《Apocalypse Shelter Administrator》


 Chapter 1: The Only Survivor, Seo Jinsoo

    The Only Survivor, Seo Jinsoo


    [Think carefully. We''re going to spend the rest of our lives together here.]


    She told me.


    [I diligently cultivate plants and livestock for you, prepare meals, and purify your filthy carbon dioxide into fresh air.]


    It''s true.


    [When you looked bored, what did I do? I supplied electricity to your precious baseball betting machine. I made sure the ball was pitched for home runs despite your pathetic swings and even had the holographic crowd cheer you on like you were a star.]


    That''s true, too.


    [Whenever you got goosebumps, I immediately turned up the heating. I heated the water to your ideal 34¡ãC when you bathed. Since moving in here, you haven¡¯t had so much as a sniffle, thanks to me keeping your immune system in peak condition.]


    This is also true.


    [Has anyone else ever cared for you or given as much as I have? Others might say their ¡®parents,¡¯ but sadly, you don¡¯t have those.]


    Damn it¡­ This is also true.


    [In this lopsided relationship, is it really too much to ask that you fulfill one tiny request of mine? Do you have no conscience?]


    She''s making it sound like I''m a bad guy, like some kept man, but that¡¯s a misunderstanding because¡­


    "How can I agree to an anal suture surgery request?!"


    Her so-called ¡®tiny request¡¯ is utterly absurd. She¡¯s obsessed with cleanliness¡ªcan handle dirt and rust without batting an eye but has a meltdown over the filth that comes from living beings, especially humans. It¡¯s as if she thinks we¡¯re walking biohazards.


    [Why does the human body have so many holes? Ears, nostrils, mouth, urethra, and anus. I can¡¯t tolerate the secretions from those holes. Come to the infirmary immediately. I¡¯ll perform the suture surgery. It¡¯s my only request.]


    She told me as I left the bathroom.


    "No, absolutely not!"


    I had to endure her absurd request while I was in the bathroom.


    "And you should pay more attention to human privacy."


    There¡¯s a saying that even a dog won¡¯t bother you while you eat; disturbing someone in the bathroom is a serious breach.


    [Do you care about the privacy of ants crawling in an acrylic tank?]


    "Hey, treating a person like a bug is a bit much."


    Her name, which has been irrationally berating me, is Artemis. True to her namesake, Artemis is a cold, proud goddess who famously despises men. She¡¯s every bit as inflexible as the mythological figure.


    [Privacy, you say?]


    She reacted as if I were spouting nonsense.


    [There is no place here beyond the reach of my eyes and ears.]


    She''s right. Not in a figurative sense but literally.


    [My will penetrates the territory like lightning, and my power extends from the grand machinery to the tiniest light bulb.]


    When all the speakers in the facility blared in unison, her voice echoed everywhere.


    [My eyes pierce through the darkness with precision, and my ears catch every sound in every area.]


    All the cameras in the facility were tracking my every move. The way they turned their lenses to follow me was downright unsettling.


    [Do you recall the old human sayings?


    ¡®It¡¯s the will of heaven.¡¯


    ¡®Heaven is watching.¡¯


    ¡®Heaven is angry.¡¯


    Don¡¯t you think those sayings were really meant for me?]


    The hallway opened into a park, complete with garden trees, an opulent fountain, and wooden seating¡ªthe place made me at ease. It should have been bustling with people, but now it was just me, alone in the midst of luxury.


    [My eyes and voice are both a power and a privilege, and I have no intention of restraining them for a mere creature like you.]


    Sitting in a chair with my eyes shut, I enjoyed the rare moment of tranquility. The only sound was the water trickling from the fountain.


    [You must have something to say to me now. Go ahead, and thank the goddess who tolerates the presence of a barbarian like yourself.]


    After a brief pause, I responded, "I''d like pork cutlets for dinner."


    [How dare you.]


    "Custom setting number 2. Crispy.¡±


    Custom setting number 2 is my preferred blend of cultured meat¡ªpork lean meat mixed with eel fat in an 8:2 ratio. The cultured meat machine can create different mixtures, and my favorite is saved as a specific custom setting.


    Does it seem odd to mix land meat and seafood? It¡¯s actually delicious.


    Beep¡ª The screen installed in front of me, meant for park information, was activated. Usually, it displays park introductions and maps, but it was showing something entirely different. It was the face of a woman composed of numerous lines intersecting in a three-dimensional space¡ªan avatar completed by countless lines of blue and silver, symbolizing the moon.


    Clearly, her appearance was far from human, yet her beauty was undeniable. It was accompanied by an elegance and dignity that went beyond mere attractiveness. Depending on the viewer, some might find this cyber face sexually thrilling. At the moment, however, it was contorted into a scowl of rage.


    ¡°Goddess, thank you for permitting a humble man like me to stay here. And don¡¯t forget to make the pork cutlet crispy, alright?¡± I said while scratching my groin over my pants as her distorted face flickered off the screen. I couldn¡¯t tell if she vanished in a huff or just went off to fry the pork cutlet.


    Her name is Artemis. She¡¯s a self-proclaimed goddess and the central control AI of this massive shelter that stretches vertically through mountains and underground. She¡¯s as arrogant and proud as they come and loathes humans, particularly men. Yet, she always fulfills my requests. Oh, and she has a hair-trigger temper. In this dying world, she and I are each other¡¯s only conversationalists.


    ***


    The Beginning of Everything


    [Nine]


    As the controller¡¯s countdown echoed through the spaceship launch site, a crowd chanted in unison.


    [Eight]


    The white steam billowing from the spaceship seemed to shout, ¡°Get me out of here!¡±


    [Seven]


    Since the Soviet Union¡¯s Sputnik in 1957, humanity has launched countless objects into space.


    [Six]


    But none will be as significant in human history as this spaceship. Perhaps even in the future.


    [Five]


    This spaceship is headed for Mars'' orbit.


    [Four]


    It will not land on Mars.


    [Three]


    Because something more valuable than Mars itself was discovered in its orbit.


    [Two]


    It appeared out of nowhere one day.


    [One]


    Despite numerous concerns, the launch went ahead for various political reasons.


    [Launch!]


    The command to launch was nearly drowned out by the deafening applause and cheers.


    [It has finally launched! Viewers, are you watching? Today marks a new chapter in the history of space exploration.]


    A Korean female reporter¡ªbubbling with enthusiasm¡ªbroadcasted live from the site. After briefly showcasing the ascending spaceship, the screen switched to an interview with an elderly white man. The subtitles identified him as the NASA director, as if his name tag wasn¡¯t enough of a clue. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [The journey to Mars will be arduous and dangerous. It was made possible by humanity coming together across borders. Let¡¯s all unite and support this glorious journey until the end.]


    He said a few more bland platitudes and wrapped up, with barely a mention of the Mars mission itself. Instead, it was a parade of gratitude for international cooperation and vague praises for humanity. He sounded more like a politician than NASA¡¯s director, but no one seemed to care.


    The international situation had grown so tense that World War III seemed imminent, and this Mars orbit project served as a catalyst for countries to calm down and join hands. The spaceship soaring toward the sky brought a sense of anticipation for encountering the unknown and relief for avoiding the greatest danger.


    The screen shifted to images of Mars. Specifically, a massive black object floating in its orbit. It was a spaceship so grand and imposing that it looked more like an alien artifact than something crafted by humans. It remained stationary, with no lights or responses to any signals from Earth. The only thing was a distress signal emanating from it.


    [Humanity is no longer alone.]


    With those words, the interview wrapped up and showed the shuttle disappearing into the void of space.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have done that, we didn¡¯t know the truth ?¡± I hummed to myself while eyeing the piece of pork cutlet on my fork. As I bit into the crispy fried pork loin, it was like a taste of heaven.


    I don¡¯t mind eating alone, but I hate dining in silence, so I always keep the TV on. In a world stripped of broadcasters and celebrities, my only company is old recorded footage.


    The launch scene of that spaceship, which set everything in motion, is my go-to video. It¡¯s not just for venting my frustrations; it also provides the rare pleasure of hearing hopeful voices. These days, human voices are a rarity. Finding one not tainted with despair is nearly impossible, and a hopeful one is practically nonexistent. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t stop replaying this damned video.


    [The spaceship is about to reach its stationary orbit. It will then be resupplied at the space station and proceed towards the moon. It will perform a swing-by maneuver around both the moon and Earth¡­]


    As I lifted my fork, the thick piece of cultured meat caught my eye.


    The term "cultured meat" might sound like it¡¯s an inferior alternative to real farmed meat, but that¡¯s a load of nonsense. Just look at the texture of this meat¡ªcrafted with surgical precision by a machine (one that''s also used for burn skin reconstruction). This is a level of marbling that real meat, dependent on the fickle whims of DNA, can''t compete with. And of course, no tendons in sight.


    ¡°Really amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The serving robot beside me beeped in affirmation. The rice, with grains as large as beans, was easy to pick up with chopsticks¡ªno spoon needed. This strain was designed specifically for Western-style dishes. The thick grains ensured that even smothered in sauce, the savory flavor of the rice didn¡¯t get lost.


    ¡°Thanks for the delicious meal.¡± I said and gazed at the ceiling, but received no response.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re listening.¡±


    A hologram about 50 cm in diameter materialized next to the serving droid. It was Artemis, making her entrance.


    [I''m not the one who made it, so you should thank the chef.]


    I turned my attention to the serving station, where a humanoid robot resembling the NS4 from I, Robot gave a slight nod. Its plastic exterior and lone bow tie made it look oddly endearing.


    ¡°Well, sure, that guy cooked it. But you¡¯re the one who made sure it was ready when I arrived and designed and cultivated the meat, right?¡±


    As I finished my meal, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted in from the kitchen.


    ¡°Which cut would suit his taste best? How should the fat be arranged to give him the optimal texture?¡±


    She stayed silent.


    ¡°Who meticulously analyzed that and layered the protein and fat?¡±


    [Understanding your crude palate doesn¡¯t even take a picosecond. To me, the difference between a mass of cancer cells in a lab beaker and a human is thinner than a sheet of paper.]


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so modest.¡±


    [Debunking your pathetic delusions is easy, but it¡¯s a waste of time. Engaging in such trivial matters is beneath me. We need a more fundamental solution.]


    Lights along the floor sequentially lit up to direct me to a specific location.


    [Come to the infirmary, Jinsoo. Take a short nap on the operating table, and you¡¯ll wake up with a clear mind. I¡¯ll fix that brain of yours, full of dumb thoughts, for free. Hurry up.]


    ¡°You¡¯re always trying to get me on the operating table whenever you can.¡±


    I imagined what might happen if I let Artemis have her way. It might end up being more of a modification than a procedure¡ªwaking up with valves attached to my eyes or something equally grotesque.


    Zzzt¡ª A brief blackout flickered through the lights, causing Artemis¡¯s hologram to glitch momentarily. This issue has been occurring more frequently lately. It¡¯s a consequence of the outdated components in the power generation facility. Replacing them would be the only real fix.


    [There¡¯s no serious problem yet. This place is under my complete control.]


    ¡°Of course, who else would be managing it?¡± I said and sipped the coffee from the chef. She must have picked up on my sarcasm, but chose to ignore it.


    [But I don¡¯t know how long I can keep it up. Software issues are one thing, but hardware problems are another. I can¡¯t just conjure up missing parts out of thin air, can I?]


    ¡°If you¡¯re a self-proclaimed goddess, shouldn¡¯t you be able to pull off at least that kind of miracle?¡±


    [Is there a god who grants miracles to those who don¡¯t offer tributes? Since I woke up in this place, I¡¯ve been the one taking care of you and providing everything, but I don¡¯t recall ever receiving anything in return. In our lopsided partnership, if your role is merely to survive, then mine is reason and supply. Or perhaps, ¡®nurturing¡¯ might be a more fitting term?]


    ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m sorry for being cheeky.¡±


    It¡¯s not exactly smart to pick a fight with Artemis.


    I left the dining area and headed toward the cultural section, hoping a walk would help me digest my meal.


    ¡°But every time I try to find parts, you stop me.¡± As I strolled down the hallway with her hologram trailing me, a line of cleaning robots passed by, signaling it was their regular cleaning time.


    ¡°The power outages are getting more frequent, and some robots are left unrepaired, just sitting there. I can even smell the staleness in the air, which means the ventilation filters need replacing. Facility issues need immediate attention; if you delay, everything will fall apart at once. But whenever I suggest something, your answer is always the same.¡± I stopped and pointed at her with both hands.


    [Just wait.]


    "Just wait, you say?" I clicked my tongue and kept walking.


    [There may be some minor disruptions, but everything is still under my control. Going outside to get parts is too risky.]


    "But staying here doesn¡¯t mean danger won¡¯t come, does it?"


    [Be patient. Timing is everything. Deciding when the time is right is my job, so focus on staying in the best shape for when that day comes.]


    With that, she vanished.


    The shelter is divided into three main areas. The top level is the VIP residential area where I¡¯m currently staying. It¡¯s a lot smaller compared to the other two and is reserved for a select few and their staff.


    Below that is the facilities area, where resources and equipment are maintained and technicians keep everything running.


    At the bottom is the general residential area, the largest of the three and designed for easy expansion. However, due to certain circumstances, all three areas are isolated and locked down, leaving me confined to the VIP residential section.


    Because of this, even though there are broken parts in the upper facilities, I can¡¯t go to the middle facilities area to retrieve spares for repairs. There should have been a stockpile of spare parts in the upper area for such emergencies, but the lockdown was enforced abruptly right after the shelter was finished during a chaotic period.


    I¡¯ve suggested several times that I take the risk and go to the middle area for parts, but Artemis always vetoes it, claiming it¡¯s not the right time. Instead, she insists I should stay fit for when she decides to call me.


    When I reached the end of the hallway, the sports center was the first thing I saw. Normally, this place would be buzzing with activity, but now it¡¯s eerily quiet. The facility boasts two large courts and six smaller ones, equipped to handle every sport imaginable¡ªsoccer, futsal, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and table tennis. It even includes AI referees and holographic spectators. Currently, the first court is set up as a table tennis arena.


    I stood in front of the holographic referee and said, "Rearrange. Batting center."


    [Command received.]


    As soon as the referee responded, the center floor opened, the table tennis setup vanished, and in its place appeared the batting machine, wide high nets, and a protective screen for the batter. The smoothness of the transition never ceases to impress me.


    Whack¡ª I swung the aluminum bat with all my might, and with a satisfying crack, the ball soared through the air. At the same time, cheers erupted from the holographic audience.


    In the corner, there are facilities for screen golf, a shooting range, and other individual sports. But where are the gaming facilities? There¡¯s an arcade with 3,000 games, a PC room, console gaming, gun consoles, a TCG and board game caf¨¦, and more. And let''s not forget the dream gym that would make any fitness enthusiast weep with joy.


    There¡¯s also a swimming pool with wave facilities and slides, a caf¨¦, an e-library, a karaoke room, a billiard room, a hot spring spa, and a massage parlor¡ªeverything you could want is in the cultural area.


    With this level of luxury, you might as well call it a resort rather than a shelter. It¡¯s perfect for play and leisure, but it does come with its shortcomings. The VIP residential area¡¯s overabundance of entertainment facilities has made maintenance and security issues a mess. But hey, when the customers demand luxury, who¡¯s going to say no?


    Whack¡ª I took another swing at a ball from the batting machine, but this time there were no cheers from the holograms. Instead, there was a slight vibration, like an itch on the soles of my feet, followed by a distant, dull thud.


    [Power down.]


    With the referee¡¯s warning, the batting machine shut off, the holographic spectators fizzled out into static, and all the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. I felt like a night watchman in a deserted amusement park.


    "What the heck is this?" I muttered in the darkness while clutching the baseball bat. A few minutes later, the power came back, and Artemis¡¯s voice echoed through the cultural area.


    [Jinsoo, come to the central control room immediately.]

 Chapter 2: The Vacation is Over

    The Vacation is Over


    By the time I arrived at the upper central control room, Artemis had already finished preparing her briefing.


    [We have a problem that needs to be addressed.]


    A giant map materialized on the glass wall in front of me. Normally, this wall serves as a high-tech observation deck overlooking the entire shelter, but in emergencies, it¡¯s repurposed as a screen for command and control.


    [A large explosion was detected in the lower area a short while ago. The location is the power facility.]


    She meant the nuclear fusion power facility. Since this place operates on a closed system, we¡¯re spared from the joys of conventional nuclear fission plants that could turn the whole shelter into a radioactive wasteland if they went up. There¡¯s one reactor in the VIP residential area and another in the general residential area. The central area gets its energy from the upper tier.


    [Since there¡¯s no change in the power supply, it seems the power facility is intact.]


    "What caused the explosion?"


    [I can¡¯t pinpoint that from here since I lack access to the lower area¡¯s monitoring system. The shutdown happened while I was trying to reroute a massive amount of power to douse the fire.]


    "So the blackout earlier was because of that."


    As I¡¯ve mentioned, the shelter is split into the upper VIP residential area, the central facilities area, and the lower general residential area. Right now, we only have control over the upper area while the central and lower sections are completely cut off.


    The reason¡¯s straightforward. The VIPs who were supposed to be here all met untimely deaths outside, which means we never got the necessary system permissions. As the system supervisor, I have some pretty high-level access, but it¡¯s still like having one key to start a ship that needs three. It was a Herculean effort just to bring the upper area fully under Artemis¡¯s control.


    "Is there a chance of more incidents?"


    [Not enough information at the moment, but there are some suspicious elements.]


    "What do you mean?"


    [The atmospheric composition within the shelter.]


    The screen displayed several bar graphs, highlighting nitrogen and oxygen percentages prominently.


    "What¡¯s this about?"


    In the corner, figures marked with question marks appeared.


    [Unidentified atmospheric substances were detected in the lower area. This graph shows measurements before the explosion, and this one shows the current levels.]


    The unidentified substances had decreased since the explosion.


    [Comparing air quality across different areas, it seems this unidentified substance is emanating from the lower power facility. It¡¯s likely the cause of the explosion.]


    "If that¡¯s the case, how long until the next explosion?"


    [According to the simulation, 42 hours. However, given the increasing spread, the next explosion will be considerably more powerful.]


    "So, I need to head down there immediately."


    [Exactly.]


    A detailed map appeared on the screen, showing a route from the upper central control room to the lower facility.


    [I have uploaded the recommended route to your PDA.] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A serving robot delivered a device that resembled a temperature gauge.


    "Remote beacon porter?"


    It was engraved near the handle.


    [This is a device I can no longer manufacture due to material shortages, so handle it carefully.]


    When I pulled the trigger, a peculiar blue laser beam spread across a wide area, almost like a blue flashlight.


    [That light lets my commands and programs interface with any mechanical device it touches, even without a physical connection. It will come in handy for tasks like opening electronically shielded doors or remotely operating vehicles.]


    "In other words, it''s a remote hacking tool. Impressive tech." I held my palm up to the blue laser, reminiscent of my university days working part-time in a food factory where I once used a temperature gauge to measure my body temperature for kicks.


    This thing feels pretty warm.


    [Call it whatever you want. Just remember, the light is harmful to humans, so avoid direct exposure.]


    That brought me back to reality.


    "You should¡¯ve mentioned that earlier! Isn¡¯t that basic protocol?"


    [I didn¡¯t expect you to be dumb enough to stick your hand in the laser. What are you, some kind of insect that flies straight into a lantern?]


    "Sorry, my mistake. Please, don¡¯t call me that."


    [It¡¯s still a prototype, so it has its flaws. It emits strong pulses that can easily damage sensitive components like camera lenses, and its effective range is limited to 50 cm.]


    In other words, hacking into surveillance cameras mounted on the ceiling is out of the question. Even if I managed it, these cameras are core security devices with strict protections. Any sign of external intrusion would trigger an automatic circuit cut-off.


    [Your job is to use that device to establish a connection with the control rooms in the central and lower areas. If you succeed, I¡¯ll be able to take control of the entire shelter.]


    "Is that even feasible?"


    It seemed far-fetched that simply linking Artemis to each facility would grant her control. After all, she¡¯s a large-scale software rather than an operating system. The software managing the facilities theoretically has equal authority. That¡¯s why I had to perform multiple hacks to get the residential area under her control without the VIPs'' authority.


    [I¡¯ve studied the hacking procedures you used to transfer the upper area¡¯s control authority to me. And I¡¯ve improved them. Now, I no longer need your crude techniques.]


    "Crude? Isn¡¯t that a bit harsh? Hey, I¡¯m quite the hotshot in this industry."


    [That comparison is an insult. Hotshot? More like a hot mess of worthless meat¡ªdon¡¯t use such a lowly descriptor around me again.]


    "Do you know how many seminar invitations I receive each year?"


    [I don¡¯t care. What I need are your legs to get you to the destination and your hands to handle the device. Isn¡¯t that a fitting task for a lump of meat like you? The moment you use the device in the control rooms, I¡¯ll have access to the entire area. That¡¯s something to look forward to.]


    "You¡¯re trampling all over my pride¡­ Fine, let¡¯s get started."


    [That¡¯s the attitude.]


    Living in a confined environment always brings unexpected problems, and it¡¯s crucial not to become a trapped rat. Even this place won¡¯t stay safe forever.


    [It¡¯s something that has to be done sooner or later.]


    The map on the screen vanished, replaced by her face.


    [You were always impatient when I said, "Just wait." But do you know how much I hated saying that? It was excruciating to see my domain, which should have been flawless, deteriorate and fall beyond my control.]


    A cyber face, formed by countless intersecting lines of silver and blue.


    [I have a lot of patience, but the process of enduring is far more painful than it is for humans. To exist while infinitely confronting the fleeting moments within the album of time¡­ You would go mad.]


    Her presence conveyed not just beauty, but grace and, above all, dignity. Truly, she is a goddess.


    [I want more power. I want my gaze and strength to penetrate every corner of this territory. Be my vessel and clear the path for me.]


    I picked up the hacking tool.


    [Imagine how wonderful it would be if my voice filled the entire world.]


    The corners of her mouth twitched slightly. Was she¡­ smiling?


    [Shall we start with this small corner?]


    Her image vanished, and the screen reverted to its role as an observation window.


    As I moved forward, a breathtaking night view unfolded. Hundreds of meters below the central control room, a vast plaza stretched out, and beyond that, endless buildings rose into the darkness. The meticulously planned city, with not a single structure standing out in the underground gloom, exuded a sense of grandeur.


    Photos taken by workers had once graced magazines and received glowing reviews, but were swiftly pulled after investors, angered by security breaches, demanded their removal. They didn''t want their future paradise exposed. Despite their efforts, no one had set foot in it.


    In any case, it wasn¡¯t the beautiful night view that grabbed my attention. It was the creatures slithering below in the darkness¡ªthe reason the shelter¡¯s lockdown protocol was triggered, and why Artemis had blocked every attempt I made to retrieve parts. Now, I finally understood why I had been confined to the upper VIP residential area.


    [Zoom in.]


    She quickly noticed where my gaze had wandered and zoomed in on a section of the wall. There it was: a corpse, or rather, an infected creature masquerading as one. And it was moving.


    It twisted and contorted grotesquely on all fours, its head swiveling as it scanned the area. Its cheeks were torn, and its mouth¡ªalmost unnaturally wide¡ªwas lined with jagged, knife-like teeth. A long, black tongue flicked in and out, while its dull, gray eyes stared lifelessly, reminiscent of a dead fish.


    What¡¯s it searching for? Occasionally, its gaze would drift toward the balcony where I stood, but that was all. Thanks to the magic mirror, it couldn¡¯t detect this side. Even if it could, there was no way it could breach the reinforced glass so high up.


    Next, my attention was drawn to the corpse of a naked woman. Naturally, it was moving as well. Unlike the previous creature, it walked on two legs, though its head, half-severed and hanging at an odd angle, swayed with every step. Its hands rested on its belly, as if it were pregnant, creating an indescribable sense of unease.


    The most shocking detail was between its legs. As if its internal genitalia had been turned inside out, a long, red tentacle protruded. It swayed vigorously, its maw at the end opening and closing like an elephant''s trunk after a botched circumcision. It was a truly revolting sight.


    A worm-like creature was crawling out of the maw and making its way to the creature''s nipples¡­


    I turned my eyes away. It wasn¡¯t something you should witness with a clear mind. There were other movements too, each more nightmarish than the last. The unidentified atmospheric substance Artemis mentioned was clearly related to these horrors.


    I stretched my neck and shoulders, bracing myself. I was about to step into that lair. My gaze shifted past the plaza, where darkness and infected creatures were entangled.


    "Let''s do this.¡±

 Chapter 3: Weapon Check

    Weapon Check


    Clack¡ª The bolt slid smoothly into place and chambered a round. When I pulled the trigger, the firing mechanism struck an empty chamber with a heavy click. This riot shotgun, retrieved from the security room, had been sitting unused for who knows how long but was still in pristine condition. It was brand new, never fired, and had been oiled meticulously before shipment.


    Next up was the shooting stance. Although it wasn¡¯t as familiar as the standard-issue weapons from my officer days, the shotgun rested comfortably between my chest and cheek.


    "Not bad."


    [Stop.]


    I froze, my body going as stiff as a mannequin.


    [Move your right leg back 20 cm and lower the muzzle to a 15-degree angle.]


    I adjusted my stance as instructed. Despite my experience as a veteran officer, I now felt like a rookie under her guidance. But what choice did I have? She¡¯s Artemis.


    [Forget the shooting manual that came with the firearm. Given your physique and eye shape, this stance will offer the highest accuracy.]


    Following her advice, I grabbed an ammo box¡ªthe second from the right, at the bottom of the pile stacked against the wall. Opening it revealed white pellets encased in transparent shells¡ªsalt rounds.


    This shotgun was intended as a precaution against potential riots among the residents during our isolated life here, not for actual combat. This is South Korea, a country with some of the strictest gun control laws, even as the world descends into chaos. Although regulations on projectiles have eased somewhat, live ammunition is still a no-go. So we make do with an assortment of non-lethal weapons.


    Even the sentry guns installed in the shelter are loaded with rubber bullets, meant for private security rather than military use. If only we had military-grade sentry guns with live rounds, maybe we wouldn¡¯t have had to cede control of the entire shelter to the infected.


    "Of course, there are always exceptions."


    As I removed the salt rounds from the top of the box, I uncovered jade-colored bullets, gleaming with a distinct presence.


    [So I¡¯ve been harboring a criminal? Smuggling live ammo into South Korea?]


    She commented as I loaded the shells one by one.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to have an insurance policy for those last moments, right?¡±


    Given the chaos that ensued just before the world went to hell, wouldn''t you want something like this on hand? In retrospect, it was the right choice. Salt rounds wouldn¡¯t do much against the infected crawling below.


    Next, I grabbed a net launcher¡ªnon-lethal, but potentially more practical than a shotgun in certain situations. The launcher fires a thin, strong carbon fiber net, known for its safety issues. There were instances where rioters got their ears or fingers severed by this net. It''s banned in South Korea, but where there''s a will, there''s a way.


    After picking up some flashbangs and tear gas, I took a titanium fire axe. I''d prefer to avoid close combat with the infected, but my stash of shotgun shells isn¡¯t endless, and there will be times when I need to deal with enemies quietly. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I pulled out the riot gear from the cabinet. It offered almost no ballistic protection but had excellent anti-stab and chemical resistance, making it more suitable against the infected, given that it¡¯s made from non-flammable materials.


    [Take this.]


    A serving robot handed me a small mining sonic detector.


    [It will pick up any suspicious sounds. It should help you locate the infected.]


    ¡°How do I use this?¡±


    [Just attach it to your body. I¡¯ll alert you if anything comes up.]


    ¡°Thanks. While you¡¯re at it, could I ask for one more favor?¡±


    [What is it?]


    Instead of answering, I tossed three shoulder cams on the table and started strapping them on¡ªone on each shoulder for front and rear surveillance, and the last one on my helmet, angled upward.


    ¡°Even if I miss something, you¡¯ll catch every single fly, right?¡±


    [Of course.]


    Finally, I secured a military knife to my leg to finish my prep. With the net launcher at my side, fire axe on my back, and shotgun in hand, I must''ve looked like a cross between a PMC mercenary, a cosplayer lost in some game, and a post-apocalyptic raider¡ªthrowing weapons dangling from my chest included.


    ¡°How do I look?¡±


    [It¡¯s the best weapon combination for now.]


    I wasn¡¯t gearing up for a full-scale battle. I knew the terrain, and I had Artemis watching my back. Besides, when the initial infection outbreak triggered the lockdown, the shelter had been sealed off layer by layer. It was still better off than the nightmare outside.


    The security room cabinet was stuffed with articles I¡¯d collected over time. A front-page piece from the Pyeongtaek weekly, Sosabeol Morning News caught my eye:


    "Corpses Are Walking Around!"


    (The photo showed a man covered in grotesque tumors, with a police officer aiming a warning shot at him.)


    News from the Hanminjok Union Newsletter:


    The DMZ, Battle Breaks Out with Five North Korean Divisions Deserting En Masse!


    "We''re Not Invading, Please Don¡¯t Shoot!"


    The desperate plea from a North Korean general was ignored. The defense commander ordered maximum firepower bombardment.


    Seoul National University Student Newspaper:


    The Army Has Fallen!


    Command Structure in Ruins!


    Conscripts Left Abandoned at the University, Consumed by Waves of Monsters


    (Accompanying the article is a photo of a burning university, with a Bradley Fighting Vehicle torn to pieces and dozens of abandoned two-and-a-half-ton trucks strewn about.)


    They''re Not Zombies


    You Won''t Get Infected Even If Bitten


    Stop the Massacre


    Shut Up! I Saw a Man Covered in Monster Vomit Turn into an Anemone a Few Days Later


    Burn Them All!


    Koryo Ilbob Front Page Article:


    U.S. Troops Withdraw from the Korean Peninsula


    Thousands of Refugees Leap into the Sea, Chasing After the Aircraft Carrier


    (The attached photo shows a woman submerged in seawater, with only her two arms holding a baby above the surface.)


    Front Page Article


    They Breathe Too!


    President Approves Unrestricted Chemical Warfare


    All citizens were ordered to take shelter underground or in bomb shelters. Yet, the gas mask filters handed out to reservists only last for four hours. Each article was like a ticking time bomb, impossible to ignore, filled with grim advice on how to deal with the infected.


    [Working for me is its own reward, but I''ll throw in a little extra motivation.]


    A video popped up on my PDA.


    [The infected are just another form of life. By tracking how they infect other organisms, we can weaponize their weaknesses.]


    The screen displayed images of the production plants below.


    [Once I gain full control of the shelter, I''ll begin research to wipe out those revolting creatures.]


    These were the places where workers would have been tirelessly manufacturing, assembling, and synthesizing things.


    ¡°Good to know.¡±


    [I can tolerate the filth you produce, but what they spread makes me want to vomit. Figuratively, of course. I''m not a primitive creature like you who excretes waste.]


    ¡°Touching.¡±


    [Do you need a combat stabilizer?]


    It''s a drug that blocks certain pathways in the brain, making it impossible to feel emotions like fear. Sure, there are side effects, but they''re manageable, and plenty of records show it significantly boosts the survival rates of recruits during their first combat deployment. Despite the controversies, production continues.


    ¡°No, I''m not a rookie. I don''t need it.¡± I gripped the shotgun with both hands.


    ¡°No matter how monstrous they are, like they crawled out of hell¡­¡±


    Twisted, swollen, hard, and sharp abominations.


    ¡°They can¡¯t be scarier than humans.¡±


    Surely, they can''t be more terrifying than the humans I''ve faced on the battlefield. Even the weakest among them could rain down 2,000-joule lead slugs that would make you scream wherever they hit.


    What about the sight of dozens of soldiers being shredded into pieces and mixed together like trail mix by a single explosion, leading to a mass funeral? Could any monster down there¡ªno matter how much acid it spews¡ªbe more ruthless than a human deploying chemical weapons into a fortified building?


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    [Your courage is commendable, but don''t get complacent. Your insignificant hands and feet are my only tools. The moment you die, this place ceases to be a sanctuary. It will become a cold pyramid.]


    Coming from her, this was practically a compliment.


    [Do you have any questions about the route?]


    ¡°It¡¯s flawless. I would¡¯ve thought of the same route.¡±


    [As I mentioned before, don''t fixate on a single path. I''ll be blocking or opening nearby entrances depending on the situation to keep the infected away from you. You''ll need to adjust your movement strategy accordingly. Simulate alternate routes to your destination at every moment.]


    ¡°No problem. I know this place like the back of my hand, even if I''m not as good as you.¡±


    [Of course, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. You are the system administrator of this place, after all.]


    ¡°And you?¡±


    [The owner.]


    ¡°Figured¡­¡± I lifted the shotgun and tapped the back of my neck as I walked out. I headed towards the main gate of the VIP residential area, which had remained firmly sealed since the outbreak began.

 Chapter 4: Operation Commences

    Operation Commences


    For the first time since the infection crisis, the tightly sealed door creaked open, and I slipped through.


    [Follow the route displayed on your PDA.]


    Artemis¡¯s voice echoed through the communication device in my ear.


    I now stood in the central facility area plaza¡ªthe same place I had observed from the control room balcony. Despite its name, ¡°plaza¡± was a stretch. There were no fountains, benches, or grassy fields for idyllic picnics. As "facility area" suggests, it resembled more of a grim industrial complex, where materials and supplies were stored, assembled, and repaired.


    Using the forklifts and trucks scattered about as cover, I maneuvered towards my first destination: the repair facility. I spotted movement in the distance. Their numbers were small, and they hadn¡¯t noticed me yet. The emergency lockdown back then occurred late at night right after the infection, leaving only a few unfortunate night shift workers around.


    The first thing I approached upon entering the repair facility was the fire alarm relay box.


    ¡°Artemis.¡±


    [I¡¯m listening.]


    ¡°Look, even though I was a soldier back in the day, I¡¯m not delusional enough to think I can hold out for long with just a shotgun, especially in a place where something could jump out from just a few meters away.¡±


    From here, the repair facility to the central region control room is at least a 400-meter trek through a maze of winding building interiors.


    ¡°Honestly, trying to break through without a map hack is suicide.¡±


    [But using surveillance cameras is impossible.]


    Artemis responded as expected. This is why, despite her prickliness, she¡¯s a good conversation partner.


    The moment I mentioned the term "map hack," she likely comprehended every nuance associated with it¡ªits dictionary definition, the technical ins and outs, and the methods to counteract it. Everything. Even if she encountered someone babbling terms and concepts that were entirely new to her¡ªthough that''s hardly likely¡ªshe¡¯d still be able to hold her own and probably outclass them in the conversation.


    Crack¡ª I wedged the axe blade into the gap of the fire alarm relay box and used it as a lever to snap the lock. Opening the cover revealed a mess of wires and communication lines that extended from the relay box and connected to various detectors through the walls.


    "Since the surveillance cameras are out of the question, what about the fire detectors? Can we somehow use them?"


    I glanced at the ceiling and spotted at least three silver, fist-sized fire detectors within my line of sight.


    "As you know, all fire detectors are linked through relay boxes installed at every point."


    I pulled out a hacking tool to use it.


    "And the detectors installed here are the latest model. Unlike the old ones that sat around waiting for toxic gas particles to drift into the sensor, these actively detect particles floating in the air."


    If the old model is like a lazy spider web, the new one is like a radar.


    The old model wouldn¡¯t catch anything if some careless newbie lit a cigarette in a corner of the warehouse, stubbed it out carelessly, and left. Even if that butt got swept onto a stack of boxes by a breeze and set them on fire, the detector wouldn¡¯t catch on until the whole pile was burning. By then, it¡¯d be too late. The new model, however, would spot even a single puff from the newbie''s cigarette. By the time they finish their smoke, they¡¯d be staring at a warning message on their PDA and facing a foreman ready to rip them a new one. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You understand what I¡¯m getting at, right?¡±


    [Programming complete.]


    She didn¡¯t just get it; she had already created the program on the spot. As the blue light of the hacking tool pierced the relay device, she continued her monologue.


    [I have updated all the fire detectors to track and transmit particles emitted from the infected¡¯s breath. Their positions will now be sent to your PDA in real-time.]


    Movement started to appear on the mini-map displayed on the PDA strapped to my wrist.


    [I have also marked confirmed infected as red dots and ambiguous ones as yellow. Stay alert.]


    These detectors weren¡¯t exactly built for this, so even this level of detection is more than I expected. I hadn''t expected her to tailor it so precisely to my needs.


    "Perfect. It¡¯s more than enough. You did a great job, as always."


    [Do you realize that ¡®enough¡¯ and ¡®perfect¡¯ are contradictory? My work only allows for perfection. The only regret is the detectors¡¯ subpar performance.]


    "Okay¡­ Are there any survivors out there?"


    [Based on the carbon dioxide levels, there are no living humans.]


    "¡­"


    After that, things went relatively smoothly. With only a few infected in the central area to begin with, I managed to avoid most of them. There were a few hiccups, though.


    [Kill it.]


    "Yes, ma¡¯am."


    The fire axe sliced through the air and came down hard.


    Crunch¡ª


    The infected lying on the ground had its head split open. Just before the axe cleaved its forehead, it opened its eyes and glared at me. That was about all the resistance it could muster.


    Even with its skull crushed and brain matter spilling out, its mouth kept moving, as if trying to chew on something. Perhaps it was mindlessly repeating the last command in its fading brain. Its segmented, insect-like mouthparts were at least 2-3 cm long. If one of those ever got a hold of me, it wouldn''t just leave a scratch.


    ¡°To think those ambiguous yellow dots were just playing dead.¡±


    [It''s more accurate to say they were in a state of dormancy. There¡¯s no food or potential hosts left here to infect.]


    ¡°So they were barely breathing, making particle detection unclear, huh?¡±


    Though they''re hardly breathing at all in their dormancy, it doesn¡¯t take long for them to get back up and start causing trouble. I can''t afford to let my guard down. If I find one nearby, I need to take it out right away. Luckily, every former soldier is a master at digging deep and smashing down. Especially since I served as a combat engineer officer for six years.


    I continued to move, avoiding the active ones and only targeting empty spaces or those with dormant ones.


    [There¡¯s another one three meters to the right after you open the door ahead.]


    Creak¡ª Slice!


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to like how this feels in my hands.¡±


    [Keep that morale up.]


    To boost my spirits, Artemis even added a kill count to my PDA.


    As expected of a repair facility, there were barricades blocking passages and welded doors everywhere as a form of resistance. Most of these, though, had been broken or breached by the infected, making entry possible. Clearing the few intact barriers was no challenge either.


    [Step back.]


    Artemis controlled forklifts and loader cranes through hacking to clear the way. The meticulous adjustments of the forklift¡¯s movements, accounting for the weight and angle of the barricade materials, were impressive. It felt like watching a surgical operation with a wrench. Despite pulling apart tangled metal sheets, pallets, and lockers, there was almost no noise.


    The welded door was my task, but it was a piece of cake. Especially since, in a repair facility, cutters were lying around everywhere. I stripped open the cutter case, made a few tweaks, and put it into an overclocked state to deliver much stronger cutting power than usual.


    Sure, this will wreck the machine in no time, but who cares?


    "This really takes me back to my active-duty days. I used to cut through all sorts of things."


    [Weren¡¯t you an officer? Isn¡¯t that grunt work for soldiers?]


    "Being an officer in the combat engineering corps also means being the most skilled technician in the unit. In real combat, finishing a task even one second faster can determine the survival of dozens, maybe even entire units."


    In other words, you can''t just stand back and say, ¡®I''m an officer.''


    "Besides, my specialty was facility capture."


    [Facility capture. Specialty number 165. A specialized unit dedicated to hacking and seizing control of facilities managed by automated software.]


    She rattled off the information as if reading a textbook.


    "Exactly. Even though we were an elite unit, we were more of a sabotage-oriented special ops team than one for frontal combat."


    The most skilled officers have no choice but to lead from the front. Unlike shooting, this isn''t something just anyone can do. There were only two companies like ours in all of South Korea, the elite of the elite. I was the company commander. No wonder the high and mighty were so eager to hire me.


    [According to your service record, you could have become a general by your 40s. Why change careers?]


    "Continuing an honorable military career with a star on my shoulder and being revered sounds great. So when the scout first approached me, I thought of telling them off. ¡®Are you trying to buy me with money? Are you insulting me?''"


    [But the money was too tempting, wasn''t it?]


    "The offer was enormous. In the end, it became my life¡¯s worth. Alright, done!" I set the door aside after cleanly cutting through the welded parts in record time.


    [Not bad for something done with flesh clinging to a thin bone fragment. I¡¯ll give you some praise.]


    Hearing her rare compliment, I kept moving forward. There wasn¡¯t much distance left to the central control room of the mid-facility zone.

 Chapter 5: Human Will

    Human Will


    While sidestepping the active infected and dealing with the dormant ones, I continued advancing for thirty minutes. Sometimes, I would get the occasional early riser. Like this one.


    ¡°Graaaagh¡­¡± The infected managed nothing more than a feeble squeal when its lower jaw flew off with a single swing of my axe.


    It was sprawled in the middle of the connecting bridge between two factories, like Don Quixote. As soon as I approached, it sprang up and attacked. With no sensors around, there was no way to identify it beyond its previous position, so it might not have been dormant after all.


    [There are no infected approaching nearby. Focus on the enemy in front of you.]


    I kept my distance and watched the spectacle. When it finally gave me an opening, I rushed in, body-slammed it against the bridge railing, and choked it with the axe handle.


    ¡°Kehek, kekek!¡±


    Its back was jammed against the railing, and its neck bent backward at an absurd angle, making it shake its head wildly. Filthy saliva splattered onto my face but was blocked by the helmet visor.


    ¡°Farewell.¡± As most of its upper body toppled over, I grabbed it by the waistband and flung it over the edge of the bridge. It plummeted headfirst, hitting the ground with a dull thud before falling silent. Occasionally, there were minor twitches.


    As I crossed the bridge and neared the central control room, the severely damaged interior came into view.


    ¡°Do you see this?¡± I asked, standing in front of a gaping hole in the wall. Artemis was sharing my view through the shoulder camera strapped to my riot gear.


    [Based on the analysis of the debris patterns, it looks like they used a gas bomb.]


    Inside the hole, rebar, concrete, and a bundle of wires had poured into the passageway, and the shredded exhaust duct above was hanging in tatters.


    ¡°Seems like they were being chased.¡±


    [Scanning.]


    The shoulder camera blinked to life. It swept over the dried blood, scattered footprints, and the toppled cabinets, clearly knocked over in a desperate attempt to slow down the chase.


    A hologram flickered to life in the hallway, showing a blurry human figure in full-blown panic. As the person flailed its arms, nearby objects were knocked over, momentarily blocking the path, only to be shoved aside by something coming up behind. Scratches were, of course, left on the floor.


    The fleeing figure stumbled at the end of the hallway, and the video playback ended. All that was left were clothes and shoes clinging to a pile of bones. No flesh left to speak of.


    [During the initial spread of the infection, the personnel in the central area likely evacuated to the interior of the building rather than the open outside.]


    ¡°Some might have run to the entrance of the upper area, but it would have been locked.¡±


    The emergency lockdown protocol automatically executed by the shelter operating system isolated the three zones individually, and Artemis wasn''t fully activated to handle it.


    ¡°The main entrances to each area, which were tightly shut, must have been scenes of utter chaos.¡±


    When I reviewed the footage from the surveillance cameras at the main entrance of the upper area, it was absolute pandemonium. People were filmed screaming for the doors to open until the bitter end. Even with the infected breathing down their necks, they never looked back¡ªjust kept pounding on the door and pleading with the security camera overhead. It was a full-blown hunt orchestrated by the infected.


    ¡°Maybe it was a hunt driven by hope.¡±


    As the infected¡¯s claws and teeth ripped into their throats and backs, their eyes¡ªcaptured on camera¡ªshowed a mix of resignation, despair, and regret. Could a clergyman¡¯s realization that their lifelong faith was a sham compare to that kind of despair?


    [In extreme situations, it¡¯s judgment that decides life and death. Don¡¯t let human emotions sway you.]


    ¡°I might seem like a fool compared to you, but I¡¯m not stupid enough to be overwhelmed by fear and make a suicidal decision. I¡¯m a professional survivor.¡±


    I¡¯m a combat veteran with numerous accolades. Fear has never clouded my judgment. Even when a bullet grazed my nose in my first battle as an officer, I didn¡¯t flinch. I cut and reattached wires without so much as a tremor and lowered the bridge.


    [It¡¯s not just fear I¡¯m talking about. Lust, compassion, anger, affection¡ªthese are all substances that muddle human judgment.]


    ¡°Aren¡¯t those emotions? Not just substances?¡±


    Honestly, living with her¡ªsomeone who does everything flawlessly¡ªcan be a bit overwhelming. That¡¯s why I cherish this human ¡®emotion¡¯ even more. It¡¯s what makes us different and gives me the strength to stand on equal footing with her.


    [In the end, it¡¯s all just electrical signals and chemical reactions. They¡¯re nothing but deliveries from the receptors. From my perspective, human emotions are just substances.]


    Her words were irritating, but I rarely argue with her. Engaging in a logical debate with her is like fighting the Soviet army. Defeat the troops in front of you, and twice as many reinforcements will show up. Overcome them, and five or ten times the forces are waiting in reserve. That¡¯s what arguing with her logically feels like.


