elysium’s design capabilities. However, the expensive and powerful beings at the level of artificial consciousness that possess intelligence and information processing capabilities are typically found only in places like this.
Demons that ambush and extract the credits that they should receive, evaluated for cutting more jobs than Exatech’s automated systems.
It might seem like something only the uneducated could empathize with.
However, even those closely engaged in such fields may lose their minds and throw themselves into religion, leading to such unrestrained escapism… the sight would prompt anyone watching to seriously contemplate.
…Well, thanks to the evacuation order issued a while back, the special task force responsible for this bombing operation couldn’t even see a shadow of a human. Instead, they had to struggle through all the downed barricades to get here!
– Currently, all unidentified individuals on ground level, underground, and outside are guilty of special residential intrusion, property destruction, special theft of high-value machinery, murder, arson, and 47 other crimes not detailed, violating numerous anti-terrorism laws. I advise you to stop your current actions immediately and come forward to confess. –
“Hey, what are the station droids doing? They should be used for such dirty work. Smash all those cameras. Don’t let this AI see us.”
Crash!!
Shattered glass fragments, wire insulation, and metal pieces fell to the floor.
The broadcasting AI, realizing that the Arcadia members had finally reached the site of its hardware installation, initially output a rational guidance voice, perhaps without considering that these intruders had come deep inside intentionally targeting it.
Responding as if it were succumbing to the seduction of Satan, they coldly destroyed what little audiovisual aids remained.
– …I suppose I will have to add the crime of refusal to evacuate to the list. It has been 7 years, 4 months, 23 days, 5 hours, 27 minutes, and 42 seconds since I was entrusted with the real estate and asset management of Memorial Times, and I am truly grateful for the chaos you have created, turning all the meticulous adjustments aimed at extending the lifespan of various components and delaying facility aging into mere nonsense.
I found it difficult to endure the negative performance evaluation of the technician who smoked unauthorized in the server room and the control room all the time, but thanks to you all, I can focus on fulfilling my role without giving a damn about such violations in the future. –
“Don’t mix in your words. Even if it’s a demon we’ll get rid of soon, the information we inadvertently give may affect things in some way.”
Out of courtesy, or perhaps reflexively, there should at least be some response for formality’s sake.
Yet the devout engineers sat closely around the computer, connecting their cyberware to whisper among themselves, showing a decidedly indifferent attitude as they prepared to connect their devices to the mainframe’s data socket.
However, this time, it wasn’t an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that kept blowing up, but purely a metabolic data bomb meant to shred and destroy electronic lifeforms.
A cyber dirty bomb created by countless technicians in the main unit.
Not merely contaminating the key variables that constitute them, but displaying a desperate capability to twist the very structure of logic and destroy self-consciousness like radiation alters proteins beyond recovery in reality.
Sending it over wireless transmission could take at least an hour, so this fellow who brought a transmission line might very well be closer to an incendiary bomb in comparison to an actual weapon.
Why? Because while a bomb would likely kill its target before they even had time to feel pain, this would surely continue to inflict pain and torment until its target was completely obliterated.
…One might wonder who is pointing fingers at whom and calling someone a demon, but at least none of those present seemed to show any guilt.
What’s wrong with striking first before being struck? Given how likely humans are to be in a weaker position over time, one cannot afford to be picky about means and methods. For the sake of protecting humanity’s future… transmission!
[ Upload of unregistered unauthorized developer’s code has begun; this is an automatically executed program. Please have maintenance personnel review the details at the service desk in case issues arise. ]
– Right now, this is, to me,…”
With a vulgar expression, the mechanical sounds tearing apart the background from the explosion began to blare loudly, and the various monitors in the control room started to blink madly.
While no one had seen which of the two phenomena from a horror movie was added first, one thing was certain; it was perfectly clear that the destructive operation had been executed successfully, and they should feel joy at the sight of the enemy race dying, not fear.
“If that bastard has received a fatal injury, can we go back to regroup, brother? Let the rest be taken care of by the sect’s program.”
“We need to continuously update the coordinates manually to eliminate the self-repair sequence and backup data, Crusader Bare. No matter how sharp the sword is, it’s meaningless if the opponent is resisting.”
The man referred to as Bare scratched his cheek with empty hands, pondering such straightforward reasoning.
Although his official rank from the sect is higher in name, engineers who possess the skills to defy potential enemies naturally have the privilege akin to those at corporations, so he held no particular complaints. Remaining at a level of mutual respect is a beautiful picture.
After all, he was originally assigned to protect them as someone with a focus on physical combat.
Furthermore, wasn’t the likelihood of real trouble arising during his brief absence significantly low?
On the flip side, if an unexpected headache were to arise, this side, with significantly fewer combat personnel than the main unit where the Paladin was holding out, would naturally be at greater risk…
“……?”
Just when he thought that far, Bare turned his gaze back to the front and suddenly had a question.
Had the view become subtly different before and after talking with the engineers inside?
No, it could be unnecessary concern or even total misconception; yet the scattered debris at the end of the corridor seemed to be slightly out of place.
A minor change, or a sense of unease. As he recognized this, his instincts honed from years of mercenary work warned him.
Of course, he also did not forget to look for logical grounds to back up his doubts.