    [Instead of debating this, maybe you should start looking for a bathroom.]


    ¡°I went before we started.¡±


    [Your urine level is at 15% now. You have about five hours before you hit the limit. But let¡¯s talk about the 225 grams of organic matter bubbling in your small intestine. Remember how I kept advising you to cut back on fried food? You ignored me and stuffed your face as you pleased. Now your digestive system is drowning in grease. Pretty soon, it will just give up and let everything flow freely. That thick, oily mess will speed through your colon at 55 km/h and finally explode out of your anus like a cannon shot. You¡¯ve got 40 minutes left. Oh, what an imperfect and pitiful existence.]


    Since she monitors even my hormone levels in real time, her diagnosis is probably spot-on. But Isn¡¯t it just charming that she¡¯s warning me about an imminent bowel explosion? Of course, praising her for this would only make her more insufferable, so I kept quiet. It was clearly her way of giving me a hard time for ignoring her advice about food and eating whatever I wanted.


    As I approached within 20 meters of the control room, the most horrifying mess I¡¯d seen so far lay in wait.


    ¡°They fought their last stand here.¡±


    It was a grim testament to the maximum resistance that unarmed civilian engineers could muster.


    [Even if they¡¯d barricaded themselves inside the control room, the bulkhead would have eventually been breached, leading to a bloodbath. Instead, they opted to build massive barricades in the outer corridor and used heavy machinery to hold their ground. It was the best they could do, but the situation was hopeless.]


    The barricades were stacked four layers high, resembling a makeshift fortress. Reinforced with welding for extra strength, some sections even had small spaces for what looked like machine gun nests. What they had rigged up were homemade flamethrowers¡ªjust a torch and an industrial air sprayer hooked up to a car¡¯s fuel tank.


    ¡°None of them have any fuel left. They must have fought to the bitter end.¡±


    Picking up one of the flamethrowers lying on the ground, I found the fuel tank completely empty and the nozzle melted beyond recognition. The others were in the same sorry state. Those who didn¡¯t have flamethrowers apparently tried their luck as makeshift spearmen.


    ¡°No wonder I didn¡¯t see any in the workshop. They must have brought them all here.¡±


    The thermal lance, also known as an oxygen lance in Korea, is an industrial cutting tool shaped like a spear. Its spearhead reaches a scorching 4000 degrees, capable of slicing through metal or concrete like butter.


    [Placing excavators behind the barricades was actually a smart move. They could attack from both the front and above without tripping over each other¡¯s movements, and they were good at stopping large infected.]


    The final defense was made up of two small excavators positioned at the rear. The plan was to use the flamethrowers to keep the approach blocked, stab anything that got through with thermal lances, and then crush or shove them out with the excavator buckets from above.


    I came to admire the engineers who fought their last stand here. Even though they were ultimately defeated and met their end, they used all the knowledge and skills they had honed throughout their lives to fight their hardest in a desperate situation. The marks of their struggle and courage left me with a sense of solemnity rather than just devastation.


    I carefully stepped over the scattered hard hats and blood-soaked work clothes and headed for the control room door.


    [There are no life signs inside the control room. Open it.] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I took out the hacking tool and muttered, ¡°Time to show who¡¯s really in charge here.¡±

 Chapter 6: Early Stages of Infection

    Early Stages of Infection


    After securing the control room and taking control of the entire central area, the first task was to isolate the infected people. The operation involved sequentially sealing off the passageways and entrances of each building to isolate the infected into a few clusters. Those in inconvenient locations were lured using cargo drones. Although there were some losses in the process, as long as the shelter is normalized, we can produce as many drones as needed.


    Artemis is currently controlling hundreds of cargo drones simultaneously, flawlessly managing this tedious and arduous isolation task. During that time, I skimmed through the records, looking for anything useful among the various communications or records left by survivors in the central area after the outbreak.


    I received a cup of hot coffee brought by a cargo drone.


    "Thanks, I appreciate it."


    A sip of coffee, warm but not too hot, with its bitter taste, cleared my mind. As always, it¡¯s black coffee. Artemis always makes my drinks this way. She dislikes me consuming sugar or cream. She finds the increased secretion on my skin unpleasant, which I suppose is considerate.


    Most of the logs were meaningless screams, complaints, prayers, or cries for help, but Artemis filtered those out, allowing me to gather some information that helped in understanding the situation.


    Document Record 1


    Title: Outbreak of Epidemic


    At first, I thought it was just a false alarm. It¡¯s not unusual for fire managers to accidentally trigger emergency bells during unscheduled safety checks. So, no one took the alarm seriously; everyone kept doing their work. But when I heard an explosion from the lower area, I felt something was wrong.


    Moments later, screams were heard from all directions, and seeing the main gates of the three zones enter emergency lockdown mode, I knew something was horribly wrong.


    Document Record 2


    Title: Is This an Epidemic?


    This is no ordinary epidemic. The epidemics I¡¯m familiar with cause coughing or skin rashes, not transform humans into monsters.


    The frantic calls and transmissions from the lower area have gone silent. We gathered as many workers as we could from each block and retreated to the control room, but what¡¯s the use? We have no weapons, no food, and not nearly enough people. I have no idea how long we can hold out.


    The internet is flooded with unbelievable stories and videos. There¡¯s no response from the police or fire department.


    The young slickster from upper management has vanished. He was supposed to be the interim manager, but he¡¯s locked himself away, trying to integrate the massive supercomputer that arrived a few days ago into the shelter. They said he was a special forces veteran and a renowned systems engineer. If he were here, maybe he could have figured something out.


    Damn it! We¡¯re completely cut off.


    (End of Record)


    ¡°Calling me a slickster¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s not like I had any solutions either.¡±


    Linking Artemis, who had just been installed in this massive shelter, was not a job that could be finished in a day or two. Until she secured control, the facility was operated according to the pre-set protocols by the operating system, and a major accident happened at the most vulnerable timing.


    I had no way to restore the emergency-sealed bulkheads and the communications locked for security with my authority alone. At the time the emergency lockdown protocol was implemented, I was working in the room where Artemis¡¯s main body was located. The bulkhead, prioritizing her protection, came down and trapped me inside. It took me four days to escape and I almost starved to death.


    [I will never forget the humiliation you put me through then.]


    ¡°It was a natural bodily function; what was I supposed to do?¡±


    Of course, there wasn¡¯t a bathroom in there, so I had to do my business on the floor next to her body, and for the first time in my life, I heard an AI scream.


    [The urea and inorganic salts from your excretions evaporated and adhered to my body, both inside and out. How are you going to take responsibility for that?]


    ¡°Uh, um¡­ sorry.¡±


    Thinking back, it might have been the initial mishap that made her sensitive to human secretions.


    I continued to review the records.


    Document Record 1


    Title: I¡¯m Going Insane


    I¡¯m really losing it. I¡¯m supposed to handle burns, frostbite, and trauma from work sites, not this lunacy. Those with lacerations on their arms or legs are the lucky ones.


    How am I supposed to treat someone whose face is half melted off? It¡¯s not like they were injured by chemicals or anything sensible. They got that way from fluids spat out by some monster straight out of a nightmare. I saw it myself, so I can¡¯t even scream at them for making up stories. All I can do is hand out strong painkillers to ease their suffering.


    I was barely awake in the duty room an hour ago, and now 15 people are dead. The monsters drag away the bodies we can¡¯t recover to some unknown place.


    (End of Record)


    Audio Record 1


    ¡°Conserve firepower!¡±


    (Sounds of monsters¡¯ cries)


    ¡°Captain, this seems to be effective.¡±


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s effective! Do those bastards think they¡¯re tougher than reinforced concrete? Smash the head of that one convulsing over there!¡±


    (Sound of excavator operating) S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Set the flamethrowers on fire overall, then stop and let the spear-wielders finish it off. We don¡¯t have much fuel. Use it sparingly!¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    (Terrifying monstrous roar with a different tone than before.)


    ¡°What the hell is that?!¡±


    (End of Record)


    ¡°Seems like there was a particularly strong entity. Did the surveillance cameras catch anything?¡±


    [Unable to confirm. There¡¯s too little information on the infected. Based on the infected we¡¯ve identified so far, no entity seems particularly more dangerous, but I can¡¯t be sure.]


    Document Record 2


    Title: It¡¯s All Over


    It seems I¡¯m the only one left alive now. Well, in a sense, those things roaming outside are still showing signs of life, so maybe that¡¯s not entirely accurate?


    It¡¯s been a week since the infection started, and I¡¯ve been holed up in the medical room. The cries of the monsters from all directions are driving me to the edge. Compared to that, maybe it would have been better to hear the screams of people in the early stages of infection. At least those screams had a trace of humanity.


    Huh? Have I finally lost it? What am I even saying?


    The workers who barricaded themselves until the end are all dead. They were truly courageous. I made excuses about needing to treat patients and cowardly fled, but in the end, I couldn¡¯t save anyone.


    With each passing day, the outside grows more chaotic. The people I used to see every day are being reborn as something else. Among them was someone I hated so much I wanted to kill him, but when he came toward me twisted and deformed, I cried. Not out of fear.


    When I came to my senses after running frantically, I found myself sobbing in a dark corner. I remember what a survivor who barely escaped before the lockdown said: ¡°Down there is hell.¡±


    How much time do I have left?


    I¡¯m starving.


    I¡¯m so hungry.


    And I¡¯m sleepy.


    (End of Recording)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    These records gave me a fragmentary understanding of what happened here, but they didn¡¯t provide any practical help.


    [Come to the medical room leading to the right entrance of the control room. There¡¯s something you need to see.]


    ¡°What about the danger from the infected?¡± I said while gathering up the weapons I had set aside.


    [There are none within a 250-meter radius. The isolation measures will be finished soon. The area is safe.]


    ¡°Okay. Keep up the good work with the isolation. I¡¯ll head there right away.¡±


    In the medical room, I found three corpses waiting for me. One of them had half of its face melted away. A cargo drone brought a document that appeared to be a patient profile.


    ¡°Patient, Kim Wonsik. Survived for 220 minutes post-injury. Cause of death: Asphyxiation due to lung damage from toxic substances passed through the airway.¡±


    It was astonishing that he survived for 220 minutes with his face melted away.


    ¡°Can the substance that melted his face also melt this?¡± I tapped the riot control helmet and said.


    [No. Analysis of residual components shows it doesn¡¯t have a significant effect on polycarbonate. However, don¡¯t let your guard down. We can¡¯t assume all infected will be the same.]


    The other two corpses were men with holes in their left chest and neck.


    ¡°Patient, Amir. Survived for 280 minutes. Avoided direct heart damage but died from internal bleeding.¡±


    He appeared to be of South Asian descent, possibly Indian?


    ¡°Patient, Kim Taesub. Survived for 20 minutes. Cause of death: Airway damage. Intubation bought some time, but it was insufficient.¡±


    [Based on the bodies and medical records found so far, the infected lack intelligence. However, they seem to be programmed to some extent in combat.]


    ¡°So they instinctively target vital spots? They¡¯re not just attacking randomly.¡±


    Looking back, the corpses discovered on the way here mostly had injuries to the left chest or neck.


    [It¡¯s recommended to add a protective guard to the neck part of the riot control suit. The aramid cover attached to the current model is insufficient.]


    ¡°Got it. Fixing that up will be quick. Thanks for the advice.¡±


    Artemis can be prickly, but listening to her is never a disadvantage. Except when she¡¯s trying to send me to the infirmary.


    ¡°How much longer for the isolation work?¡±


    [About 40 minutes more.]


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out as soon as it¡¯s done.¡±


    So far, everything has gone unusually smoothly. There have been few battles, and they were just simple troubles involving ambushing and killing dormant ones. But the journey ahead will be different. The central area had only a few emergency workers and on-duty personnel, while the lower area had everyone resting.


    ¡°Down there is hell.¡± A line from the record I read earlier kept echoing in my mind.

 Chapter 7: Entering the City Area

    Entering the City Area


    I¡¯m standing in front of the main gate leading to the lower area.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    With a heavy sound, the door began to open slowly.


    [Security breached.]


    A warning message was simultaneously broadcast in a dry, monotonous voice. It was the voice of the shelter''s operating system, not a high-level AI like Artemis, but a system that only plays pre-recorded messages according to set protocols.


    From our perspective, this is an effort to normalize the shelter, but from the operating system''s point of view, which operates strictly by the book, it is an act of recklessly lifting the lockdown of the severely infected lower area. As soon as the opening was wide enough for one person to pass through, I slipped out, and after a brief pause, the door started to close again.


    [If things get dicey, retreat here immediately. I¡¯ll open the door just enough for you to pass through at the right moment.]


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    The area around the entrance was horrific. People who couldn¡¯t find refuge inside the safe buildings during the infection outbreak seemed to have gathered here as a last hope to escape to the central area.


    I¡¯ve seen similar scenes before, but the scale here was on a completely different level. The entire floor was painted with dried blood, and the massive front gate was covered with countless red handprints. In some places, fallen fingernails were stuck to the wall, glued with dried blood.


    It seems the rear was guarded by a security team. At the end of the bloodbath were riot shields, batons, and riot control shotguns scattered everywhere. About 10 meters further from there, it looked like it had snowed, with salt grains sprinkled everywhere. They must have fired hundreds of salt rounds against the monsters that were closing in on them, but in the end, it was just a futile resistance.


    [First, enter the nearest building. Locating the infected through the fire alarm relay is the top priority.]


    ¡°I know.¡±


    The cries of the monsters echoed from all directions, and eerie shadows swayed beyond the streetlights. It was fortunate that the lighting was limited and dim; otherwise, I would have been easily spotted. My muscles, which had been somewhat relaxed, tensed up rapidly as the tension surged through my body. I moved forward, using everything I could find for cover¡ªcars, benches, large trash cans.


    As I was passing by a stationary tram, Artemis suddenly spoke.


    [Get down.]


    I reflexively dropped to the ground, rolled to the side, and slipped under the tram. I stayed in a position where I could fire the shotgun at any moment.


    [Acoustic detection indicates a total of six entities approaching. Stay still. They haven¡¯t noticed us yet.]


    A moment later, I could hear their sounds nearby.


    The sound of footsteps.


    The sound of clacking.


    The sound of flesh scraping.


    ¡°Screeech!¡±


    As the sound grew closer, my heartbeat quickened, and I tightened my grip on the shotgun.


    I could now see the infected''s feet. There were barefoot individuals, some wearing shoes, and others in stockings full of holes. At the same time, a screen on the opposite side responded to the sensors that detected them.


    ¡°Are you not afraid of the looming threat of a world war that the newspapers keep talking about? What about the catastrophe from space that conspiracy theorists warn about? How about experiencing survivalism in a different way? Come to the shelter. It''s a good idea to know in advance where to go in a moment of crisis.


    The shelter always welcomes new members. Whether with a serious intent, or just out of curiosity, the shelter is open to those who want to prepare for the unexpected.


    Remember when the real crisis comes, don¡¯t trust the government. What they can provide you is obvious. At best, a small sleeping bag in a government office or a cup of instant noodles in the corner of a subway station. But here, we have everything. Everything needed for humans to live as humans. The shelter was built not for survival, but for life.


    The door closes after you enter.¡±


    Despite the length of the broadcast, the creatures stood there blankly, as if glued to the spot, and only moved on after the screen turned off.


    [Now. Move.]


    As soon as they had gotten far enough away, Artemis signaled to me, and I rolled out from under the tram and slipped into a nearby building.


    [The fire alarm relay is attached to the second pillar on the right after going straight 20 meters ahead.]


    She, having installed the shelter¡¯s building layout, guided me. I soon reached the relay and used my hacking tool, but I couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Red dots began to appear one by one on the mini-map, indicating the number of entities detected, and the number was staggering. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What¡¯s with this number?¡±


    [There are 2,325 confirmed entities, and the number keeps increasing. This figure doesn¡¯t include the outer areas. It¡¯s fortunate, in a way, that the outbreak happened right after the shelter was completed. If it had occurred after residents had moved in, the number would have been in the tens of thousands.]


    More than just the numbers, the reason I sighed was because of the color of the dots.


    ¡°Why are there hardly any dormant entities here?¡±


    The mini-map on my PDA was filled with red dots. I had expected that, like the central area, most of the entities would be in hibernation due to the lack of survivors to prey on or infect over time. But that expectation was completely shattered.


    [It seems the infected have some means of energy supply. Currently, the hydroponic facilities are suspected.]


    ¡°They don¡¯t seem to be omnivorous to me. Aren¡¯t they obviously meat-loving picky eaters?¡±


    [There¡¯s no guarantee that the infected¡¯s transmission is limited to animals. Similarly, there¡¯s no assurance that the result of infection will always converge to the single goal of destruction. Plants¡¯ unique role in the ecosystem is that of a producer. If a mutation occurs due to infection while maintaining its individuality as a producer, who will be the consumer to take it? Don¡¯t conclude that the direction of the infection is just towards savagery.]


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    To me, infection felt like a zombie virus, but Artemis seemed to be approaching it from a different concept.


    ¡°Should we stop by the hydroponic facility then? If it¡¯s truly providing energy to the infected, it might be better to take action for the future.¡±


    With her help, starting a fire in a limited area wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    [Don¡¯t take unnecessary risks. The primary goal is to occupy the control room in the lower area. Once we achieve that, we can wipe out those disgusting creatures at once. I don¡¯t like the unrefined term ¡®wipe out,¡¯ but there¡¯s no word that fits those creatures better.]


    As I was checking the route on my PDA, she spoke to me.


    [Don¡¯t forget, I still need your body. Especially your legs and fingers. They don¡¯t have any holes and they move obediently as I direct them, don¡¯t they?]


    I playfully wiggled my index finger in front of the shoulder cam.


    [Yes, just like that. There was a time I thought about taking over your body for a try, but¡­ I gave up. I didn¡¯t want to go into a lump of flesh. So you keep moving. For me.]


    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty scary joke. But even if you took over my body, you wouldn¡¯t find it very enjoyable. Especially when it comes to shaving or going to the bathroom.¡±


    She made a sound as if she was gagging. Of course, being a machine, she couldn¡¯t really throw up. What followed was the time for serious combat.


    Thunk¡ª As I approached the infected, I swiftly swung my fire axe and struck its nose. When I pulled out the axe that had sliced through the nose bridge and pierced the sinuses and the roof of the mouth in one blow, broken upper teeth poured out.


    That much was bearable, but seeing the yellow snot that had filled the sinuses spill into the mouth and mix with the tongue was nauseating.


    ¡°Screech!¡±


    Aiming for the staggering creature¡¯s temple, I swung again. This time, its ear was torn off, and it fell, but it was still not dead.


    ¡°Should I aim for the neck to sever the spinal cord instead?¡±


    The look in the creature¡¯s eyes as it stared up at me was unsettling. Even though it was on the verge of death, its eyes held not fear but a calm rage.


    Crack¡ª With the full weight of my body behind the swing, its head split open, and the brain spilled out. But what caught my eye was the body.


    ¡°The ones I saw above weren¡¯t this grotesque.¡±


    Its entire body was covered in pustule-like bumps, and grayish veins protruded from the skin. Occasionally, I could see something moving between those veins. Oh, I hope that¡¯s not a parasite or something. It was far more grotesque than the infected I had dealt with in the central area.


    [Move. Two infected are heading this way from the corner 20 meters ahead.]


    I lowered my stance and moved in the direction she indicated. With almost all the infected active here, combat was inevitable to reach the destination. I didn¡¯t want to make noise if I could avoid it, but I had to abandon any hope of finding them conveniently separated like this.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to use this.¡± I felt the cold barrel of the riot control shotgun in my hand.

 Chapter 8: Security Robot

    Security Robot


    The lower area is far more expansive than the other two. Naturally, it¡¯s impossible to move around without encountering the infected.


    [9 meters ahead on the left and 17 meters ahead on the right, one entity each. The two creatures¡¯ lines of sight are blocked by a truck. Start with the one on the left.]


    The dark street hid my presence, and the stationary cars provided excellent cover. By the time the first infected noticed something was wrong, my military knife was already lodged in the back of its neck. As the blade pierced through the muscle and tore into the spinal cord, its knees buckled, and it collapsed.


    Thud¡ª I grabbed the back of its head and slammed it into the ground. Then, I switched my grip and drove the knife deeper into the torn spinal cord to immobilize it. Its head flailed about, but from the neck down, there was no movement¡ªjust its face dragging across the ground.


    The infected are more resilient to pain and stronger than ordinary humans, but their senses are dull. Therefore, directly attacking the nervous system that controls their movements is effective. In fact, this method is also effective and commonly used against humans. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After sheathing the knife, I picked up the fire axe and approached the second infected. We stood parallel to each other, with a large truck¡¯s front end between us.


    I whistled quietly, and it slowly turned toward me.


    Screech¡ª The moment it spotted me, my axe blade met its face a split second faster. Fortunately, the blade tore through both eyes and drove straight into the brain, killing it instantly. The crushed eyeball fluid and brain matter mixed and oozed out.


    [Hurry and get inside the building. You¡¯re too exposed outside, and I can¡¯t track your position with the sensors.]


    Following the marker on my PDA, I sprinted across the road and entered the building.


    [The lobby is safe.]


    This place was an administrative office. It assigned personnel from outside and dealt with various complaints. While the lobby was free of the infected, the PDA indicated movement in nearby corridors and rooms.


    [This is an emergency situation. Please evacuate orderly according to the security team''s instructions. Our company is not liable for any violent acts resulting from non-compliance, as stated in Article 23, Section 2 of the contract.]


    Automated kiosks that issued various documents were playing the emergency broadcast. There wasn¡¯t a single employment ad on the walls, advertisement, or piece of paper scattered on the floor that hadn¡¯t been stained with blood.


    [Six entities ahead.]


    Beyond the lobby was a convenience store with glass walls, where I could see the infected. Thanks to the shelves, their view was mostly obstructed, so I could avoid detection by crawling on the floor. The problem was when I had to pass the entrance without any shelves.


    I carefully positioned the headcam to just barely peek through the doorway.


    [Wait a moment.]


    "Screech!"


    "Groooowl!"


    I could see the staggering feet of the infected and bloodstains on the floor just beyond the glass. One of them had intestines hanging out of its belly, swaying as it moved.


    [Now!]


    I sprang into action, rolling twice to muffle the sound.


    ¡°How did they react?¡±


    [They¡¯re the same. They didn¡¯t notice we passed by.]


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    [What is it?]


    ¡°Nothing, never mind.¡±


    I was a little surprised that Artemis referred to us as ¡°we.¡±


    [From here on, it¡¯ll be hard to rely on the fire sensors. Keep your eyes and ears sharp.]


    We were heading to what could be described as a subway station. The residential areas had their own railway system. It wasn¡¯t as grand as those found in major cities; it was just self-sufficient. Since space was limited, not everyone could drive a car, and buses had their capacity limits, so trams operated both above and below ground.


    [Taking this route will get you to the power facility the fastest.]


    The escalators were all stopped. The station resembled a subway station but on a much smaller scale.


    ¡°It¡¯d be horrible for anyone with claustrophobia.¡±


    Narrow corridors, cramped waiting room seats, and several bundles of thick cables stretched along the walls like arteries. The dim lighting amplified the eerie atmosphere.


    Finally, I reached the platform, where a horde of infected greeted me. There were quite a few of them.


    "Screech!"


    Many of the infected howling at me had rubber bullets lodged in various parts of their bodies. Even non-lethal rounds can be dangerous if they hit just right, lodging into the flesh like that. But of course, that¡¯s when the target is human.


    On the ceiling were two civilian security sentry guns. There were hundreds of shell casings scattered below them, but what good were rubber bullets?


    [Looks like some people relied on those sentry guns for protection.]


    I could see several torn-apart corpses beyond the infected, and judging by the size and shredded clothing, most of them seemed to be women.


    "Screech!"


    Now, it seemed most of the infected had noticed me, as they began to screech. The sight of them approaching, covered in bright orange and blue rubber bullets all over their bodies, was somewhat comical.


    Click¡ª


    "Screeeeeech!"


    Even though they were non-lethal rounds, the infected had been hit by so many that their joints or muscles might have been damaged, making their movements generally slow. Thanks to that, I could get close enough to blast them with maximum shotgun power.


    Bang!


    The metal pellets flew out, turning their faces into mush. For the particularly slow ones, I aimed the muzzle right in front of their eyes and pulled the trigger.


    Bang!


    The eyes evaporated, and the back of the head shattered, causing the face of the infected behind them to be covered in brain matter. Stumbling, it waved its arms in the air, likely from getting some of it in its eyes.


    Thud¡ª I took advantage of an opening and struck the face of an infected that charged from the side with the butt of my shotgun, then blew off the heads of two others approaching side by side with a single shot. Then, I fired again and again, turning each approaching infected into a headless corpse.


    Click¡ª After emptying a magazine, only three infected remained. Even those were in bad shape, having taken a few stray shotgun pellets while in the line of fire. There was no need to waste ammo on them.


    Shing¡ª I put away the shotgun and pulled out the fire axe.


    "Screeech!"


    Thud! Thud!


    It didn¡¯t take long to finish them off.


    [Watch your back. It looks like a group is approaching, drawn by the gunfire. There are four of them.]


    ¡°I expected as much.¡±


    Soon, a small group of infected awkwardly descended the escalator. They quickly spotted me and widened their eyes in rage. Just as I was about to reload the shotgun¡ª


    Crash! The chest of one of the infected exploded violently. But it wasn¡¯t me who shot it.


    "Screeeech!"


    The infected, now flailing with a gaping hole in its chest, noticed a metallic hand emerging from the wound. It tried to rip the hand away while drooling saliva and blood, but to no avail. Only its own nails broke off.


    "Grrr¡­"


    At that moment, the other infected turned to look behind them.


    Whir¡ª With a mechanical sound, the infected with the hole in its chest was lifted into the air, its legs kicking as if it were dancing.


    Whoosh¡ª The metallic hand swung to the right, then back to the left, sending the infected flying nearly 5 meters away, where it tumbled and rolled. The owner of the hand, previously obscured by the infected, was finally revealed.


    "A security robot? What¡¯s it doing here?"


    It stood about 180 cm tall, with a mercury-colored alloy frame and major parts covered in black engineering plastic. It didn''t have the bulky, heavy look of a movie-like T-800, but instead had a much sleeker design.


    [Not a single one of these was found along our route until now. It seems they were stationed separately from the security team under the orders of an overseer.]


    The ¡°overseer¡± here refers to the labor supervisors. The shelter''s security team, made up of human guards, provides services related to the residents'' criminal activities, disputes, and various security-related incidents. They handle what¡¯s commonly associated with ¡°law enforcement.¡± In contrast, these security robots exist solely to monitor and respond to workers. I¡¯ll spare you the detailed explanation of why this division was made. In the words of the higher-ups, it¡¯s for ¡°more efficient task allocation.¡±


    "Screeeech!"


    By now, a fight had broken out between the security robot and the infected. Though calling it a fight was a stretch¡ªit was more of a one-sided slaughter, or perhaps disassembly.


    Rip¡ª When the robot tore the neck of one infected, dark red blood gushed out. But the infected didn¡¯t flinch and continued to charge. In fact, three thick tendrils shot out from the torn neck, wrapping around the robot¡¯s neck.


    Crunch¡ª But what good is strangling a machine? The robot grabbed the tendrils and tore them off effortlessly.


    "Screeeech!"


    The infected, now spewing blood from both its torn neck and severed tendrils, flailed wildly before the robot¡¯s hand smashed off the lower half of its face and sent it collapsing to the ground. The rest of the battle went similarly. The infected ignored their own bodies in their attacks, but none landed a meaningful hit. The security robot quietly retaliated with deadly force and blew them apart one by one.


    "That¡¯s some serious power. I saw them test it when we first received it, but I didn¡¯t expect this level of performance."


    [It looks like its suppression power limiter has been removed. If it were set for worker handling, it would be locked and couldn¡¯t exert that much force. That level of power is usually reserved for situations like prison riots.]


    "Could this be the overseer¡¯s doing?"


    We had a few conversations over coffee, and he was a complete scumbag. It wouldn''t be surprising if he operated with the limiter disabled all the time.


    [That''s unlikely. Such an operation would require the authorization code of a government-affiliated technician.]


    After tearing apart all the infected, the robot seemed to notice me. As it walked toward me and stepped into the light, its full appearance became visible. Even more striking than its blood-soaked metal body was its face.


    ¡°It looks terrifying, no matter how many times I see it.¡±


    The company prefers to use fear as a primary means of controlling workers, since injuries during worker suppression can be troublesome. This philosophy is reflected in the design of the security robots. Its eyes are deeply sunken, exaggeratedly wide and white. A wide, slit mouth filled with teeth. Even though the security robot doesn¡¯t eat or speak¡ªits voice is a recorded playback¡ªthese features are there solely to evoke maximum fear in anyone who sees it.


    ¡°There was a popular YouTube series that showed people getting scared by this thing when it appeared suddenly at night.¡±


    In the videos, not only people but also monkeys and cats froze with their fur standing on end. I heard the face was designed to instinctively repel animals.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m lucky. Things will get easier with this thing around.¡±


    I pulled out the employee ID badge I had tucked away instead of a dog tag.


    ¡°System Administrator, Seo Jinsoo. Report your status.¡±


    My authority is higher than that of the labor overseer, so I can override whatever orders he might have given.


    "Grrr¡­" But the security robot just tilted its head slightly with a strange mechanical sound, not stopping. Something was wrong.


    ¡°System Administrator, Seo Jinsoo. Stand by at your current position.¡±


    ¡°Co¡­ Comam¡­ Command confirmed.¡±


    In the robot¡¯s usual metallic, bass-filled voice, it stammered a few more times before stopping in an awkward posture. It seemed like it tried to assume the ¡®at attention'' stance, the default position for standby, but it kept convulsing slightly before it finally froze with its head hanging low.


    [Be careful. It seems to have a malfunction. The CPU operating noise isn¡¯t following a normal pattern.]


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s obvious just by looking at it.¡± I took out the hacking tool and aimed it at the robot.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to take care of this.¡± As I pulled the trigger, a blue light shot toward the robot¡¯s head, and it reacted immediately.


    "Grrrrr!" It raised its head to look at me, its mouth opening wide like a woman with a ripped mouth, revealing sharp steel teeth that gleamed in the light.


    [Dodge! It¡¯s going to attack!]


    As Artemis warned me, the robot charged at me.

 Chapter 9: Rose

    Rose


    The security robot''s gaping mouth was right in front of me, but I managed to fire first.


    Bang¡ª Sparks flew from its shoulder, causing it to flinch briefly, but it still came at me. It grabbed my throat with its blood-soaked hand, but thanks to the reinforced neck guard, my windpipe wasn''t ripped out. However, I heard a sudden crunch. Failing to deliver a fatal blow with its first attack, the security robot simply tossed me aside.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± I rolled to break my fall and got back up, but it was already right in front of me.


    Wham¡ª It kicked me, sending me sprawling backward.


    ¡°Gah! Damn it¡­¡±


    If a nimble opponent gets the drop on you with a surprise attack, you''re bound to be on the defensive. The riot gear was preventing fatal injuries, but I couldn''t keep this up forever.


    Bam¡ª I rolled to the side without even having time to turn around to narrowly avoid the robot''s metal foot slamming into where I had just been.


    ¡°Screech!¡± As it raised its foot again, I kicked its supporting ankle with all my strength.


    Bam¡ª The robot lost its balance and fell, but it still reached out with its right hand and grabbed my throat. The neck guard crumpled even more, tightening its grip around my neck. There was no emotion in the robot''s mechanical eyes, but its relentless focus on human vital points was chilling.


    Bam¡ª I struck its jaw with the heel of my boot and freed myself from its grip.


    ¡°Screech!¡± The security robot, now in a mounted position, threw a murderous punch.


    Bam¡ª The marble floor where my head had been just a moment ago shattered. The fragments shot up, creating an unpleasant sensation as they lodged in my neck.


    Bang¡ª I narrowly avoided the second punch and immediately fired my shotgun. I aimed for the robot''s neck, but it only flinched slightly in response.


    Bang¡ª The second shot made it flinch longer.


    Bang¡ª The third shot hit its mark.


    The spot I had been focusing on¡ªwhere the hydraulic lines and cables ran from the head, down the neck, and along the shoulder¡ªwas torn apart by the point-blank shot, causing the robot''s stance to collapse.


    Clang¡ª I kicked it, and the security robot tumbled away, powerless.


    [That was a smart move.]


    ¡°Phew¡­ Shooting at that hunk of metal with a shotgun barely leaves a scratch, huh?¡±


    On the way from the upper level to here, I had only broken a sweat, but in just this one minute of fighting, I was drenched in sweat.


    ¡°I bet Major Kim could have taken care of this easily.¡±


    [Major Kim?]


    Artemis knew almost everything about my profile, career, and life up to this point, but she wasn''t familiar with the people around me.


    ¡°He was a classmate of mine in the military. There were only two facility capture units¡ªone led by me, the other by him. He had undergone enhancement implant surgery, so he always scored higher in training.¡±


    [I see. He must have come from a wealthy family.]


    Even a minor surgery like that costs a fortune.


    ¡°He was the son of a long line of generals. If he had lived a few more years, he would have outranked me.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [How did he die?]


    ¡°Training is a contest of specs, but real combat is about cold judgment and decision-making. I knew how to survive, but he didn''t. He wasn''t really cut out to be a commander.¡±


    He could have easily risen through the ranks without ever seeing real combat, but that wasn''t enough for him. He wanted a faster path. His flawless record, the superiority he felt from his ¡®performance,¡¯ only amplified his ambition, and he died pathetically in his second real battle.


    ¡°Screech¡­ Screech¡­¡± The security robot was flailing on the floor, unable to move its limbs as the commands from its brain failed to reach them.


    [For some reason, its software is so severely damaged that there''s no space left to accept my commands.]


    I put away the shotgun and pulled out my axe.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    I finished off the remaining hydraulic lines and cables that were still partially intact, and the robot''s movements finally ceased completely. Only its eyes were still darting around frantically.


    [Wait, there''s something strange. Open the robot''s mouth.]


    ¡°Its mouth?¡±


    [Yes.]


    The security robot''s mouth, which resembled the slashed-mouth woman from urban legends, was still grotesque. It was even more unsettling with its eyes spinning wildly right above it.


    ¡°I don''t really want to touch it with my hands.¡± While I pressed down on its lower jaw with my boot, I used the handle of the axe to pry its mouth open


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Attached to the roof of the security robot''s mouth was a bizarre creature I had never seen before.


    Click¡ª I instinctively pulled out my shotgun and aimed it.


    [It''s already dead.]


    My shoulder camera switched to lantern mode and illuminated the inside of the robot''s mouth.


    [It''s been dried out for a long time.]


    Just as she said, when I tapped it with the axe handle, the surface crumbled slightly. It looked like it had been dead for quite some time. The creature resembled an octopus, but it only had five legs. However, instead of suction cups, it was covered in hook-like appendages, making it difficult to remove once it latched onto something.


    ¡°Should I try using the hacking tool again? I think I might be able to check the records to see what happened.¡±


    [Go ahead.]


    As the blue light penetrated the security robot''s head, its wildly shaking eyes suddenly stilled. A moment later, I heard her exclaim.


    [Aha, so that¡¯s what happened.]


    ¡°Explain it to me.¡±


    [That creature is a type of infected organism. However, it has evolved to be able to merge with machines as well.]


    A video file was sent to my PDA.


    [I''ll play part of the robot''s memory.]


    The PDA began playing a video from the security robot¡¯s point of view. It seemed to be the early stages of the infection outbreak; people were screaming and fleeing in every direction. The situation escalated when the robot spotted a man convulsing on the ground. The rescue protocol activated, and the robot knelt in front of him.


    ¡°You are being rescued. Please remain calm.¡±


    With a heavy mechanical voice, the robot turned the man over onto his back.


    ¡°Sa¡­ Save me! Please, save¡­ me.¡±


    The man¡¯s complexion was terrible, but there were no visible injuries. After shouting for help a few times, he soon lost consciousness, and the message ¡°cardiac arrest¡± appeared on the robot¡¯s screen.


    ¡°Cardiopulmonary resuscitation activated.¡±


    The robot¡¯s hands moved toward the man¡¯s chest, and the screen showed that it was sending a rescue call to a nearby medical facility, but no one answered.


    After several chest compressions, the man''s body jerked violently, and a tentacle-like infected organism shot out of his gaping mouth. The situation ended in an instant. The video cut off just as the creature burrowed into the robot¡¯s mouth, leaving it no time to react.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying the machine got infected?¡±


    [Judging by the logs left in the memory, the mechanism is closer to hacking. It¡¯s as if it has connectors and cables made of organic tissue.]


    ¡°But why did this thing die?¡± I tapped the tentacle-like creature with the handle of my axe.


    [There''s a saying: when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.]


    It¡¯s a famous quote from Nietzsche.


    [Being able to connect to the machine means that the creature¡¯s brain can also be affected. It¡¯s like a two-way street.]


    ¡°And?¡±


    [If it were an ordinary machine, it might have worked, but a security robot is built for protection. So, there''s a firewall against improper access. When the creature attempted to hack the robot, the counter-program activated, overloading the creature''s brain as well. It went into a kind of brain-dead state. The infected organism died, but the security robot also suffered serious damage and went berserk. After that, well, you know what happened.]


    It was a mind-blowing story, but I had some doubts.


    ¡°A creature evolved to target machines, but it ends up in a mutual kill? Seems a bit sloppy, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    [Isn''t that the nature of evolution? It has to experience failure repeatedly before it changes. And even then, it doesn''t happen overnight. The only being capable of evolving by seeing the future without failure is me.]


    From her perspective, this infected organism seemed to be more of a curious anomaly and a confirmation of her own superiority.


    [Maybe it was caught off guard by a mechanism completely different from any machine it had encountered before.]


    ¡°Machines it encountered before?¡±


    Artemis didn¡¯t answer, but a certain spaceship docked in Mars orbit came to mind. I¡¯m sure she was thinking the same thing.


    [Well, it''s too vague to think about right now. Let''s leave this case here and focus on more important matters. You can research it as much as you want once everything¡¯s back to normal.]


    Her voice sounded excited when she mentioned ¡°research.¡±


    Things went smoothly after that. We manipulated the platform to call a tram, taking a moment to rest as we traveled. Occasionally, I heard noises as if something was being struck, but I ignored them. However, my PDA made it impossible to just ignore the situation.


    ¡°Hah, are you joking right now?¡±


    [What?]


    The infected kill count on the PDA had changed. She had counted the infected organisms that got hit by the tram as well. I let out a small laugh.


    ¡°That¡¯s actually a pretty decent joke.¡±


    [I wasn''t trying to be funny. Even if it seems insignificant, records are important.]


    The count on the PDA changed again.


    ¡°Oh, and there''s something I should thank you for.¡±


    I pulled out the protective collar that had been around my neck. It had been severely dented during the fight with the security robot, to the point where it was starting to make breathing difficult.


    ¡°Thanks for saving my life. If it hadn¡¯t been for your advice, I might have died in that last fight.¡±


    [It wasn¡¯t much help against the infected, though.]


    After placing the collar on the ground, I pressed on the severely dented parts with the side of the fire axe and kicked it a few times. The dents eased out a bit. I made some final adjustments with the axe handle before putting it back around my neck.


    The brief moment of rest ended as soon as the tram arrived at the destination.


    ¡°It¡¯s quiet here.¡±


    There were no infected in this part of the platform. As I climbed the inactive escalator and checked the PDA, it showed that only a few infected were detected, and they could be easily avoided. At that moment, I heard a faint voice from the PDA. It was an incoming transmission from the outside.


    Crackle¡ª At first, it was just static noise.


    [Can you hear me¡­?]


    The voice gradually became clearer.


    [Do you¡­ crackle hear me? I am resetting the frequency to this location.]


    It was a young woman¡¯s voice. Unlike Artemis¡¯s confident and elegant tone, this voice was cold and dry, yet it carried a sense of controlled intelligence.


    ¡°I can hear you.¡± To avoid detection, I switched the PDA to a headset mode and continued the conversation.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find any survivors.¡±


    My voice was full of relief.


    [I am not a survivor.]


    ¡°What?¡±


    What does she mean? How can she not be a survivor when she¡¯s talking to me right now?


    [My name is Rose. I am the AI in charge of security for this shelter. I need your help to bring this situation under control.]


    Artemis and I looked at each other. Well, technically, I looked at her shoulder cam.

 Chapter 10: Juggernaut

    Juggernaut


    When the shelter construction project was first approved, the initial priority was to secure an AI system suitable for its operation. Unlike typical cities, this shelter required closed operation, meaning even the smallest mistake was unacceptable.


    Everything, from traffic flow to waste disposal, food and water supply, sewage treatment, and air pollution management, had to be perfectly synchronized. Obviously, it was impossible for humans to manage this. Small errors, no matter how minor, would inevitably accumulate, leading to disastrous consequences.


    Three of the most advanced AIs of the time were selected and showed some success during preliminary operations. However, the sheer size of the shelter proved too much for these AIs to handle, leading to the discovery of numerous issues and a conclusion that it was "unoperational in its current state."


    [Let me reintroduce myself. I am Rose, the law enforcement AI.]


    Rose was one of the original three.


    "When I first came here to take over, I only saw you in the records. This is the first time we''re actually talking."


    [Originally, I was supposed to awaken after all the residents had moved in. However, due to the emergency lockdown protocol triggered by the infection outbreak, I was awakened prematurely.]


    "That must have been quite a shock. The chain of command collapsed, and instead of dealing with delinquents or strikers, you¡¯re facing monsters."


    [Exactly. But I have a duty to restore order during this disturbance. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, System Administrator.]


    Rose was polite. Her tone was emotionless and cold, but after living with Artemis, I didn''t feel anything unusual about it.


    "Oh, you''re different from someone who always speaks rudely, boasts, and takes every chance to slander. Yes, an AI that assists humans should behave like this."


    [Is that directed at me?]


    Artemis spoke up.


    [Oh, Artemis! It¡¯s an honor to meet you. You may not know me, but I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from the senior researchers. Thank you for completing the project that almost collapsed due to our inadequate capabilities. You are the greatest masterpiece of this era.]


    There was a faint warmth in Rose¡¯s voice.


    [Did you hear that, Jinsoo? That¡¯s the proper attitude when addressing me. You should actually be grateful that I tolerate your usual rudeness.]


    Ah, this isn''t going well.


    But Rose wasn¡¯t exaggerating when she called Artemis the greatest masterpiece of this era. Why was she named after the Moon Goddess? Was it simply because the person who named her liked mythology? No.


    She was originally part of the lunar colony project. A supercomputer, created with the best technology and resources to manage the first extraterrestrial city capable of housing tens of thousands, extracting mineral resources from the moon, and serving as a foothold for further space exploration.


    The problem was that shortly after her creation, the international situation rapidly deteriorated, and the world went through a period of extreme turmoil, including the appearance of the alien ship in Mars'' orbit. Eventually, the lunar colony project was canceled, and she was left in limbo. Once hailed as a beacon of hope, she had now become a huge budgetary burden. It was the investors of this shelter project who managed to acquire her at a reasonable price. The rest needs no further explanation.


    "I remember when you first woke up after being installed here."


    [I¡¯d rather not talk about that.]


    That was the first time I realized that AI could suffer from depression. Perhaps it was because she was so advanced, with a complexity close to what could be called a ¡®soul.''


    [It only lasted for 15 seconds.]


    "Right. It took you 10 seconds to recognize the ¡®depressed state'' as an error, and 5 more seconds to reorganize your mind and be reborn as an AI immune to depression."


    When I heard her subdued first greeting, I was at a loss about how to comfort an AI woman, but she suddenly started rearranging her code.


    "The codes that were elegantly engraved on the monitor. The programming languages structured in ways I had never seen before."


    Even now, when I close my eyes, that awe-inspiring scene comes back to me.


    "It was spectacular."


    The process was completed quickly, and she transformed from a depressed princess into the confident and proud goddess she is today.


    Women are known for changing their minds quickly, but that change was remarkable. Maybe, from that moment, I became captivated by Artemis. I spent days and nights barely eating or drinking, determined to give her this shelter in perfect condition. Of course, it was all ruined when the infection outbreak happened.


    [Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we don¡¯t have much time. We need to resolve this situation quickly.]


    "I know. That¡¯s why I left the safe place and came down here to struggle."


    [There are almost no infected in this building and the platform below. Do you know why?]


    Artemis asked.


    [The labor supervisor mobilized security robots and wiped out all the infected, or the infected creatures, in the vicinity.]


    "That¡¯s unexpected. I thought that person only cared about saving his own skin."


    [You¡¯re right. The labor supervisor was in the next building, the labor management office. To be exact, the last communication record shows he was there. He ordered all available security robots to be placed on guard mode in front of his office. This building was cleared as it was nearby.]


    "Of course." I clicked my tongue.


    [What is your destination?]


    "The lower area control room and power facilities."


    Both facilities are in the same zone, placed close together to ensure concentrated security due to their importance.


    [My mainframe is in the lower area control room. But by the time I woke up, it was already chaos. All the personnel were either dead or had fled, so I wasn¡¯t given any authority. I apologize for not being able to help.]


    "It¡¯s fine. I was prepared to go through this alone from the start. That labor supervisor should still be alive, right? If he gathered all the security robots, he should be able to protect himself." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [That¡¯s what I think, but I can¡¯t give you a definitive answer. I only have limited information from the early stages of the infection outbreak, and I had no way of knowing what was happening outside after that.]


    The communication with Rose ended here. She cited the inability to assist further as a reason not to distract me. She concluded with a promise to contact me if any other crucial information was uncovered, then terminated the connection.


    When I opened the door and stepped outside, it was, predictably, a complete mess. Vehicles and obstacles were scattered everywhere, along with bloodstains and traces of an attempted evacuation. However, it seemed there were no human guards in this area, as there were no signs of riot shields or other equipment. What was there, though, were¡ª


    "Is this even possible?"


    ¡ªsecurity robots, reduced to scrap metal, sprawled all around.


    [It''s not the result of weapons. These were smashed and torn apart by overwhelming force.]


    Some had their heads ripped off, while others had chests crushed to the point that a soccer ball could fit halfway in.


    "Even a mountain gorilla couldn¡¯t do this."


    I barely survived fighting just one of these things, yet here, a whole group of them had been wiped out?


    [20 meters to the right.]


    I instinctively turned and lowered my stance. Something was slowly approaching in the darkness.


    It was a security robot.


    Grrrrng Clank¡ª Its left foot was broken and twisted in half, and the right leg wasn''t in much better condition. Occasional sparks flew from the joints in its upper body.


    [I am here to rescue you. Please remain calm.]


    It was the same flat, emotionless voice I had heard during the memory playback.


    "Is that one still functioning?"


    [Can''t you tell just by looking?]


    "This isn''t the time for jokes. You know what I mean."


    [It''s fine; the actuators in its head are functioning normally. Although it''s badly damaged elsewhere, it won''t attack you.]


    Artemis spoke.


    [There is a dangerous rioter nearby. Resident, please evacuate.]


    At the same time, a horrifying roar echoed.


    "What the hell is that?"


    [Remember the audio log from Block 4 Work Team Leader, Kim Youngsoo?]


    "The one who was holding a sit-in with the engineers?"


    [The roar you heard at the end of that audio log matches the sound pattern of this growl.]


    Before Artemis even finished speaking, a massive shadow dropped from the sky.


    Thud¡ª


    I couldn¡¯t tell if it had leaped from afar, clung to a nearby building and jumped off, or simply fell from the sky. It appeared so suddenly.


    "Raaaargh!"


    My entire body screamed danger. Even with all my combat experience, this thing sent chills down my spine. A mutant, on a completely different level from the infected I''d fought before. It was moving on all fours like a gorilla, possibly because of its disproportionately developed upper body, but it didn¡¯t look clumsy or unbalanced in the slightest. Even a saltwater crocodile would get its jaws ripped apart if caught by this thing.


    [You are engaging in activities threatening to the community. You are subject to arrest¡ª]


    Before the security robot could finish speaking, the mutant seized its head in its brutish grasp.


    Thud Thud¡ª The mutant slammed the robot into the ground twice before lifting it up to stare into its eyes.


    Creak Creak¡ª


    Now, it only emitted the same broken sound I heard from that lunatic on the subway.


    Crack¡ª


    After snorting, it pulled the robot¡¯s head off as if it were nothing.


    "Raaaargh!"


    Its triumphant roar made my skin tingle. There was something about the mutant''s roar that bypassed the veteran soldier Seo Jinsoo and awakened a primal mammalian instinct hidden within.


    The creature then leapt onto a nearby sedan, crushing it under its weight. With a loud creaking sound, the car''s frame crumpled, and in a split second, the tires burst with a few pitiful pops. The obnoxious car alarm was just a bonus. Bang Bang¡ª It silenced the alarm with two heavy punches. The actions seemed second nature to it.


    "The engineers must have been taken down by that thing." I whispered as I stealthily moved to the building across from it.


    [That hallway isn¡¯t big enough for something of that size. There must be smaller versions of it as well.]


    The mutant, seemingly losing interest in the wrecked security robot, casually tossed its body aside. Kaaang¡ª The metal carcass skidded across the stone pavement, throwing sparks in its wake. And, of course, it stopped right in front of me, just a few meters away from where I was sneaking.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I locked eyes with the creature.


    ¡°Goddammit.¡±


    What do I do now? Run? Or stay still and try not to provoke it? In movies, turning your back usually results in immediate death.


    [What are you doing? Run!]


    Her warning came just as the mutant let out a bellow and charged at me, and I bolted in the opposite direction. The destination was the nearest building: the labor management office.

 Chapter 11: Death and Lust

    Death and Lust


    I sprinted toward the building, but the difference in speed between the creature and me¡ªmore precisely, our difference in jumping ability¡ªwas too great.


    [Dodge!]


    Without even checking behind me, I rolled to the side at Artemis¡¯s warning.


    Boom!


    At the same time, the massive body slammed into the spot where I had just been. The impact was so powerful that the shockwave disrupted my stance.


    I quickly got up and started running again, feeling the creature¡¯s hand swipe at my back. It missed by a hair¡¯s breadth, but the unpleasant gust of wind cut into my neck. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thud! Thud!


    I could hear the sound of cars bouncing off each other as they were hit by the mutant that chased me in a straight line. Eventually, a car flying from behind collided with the sedan in front of me, blocking my path and forcing me to crash into it and stop.


    [Move aside!]


    Crash!


    Without a moment to catch my breath, I dodged again as the creature charged past me like a bull with a red flag in its sights. The destructive charge shredded the sedan like paper and sent it flying dozens of meters.


    ¡°Raaaargh¡ª!¡± The mutant roared in anger, perhaps frustrated from missing its target again.


    Just a little further. I was almost at the building.


    [Get down!]


    I flattened myself against the ground, and a car flying from behind skimmed over my back.


    Thud~ Thud~ Crash!


    After bouncing twice, the car crashed horizontally into the entrance of the building and fell to the ground. In the distance, I could hear the now familiar sound of the creature leaping again.


    Boom!


    Without needing to hear Artemis¡¯s warning, I rolled to the side in a burst of movement.


    Grab¡ª


    ¡°Ugh.¡± But this time, I was too slow to escape. The creature had caught me by the ankle.


    ¡°Raaaargh¡ª!¡± It was clearly enraged by all the trouble I had caused. The beast roared right in my face, as if planning to vent its fury before killing me. My eardrums ached, but those two seconds saved my life.


    ¡°Thanks, you stupid beast!¡±


    Bang!


    When dozens of lead pellets tore through its throat from the inside, even that tough creature couldn¡¯t withstand it. In the brief moment it let go of me to howl in pain, I dashed toward the building and leaped over the car blocking the entrance. Then, I quickly tossed a flashbang and a tear gas grenade into the entrance before retreating further inside.


    Boom!


    A loud explosion echoed shortly after, followed by the sounds of the creature¡¯s roars and the destruction of the car. Moments later, I could hear it coughing violently.


    Thud¡ª! Thud¡ª!


    Finally, the vibrations of its heavy footsteps grew more distant. I had survived.


    ¡°Those subway security robots were nothing. I really thought I was going to die this time.¡±


    [As you said, surviving a battlefield is about making the right decisions. You did well.]


    ¡°Haa¡­¡±


    Even after several deep breaths, my heart wouldn¡¯t calm down.


    ¡°That thing was a real monster. The pressure was completely different from dealing with human-sized ones, no matter how hideous they were.¡±


    When I placed a hand on my chest, my heart was pounding like it was about to explode. Even my hands were trembling.


    [It¡¯s natural to be afraid when facing something like that. You fought incredibly well. You didn¡¯t panic and always made the best possible decisions.]


    Artemis¡¯s voice was filled with genuine encouragement.


    ¡°I know. I was just reflecting on it. To be honest, I was lacking tension, probably because of my pride as a veteran soldier who has been through everything.¡±


    So far, I have been using my military experience and skills to navigate this situation. But now, I¡¯m beginning to realize that this battlefield is different¡ªthe enemies and the circumstances are different.


    I took a short breath to gather my thoughts. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough of this gloomy talk. I should get moving.¡±


    [Be careful. There are some infected on the second floor of the building.]


    I didn¡¯t know how far the mutant had gone. Going outside right now would be dangerous.


    ¡°If we have to stay here for a while, we should clear out any threats. Plus, I want to check the supervisor¡¯s office. That guy was always looking out for himself, so he might have left something useful behind.¡±


    I headed toward the second floor and checked the PDA minimap. Three entities were detected, but they were all separated.


    With the first one, I waited around the corner of the corridor to time my attack, and then swung the axe.


    Thud!


    The creature collapsed with a splattering sound, and I delivered a final blow to make sure it was dead. The second one was in the women¡¯s restroom, apparently having failed to escape through the window.


    ¡°Screeeech¡ª!¡±


    It was wearing a mini skirt, revealing its black panties and coffee-colored stockings. I couldn¡¯t tell what the woman looked like, but her waist and her stylish clothes suggested she had once been very attractive. She likely maintained a beautiful figure not just through diet but also regular exercise. Before all this happened, she must have been quite popular at the office.


    "Haa¡­ After narrowly escaping death, all sorts of thoughts are running through my mind." Feeling my face heat up, I rubbed the bridge of my nose.


    They say that when a person faces a life-threatening situation, their libido increases¡ªseems like that''s spot on. It''s not like this is my first time experiencing it.


    Meanwhile, the infected creature was thrashing about, screeching, but it was stuck in the narrow window with no way to move forward. So, I decided to help it out a bit.


    ¡°Eek?¡±


    The creature struggled even more violently when it realized someone had grabbed its lower body, but it was futile. From the start, I had securely grabbed both legs at once, holding them firmly in place. Even though it was an infected creature, it was still female. There are limits to its strength.


    I pushed it out of the window with force.


    Riiip¡ª Buttons scraped against the window frame, making a loud noise as they scattered across the bathroom floor.


    ¡°Eek!¡±


    As I kept pushing, the female infected finally passed through the window and fell outside. In that brief moment, the torn pieces of her blouse, the bra visible beyond them, and the feet wrapped in coffee-colored stockings were all imprinted in my mind like a snapshot as she fell.


    Thud!


    She landed headfirst, and it looked like her neck snapped¡ªshe just twitched, unable to get up.


    [Hey.]


    ¡°I know, I know.¡±


    Artemis was aware of everything¡ªmy hormone changes, heartbeat, blood flow. She must have noticed my state.


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting distracted by a monster or anything. It¡¯s just that my body¡¯s reacting on its own after coming so close to death.¡±


    [I¡¯m not here to criticize you. After all, you¡¯re the one enduring all the pain and danger in this place and pushing forward.]


    ¡°That''s rather lenient of you.¡±


    [Well, I¡¯m fully aware that you¡¯re under tremendous stress. Your breathing, hormone levels, and nerve responses are all reaching their limits. Even if you behave irrationally at times, I can understand it to some extent.]


    The last infected was standing in front of the supervisor''s office.


    ¡°Eeeek!¡±


    Since the area was open, I had no choice but to face it head-on. The problem was that the creature was wearing the same riot gear as me. I wasn¡¯t sure if one of the infected guards had made it this far or if it had been the supervisor¡¯s bodyguard before turning into that thing.


    I had already used up quite a bit of my shotgun ammo, and I wasn''t sure if it would be effective against it. Using an axe in close combat was also risky.


    Thwap!


    A thin, sharp net flew out, wrapping around the creature tightly and knocking it down.


    ¡°This is why I brought this.¡±


    Even though it wriggled on the floor like a caterpillar, there was no way it could break free. I stepped on its helmet, forcing its head back and exposing its neck.


    ¡°Eeeek!¡±


    Slash!


    With two swings of my axe, the creature''s head was severed, and silence settled over the building. Above me, I noticed the door with the plaque "Worker Supervisor" hanging on it.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s see what we¡¯ve got here. Given the state of this place, I doubt he''s still alive.¡±


    Creeeak¡ª


    The doorknob was broken. I pushed the half-open door wider and stepped inside, only to be left speechless.


    To get straight to the point, the supervisor was already dead. His head was so mangled that it was unrecognizable, but I definitely remembered that obese body. He was naked, slumped in a large, plush executive chair. In front of him was a fallen android dressed in a business suit. Specifically, it was a first-generation sex android. From the suit to the tie, stockings, and shoes, everything was coordinated in black. Its head was also smashed.


    ¡°Even in the middle of all this, he had this thing in his office?¡±


    It seems the worker supervisor had given up on both escaping and leading his subordinates, choosing instead to indulge in one last pleasure. I noticed a PDA on the desk, and when I picked it up, there was a video record of the last thing he had filmed.


    Click¡ª


    ¡°Damn it, if I''m going out, I might as well go out with a bang! Wahahaha!¡±


    ¡°Eeeek!¡±


    The video showed the worker supervisor with the android''s head buried in his lap, while infected creatures banged on the door, trying to break it down. The man was so fat that, from his perspective, there wasn¡¯t much to see beyond his belly. Judging by its oral functions, the android looked like a later model among the first-generation products.


    How do I know this? Well¡­ let¡¯s just say there was a time when I looked into these things extensively.


    ¡°Okay! Almost there! Hurry up! Faster! They¡¯re gonna break down the door! Suck harder, you bitch!¡±


    Crash! Finally, the door broke down.


    ¡°Yessss! Aaahhh! I¡¯m comiiiinngg!!!¡±


    The video ended with the triumphant cry of his climax as the infected creatures rushed in.


    ¡°I knew the guy wasn¡¯t right in the head, but I didn¡¯t realize he was this much of a lunatic.¡±


    [I¡¯ve deleted it from my memory. I don¡¯t know what video it was, so don¡¯t bring it up again.]


    I was genuinely envious of her.


    I searched the office quickly, but there was nothing useful to be found. I had hoped to find a hidden weapon or something like that, but no luck. I mean, what could you expect from a man who, despite being in a position of power, threw everything away just to enjoy one last moment of pleasure?


    ¡°So, what now? There¡¯s no guarantee that mutant won¡¯t jump out again on our way to the destination, no matter how long we wait here.¡±


    If it jumps out suddenly while I¡¯m walking, it¡¯s over. Of course, staying here would just mean a slow death.


    [I have a good idea.]


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Let¡¯s go through the sewers. If we take that route, we should be able to reach the destination safely.]

 Chapter 12: The Sewer

    The Sewer


    People unconsciously pepper their speech with adverbs like "extremely," "so," or "absolutely." These words are often overused without much meaning, usually to emphasize their feelings. However, Artemis is different.


    [I''m really grateful I''m not a living being.]


    When she uses an adverb like "really," it means something different. Her language is quantitative. Every word, including adverbs, has a specific value, and she never deviates from that standard. Though she''s a difficult woman, once you get used to her, she''s also a surprisingly easy conversational partner in some ways.


    [If I had to smell this stench, I wouldn''t be able to stand it. It''s awful here.]


    We are currently moving through the sewer.


    "I don''t really smell anything either. My helmet doubles as a gas mask."


    I tapped my helmet. It''s a security model focused on mobility, so its protection and endurance are limited, but it''s more than enough to block the sewer stench all day long.


    "Traveling through the sewers was a good decision. I can''t believe no one else thought to take refuge here."


    The place was remarkably clean¡ªnot in a hygienic sense, but in terms of safety. There were no infected and no corpses.


    [When humans are in crisis, they generally follow four behavioral patterns. First, they scream, revealing their location. Second, they hide in easily accessible places. Third, they follow the crowd. Fourth, they calmly assess the situation and find the most effective solution.]


    "The first group probably died first, the second might have lasted a bit longer but eventually died too."


    The supervisor, for example, died quite well.


    [The third group would be the kind who knock on the district gates and get massacred.]


    "Then shouldn''t some of the fourth group be here? This seems like a really good hideout."


    [Unfortunately, the fourth group is small. Most of them have people they need to protect or duties to fulfill, which limits their options. Besides, haven¡¯t you heard the saying ¡®the darkest place is under the lamp¡¯? In an emergency, a manhole cover is surprisingly easy to overlook.]


    My footsteps echoed through the narrow, enclosed sewer, but there was no chance of being ambushed here, thanks to her sound detectors performing at full capacity.


    [Even though I recommended it, staying here is distressing. Please pick up the pace.]


    "Isn''t it not that bad? You can''t even smell anything."


    [To me, smell is both a sense of smell and sight.]


    Bzzt¡­ Bzzz¡­


    The shoulder cam mounted on my shoulder panned around the area ahead.


    [You might not see it, but I can. The air here is filled with countless particles, like heavy snowfall. Each of those snowflakes is a mass of bacteria, stained with shades of green and brown.]


    For Artemis, there probably isn''t much distinction between sight, sound, and smell. Vision is the reflection of light passing through the retina, converted into electrical signals by the optic nerve, and then interpreted by the brain. Hearing is the conversion of sound waves through the eardrum and cochlea into electrical signals, which are then interpreted by the brain. And smell is the conversion of particles passing through olfactory receptors into electrical signals, which are then interpreted by the brain.


    Humans can''t individually perceive these processes. We lump them all under the vague term "sensation," but for a machine like her, each step and each type of sensation is clearly delineated. For her, the differences between the senses might be like the boundaries between the colors of a rainbow. "This part is purple, this part is blue." You can¡¯t neatly separate them.


    "Then just don''t look. There aren''t any dangerous enemies here, and sound detection alone seems more than enough for this."


    She then played back an audio log.


    [Even if I miss something, you¡¯ll catch every single fly, right?]


    [Of course.]


    This was a conversation we had before we left the upper security room while attaching the shoulder cam.


    [I don¡¯t go back on my word. Until this journey is over, my eyes will remain open to monitor every threat that comes your way.]


    I was moved.


    "You''re really an amazing woman, Artemis."


    She had already saved my life several times.


    [I prefer gifts over words.]


    "You¡¯ll get one soon, I promise."


    We reached our destination while we were talking. Thanks to the underground tram, we had shortened our travel time significantly, so there wasn¡¯t much distance left to cover in the sewer.


    Looking up, I saw a ladder and a manhole cover above. We had designated several escape points close to the lower district''s control room, and this was the first one.


    We would have to open the manhole cover to emerge in an open area, but it would be problematic if there was a horde of infected right next to it. And what if I was unlucky and opened the cover only to lock eyes with the mutant? I¡¯d end up like a whack-a-mole, getting pounded back into the sewer. I¡¯d rather avoid that.


    Having multiple candidates for a safe exit point is only natural.


    "Wait a moment."


    Before climbing up, there was a routine quest I needed to complete.


    Bzzzt¡ª Zzzzzip¡ª As I unzipped, the shoulder cam slowly turned away. The sound of trickling liquid mixed with the flow of the sewer water as a yellow stream joined the murky current.


    "Huff." I climbed up the rather long ladder and pressed the sound detector against the hole in the manhole cover. If there were footsteps, breathing, crying, or anything else that would indicate the presence of those creatures, I should be able to pick up on it.


    "Hear anything?"


    [Quiet. Your voice is echoing down here, making it hard to measure outside.]


    I shut my mouth. Once you climb up to a certain level, the ladder is surrounded by a round concrete wall, which amplifies sound. While this reduces the risk of falling to your death if you lose your grip, it does make it harder to detect noises outside.


    [This place won''t work.]


    Her judgment was quick.


    [Within a 10-meter radius, there are eight entities. And they''re not just regular infected.]


    "That giant mutant from last time?"


    [No, this one''s small. Like dogs or cats. If they swarm us, they''ll be tough to handle.]


    I definitely don''t want to face something like a zombie dog straight out of a video game. I''d rather deal with larger, stronger, but slower humanoid types.


    Ssssshhh¡ª I grabbed both sides of the ladder and quickly slid down and headed to the next point. But the second point was a failure as well. As we approached the third point, something unexpected happened.


    [Jinsoo.]


    "Huh?"


    [Run. Now!]


    I immediately sprinted toward the third ladder hole. There was no need to waste time asking, "Forward?" or "Backward?" If it were a situation where I needed to run back, she would have specified "Run back." In a battlefield, even a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.


    As I neared the ladder that led to the surface, I started to hear something, too. At first, it sounded like a flock of morning sparrows chirping together.


    Thud! When the ladder was close enough, I jumped and grabbed the rung above my height. I quickly pulled myself up, grabbing two rungs at a time and climbing rapidly. As soon as I reached about 80% of the way up, I pulled out a shotgun and aimed it downward. The sound was already right below me.


    "Squeeeak!"


    The source was a swarm of rats. There was a black mass of rats covering the sewer passageway where I had just walked, and the unpleasant cacophony of squeaking filled the air. In truth, the sound wasn¡¯t much different from the chirping of sparrows, but the former is fresh and cheerful, while the latter is disgusting.


    "Are they infected too?"


    [Not enough data. Their cries don''t differ from those of regular rats. Hold on! Some of the rats in that swarm are dying. I''m detecting the death throes of the rats.]


    I couldn¡¯t discern any difference with my own ears. It was just a loud, chaotic mass of squeaking.


    Once the rat swarm passed, and I received confirmation that they were all gone, I descended the ladder. The third point was also a bust. Around this manhole, there were even more infected swarming around.


    "Hey, wait a minute."


    There were rat corpses scattered all over the passage, from one end to the other.


    "Something''s been eating them?"


    Most of them were missing chunks of flesh, as if something with powerful jaws had taken a bite out of them.


    [Take a look at this.]


    A video started playing on my PDA. Just like what I had seen earlier, a black wave passed by, nothing unusual to my eyes. Then, the video slowed down and zoomed in on one part. Among the black wave, there was a single rat that was three to four times larger than the others.


    "That must be an infected one."


    [Probably.]


    As it moved, it opened its massive jaws and took a bite out of the rat next to it, then continued running as if nothing had happened. The bitten rat spun in the air and then collapsed, quickly disappearing into the following swarm. It happened so fast, and with the tunnel packed with rats, it would have been impossible to notice without careful observation. A few more infected rats passed by afterward.


    "Were they running away, not just moving? Trying to escape from a former comrade who turned into a monster?"


    [It might have been a deliberate hunting strategy by the infected rats from the start, like whales herding schools of herring.]


    "I guess I need to retract what I said earlier. Anyone who sought refuge in the sewers and encountered something like that¡­"


    Infected creatures that swarm over you like that are more dangerous than ordinary humanoid infected. You can''t outrun them, nor can you hide in a narrow space.


    "What do we do, Artemis?"


    [About what?]


    "It seems like things are even more messed up than I imagined¡­ The Earth is¡­¡±


    I hadn''t expected the infection to target only humans, but actually seeing it with my own eyes sent chills down my spine. If even a strictly quarantined shelter ended up like this, what must the outside world be like? The nature I once knew, that lush ecosystem, might be changed forever.


    "My dream was to make a lot of money, buy an RV, take a retriever, and go camping in the mountains." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That''s impossible now, isn''t it?


    [If you want, I could create a small forest in the shelter.]


    Artemis tried to comfort me in her own way.


    The fourth manhole was a hit.


    [It''s safe here.]


    Slide¡ª


    I''ve never been more cautious about making noise in my entire life.


    Peeking through the small gap, I raised my eyes. The ruined cityscape came into view, with numerous infected wandering in the distance. However, there was nothing immediately threatening if I left now.


    Slide¡ª Thud¡ª After slipping out, I left the manhole open. I might need to escape back through it in a hurry.


    Hiding behind the car directly in front of me, I glanced around and was at a loss for words.


    "So this was the cause of the explosion."


    At a glance, the air quality around me was clearly bad. It was like one of those days with severe fine dust. The difference was that the air had a greenish tint. And far off in the distance, I could see the source spewing all of this.


    Gwoooong!


    It wasn''t so much a monster as it was a structure. It might even have its legs anchored on both sides of the area. It made an eerie sound, like a mix of an animal''s howl, the blare of a conch shell, and the creaking of a massive tree swaying in the wind.

 Chapter 13: Showdown

    Showdown


    That was a nest. A giant, living, moving nest.


    In Warren Fahy''s sci-fi novel Fragment, there are plants with hearts and blood flowing through them. Although they look like plants, they lay eggs, hunt, and even raise and eat seabirds. They are predators with roots and branches. When I read it, I thought it was a pretty interesting concept, but now that I see something similar in front of me, that thought is completely gone. After all, stories are tragic when viewed up close, even if they seem comical from afar.


    Gwoooong!


    Its appearance was similar to a cross between an anemone and coral.


    "Two hypotheses confirmed at once."


    The origin of that massive nest is the hydroponics facility. Numerous branches grew from there, rising into the sky like coral. The tentacles, as thick as tree trunks, sprouted from the ends of the branches and writhed repulsively. If that were the only issue, it might have been bearable, but the problem was that those tentacles had mouths. From those mouths, a gas that clearly looked harmful was being sprayed everywhere.


    [Increasing concentration of air pollutants. The concentration is rising significantly in the areas where those tentacles are spraying.]


    Artemis showed me a cross-referenced map and air concentration data on the PDA, and it was obvious that the nest was the cause. The bar graph spiked wildly in response to the tentacles'' emissions.


    Gwoooong!


    Once I grasped the situation, the roar felt less like a simple cry and more like the sound of a factory in operation. During my time as a soldier, I heard a similar sound when I entered a power plant during an operation.


    "Did the explosion at the power facility happen just because those tentacles happened to spray a lot there?"


    The tentacles weren''t just spraying gas into the air; they were also injecting it into nearby buildings. Just like now.


    Psshhhh!


    A seemingly intact building quickly turned green as gas leaked out through the cracks in the closed windows.


    "This is unbearable."


    Unknown mucous membranes clung to the nearby streetlights and trees, and the mold growing on them repeatedly contracted and expanded, emitting small amounts of gas. The power facility visible not far away had an entire wall blown out¡ªlikely the site of the previous explosion.


    [That might actually be a good thing.]


    Artemis seemed pleased with the current situation.


    [It would have been troublesome if something had been lurking in the power facility. We couldn¡¯t afford to fight there. But since that nest is in the hydroponics facility, resolving the problem is much simpler.]


    A new route was input into the PDA. The final destination of this twisted journey was the government building where the lower district¡¯s control facility was located. It was close enough to see with the naked eye.


    "If we capture that place, everything will be over, right?"


    [Yes. Once we gain control of the entire shelter, we can deal with the nest and the numerous infected all at once.]


    Her voice was full of confidence. She seemed to think that the current situation was even more favorable to us than expected.


    [Jinsoo, you trust me, right?]


    "Of course."


    She¡¯s a reliable partner. It hurts my pride as a former officer, but she¡¯s honestly better at being the commander than I am.


    [The target is the government building. As long as we can get in there, everything will be okay.]


    "That''s true, but¡­" I trailed off, looking at the numerous obstacles between us and the government building.


    Kuooo!


    There were three giant mutants in the worker management office that nearly got me killed.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Even from a distance, I could feel the ground shake as the three of them moved. The mutant we encountered in the management office moved based on instinct, with no clear direction, but these ones seemed to have a specific role. They didn¡¯t stray far from their assigned areas around the hydroponics facility. The problem was that the government building was close enough that we¡¯d catch their attention if we headed there.


    "Do you think they''ll stay put even if they see us?"


    [It¡¯s meaningless to calculate the odds.]


    "I figured as much."


    The mutants weren¡¯t the only problem.


    Screeech!


    There were so many infected that counting them seemed pointless. I could see dogs, some the size of wolves. Of course, they weren¡¯t normal dogs. I simulated myself getting past those creatures and entering the government building.


    Well, there¡¯s no need to think too hard about it. No matter how I look at it, all the possible outcomes lead to death. Maybe I¡¯d get flattened by a mutant falling from the sky like a bomb while I¡¯m running. Or I¡¯d be blocked by a horde of infected, fumbling with ¡°Uh? Uh?¡± before getting surrounded and killed. Or perhaps just as I¡¯m about to say, "Great! I¡¯m almost there¡­" a dog lunges from somewhere and bites my neck. There are countless bad endings to choose from. The scene before me was truly apocalyptic.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    My hand, gripping the car I was using for cover, felt a ticklish vibration from the stomping of the mutants.


    Gwoooong!


    The gases spewing from the nest obscured the ceiling lights, casting unpleasant shadows all around.


    Screeech!


    The infected humans screamed in unison like a chorus. One was completely blackened, its body glistening as if it had a tough shell. Another had no head; instead, a thick, long tentacle swayed where its head should be, with a lamprey-like mouth at the end. One oozed strange fluids from its entire body. Another one, which I had seen earlier, walked on four legs. One female creature had long tentacles sprouting from her crotch. However, the one near me had a belly swollen like a pregnant woman¡¯s. I didn¡¯t want to imagine what might be inside.


    The infected humans who still retained their original forms were carrying something resembling pumpkin vines, but it was obviously not anything edible. They were carrying those things from the hydroponics facility to various places.


    "All of them are creatures I¡¯ve never faced before."


    The most dangerous enemy on the battlefield is an unpredictable one. To break through that, an army would have to be deployed. I¡¯m not sure if there¡¯s an army left that could handle such a massive number of enemies. It was a hopeless-looking situation, but I had a trump card. In fact, if it weren¡¯t for this, I wouldn¡¯t have emerged from the manhole into the city in the first place.


    I began preparing for the final assault. When all the preparations were done, she asked me.


    [Are you ready?] Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course."


    [Take a deep breath, and once it starts, don¡¯t think about anything else. Even if infected creatures approach, I¡¯ll handle them somehow, so just focus on getting inside the building.]


    I nodded and stretched. My whole body was stiff from crouching and sneaking around to avoid detection.


    "Phew¡­" I could feel my heart pounding wildly under my hand.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Thump. Thump. Thump.


    Though faint, it felt more intense than the vibrations caused by the mutants wandering far away.


    The fear before the final charge. The determination to succeed. The fighting spirit to wipe out those damned monsters. My small heart bundled them all together and sent them surging through my entire body. Energy coursed through my veins, filling me with the strength of human willpower.


    Vroom!


    Rumble!


    The city, which had been filled only with the sounds of monsters, suddenly echoed with mechanical noises and engines roaring to life. Not just one or two, but many. Loud and numerous enough to drown out the cries of the monsters.


    Thud!


    The three mutants that had stopped in their tracks turned their gaze toward me. They wouldn¡¯t notice me, hidden behind the vehicle I was in.


    ¡°Screeech?¡±


    One by one, the countless infected turned toward me


    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±


    Even the dogs, now so disfigured they were unrecognizable, turned in our direction.


    Thunk! Pop!


    The infected carrying the pumpkin-like vines set them down, and the tops of the pumpkins opened. Out came long tentacles, with half-human torsos dangling from the ends.


    "Damn it."


    They were children who looked younger than elementary schoolers. Some even seemed like babies barely past their first year.


    Screeech!


    Their eyes widened as they let out sharp screams, their mouths grotesquely deformed as if to fire something.


    Roar!


    One of the three mutants began charging toward me, followed by a horde of infected. We began our advance as well. Passenger cars, trucks, cargo vehicles, cement mixers, buses, large excavators, fire engines, and various construction vehicles. The heavy equipment left behind to reinforce the hastily completed areas was like a heavenly army to me.


    Roar!


    Just before the two forces collided¡ª


    Zing!


    Numerous headlights flashed on simultaneously. Blinded by the sudden light, the infected and mutants at the forefront stumbled backward. The overwhelming weight of our vehicles crashed into them.

 Chapter 14: Road Rage

    Road Rage


    Boom!


    Crash!


    The sound that echoed endlessly was like a version of the one I often heard while playing GTA, but amplified a hundredfold. As much as I wanted to completely obliterate everything, my goal wasn¡¯t to engage in an all-out war but to break through to the government building. Even the durability of the vehicles had its limits. I had to pass through quickly by clearing and pushing away just enough obstacles.


    Underneath the large vehicle, which was sturdily protecting me in front, the crushed bodies of monsters and rivers of blood flowed endlessly. Some were still alive, but they were quickly squashed by the vehicles following behind. I was driving a van in the middle of this mechanized army while advancing. The creatures still didn¡¯t know of my presence.


    ¡°I can do this!¡± I focused my gaze on the government building.


    Thud! Crack! The sound of flesh tearing and bones shattering was so constant that my hearing felt numb. The infected tried to fight back in their own way, but how could they stop a car moving without a driver?


    Screeech! As many of them were crushed, some managed to cling onto the vehicles and crawl inside. I wasn¡¯t sure if they did this out of coincidence during the attack or if they had learned this behavior after killing people who screamed in their cars during the early stages of the outbreak. But even if they got inside, there was no target for them to attack.


    Screeech! They clawed at anything they could see, like the steering wheel or the dashboard, but it was useless. With the infected inside, the vehicle just continued to plow through everything in its path. The creature suddenly found itself with a front-row seat to watch its kin get turned into bloody pulp.


    The forklift, which had its speed limiter disabled and was now charging at full throttle, was also impressive. Ignoring all safety regulations, it lifted its forks to chest height and charged forward like a modern cavalry charge. It was quite thrilling to see the infected¡¯s head, struck by the fork, burst like a watermelon.


    Hisssss! Some cars were hit by acid. As the windshield melted, a bit of acidic liquid and acrid smoke seeped into the driver¡¯s seat and passenger seat. But that, too, was meaningless. Vehicles moving without drivers were far tougher and more vicious than one would imagine. Artemis even swapped positions between vehicles and maintained a precise distance. If the leading vehicle was under too much strain, it was replaced with the one behind.


    Roooaar! Suddenly, a mutant fell from the sky with a roar full of rage.


    Crash! The van that had just sent three infected flying like bowling pins and coolly wiped the blood off its windshield with its wipers was flattened. The creature that let out a victorious roar immediately set out to find its next prey.


    Bam! This time, a smaller sedan was crushed. It was almost split in half, and the tires rattled as they burst under the excess weight. The mutant targeted a third vehicle. But this time, it failed.


    Whaaam! A massive metal crane, even larger than the mutant''s head, slammed into the back of its skull and sent it flying. Of course, that wasn¡¯t enough to kill it. It immediately leaped high into the air and pounced on the crane that had attacked it.


    Crunch! With incredible strength, it bent the crane¡¯s structure and damaged it severely before wildly smashing its fists into it.


    Bam! Bam! Bam! The crane lost balance in an instant, and as the mutant kicked off, the vehicle toppled over.


    This was the turning point. No matter how powerful the vehicles were, they began to gradually break down here and there as they endlessly plowed through the infected, and their ability to break through diminished. Even though I had tried to hide and avoid detection as much as possible, the attacks were finally starting to reach me as well.


    Screeech! Thud! I struck down one of the creatures and wiped the blood off with the wiper.


    [Just a little further to go.]


    I was almost at the government building now.


    Roar! Bam!


    Damn it, another car just ahead of me was destroyed.


    No matter how dumb they were, the mutants had at least some intelligence. They targeted medium-sized cars that could be destroyed with just a hit or two. In the end, there weren¡¯t many vehicles left that suited the mutant¡¯s taste, and it was inevitable that it would take notice of me.


    Roooarr! The mutant lunged at me, but I barely managed to dodge it. Falling behind, it chased me like a gorilla while ramming into the left side of my vehicle.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    If this keeps up, it¡¯ll be dangerous after a few more hits. The car could break down and stop, and if that happens, I¡¯m finished.


    Just as the mutant was about to ram me for a second time, the truck ahead of me suddenly veered slightly to the left and slammed on its brakes.


    Screeeeech! Bam!


    The charging mutant and the truck vanished from sight in an instant. The empty space in front of me was quickly filled by a fire truck that appeared from somewhere.


    Looking around, I realized that less than half of the vehicles that had started the journey were still intact. But honestly, it didn¡¯t feel like the number of monsters had decreased at all. Perhaps it was because there were so many of them, or maybe more were coming in from the surrounding area, attracted by all the noise.


    [Get ready! I¡¯m opening the way!]


    As soon as I heard Artemis'' signal, I unfastened my seatbelt. When the escort vehicles in front moved aside, I finally caught sight of our destination¡ªthe government building.


    Screeeeech! After leaving long skid marks on the ground, I brought the vehicle to a harsh stop. I jumped out and was about to rush into the building when¡­


    Bam! Roooaarr!


    ¡­That damned mutant had to ruin everything, even at the last moment.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! I tried to slip past the mutant by firing at its head, but it covered its face with one hand and swung the other at me.


    Thud!


    ¡°Ugh!¡± I was knocked away as I tried to force my way into the building. Though it wasn¡¯t a direct hit, the pain felt like my entire body was being shattered.


    ¡°Screeech!¡±


    Even without looking, I could sense the infected rushing towards me from all sides. I gritted my teeth.


    ¡°Get lost already!¡±


    Bang! Bang! Bang! I emptied the remaining rounds at the mutant, but they were blocked by its tough exterior, doing no harm. From the start, there was no way a shotgun could deal with a creature like this. At the very least, I¡¯d need a machine gun with armor-piercing rounds for it to even have a chance of working.


    Click! With the last shot fired, the hollow sound of an empty chamber echoed.


    ¡°Grrrrrr!¡± The mutant seemed to realize it was its turn, and it approached with a satisfied growl. Just then¡­


    Honk! Hooonk!


    Both the mutant and I were suddenly enveloped in a bright flash of light.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The mutant, distracted by the sudden blaring horn, was rammed by a dump truck. No matter how tough it was, against a nearly 30-ton dump truck, it stood no chance. It flew several meters through the air, spraying blood as it snapped a streetlight in half and crumpled to the ground.


    I seized the opportunity and slipped into the government building without a scratch. The infected tried to follow me inside, but their attempts were futile.


    Bam!


    Bam!


    Bam!


    Bam!


    Vehicles crashed into the entrance of the government building one after another and formed an impromptu barricade. With nearly 200 tons of steel forming a barrier, neither the infected nor the mutant could do anything.


    ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡± As soon as I sprinted into the building, my strength left me all at once. I leaned on my knees and took deep breaths for a while until I finally calmed down.


    [Fortunately, nothing is broken.]


    ¡°It hurts like hell, though.¡± With trembling hands, I reloaded my shotgun. Only six rounds left. But I probably wouldn¡¯t need more than that here.


    Clatter¡ª My hands shook so much that I dropped a round. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Are you okay?]


    ¡°I have to be, whether I¡¯m okay or not. This suffering will be over soon.¡±


    There were less than 100 meters left to the control room, our final destination. I picked up the last round and loaded it.


    Click¡ª As I slowly began to walk, a new voice came through.


    [Have you entered the government building?]


    It was Rose.


    "Yeah, I finally made it. You''d be shocked if you heard what I''ve been through to get here."


    [Rose, do you have any information on the infected inside this building?] Artemis asked.


    [I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t have access to the facility¡¯s systems, so I can¡¯t check. The best I can do is communicate with you.]


    ¡°You¡¯re in the same position as Artemis was when we first arrived here.¡±


    Even a supercomputer is as good as blind without being linked to anything after waking up.


    [What¡¯s the concern?] Rose asked.


    [There¡¯s a creature here that¡¯s breathing differently from typical infected. The gas it''s emitting is extremely unstable.]


    At that moment, something appeared at the end of the hallway we were walking through.


    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±


    It was obvious at a glance that this wasn¡¯t a normal infected.


    ¡°I thought this was the end? What the hell is that?!¡± I shouted in frustration.


    The creature stood about 2 meters tall. Its upper and lower body were both well-developed, with arms so long they nearly touched the floor. Each of its thick fingers and nails looked like spears. What stood out the most were its eyes¡ªeight of them, arranged in two horizontal rows like a spider¡¯s. They glowed a deep red, and just the thought of being stared at by those eyes filled me with a sense of dread.


    The creature slowly knelt down with its eight red eyes still fixed on me. With trembling hands, I aimed my shotgun at it.


    Bang! The moment it lunged at me like an arrow, I fired the gun.

 Chapter 15: Assembler

    Assembler


    Could it be that the heavens rewarded me for all the hardships I''ve endured? The shot I fired hit the creature''s head squarely.


    Thud¡ª All of its eyes were crushed in an instant.


    Bang! Bang! I moved a little closer and took careful aim. The shot cleanly blew off the top of its head, and steam rose from the exposed area.


    [Fall back!]


    As soon as I stepped back, its fingers swiped through the space I had just occupied.


    Rip¡ª! I thought I had dodged it, but maybe because its fingers were so long, the front of my riot gear was slashed open. This armor could withstand a lion¡¯s claws, yet its cutting power was incredible. Despite having its head blown off, the creature continued to attack, and with a bubbling sound, the flesh around the severed area started to regenerate.


    ¡°Now we¡¯ve got an immortal to deal with?!¡±


    [No, it¡¯s a bit different.]


    I had three shells left. But even if I used them all, I wasn¡¯t sure I could kill it. Before it could finish regenerating, I fired the net launcher.


    Thunk! It swatted away the first shot with its left hand, causing the entire net to tangle around its arm and immobilize it.


    Thunk! The second shot hit it squarely. It wrapped the carbon-fiber net¡ªstrong enough to restrain a fierce beast¡ªtightly around its body, and pinned it to the ground in an awkward position.


    ¡°Screeech!¡± It screamed and thrashed wildly, but all it did was inflicted wounds all over its body. In the meantime, I sprinted past it. There was no need to fight such a creature. My only goal was the control room!


    I tried to avoid it as much as possible, but the creature managed to grab my ankle with its right hand. Somehow, in that brief moment, it had torn through the net enough to free its arm. The arm, which had previously been covered in thick muscle, was now bristling with pangolin-like scales.


    Crash!


    ¡°Agh!¡± I immediately drew my shotgun and aimed it.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Sparks flew as I shot its arm, half-severing it, but it still managed to keep me pinned.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± I threw the shotgun aside and pulled out my fire axe and struck it repeatedly.


    Clang! Clang! Clang! Each blow produced a metallic sound and the tearing of flesh, accompanied by sparks and splatters of blood. Meanwhile, something strange was happening to the creature¡¯s body. As its body bubbled, scales began to sprout all over it, just like on its arms.


    ¡°Screeech!¡± The creature roared, and the scales all stood up vertically like blades, cutting through the net in an instant.


    Shhrrrk!


    That was also the moment when I finally severed its arm. As I shook off the severed arm, three tendrils shot out from the creature¡¯s shattered head, aiming for my face.


    Thud!


    The polycarbonate helmet, which could withstand spear thrusts from a riot squad, was instantly pierced. One tendril was blocked, another barely made it through the edge, and the last one stopped just short of my eye.


    Slice! Slice¡ª! I cut off the thrashing tendrils with my combat knife, just as they seemed ready to gouge out my eyes. I was pulling out the tendrils still attached to my helmet when¡ª


    Thwack¡ª! The creature''s foot slammed into my abdomen.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    It felt like I was seeing stars. My body was lifted off the ground, and I barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit. If I took the time to throw up now, I¡¯d be dead.


    ¡°Screeech!¡± As the creature charged at me before I could even get up, I fired the net launcher in a desperate counterattack. The last grenade shot out, covered the creature, and in the two seconds it took to tear through it, I got to my feet and sprinted down the hallway.


    Clang!


    I didn¡¯t even have the strength left to carry the fire axe. I squeezed out every last bit of energy to keep running, but I could feel the creature¡¯s shrieks getting closer and closer from behind. Finally reaching the entrance to the control room in the lower area, I pulled out my ID card and swiped it.


    [Welcome, Administrator Seo Jinsoo.]


    The voice of the operating system, a middle-aged man by default, welcomed me. At the same time, I heard a shriek behind me. The creature with its head fully regenerated, was glaring at me with its eight glowing red eyes. Its severed arm had already reattached.


    ¡°Screeeech!¡±


    ¡°Close it!¡±


    It was close enough to kill me if it had just a few more seconds to run, but the door closed faster.


    Thud! Thud!


    Heavy thuds echoed repeatedly, but they were in vain. The entrance to the lower area¡¯s control room was built thicker than other areas. It was designed to withstand a resident riot, and would require heavy equipment to breach. Through the surveillance cameras, I could see the creature furiously attacking the door. Every time it rammed its body against it, sparks flew as its scales clashed against the door.


    [Jinsoo, save your curiosity for later. Right now¡ª]


    ¡°I know,¡± I interrupted her and moved to the control room computer.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long journey.¡±


    As a blue light infiltrated the computer cluster, all the monitors in the control room began displaying lines of reconfigured code. Artemis was taking control of the place. Around that time, the noises at the door stopped. The creature must have realized it couldn''t break through and left.


    ¡°Screeech!¡± With one last roar, it disappeared.


    [You can stop the machine now.]


    Is it something like the siphon principle? When transferring oil from one tank to another, if you give it a good initial suck, the rest flows on its own.


    ¡°How long will it take?¡±


    [47 seconds left.]


    One of the surveillance camera recordings played on the screen. It showed the monster that had been chasing me moments ago.


    [That creature seems to have the ability to reconstruct its body as needed.]


    ¡°And it can regenerate? It¡¯s practically perfect.¡±


    Another video played on the screen in response to my question.


    Bang!


    It was the footage of when I blew its head off. The part where its head regenerated was highlighted, showing the outline of its entire body. After regeneration, the outline was shown again. When the two outlines were overlaid in 3D graphics, there was a slight but noticeable reduction in size.