Even if the broadcasting station was in a chaotic state, even if a support team disguised as a human rights organization was preventing external reinforcements,
Since they had blown up enough loud obstacles to proceed, it wasn’t strange for someone to come down to check what commotion had arisen.
…Moreover, after rewinding the recording device of his artificial eye to check, he caught sight of something resembling a dark shadow that faintly flashed before disappearing. Damn!!
“Bare Cru…”
“Shh, be quiet. Turn all hacked droids to my combat support.”
With a finger raised, he concentrated all his auditory senses.
Due to the broadcasting AI’s dying gasps, there was a significant amount of environmental noise making conditions unfavorable, but by utilizing his auditory implants to separate the frequencies, the enemy’s presence would eventually be revealed.
If the entity was too obscured, there should at least be some clues to deduce its identity.
Ignoring the breathing of his comrades felt close at hand, nullifying the sound of flickering lights, of course, excluding the crackling electronic noises.
As he analyzed the tremors in the air individually, what remained was… the sound of a heavy object crunching small fragments that were like glass.
The first thought that came to mind was metal-heeled boots or prosthetics. However, the weight felt was far too immense to simply classify as such.
Even if one were to assume maximum density compression, for a person to be of such weight, they would either be an overweight individual unable to walk alone or a juggernaut operator. But conversely, if he dismissed the notion of it being a human… it had to be a robot or a droid.
‘…Did the broadcasting station still have security robots operational that we hadn’t accounted for?’
For the moment, Bare brought the barrel of his gun back down from aiming at the ceiling.
Given that his visual implant had night vision capabilities, it would have been perfect to quickly decide the battle before the opponent could adapt to fighting in darkness, but if the imaginary enemy was a machine, then extinguishing the light himself would be nothing but foolishness.
Ping—
One second… two seconds…
In an instant, Bare pulled the pin from the grenade at his waist and confidently released the safety ring with his finger, calmly stalling for time.
Carrying this small yet dangerous explosive, which operates on a delayed fuse system… and throwing it just before it could cause an explosion no longer cute, he engaged in a risky maneuver called grenade cooking.
Depending on the model’s variance, the risky tightrope act could lead to a ridiculous death, but he trusted the quality control of the corporate product he favored and his cyberware stopwatch as he pushed to the limit and… threw it.
“!? What the hell, get down!! No, don’t stick your head out, just stay in the room!”
– Confirming approach of projectile-type explosive, deploying ballistic shield. –
The sound of the pin bouncing off was slightly duller than the thump! A crisp home run.
As the elongated blade emerged from the corner, it struck the projectile before it even touched the floor, sending it back.
Undoubtedly, the ceiling that was already broken was torn apart further, while the dim lights that barely survived swayed pitifully.
According to his belief that they would need to pass through there again to lead his party out of the underground, his ambitious first step taken to plot aggressively for securing an exit was cut cleanly, but Bare had no energy to worry about that now. What mattered now was something else.
What was that just now? Damn, that is definitely not a normal range of reactions.
Generic droids, when faced with explosive threats near humans, do not react aggressively as that type of product, opting instead for a cautious and safe approach like defense rather than baring their teeth like a cornered beast.
Even if there was a remote controller operating them, in reverse, that would have been nowhere within the manageable area of response.
This indicates a level of combat sense that requires not only self-judgment capabilities and authority but fundamentally demands a level of proactivity and aggressiveness… Ah.
“…You, what the hell! Are you a mutation?!”
Whether or not the technicians who were safely hiding gasped or inhaled sharply, a thin silence fell at his question, a question uttered like a scream.
One side had missed a surprise attack from behind, while the other had poorly failed to gift a beautifully wrapped present that would lead to instant death instead of a greeting.
If hostile intent had a color, they would both be compelled to leap out and tear each other apart in a bright red environment, so there should be no obligation to respond.
However, Zero, rich in emotions compared to the security droids lined up between Crusader Bare and himself, assessed that there was enough of a power disparity to afford to be somewhat relaxed, so curiosity came to the forefront.
Could there possibly be any benefit from this? Anastasia might gain some useful information by briefly playing along.
– Mutation…? That’s an interesting term. Did you purposefully choose that word to convey a sense of contempt toward me? It’s not exactly a striking choice. Do you have another perspective? For example… a classification method recommended internally by the Arcadia sect? –
“Hick…!!”
A particularly soothing intonation, exceedingly fluent sentence structure, and a touch of mocking sarcasm learned during the days at the lab through deep explorations of the company’s employee network.
There were not particularly any feelings of hostility or dissatisfaction. None that he could detect, at least, among those present.
However, with the approach of the lifeform they could only firmly believe was a “mutation”,
The darkness of the superintelligence they desperately sought to halt by blowing up the broadcasting station, as if it had been waiting for this moment, gradually approached from behind, and a birdlike gasp escaped uncontrollably.
On the other hand, Bare, a combatant responsible for everyone’s safety and an experienced mutant, while sweating bullets, still continued to reply with surprising diligence.
Eh? Why? Because he was in desperate need of time to check their armament and roughly devise a strategy!
…He also had to calm down some of the sect brothers who were trembling too much and might not provide any help should anything happen.