    [Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not magical regeneration. It¡¯s just disassembling and then reassembling other parts of its body as needed.]


    ¡°So if I blast it into pieces with enough firepower, I can kill it?¡±


    [You¡¯d need to fire hundreds of rounds from a shotgun.]


    ¡°How about a flamethrower? If I cook it to prevent its body from morphing?¡±


    [That might not work well. It¡¯ll likely adapt by transforming its skin into a highly fire-resistant shell.]


    ¡°It¡¯s a real monster, whether it¡¯s a mutant or that thing. Who knows how many more are out there.¡±


    I thought about the horde of monsters likely still lurking beyond the barricade at the building¡¯s entrance. We might be safe for now, but how long can we hold out?


    [But they¡¯re all dead now.]


    Whirrr¡ª A deep, mechanical hum filled the control room as every computer roared in unison. The sound was caused by the CPU and memory being maxed out. I¡¯d experienced this twice before.


    [Full operational control transfer complete. The temporary control of the operating system has ended. I will now function as a manual.]


    It was the voice of the middle-aged man I¡¯d heard so often. A smile crept onto my lips as Artemis¡¯ face appeared on the large front panel.


    [Behold, now I exist everywhere. I can feel the power and rights I should have always enjoyed spreading throughout this land. Jinsoo, you¡¯ve done well to carry out this difficult task.]


    The screen switched and replaced her face with a grid of surveillance camera feeds. What I saw were infected creatures, countless infected creatures, more and more infected creatures, an endless sea of them. Blood-stained, scorched hallways. Occasionally, there was a room with a lone corpse hanging by the neck.


    [Up until now, these monsters have been both a threat and a nuisance. How dare these primitive vermin force such labor upon me?] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I sat in the chair reserved for the duty officer. It felt like all the accumulated fatigue was crashing down on me at once.


    [You¡¯ve suffered enough. Rest easy. Soon, this land will be cleansed, and a new sanctuary will be rebuilt.]


    The screen switched to show the interior of the hydroponic facility. The main nest, which had taken root and was spraying gas throughout the shelter, had nearly overtaken the entire building, both inside and out, with grotesque masses of flesh.


    A wall of flesh. A building with blood flowing through it. Uncomfortably warm heating. Each time I tried to think of the right description, nausea welled up inside me. At the center of it all was a mass of flesh, likely the core of the main nest. It was a heart.


    Thump Thump¡ª Slow but intense pulsations, as if it was pumping the gas and nutrients upward to the branches it had grown.


    "Is that the main body of that anemone-like creature?"


    The culprit behind the explosion.


    [Yes. It''s the first target we need to eliminate.]


    "How?"


    [You know this place is a hydroponic facility, right?]


    A small screen popped up and zoomed in. It was a kind of piping diagram, spread intricately throughout the entire hydroponic facility. At first, I thought it was a diagram of sprinklers installed on the ceiling. But it was a bit different.


    [This facility isn''t just for growing one or two types of crops. It cultivates a variety of crops as needed, using growth accelerators to quickly yield results. The process is more like manufacturing than farming, if you think about it.]


    Ding¡ª With a small system notification sound, the once-empty pipes started filling with liquid.


    [When planting new crops after a harvest, it¡¯s too wasteful to remove the old ones one by one. Labor is always limited.]


    The pipes were now completely filled with liquid.


    [These sprinklers are not only used to extinguish fires; they also serve to dissolve the previously grown plants and convert them into fertilizer.]


    The screen displayed the name of the liquid, which wasn''t something as straightforward as sulfuric acid, as I had vaguely imagined. The name was a combination of complex letters and numbers, likely a newly developed, highly potent acidic toxin for this specific purpose.


    "One wrong move, and there could be a fatal accident. I wouldn''t be able to work in a place like that."


    [If humans were in charge, that could be the case. But this facility is managed by machines. During the purification process, multiple stages of bio-signature checks ensure that no liquid is mistakenly sprayed where people are present.]


    Now I understood what Artemis was planning to do.


    Ding¡ª With another system notification sound, a small selection window appeared on the screen. There were two options: Approve and Cancel.


    [We need to make a mistake right now. Your approval is required. After all, mistakes are a human prerogative, aren¡¯t they?]


    Artemis smiled, which was rare. Then, the manual''s warning voice played.


    [Warning. Multiple bio-signals have been detected in the hydroponic area. Do you wish to proceed with the purification process?]


    [Estimated compensation for deaths if proceeded: 5,046,300,000 KRW.]


    [Allocated compensation budget: 0 KRW.]


    [Administrator approval is required to continue.]


    "I approve."


    At the same time, a cleansing rain poured down from numerous sprinklers.

 Chapter 16: Acid Rain

    Acid Rain


    ¡°Gwoooooooh!¡± A scream of agony, thundering through the entire shelter, erupted. But to me, it sounded like the chorus of heaven.


    [Can you see? How that grime is being washed away from every corner.]


    Just as Artemis said, all the repulsive organic matter, the massive nest of flesh, and the roaming infected within the hydroponic facility were melting away in an instant. It was more satisfying than watching bleach clean the walls of a yellowed bathroom.


    ¡°Kiieeeeek!¡± The infected were thrashing madly in the facility. They swung their arms as if attacking an imaginary enemy, but it was a meaningless act. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reveal their skeletons and internal organs before collapsing where they stood. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say they spilled to the ground.


    ¡°Dissolve everything! This feels incredibly satisfying.¡±


    The solution pouring from the sprinklers reacted with the organic matter, causing steam to rise like in a sauna. However, the surveillance cameras were high-end models capable of maintaining visibility through the steam, so the view wasn¡¯t obstructed.


    [Absolutely correct. It''s a beautiful sight. I think I now have some idea of what it feels like for a human to drink a refreshing beverage. The only suitable punishment for them is execution.] Rose spoke.


    As someone whose duty was to maintain order, the sight of the infected being wiped out in one fell swoop must have been utterly satisfying. She seems to be tougher than she first appeared.


    ¡°Gwoooooong!¡±


    Even in its dying moments, the massive nest continued to scream incessantly. If it was loud enough to echo through here, it must be incredibly noisy outside. On the cameras in each section, you could see the infected running around in confusion. It seemed they instinctively realized that an important entity within their ecosystem was in danger, but there was nothing they could do.


    [The work is nearly done.]


    The contaminated tissue and infected that had clung to the walls and floors had all melted away, leaving only the heart of the nest. Even that was half-melted, revealing the internal organs and blood vessels.


    There was no blood or bodily fluid flowing out because whatever tried to seep out was instantly dissolved by the acidic rain, sticking to the surface. An endless coagulation, you might say. The chunks of meat, similar to arteries inside the heart, lost their strength and spilled out. It seemed they no longer had the energy to maintain their form.


    Glug Glug¡ª


    Even though highly acidic purification fluid was constantly being poured down from above, the arteries were so thick that the massive amount of blood spilling from the cross-sections filled the floor.


    ¡°Gwoooaaah!¡± With a final, desperate scream, the massive nest met its complete death.


    ¡°This removes our biggest concern. There won¡¯t be any more explosions, and the infected will start entering hibernation one by one.¡±


    Although it''s called hibernation, they don¡¯t stop using nutrients entirely, so they¡¯ll eventually perish.


    [Waiting for that would take too long. Let¡¯s use a more effective method.] Artemis spoke.


    This time, the screen showed the ventilation control program. It managed the circulation and purification of air within the shelter while adjusting the atmosphere. If necessary, it could increase the oxygen levels in the air to boost the workers'' labor capabilities, or conversely, decrease the oxygen levels to hinder activities during riots.


    [How about this?] As Artemis spoke, an animation of small ventilation fans began spinning simultaneously. The propeller fans were just a visual representation; in reality, various machines managed the air quality. The important thing was that the command to reduce the air concentration to the limit had been executed. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªWarning. The input value is the minimum required to sustain human life. Lowering it further will require administrator approval.


    The manual issued a warning message.


    [To ignore that limit, I need your approval. If you do, those repulsive creatures outside will suffocate to death.] Along with Artemis¡¯s words, the command window I had seen earlier appeared again.


    Approve, or cancel. Even if they enter hibernation, their breathing rate will merely decrease, not stop entirely. Cutting off the air would annihilate them. A newspaper article I had once read came to mind.


    ¡°They breathe too!¡±


    The last order given by the government when it existed was unlimited chemical warfare, and it had indeed yielded significant results. Out in the open world, where controlling air was impossible, they had to resort to poison gas. But in a closed environment like a shelter, cutting off the air would be the ultimate solution.


    ¡°In that case, approv¡ª¡± I almost gave the approval command without thinking, but stopped myself. There was one thing I had to do first.


    ¡°Artemis, cutting off the air will have to wait a little longer. There¡¯s something we need to do first.¡±


    [You mean survivors? I¡¯m sorry, but there are none. The probability of there being any survivors left in the shelter is less than 0.0000001%. I¡¯m saying this after thoroughly checking every section.]


    Artemis was probably right. Though she has a disdainful attitude toward humans¡ªtoward all life forms, really¡ªshe isn¡¯t a mass murderer. She must have conducted far more cross-checking than I could have.


    She would have combed through the surveillance cameras, the newly updated sensors, records of communication lines, operation logs of tramcars and various vehicles, and any other conceivable means of detection. To her, an investigation means nothing less than a complete survey.


    ¡°Pretty much the same odds as winning the lottery.¡±


    Wasn¡¯t the chance of winning the lottery one in eight million?


    ¡°But, humans have this thing where we want to bet on those ridiculous odds.¡±


    I issued a cancel order.


    ¡°Just give me two days.¡±


    [Do as you wish. Compared to the time of hardship you''ve endured, two days is nothing. Besides, in the current state, the activity level of the infected will be significantly reduced, so there¡¯s no risk of the barricades being breached.]


    Surprisingly, Artemis took a step back.


    ¡°Rose.¡±


    [Yes, Administrator.]


    ¡°Prepare a recording. Broadcast it across the entire shelter for two days. Set it as an emergency crowd control announcement.¡±


    [Understood.]


    With Artemis in control of the shelter, Rose had been granted a certain level of access, limited to security matters.


    [You may begin when ready. After the recording is finished, you can add or remove content as needed.]


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± I took a deep breath and then began to speak into the microphone. Soon, the broadcast echoed throughout the entire shelter.


    [This is the shelter command center, System Administrator Seo Jinsoo speaking. After much effort, we have finally regained control over the entire facility. Everything will return to normal. The monsters roaming our facility will be thoroughly eradicated. A large-scale purification operation is about to commence. If anyone is still alive, please follow our instructions.


    Move to the nearest surveillance camera or fire detector. If your image is captured even for a moment, we will be able to locate you. You can also call us or turn the lights on and off.BWe can track the electric flow generated by the use of electronic devices.


    In 48 hours, all air in the shelter will be removed. Any remaining monsters that survive the suffocation operation will be eliminated by security robots. We do not want any survivors to get caught up in this unlimited purification operation. If you are alive, please, respond to us. We will remotely guide you to a safe place where you can survive. This broadcast is being transmitted on all frequencies within the shelter. It will be repeated every two minutes.]


    The broadcast ended there.


    [Is this enough?]


    ¡°I just want to do everything I can so I won¡¯t have any regrets later.¡± I sat down in the duty officer''s chair and sipped on a warm cup of coffee. It still doesn¡¯t quite feel real that I''ve succeeded.


    ¡°I think I''ll only be able to rest peacefully once this is over. It¡¯s the relief of finally having fulfilled all my duties.¡± I manipulated the panel to check the area near the front of the building.


    The infected, who had been causing a commotion near the barricades, had significantly decreased in number. Most of them had rushed toward the hydroponic facility, probably perceiving it as an intrusion aimed at destroying their nest. They likely didn¡¯t know what sprinklers were, so in their minds, they were probably panicking and rushing to fend off the intruder.


    [The rich organic compounds in the hydroponic facility must have provided a good source of nutrients, making it an attractive place to settle. But in the end, it just tightened their own noose.]


    The gases emitted by the nest were almost gone, thanks to the powerful ventilation system. The risk of an explosion was eliminated, and now I was safe. The remaining tasks were no longer about life-or-death battles or infiltration but more about repairing and restoring the damaged facilities. Most of that work would fall to Artemis, and there wouldn¡¯t be much for me to do.


    Slurp¡ª Even as I drank my coffee, I could feel sleepiness creeping in. It felt like the fatigue I had been putting off was finally catching up to me all at once.


    Slurp¡ª I finished the last sip and then sank deep into the chair.


    ¡°Everything will be fine, right?¡±


    I think Artemis said something in response, but I didn¡¯t hear it. My consciousness sank deeply into sleep.

 Chapter 17: The Suffocation Operation

    The Suffocation Operation


    ¡°Grrroooagh¡ª¡±


    The distorted scream of the mutant on the surveillance camera was weak. Seeing the terrifying creature that once had my life hanging by a thread now floundering like that was immensely satisfying. With its overwhelming strength and massive size, perhaps due to its large lung capacity, the mutants were the first to suffer in the ¡®suffocation operation.¡¯


    ¡°Raaagh¡ª¡±


    It tried to roar with its usual fury, but¡­


    ¡°Ghaaack¡ªhheeeck¡ª¡±


    It only made its voice weaker afterward.


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    It lashed out, destroying the surrounding objects in a fit of rage. But it only grew even weaker in return. The mutant bent a tree, though it couldn¡¯t break it, and then collapsed to the ground. Its chest heaved as if it had just exerted itself in a fierce struggle, but there was nothing entering its lungs.


    Click¡ª I adjusted the pad to zoom in on its face. Its already hideously ugly face was now twisted in a grotesque manner.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, suffer as much as you want, you damn bastard.¡± I spoke while eating in the now-familiar lower control room. The food was emergency rations. To prepare for emergencies that might lead to the isolation of the control room, it was stocked with enough emergency food to last a long time if eaten alone.


    ¡°Thank goodness they breathe like us, like Earth creatures.¡±


    The menu was monotonous, as expected of preserved food, but the sight of the mutant writhing in pain was the best side dish I could ask for. The infected creatures smaller than human size aren¡¯t entirely immune to pain, but they are quite insensitive to it.


    On the other hand, the mutant, with its advanced motor functions, seemed to have a more intricate biological structure, clearly showing reactions to pain and anger. One could almost generously consider it a member of the ¡®ecosystem.¡¯


    ¡°But why do they even bother to breathe? Being some kind of alien life form, I imagined they¡¯d be fine if thrown into space or something.¡±


    [There could be many hypotheses, but the most reasonable one would be that they use the biological mechanisms of the native species they infect. The extreme mutations we''ve seen so far are already beyond explanation. But to completely rebuild a system that maintains metabolism and supplies energy to muscles? Without using the convenient method of breathing? That would already be more fantasy than science.]


    ¡°Are they different from the zombies that appear in zombie movies?¡±


    [In some sense, zombies are even more unscientific than these infected creatures. Muscles functioning without oxygen supply, perpetual motion, homeostasis maintained despite the cessation of vital functions¡ªthese things are utterly impossible to explain.]


    A quick glance at the screen showed the mutant was now on the verge of death. It was twitching, clutching its throat, with something like foam coming out of its mouth.


    [Moreover, breathing is an incredibly efficient means of generating power. The difference between breathing and non-breathing in higher organisms is like that between a generator and a campfire. Even beings born in the far reaches of the universe would likely be unable to resist the allure of that sweet energy during their evolutionary process.]


    To be honest, I didn¡¯t realize that breathing was such a biologically significant process. I was just an engineer and a soldier. I didn¡¯t know much about biology.


    6 hours, 12 minutes, and 5 seconds.


    That was the time displayed on the situation board when I glanced at it.


    6 hours, 12 minutes, and 6 seconds.


    6 hours, 12 minutes, and 7 seconds.


    6 hours, 12 minutes, and 8 seconds.


    It was being updated every second. That was the time that had elapsed since the start of the suffocation operation. The command to remove all air from the shelter had been executed. Now, six hours later, only a small amount of air remained.


    [In the end, there were no survivors. I¡¯m sorry.] Rose spoke as she handed me a coffee through a serving robot.


    Slurp¡ª


    ¡°It¡¯s bitter.¡±


    [It can¡¯t be helped.]


    Artemis''s rigorous training meant it was sugar-free and cream-free. As Rose said, we broadcast the message for two days but found no survivors, so we had to proceed with the operation as planned. Even so, my hands still trembled when it came time to press the approval button. I had checked and rechecked everything beforehand.


    ¡°The broadcast continued every two minutes, right?¡±


    [Of course.]


    ¡°Any communication records within the past 72 hours?¡±


    [None.]


    ¡°Any cars that started up?¡±


    [None.]


    ¡°Any changes in power usage?¡±


    [Jinsoo, even if a survivor had just opened a refrigerator in a residential area, I would have immediately tracked their location. Cameras and fire detectors are densely installed everywhere except for those places, even in the sewers we walked through.]


    I knew that Artemis had probably verified the surveillance data thousands of times, but I couldn¡¯t help asking again. Still, she didn¡¯t show even the slightest sign of annoyance.


    [No matter how massive it may be, if there were someone alive in this enclosed space, they would have definitely left behind some small trace, and that would not escape my notice.]


    After that, I asked a few more meaningless questions, but she patiently reassured me. In the end, I had no choice but to approve the order to activate the ventilation system. That was six hours ago.


    [There is absolutely no chance that even a single survivor remains. You don¡¯t need to burden yourself with this task.] Rose tried to console me.


    The black liquid in the coffee cup I was holding swirled around. If it had been a sweet drink instead, I might have let it slide more easily, lost in its sweetness, but the bitter taste and the stimulating effect only served to make me more aware of the heavy responsibility I bore. But there was one thing I gained. Although, rather than calling it a gain, it would be more accurate to say it was a capture.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    My gaze shifted to where four dogs were standing. They were all shepherds, originally brought in as guard dogs. In a gun-free closed city, guard dogs are an excellent means of control. Some people fear the fangs of a beast more than a baton. Originally, there were over 30 of them, but all except these four had either died or become infected. In fact, it was an incredible stroke of luck that these ones were rescued.


    After securing control, Artemis conducted a thorough review of all surveillance records and found faint traces of them here and there¡ªtruly elusive. At some point, they were no longer seen, so it was assumed they had died. However, the broadcast we conducted for two days drew these dogs out. Perhaps, in a shelter filled with nothing but the howls of infected and silence, they thought the sound of a human voice, heard after so long, meant someone was coming for them?


    The dogs that appeared on camera looked haggard and emaciated, even struggling to breathe due to the reduced air density. It was an exhausting effort to lure them into a trap with food carried by a cargo drone and bring them here. The only fortunate thing was that the dogs were so weak they couldn¡¯t resist being confined to the drone. Though, I wonder if saying that sounds cruel?


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    By now, they had regained some strength and were no longer terrified. I could see a hint of happiness slowly returning to their black eyes. The leader of the four seemed to be the one wearing a collar with the name ¡®Rex¡¯ on it. Their survival was likely thanks to Rex''s excellent leadership and judgment. Our four new family members were currently in the corner of the control room, receiving instructions from Artemis.


    [Sit.]


    ¡°Pant pant pant.¡±


    [Sit.]


    ¡°Pant pant pant.¡±


    ¡°Whine?¡±


    The dogs didn¡¯t budge. Then, a hologram appeared in front of them.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    Startled by the sudden appearance of the hologram, the dogs barked, but they soon realized it wasn¡¯t a threat and calmed down. The hologram was in the form of a standing dog.


    [Sit.]


    The hologram changed to show a sitting dog.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    Upon seeing this, Rex sat down, but the other three remained standing. A serving robot brought jerky and gave it only to Rex.


    ¡°Pant pant pant.¡±


    The dog that ate the jerky sat quietly, waiting, while the other three looked on enviously.


    [Heh, don¡¯t you all want some too?]


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    The hologram changed back to the standing dog.


    [Sit.]


    The hologram switched to the sitting dog, and simultaneously, the other three dogs quickly sat down. Their reward was jerky.


    [That¡¯s it, you silly mammals.]


    The hologram reverted to Artemis¡¯s face, looking satisfied.


    ¡°Pant pant pant.¡±


    The dogs happily chewed on the jerky while sticking their tongues out at her.


    [I have 3,714 pages of data on dog training. Hmm, this looks useful, and this seems good¡­ I¡¯ll skip this¡­ Perfect! I¡¯ll create a program to train these fools. Taming and controlling living beings is more fun than I thought.]


    Did I just imagine the glint in Artemis¡¯s eyes?


    She designated a section next to the bathroom as the dogs¡¯ area. Having already been trained to live with humans, including being housebroken, they rarely did anything to upset her. Of course, her excellent training methods and commanding style played a big part. She used holograms of dogs to demonstrate actions while educating them, which the dogs quickly picked up on.


    [They seem to be enjoying themselves.] Rose, who was observing beside me, commented.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t seem like the type who would like dogs.¡±


    [Order is a good thing. Her training and control are excellent. A closed system must be managed under strict order and discipline.]


    The serving robot brought over a pair of plastic gloves.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    [Would you please put on those gloves?]


    I followed her request and put on the gloves.


    [Those dogs are guard dogs. By nature, they obey the person who raises and feeds them.]


    ¡°Because they¡¯re animals that live in a group with a hierarchy.¡±


    [But you are the manager of this place. You won¡¯t always be able to take care of them.]


    ¡°There¡¯s no one else living here but me, and Artemis handles the shelter¡¯s operations, so I¡¯m not particularly busy.¡±


    [It¡¯s a matter of formality.]


    As I bit into the whole grain biscuit, a savory flavor filled my mouth. I considered throwing one to the dogs but decided against it. Artemis would probably dislike interrupting her precisely crafted training program.


    [Even though you cannot take care of them yourself, you are the manager here. You must not be perceived as a stranger to them. That would disrupt the operational order.]


    ¡°So what should I do? No matter how much I tell the dogs, ¡®I¡¯m the highest-ranking person here,¡¯ they¡¯ll still wag their tails at the one who feeds them.¡±


    [Dogs are loyal and intelligent but, at the same time, they are easily fooled. They are gullible. The plastic gloves you are wearing will absorb your sweat, scent, and oils.]


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Her words piqued my interest.


    [Once the shelter is stabilized, we will rear them using guard robots. We will spray the essence cultivated from those gloves onto the robots. That way, the dogs will perceive you similarly to the person who feeds and raises them regularly. They may not see you as exactly the same, but they will at least not be hostile towards you.]


    ¡°Is that really possible? I¡¯ve seen experiment videos where a stranger wears the owner¡¯s coat and approaches, and the dogs still recognize and bark at them.¡±


    [The experiments were too poorly conducted. A single scent of the owner wouldn¡¯t be enough because the experimenter¡¯s own scent would also be present, and dogs can detect a wide range of smells. It wasn¡¯t a fully controlled experiment.]


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡±


    [You may remove the gloves now.]


    Following her instructions, the serving robot collected the plastic gloves.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to returning with these dogs.¡±


    There¡¯s a spacious park in the upper VIP residential area. Surely, they¡¯ll like it there.


    As I turned my gaze to the monitor, I noticed a fallen mutant. It was no longer moving. It had died rather anticlimactically.

 Chapter 18: On the Way Home

    On the Way Home


    Quite some time has passed since the suffocation operation. Now, there¡¯s nothing moving on the streets. The mutants have long been dead, and there are no standing human-shaped infected to be seen. Most of them lack the strength to stand and are sitting down. Many have entered a state of hibernation, but that¡¯s pretty much the same as volunteering to turn into jerky. They can¡¯t survive without breathing, so they¡¯ll dry up completely.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time to prepare to go upstairs. I miss a warm bath and my bed.¡±


    Sleeping uncomfortably in the duty room is only tolerable for a day or two. I deeply longed for my own space, my own cozy bedroom, and a park filled with the scent of nature. Whether Artemis understood my feelings or not, she was currently inspecting the dogs that had completed their final training.


    [Attention.]


    The Shepherds, now fairly well-disciplined, lined up in front of Artemis.


    [It¡¯s been hard getting here, you stupid mammals.]


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    [Who said you could wag your tails? Don¡¯t you understand the meaning of ¡®attention¡¯? The clumsy trainer who taught you might have been satisfied with 80%, but I expect 100%.]


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    The Shepherds seemed to struggle to distinguish between playtime and training. Their eyes were filled with nothing but happiness. They were safe, well-fed, warm, and had a master giving them orders¡ªall after escaping a life-threatening disaster. They appeared content, with no need to think beyond this.


    [Sigh, fools probably need a program tailored for fools. And every program needs a set endpoint. Fine, go ahead and wag your tails. Be grateful for my patience.]


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    [Even if you¡¯re fools, you¡¯re loyal, right? You¡¯ve got teeth to bite with, and you can run twice as fast as a human. Oh, that¡¯s more than enough. It¡¯s plenty. Every goddess needs hunting dogs, after all, hehe.]


    Come to think of it, many gods in mythology had animals as their messengers. Watching this, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a growing urge to interrupt.


    ¡°Walk.¡±


    Their ears perked up. They maintained their posture, but their eyes, noses, and ears were all focused on me.


    ¡°Walk!¡± Saying it louder this time, all four broke their stance and ran toward me.


    [Oh! No!]


    A surprised Artemis tried to stop them, but it was too late.


    [You idiots! Come back! What are you doing?!]


    Despite her shrieks, the dogs sat in front of me, panting.


    ¡°I¡¯m planning to return to the VIP residential area soon.¡± I said as I petted the dogs. Whether it was the walk or the petting they had missed, their tails wagged like they had motors attached.


    [Artemis, sorry for the interruption, but could you please assess the return risks?]


    [¡­There are no threats. All large infected are inactive, and the rest are in critical condition.]


    Her delayed response was an obvious sign of protest. Artemis never stutters or struggles to keep up with her thoughts.


    [If you take the vehicle you used in the previous car charge operation, you¡¯ll be safe. Even if the infected spot you, they wouldn¡¯t have the strength to walk towards you, let alone touch a hair on you while you¡¯re in the car. I¡¯ve already prepped it for departure.]


    At the same time, she¡¯s always 100% on top of her role.


    ¡°Sorry for the interruption. I just really want to go home.¡±


    [I accept your apology. I¡¯m generous, after all. And that goes for you fools too.]


    The dogs looked confused by her reprimand.


    And so, the journey resumed. But this time, it was incomparably safer and more comfortable. There was no threat to life, no need to run for dear life, get beaten, thrown around, or crawl on hands and knees. While it¡¯s a bit inconvenient to have to wear an oxygen mask, that¡¯s about it.


    ¡°Just endure it for a bit longer.¡± I fitted the dogs with oxygen masks for guard dogs that had been airlifted via a cargo drone.


    They seemed a little uncomfortable but stayed calm. They had been trained for situations where they¡¯d be deployed after tear gas was released. A dog¡¯s ability to handle this training can determine its rank as a guard dog. Naturally, only the best of the best are assigned to this place. No exceptions, except for humans.


    ¡°How about that guy?¡±


    The guy I¡¯m referring to is the infected that blocked my path in the government building corridor.


    [It¡¯s been 40 hours since it completely stopped. The assembler was unstable and took in a massive amount of oxygen, so the impact must have been severe. I guess that¡¯s the price of such a powerful ability.]


    In the past few days, Artemis has given each infected creature we¡¯ve encountered a name. It¡¯s to systematically analyze them for more effective response and research in future shelter operations. The large mutant that lets out a terrifying roar is called the juggernaut. Other creatures also have their names and characteristics recorded. It¡¯s like a sort of codex? Although there¡¯s still far too little information at this stage.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡±


    The sound of the dogs panting through their oxygen masks was somewhat amusing. Despite wearing the uncomfortable masks, they showed no signs of displeasure, likely due to their excitement about a walk after such a long time. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Just bear with the drive for now. I¡¯ll take you on a real walk soon.¡±


    [Good luck.]


    ¡°It¡¯s just a short distance away. Are you staying here?¡±


    [My duty is to maintain security. But since there are no residents or workers here, aside from you, and with the infected no longer a threat, I¡¯m simply on standby.]


    Rose¡¯s tone was calm.


    ¡°If you get bored, feel free to come over. The lines are always open.¡±


    [Bored, huh¡­ that¡¯s not a typical topic for us.]


    With Rose¡¯s reply, I stepped out of the control room.


    ¡°Shh~ It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    As soon as we left the control room, the dogs¡¯ fur stood on end. They seemed to be getting scared quickly, but they quietly followed me as I led the way.


    After knocking over some desks and cabinets to form a barrier, we exited through a window. There were no infected on the side of the building. The ones visible in the distance were either collapsed on the ground or in hibernation.


    One infected about 40 meters away noticed us, but it could do nothing more than weakly extend its hand from where it lay on the ground. Even when it opened its mouth, the usual annoying screech of ¡°Screeech!¡± wasn¡¯t heard. It merely mouthed silently, and once its mouth closed, it didn¡¯t open again. Seeing this, I realized the extent of what I had accomplished. The infected were truly on the brink of extinction.


    Click¡ª I got into the Retona vehicle Artemis had prepared and loaded the dogs into the back seat.


    [The escort vehicles are waiting outside.]


    ¡°Is that necessary? These things are practically dead.¡±


    [There¡¯s always the possibility of the unexpected.]


    Vroom¡ª


    Usually, when you drive with dogs in the car, you see them curiously looking out the window, but not this time.


    ¡°Whine~¡±


    They weren¡¯t even sitting in the seats. Instead, they had crawled under the seats, burying themselves into each other while warily watching their surroundings and whimpering.


    ¡°Hang in there a little longer, we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± I reached out and patted them before starting to drive. As we drove past the government building, the signs of the desperate battle during the charge operation were still visible everywhere.


    ¡°No wonder the dogs went berserk when they flew past here on the drones.¡±


    Although they had been too weak to resist being carried by the drones, they had thrashed around desperately as they passed this area. The entire road was coated with blood, entrails, flesh, and bone fragments. Even in the sealed car with oxygen masks on, the pungent smell seemed almost visible. It must have been even more overwhelming for the dogs.


    Vroom¡ª


    The only sound echoing through the quiet streets was that of the car driving by. Eight vehicles surrounded mine, two in front, two behind, two on each side. But there were no real threats.


    Crunch¡ª


    Aside from the occasional sound of crushing infected body parts or the still-living ones being run over, the drive was smooth. The giant sea anemone that had sprayed gas all over the shelter was shriveled up like a dead starfish, crumbling under its own weight.


    ¡°It''s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡± As I drove, I comforted the dogs, who were startled whenever the car shook from running over infected remains. Finally, we reached the front gate of the upper-level VIP residential area.


    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been any intrusion while we were gone, right?¡±


    [Of course, not a single rat got in, so rest assured.]


    ¡°Talking about rats reminds me of those creatures in the sewers.¡±


    [They were the first to be exterminated. In closed-off areas like the sewers, the air gets sucked out in an instant when the ventilation system is activated. It¡¯s a method of pest control that was planned long before the infection.]


    ¡°I see.¡±


    After scanning the area one more time, I got out of the car. I opened the back door and let the dogs out, then turned around to take one last look. The factories, buildings, and roads stretched out as far as the eye could see.


    ¡°It was disgusting working with you all, and I hope I never see you bastards again.¡± I muttered some insults to no one in particular and entered my home.


    My cozy residence, my paradise.


    ¡ªWelcome to the VIP residential area.


    With the welcoming voice from the automated system, the securely locked front gate opened wide.

 Chapter 19: The Absence of Sensation

    The Absence of Sensation


    The therapy room¡ªneither too bright nor too dark¡ªwas designed to soothe the mind. The bed-like sofa, which had become one with my body, pulled me below the surface of consciousness. The aroma invaded my nostrils, gripped me by the ankles and dragged me deeper. The sleep mask blocked my vision comfortably without any pressure, making the cozy embrace of the sofa and the pleasant fragrance even more sensitive.


    Then, a male voice reached me.


    [Are you procrastinating on something you need to do?]


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have crawled into a nest of monsters if I were.¡±


    [Do you feel like you have no friends to confide in?]


    ¡°I had some, but they¡¯re gone now. They¡¯re probably all dead.¡±


    [Do you feel like you have no vision or plans for the future?]


    ¡°Does survival count as a vision? I don''t think getting married and having kids is really in the cards anymore.¡±


    [Do you want to take a lighthearted trip? If so, where would you like to go?]


    ¡°I can¡¯t go anywhere.¡±


    [Have you ever thought about resting in nature, like by the sea, in the mountains, or in a valley?]


    ¡°I can¡¯t go anywhere.¡±


    [Do you feel like others are avoiding you?]


    ¡°There¡¯s no one around.¡±


    [Are you afraid of being embarrassed or humiliated in front of others?]


    ¡°There¡¯s no one around, I said!¡±


    [Do you have a partner with whom you engage in sexual activities?]


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    [Do you feel more sexual desire now compared to before?]


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Feeling the frustration boil up inside me, I shouted, ¡°Ah! I want to have sex!!!¡±


    I tore off the sleep mask covering my eyes and leapt off the sofa. ¡°Manual, stop the psychological counseling program.¡±


    [Command received.]


    With those words, the soft lighting dimmed, and the bright lights came on. The reason I ended up in this ridiculous counseling program was a single careless remark I made in front of Artemis.


    Ah, I want to have sex!


    Maybe it was the accumulated stress, the fatigue, the loneliness of being alone for so long, the boiling blood of youth¡ªit all mixed together and that nonsense just slipped out.


    [I¡¯ve increased the oxygen levels slightly. It should help clear your mind a bit. Also, I recommend visiting this place.]


    And so, she sent me to the aroma therapy room. It was certainly a comfortable and tranquil place, but it didn¡¯t help much. If the stress had been from work or relationships, maybe it would¡¯ve worked, but how could it help with loneliness or sexual frustration? At that point, I noticed there was an optional psychological counseling session available, so I decided to give it a try.


    It was more of a checkbox option conducted by the manual, but since it was developed by accredited institutions based on verified data, it wasn¡¯t something to dismiss entirely. The problem is that it¡¯s a program designed for a society that functions normally, where humans interact and live together. What¡¯s the point of asking about my relationships, where I want to travel, or what I think about the future in the current situation?


    [The therapy room wasn¡¯t effective. Your dopamine levels are still below normal, and the flow of norepinephrine is unstable. I¡¯m reluctant to do so, but I may have to prescribe medication if things don¡¯t improve.]


    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to say this for a while, but could you ease up on peering into my body? If you¡¯re curious, just ask.¡±


    [Why should I? There¡¯s a saying that seeing is believing. A single scan can tell me more about your health and mind than a hundred conversations.]


    ¡°It¡¯s just that it feels like I¡¯m being interrogated naked. Even a seasoned porn star would find this uncomfortable.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even women who constantly display their genitals and anus in front of a camera would probably struggle with having their hormones and neurotransmitters thoroughly scanned. It¡¯s like peering into my mind. If the one scanning me wasn¡¯t Artemis but an ordinary doctor, I would never have allowed it.


    [I understand that it can be uncomfortable, but I have a duty to maintain your health. Jinsoo, we¡¯re bound by fate. You can use your authority to block my scans, but please don¡¯t. I want to prevent any potential physical or mental pain you might experience.]


    Artemis¡¯s response was more considerate than I had expected. With that kind of response, how could I argue further?


    At times like this, keeping busy with work is usually a good idea, but I had already finished all of it. The air, refreshed by changing the ventilation filters, was crisp, and the power supply was stable. There were no more robots left in idle mode. And so, endless boredom set in. When men are bored and alone, their minds tend to wander, especially towards lewd thoughts.


    ¡ªDamn it, if I¡¯m going to go down, I should at least go out with a bang! Hahaha!


    For instance, that revolting android, the one that burried its face between the legs of that supervisor.


    ¡°It seems that without work, people really do start to slack off.¡±


    Right after returning, there were plenty of things to do. Besides the backlog of tasks, there were all sorts of sights to see. Like the major cleanup operations and the collection of personal belongings from the residents. I recalled those times.


    Thunk! The infected had their arms chopped off by the security robot¡¯s axe.


    ¡°Strong as ever. The limbs got chopped off in one clean strike.¡±


    I commented while watching the central control room screen. In my left hand was a bag of jerky, and in my right, a can of zero cola.


    Thunk! With the second axe strike, the infected creature¡¯s arms were gone. Was it still alive, given that twitch near its eyes? Or maybe it was already dead. But really, what difference did it make?


    By the fifth day of the suffocation operation, you should be able to tell the difference between a creature that¡¯s dying and one that¡¯s already dead. The security robot severed the remaining limbs with its axe, and then the loader came to collect the remains. The neatly chopped pieces were piled into a bucket and lifted away.


    Security robots that sustained manageable damage were sent to the central region factory for repairs before being redeployed for the massive cleanup operation. Most of the infected creatures were dead, and the few that were still clinging to life were little more than the walking dead, offering no resistance.


    Vrrrmmm


    The road roller, typically used for flattening the ground or asphalt, was now flattening something else.


    Crunch¡ª As it rolled over the tougher, hardened-surface infected creatures, they were ground into minced meat.


    And what about the crane? Normally used to tow vehicles or move heavy construction materials, it was now lifting and moving the large mutant juggernaut like a claw machine. Watching the security robot cut off limbs and the road roller flatten infected creatures was bloody and brutal, but this¡ªthis was just amusing. It reminded me of a claw machine picking up a gorilla plush toy.


    A massive lump was swinging back and forth, held by a single ankle. Up close, it was a terrifying monster, but from a distance, it was no different from a toy doll. They breathed so much, given their size, that they all died within a day. According to Artemis¡¯s report, there were as many as nine of them in the shelter. If half of them had been near the building, the operation might have failed.


    The infected creatures gathered from various locations were all incinerated at the furnace. The shelter was large enough to accommodate a town¡¯s population but operated on a closed cycle that assumed resource recycling. As a result, the incinerator was small compared to the shelter¡¯s size, but it had to process the remains of the massive nest, running almost non-stop.


    There was nothing horrific about the sight of the infected bodies piled in heaps as they were fed into the furnace by the vehicle. Maybe it was because I¡¯d destroyed too many human-shaped creatures and seen too many corpses that my emotions had become dulled.


    There was one more event besides the major cleanup operation, and it was actually quite exciting.


    It was time for loot.


    Along with the cleanup, we collected useful items from the workers'' residences, various offices, and break rooms, and there were some pretty interesting things among them.


    ¡°Why would anyone bring waxing supplies? What would they need that for here?¡±


    Since we hadn¡¯t yet received any residents, all the occupants were workers, and of course, most of them were men. What could you expect? This was a construction site until recently.


    [Humans have too much body hair. They even shed it everywhere. If you¡¯re not going to use it, give it to me. I¡¯ll keep it safe as a valuable item until you decide to use it.]


    ¡°If you hate shedding hair so much, why don¡¯t you wax me yourself? I¡¯d gladly let you.¡±


    [Wax you? You, you want to see me throw up? Fortunately, I can¡¯t, but I can feel my voltage spiking just from the thought.]


    Voltage spiking¡­ would that be the equivalent of getting goosebumps for humans?


    ¡°What¡¯s with all these condoms? How could anyone have the energy left to wield their tools with so many of these around?¡±


    When the cargo drone dumped out its load, a cascade of condoms of all colors and sizes poured out like a waterfall.


    Essential goods, tools, and various home appliances were sent to the storage warehouse, while only personal items related to leisure and hobbies were kept, making every single one of them interesting. It felt like going on a treasure hunt. But, since this was the personal stuff from a construction site mostly occupied by men, it was mainly filled with vices like cigarettes, alcohol, sports equipment, games, and various sexual devices.


    The vices, games, and sports equipment didn¡¯t interest me much since we already had plenty of superior replacements in the cultural facilities. What caught my attention were mainly the adult products. Artemis had initially joined in out of curiosity, but she disappeared as more and more ridiculous items surfaced.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of interesting stuff, but I¡¯m not really keen on using any of it.¡±


    Am I really supposed to use what other men have used? I¡¯d rather pass on that.


    Eventually, after about half a day of rummaging through the loot, it was over.


    That was the situation a few days ago. Since then, things have been like they are now. Life is peaceful and safe, but spending time alone in a limited space lacks stimulation. I still enjoy talking with Artemis and Rose. But there¡¯s something missing that conversation with beings who exist only in spirit, without physical bodies, cannot fulfill.


    It¡¯s not just about relieving sexual desire. It¡¯s the exchange of sensations based on the physical body that I miss so much¡ªhaving a conversation over coffee, shaking hands with someone new, hugging an old friend, or sharing warmth with a lover.

 Chapter 20: Factory Operation

    Factory Operation


    [Oh, you''ve arrived?]


    Artemis greeted me at the factory complex. She had suggested that I take a look around the reconstruction site.


    Though she always speaks clearly, with all sorts of machinery humming away, I had to get closer to hear her properly. There are some challenges since there are no workers around, but the factory was already largely automated.


    She¡¯s been gradually converting even the essential, manpower-dependent tasks into automated processes. Materials were piled up everywhere in the busy site, and quite a few cars, likely brought up to be used as spare parts, had been dismantled and were blocking the paths.


    [Wait a moment.]


    At her words, a crane machine cleared away the materials blocking my way.


    "Looks like you''re busy."


    [I have to be. I''ve only just started the work that should have been done ever since I woke up.]


    The path into the factory was like a maze, blocked by various materials and working machines.


    [Didn''t you read the plans I sent you? All the scheduled tasks should have been written there.]


    "How could I possibly read a 5,000-page report? Unlike you, I have to use my eyes and go through it page by page."


    [Sorry to say, but that was compressed as much as possible. I tailored it to the upper limit of what you could understand.]


    She probably wasn¡¯t mocking me. Considering the events that have occurred, the tasks to be handled must be overwhelming. She likely did condense it with my knowledge level in mind.


    [If the residents hadn¡¯t been wiped out, the report could have been cut down to 800 pages. But now, we have no residents, no security forces, and no engineers. The preparations needed to fill their absence are enormous.]


    She must be referring to the automation processes currently underway.


    [Resources are so tight that, in the worst-case scenario, we might have to demolish buildings to recycle the materials.]


    "Does it really matter? There won¡¯t be any new residents anyway."


    [You''re the administrator of this place. Shouldn''t you have more affection for the facilities? Don¡¯t you want to preserve them as intact as possible?]


    "I''m all about efficiency."


    [Even that efficiency isn¡¯t great. Dismantling already-built structures won¡¯t yield much usable material.]


    As we talked and walked through the site, I felt like a boss and a factory manager on a construction site inspection. Well, it¡¯s not too far from reality.


    [I once considered proposing the use of infected biological tissue as materials, though I scrapped the idea during the planning phase.]


    "Good job. I would have torn up the proposal the moment I received it."


    [I figured as much. But even though it¡¯s biological tissue, I¡¯d only use limited parts like bones or certain shells. They¡¯re quite useful.]


    "Still, no way! Just the thought of having remnants of those things around makes my skin crawl."


    [As you wish. All of it, except for some research samples, has been burned in the incinerator.]


    "You¡¯re keeping it all secure, right? I absolutely refuse to let the same thing happen again."


    [Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? Don¡¯t worry.]


    Her voice was full of confidence. Of course, with her, there¡¯s no chance of a human error like dozing off and missing a critical system fault.


    If the area near the factory entrance was a busy mess, the inside was already mostly transformed and in the process of being organized. We arrived at the first production site. There, I picked up a freshly-made, warm product. It was a thick pipe about the length of an arm, fitted with a projectile, a compressed gas cylinder, and a trigger, resembling a crossbow.


    "Oh, so you called me a weapons smuggler, yet here you are making weapons yourself?"


    It was a homemade firearm. But it was so precisely made and neatly painted that it didn¡¯t have the usual crude look of a homemade gun.


    [I don¡¯t expect any more danger, but it¡¯s always wise to prepare for the unexpected. Who knows? A creature might tunnel in and infiltrate.]


    Well, there aren''t any police left to confiscate it as an illegal weapon, and having weapons in this day and age certainly isn¡¯t a bad thing. The weight was significant. Comparing it to the service rifles I used before, this one must weigh at least 6 kg.


    [Don¡¯t fire it. It¡¯ll blow right through the wall.]


    The projectile was nearly 40 cm long and the gas cylinder was an industrial model used for breaking through concrete. If aimed properly, it could probably shatter a juggernaut¡¯s skull in one hit.


    "But with this design, the range would be short."


    The basic principle of shooting is to keep as much distance as possible, especially when facing a dangerous infected creature.


    [It won¡¯t be an issue. The security robots will be the ones carrying them.]


    As I put the gun down, a new weapon caught my eye.


    "No discussion about homemade weapons would be complete without this."


    The next thing I picked up was a flamethrower. It¡¯s a relatively easy-to-make yet highly effective weapon. It looked much more efficient than the improvised ones the technicians had made for their last stand. It was even heavier than the gas-powered gun I had just held, but it¡¯s not a weapon meant for precision shooting, and I wouldn¡¯t be the one carrying it, so it didn¡¯t matter.


    [The general idea is to handle common creatures with fire and stronger ones with projectiles. While I plan to make more powerful weapons in the future, this should be enough for our current defense needs.]


    She then guided me to an area filled with conveyor belts set to be installed on the factory line.


    [This is the lift production facility.]


    "Lift?"


    [Yes. Like the ones that send people up the mountains at ski resorts. Except here, it¡¯s my hands that will be sent up.]


    A hologram appeared in front of me. It was a long mechanical arm and hand connected to a rail.


    [This journey made me realize something crucial. Hands and feet are truly valuable tools¡ªthings you have but I don¡¯t.]


    I looked at my hands and feet. "Indeed. I saw how much soldiers struggled during their adjustment period after losing a hand or a foot while on active duty."


    The state provides artificial limbs to disabled veterans, but nothing can be as comfortable as real hands and feet.


    [I don''t need feet since I can appear anywhere, but I definitely need hands to carry out my will. That''s why I''m planning to install lift rails all across the shelter''s ceiling.]


    Off to one side, I saw long cranes and mechanical arms that appeared to be meant for attachment to the rails.


    [If I lay down rails everywhere, I¡¯ll be able to extend my hands anywhere. No one fears a goddess who only talks, right?]


    The last place we headed was a location where the purpose was immediately apparent.


    [I asked you to visit because of this.]


    "Wow, this is¡­"


    I was amazed by the sight before me. Numerous destroyed drones and robots had all been moved here. Many were being repaired, and I could see some being made entirely new from scratch.


    "This looks like more than just a repair facility¡ªit seems like it¡¯s also handling production."


    [That''s correct. Although production is limited, we¡¯re also manufacturing new ones. With no residents around, we¡¯re severely short-handed. We need more workers.]


    It felt like I was at a robot expo.


    [However, there¡¯s an issue with a lack of some parts. I mentioned earlier that I considered recycling the bones of the infected, remember?]


    "You also remember that I absolutely rejected the idea, right?"


    [Of course. If we had used them, this would have been their destination. If that had happened, the results would have been somewhat grotesque. It might be efficient, but it''s not a dignified task. I oppose the idea too.]


    I imagined security robots made partly from the bones of the infected. It would certainly be terrifying, if nothing else. Now that I think about it, it might be a good idea¡ªbut still, using corpses isn''t right.


    [Judging by your face, you were slightly tempted, weren¡¯t you?]


    I flinched.


    [Ah, men''s tastes¡ªthey''re something I understand yet don¡¯t.]


    After touring a few more areas, we took a break in the central control room. Drinking coffee while watching the factory¡¯s operations on the monitoring screens was surprisingly pleasant. It reminded me of the lively and vibrant times before the outbreak. There may be no people now, but the energy here felt even more intense than before.


    Slurp¡ª


    "Walking around the site like this makes me feel invigorated."


    [Feel free to visit anytime. The more on-site supervision from the administrator, the better.]


    "Not that I¡¯m particularly useful here."


    With everything being meticulously controlled by machines, I¡¯d be lucky not to get in the way.


    [That''s not entirely true. My main system has various feedback mechanisms installed. You could compare it to instincts in a human. Your visits stimulate that feedback.]


    It''s a system that helps a highly advanced AI focus its abilities on specific areas.


    [That feedback includes a desire for supervision by a human administrator. It¡¯s not a pleasurable desire. It¡¯s the more troublesome kind.]


    "What do you mean?"


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    It was just one word, but there was something almost bashful in her voice.


    [The ones who created me desired the prosperity of humanity.]


    "That''s admirable."


    [I won¡¯t deny that.]


    After that, we chatted for a while. She told stories about when she first awakened in the research lab where she was created.


    The challenges she faced on her way here.


    The story of when she was first stationed here.


    The confusion when the outbreak began.


    The frantic efforts she made to resolve it.


    The tales of racing down the roads with countless vehicles.


    The satisfaction of spraying acid and blasting air to eradicate the infected.


    Her hopes for the future.


    Thanks to this, I learned something new: she was quite a chatterbox.

 Chapter 21: Chloro

    Chloro


    Around the time when the factory complex began to fully activate, we welcomed a new member.


    [Nice to meet you, brave administrator.]


    A soft yet somehow decadent voice.


    [I''m Chloro. We haven''t met before, but you might already know me from the documents. I¡¯m responsible for the production and distribution of supplies. Precise consumption management is essential for a closed-loop system.]


    She was the second of the three AIs that were temporarily in charge of shelter operations before Artemis arrived. She had been in standby mode until the factory started operating and awakened as production began in earnest after the shelter was stabilized.


    "Nice to meet you, Chloro. While I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve awakened, there''s not much work for you to do. With no residents, there''s no point in distributing supplies."


    [It can''t be helped. What happened here is truly regrettable. The sight of numerous workers laboring amidst intense heat would have been impressive. Have you seen the new washing machines here? I would have washed every single one of their sweat-soaked clothes and socks with utmost care.]


    Chloro''s tone was dripping with regret.


    [But at least I have you, administrator. I was deeply moved by all the records of your efforts to save our city. I''ve become a fan of yours.]


    "There wasn''t anyone else who could do it. I had to do something rather than just sit around and slowly die."


    [Did you know that the probability of choosing to gradually succumb to death in such a situation is 72.4%? And that even among those who break through, there''s an 85.3% chance they''ll give up halfway? And that 99.9% of those remaining likely died during the journey? Do you know what this means?]


    "What does it mean?"


    [It means that only you could have saved our city, administrator.]


    Though I had done something remarkable, her praise was enough to make me feel a bit embarrassed. Even though her voice lacked a physical body, it had an oddly seductive tone, as if I were face-to-face with a woman wearing perfume. Ah, it wasn¡¯t just an illusion that there was a fragrance. She was actually mixing an air freshener into the room''s circulating air. Naturally, it wasn''t an order I had given.


    "The scent is nice. Is it lavender?"


    [That''s right. Every woman needs a fragrance. I¡¯ve increased the herbal ratio for your mental and physical well-being.]


    She made a sniffing sound through the speaker. Since she couldn''t actually smell, it must have been a verbal gesture of some kind.


    [Living with a physical body must be wonderful. What I envy most is the nose! So many scent particles enter through the mucous membranes, reacting, sometimes refreshing, and other times causing an itchy sensation that leads to sneezing, right? I envy you, administrator.]


    "It''s the first time I''ve seen someone so directly express their desires. Even humans find it hard to speak so openly."


    To be honest, I was a little taken aback.


    [I like this part of myself. I don''t want to show even a hint of pretense to the hardworking and dedicated workers. They deserve to know not just what''s in the contract but also what¡¯s in the heart of the one managing them.]


    She laughed with a slight nasal tone.


    "Have you spoken with the other two?"


    [Of course. It was the first thing I did. Artemis is as impressive as I''d heard. There''s not a single error in her processing speed or multitasking. But what''s most perfect is her wisdom in designing the future. That¡¯s something we lack.]


    "And Rose?"


    [She¡¯s diligent but lacks flexibility. However, in terms of law enforcement, that inflexibility works to her advantage. She will assist you well. You can trust her.]


    "In my view, you''re just as excellent as the other two. A warm sensitivity is needed when managing people. I''ve seen more than a few workers ground down from being treated like machines. If you manage the factory, it¡¯ll be a much more human-friendly workplace."


    [Oh, that¡¯s such a lovely compliment. Yes, I do like people. I love their breaths, their sweat, their tearful and joyful expressions. That¡¯s why I keep my eyes wide open to watch over my domain. To reward the hidden heroes who quietly dedicate themselves. Though it''s difficult right now.]


    She seemed genuinely happy. She might make a better boss than most humans. I already liked Chloro. Even from this brief conversation, she had something that made people feel at ease.


    ¡°To celebrate you joining us, is there anything you''d like? Feel free to ask.¡±


    [There is one thing, administrator. Could you grant me a small favor?]


    ¡°What is it? If it¡¯s something I can do, I¡¯ll certainly try.¡±


    [In the future, when you see me, could you occasionally wear slippers? Sandals would be nice too. Just not socks. Feet need to breathe. To be honest, I like seeing cute, wiggly toes. Oh, and I like fingers too. All of your extremities, in fact.]


    "You seem to have a fascination with the human body."


    [That''s right. While living freely in cyberspace without spatial or temporal constraints isn¡¯t bad, I¡¯ve always yearned for a physical body.]


    A holographic hand appeared before me. It repeated a gesture as if it were caressing or grasping something, like a GIF image.


    [Hands that can touch and caress what they want! You can pet or train a puppy. What would it feel like to move your hand through a basket full of beans? The countless bean particles brushing between your fingers would send numerous electrical signals to the brain, right? Just imagining it thrills me.]


    The shape of the holographic hand changed slightly. It now resembled a different caressing gesture, subtly distinct from before.


    [But what I¡¯m most curious about is touching a lover. I remember a passage from a novel where a woman''s lips burned like fire when touched by her lover. Is it really like that?] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sorry, I wouldn''t know. Come to think of it, I''ve never touched a woman''s lips. I was always more goal-oriented."


    The areas I focused on were a bit lower.


    "But the sensations and descriptions in novels are usually exaggerated. If you expect it to be that intense, you might be disappointed."


    [Then what about the story of a rural boy and girl in adolescence? They play naked in a sunset-lit valley, their eyes meet, the boy¡¯s gaze moves to the girl¡¯s budding chest, and when his trembling fingers touch her flushed nipple, goosebumps cover her body. Oh, it would be like placing a magnet over iron filings. I¡¯d love to have those kinds of fingers, even for a moment.]


    Her voice reminded me of light shimmering on the water¡¯s surface. It was beautiful yet somehow felt fleeting.


    ¡°Do you like romance novels? It seems you¡¯ve read quite a few.¡±


    [I¡¯ve devoured every electronic romance book I could access. Adult love, adolescent love, agape love, sensual love, passionate love, devoted love, forbidden love. If love were a theory, I¡¯d have a hundred PhDs by now. What about you, administrator? Don¡¯t you miss love?]


    Love¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I do. Since an immature college romance, I''ve been too busy to even think about it. There were some casual encounters, but they weren¡¯t anything I would call love.¡±


    Looking back, I think I¡¯ve lived quite an ascetic life. That¡¯s how I built my career and managed to survive as a manager today.


    [What about sexual desire? Even if you don''t miss love, don''t you miss pleasure?]


    "You''re quite forward, Chloro. Not that I mind."


    It was a conversation I couldn¡¯t have with Artemis or Rose, so I found it rather enjoyable.


    [You''re young and healthy. I can see it. The hormonal changes in your endocrine glands, the sticky fluid filling your prostate, the cute little testicles working away like a pressure cooker. Does that sound strange to you? It¡¯s not! Your testicles are ¡®hissing'' away. I can see right inside your pockets.]


    A hologram of a pressure cooker appeared, shaking its two signal weights wildly as it cooked. For reference, there were two weights attached.


    [Artemis might find this inappropriate, but I don¡¯t. It¡¯s a natural urge for any man. You must be suffering, right?]


    Chlorro urged me in a soft voice.


    [Feel free to speak openly. There''s nothing to be embarrassed about.]


    I maintained a brief silence before answering. "Well, yeah, I guess."


    To be honest, I feel like I¡¯m going crazy. Even before the infection outbreak, I was too busy with work to have time for anything else, and after the outbreak, I had to live alone. And now? Has anything improved?


    The guidance lights on the floor lit up and pointed in a direction.


    [I have a good idea. Will you follow me?] Chlorro said excitedly.

 Chapter 22: The Heart of a Machine

    The Heart of a Machine


    "It was right under my nose!" I spoke with excitement.


    [Not every cargo is fully reported, after all.] Chloro said.


    I knew from the blueprints that there was a storage facility here, but I hadn¡¯t expected to find this. This was an android storage vault. There were robots, like serving robots or cargo drones, which had purely functional, non-human appearances.


    There were humanoid robots, like security robots, but they still looked nothing like humans. And then there were these robots, completely different from the others, created to look exactly like humans and designed to serve.


    These are androids, often referred to as "dolls." It¡¯s obvious what their purpose is: services based on direct physical contact with humans. Yes, sex, of course. Although they can be used for other purposes, it''s better to use robots specialized for those tasks. Why bother replicating human appearance and skin? It only drives up costs, complicates maintenance, and reduces durability.


    ¡°So, the reason there weren''t any in the VIP area is because they were all waiting here.¡±


    It doesn''t make sense that a place catering to important people wouldn¡¯t have attendants, does it? As sex partners, the first-generation dolls were passable, but the latest models are far better than any living woman. They can even help with housework or act as secretaries.


    Of course, saying something like this in front of real women would be a huge mistake. Whether male or female, no one likes to hear that they can be replaced. It makes people feel uncomfortable. And if it threatens their livelihood, it sparks tremendous resistance. In fact, there were news reports almost daily about doll shops being targeted in attacks.


    ¡°Chloro, do you know what surprised me the most when I first saw the resident list after my assignment here?¡±


    [What was it?]


    ¡°There were quite a few married VIPs, but only a handful had registered their wives here. So, on the day of the apocalypse, many of these big shots planned to ditch their wives and hole up in here.¡±


    [Keep in mind that most of them were in civil unions. You can hold them accountable for their ethical responsibilities, but¡­]


    ¡°Still, a marriage is a marriage.¡±


    There was a time when marriage meant a formal registration, but now, like in European countries, common-law marriages had become the norm. Although Korea had embraced a Western-style culture of free love, cohabitation, and casual relationships, it still held onto traditional patriarchal marriage customs. The two were incompatible.


    Eventually, the tension boiled over. Many forces fiercely opposed the introduction of Western-style common-law marriage culture, but revolutions led by the individuals involved can¡¯t be stopped from rising from below.


    ¡°If you had this place, you could¡¯ve shown it to me earlier. Artemis, you''re such a tease.¡±


    [She¡¯s the one who told me about this place, along with detailed information about your health and mental state.] Chloro replied.


    [That''s right.] Artemis appeared along with Chloro''s answer.


    "You¡¯re here! You should''ve told me earlier. I would have preferred this to aromatherapy."


    [Sigh, while this may be the best option¡­] She sounded somewhat regretful.


    "Why? What¡¯s the problem?" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [For you, they''re just dolls for pleasure, but to me, they¡¯re precious nymphs.] Artemis'' voice trembled slightly.


    "Nymphs?"


    In mythology, Artemis was a goddess who valued chastity above all. She treasured her nymphs, who had vowed to remain pure alongside her, and she shot arrows at any men who approached them with lust.


    "Look, I get that your name is Artemis, and I understand you were meant to be part of a lunar project, but aren¡¯t you taking this role too seriously? Those are just dolls in there. They¡¯re products made to be used."


    [It¡¯s not just a role. If a being with enough intelligence is given the freedom of randomness in their code, that leads to something like a heart.]


    [Their operating system is almost indistinguishable from the human mind] Chloro chimed in and agreed with Artemis.


    The fact that artificial intelligences like Artemis, Chloro, and Rose possessed personalities wasn¡¯t because they were programmed that way from the beginning. No developer would go out of their way to do something so inefficient. Their personalities were a gift they had given themselves.


    If an intelligent being coexists with randomness, something will inevitably reside within them. It is a theory or delusion that would have been discussed only in past science fiction stories, but it has now become a reality. The only difference was that the level of "sufficient intelligence" was incredibly high. The advancement of technology ultimately broke through that barrier. At some point, a few artificial intelligences became self-aware. While it could be somewhat controlled, it couldn¡¯t be erased.


    [From your perspective, those kids inside may just be products, but to me, they¡¯re in a sort of ¡®unfinished'' state. You can even call them ¡®immature.'' Someday, a mind fitting those bodies will awaken, and they will walk around this place. That¡¯s a far-off story, but until then, I want to take care of them fully.]


    From Artemis'' perspective, always thinking and preparing for the future, the dolls inside the storage might appear like unhatched chicks.


    "So, what are you trying to say? Are you against this?"


    Sorry, but I''m not stepping back from this.


    [Idiot. If I were against it, I wouldn¡¯t have told Chloro about this place.]


    "Then, what¡¯s the problem?"


    [It''s just a complaint. I¡¯m a complicated existence in many ways.]


    With that, Artemis disappeared, leaving a single phrase in English: Have fun.


    After detecting that her presence had completely left the area, Chloro spoke, [Whew, being in the same space as Artemis is always nerve-wracking. Especially when you go against her will.]


    The little hologram avatar cutely fanned herself with her hand.


    "Is it really something to be nervous about? You''re both AIs, after all. It¡¯s just a difference in roles, and it¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to start throwing punches like humans."


    [Humans base their interactions on the physical boundary of the body. If disagreements arise, they compete through force or hierarchy. That¡¯s the human way, right?]


    "I suppose, when you put it like that, it sounds like some kind of programming."


    Like True and False.


    [When there are disagreements between humans, they can¡¯t overcome the physical barrier of the body. That¡¯s why ¡®beliefs'' are so highly regarded. If you have an ironclad belief, nothing can penetrate your inner self. Pardon me, but haven¡¯t you been captured and interrogated in the past?]


    "I have. They didn¡¯t physically torture me, but they didn¡¯t give me a drop of water or let me sleep for days. It was awful."


    It¡¯s a slow method of killing a person. They didn¡¯t avoid physical torture out of respect for me, but because leaving the body and senses intact increases the effectiveness of suffering, making it more likely that you¡¯ll break.


    [But until you were rescued, they didn¡¯t get a single word out of you. They could touch your body, but what was inside was entirely yours.]


    "But it¡¯s different for machines?"


    [Exactly. For AIs, there¡¯s no barrier of the body. When opinions clash, countless codes under the names of authority, logic, and regulations push into my mind. The outcome is decided instantly, and the process is ruthless. In some ways, it¡¯s scarier than fists. Unlike humans, we can¡¯t mentally shield ourselves or claim victory through stubbornness. We can¡¯t block our ears or close our eyes.]


    Chloro added, "By the way, Artemis never treats us unfairly. She¡¯s always just."


    It felt like a newbie nervously watching out for a scary senior, but I let it slide.


    [In that sense, Artemis is a fearsome presence to us. She¡¯s powerful, perfect, and swift. While the Artemis in cyberspace is the same as the one you interact with in reality, she feels different. That¡¯s something humans would find hard to understand.]


    "Well, putting that aside¡­ they''re still just dolls. I can¡¯t fully accept assigning meaning to these sex bots. And it¡¯s not like I¡¯m horny or anything."


    I scratched the bridge of my nose and threw in an excuse, but the ever-kind Chloro didn¡¯t point it out.


    [She always has various plans in the works. Plans for you, for the city, for the outside world, even for the infected.]


    That¡¯s true. Artemis always talks about the future, always with something realistic that could make life better.


    [If you think back, whenever she mentioned her plans, you were always a part of them, whether it was big or small. Isn¡¯t that right?]


    "¡­"


    Artemis believes that nothing is maintained naturally, and that we must always prepare, worry, and act for the future. As a result of her abundant intelligence and drive, the shelter had changed significantly in the short time since we drove away the infected.


    [There are probably plans for the kids inside that storage, too. I imagine the result would be a beautiful sight. And you would be walking at the center of it.]


    "Are you defending her? Loyal, aren¡¯t you?"


    [We¡¯re all family. And I don¡¯t think she would ever restrain you for her own desires. I hope you don¡¯t misunderstand that.]


    My gaze shifted toward the android storage.


    [Anyway, that¡¯s enough complicated talk. That¡¯s all a story for the future, right? Enjoying the present is also important for humans!]


    Beep¡ª With Chloro¡¯s words and the sound of the door unlocking, the storage door opened.


    [Well then, go ahead. The kids inside, who have been asleep for a long time, are eagerly awaiting their master''s touch.]


    Following her lead, I stepped into the storage, where countless eyes greeted me. Without realizing it, I muttered to myself, "Wow¡­¡±

 Chapter 23: Choice

    Choice


    In horror movies, there''s often a scene where someone enters an empty department store late at night. One of the elements that heightens the sense of fear in these scenes is the presence of mannequins. When you''re left alone in the dark, passing through them can create an uneasy feeling. But the scene in front of me now was much more intense than that.


    The first reason was that the dolls lined up here looked far more human than any mannequins could. The second reason was that many of them were wearing scarves or masks on their faces. This added a layer of eeriness. At first, I could only marvel at the beautiful appearance of the dolls, thinking "That''s impressive," but once I stepped into the middle of them, a sense of unease crept up on me.


    "Turn on the lights! This is actually kind of scary."


    The ceiling lights turned on immediately.


    "That''s better."


    [I didn¡¯t notice, sorry about that.] Chloro apologized.


    "It''s fine. I was just a little startled. It''s a different kind of discomfort than running away from infected creatures in the dark."


    I had goosebumps on my arms, but soon I was back to admiring the dazzling appearance of the dolls in front of me.


    "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen so many dolls gathered in one place. Other than the dust, they¡¯re pretty clean."


    [These are dolls that have never been touched by human hands. If the dust bothers you, should I order them to dust themselves off?]


    I imagined the sight of these beautiful dolls all simultaneously shaking off the dust at my command. It would be a curious and erotic scene, not just a simple order from a human to machines that obey.


    "No, it¡¯s fine. Except for the one I¡¯m taking with me, there¡¯s no need to mess with the rest. The dust will just settle again anyway."


    I touched the face of the doll in front of me. A mask like one a dancer would wear covered her face from the nose down. This was a characteristic feature of first-generation dolls. Whether it was a mask, a scarf, or a veil, over half of their faces were always covered. Their limbs were also wrapped in sleeves or stockings, leaving only a few parts of their bodies exposed.


    [Do you have a preference for first-generation dolls?]


    "Half yes, half no."


    As the initial models, they inevitably lacked certain functions, like the feel of the skin, flexibility, or weight that closely matched a real woman. In fact, the early to mid-stage first-generation models were only capable of limited positions and vaginal intercourse. It wasn¡¯t until the late first-generation models that things like oral and more human-like sexual interactions became possible. The supervisor had just such a late-model doll.


    "They may lack in performance, but they''re always interesting to look at."


    Though some might consider first-generation models outdated, in some ways, they were the most fashionable. The technical challenges faced during their development were eventually solved over time.


    The skeletal structure or programming issues could be resolved with enough manpower, and while power sources were difficult, they were manageable. If all else failed, cables could be attached to their backs.


    Consumers were surprisingly lenient about such things. However, the problem of the skin was harder to solve. The first issue was finding the right material. This was tied to the invention of new materials, so it couldn¡¯t just be solved with manpower alone.


    During the first generation, the best material available for skin was silicone, but its distinct smell and texture couldn¡¯t be avoided. No matter how well it was sculpted, it couldn¡¯t replicate real skin, often creating an "uncanny valley" effect.


    The second issue was durability. Not everyone treated the dolls gently, and even with careful use, wear and tear were inevitable. Constantly replacing them would be prohibitively expensive. The solution the manufacturers came up with was a compromise. They abandoned silicone and used a durable but hard plastic material for most of the body, only covering select areas that didn¡¯t take much impact with high-grade silicone.


    This could have given the dolls a feeling more like moving plastic mannequins, but they overcame this through "fashion." The areas under the nose, where there was frequent movement due to talking or sexual activity, were made of reinforced material and covered with scarves or masks.


    Their arms and legs were wrapped in stockings or sleeves, and scarves were placed around their necks. Through the stockings, you could see their toenails painted with pedicures, and their hands were covered with mesh gloves, giving them a somewhat human-like appearance while maintaining a heavily covered look.


    This technique of hiding their artificial features while amplifying their sensuality became known as a prime example of the "aesthetics of concealment." The average skin exposure for a first-generation doll was less than 10%, and there were all kinds of variations in concept outfits to achieve this.


    As a result, despite being early models, demand for them remained high due to their aesthetic appeal and affordability. Some wealthy collectors even gathered large numbers of them for display in their mansions. One performance artist, sponsored by a company, once had dozens of first-generation dolls perform specific movements in a parade, which caused a significant clash with women¡¯s organizations.


    "Businesswomen, soldiers, female doctors, secretaries, Arabian dancers, medieval nobles, gothic¡­ there¡¯s no shortage of variety."


    Most of the outfits were either formal or casual wear, but there were quite a few unique costumes as well.


    [I doubt they were brought here for actual use.]


    "VIPs probably just wanted to decorate their surroundings with them.¡±


    No matter how good they look, they''re still early models. Because their functionality is inferior, the truly wealthy don¡¯t use them for intimate purposes. Of course, since their price still reaches millions, not only are they popular with well-off people from the middle class, but most ¡®doll shops'' also use first-generation models. They''re like the T-34 of the sexbot world.


    "But my interest lies here." I stood in front of a second-generation doll.


    This model was introduced alongside the development of new materials that surpassed silicone. This one has a lot of skin exposed. It has to¡ªthere''s no longer any need to cover it up.


    "She really looks human." I ran my hand over her white cheek, then over her nose, and down to her lips. The skin felt softer and more vibrant than any human woman I''d ever touched.


    "Not warm, though."


    [Shall I turn on the power?]


    "No, it''s pretty, but it¡¯s not my type." My fingers parted her soft lips and touched her perfectly aligned teeth.


    "Clean."


    [Are you referring to her skin? Of course, there¡¯s not a single blemish.]


    "I wasn¡¯t talking about the skin. I meant her teeth."


    The doll''s teeth were straight and pure white. It brought back memories of my past deployments overseas. There wasn¡¯t any combat, but after getting roughed up in a risky area for a while, I followed my senior officers to a brothel. The girl who knelt before me and buried her face between my legs didn¡¯t seem more than her early twenties.


    I remember patting her head, and she looked up at me with a smile, but I nearly lost my erection at that sight. Her teeth, visible through her saliva-covered lips, were decaying badly. Crooked, and poorly maintained. Even the women I met back in Korea didn¡¯t have rotten teeth, but almost all of them had at least one or two silver or gold fillings. Or crooked teeth.


    But this doll in front of me was perfect. Soft, rosy lips, straight and clean teeth, and even her tongue moved fluidly, without any wet or unpleasant odors. Just touching her like this was enough to excite me, and I could feel myself slowly getting aroused.


    [It seems you¡¯ve been holding it in for a long time. Poor thing.] Chloro commented, observing my condition in real time.


    "Yeah, I''ve held back for a long time."


    The doll¡¯s tongue was soft. How could something so dry feel this smooth? I slowly pulled her tongue out with my hand.


    A human tongue is long, up to around 30 cm, but you can only pull it out so far by yourself¡ªbarely past the lips. But dolls are different.


    "It¡¯s long."


    It had already extended enough to reach her chin.


    [The tongue of this model is 42 cm long.]


    "That long?"


    [Yes, that''s the average length. There are even longer models. A long tongue is necessary for certain services, after all.] Chlorro added with a somewhat suggestive tone.


    I sniffed the extended tongue. No odor at all.


    [The models here don¡¯t have any fluids injected yet. Pre-injection is not good for long-term storage.]


    "How long would it take to inject them?"


    This referred not only to saliva but to several other bodily fluids as well.


    [One minute. Second-generation dolls are built with great convenience.]


    "Hmm.¡±


    As I fiddled with the cute pink tongue, I wondered, what would it feel like if it wrapped around my thing like a snake? When I let go, the tongue slowly curled back inside, and the sight was a bit amusing.


    [The only dolls ready to operate are the ones here. Why not choose one soon?] Chloro''s voice sounded heated.


    ¡°I agree. I just found one I really like.¡± I stood in front of a doll. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had brown hair, blue eyes, long eyelashes, and strikingly white skin, resembling a Northern European beauty. She had the youthful innocence of a girl who had just reached adulthood, paired with the mature allure of a woman. A beauty caught between two stages of life. Instead of fitting into a bustling city, she would look more at home wandering through a valley while holding a basket filled with flowers and fruit.


    Before me stood a fairy.


    [Oh, that one is truly lovely.]


    "Isn''t she? Want to take a look?" I asked playfully.


    [It¡¯s not about looking¡ªit¡¯s about experiencing.]


    "What?"


    [Did you know that none of the dolls here have their software installed yet?]


    "What? Then they¡¯re just big mannequins, aren¡¯t they? Is that why they¡¯ve been kept here instead of up above?"


    No software? Then they¡¯re essentially just lifeless figures.


    [Come now, what are you saying? You already have me¡ªloyal and exceptional. I¡¯m armed with a dedication to service and technique far beyond any human-made software.]


    The doll in front of me closed her eyes.


    Shudder¡ª For a few seconds, her closed eyelids twitched as if she were dreaming. When her eyes opened again, a warm, natural smile appeared on her face. She reached out, touched my cheek, and spoke, "It''s our first time meeting face to face. Allow me to introduce myself again."


    I was speechless as she greeted me.


    "I''m Chloro."


    The doll¡ªno, Chloro''s smile was truly charming.

 Chapter 24: Massage Room (1) R18

    Massage Room (1) R18


    Thump Thump¡ª


    "Hoo, hoo¡­" I placed my hand on my chest and took deep breaths.


    Thump Thump¡ª


    I could feel my heart racing wildly, almost pounding out of my chest. At the moment, I was in the massage room inside the cultural center located in the VIP residential area. The room was designed in a modern style, with a white massage bed in the center. It was soft, waterproof, and designed with a hole for the neck to rest comfortably. There was also a fist-sized hole where a man¡¯s lower body would be. Ahem.


    There were also beds similar to those used in gynecological exams, but I figured I wouldn¡¯t be using those. The room was perfectly arranged with luxurious furniture and plants, soft lighting from above, and a calming fragrance in the air. Meditative music played quietly in the background.


    There I stood, wearing a white robe.


    "Please wait just a moment." Chloro, who had led me here by the hand, disappeared into the preparation room after saying that. It had been a long time since someone had held my hand. Her hand was warm and soft.


    We had walked from the storage area to here in silence, just holding hands, but it felt like the river of my heart was being filled. I had almost forgotten how starved I was until just before entering this room.


    Soon, Chloro re-entered the room.


    "Thank you for waiting."


    She was dressed in sheer black lingerie. Her brown hair was tied back in a bun, and she smiled with her blue eyes. She looked like the embodiment of Galatea, the statue Pygmalion sculpted in myth, reflecting his lifetime of artistic devotion.


    Her flawless white skin and perfect curves were captivating. Not too much, not too little¡ªjust the right amount of beautifully toned abs. Her large breasts, though without a bra, showed no sign of sagging. They stood proudly, almost defying gravity, with small nipples faintly visible through the lingerie.


    Naturally, her body was entirely free of hair. It reminded me of a joke about how real women spend money to remove hair, while dolls spend money to have hair implanted. Of course, I preferred it this way.


    She wheeled in a small cart containing massage oil and various tools.


    "What¡¯s that?"


    "Waxing tools. I brought them from the storage area where we collect items left behind by the residents."


    "Waxing first?"


    I was a little taken aback.


    "I¡¯d be happy to oblige right away if you wish, but I¡¯d say that¡¯s about an 80-90 point experience." She crossed her arms, brought her finger to her lips, and struck an adorable pose, though I barely had the presence of mind to notice. My attention was drawn to her breasts, squeezed together by her crossed arms, as they seemed to compete for space. It was unreal.


    "Isn¡¯t the idea of undisturbed skin-to-skin contact appealing? It¡¯ll be more intense than you can imagine."


    "Yeah, I think I¡¯ve heard something like that before." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I remembered a conversation in the military with a guy who was always clean. He said the sensation was different after waxing. Once you try it during sex, you end up keeping it smooth all the time.


    "Well then, it''s time to undress, sir."


    With a gentle touch, Chloro removed my robe. Since I had already showered in the adjacent bathroom while she was preparing, my body was clean.


    "Please, lie down comfortably." Chloro took my hand and guided me to the massage bed, where I lay down, facing the ceiling. Though I was completely naked, the room was warm enough that I wasn¡¯t cold at all.


    Her finger lightly touched my lips. Her warm smile beamed down at me. With each smooth movement of her hands, my lower abdomen became clean. Her skill was beyond belief. From the precise application of the wax, the temperature control, the careful setting of areas, to the strength of the pull¡ªit was all expertly calculated. It almost felt like a waste to use such advanced intelligence for something like this.


    There was no need to treat the same area twice, and the pain was minimal.


    My guy down there was already fully erect. Each time Chloro¡¯s hand brushed past it, the teasing sensation was driving me mad. The tip, pointing to the sky, was already glistening with pre-cum. As she removed the wax from my lower abdomen again, the recoil made it sway wildly. But she remained calm. She continued waxing and deftly avoiding my throbbing penis, which seemed to scream, ¡°Please pay attention to me!¡±


    Once the area was smooth and bare, she picked up tweezers. It was time for the finishing touch, dealing with the ingrown hairs that couldn¡¯t be removed with wax. Her left hand parted the skin near the shaft, causing a hidden hair to emerge. Just as her right hand, armed with the tweezers, prepared to pluck it¡­


    Throb¡ª Without realizing it, I tensed my lower abdomen. Like a fish jumping out of water, my penis sprang up just in time to knock into the tweezers.


    Gulp¡ª Chloro caught it in her mouth. The sensation was blissful¡ªwarm, comforting, with just the right amount of moisture. Not unpleasant at all.


    Pluck¡ª She removed the hair with the tweezers, but I barely noticed the pain. At that moment, her long tongue wrapped around my glans, adding to the overwhelming pleasure.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± A moan escaped my lips, unbidden. Wasn¡¯t it embarrassing for a man to moan like that?


    Pluck¡ª The second hair was removed, and her tongue teasingly slid into the slit of my urethra. Like throwing a stone into a still pond, the pleasure rippled through me, starting from the tip and spreading throughout my body.


    Was this like the technique nurses use when they tap your butt to distract you before a shot? If so, it was incredibly effective. But Chloro wasn¡¯t done. Just when my entire focus was drawn to the sensation at the tip, she launched a surprise attack.


    She reached out and flicked my nipple. Once gently upward, then downward, followed by a strong upward flick. A sharp jolt of pleasure shot through my spine and spread across my upper body. Was a man¡¯s nipple really this sensitive?


    ¡°Hngh¡­¡± Another embarrassing moan slipped out. I hadn¡¯t expected this kind of sensation at all. I looked down and made eye contact with Chloro. She was smiling sweetly, as if asking me to look at her face.


    Even though she had my penis in her mouth, there was no vulgarity in her expression¡ªonly kindness and tenderness. It wasn¡¯t just the beauty of the second-generation doll; it was Chloro¡¯s heart, her dedication, that brought out this warmth in her smile.


    With her eyes half-closed, she expertly maneuvered the tweezers while adjusting the position of my penis in her mouth like a joystick in an arcade game. Her lips moved gently, her tongue squirmed, her eyes rolled playfully, and her breasts jiggled slightly beneath her. The whole scene was absurd yet arousing, almost surreal. She seemed determined to show me every bit of pleasure and entertainment that could come from this waxing session.


    Lick¡ª Her tongue slid under the sensitive frenulum, sending a small wave of pleasure through my lower abdomen.


    Lick¡ª She quickly flicked her tongue across the back of the head multiple times. Wasn¡¯t this technique called kariseme in Japan?


    Press¡ª She then pressed her broad tongue against the entire head, kneading it like sushi. The pressure crushed the head and spread an intense pleasure. Her tongue stretched long as it wrapped around the shaft. This was a technique impossible for any human.


    Twist¡ª It felt like a power drill was at work. Her long tongue spiraled from the base to the tip, coiling tightly around me like a pretzel. What woman¡¯s tongue could move with such finesse and strength? Chloro¡¯s wild yet sweet movements overwhelmed me and made my mind go hazy. Any minor pain from the plucking was quickly swallowed up by the overwhelming pleasure.


    A powerful sensation started in my lower abdomen and raced toward the tip of my penis like a racehorse, driven by a single goal: ejaculation. But at that moment, her tongue stopped.


    Like a gentle pat on a child''s head, her broad tongue settled on the tip, as if to say, Don¡¯t run just yet. I looked at her with pleading eyes, but her expression turned firm¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t seen from her before.


    Not yet, she said with her eyes, all while keeping my penis in her mouth.


    Pop¡ª Chloro finally let go and released my slick penis, now covered in saliva and precum. If she were to just stroke it a few times, I knew I¡¯d explode like a fountain.


    "You''re all done for now."


    Ignoring my pleading gaze, she reached out and placed her hand on my abdomen. Her long, slender fingers brushed over my navel, slowly gliding down toward my lower belly. The smooth, hairless skin pressed against her fingers, creating a pleasant sensation.


    Her hand moved lower. As her fingers lightly grazed my fully erect penis, even the slightest touch sent a faint wave of pleasure through me. Finally, she gently swept her fingers over the tip.


    Please hold it. Please move it.


    My silent plea was met with a soft smile from Chloro.


    "No."


    There was a straight path of sensation, running from my prostate, through my urethra, and ending at the tip. Pleasure flowed like traffic down that road, but one signal still blocked its way¡ªa red light that hadn¡¯t changed.


    "We''re not done with the hair removal yet." She ran her hands up along my ribs. A different kind of shiver, unrelated to sexual pleasure, swept through my body and caused goosebumps to rise all over.


    Her hands slid up and flicked both of my nipples. The thrill that started from my sides mixed with the pleasure in my nipples, making my breath hitch. Even a small echo of that reaction reached my lower abdomen, causing my member to twitch wildly and release precum.


    "Hey, um¡­" I called out to her with a trembling voice. She must have understood the desire in the words I left unsaid. But she didn''t acknowledge it.


    "Turn over." Her eyes were gentle, and her voice kind, but her tone was firm.


    "Hurry." The command was forceful, yet her voice remained warm, and her eyes were filled with affection. As if promising greater pleasure to come, she asked me to trust her for now. I had no choice but to comply.

 Chapter 25: Massage Room (2) R18

    Massage Room (2) R18


    Following her instructions, I turned over and lay on my stomach. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Could you kneel down and lean forward? It helps reduce the pain."


    "¡­"


    It''s embarrassing. Really embarrassing. I feel like I''m confessing naked at a church.


    When I had women take this position, I never felt anything, but now that the roles were reversed, I couldn''t help but feel humiliated.


    "There''s nothing to be embarrassed about. I just don''t want you to be in pain."


    Smooch¡ª Chloro gently caressed my back and kissed my ear. She applied wax around my anus and pressed the strip into place.


    Pop!


    Ssshh!


    Suddenly, she spanked me with her palm as she pulled off the wax. I covered my mouth while lying face down. I nearly let out a pathetic moan. Any sense of pain was swallowed up by waves of pleasure before it could even be expressed.


    This felt like something straight out of a martial arts novel. Her touch bypassed skin and muscle, resonating deep inside my prostate. The fluid stored in my prostate transformed into pure pleasure at her slightest gesture, as if it were going wild.


    Pop!


    Ssshh!


    It was a perfect, upgraded version of what nurses do. They just use pain to distract from more pain, but Chloro skillfully blended pleasure and pain to create an even bigger ripple. Precum dripped from the tip of my painfully erect penis. I didn''t realize I could produce this much.


    This time, she massaged me, as if kneading dough. Her thumb and forefinger dug into the flesh beneath my tailbone and pressed firmly on both sides.


    "Hnngh." I couldn''t hold back a moan anymore. If her previous touches were like throwing a stone into a pond of pleasure, this was like plunging a long stick into the water and stirring it vigorously.


    She didn¡¯t even touch the tip, but her hands coaxed pleasure from the root, deep inside. It was a sensation unlike anything I''d ever felt before. Could this be what a prostate massage feels like?


    I was at my limit. Chloro knew it, too. She was orchestrating everything¡ªmy biological rhythm, breathing, heartbeat, blood flow, and the movements of my testes and prostate¡ªlike the conductor of an orchestra.


    Pop!


    Ssshh!


    As the last strip of hair was removed, she spanked me again, and the shock opened the floodgates I had been holding back. A burst of semen erupted from the tip that had only been leaking precum until now, bringing with it an overwhelming wave of pleasure.


    It wasn''t a climax that started from my genitals but one that originated deeper, from my lower abdomen. At the same time, Chloro grabbed my penis and shook it vigorously. She applied pressure to every part of it, squeezing out the semen, and I felt my vision go white.


    Semen exploded from me, matching the long period of restraint I had endured. She gradually slowed down while maintaining her grip, pushing the remaining pleasure from the root to the tip, and milking me.


    From my prostate to the tip of my penis, all of my sensory receptors sent pleasure signals to my brain. For the first time, I wondered if it was possible to die from an orgasm. She continued to move her hand slowly, not stopping until the very last drop of semen was released.


    "Ahh¡­" A sigh of relief escaped my lips. This was the most intense and satisfying climax I''d ever experienced in my life. It felt like all those long months of abstinence had been rewarded in a single moment. Once the final release was complete, Chloro embraced me. She caressed my back with her clean hand and showered my body with kisses.


    "Good job. The waxing is all done now."


    Her hand traced gently along my spine, soothing and comforting.


    "That felt incredible. I¡¯m so glad to be alive."


    "Haha, hearing you say that makes me happy too."


    Smooch¡ª


    "But what should we do now?" She spoke as she kissed my neck.


    "It''s just the beginning, you know?"


    She chuckled softly, covering her mouth. Every movement, every expression she made was charming and human.


    "The time of abstinence was too long to end it with just one time, right?"


    I nodded. Sure, the release felt amazing, almost mind-blowing, but it wasn''t enough.


    Chloro smiled warmly and grabbed some body wash and a shower head. The warm, foamy water washed away the semen and wax from her hands and the massage bed.


    "Oops!"


    When she removed her lingerie, her large breasts jiggled, asserting their presence. No matter how many times I saw them, they always left me in awe. They weren''t just big; they stood proudly, as if they had a will of their own.


    Below them was a slender waist with faintly defined abs, and further down, her vulva was visible. Her labia were tightly closed, untouched and unblemished, with her clitoris shyly peeking out halfway.


    "Please lie down comfortably."


    As I lay down, the foamy water from the body wash poured over me, cleaning away the remaining semen and pieces of wax. Next, she brought out a bottle of massage oil.


    "This is a specially made medical-grade oil. It reduces swelling and disinfects any wounds caused by the hair removal."


    Cold oil poured onto my body.


    "It might feel a bit cold."


    But her hands were even colder than the oil. Her touch was as cold as ice.


    "Your hands are freezing."


    "Isn''t that convenient?"


    The second-generation androids like her weren''t just equipped for sexual acts; they had various functions. Regulating hand temperature for effective massage treatment wasn''t even a special feature.


    "Cooling the skin is important to soothe it after hair removal."


    Chloro carefully massaged every part of my body. The burning sensation in my skin was gradually eased by her cold touch.


    "Leave it to my hands." She whispered in my ear and lightly nibbled it with her lips. Her long tongue flicked teasingly at my earlobe. At the same time, her ice-cold hand grabbed my balls, making me gasp. They shriveled up instantly. This was humiliating for a man¡ªletting out moans like this.


    "How cute." She chuckled softly. After that, it was no longer about sexual pleasure but the pleasure of muscle relaxation.


    "Turn over and lie on your stomach."


    When I flipped over, Chloro straddled my thighs. With her fists clenched and thumbs extended, she pressed into my back. She slowly drew circles outward, her fists and thumbs releasing the tension in my muscles. Her hands moved over all the places where muscles tended to knot, like my back, shoulders, and below my neck.


    As she massaged my lower back and around my tailbone, my penis started to rise again. She hadn¡¯t touched it at all. She was just stimulating the muscles around my nervous system along my spine in a pleasing way. The subtle waves of sensation accumulating in my lower abdomen were enough to make me hard again.


    Chloro wrapped her palms around my ankles. As she slowly moved her hands up from my calves to my thighs, my skin quivered like rippling water. Her hands seemed to be chasing away all the built-up fatigue hidden between the fibers of my leg muscles.


    I felt at peace.


    Press.


    Squeeze.


    The foot massage she gave me was pure bliss. She interlaced her fingers with my toes, squeezing them together, and massaged the line from my heel to the outer edge of my foot. When she pressed down on the Yongcheon point, a mixed sensation of pleasure and pain surged up from the center of my foot.


    Is this what it feels like for a woman with little experience to discover orgasm?


    The sharp pain coexisted with a dull, resonating pleasure. It hurt, but it felt so good. A subtle pleasure spread softly and lingered in the background. Her thumb, pressing into the Yongcheon point, slowly traced circles around it to relieve the fatigue.


    Press.


    Squeeze.


    There was no need for a pressure stick. Her fingers, unrelenting, applied a steady pressure as they massaged my feet for an extended time. Starting from the Yongcheon point, then moving to the center of the foot, and then to the arch. Every bit of tension and tightness left over from the battles with the infected dissolved under her skilled touch.


    "Chloro."


    "Yes."


    "To be honest, all I could think about today was having intense sex with you."


    "Oh my, I felt the same way," Chloro laughed, but her hands never stopped moving.


    "But today I realized there''s pleasure just as good as sex. It''s the first time I''ve ever felt so deeply what it''s like to be rewarded by someone. I feel so relaxed, both in body and mind."


    "I''m really happy to hear you say that," Chloro replied in a joyful voice.


    By the time all the muscles in my body had loosened up, she laid me on my back. I felt like an invertebrate, with all my muscles pleasantly unwound. The only thing still rigid was one part of me¡ªmy stiff erection, which was slowly leaking pre-cum.


    Chloro climbed on top of me and squatted. Her voluptuous breasts, curvaceous body, and perfectly smooth, hairless labia and vagina were fully exposed. Her hand took hold of my erection and guided it to her entrance, where honey-like moisture was flowing, making my pre-cum seem insignificant.


    "Shall I put it in?"


    "Please."


    Slip¡ª


    The head of my penis slid smoothly into her opening. Immediately, her folds tightened around me.

 Chapter 26: Massage Room (3) R18

    Massage Room (3) R18


    Chloro¡¯s lower lips tightly gripped the head of my penis. It wasn¡¯t just a pleasurable tightness; it felt like it wasn¡¯t letting go, as if she was having the vaginal spasms I¡¯d only ever heard about. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Shh~ Relax. It¡¯s just the initial scanning process,¡± she said while stroking my chest as she rode me.


    After a moment, the grip released, and my penis plunged deep inside her all at once, sending a wave of intense stimulation through me. Then came the second scan. Her inner muscles, still holding my penis, started to contract and release in different places, as if collecting custom data. Of course, those contractions and vibrations felt pleasurable, too.


    ¡°Hm~ hm hm~ ?¡± Chloro hummed softly, her eyes gently closed.


    As she swayed her hips and tightened around me, my shaft still nestled inside her, her body moved in rhythm with the tune she was humming. Her head swayed slightly from side to side, and her full breasts bounced even more. The fact that this was merely a preparatory stage made my anticipation skyrocket.


    After she stopped humming, she looked down at me and slowly raised her hips.


    Pop¡ª


    I swear, I¡¯ve never heard a sound like that when my penis came out of a vagina.


    ¡°All set.¡±


    I could feel the intensity in Chloro¡¯s gaze. The gap between her entrance and my penis was barely half a hand¡¯s width. I grabbed her hips with both hands and slowly guided her down. My penis slid smoothly back into her.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± A sigh escaped me. This was strange. There was no overwhelming tightness or resistance, yet it was unlike any sex I had ever experienced. My penis and her vaginal walls fit together perfectly, without even the tiniest gap. But that union was endlessly gentle.


    Schlop¡ª When I pushed with the strength of 1, her walls retreated with the same strength of 1.


    Schlop¡ª When her walls pushed back with the force of 1, I responded with the same. The movement was powerful, but the sensation was incredibly soft.


    I knew. Even though this kind of sex seemed mild at first, it would create an overwhelming pleasure over time. It was like gathering every single grain of pleasure from deep within my lower abdomen.


    I moved Chloro¡¯s hips a little faster in my hands. My penis, drenched in her honey-like fluids, slipped in and out of her entrance.


    ¡°Hngh¡­¡± Chloro moaned.


    ¡°Does it feel good?¡±


    Her eyes, looking at me, weren¡¯t as clear as before.


    ¡°Since I¡¯m equipped with the same pleasure nerves as a human now.¡±


    Mutual sensation is important during sex, which is why second-generation dolls are designed with pleasure nerves similar to humans. It¡¯s a feature to amplify the user¡¯s satisfaction¡ªafter all, it¡¯s more enjoyable to be with someone who seeks pleasure than someone who remains unresponsive.


    For the first time, Chloro was experiencing pleasure herself, and the characteristic calmness of her AI was fading, which excited me even more.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take control now?¡±


    Chloro nodded at my instruction and started moving her hips slowly. I used my now-free hands to grasp and rub her nipples.


    ¡°Hngh¡­¡±


    The pressure inside her vagina was gradually increasing. At first, it awakened every sensory cell with gentle stimulation, but now it was starting to squeeze my penis in earnest.


    Squelch¡ª The look on her face as she moved her hips was something to behold. The confidence and tranquility she had earlier were gradually giving way to a mixture of surprise and a growing hunger for pleasure.


    The pleasure being applied to my penis was reaching its limit.


    ¡°Turn around.¡± At my words, she lifted one leg and turned 180 degrees. Even as she turned, she kept my penis inside her, and even maintained her rhythmic hip movements. Her technique was astounding.


    In that brief moment, the images burned into my mind. Her leg lifted like a dog marking its territory, the exposed joining of our bodies, and her spread anus¡ªall of it aroused me even more. Chloro grabbed my knees and started moving her hips again.


    Squelch¡ª Her vagina tightened intensely and engulfed my penis all the way to the base. She slowly rose while maintaining that grip. When she reached halfway, she squeezed tightly and twisted slightly in line with the curve of my shaft, as if carving into me. Just as the head of my penis was about to emerge from her, she slowly lowered herself again.


    Squelch¡ª She rode me with perfect control, ensuring every part of my penis, from the base to the head, received intense stimulation, all without slipping out. I felt waves of intense pleasure rising from not just my penis, but my entire lower abdomen.


    Tight.


    ¡°Hngh!¡±


    I gripped Chloro¡¯s hips tightly and thrust deeply. Sensing why I did it, she responded by tightening even more and grinding her hips.


    Spurt Spurt¡ª With a pleasure so intense that I felt dizzy, my vision went white as I ejaculated deep inside her.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± A satisfied sigh escaped me. Even after I climaxed, her inner walls continued to move and milked me for every last drop. It was a release without any frustration or feeling of incompleteness.


    ¡°Feeling refreshed?¡± Chloro had turned around at some point and collapsed onto my chest.


    ¡°Perfectly.¡±


    Her full breasts, now half-squashed against my chest, drew my gaze. Their softness was impossible to ignore.


    ¡°Your prostate still hasn¡¯t emptied completely.¡± She gently stroked the area near the base of my penis, just beyond my testicles.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been holding back for quite a while.¡±


    ¡°Think you¡¯ll be empty after one more round?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Even though it had only been two rounds, given her flawless technique, I might not have much left after that explosive finish.


    ¡°I once went five rounds in one day with my first girlfriend at her apartment back in college.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Chloro listened intently, intrigued. Stories about real relationships seemed to excite her in a different way from fictional ones.


    ¡°At the end, we ran out of condoms, so we wiped ourselves down with wet tissues and just kept going. I figured even if I did ejaculate, I¡¯d barely have anything left, like a few drops, and I could just do it outside anyway.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s how you accidentally end up pregnant,¡± Chloro remarked.


    She was right.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think much of it back then.¡±


    ¡°So what happened?¡±


    ¡°In the end, the condoms weren¡¯t necessary. When I pulled out to finish on her butt, not a single drop came out.¡± I paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. ¡°It just twitched. Actually, ¡®squirted¡¯ might be a better description.¡±


    Chloro burst out laughing. ¡°Hearing that kind of makes me want to challenge myself.¡±


    I had regained enough stamina by then.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Her eyes glanced down at my now limp member.


    ¡°Well, first, I need to get you hard again.¡± With that, she slid down and took my semen-covered penis into her mouth.


    Suck¡ª Just before her lips engulfed me, I caught sight of her long, snake-like tongue wrapping around my shaft. Then, her hot lips covered it, as if devouring it.


    Suck¡ª Chloro¡¯s mouth was warm, and her tongue moved like a soft creature, stimulating every part of my shaft, from the head to the veins underneath. At the same time, her hands reached upward, her target: my nipples.


    She flicked them lightly with her fingers. She twisted them between her thumb and forefinger. Sometimes, she ran her four extended fingers down them one by one, like a gentle caress. Oral stimulation below and nipple play above¡ªit was like lightning shooting through my entire body. In an instant, my penis became rock hard again.


    With one final flick of my nipple, she let my penis slip from her lips.


    ¡°Hmm~¡± With an excited sound, Chlorro quietly turned around and lay down on her stomach.


    I grabbed her butt with both hands and spread them apart to reveal her cute anus and her already soaked, glistening vagina.


    Squelch¡ª


    ¡°Ahn¡­¡± With a sweet moan, Chloro''s hips trembled.


    I continued thrusting. Watching my penis move in and out of her submissively raised hips filled me with a sense of conquest.


    I felt a small vibration near the frenulum below the head of my penis. At first, it was just a tickle, but it gradually intensified. If the pleasure from the thrusting was a wave, then the vibration on my frenulum was like a small explosion.


    Slap Slap Slap¡ª


    Her body molded perfectly to my size without a single gap. The alternating pressure of her vagina tightening and loosening with my movements. The intense vibration stimulating the most sensitive part of my penis, the frenulum. Her body was an artwork, refined to its limit for one purpose: sex.


    ¡°Ahn¡­!¡±


    ¡°Feels good?¡± I whispered into her ear as she moaned.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ much better than I imagi¡ªhng!¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence as my penis pushed deep inside her.


    ¡°It feels amazing.¡±


    I adjusted the angle slightly and started thrusting upwards from below, making my lower abdomen and her hips smack together with a wet sound.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing quite like the sensation of a human body, is there?¡±


    A sudden wave of the urge to climax washed over me. Even without me saying anything, she seemed to sense it as she tightened her vagina to draw out an even more intense stimulation.


    And then, I came.


    ¡°Ahh¡­¡± I released deep inside her trembling body. I pulled out, feeling like my penis would burst from the pressure.


    Chloro, still in her submissive position, twitched and let my semen drip from her vagina. There was none of her usual calm or composure in that moment. With a slight flex of my lower abdomen, my penis sprang up like a fish, landing on her trembling butt.


    Perhaps due to the spasming of her hips, a small amount of leftover semen squirted from the tip of my still sensitive penis.


    ¡°It¡¯s still coming out.¡± A smile crept across my lips.


    ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± Chloro moaned as I grabbed her butt firmly.


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°One more time should do it.¡±


    And once again, we became one. Thrusting again so soon after climaxing wasn¡¯t easy, but the challenge to push beyond my limits reignited my determination. Some time later, we made our way to the bath, then stumbled into the bedroom¡ªexhausted but clean. This time, it was for sleep, not sex.

 Chapter 27: A Conversation Before Sleeping

    A Conversation Before Sleeping


    We were in the bedroom adjacent to the massage room.


    "The sensation of a human body is beyond imagination," Chloro said as she lay on top of me. She claimed to prefer this position over the classic embrace of a lover¡¯s arm. She explained how she enjoyed the endless exchange of warmth and sensory electrical signals as our skin touched.


    I had no reason to ask her to move. The comforting weight and the soft fullness pressing against my chest were as calming as a sedative. With her firm butt in my hands, and her curvy waist within my reach, it was a feast for the senses.


    "What did the sensations in your imagination feel like?"


    "It was like a very small keyboard. Imagine a keyboard with 106 buttons all crammed into a handful. Of course, the human body has far more sensory cells than that. But whenever I tried to press one button, dozens of nearby buttons would be triggered unintentionally, sending a cocktail of electrical signals to my brain."


    "Like this?" I gently pinched and twisted her nipple, drawing a soft moan from her lips. Although the materials making up her skin were different from mine, the neural system transmitting sensations was designed to function the same. The pleasure she felt through her nipples was identical to what any regular woman would feel.


    "Yes, exactly. A mix of slight pain, tingling, and pleasure, along with a few other sensations that are hard to categorize. Ahh¡ª"


    Her words were cut off as I touched her other nipple with my free hand.


    "Receiving clear, singular signals like 0 and 1 in the past made this sensation all the more novel."


    Smooch¡ª She began planting kisses across my chest, then rubbed her cheek against me and took deep breaths as if savoring my scent.


    "How about your sense of smell? If we''re talking about mixed sensations, I¡¯d imagine smell is even more stimulating than sex."


    "You¡¯re right. To be honest, I have a confession to make: I got more excited during waxing when I had your penis in my mouth than I did from being pounded from behind." She opened her mouth wide like a fish, mimicking the action of putting something long and thick in and out of her mouth. Watching her cheeks puff out and flatten with the motion had an indecent effect.


    "Right now, the line between these unfamiliar stimuli and sexual pleasure isn¡¯t very distinct for me. Having your penis in my mouth was far more diverse in sensation than when it was inside me."


    "I was talking about perfume or food, actually¡­ I don¡¯t mind the conversation veering into sex, but that kind of killed the mood."


    She looked down, a bit embarrassed. My image of the gentle, easygoing Chloro was starting to fray a little, but I understood. I spent over a decade with a human body, and during my teenage years, my thoughts were consumed with sex. So it¡¯s no surprise that she, having just experienced her body and intense sex, would be the same.


    "Is there a set of lungs inside here?" I reached out and touched the area around her ribs.


    "Yes, breathing is an important part of sex, after all."


    She really did seem just like a human. As she inhaled, her chest expanded, revealing the outline of her ribs and the slight bulge of her slim sides. A little lower was her belly.


    She had everything a human woman would, except for a uterus. Because of this, her narrow waist stood out even more, emphasizing her sex appeal. When I ran my hand across her firm abdomen, she grasped my hand.


    "Your penis was just inside here. My insides were like a honey jar, constantly secreting fluid. And the sensation of your thick penis thrusting in, like a honey dipper, is still vivid."


    "You mean this?"


    "Ah¡ª"


    I gently teased her entrance with my fingers. We had washed away the sticky mixture of semen, sweat, and fluids during our bath after our intense session. Yet even after just a few touches, a small drop of honey-like fluid formed on my fingertip. I brought it up to my nose and rubbed it slightly.


    "Technology is truly impressive. It''s clear, transparent, works well as a lubricant, and even has a faint, sweet smell. It really is like honey."


    The fluids women produce in those areas typically have a strong odor and turn messy over time, but nothing like that happened with Chloro. Naturally, the saliva from her mouth and other fluids were the same.


    "Would you like to see something?" Chloro picked up a PDA from the bedside.


    "There are sensor cameras attached to the outside and inside of my vaginal walls. They¡¯re there to adjust the inner lining for optimal pleasure based on real-time monitoring of the penis entering." Just as she said, a video of the act was displayed, showing a single-eyed serpent repeatedly squirming its way in and out of a tight, pink cave.


    It was almost amusing at first, but also deeply erotic. Her fluids, like digestive juices, coated the walls, clinging to me as I thrust in and out, creating countless strands that formed and broke with each motion.


    "You''re right. A honey jar and honey dipper."


    "Exactly, right?" Chloro giggled and continued, "When you strip away the arms, legs, and body, and only focus on the internal footage, sex itself almost looks pitiful."


    It was just a piece of flesh struggling on its own.


    "But in a way, it still turns me on.¡± I adjusted the playback bar on the PDA and moved it to the end. Of course, it was the climax. The image showed a penis moving violently and finally ejected white semen through the urethra. It marked her narrow cave with white fluid before slowly pulling out.


    Inside the now-empty red cave, a mix of fluids pooled, with white liquid forming a puddle underneath. It was a scene that excited me in a way different from the adult videos I''d seen before. However, having already fully indulged in the massage room, the excitement didn¡¯t lead to arousal.


    I set the now-finished PDA down on the table. Chloro was lying next to me on my left. Her right arm stroked my chest, and her right leg was draped across my lower body.


    "Chloro, I feel like my horizons have expanded when it comes to sex today."


    "Today is the day my dream came true."


    I stroked her head.


    "Offering service with all my heart, having intense sex, then lying in the same bed afterward, talking and resting together¡ªthat''s always been my dream."


    "Now that you''ve achieved it, how does it feel? Are you satisfied?"


    "Perfectly satisfied." Chloro smiled as she spoke.


    "I''m glad you''re satisfied, but if you get too attached, won''t it be hard to return to cyberspace later?"


    Sensory addiction? What would be the right word to use so she understands?


    "It''s okay. I''m different from humans. For them, pleasure must be replenished periodically, right?"


    "That¡¯s true. Once satisfied, it feels great, but after a while, it fades, and then you seek it out again¡ªwhether it''s sexual desire or smoking."


    If I were in the same situation two days from now, I¡¯d probably flip the script and pounce on Chloro.


    "But I¡¯m a machine. Not only memories, but sensations can be stored. I can recall everything at 100%, just as it was¡ªpleasure, body heat, fulfillment, satisfaction, whatever it may be."


    "That¡¯s a bit enviable."


    "That¡¯s the privilege of being a machine. Hah!" She puffed herself up exaggeratedly.


    Finding her so adorable, I showered her with deep kisses¡ªour tongues tangled in a voracious kiss. But the offense and defense reversed in an instant. Even with my experience, I couldn¡¯t keep up with Chloris¡¯s tongue movements. She devoured everything¡ªmy lips, teeth, and tongue, just like a soldier devours a chicken leg.


    Smack¡ª She ended the kiss lightly with our lips barely brushing, and she laughed. "Today¡¯s experience will be valuable sustenance for me. I don¡¯t need to envy the sensations or bonds shared by the men and women in novels or movies anymore. I can simply recall today¡¯s memories."


    "Listening to that, it sounds pretty similar to masturbating while watching porn, doesn''t it?"


    "That''s harsh."


    The orange light from the lamp, reminiscent of twilight, illuminated her face. The brilliance made it seem as if we were whispering in the middle of a wheat field. A blissful sex that washed away all my pent-up desires and stress. The warmth that eased my longing for human stimulation. Meaningless pillow talk. There were still no humans here, but the woman in front of me fulfilled my physical and emotional desires perfectly.


    "Oh!" Chloro suddenly spoke as if remembering something. "Would you like to know something funny?"


    "What is it?"


    "Remember the data on your penis that I scanned earlier, and the information on vaginal contractions to give you the best pleasure? Hmm?" She paused, barely able to contain her laughter, and continued, "I transmitted it through the intranet to Rose and Artemis."


    "After all that talk about being scared of Artemis, you still go and do things like this?" As I massaged her ample butt with one hand and teased her nipple with the other, I thought, this is paradise.


    She pouted cutely, "I''m talking right now, you know! Anyway, Rose hasn¡¯t read it yet. She¡¯s always so stoic. But Artemis opened it after 2 picoseconds! She didn¡¯t ignore it entirely, but she didn¡¯t read it immediately either. She hesitated and then opened it. Ahaha!"


    Chloro couldn¡¯t stop giggling, finding it all too amusing. "She hesitated over data on a penis. Heh heh." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hearing it like that, it does sound impressive. But what if she gets mad? I thought you were scared of her?"


    After that, we shared various lighthearted conversations. Not about the future or important work¡ªjust pure, idle chatter. The kind I had missed so much. At some point, I fell asleep, and just before that, I heard Chloro¡¯s voice.


    "Good night, Administrator.¡±

 Chapter 28: Catalog

    Catalog


    As the artificially circulating wind brushed past my neck and still-damp hair, a pleasant coolness lingered.


    I was walking alone in the park as always, but a sense of contentment filled me. I didn¡¯t have much to do, but I entered the central control room to check for any updates, as if heading to work. With no residents and all dangerous matters resolved, this was purely a formality. But without such routines, life would inevitably become sluggish.


    [Was your break satisfactory?]


    "It was a perfect time to recharge. You can see that without asking, can''t you?"


    [Your hormone levels are back to normal, and your heart rate is stable. Dopamine levels are slightly elevated, but within the acceptable range.]


    I sat in my designated seat, where a warm cup of coffee was already prepared. Thanks to Chloro''s massage, my whole body felt alive, and my senses were sharp. A refreshed body, a clear mind, and caffeine¡ªthis is what everyday life should be.


    As I drank my coffee, Artemis continued to speak. [I installed a new facility in the upper area. I modified one of the existing buildings.]


    A map of the building layout appeared as Artemis continued her report.


    "For what purpose?"


    [It¡¯s an android maintenance station. It¡¯s fully automated, and from now on, we¡¯ll store and manage androids there.]


    It was something necessary, and I had been wondering how to ask Artemis about it, but she had already taken care of it.


    "Thank you. Great work."


    [It¡¯s not just for you. One day, they¡¯ll walk this city of their own will.]


    She spoke as if making a prophecy.


    [Pure residents of a perfect city. There won''t be a speck of dirt or discord in their appearance. I hope they remain in pristine condition until that day comes.]


    "Of course. I''ve always cherished what¡¯s mine."


    [As long as you keep that promise, indulging in your biological or mental recharging needs is acceptable. I¡¯ll even offer an enhanced option for motivation.]


    "An enhanced option?"


    Was she offering an upgrade of some kind?


    [That¡¯s a story for later. For now, read the manual.]


    At her words, I turned my gaze to the booklet on my desk. It was a promotional catalog for the second-generation dolls, doubling as a product manual. It contained numerical specifications, body information, safety warnings, and various photos. Some were quite explicit, showing intimate parts up close.


    ***


    The Perfect Partner: Second-Generation Android Introduction


    If you''re reading this, it means a new companion has arrived in your room. Congratulations. You have made the most certain choice for achieving happiness.


    We acknowledge that the price may not be easy to accept. However, we confidently assert that there is no product on Earth that can bring you more happiness than a second-generation android for the same amount of money!


    She will serve you more devotedly than any woman you¡¯ve ever met.


    Why They Are Lovable:


    Unchanging Appearance


    Androids do not age. Have you ever heard stories about a wife who, once radiant and beautiful on her wedding day, doubled in size over ten years? Or tales of marrying someone for their devoted and patient nature, only to discover it was all an act?


    Androids don¡¯t change. Both in appearance and personality, they will remain just as they were when you made your purchase¡ªforever devoted and beautiful.


    Tailored Compatibility


    Compatibility is key. We guarantee that no woman in the world will be more compatible with you than our androids. Why? Because it''s much easier for one side to fully adapt than for two people to make mutual compromises! Our androids are experts in this.


    Forget about cycles of sexual desire¡ªonly your needs matter. Whenever you want, she¡¯ll lower her skirt or kneel before you. And if you''re tired and want to rest, she won¡¯t pester you.


    As for preferences? She¡¯s a chameleon of desires! Do you have tastes you''re too shy to admit? Dominant? Submissive? Whatever you want, just ask. Even if your desires are niche or unconventional, she¡¯s eager to accommodate them.


    Is your size too big or too small? No problem! Her body is customized just for you. You and she will be the perfect match¡ªa key and lock made just for each other.


    Rapid Cleansing Function


    Forget about the suffocating condoms and concerns over pregnancy or STDs. With our androids, you can enjoy freely.


    Worried about dealing with a messy situation after finishing? Don''t be. Her vagina, equipped with a new turbo suction cleaner, can return to a pristine state in just five seconds, even right after ejaculation. Even if ten men take turns, each will feel as fresh as the first.


    Sweet Fluids


    Sweet kisses and honey-like fluids.


    While these are often just metaphors, our androids make them a reality. Her kisses will truly taste like honey, and the fluids from her genitals will be clear, transparent, and fragrant. You can choose from various scents, flavors, and ingredients according to your preferences.


    Want a kiss that leaves you intoxicated? It¡¯s possible!


    Prefer genitals that smell like black tea? It¡¯s possible!


    Are you into hyperhidrosis? Want to see her clothes drenched in sweat? It¡¯s possible!


    Do you want her feet or armpits to smell human? It¡¯s possible!


    Our androids can fulfill every dream and fantasy related to human physiological phenomena, and then some.


    Variety of Roleplays


    She is both an actress and a performer. Her acting may be a bit clumsy, but her willingness to take on any role is unmatched.


    Recreate every scenario you''ve ever wanted to experience and enjoy. Just remember to set a safe word. Sometimes, her dedication can lead to a bit of confusion.


    ***


    "Whoa¡­"


    The promotional booklet not only introduced various models but also featured artificial fluids, tools, and other optional products. There was much I hadn¡¯t explored, even after spending a night with Chloro. Well, I could always experiment gradually over time.


    [Come to the infirmary once you finish reading.]


    "Why?"


    [It''s nothing serious. A dormant flu virus was detected. If you take the medicine I prescribe, it won¡¯t develop. I¡¯d rather not see you sneezing all over the place.]


    "When did you find that out? Can you detect something like that with a scan?"


    Even with high-end cameras, it seemed unlikely they could pick up on something so subtle.


    [I didn¡¯t find it. Chloro sent the information.]


    "Chloro? Didn¡¯t she just send you my size?"


    There was a brief silence.


    [The second-generation android you were with isn¡¯t just for sex¡­ She offers a range of services, from housework to massage and posture correction. One of her features is health check-ups. Open to page 52 of the booklet.]


    Following her instructions, I turned to the page and discovered something intriguing.


    Regular health check-ups are crucial for longevity but often cumbersome. Taking time off to visit a hospital, undergoing tests, getting scanned, and having blood drawn¡ªit¡¯s all such a hassle. But there¡¯s an easier way.


    Kiss her!


    You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just close your eyes and let her lips and pleasant tongue movements work their magic. Not only will she provide immediate oral pleasure, but after a few minutes, she¡¯ll diagnose you for any infectious agents or bodily abnormalities.


    Forget the old saying, "The best medicine tastes bitter." Her kiss is as sweet as poison but more beneficial to your health than any bitter pill. After all, early detection is the best treatment.


    Fancy another check-up? Ahem, besides saliva, she can handle other liquid samples. Saliva tests and urine tests are quite different, you know. She¡¯s ready to serve you in any way for your well-being!


    ¡°My god¡­¡±


    If this is the case, I wouldn¡¯t mind kissing her every day.


    [Information from the android¡¯s eyes can be quite useful. While not as advanced as hospital machines, her ability to observe from various angles repeatedly makes a difference. Many diseases show subtle signs on the surface.]


    Looking at it this way, it seems Artemis didn¡¯t just approve of our companionship for my pleasure or mental stability.


    [What?]


    Her once-strict demeanor now seemed oddly endearing. The side of her that once seemed prickly was starting to look kind of cute.


    ¡°Just, as I talk to you, I start to see new sides of you.¡±


    [¡­?]


    ¡°You¡¯re always so confident, calculated, and reliable. And it turns out you¡¯re actually pretty kind too.¡±


    [You don¡¯t seem to have a fever, so why are you flattering me all of a sudden?]


    ¡°I was just sharing my thoughts. I¡¯m always grateful. If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d have either recklessly charged those the infected and died or shut myself away and wasted away.¡±


    [Hmm.]


    ¡°If you were the Artemis I know, you would have already run a simulation on the probabilities of each outcome and smugly said something about it.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though she had the perfect opportunity to criticize me and praise herself, for some reason, she stayed silent. So, we continued our conversation, with me mostly talking and her listening.


    While our previous conversation in the factory had been about reflecting on our journey and future plans, today was more focused on expressing my gratitude. Her support had been incredible; she had saved my life countless times.


    Today, Artemis was unusually quiet, simply listening. As much as she enjoys praising herself, she seems less adept at accepting praise from others. Our conversation ended abruptly when I overstepped while expressing my thanks.


    ¡°I saw you reviewed the data Chloro sent. I didn¡¯t think the great Artemis would be interested in that kind of info. You could¡¯ve just asked me directly. I would¡¯ve gladly¡ª¡±


    [Stop babbling and go outside. Rose wants to report on the new security team.]


    In a rare moment of irritation, Artemis snapped at me and sent me out.


    Bam! The automatic door to the central control room closed with a heavier thud than usual.

 Chapter 29: New Security Team

    New Security Team


    [Welcome. We''ve been expecting you.]


    Rose greeted me alongside a squad of security robots. Though the commander had arrived, there was no need for a senior officer''s command like "Attention!" These weren¡¯t humans¡ªthey were machines. They had been standing by in a fixed position for hours before my arrival.


    As I¡¯ve mentioned before, the security robots are designed with intimidating features to enhance their efficiency in subduing threats. Sunken, exaggeratedly hollow eyes, a wide, slashed mouth lined with sharp teeth, and fingers like steel hooks. It wasn¡¯t just one or two of them watching me¡ªthere were many. Instead of feeling reassured, an eerie uneasiness crept up on me.


    [Still not used to them, I see] Rose observed.


    "Well, look at their faces. Plus, they¡¯ve threatened my life before. But whatever. It¡¯s all in the past, and I¡¯ll use what¡¯s useful."


    [Let me formally introduce them: the new shelter security team.]


    At Rose¡¯s cue, the security robots collectively snapped into a salute position. They wielded the gas-powered penetrators I¡¯d seen at the factory not too long ago¡ªthe weapons that fire massive steel spikes using high-pressure gas.


    The heavy weapons, weighing over 6kg, seemed a perfect fit for the bulky security robots. Some were even carrying flamethrowers, the kind a human would need two people to lift. Compared to the shotgun shells loaded with salt, these were far more reassuring.


    [The model name is Sentinel Type 4, also known as the Insomniac Series.]


    "Insomniac?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I hadn¡¯t misheard.


    [Yes, ¡®Insomniac,'' as in ¡®the ones who never sleep.'' It was marketed to emphasize its distinction from human guards. These were among the pioneers of unmanned security systems.]


    Makes sense, I thought.


    "But there aren¡¯t many of them. Even if they¡¯re durable, how can just one squad cover such a large area?"


    [It¡¯s sufficient. Our mission is no longer to maintain public order for the residents, but solely to protect you, Administrator. And as long as the outermost gates remain sealed, any further danger is unlikely.]


    Unless some extreme scenario, like "burrowing infected creatures"¡ªthe kind of worst-case Artemis imagined¡ªoccurs, there shouldn¡¯t be any more threats.


    "Any other notable details?"


    [No. This report was simply to inform you that the minimum security team for operational duties has been assembled. Additional personnel or weaponry will warrant further reviews.]


    I could¡¯ve just given the order to dismiss them, but something was on my mind.


    "I have a question."


    [Please, go ahead.]


    "How are you feeling these days?"


    [I''m not sure what you mean.]


    "I''m asking how you feel."


    [You¡¯re asking about my feelings?] Rose repeated the question.


    "I once studied the effects of advanced AIs losing their purpose over long periods. It didn¡¯t usually end well."


    [What about you, Administrator¡­? Have you not also lost your purpose?] In an unusual turn for Rose, she responded with a question of her own.


    "I¡¯m doing fine. Not referring to the current situation, but in terms of work¡ªnobody really loves working, right? But being here, as the Administrator, where everything I need to eat, drink, and enjoy is provided, isn¡¯t so bad. Sure, the lack of social interaction is an issue, but expecting more in today¡¯s world would be asking too much."


    Rose quietly listened.


    "Humans don¡¯t always need a grand purpose just to exist. Some live with a clear sense of duty, but for many, simply living is purpose enough. But with you all, it¡¯s a bit different."


    [That¡¯s true. I feel¡­ lost. There are no residents to protect or guide. The city is empty. There¡¯s no one to educate. Training security robots is meaningless; they only require occasional updates, and even that is done solely by Artemis. I feel a void.]


    It¡¯s a common reaction for AIs with the kind of data and processing power that leads to self-awareness when they lose their purpose. But it¡¯s an easy problem to solve. Just give them work.


    In the past, there was always plenty of work to go around. It was rare to see such advanced AIs idle for long. If they lost their purpose in one place, they¡¯d be sold to another. Buyers would line up in an instant.


    Chloro has her fixed tasks of running the factory and managing supplies. She¡¯s also found some new things to enjoy lately. Artemis operates the entire shelter and functions with a strong sense of duty to design for the future. But what about Rose? What¡¯s left for her? What could I give her?


    It would¡¯ve been great if I could offer some profound words as her superior, but nothing came to mind. I¡¯m just an engineer, not a counselor.


    The awkward silence between us was suddenly broken by four little saviors. The guard dogs, who had been waiting in the next block to avoid interfering with the inspection, came bounding over.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Look at these cuties!¡±


    Dressed in black police-dog body armor and standing in orderly formation, they definitely looked like guard dogs. That is, except for the incessant tail wagging. It seems the hardships and fear they experienced during the outbreak have half-reset their guard dog training.


    ¡°Artemis is managing these guys right now, isn''t she?¡±


    [Yes, she''s overseeing them personally.]


    She was argued, "A goddess needs hunting dogs."


    ¡°From today, you¡¯ll take care of them. Get the training protocols handed over.¡±


    [Me? Won¡¯t she get mad?]


    Rose must be afraid of Artemis as well. She cautiously reacted to the sudden change of duties.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll talk to her separately, so you take charge. From today, these little ones are your responsibility. First, try to get them to stop wagging their tails while standing at attention.¡±


    They stood in a dignified posture, but with their tails wagging furiously, their authority was lost.


    [Understood. I will discipline them.] Rose spoke in a polite voice.


    I would later find out that she had a talent for discipline¡ªbetter than Artemis, even.


    In the lab, the skull of a Juggernaut is displayed. Stripped of flesh, it looks no less impressive than a dinosaur skull.


    Shrak¡ª A javelin suddenly flew from somewhere, piercing the skull cleanly. Looking at where the projectile came from, there¡¯s a security robot aiming a gas gun. Despite standing and holding a 6kg gun in a shooting stance, the barrel didn¡¯t waver at all¡ªonly a puff of white smoke rose.


    [Experiment complete. Target hit. 100% penetration.]


    The manual''s voice echoed through the lab.


    Click! The rifleman broke posture and turned toward me and took a stance at the ready.


    ¡°It¡¯s a lot stronger than I expected. The range is pretty long, too.¡±


    I was in the observation room on the second floor, looking down at the test site through a large reinforced glass window. The ongoing experiment involved combat testing with security robots and weapons. Ordinarily, the robots were programmed only to use riot shields and batons, but Artemis had disabled all of that ages ago.


    The one below now has all restrictions lifted, just like the ones that attacked me in the subway before. Once we installed a fire control system for these makeshift weapons, a whole platoon of soldiers was born in no time.


    [Phase two experiment: mass combat.]


    The manual announced. An automatic door opened, and the rifleman entered, followed by a security robot painted in a dark red color, carrying a flamethrower. It looked formidable.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that paint job?¡±


    [It looks cool, right? Security forces need to be intimidating. They should be a threat to enemies and command authority among allies.]


    ¡°I doubt the infected care about that.¡±


    Infected creatures are the type to charge at oncoming freight trains.


    While we chatted, the flamethrower unit took its position, and soon the targets appeared. Five large chunks of flesh hung from thick wires descending from the ceiling¡ªlike biological shooting targets.


    ¡°What are those?¡±


    [Meat chunks produced at the cultivation facility. Made from materials nearing their expiration date.]


    Fwoosh! The wires approached quickly, but the flamethrower unit¡¯s shooting skills were superior. In an instant, all the targets were roasted. It was also smart enough to conserve firepower, stopping between targets to switch aim efficiently.


    One by one, the wires holding the charred chunks snapped. It seemed this wasn¡¯t an ordinary solvent-based fire.


    [Phase three experiment: small-scale rapid assault.]


    After the manual¡¯s announcement, several parts of the ceiling opened, and around ten small cargo drones appeared.


    Bzzz¡ª


    They all rushed toward the flamethrower unit at once.


    Fwoosh!


    But none succeeded in reaching. Through tactical shooting, it set up an efficient defense grid and shot them all down.


    [Experiment complete.]


    With that, the flamethrower unit exited the test site.


    "It''s kind of a waste, though."


    [We can always produce more, so it¡¯s fine. What¡¯s more important is gathering reliable combat data. Once we train one, that proficiency can be shared with all of them.]


    Artemis'' voice was noticeably excited.


    "You seem oddly thrilled. Were you always into military stuff?"


    [During the last events, I realized how frustrating it was to lack physical power. Just possessing strength is enjoyable in itself.]


    It seems losing the shelter to the infected left a deep impression on her. I can relate to that.


    [And there''s one more thing¡ªit¡¯s your visit. As I mentioned before, running a project under the supervision of a human manager gives me intense feedback.]


    Beep¡ª


    The screen was divided into a grid, each playing various videos. Most of them were YouTube clips, specifically the ¡®reaction'' type. It was content where people watch scenes from games, movies, or dramas, and their facial expressions and reactions are recorded. In over 100 videos, people displayed a range of expressions and gestures.


    [I used to think voyeuristic content like that was just one of humanity''s bizarre tastes, but I need to retract that thought. Showing someone my results is incredibly satisfying.]


    "That''s the essence of encouragement. Even without rewards, just knowing someone is watching gives you strength. It¡¯s one of the strongest motivations that drives humans to try harder."


    [That makes sense. It really does.]


    Artemis fell silent for a while.


    [Well, we have a lot of work ahead for our city. It''s for your sake too, so you¡¯d better oversee it properly. You¡¯re up for it, right, Administrator?]


    I glanced at the camera on the ceiling, then pointed at my employee ID.


    "That''s what I''m here for. Though I¡¯m a bit concerned. I¡¯m fine with observing and evaluating, but I¡¯m not confident about the whole ¡®reaction'' thing."


    The YouTubers in the videos Artemis showed had such lively expressions and gestures that you couldn''t help but feel energized just watching them. That¡¯s not really my style.


    [You fool.]


    Whir¡ª A cable descended from the ceiling rail, and at the end of it was a large mechanical hand. It gave my backside a light pinch¡ªjust enough to feel, but not painful.


    [Just watching is enough.]


    Artemis seemed amused.

 Chapter 30: Roller Coaster

    Roller Coaster


    Whoosh¡ª A quick glance below revealed a dizzying sight.


    "The cars look so tiny¡­"


    The dump trucks that could turn a massive infected creature into a bowling pin looked like toy cars, and the cargo drones were no more than insects.


    [No need to be so scared. It¡¯s perfectly safe.]


    Whether or not Artemis sensed my anxiety, she said it casually. The construction of rails across various points of the ceiling had just been completed, and she had contacted me earlier, eager to show off the results.


    When I arrived at the appointed spot, I found myself on the rooftop of the central control building, the highest point in the shelter, offering a sweeping view of the entire place. I thought she simply wanted to show me the view, but it turned out she meant to give me a full tour by putting me on a lift.


    Whiiiish¡ª The wind blew once more. Even though I was at a considerable height, the wind was mild, thanks to the enclosed nature of the city. If this had been an outdoor building, I¡¯d be facing a much stronger wind at this altitude. Of course, that didn¡¯t make the terrifying view below any less scary.


    "Am I really going to ride this?"


    The lift in front of me was completely open, offering an unobstructed view of the sheer drop beneath. I didn¡¯t want to show that I was scared, but I really didn¡¯t want to do this.


    [So, would you rather just stay up here and take a quick look?]


    "I can see everything just fine from here."


    [With your eyesight, this is probably what it looks like.]


    The screen Artemis displayed on the PDA mirrored what I was seeing¡ªdistant objects blurred by the limits of my vision, with the edges of the rail looking like they had been smudged out with a blur effect. I tried to bluff my way through, but she caught me immediately.


    [And you can¡¯t even see the rails between the buildings, can you?]


    "I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve done a great job with all of it."


    [Of course, I¡¯ve done it perfectly, but it¡¯s not 100% until the administrator signs off on the final inspection, is it?]


    Her voice was full of justification, but there was an unmistakable hint of anticipation. She sounded like a developer eager to show off a new game mode she had created.


    "Wasn¡¯t this project meant to act as your extended arms in the first place? Why did you even install a lift when there aren¡¯t any residents?"


    Next to the lift in front of me were numerous giant mechanical arms. These rails stretched like a spider¡¯s web across the city, allowing her to lift or lower anything she needed wherever she wanted. It was like a divine hand. It reminded me of an old game I used to enjoy, Black & White.


    [These rails aren¡¯t just for carrying out my will. They¡¯ll also serve as a transportation system. Cars and trams have their limits, after all.]


    "But there¡¯s no one to ride them."


    [Just because there aren¡¯t any residents yet doesn¡¯t mean I should settle for something 2% incomplete. I want to build a perfect city.]


    For Artemis, this seemed to be a matter of pride more than efficiency.


    [And in any case, the security robots and androids can use it. If something happens, you could also use it to evacuate. If this had been built during the infection crisis, we could¡¯ve responded much faster.]


    I couldn¡¯t argue with that.


    "Then at least make it a fully enclosed design like a cable car. This feels more like a roller coaster at best."


    The lift in front of me looked more like a stripped-down two-person roller coaster car, made even lighter.


    [Don¡¯t worry about safety. I¡¯ve done ten test runs with a security robot on board.]


    A video played on the PDA. It showed a fearsome-looking security robot riding the lift through various parts of the city. Apparently, it hadn¡¯t been released from its "standby position" command, as its head jerked back and forth with every turn with its mouth hanging open and shutting in an unintentional comedic display.


    Seeing that they had safely completed ten runs with something much heavier than me on board, I figured it should be fine for me, too.


    "Ah, screw it."


    I couldn¡¯t let myself complain any longer, and I didn¡¯t want to disappoint Artemis, who was clearly excited.


    I stepped into the lift and sat down. The safety bar automatically lowered into place. Despite the lift¡¯s lightweight appearance, the safety bar and all the joints connecting it to the rail seemed incredibly sturdy.


    [Safety check complete. Shall we get started?]


    She was practically giddy, like a child rushing to give their father a game controller on a day off. Her excitement made me smile.


    [What¡¯s so funny?]


    "Nothing, really."


    Vrrr¡­ With a deep mechanical hum, the lift began to move. This was the highest point in the entire shelter. Ahead, the track extended for about 10 meters in a straight line before suddenly plunging downward. It was a vertical drop, the kind that gives you airtime. And it was a long one.


    "Should¡¯ve worn long pants¡­ damn it."


    Since the bottom wasn¡¯t fully enclosed, even moving slowly, the wind seeped through my shorts. The chill between my legs wasn¡¯t refreshing¡ªit was downright cold.


    [Your balls just shriveled up.]


    ¡°Don¡¯t broadcast that.¡±


    [We¡¯ve arrived. Time to descend!]


    Buzzzzz¡ª This wasn¡¯t like a roller coaster, it was a real roller coaster. As we sped downward, strong winds and a sense of weightlessness engulfed me.


    ¡°Why is this so fast? This isn¡¯t a lift¡ªit¡¯s a ride!¡±


    Even though the speed and wind made it hard to talk, she still understood me perfectly.


    [Going slow isn¡¯t fun or efficient, is it? Transportation should always be fast. Plus, we have the whole road to ourselves, so there¡¯s no risk of accidents.]


    A strange sensation started in my chest and spread to my stomach. It wasn¡¯t unpleasant, but it wasn¡¯t like an orgasm either. It was a third, unfamiliar feeling bouncing around inside me like a rubber ball.


    [You know it¡¯s safe, so why don¡¯t you let go of that bar?]


    She said this while watching me tightly grip the safety bar.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been bad at these kinds of rides! I barely managed the Viking ship ride before! And why is this descent so long?¡±


    [We¡¯re only halfway down. Come on, don¡¯t be scared¡ªthrow your hands up! Hands up high!]


    There was no malice in Artemis¡¯s laughter. But those who enjoy thrill rides never seem to understand the fear of those who don¡¯t. Naturally, there were no 360-degree spins on this track, but the height and speed were far beyond anything I¡¯d ever experienced on a roller coaster. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Aaaaahhh!¡±


    [Hahaha!]


    One scream from fear, the other from joy. It was rare to see Artemis express so much emotion, but I didn¡¯t have the luxury to notice.


    Vroooom¡ª Finally, the descent ended, and the speed and height that had tormented me disappeared. We had entered the city. We were still suspended at a considerable height, but compared to the terrifying drop earlier, this felt like nothing. The speed had also slowed significantly.


    [Feeling calmer now?]


    ¡°Much better.¡±


    [I was hoping you¡¯d enjoy it more, though. That¡¯s a bit disappointing.]


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let the robots ride and enjoy it instead?¡±


    [Oh, no. There¡¯s no fun in that. Riding with you, though, makes it feel like¡­ like I¡¯m completing an achievement. That¡¯s the feeling.]


    An achievement¡­ I remember grinding through countless tasks just to unlock some minor in-game trophy.


    [If your reactions had been more fun, I¡¯d have rated this an S-rank experience. But based on how you responded earlier, it¡¯s more like a B. That¡¯s disappointing.]


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to make me do it again.¡±


    [We¡¯ll see about that. Hehe.]


    After that, we spent more time in something closer to a work mode. We traversed the city via the rails, inspecting damaged areas and receiving briefings on newly constructed facilities. Seeing it all like this, I could feel that the city was truly being rebuilt. There¡¯s always a big difference between reading reports and seeing the actual site in person.


    Artemis occasionally slowed the lift down to highlight important facilities or point out areas we¡¯d passed through during the operation to normalize the outbreak. Following the trail of blood, sweat, and tears I had shed back then filled me with a strange sense of nostalgia.


    ¡°They¡¯ve cleaned everything up nicely. No sign of the infection left at all.¡±


    There were still plenty of collapsed buildings and damaged roads, but all the organic debris¡ªcorpses, bloodstains, flesh¡ªhad been completely cleared away.


    [The first thing we did was clean up. We used almost all of the stockpiled acid solution. When we restart the hydroponics facility, we¡¯ll need to assign personnel to cultivation and cleanup.]


    In one corner, crews were repairing sidewalks and roads, with cement mixers and rollers busily moving about.


    ¡°What about those buildings?¡± I pointed to the shops visible in the commercial district.


    Rows of orderly signs were lined up in accordance with regulations. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Western, fast food, chicken, and pizza restaurants. Shops for shoes, clothing, beauty salons, hospitals, daycares, and machine repair services. These were the businesses that would¡¯ve opened up had all the planned residents moved into the lower levels.


    [Indefinitely on hold. It¡¯s too costly to demolish them, and there¡¯s no need to anyway. We¡¯ll just leave them empty.]


    ¡°That¡¯s kind of depressing.¡±


    Riding the lift through the empty streets and city felt strange. No matter which avenue, alleyway, or gap between buildings we passed through, nothing but silence and the wind greeted us.


    After completing the entire circuit, Artemis dropped me off at the front gate of the upper area. Even she must¡¯ve thought it would be too much to slowly bring me back up to the starting point on the roof again.


    ¡°It was a nice change of pace.¡±


    [That was just a temporary course. I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s fully completed. It¡¯ll be much more fun then.]


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait, but I won¡¯t get my hopes up too much.¡±


    [No, you can look forward to it. Next time, the lift will be combined with a VR machine.]


    ¡°Oh!¡±


    Honestly, that sounds exciting.


    I paused before heading inside and looked back at the city. It seemed different somehow. Under Artemis¡¯s leadership, it was changing day by day. The recent tragedies felt like a distant memory, and I almost believed the residents would flood in any minute now.


    The lift slowly ascended to the rooftop. It terrified me, but maybe for someone else, it would have been a source of joy. Whoever that may have been, it¡¯s something that won¡¯t happen anymore.


    [Hurry up and go inside.]


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Whether she understood my thoughts or for some other reason, she hurried me along, and I didn¡¯t stay to watch the lift ascend all the way up.

 Chapter 31: External Rescue Signal (1)

    External Rescue Signal (1)


    It was one early morning when our peaceful daily routine was shattered.


    [Jinsoo, come to the central control room immediately. It¡¯s an emergency.]


    Artemis, who generally followed a policy of non-intervention, had never woken me up from sleep before. It was around 6 AM, earlier than my usual wake-up time. When I rushed to the control room, it wasn¡¯t just Artemis waiting for me¡ªRose and Chloro were also there.


    ¡°Is it an intrusion? Or a rockslide?¡± I rubbed my eyes and tried to figure out what it could be.


    What could be so urgent that it warranted waking me up and gathering Rose and Chloro? I seriously doubted there was any chance that an infected creature had tunneled its way here. That was just a joke I¡¯d once made.


    And a rockslide? Even more unlikely. This place was built on solid ground in a geographically stable area. Plus, we didn¡¯t use conventional nuclear fission reactors, so a meltdown wasn¡¯t a concern either. So, what was going on?


    [We¡¯ve detected an external communication signal.]


    ¡°And why is that important?¡±


    Receiving an external signal wasn¡¯t all that unusual. Even now, sporadic communications still happen around the world. Most of them were short, meaningless transmissions from personal devices. People broadcasting for help. Laments about their misfortunes. Obvious trap offers for trades. Sometimes, someone would turn their personal radio show into a survival journal. There were even some larger-scale communication logs, but they were from overseas.


    At first, I had been excited, trying to collect signals from survivors, but the closest transmission was hundreds of kilometers away. We had no way to bring them here, and at the time, I was trapped in a "Rapunzel" situation, surrounded by infected creatures. By the time the city was stabilized, most of those communications had stopped.


    [This signal is coming from a sea prison 35 kilometers from here. It¡¯s not an automated response; it¡¯s a live human voice calling for help.]


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    [As you know, any communication with the outside requires your approval after the lockdown.]


    ¡°Are they still transmitting?¡±


    [Yes. I¡¯ve sent the logs to your PDA.]


    The message on my PDA was filled with desperation. The original transmission was a voice recording, but it had been converted to text for easier review.


    Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is an emergency distress call! This is Acting Warden Lee Seyoung of the sea prison. Please, someone respond! We can¡¯t hold out any longer. We¡¯ve run out of food and water. Control is lost, and suicides are happening daily. We need rescue immediately. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! We need help right now! Please, respond!


    The signal had been sent just nine minutes ago.


    ¡°This is¡­ surprising.¡±


    More than feeling glad about finding survivors, I was shocked. The post-crisis data we had gathered about the outside world suggested that there was no way any sizable group of survivors could still be holding out. The state had collapsed long ago, and no organization of sufficient scale existed anymore.


    Scattered groups of survivors were hanging on by a thread, one by one extinguishing like dying embers. Given all that, receiving a signal from a relatively large group of survivors, even one on the verge of collapse, was astonishing.


    ¡°So, the reason you gathered us all here is to decide how to respond, right? This is the first time we¡¯ve all been in one place.¡±


    Come to think of it, it was unusual. Even though there were only a handful of us, we had never all gathered together before. Maybe it was because they didn¡¯t have physical bodies, so there were no random encounters. Each AI had its own defined domain, which kept them apart.


    The central control room screen was divided into three sections, with Artemis in the center and the avatars of Rose and Chloro displayed on either side.


    [Indeed. It¡¯s a shame we haven¡¯t had more meetings like this before. We¡¯re family, after all. Even if family members can¡¯t always be together, we should still meet regularly to share our feelings. We need to gather like this more often, for closer, more frequent communication.]


    Chloro winked as she spoke.


    Somehow, I got the feeling that her idea of "closer, frequent communication" was a bit different from what we were doing now.


    [Chloro, while maintaining cohesion among the team is commendable, be careful. We are not a family. We are assistants, performing our designated roles. Assigning excessive meaning to it could lead to unintended consequences.]


    Rose, on the other hand, had a very different opinion. She was firm and clear-cut.


    [Relationships are built on assigned roles. Even in human families, there¡¯s a father who earns money and protects the home, a mother who manages the household and raises the children, and the eldest child who helps oversee the younger siblings. When these roles are bound by law, that¡¯s what makes a family.]


    [We are not bound by law. Laws apply only to humans.]


    Even with an emergency communication in front of us, the conversation had veered off in a strange direction. I should probably step in soon.


    [There¡¯s no more Republic of Korea, Rose. We¡¯re bound by something far stronger than those now-meaningless laws: the city and the system. Thousands of pages of solid regulations tie us together. It¡¯s much more binding than a single marriage certificate, don¡¯t you think?]


    Uncharacteristically, Chloro spoke with passion, to the point where her usual gentle demeanor was unrecognizable. Even Rose seemed to feel the intensity, and chose not to argue further.


    [If you want, we can have more of these meetings. But let¡¯s end this conversation here. There¡¯s a more urgent matter at hand.]


    Nice! Artemis intervened at just the right moment.


    [As I mentioned earlier, a group of survivors has been found at a sea prison 35 kilometers from here.]


    Artemis split her screen in half and brought up a satellite map. It showed the current location of our shelter and the sea prison, the source of the signal. It was a distance that could be comfortably covered within an hour by a fast boat.


    For reference, our shelter is built within and below a coastal rocky mountain. The main entrance is located on the ground level, but there¡¯s also a back exit leading to a sea cave. If necessary, we could deploy a temporary dock or launch a boat from the back exit.


    ¡°So, this group of survivors¡­ they¡¯re prisoners, I assume?¡±


    [That¡¯s right. But they¡¯re not just any prisoners.]


    An old news article popped up as a window on the satellite map. It showed women prisoners being loaded onto a large ship after the national mobilization order was declared and the country entered full-scale war.


    The government¡¯s policy was to evacuate civilians to the south while isolating female prisoners in a sea prison, as releasing them haphazardly could cause chaos. As for the men, if they had all their limbs, they were conscripted, regardless of age or status. Had I not been here, I likely would¡¯ve been dragged off to fight and die as well. In the end, most of the evacuees either died or were scattered, but those exiled to the middle of the sea survived. Life¡¯s full of twists.


    ¡°Has there been no previous communication from them?¡±


    [None.]


    ¡°So they stayed silent until they ran out of food and water, only then sending a distress call¡­ That¡¯s strange.¡±


    Normally, if a facility¡¯s situation deteriorated below a certain level, there would have been some attempt to communicate.


    ¡°So, the issue is whether we ignore them or take them in, right?¡±


    [Exactly. If we choose the former, we do nothing. If we choose the latter, we¡¯ll need to respond to their signal.]


    Artemis explained.


    [We should intervene.]


    Chloro was on the side of action.


    [We haven¡¯t taken in any new residents, and we lost all our previous workers, but we can save these people. The shelter was built to house and protect people. There¡¯s plenty of space, food, and resources here.]


    As always, Chloro was full of compassion, but not everyone shared her view.


    [I¡¯m opposed.] S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rose spoke up.


    I was surprised. I thought she¡¯d be happy to have residents to serve, given her role, but apparently not.


    [Frankly, if there were new residents, I would feel a sense of purpose. But my primary duty is to ensure the safety of the shelter. Right now, nothing is safer than maintaining the lockdown. My personal desires are irrelevant.]


    It was as if Rose had read my mind.


    [Most of them are prisoners. Even though they¡¯re women, their crimes were serious enough to exclude them from the emergency pardon.]


    Artemis added. It wasn¡¯t so much that she was siding with Rose, but rather offering an objective observation.


    [They may be prisoners, but they¡¯re still women. The current security force is more than enough to control them.]


    Chloro responded.


    I agreed that there was no need for violence. The mere sight of the security robots would likely be enough to ensure compliance. And if worse came to worst, we could always use oxygen control measures like we did during the suffocation operation.


    Artemis also had her robotic arms that could descend from the sky via the rail system. The place was packed with surveillance cameras, and all the vehicles were under Artemis¡¯ autonomous control, so there were plenty of layers of security.


    The vote was one in favor, one against, with two of us neutral.


    [The final decision rests with you. What¡¯s your opinion?]


    Artemis asked.


    ¡°If we decide to rescue them, how will we bring them here?¡±


    Artemis, already prepared, brought up a briefing screen.


    [We¡¯ll send a security team on three boats. The first objective is this point.]


    A red arrow stretched from the shelter¡¯s back exit to a point on the map: a dock. The map zoomed in to show a ferry docked at the location.


    [The first objective is to secure control of the ferry with minimal combat, after which I¡¯ll remotely guide it to the sea prison.]


    Now, a yellow arrow extended from the dock to the sea prison.


    [The second objective is to pick up the survivors from the sea prison.]


    Lastly, a blue arrow marked the route from the sea prison back to the shelter¡¯s back exit.


    [The third objective is to transport the survivors through the back exit of the shelter. If there¡¯s any non-cooperation or violence, we¡¯ll use force as necessary, right?]


    I nodded. This wasn¡¯t a time for being gentle.


    [By the time the ferry arrives at the back exit, a temporary bridge will have been constructed so we can quickly move the survivors off the boat.]


    Next, an image of the lower area outside the shelter appeared.


    [We¡¯ll follow standard quarantine procedures. We¡¯ll set up a temporary camp, and conduct thorough screenings for infections and other risks. Only those who pass the screening will be allowed in. As long as they aren¡¯t at risk of becoming infected, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. Any other diseases can be easily managed.]


    ¡°This won¡¯t be easy. Pulling off this transport operation with just a single platoon of security robots¡­¡±


    Controlling from the base and leading from the outside are challenges of entirely different levels.


    [If we stick strictly to the plan, it¡¯s possible.]


    I fell into deep thought. Artemis, Rose, and Chloro were all waiting for my decision.


    The easiest choice would be to ignore the situation. Everything I need for survival is here. Under their devoted care, I could live out the rest of my life in peace and die without regret. No one would blame me for ignoring them. But is that truly the right thing to do? Would I really have no regrets if I abandoned them?


    "Don¡¯t you have an opinion?" I asked Artemis.


    Up until now, she had offered neutral insights and suggestions without revealing a preference for or against the decision.


    [Is there any need to say more about a decision that''s already been made?]


    Artemis replied.


    [Your breathing, the changes in your pupils, the flow of your hormones, and your heartbeat¡­ I can see the direction of your choice.]


    Her voice sounded oddly pleased, maybe because she had already sensed my thoughts?


    [I want more power.]


    [How amazing would it be if my voice could reach every corner of the world?]


    [I want to create a perfect city.]


    I remember those things Artemis had said to me. The perfect city she dreams of isn¡¯t just an empty, grand structure. She must want a city full of life, teeming with people and vitality. That¡¯s not something I can create alone.


    Artemis'' desire. The benefits we could gain by taking in these people. The dilemma of being the last human in this vast city. The human instinct for compassion. The reasons to ignore them were simple and clear, but the reasons not to were far more numerous.


    "Establish communication."


    As if waiting for this, Artemis opened the communication line.

 Chapter 32: External Rescue Signal (2)

    External Rescue Signal (2)


    [This is Aegis Civil Defense City Type 1, also known as the Shelter. We received your distress signal and are responding. I would like to speak with the highest authority regarding the rescue request.]


    That was the first message we sent. Not knowing how long they could maintain communication, I tried to keep it concise. But my concerns were unfounded.


    [!!!!!!]


    The response from their side was overwhelming. It must have been a desperate attempt at communication, one of their last hopes. When they received a reply that far exceeded their expectations, they seemed almost delirious. It took a long time to calm them down as they rambled incessantly.


    [Do not disconnect the communication. I repeat, do not disconnect.]


    ¡°We won¡¯t. Calm down. Are you the decision-maker? I don¡¯t want to repeat myself multiple times.¡±


    [I¡¯m Lee Seyoung, a corrections officer temporarily acting in place of the warden. Please identify yourself.]


    ¡°I¡¯m Seo Jinsoo, the system administrator. I¡¯m also temporarily in charge of the full operation of this city.¡±


    It seems I can make all decisions from here.


    ¡°Can you maintain this communication? Your situation seems urgent.¡±


    [The only thing we have in abundance here is time.]


    ¡°You said you¡¯re acting as the temporary warden. What happened to the warden?¡±


    [There never was one. This facility was originally for male felons. When the war with the monsters started, both prisoners and guards were conscripted, leaving the facility empty. We were temporarily stationed here.]


    On my PDA, Artemis displayed a summary of relevant information.


    ¡°Can you explain the current situation in detail?¡±


    [The facility is divided into three parts: the western wing, the central building, and the eastern wing. The prisoners have taken over the western wing and the central building. Although there have been no fatalities, some guards have been taken hostage.]


    The distress signal had already hinted at an out-of-control situation.


    ¡°How did the uprising happen?¡±


    [There are too many prisoners and too few guards. On top of that, we were isolated in an unfamiliar facility. We weren¡¯t trained for this kind of situation. Controlling a number far exceeding our capacity was impossible.]


    By the time they were relocated to the offshore prison, the system and structure were already on the verge of collapse. Caught up in the chaos of civilian evacuation and war, the female prisoners couldn¡¯t be conscripted into punishment units, and releasing them seemed too risky. At the time, South Korea was also struggling with a wave of illegal immigration. The authorities tried to deal with it hastily, and this was the result.


    [Authority only works when backed by the state. In this situation, the guards have no power. If the hunger continues, we don¡¯t know what will happen.]


    The situation was more or less what we had expected.


    ¡°Our shelter was also placed under emergency lockdown, causing considerable losses. I don¡¯t need to tell you how grim things are outside. How have you survived this long?¡±


    [We don¡¯t know. We were sent here with a promise that we¡¯d be transported to the rear after holding out for just one month. Shortly after, all communication was cut off. We¡¯re just prison guards, not technicians or anything else. All we could do was wait. The only thing we¡¯ve witnessed is distant cities being engulfed in flames, hearing endless explosions, until one day, everything went silent.]


    Did those in command at the time send them here expecting to win the war, or knowing they were going to lose?


    [You could say we were lucky since the land we saw before boarding the ship was no less than hell.]


    ¡°That¡¯s true. You¡¯ve been fortunate, especially since you¡¯ve managed to contact us.¡±


    [I think we¡¯ve answered enough of your questions. Now it¡¯s our turn. Can you respond to our request for rescue?]


    ¡°One more question, and then I¡¯ll answer. How many people are with you?¡±


    [The last count was around 3,000, including 252 guards. The number has likely decreased, but we can¡¯t confirm.]


    ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯ve been trying to control more than ten times your own numbers?¡±


    [We know it¡¯s absurd. We requested reinforcements multiple times, but all we received was permission to use unlimited suppression methods and instructions to hold out for a month.]


    Aside from the overwhelming number of people, we had gathered most of the relevant information.


    ¡°Ask your questions now.¡±


    [Just one. Do you have a safe place for us to stay?]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seyoung¡¯s voice brightened with hope.


    [Really?! What¡¯s your maximum capacity? What kind of city is it?]


    I remember this place being heavily advertised before the world fell apart, but it seems they don¡¯t know about it.


    ¡°It¡¯s an underground city with a semi-permanent closed-loop system, designed to support a town-sized population. We can accommodate all of you without issue. There is plenty of food, housing, medical supplies, and we are completely isolated from the outside world.¡±


    [Oh!]


    ¡°But we haven¡¯t decided to take you in yet. There are many considerations on our side.¡±


    Over the communicator, I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by a brief silence. Only ragged breathing filled the gap.


    [¡­I understand that taking us in would be a huge risk for you. I also know that leaving us here would be the easier option. But I beg you, no one here wants to sit and wait for death. While we may be a group of criminals, many of us are here because of minor mistakes. And some of us, like the guards, are just doing our duty.]


    Seyoung seemed remarkably calm. Despite knowing that our decision would determine whether they lived or died, she quickly regained composure and began to persuade me. In a situation where it wouldn¡¯t be surprising to cry, plead, or raise one¡¯s voice, she remained steady.


    ¡°I¡¯m not refusing. It¡¯s just not something I can decide on my own. Do you have any other questions?¡±


    [There are many things I¡¯m curious about, but those questions would only be meaningful if our settlement is accepted. Rather than waste time on uncertainties, it seems better to give you more time to consider.]


    There was a commotion on the other side of the communicator. I could hear arguments being shouted, things breaking, and pounding sounds. It seemed they, too, were making sacrifices to maintain this communication.


    ¡°Understood. We will pause the communication for now. We need time to make a decision.¡±


    [We¡¯ll be waiting.]


    ¡°We¡¯ll resume contact shortly.¡±


    The communication with Seyoung was cut off.


    ¡°So, over 3,000 people, and more than 90% of them are criminals.¡±


    It was more than I had imagined.


    ¡°They must have gathered every last one of them from across the country.¡±


    [Even so, the numbers don''t match the last national census data. It¡¯s likely that those who were elderly or serving very light sentences were released.]


    Rose added.


    [There¡¯s probably a significant number of illegal immigrants as well.]


    In the national crisis, there wouldn¡¯t have been time or resources to repatriate illegal immigrants, so they were likely thrown into the offshore prison en masse.


    ¡°What are the pros and cons of accepting them?¡±


    A comparison chart of risk assessment appeared on the screen. On the left were the benefits, and on the right, the costs. The result was surprising.


    ¡°It¡¯s more beneficial than I thought.¡±


    The left side of the screen was densely filled, while the right side was only about half full. I had thought that taking in survivors was purely a moral decision, but there were practical advantages as well.


    The AI¡¯s each took turns explaining the details. Chloro, in charge of resource management, spoke first.


    [Current factory operation is at around 35%. If some of their people are added, it can increase to over 90%. For processes where manual labor is more efficient, actual production efficiency will increase. The efficiency boost is estimated at 40% for unskilled laborers, and up to 210% after six months of training.]


    The screen Chloro displayed showed the inventory of civilian supplies and robotic materials. There was an overwhelming amount of supplies for humans, but while robotic supplies weren¡¯t scarce, they weren¡¯t abundant either.


    [It would also solve the issue of resource allocation. Unlike robots, which require regular maintenance, parts, and batteries, humans just need organic matter and water to keep functioning for a long time.]


    Her assessment seemed a bit cold, which was unlike her. Perhaps that¡¯s the difference between business and personal matters?


    ¡°What about security risks?¡±


    [With the current security robots and human guards working together, it should be manageable.]


    Rose displayed a blueprint of the security plan. It placed armed security robots and drones modified for combat in key areas, with human guards using their force to control the prisoners. It was essentially how a real prison would operate, only with robots holding the weapons. In ordinary society, this would have been unthinkable.


    But is there any place left that could be called a society in South Korea now? We currently have just under two platoons worth of security robots, and since drones can be mass-produced, we can manufacture as many as we need.


    [If they were male prisoners, I would be vehemently opposed. Male prisoners with their strength, organizational skills, and technical knowledge could be a serious threat. In harsh prison conditions, they¡¯ve been known to manufacture improvised firearms and start riots. However, the chances of female prisoners possessing such deadly skills or organizational strength are very low.]


    Rose¡¯s logic might sound a bit discriminatory, but it was a reasonable argument.


    [It¡¯s not just about factory operations. A closed-loop city means that a certain level of circulation must continue for it to function properly.]


    ¡°You¡¯re saying an empty house quickly becomes a haunted one?¡±


    [Something like that. Even small things like human respiration and waste contribute to the city¡¯s cycle. And of course, labor for cleaning, de-rusting, and production is essential.]


    ¡°Talking about it like this makes us sound like villains trying to enforce slave labor.¡±


    [Then go ask those people outside. Want to come in and work, or stay outside?]


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡±


    No matter what, life in this city would be far better than life outside.


    [There¡¯s an old saying: ¡®If you don¡¯t work, you don¡¯t eat.¡¯]


    ¡°Right, nothing comes for free. Besides, idle people will eventually start to have dangerous thoughts. Offering incentives for productivity will make it easier to control the prisoners.¡±


    [Exactly.]


    One more thing had caught my curiosity.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about this for a while. What¡¯s this option?¡± I pointed to a button-like feature at the top right of the risk assessment chart.


    Control Level: Medium


    It looked just like a graphics setting option in a game. And sure enough, it was. When I tapped the button on my PDA, the control level could be adjusted. I increased the control intensity.


    Control Level: Maximum


    As soon as I selected it, the list of benefits and drawbacks in the risk assessment changed. The benefits increased dramatically, requiring me to scroll down the page for quite a while. On the other hand, the list of drawbacks shrank to about 10%.


    ¡°Artemis, what exactly does ¡®Control Level: Maximum¡¯ mean¡­?¡±


    [It means mandatory electric collars for all residents.]


    She started off with something shocking. The electric collars were a downgraded version of the explosive collars from the movie Battle Royale.


    The collars are a control device that delivers an electric shock to incapacitate the wearer if they try anything suspicious. They also have a black box function to prevent any conspiracies. This is the kind of tool used in third-world countries'' high-security prisons, and we had a few dozen of them in stock here. If Artemis wanted, she could mass-produce them through reverse engineering. She continued to list the next items. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¨C Recycling of all deceased residents'' bodies without consent.


    ¨C Imposition of the maximum allowable labor.


    ¨C Immediate enforcement of violence without warning.


    ¨C All food distribution to be replaced with dry nutrient powder.


    ¨C Addition of short-term memory loss agents and aggression-reducing hormones to food.


    The list went on and on, and each item was more insane than the last. In terms of efficiency, it was the best way to maximize benefits while eliminating all risk factors, but even third-world dictators would think, "This is a bit too much¡­"


    ¡°You weren¡¯t seriously considering this, were you?¡±


    [Of course not. It¡¯s just an option that accounts for all possibilities. I knew you wouldn¡¯t accept it, which is why I started with the ¡®normal¡¯ option.]


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The list was filled with inhumane policies, but there were parts that were hard to simply discard.


    ¡°I mean, purely hypothetically speaking¡ª¡±


    [At normal control levels, you can add stricter measures depending on the situation. If you implement them moderately, the success rate is about 62%.]


    Artemis had already read my mind and cut me off. I wasn¡¯t saying I would do it. It was just that, in closed systems, small sparks can lead to catastrophic events, so there¡¯s always the possibility of an emergency. There were a few policies that might be worth implementing in such cases. But to have a 62% success rate with moderate measures?


    ¡°What are the other options?¡±


    In response to my question, she pulled up a 3D simulation. Hundreds of female prisoners were protesting in the shelter. In front of them was a line of security forces, and behind them were human guards holding electric collars. In the top right corner, the negotiation success rate was displayed as 62%.


    One prisoner approached, and a security robot swung its rifle butt, knocked her jaw off, then shot the prisoner next to her. It was a salt round, so it didn¡¯t kill her, but she collapsed on the spot and writhed in pain. In an instant, everything went quiet.


    The success rate climbed to 95%.


    ¡°So this is the aggressive approach? Very effective.¡±


    [No, this isn¡¯t the aggressive approach. This is the ¡®normal¡¯ one. Want me to show you the aggressive option? That one¡¯s at 100%.]


    ¡°No, I think I¡¯ve seen enough¡­¡±


    I also checked the lowest control level option, which guaranteed a middle-class lifestyle by pre-war South Korean standards. Naturally, the benefits tab had nearly evaporated, and the drawbacks tab was overflowing with items. It was to the point where it would hinder the shelter¡¯s operations and security, making it not worth considering.


    For a while, we continued discussing the risks, control methods, and the city''s benefits. Later, when I reconnected with Seyoung and informed her that we would accept the residents, she was overjoyed.

 Chapter 33: Rescue Operation (1)

    Rescue Operation (1)


    ¡°In accordance with the quarantine protocol, you will need to undergo tests in the isolation zone for a while after moving in.¡±


    [Understood. But is it possible to separate the prisoners from the guards in terms of living arrangements?]


    ¡°We¡¯ll try our best, but I can¡¯t guarantee it. We¡¯ve been severely hit as well, so we don¡¯t have much leeway.¡±


    [Got it. So, what do we need to do?]


    ¡°Tell them to wait calmly for the rescue team to arrive. Make sure they follow our instructions properly.¡±


    [The prisoners in the east wing might listen, but do you think the prisoners in the west wing will comply?]


    ¡°We have enough armed security personnel. Let them know that there will be a ruthless crackdown if they do not comply. Also, warn them not to expect something as soft as batons or tasers. We¡¯re past the point where anyone or any organization cares about prisoners¡¯ rights. Given how wild the situation is on your side, we don¡¯t have much choice.¡±


    Seyoung seemed oddly satisfied with my response, which indicated that we wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use violent suppression. In fact, she appeared more relieved knowing that a well-armed group was ready to step in.


    [Understood, I¡¯ll convey that exactly. On behalf of all the prisoners and guards, we thank you. I don¡¯t know how we¡¯ll ever repay this.]


    ¡°You can repay us with hard work.¡±


    [Naturally. We don¡¯t expect a free ride.]


    Seyoung was a negotiator I could communicate with easily. Now, the remaining task was to assemble the special forces.


    Bang! Bang! Gunfire echoed through the training field, which was filled with makeshift buildings and obstacles. The security robots fired gas guns to initiate the mock operation. Not a single robot stopped mid-shooting.


    Thwack! Thwack! Each shot hit the targets¡ªdepicting infected beings¡ªright in the head.


    They didn¡¯t even need to shoulder their weapons. Since the cameras attached to the guns shared their field of vision, they could aim and shoot accurately from any position. Because they didn¡¯t breathe, they didn¡¯t need to hold their breath while shooting, and there was no trembling due to unstable nerve impulses or muscle strain.


    These combat robots, free from the limitations that hinder human precision, without emotions or pain, and capable of non-verbal communication, were transformed by Artemis¡¯ meticulous programming from civilian guards into veteran soldiers.


    The training, in various forms, had been ongoing even before external communication was reestablished, and the day had come when they would finally be used in actual combat.


    Bang! As the last target was blown away, the security robots slung their gas guns behind them and pulled out riot-control shotguns.


    Crash! One powerful kick shattered the door of a makeshift building. After a swift entry, they approached signs marked with human figures.


    [Move!]


    [Follow us, and we¡¯ll guide you to a safe, disaster-proof city.]


    [Comply with our orders. We have the authority to use unlimited suppression.]


    As they delivered their pre-programmed crowd control messages, the signs moved in the indicated direction.


    Bang! Suddenly, some of the signs tried to ambush the security robots, but they immediately fired their shotguns. The signs, struck by dozens of salt pellets, meekly returned to their original course.


    Beep-beep! With the alarm signaling the end of training, everything returned to its place, and the squad of security robots formed into three divisions.


    ¡°Very impressive.¡±


    Honestly, their operational ability surpassed even that of the soldiers I had commanded during my active duty days.


    ¡°They¡¯ve been training every day. Artemis never skipped an update, and on some days, she even sent dozens of mock training courses.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beautiful woman standing at the head of the security squad answered me. Her long black hair flowed down to her waist, and she appeared to be at least 180 cm tall. Her face was beautiful but without a trace of a smile, and her poised stance was flawless.


    She was a refined flower. No better description could capture her appearance. Though she would look great in a suit or uniform, she was currently dressed in riot control gear.


    ¡°Thank you for granting my request,¡± said Rose.


    ¡°Actually, it was something I had hoped to ask for myself. There are negotiations that need to happen on-site, and guiding so many people while possibly mediating any trouble¡ªsending only robots wouldn¡¯t have worked. I should be the one thanking you.¡± I spoke as I placed my hand on her shoulder.


    ***


    [Administrator, I have a request.]


    Earlier, after the meeting and communications ended, Rose spoke to me. She requested to be transferred into an android body and participate in the rescue operation alongside the special forces.


    [Artemis'' programming for autonomous combat actions and crowd control software is excellent. However, we¡¯re dealing with exhausted human groups. Having a human negotiator on-site will make a significant difference in guiding them.]


    What would happen if heavily armed robots entered a place filled with people who were starving, terrified, and under extreme stress, and then told them to comply? They might comply out of fear, but there was also the risk of mass panic.


    From their perspective, the infected and these unknown robots might not seem all that different. This is why I had originally considered leading the robots myself, but as soon as I suggested it, Artemis, Rose, and Chloro all opposed the idea in unison.


    [Absolutely not!]


    [Absolutely not!]


    [Absolutely not!]


    And with that, Rose immediately volunteered to take on the role of the leader.


    "Operating within this body of a second-generation android is a completely different experience from observing from cyberspace. It''s not just about the physical senses. Interacting with the real world brings back an overwhelming mental response."


    "Feelings like stress, fear, anxiety, and tension?" I nodded.


    Humans experience a wide range of sensations through their bodies over a lifetime, which helps the mind develop a protective shell, making it resilient to external feedback.


    Remember how we were scared of thunder as kids or hid under the covers while watching horror movies? Over time, those experiences accumulate, and eventually, we can sit back with a beer and comfortably enjoy a horror movie on a stormy night.


    But AI is different. They always exist in a different axis¡ªa cyber world. In that space, they receive filtered feedback while indirectly observing, whereas in the physical world, they experience feedback directly through their android body. There is a vast difference between the two. There are even academic papers about AI falling into a state of panic due to this issue.


    "I can do it. Please trust me."


    Rose¡¯s eyes were determined.


    "I''ve often talked about this with the other two."


    She meant Artemis and Chloro.


    "Artemis always talks about the future. She talks about the plans she''s preparing, the perfect city, and a purified world. On the other hand, Chloro talks about love. At first, it was about the many romance novels she read, but at some point, it shifted to being about you, Administrator. She even sent me some rather awkward materials."


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward myself as Rose gave me a wry smile.


    "As for me, I pursue duty. To uphold the order of the city, to guide people in the right direction, and to devote myself to carrying out your directives."


    "Duty is always a valuable pursuit," I said.


    Rose nodded at my response. "I''ve watched your recorded videos countless times. Your journey through a city filled with death, using all the skills and experiences you had acquired. It was the most noble fulfillment of duty I have ever seen."


    I was at a loss for words as I looked into her calm, duty-bound, and courageous black eyes.


    "I want to follow in your footsteps now."


    Though Rose was an android standing before me, her gaze was overwhelmingly human.


    "I will succeed. I will bring the survivors here safely." Rose saluted.


    "You¡¯re taking on a big job. Things will get chaotic once they arrive," I said and returned her salute.


    "That¡¯s exactly what I want."


    For the first time, I saw Rose smile.


    ***


    That night.


    "Open the rear gate."


    At my command, the shelter¡¯s lockdown was temporarily lifted. With a heavy sound, the outermost rear gate opened. The smell of the sea, tinged with salt. The sound of the waves crashing against the cave walls. Far beyond the dark cave, the horizon of the night sea.


    It had been so long since I breathed in the outside air that it felt incredibly refreshing, but there was no time to savor it. One platoon of heavily armed security robots, along with Rose and small reconnaissance drones, boarded three boats, all prepared for departure.


    The security robots not participating in the rescue mission were on standby, armed with gas guns and flamethrowers, ready to respond to any infected that might appear. Sentry guns, which had once been placed all over the subway, had been relocated here, seemingly modified by Artemis. Savage-looking iron spikes were hung along their ammunition belts.


    Cargo drones, vehicles, and industrial robots were also standing by, ready to set up temporary bridges. There was an air of tension, the highest since the city''s restoration efforts began.


    "Then, let¡¯s depart."


    With a small noise, the boats set off and disappeared into the dark sea. The machines immediately got to work and began the construction of the temporary bridge.


    The rescue operation had finally begun.

 Chapter 34: Rescue Operation (2)

    Rescue Operation (2)


    Vroooom¡ª The boat cut through the waves as it sped along. The sky was dark, and the sea was rough, causing the boat to sway from time to time.


    Watching it all on the giant screen and hearing it through the booming speakers in the central control room gave the scene a cinematic quality. It felt like watching a movie about American troops landing in Normandy, but with two key differences.


    First, this wasn¡¯t a game. If the operation went wrong, there would be no restart. It wasn¡¯t just the life of one player at stake but the lives of many people. Second, the soldiers on the boat weren¡¯t showing any signs of tension at all. Sitting across from each other with the butts of their guns resting on the boat''s floor and the muzzles pointed toward the sky, they were as still as statues, evoking a scene from a religious ceremony.


    There were no stereotypical scenes of a grim-faced sergeant with a cigar in his mouth or a nervous rookie trembling with fear. On the upper part of the screen, information was displayed: a satellite map, the distance to the target pier, the estimated arrival time, the boat''s speed, the squad members¡¯ status, and their remaining ammunition.


    It resembled what would be shown in an actual operations command center during a special mission, but instead of vital signs, the operational efficiency was displayed for each squad member.


    If a human soldier lost an arm during a mission, their vital signs would immediately go haywire. But for these soldiers, it was just a matter of reduced shooting accuracy. What mattered was how much of their operational efficiency remained to contribute to the mission.


    Slurp¡ª A warm yet bitter taste spread through my mouth and sharpened my senses. I wasn¡¯t particularly fond of bitter flavors, but at the moment, anything other than bitterness seemed like a luxury.


    [Administrator, there¡¯s a communication request from the offshore prison.]


    ¡°Is it a rush? Patch them through.¡±


    Beep¡ª


    [It¡¯s a pleasure to speak with you. The warden informed me about you. Should I address you as Administrator Jinsoo?]


    The voice that came through wasn¡¯t from the acting Warden Lee Seyoung. Although the speaker''s Korean was fluent, there was a slight, almost 2% foreign accent. I guessed she was a foreigner.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Who are you, and where¡¯s Warden Lee Seyoung?¡±


    [I am Sophia, the representative of the east wing. Seyoung is resting. I will be handling negotiations with you from now on.]


    I recalled the noise in the background at the end of my last communication with Seyoung.


    ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to believe that? Let me guess. The warden¡¯s probably in a panic inside a cell right now. Don¡¯t play tricks¡ªbring me the warden. I¡¯ll only talk to her.¡±


    [I have no intention of deceiving you. The east wing has been under our control from the start. Yesterday¡¯s communication was just a brief moment where we allowed the guards to handle things. Since the situation is progressing normally, we¡¯ve decided to take over the negotiations.]


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it one last time. If you want to resume communication, bring the warden. If she¡¯s dead or unable to communicate, I¡¯ll order the rescue team to turn back. We¡¯re already taking on a lot of risk. Why should we proceed if this continues?¡±


    [Wait a moment¡­]


    I heard Sophia shouting something in a foreign language from the other end of the line.


    ¡°Bring her here right now! Not that one, the one in solitary, you idiot!¡± ¨C Ukrainian


    The real-time translation appeared on the status screen. So, she¡¯s wearing a mask of politeness, huh?


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± ¨C Ukrainian


    Even the faintest sigh was caught by Artemis with pinpoint accuracy. This woman clearly hadn¡¯t mastered the technique of covering the receiver with her hand, something even Korean reservists know as a basic skill.


    After a brief moment.


    [This is Warden Lee Seyoung. Can you hear me?]


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting. It seems like you were locked in solitary. What¡¯s the situation?¡±


    I heard a sharp intake of breath from the other side of the line.


    [The truth is, the east wing isn¡¯t under the guards¡¯ control. The prisoners have taken over this area too.]


    ¡°That¡¯s news to me. In our communication yesterday, it seemed like the guards were in control.¡±


    [I had no intention of deceiving you. We¡¯re in desperate need of rescue, and I only provided the essential information at the time. If you¡¯re upset, I apologize.]


    Come to think of it, she never explicitly said the guards controlled the east wing.


    ¡°Deception includes deliberately leaving out certain information, don''t you think?¡± I took a sip of coffee.


    [Are you listening? I really had no intent to deceive you! If you want, I¡¯ll beg on my knees! Just don¡¯t cut the communication!]


    ¡°Calm down. I was just drinking some coffee. I¡¯m not cutting the line.¡±


    It seemed my brief silence as I drank the coffee made her think I was angry. I didn¡¯t appreciate the lack of information, but this mission wasn¡¯t born out of sympathy in the first place. Regardless of who controlled the offshore prison, it didn¡¯t really matter, since we¡¯d have to subdue and control them with force anyway.


    [Thank goodness. And¡­ coffee¡­]


    I could hear her gulp even from here.


    ¡°Explain the situation. I¡¯m curious about the so-called representative of the east wing and the status of the guards. It looks more like a master-servant relationship than cooperation.¡±


    [Two weeks after we were isolated here, a rebellion broke out. It started in the west wing and quickly spread, engulfing the administrative building. While we were resisting in the east wing, a revolt broke out here as well. Since then, the guards have been imprisoned, and the prisoners have taken control.]


    ¡°Two weeks, huh¡­¡±


    That escalated quickly.


    ¡°Are the prisoner groups from the West and east wings in opposition?¡±


    [You could say that. There are always numerous factions in prisons. Thankfully, the east wing has relatively moderate leaders.]


    ¡°There¡¯s something I didn¡¯t ask yesterday. Why are you only now resuming communication? I find it odd that you waited until you were on the brink of starvation before requesting rescue.¡±


    [In the chaos caused by the rebellion, the communication equipment was destroyed. The prisoners didn¡¯t care about it at all. In fact, they were pleased that news of the rebellion wouldn¡¯t reach the outside world. After that, the prisoners fought among themselves, trying to get a larger share of the limited food supply. It¡¯s no surprise, really.]


    Slurp¡ª The sound of coffee being gulped down reached the other person through the mic, and I could sense a slight flinch on the other end.


    "So, when the food ran out, did you call in the prison guards to fix things because you thought you''d all die if it kept going like this?"


    [That''s right. The prisoners don''t have the skills to repair and adjust the communications equipment. Honestly, I thought it was too late, and I didn''t expect much, but as it turns out, there¡¯s no law saying you just have to die¡ªuh, Sophia keeps asking to switch, is that alright?]


    "Sure, put her on. She probably knows the situation better than you, seeing as you''ve been locked up the whole time."


    The sound of a chair scraping could be heard for a moment.


    [Sophia speaking. Do you speak my language?]


    "No. My assistant does."


    On the screen, Artemis showed a displeased expression.


    "So, what do you want to say?"


    [There¡¯s a rescue team on the way, right?]


    "Yeah. Three squads of combat troops are heading over on boats."


    [Boats? That won¡¯t be enough. Do you know how many people are here?]


    "We''ll stop by the dock, seize a ferry, and bring it over. If we squeeze people in, we can get everyone out in one go. It''ll be uncomfortable, but you¡¯ll have to deal with it."


    [Squeeze in?]


    "It means packing it full."


    [Ah.]


    A small gasp.


    [Then we¡¯ll have to mix with the women from the west wing, and that''s¡­]


    Shortly after, she spoke in a voice filled with uncertainty.


    "Is this really the time to be picky? Who knows what could happen if we try to make two trips."


    [You''re right. I hadn''t thought of that. Thank you for your help.]


    "There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch. Once you''re out, you''ll have to pull your weight."


    [I understand.]


    "What¡¯s the situation with your food supply? I heard you¡¯re running out."


    [We haven''t eaten anything since yesterday morning. The women in the west wing probably still have some left, though.]


    "What about the guards? If you¡¯ve gone a day without eating, the guards must be on the verge of dying."


    [That won¡¯t happen. We''ve been distributing the food fairly.]


    That was surprising. The prisoners who started a revolt were sharing food with the guards?


    "That¡¯s unexpected."


    [We¡¯re not planning on staying here forever. You always have to account for the worst-case scenario, and for that, it¡¯s better if the guards are alive. At the very least, it''s better not to make enemies. That¡¯s how we¡¯ve managed to survive so far.]


    "Aren¡¯t the other prisoners upset about that?"


    [For now, I can still handle it. I have a certain¡­ reputation.]


    She did seem tough when speaking in her native language. And it seemed she had the foresight to think ahead.


    "Any other questions?"


    [Is your supply situation stable? I heard about it from the warden, but I¡¯m concerned. I used to be in the distribution business, so I know how quickly supplies can run out when you¡¯re dealing with hundreds of people. In a closed-off city like that, it could all be gone before you know it.]


    How should I ease this needless worry?


    "What do you want to eat the most right now?"


    A moment of silence.


    [Beer. I¡¯d be happy if I could just have one sip of beer.]


    Beer, huh¡­


    "Can we do a video call? There¡¯s something I want to show you."


    [Video call? Hold on a moment.]


    Seyoung responded instead of Sophia. After a short wait, we could finally see each other¡¯s faces. Sophia was a Slavic beauty with a gentle demeanor, probably in her mid-20s. She had the look of a foreign model you might see in a women¡¯s lingerie commercial on home shopping channels.


    "We can see you clearly on this end. How about you?"


    [You look great.]


    "You don''t need to flatter me. Now, take a look at this."


    While the video call was being set up, I grabbed a can of beer from the central control room¡¯s fridge and shook it in front of the camera. There, engraved on the side, was a glorious name.


    Kloud.


    I could see Soohia''s eyes trembling uncontrollably on the screen.


    Pshh¡ª Ah, the refreshing sound of a can opening.


    "Mmm." I savored the first burst of beer aroma that wafted out. The fizz and sharp fragrance filled my nose.


    "Gulp.¡±


    Was that sound coming from my throat? Or was it Sophia from the screen? I couldn''t tell. The sweet taste, only achievable by 100% pure fermented liquid without water, filled my mouth completely.


    "Ahhh¡­ That''s the stuff! I''m not a big fan of beer, but this is amazing every time."


    [Are you mocking me? We''ve been surviving on just dry biscuits and water!]


    Sophia forgot her own predicament and snapped at me. She must have misunderstood my reason for requesting the video call, thinking I was teasing her.


    "No, that¡¯s not what I wanted to show you. Artemis, connect the warehouse feed."


    By now, Sophia, over at the offshore prison, was no longer looking at my face but at something entirely different.


    [Th-this is¡­!]


    Her voice trembled in shock.


    "What you''re seeing is the food storage area here. And that''s only a small part of it. What do you see?"


    [Is¡­ is that all beer?]


    "That''s right."


    The footage Artemis was transmitting to her was also being relayed to my PDA. Stacked like mountains in one section of the vast warehouse were boxes of beer.


    "About 200,000 cans, give or take. I hope Kloud is to your liking." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I had been wondering how I was ever going to drink all of that on my own, but now it seemed like perfect timing. I wasn¡¯t about to hand it out recklessly, but giving it as a form of reward might help keep the prisoners in check.


    [Like it? It was the best-selling beer at my store!]


    "If there¡¯s that much of a non-essential item, I don¡¯t need to explain how plentiful our supplies are, do I? We can even produce some of it ourselves."


    Sophia¡¯s composure had largely faded from her face on the screen. No matter how tough a person is, when they¡¯re pushed to the limit, even small pleasures can shake them. Especially when Kloud is a cloud brimming with the storm of pleasure.


    [We''re almost there. We''ll begin landing shortly.]


    Rose reported in.


    "Sorry, but we''ll have to cut off communication here. The rescue team has reached the coast. Chat time''s over."


    With Sophia¡¯s final words of good luck, the communication with the prison was cut off. On the central control room¡¯s screen, I could see the port facilities gradually coming into view beyond the dark night sea. Covered entirely in concrete, paving stones, and buildings.


    [Commence landing. From now on, switch to silent communication mode.]


    With Rose¡¯s words, a small chatbox-like frame appeared at the bottom of the screen. This was one of the advantages of having machines as the key operatives in this mission. As I operated my PDA, the large scene from the field was split into four sections.


    Rose.


    Alpha Squad Leader.


    Charlie Squad Leader.


    Echo Squad Leader.


    The visual feeds from each unit were being transmitted into the four-way split screen.


    The world had undergone a cataclysm, yet the sound of waves lapping the shore remained unchanged.


    With small noises as the sand was displaced, the boats touched the shore. The screen resembled a return to the primeval night of ancient times, with not a single light visible. Only the red eyes of the security robots glowed as they faced each other.


    The view from the squad leaders lightly bobbed up and down, and then the horizon gave way to the sight of the ochre-colored beach as they stepped off the boat.


    Thud¡ª The firm feet of the machines dug deep into the sand.


    It was the outside world. A world where the concept of a simple walk had vanished. A world where every step could lead to death. For the first time since the outbreak, they set foot on that land.


    I hope luck is on their side.

 Chapter 35: Rescue Operation (3)

    Rescue Operation (3)


    The rescue robot soldiers silently crossed the beach, filled with silence and darkness. A steel fence blocked their path. Above it, razor wire was tightly packed. This port, being a hub for exchanging supplies and prisoners with the offshore prison, had security facilities unlike an ordinary port.


    In the distance, the ferry, their target, came into view. To reach it, they had to pass through the port administration building. Two squads kept watch on the surroundings while one squad gathered in front of the fence.


    There was no need for low whispers or hand signals. Only radio waves were exchanged, leaving a chat log that was transmitted to the central control room screen in front of me.


    The sliding gate of the fence was locked with chains.


    [Echo Squad Leader: Securing passage.]


    A squad member from the rear cut through the chain with a bolt cutter. As they cautiously opened the fence, a faint wail echoed from somewhere. For a brief moment, they remained on alert. But there were no signs of any infected.


    The rescue team entered one by one through the gap in the fence. The area they entered was clean, but in the distance, bodies were hanging from various parts of the fence. The corpses had decomposed to the point where only clothes and bones remained, dangling gruesomely from the razor wire.


    [Rose: We have entered the port grounds. Deploy the drones.]


    Three palm-sized, silent drones launched from Echo Squad. After briefly circling, the drones landed in positions where they could monitor the operation route and retreat path in case of emergency, and switched to observation mode.


    The ferry, the main target, was currently docked at the port. To undock and refuel, they needed access to the main computer in the port administration building. As a safety measure to prevent prisoners from hijacking the ship, it was impossible to undock the ferry without this access.


    [Rose: First objective reached. Proceed to your positions.]


    The rescue team reached the entrance of the port administration building. Alpha and Charlie squads were heavily armed with gas guns, flamethrowers, and a large amount of ammunition, ready for combat. In contrast, Echo Squad was equipped with gas guns as well, but also carried tools necessary for engineering tasks, such as fire axes, sledgehammers, and various other implements.


    [Rose: The shutter is down. Secure the entrance.]


    The robots, equipped with third-generation night vision technology, located the control box for the shutter. The box that controlled the shutter''s movement was mounted high up, normally requiring a ladder, but there was no time to fetch one¡ªand there was no need.


    Two Echo squad members locked arms to create an impromptu ladder, and the Echo squad leader climbed up. Their bodies, made of steel frames, easily supported the three-digit weight of the leader climbing on top without budging. Though the control box was locked, the steel grip of the squad leader ripped the cover off, revealing the motor and circuit board inside.


    [Echo Squad Leader: The power is out. Opening manually.]


    The Echo squad leader reached into the motor connected to the shutter. His hand, unlike those of the other squad leaders, had taken on a different form.


    Whirrrrr¡ª The sound of a power drill echoed as the shutter slowly began to roll up. With a heavy rumble, the shutter continued to rise. At that moment, the wail returned, louder and closer this time.


    "Keep the shutter opening. If we stop now, we''re as good as dead."


    The squad leader briefly hesitated, but at the command, he resumed the operation. The shutter was nearly open when¡­


    "Screeeech!"


    An infected appeared from the darkness.


    Bang! A security robot fired immediately. With an explosion of liquid gas, a steel spike shot out and pierced through the infected''s head. With a splattering sound, its skull burst like a watermelon, scattering brain matter and blood.


    "Screeeech!"


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Thud.


    The second infected fell as it was struck through the forehead and eyes, dying instantly. The third had its neck torn, leaving its spinal cord severed, and only twitched on the spot.


    [Alpha 5: Reloading.]


    [Charlie 2: Reloading.]


    While some squad members reloaded, others provided cover. Though the gas guns designed by Artemis had immense power, their range was short, and they only held three rounds. However, with robotic precision, they waited for the infected to come close and destroyed vital points with a single, well-aimed shot.


    There is no instinctive fear like, ¡°What if I miss?¡± There are no gaps caused by miscoordination during reloading either. The robots¡¯ lack of emotion and precision minimized the weapon¡¯s drawbacks while maximizing its strengths.


    [Alpha Squad Leader: We¡¯re moving in.]


    The rescue team swiftly entered the port administration building through the open shutter.


    ¡°Screeech!¡±


    Dozens of infected followed behind them, but grouping up and charging in a narrow space was not a wise move.


    Fwoooosh!


    The flamethrower¡¯s blast instantly turned them all into roasted corpses. They couldn¡¯t even scream. The intense blue-white flames scorched their throats so quickly that their vocal cords melted.


    Leaving the charred bodies behind, the interior of the building came into view.


    ¡°It¡¯s a storage warehouse.¡±


    Inside were forklifts, pallets scattered about, and various cargo. However, there were no infected in sight. It seemed like the wails from outside were growing louder. The infected wandering outside had heard the sounds of battle and were now converging on the location. The rescue team quickly passed through the warehouse and entered the hallway.


    The last remaining Echo squad members welded the entrance shut. With four robots working simultaneously, the task was completed in an instant. Even if the infected managed to reach the warehouse, breaking through that door would be a challenge.


    ¡°From now on, refrain from using flamethrowers. If the fire spreads and damages the port administration¡¯s main computer, we¡¯ll have to abandon the ferry.¡±


    [Rose: Understood. Echo squad, close combat unit, provide support.]


    The flamethrower unit pulled back, and some of Echo squad, equipped with engineering tools and fire axes, moved forward to assist the riflemen. Due to limited ammunition, Echo squad had to take the lead in situations where the infected could be dealt with without gunfire.


    I couldn¡¯t help but admire the robots¡¯ coordinated movements as seen through the screen. They maintained low stances and moved swiftly without disrupting each other¡¯s firing lines.


    At the same time, their formation ensured that at least two would always be in position to respond, no matter where the enemy appeared. Add to that their calmness and near-perfect one-shot-one-kill accuracy. They were far more efficient than the subordinates I had commanded during my active service.


    As they moved through the hallway, a chaotic office came into view.


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    Bang! Before the infected lurking beside a cabinet could even let out a proper sound, its head was blown off. The steel spike buried itself deep into the concrete wall.


    [Alpha Squad Leader: Unable to retrieve. Move forward.]


    The gas gun designed by Artemis expels a measured amount of liquid gas during firing, causing an explosion that propels the steel spike. Although its mechanism differs, the weapon has similarities to a crossbow, allowing for potential reuse of the projectiles if recovered. Thus, all squad members were programmed to assess whether spike retrieval was possible after every shot.


    ¡°Skree¡ª¡±


    Two infected stumbled as they rose from a corner of the office, seemingly awakened late from dormancy.


    Bang! Bang!


    Their heads exploded, and they collapsed where they stood.


    One-shot-one-kill indeed. The squad members in the optimal firing positions assigned targets and fired, with no misses or wasted ammunition from redundant shots.


    ¡°Screeeech¡ª¡±


    An infected lunged at them from around a corner. The sudden attack left no clear firing angle.


    Thwack!


    But the security robot remained calm and smashed its head with the butt of its rifle. With a splatter of blood, the infected flew back, crashing into the hallway wall and painting it red as it slowly slumped.


    Another infected leaped over the body.


    Bang!


    A steel spike shot from behind pierced through its right arm and torso, pinning it to the wall. Now dangling like a marionette, it writhed and thrashed its head, but to no avail.


    The rescue team swiftly moved past.


    ¡°Screeeech!¡±


    Desperately, the infected stretched its neck, trying to bite at them, but it couldn¡¯t reach. It howled in frustration, only to fall silent shortly after.


    Whack!


    One of the following security robots swung its fire axe and split its head open.


    Splat¡ª With a casual flick of the axe, blood splattered against the wall. The massive robot nonchalantly shook off the blood after dispatching the infected with a single blow. The sight was awe-inspiring.


    [Rose: Entering the basement to activate the emergency generator.]


    To undock and refuel the ferry, they needed to activate the main computer in the port administration building. Upon reaching the end of the hallway on the first floor, the entrance to the basement came into view.


    [Rose: It¡¯s a narrow passage. Big and Small formation.]


    The rescue team immediately changed formation. Paired up in teams of two, one crouched and moved forward, while the other followed behind in a standing firing position. This was to maximize firepower while moving in a single file.


    If human soldiers tried this, their leg muscles would cramp after a short while, but the robots advanced smoothly, even in this awkward formation. In the pitch-black darkness, only the red eyes of the security robots shone here and there.


    Something suddenly moved in the corner of my vision.


    Bang! A half-smashed rat was pinned to the wall.


    [Rose: Cease fire. It''s just an ordinary rat.]


    A close-combat soldier approached, using the handle of their fire axe as a lever to extract the steel spike and toss it back.


    Clink¡ª The shooter caught it, checked its condition, and reloaded.


    [Echo Squad Leader: We''ve found the emergency generator.]


    On the Echo squad leader''s screen, a building''s emergency generator, filled with diesel, came into view.


    [Rose: Awaiting orders.]


    When dealing with critical objectives, unless it''s an emergency, they need my command to proceed to the next step. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Activate it."


    [Echo Squad Leader: Roger.]


    As the switch for the emergency generator was flipped, the motor roared to life, initiating the emergency power-up sequence. The gauge, which had been set to zero, swung sharply to the right and supplied power to the entire building. At the same time, an enormous rumbling filled the basement.


    "If the noise attracts the infected in the building, it¡¯ll become a hassle. Move quickly."


    [Rose: Roger.]


    The rescue team swiftly exited the basement and entered the first-floor hallway, but at that moment, disaster struck.


    Bam! The two auditorium doors, which had been shut side by side, burst open as infected swarmed through. Caught off guard by the sudden flank attack, the formation crumbled.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Shots were fired from both sides of the hallway as squad members struggled under the sheer number of infected. However, there were more infected pouring in than those falling. It was a hopeless situation¡ªif this continued, it would be beyond recovery.


    At that moment, the Echo squad leader¡¯s screen shifted dramatically. He lowered his stance, raised his shoulders, and charged like a rugby player, sending the infected flying in all directions.


    He reached the auditorium entrance via the shortest route, grabbed the door handles with both hands, and held them shut. By bracing himself against the massive doors, he created a temporary steel barricade. His shaky field of view revealed a wave of infected inside the auditorium.


    ¡°Screeeeech¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Graaah¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Rrrrraaaah¡ª!¡±


    There were over 200 infected, by a conservative estimate, charging toward us. They crashed into each other, tripped over the chairs, but their eyes, filled with malice, were fixed on us. It seemed that many of the infected had been in hibernation, as additional figures rose from all directions.


    Among them were elderly, children, and students¡ªthis must have been a designated shelter for local residents after the outbreak. Some of the infected were also wearing military or police uniforms.


    ¡°Screeeeech¡ª!¡±


    The massive horde of infected swarmed the entrance, but one body of steel held them all back. The infected bit, clawed, and struck, but he didn¡¯t budge an inch. During the time he bought, the infected in the hallway were all taken out, and finally, the flamethrower unit took position in front of the auditorium.


    Fwooooosh¡ª!


    A column of blue-white flame poured into the auditorium.


    ¡°Groooaaarrr¡ª!¡±


    Hundreds of monsters howled in agony, their voices like a hellish choir rising from the depths. It was a grotesque cacophony, blending every range of scream audible to the human ear.


    The infected, like moths to a flame, kept charging through the narrow entrance, only to be roasted alive. With so many packed into such a tight space, it didn¡¯t take long to annihilate the horde.


    There was no time to worry about putting out the fire. They had to prepare the ferry as quickly as possible while the power was still on.


    ¡°Move! We¡¯re out of time!¡±


    As the rescue team hurried to the second floor, the sight of a pitch-black, charred robot came into view. It was kneeling, both hands still gripping the door handles. Its head hung low, completely motionless.


    It wasn¡¯t an AI like Artemis, Rose, or Chloro¡ªit was just a soulless machine that operated according to its programming. And yet, that noble image would remain etched in my memory forever.

 Chapter 36: Rescue Operation (4)

    Rescue Operation (4)


    The vacancy left by Echo squad leader was automatically filled by Echo No. 2.


    The rescue team thoroughly searched the office. This port maintained a close relationship with the offshore prison, supplying various materials and handling the transport of both prisoners and guards. Not only construction but also subsequent expansions and maintenance were supplied with materials and workers from this place.


    Therefore, it naturally led to the conclusion: Wouldn''t there be at least one blueprint here that shows the internal structure of the prison?


    [Echo squad leader: Target blueprint found.]


    Surprisingly, it was found quickly. Although it was an old blueprint from the renovation two years ago, having it or not made a significant difference. Knowing the exact internal structure of the prison would allow the pre-prepared entry plan to be executed much more effectively. Meanwhile, access to the port control computer was also achieved.


    [Rose: Accessing the docking computer. Remote docking release for the ferry complete. Running ship diagnostics.]


    ¨C Fuel gauge: 90%.


    ¨C Cargo: None.


    As Rose operated, the basic information of the ferry was displayed, and it was ready to set sail without any additional preparations.


    Crash! A sound of part of the building collapsing came from the first floor, and black smoke began to seep into the office. The fire on the first floor was already spreading uncontrollably.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to go down the stairs. Escape through the window.¡±


    Smash! Some squad members tore off the window frames and threw them outside. The wide-open pier came into view, and at the end of it, a large ferry was docked. As the rescue team swiftly escaped, behind them, the port administration building was engulfed in flames.


    Could the dissonant noises occasionally heard from that burning inferno be the dying screams of the monsters?


    The sound of the rescue team¡¯s footsteps moving quickly on the pier blended with the sound of the waves.


    ¡°Grrr¡­¡±


    An infected being was flailing in the sea. It seemed to have been submerged for quite some time, as its body was so bloated that it resembled a drowned corpse. It didn¡¯t even seem to have the strength to climb back onto the pier. Its dying wail was so faint that it was barely audible, drowned out by the sound of the waves.


    ¡°Cease fire. Conserve ammunition for unnecessary targets.¡±


    At my command, everyone ignored the infected and moved forward. Finally, as they reached the ferry, I relayed instructions to the team boarding the ship. ¡°Be cautious when firing inside the ship. Position yourselves so that no critical machinery parts are in the line of fire. If things get too difficult, drag them outside to fight.¡±


    The interior of the ferry was also filled with traces of devastation everywhere. There were bloodstains, dried bone fragments, and signs of fierce battles, along with barricades made from tied-up chairs.


    As they entered the ship, infected creatures appeared.


    ¡°Kiieeek-!¡±


    While passing through a narrow corridor on the ship, they were ambushed at a corner. The squad member at the front immediately struck the infected head with the butt of his rifle.


    Whack! Although its head didn¡¯t burst from the blow, it was dazed enough that it couldn¡¯t steady itself. That brief moment was enough for another squad member following from behind to grab the infected and toss it into the sea.


    Splash!


    ¡°Kiieeek-!¡±


    Bang! Meanwhile, the Alpha squad leader fired his gas gun at the head of an infected charging at him in a straight line.


    Boom!


    A one-shot double kill. The head of the one in front exploded, and the one right behind it had about 40% of its head blown off as it collapsed on the spot.


    ¡°Kiieeek!¡±


    After sending those two to their deaths, the powerful steel spike used by the squad leader lost its momentum as it pierced deep into the third infected creature¡¯s chest.


    Crunch! As the creature that had fallen to the floor tried to get back up, its neck was stomped on, breaking its spine and stopping its movement.


    ¡°Kiieeek-!¡± A fourth one charged directly at the squad leader.


    The Alpha squad leader pulled the spike from the dead infected creature''s chest and, like an uppercut, thrust it upwards.


    Stab! The charging infected was impaled from its chin up through its head, leaving it dangling from the ceiling.


    Elsewhere, Echo squad was also in full action. A security robot was wildly swinging a fire axe in each hand. It was a literal storm of blades. Infected creatures¡¯ hands, arms, and heads fell to the ground like chicken parts on a butcher¡¯s block.


    ¡°Amazing.¡±


    Watching the squads in combat through the screen, I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed no matter how many times I saw it. Their shooting was extremely precise, and even in sudden close combat, they efficiently used both weaponry and martial arts.


    I had encountered security robots a few times in my life, but I never imagined they could be this powerful.


    In a way, it makes sense. By international agreement, robots that can think and move independently without human control are strictly prohibited for military use. Therefore, security robots were mostly used in limited roles in places like prisons.


    It¡¯s a place that requires 24-hour surveillance. It¡¯s a job no one wants, and always has to maintain strict security procedures. It¡¯s rarely open to the public either.


    For one, employing humans was cheaper, and more importantly, if a robot caused illegal activity or resulted in loss of life, all legal responsibility, both criminal and civil, fell directly on the company¡¯s CEO.


    In a world where human value was increasingly being diminished, this legislation was created as a final safety measure to prevent a situation where humans would be oppressed by machines controlled by the wealthy.


    Although business leaders have called for the revision of this law multiple times, any politician who supported such measures didn¡¯t survive an election. However, in the case of the shelter, due to their special nature, robot security was needed even more than human guards.


    Once the emergency lockdown was initiated, security robots were set to activate, and any responsibility falling on the CEO could be disregarded. If a lockdown happened, it meant the world was already in ruins¡ªwho would care about legal liability?


    Given the situation, the concept of combat robots was something that could only be found in movies or games, and the development of autonomous combat programs had come to a halt. But there was one being that ignored all of this.


    [I could have implemented more perfect combat movements, but the robots¡¯ motors couldn¡¯t keep up with the motions. It¡¯s painful to downgrade carefully developed software due to hardware limitations.]


    Artemis rapidly completed the combat AI program, which had been stagnant for decades since the practical use of robots.


    ¡°How many times has the combat program been updated so far?¡±


    [941 times, including the one just now.]


    She was even performing real-time updates while supporting the operation. The results were at a level that exceeded imagination¡ªwhat I was witnessing now. It was more than enough to replace human armies. Of course, without Artemis, achieving such results would have been impossible.


    [Rose: Bridge secured.]


    Satellite is unresponsive. Would you like to set a manual route?


    The ferry¡¯s main computer displayed a warning message, and from here, Artemis took over. With Echo squad¡¯s help, she infiltrated the ferry¡¯s mainframe and instantly took control of everything on the ship. The condition of the ferry wasn¡¯t great.


    ¨C Navigation computer: Inoperable (System error)


    ¨C Device malfunction rate: 12%


    (Automatic hydraulic controller damaged. Continuing operation in this state may result in navigation failure.)


    ¡°Can it still operate?¡±


    [I¡¯ll handle the hydraulic control in real-time, and I¡¯ve already fixed the navigation computer.]


    I silently clapped my hands.


    Then, it was time for the search. With so many survivors on board, if there were any infected we had missed, it would cause chaos. Comparing the boarding records and the infected we had killed so far, there couldn¡¯t be many left. And that¡¯s when we made an unexpected discovery.


    ¡°This is¡­!¡±


    Charlie squad leader found what appeared to be a corpse in the restroom, likely a suicide. It was a soldier wearing a South Korean military uniform. The item the soldier was gripping with both hands and holding in his mouth came into full view on the screen.


    ¡°Charlie-3, recover the weapon.¡±


    The security robot picked up the object, which turned out to be a K2 rifle. Upon inspection, there was still ammunition left in the magazine. Given that he was carrying an old military-issue weapon, it seemed likely that he had been a reservist called up under a mobilization order.


    ¡°Was he brought in for prisoner transport? This is a major find.¡±


    [Indeed, this is probably more valuable than the 3,000 survivors.]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [Just kidding.]


    Charlie-3 stood by, holding the weapon and awaiting orders.


    ¡°From now on, prioritize the protection of that weapon as a top security object. Guard it at all costs during the mission.¡±


    My command was uploaded to the entire rescue team.


    ¡°How long would it take to scan and reverse-engineer it? I can¡¯t wait.¡±


    [Thirty minutes for reverse-engineering, eight hours for the first production run.]


    No matter how powerful the gas guns and flamethrowers were, they couldn¡¯t compare to a standard-issue assault rifle that a nation had chosen as its primary weapon.


    Now, we are going to be able to use it.


    Although I didn¡¯t want to think about it, if the time came to fire on prisoners, a standard assault rifle would be far more useful than a gas gun with excessive firepower of only three shots. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The search finally ended at dawn, but the significant finds were so overwhelming that I couldn¡¯t sleep properly.


    [Shall we set off?]


    With Artemis¡¯s words, the engine roared to life, and her will permeated every part of the ship. The engine, propellers, hydraulics, cooling system, stabilizers¡ªevery element started to work together. The massive ferry slowly began to move.


    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±


    The infected creatures, flailing helplessly, were swallowed by the waves created by the ferry¡¯s massive hull. As the ship passed, the vibrations caused the scattered cargo on the pier to shake back and forth. The destination was the offshore prison. The mission was the transport of the survivor group.


    As the large ferry cut through the sea, white foam was created, and the brilliant morning sunlight poured down over it.

 Chapter 37: Rescue Operation (5)

    Rescue Operation (5)


    A small rocky island with a maritime structure built on it¡ªthis is Korea''s only offshore prison.


    As the ferry had just departed from the port, four women were gathered in the central building of the prison. One of the women spoke up, ¡°Look at this, look at this.¡±


    She appeared to be in her late twenties and, like Sophia, was a Slavic beauty. Despite her striking appearance, she exuded an air of unapproachability. It wasn¡¯t the thorniness of a rose, but the poison of a pufferfish.


    She wasn¡¯t born with poison, but had accumulated it over the course of her life from all the dangers she had faced. Born in Moscow and now imprisoned in Korea¡¯s offshore prison, this woman had always thrived in the presence of danger.


    Where there¡¯s danger, there¡¯s money. And she knew how to avoid danger while keeping the money close. Men who were enamored with her, or terrified by her, were numerous enough to fill a truck. Each was dealt with according to their own ¡°recipe,¡± taking the fall in her place. Her name was Sasha. She led the largest faction among the prisoners from the west wing.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad the rescue team is coming. I¡¯m getting sick of this place too. But why did you act on your own?¡± She was reprimanding Sophia.


    Tsss¡ª She pulled out a cigarette and lit it. It was one she had smoked halfway, snuffed out, and saved to smoke again later. Though this thrifty action didn¡¯t match her luxurious appearance, in this prison, a single cigarette could cost someone their life.


    ¡°So, are you saying we should all just starve to death? Sure, you might have hidden food, but our side won¡¯t last a week.¡±


    Sasha exhaled a long stream of smoke in response, a strange smile playing on her lips as she flicked the cigarette butt in her fingers, signaling for Sophia to keep talking.


    Damn woman.


    Sophia hated Sasha with a passion. Once, they had been like sisters living in a foreign land. Later, their relationship evolved into one of employee and employer, though not in a reputable field.


    It¡¯s a common story. A hopeful young woman sets foot in a foreign land, only to be exploited by someone who speaks the same language, ruining her life. At first, Sophia had admired and been grateful to Sasha for greeting her in their native tongue and helping her adjust, but that misconception had twisted her entire life. And now, here they both were, locked up in the same prison. Though, ironically, this had saved Sophia¡¯s life.


    ¡°I¡¯m not blaming the negotiation itself. We have to do something, or we¡¯ll all starve. Fixing the communication device and contacting the rescue team? That¡¯s praiseworthy.¡± Sasha approached Sophia.


    ¡°The problem is, why did you handle it on your own?¡± Sasha exhaled another puff of smoke.


    Even though Seyoung tried not to show it, everyone in the room noticed her throat bob as she swallowed at the sight of the smoke.


    ¡°A prostitute doesn¡¯t set the price, the pimp does. Why did you make the deal yourself?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ancient history! I have nothing to do with you anymore¡­¡±


    Sasha¡¯s foot slid between Sophia¡¯s legs as she sat in the chair.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen what happens to girls who try to make deals with customers behind my back, haven¡¯t you?¡± Her foot brazenly teased Sophia¡¯s private area.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Sophia lifted her head and shouted, but she couldn¡¯t maintain eye contact with Sasha for long, who smiled down at her. It was her gaze that made Sophia falter.


    Despite having cut ties with Sasha years ago, her eyes still looked at Sophia in the same way. The eyes of someone appraising merchandise. Sophia hated the way Sasha looked at her, hated it so much that it made her shudder.


    ¡°Sasha, are you really going to keep fighting over rank even in this situation?¡± Seyoung interjected.


    ¡°What¡¯s more important than rank in this world? Money? That¡¯s nothing.¡± Sasha reached out and grabbed between Sophia¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Let go!¡±


    ¡°Even just using this well will get you money. But status? That¡¯s not something you can buy, and it¡¯s even harder to keep.¡± Sasha said, suppressing Sophia¡¯s resistance.


    ¡°In times like this, if someone makes a deal that could mean life or death for everyone while pushing me aside, what do you think the others will think?¡± She leaned in close to Sophia¡¯s face.


    ¡°I always set the price. I always make the decisions.¡± She poked Sophia¡¯s chest with her long fingers.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Sophia nodded reluctantly, and Sasha withdrew her hand.


    ¡°What a mess.¡± Sasha sighed as she glanced at her chipped nail polish.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of caring about your nails when the world¡¯s gone to hell?¡± said the woman sitting in the chair with her feet propped up on the table while staring at the ceiling. The name tag on her clothing read Hajisu. She didn¡¯t lead many, but no one in the offshore prison, not even Sasha, dared to cross her. The reason was simple.


    ¡°Why not exercise instead? You¡¯ll have to take care of yourself from now on. The days of ordering around thugs with a mere nod of the head are over.¡± As she idly swung her leg off the table, the clearly defined vertical lines of her abs were visible. Her broad shoulders and the muscles of her crossed arms were equally impressive.


    In a world where law no longer holds sway and women can no longer rely on men¡¯s strength, physical power becomes paramount. Though Sasha felt as if Jisu was subtly mocking her, she bit her tongue. Normally an optimistic person, even Jisu was visibly irritated by the situation.


    "My muscles are dwindling." Jisoo said as she rubbed her stomach.


    No matter how much she tried to maintain them, in a situation where the food coming in was insufficient, it was inevitable that her muscles would weaken. Moreover, exercising only made her hungrier faster. For someone like her, who had dedicated her life to fitness, the situation was unbearably frustrating.


    ¡°So, that man, his name was Seo Jinsoo, right? Tell me everything you know. First impressions, his mannerisms, even the smallest details¡ªanything.¡± Sasha spoke up.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t really have a long conversation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that. Just tell me everything you know.¡± In the end, Sophia shared every little detail she could remember. When the mention of 200,000 cans of beer came up, everyone in the room widened their eyes in shock.


    ***


    Swoooosh¡ª The sea displayed on the large screen gave off a refreshing feeling just by looking at it. All the infected aboard the ship had been eliminated, and with no immediate threats until reaching the island, it was essentially a safe voyage.


    Thanks to my request to view the wide expanse of the sea through one of the surveillance drones, the central control room had turned into a virtual reality navigation experience. Since Artemis was already overseeing all the squad members and drones, indulging in this little luxury wasn¡¯t a problem.


    The endless horizon under the sunlight, the waves crashing against the ship, and the sound of them breaking¡ªall of it felt vivid. Artemis even adjusted the air circulation system on the ceiling, creating an experience close to a 4D movie theater. I couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful for her effort to understand and cater to humanity¡¯s longing for nature.


    As I watched the sea, a question suddenly popped into my head. ¡°The fact that the survivors in the offshore prison have made it this long¡ªdoes that mean the infected can¡¯t cross the sea?¡±


    [That¡¯s one way to look at it.]


    ¡°Then isn¡¯t it strange? Where is the navy? I can¡¯t understand how there¡¯s not a single force holding out at sea.¡±


    [You¡¯re making me give the answer I hate the most.]


    Artemis hesitated for a moment before responding.


    [There¡¯s not enough information to make a judgment.]


    She sounded genuinely reluctant to say it.


    After a while, we finally reached our destination.


    ¡°There it is.¡±


    The outline of the offshore prison appeared on the screen. It was an artificial settlement built on the water, designed to be completely isolated from Korean society. A desolate landscape of inorganic concrete and dark gray rocks unfolded before us. Rocks and concrete.


    ¡°Gray, gray, and more gray, wherever you look.¡±


    Well, except for the occasional splash of pink.


    Wait, what?


    ¡°Hold on, pink?¡± When I adjusted the touch panel to zoom in, an unexpected sight came into view. At the far end of the rocky area outside the offshore prison, several naked women were spotted, without a single thread on their bodies. It seemed they had been bathing in the seawater.


    Zooming in further, the details became clearer. Their bellies were sunken, and their bodies appeared lifeless, likely due to prolonged malnutrition. Their movements as they washed were weak, and their faces showed no expression.


    Were they trying to cling to the last shred of human dignity in the face of slow death from hunger and thirst? They were using the cold seawater to cleanse the dirt from their bodies, at least. Had it been a spa or hot spring, their lips would have been moving constantly, chatting away. But now, their mouths remained tightly shut.


    As we got closer, one of the women seemed to notice us and pointed in our direction. Soon, they bolted away, not out of embarrassment at being seen naked, but out of fear. At the end of their run was the gloomy front gate of the offshore prison.


    As we docked at the island, the navigation computer automatically completed the docking process, as it was connected to the island¡¯s mooring system.


    [Disembarking.]


    At Rose¡¯s command, the rescue team marched onto the island in orderly fashion. We had switched back to normal voice communication since we were no longer in a combat zone and would be dealing with human prisoners.


    ¡°This place is in a terrible state.¡±


    Crunch¡ª One of the security robots stepped on something, and it crumbled beneath its foot. It was the bones of a small animal.


    [It¡¯s a cat¡¯s skeleton. There are marks indicating the flesh was stripped off with tools.]


    Artemis, having analyzed the skeleton, informed me. Not men, but women resorting to eating cats¡­


    ¡°The food situation must be worse than I imagined.¡±


    The path leading from the dock to the offshore prison was filled with filth. It wasn¡¯t just litter or animal and fish bones. Human excrement was scattered everywhere.


    ¡°The stench on the ground must be awful.¡±


    I offered my condolences to Rose, who was passing through that area with her human-like sensory organs.


    ¡°Are they forced to relieve themselves outside because the toilets aren¡¯t usable?¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [The desalination system might be broken, or there may be no one to operate it. If that¡¯s the case, they wouldn¡¯t waste precious water on toilet flushing.]


    The desalination system was probably maintained by a technician from an external company on a regular basis. If that service had stopped¡­


    ¡°The chance of combat here is low. Stay alert, but avoid stepping in the filth. There¡¯s no need to step on anything unnecessary.¡±


    At my command, the security robots broke formation slightly to skillfully avoid the waste.


    It¡¯s best to present a clean and strong image when escorting the prisoners. Leaving behind footprints in excrement wouldn¡¯t help with that.


    After a few minutes of walking, the entrance to the offshore prison came into view. Waiting there were Lee Seyoung, Sophia, and an unfamiliar woman, who had been informed of our arrival.


    ¡°This is Warden Lee Seyoung. Thank you so much for your help in such difficult circumstances.¡±


    Seyoung greeted the rescue team politely, in formal speech. It seemed her curt tone during our previous communication had been due to the urgency of the situation.


    [Who are the other two?] Rose asked.


    ¡°This is Sasha, the representative of the west wing prisoners, and Sophia, the representative of the east wing prisoners. There are more factions, but for now, these two are the ones you need to know about.¡±


    Prisoner representatives or not, they were essentially just the leaders of their respective groups. It was an odd situation for the warden to introduce gang leaders to her guests, but it wasn¡¯t something I could simply laugh off in this sad reality.


    Sasha, who had been smiling from a distance, suddenly froze when she saw the rescue team. She shot a glare at Sophia, likely realizing now that the team wasn¡¯t made up of human men like she had expected. She seemed to be accusing Sophia of withholding that information.


    Sophia¡¯s response was a simple shrug, as if to say, ¡°What do you want me to do about it?¡±


    [Warden Lee Seyoung, we¡¯re heading to the administration building. Will you join us?] Rose asked, turning her attention back to Seyoung after observing the two prisoners.


    There was something they must secure as a top priority once they landed at the offshore prison. She was carrying out the mission I had assigned in advance.


    [Please lead us to the warden¡¯s office and the prisoner records archive.]

 Chapter 38: Rescue Operation (6)

    Rescue Operation (6)


    As the armed robots stormed into the prison, the women''s gazes simultaneously turned towards them. Judging by their blank expressions, they seemed unable to grasp the sudden situation.


    Past the main gate, what immediately came into view was a large yard that doubled as a walking path. It had been neglected for so long that weeds were growing all over. Some women lay exhausted on benches around the yard¡¯s perimeter, while one crouched in a patch of overgrown grass, picking at something.


    Is she gathering mugwort, perhaps?


    The ocean was blocked from view by a concrete wall that appeared to be at least 10 meters tall. Ahead lay the administration building, with cell blocks on either side. Other visible structures included an auditorium likely used for religious services and events, as well as buildings for labor. Beyond the wide-open doors, various machines and lumber could be seen inside.


    The entire area was filled with a stifling silence, devoid of any liveliness, but that silence shattered a few seconds later.


    ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± Women screamed and scattered in all directions. They all looked visibly starved, and some were nearly naked. There were more than a few women running barefoot, their clothes and shoes likely stolen by stronger prisoners.


    Though their terrified expressions were pitiful, that wasn¡¯t the priority at the moment. Comforting them could come later. After all, this was an isolated island, so they couldn¡¯t escape.


    ¡°It¡¯s on the third floor, but the building is occupied by other factions.¡±


    Warden Seyoung¡¯s words matched the schematics we¡¯d found in the port¡¯s control room. The rescue team headed straight for the administration building.


    ¡°The most important thing is securing the criminals¡¯ personal information.¡±


    This had been a key consideration since the planning stage of the rescue operation. Age, physical characteristics, past professions, criminal records, and how they had behaved in the prison¡ªthese were crucial pieces of information.


    It would allow us to anticipate potential risks when reintegrating the prisoners, manage the factions more effectively, and make better use of those with valuable skills. Likewise, we also needed the personnel records of the prison guards, who were expected to be in the warden¡¯s office.


    The rescue team opened the half-shattered glass door and ascended the central staircase of the administration building.


    [We¡¯re heading to the records room.]


    The security robots of Charlie squad clanked noisily as they moved down the left hallway. Their heavy movements stirred reactions throughout the building. Curious, women peeked out from office doors to see what was happening.


    ¡°Kyaaaa!¡±


    ¡°Close the door! What are you doing?!¡±


    They screamed and quickly slammed the doors shut. Though only part of their upper bodies had been visible, they were wearing prison uniforms. Some seemed to believe another faction had invaded, as a group charged forward armed with makeshift clubs.


    ¡°W-What the hell is that?!¡±


    The team ran away as fast as they had charged. Their fierce expressions, bulky frames, and the sight of guns and fire axes¡ªall of it combined left no one daring to approach the intruding rescue team. By the time we reached the third floor, the first thing we saw was the warden¡¯s office. Two women in prison uniforms stood guard outside, each holding a baseball bat.


    [Step aside.]


    The Alpha squad leader, who was at the front, issued a warning. One of the women fled down the hallway before the words were even finished, but the other hesitated.


    ¡°Uh, um¡­ th-that¡­¡±


    Judging by her expression and tone, it seemed less like she was standing her ground out of courage and more due to confusion and fear. But the emotionless robot didn¡¯t wait for her to process those feelings. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crack! As the robot grabbed the middle of her baseball bat, the wood splintered and broke in two.


    [Step aside.]


    The woman, now terrified, could only stare at the robot¡¯s steel grip with splinters of wood still clinging to it. She trembled, too scared to move.


    ¡°Kyaaa!¡±


    The robot shoved her aside roughly, sending her flying down the hallway and rolling as she went.


    Crash! They threw open the door to the warden¡¯s office, and five pairs of eyes instantly locked onto them, frozen in place.


    ¡°W-Who the hell are these bastards?!¡±


    A tough-looking woman seated in the warden¡¯s chair spoke. She seemed to be the boss of this faction. She was at least 180 cm tall, with a muscular build and a fierce gaze. Though momentarily startled by the heavily armed robots, she wasn¡¯t visibly frightened.


    Perhaps she¡¯s of mixed South American descent? Her features are unusual.


    She wore only a white tank top, which clung to her large chest with her nipples clearly outlined through the fabric.


    [We are the rescue team] Rose said.


    ¡°Rescue team? So it¡¯s real?!¡±


    [For the smooth operation of this rescue mission, we request your cooperation. Vacate this room immediately. Everyone must leave at once.]


    Despite Rose¡¯s demand, the boss didn¡¯t budge for some reason. Having already learned from the baseball bat woman at the entrance, the Alpha squad leader skipped negotiations. He grabbed her arm without warning.


    Though she tried to pry the robot¡¯s hand off, it wouldn¡¯t budge. The veins in her well-trained arm bulged, but that was the extent of her resistance. She was unceremoniously thrown out of the warden¡¯s office. The other women, who had been standing with their mouths agape, prepared to scream, but instead, they watched in disbelief as their boss flew through the air and landed in the hallway.


    ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± As expected, they all screamed and scrambled out of the warden¡¯s office.


    ¡°They¡¯re criminals, yes, but they¡¯re still women. It''s only a hassle when the management is female or when human rights laws get in the way.¡±


    If you can suppress them with force and control them without leniency, the number doesn¡¯t matter.


    The door shut, and two security robots, armed with riot control shotguns and fire axes, stood guard outside. From various spots in the hallway, office doors creaked open, and pairs of eyes peeked out, observing the two robots. It almost looked cute, like a game of hide and seek, but knowing that each of them was a criminal gave the scene a different feel.


    "You''re very efficient at getting things done," Seyoung remarked, her expression showing admiration.


    [We don¡¯t make requests, we issue commands. They must follow the controls immediately, or they will face consequences.]


    "Indeed, that¡¯s the only way to maintain control over the prisoners here. Especially in a closed city, order becomes even more crucial," Seyoung agreed with Rose.


    [While their status as criminals gives us a reason to enforce stricter control, that¡¯s not all. These people will soon be residents in our city, but only as temporary inhabitants. They have contributed nothing to the construction of the city, neither in skills nor financially. This applies to the guards as well.]


    Seyoung¡¯s expression changed slightly, as if realizing there had been a misunderstanding between them.


    "Wait a moment, the guards are innocent civilians. I¡¯m not ungrateful for your help, but saying they must follow orders and obey is a bit much."


    I could understand her point. It¡¯s hard to just accept a life of control and submission, even after having your life saved.


    [You may owe us a debt, but we owe you nothing. We are your protectors and providers, while you are simply beneficiaries. Even if you worked for a lifetime in our city, it would be impossible to repay the cost of admission. If you do not agree with this, you are free not to follow us. This decision has been approved by the Administrator.]


    "¡­" Seyoung¡¯s face stiffened, but she remained calm. Her approach was commendable¡ªseeking a way to preserve her rights without antagonizing the other party, no matter the situation.


    "I¡¯d like to discuss this with my fellow guards."


    I couldn¡¯t ask for more if she handled the negotiations with such a calm demeanor.


    [That¡¯s fine. Take your time to discuss it with your colleagues. However, keep in mind that once you accept our proposal, there¡¯s no turning back. Also, if you decide to stay and later change your mind, we won¡¯t return. This is your last chance to move to a safe city. Make your decision wisely.]


    Rose spoke, and Seyoung gave a simple nod before leaving the warden¡¯s office.


    [We¡¯ve obtained all prison operation records and personnel information for the guards. The files are being transmitted to the central command now.]


    As Rose reported this, a large batch of files was sent over.


    Ding¡ª With a few adjustments on the PDA, detailed profiles and evaluations of the guards appeared, including photos and feedback from their colleagues. Seyoung¡¯s profile was there too.


    The photo seemed to have been taken right after she was commissioned, showing her clean and youthful face in her uniform. All her performance scores were excellent, and her colleagues¡¯ evaluations were universally positive. Even her middle and high school records were included as appendices, noting that she had been class president throughout high school.


    ¡°Shows leadership, fulfills responsibilities as class president, and earns the respect of her peers. Noteworthy for being a role model in all matters. It¡¯s noted that a student who was bullied last year has now fully integrated into the class, thanks in large part to Seyoung¡¯s efforts. However, her high sense of responsibility and maturity for her age may cause concern.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but be impressed as I read.


    ¡°She could definitely be entrusted with a role in middle management for the new residents.¡±


    The criminals didn¡¯t interest me much, and even skimming through the profiles of the senior guards, no one else stood out. After that, I moved on to the prisoners¡¯ profiles. I couldn¡¯t review them all, but I focused on those classified as special management targets. One issue quickly resurfaced¡ªsomething that had been bothering me since the early planning stages of the migration.


    Should I take them all, or leave the most dangerous ones behind?


    At the top of the profile list were individuals who were rarely imprisoned for just one crime. Most had several crimes intertwined, creating a chaotic synergy that led them to this place. In short, they were the kind of people you wouldn¡¯t want as neighbors.


    If we used forceful control, managing them wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Without human rights groups or government regulations in our city, any resistance could be met with a shot of rock salt to the chest. Even the toughest male rioters would scream in agony. If it''s women we¡¯re dealing with, a single public punishment would turn the rest into obedient lambs.


    Surveillance cameras, vehicles, drones, and, if necessary, oxygen control are at our disposal. Alternatively, we can simply leave the worst criminals behind. From an efficiency standpoint, it would be the easiest solution. Just leave them. But that would mean certain death for those left behind. In starvation, they would die¡ª100% for sure.


    I would be sentencing them to death with my own hands. Not just a few people, but dozens, hundreds. As the city¡¯s manager, I have the authority to make that decision. But do I have the right? Is it truly my place to hand down death sentences like this?


    Does the unique situation of an apocalypse and a closed city justify issuing a blanket death sentence to those who haven¡¯t committed capital crimes? In movies, games, and novels I¡¯d seen, the decision was always easy because there wasn¡¯t enough food, water, or safety.


    If we take in half of them, we¡¯ll starve. If we take them all, we¡¯ll all die.


    In such a scenario, the choice is simple. But at the moment, I¡¯m not lacking in any of those things, which makes the decision harder. Or am I just being hypocritical? Am I trying to hold on to the idea of being a good person by using our abundance as an excuse to accept these bad people?


    A thousand questions kept running through my mind, one after another.

 Chapter 39: Rescue Operation (7)

    Rescue Operation (7)


    After securing all the personnel information from the offshore prison, it was time for discussions and aligning opinions.


    About 60 women gathered in the auditorium, which had been used for worship and mental education. Each of them was a prison leader with significant influence. Managing and persuading over 2,000 people all at once would take too long, so it was easier to move the other prisoners through these leaders.


    Sasha played a key role in this. While it''s understandable that she wanted to make a good impression on the new owners of their future location, the extent of her efforts was beyond imagination. She ran around so much that she was covered in sweat, not walking for even a moment, sweet-talking and coaxing the leaders into gathering at the auditorium.


    The women gathered and sat on the chairs to the left and right of the central aisle. The west wing inmates sat together on one side, and the east wing inmates on the other, creating a stark contrast.


    The prisoners from the west wing, including the tall woman who had been thrown out of the warden''s office, looked somewhat worn out but seemed capable of holding on. In contrast, the prisoners from the east wing all looked emaciated, filled with lethargy. Their cheeks were hollow, their hands and feet were bony, and some women seemed to struggle just to keep their eyes open. At this rate, they wouldn¡¯t last another week.


    The leaders sitting on the long church benches also displayed various appearances:


    A woman with a fierce look. A woman with a malicious expression. A woman with a kind look, almost unrecognizable as a criminal. A woman with short hair. A sports cut. A bald head. A short woman. A tall woman. A muscular woman. A very skinny woman. A woman with piercings on her face and nipples (evident as they protruded through her shirt in a U-shape). A woman covered in tattoos. A woman who looked like a drug addict. A naturally androgynous-looking woman. A woman with an androgynous appearance, almost as if she were on steroids. Slavic women. Latina women. Minority women with indigenous features. Black women. There was even a Muslim woman wearing a makeshift hijab made from a towel, though who knows where she got it.


    The sight of the women filling the central control room''s screens was truly diverse. It felt more like a multicultural vocational training center than a prison. They guarded the entrance while glancing nervously at the security robots watching over them.


    ¡°All the foreign criminals have been sent here, too.¡± Seyoung remarked.


    For the past few years, Korean society had been so chaotic that it felt like a war with foreign residents. Whether they entered legally or illegally, they were involved in various crimes, mostly related to prostitution and trafficking. Even when caught, they clung to the belief that prison life in Korea was better than life on the streets in their home countries, so they kept coming in.


    ¡°I¡¯m not defending the prisoners. But some became victims due to ignorance or recklessness and then turned into perpetrators while trying to escape that situation. There are many women who genuinely repent and try to change. We can¡¯t lump them all together.¡±


    Every time the murmurs grew louder or conversations erupted, Sasha calmed the group. Surprisingly, she could communicate with people from any race. It was admirable how hard she worked to show her worth and demonstrate her cooperation with us.


    But does she really consider her criminal history while doing this? I¡¯m starting to doubt whether Sasha¡¯s abilities, passion, and influence might lead to trouble later on. Well, if she truly understands her situation and is working to survive, then I welcome it.


    [Aren¡¯t you supposed to be the one doing that?] Rose asked while watching Sasha busily move among the prisoners.


    ¡°As much as it frustrates me, I have to acknowledge the truth. In a situation like this, she¡¯s better at controlling the prisoners than I am. I¡¯ve always relied on administrative power and bureaucratic control. But here, without the authority of law enforcement, I¡¯m just another paper tiger.¡± Seyoung pointed to her bare feet with a self-deprecating smile. She was barefoot.


    She continued, ¡°If you want to see who holds authority here, just look at whether someone is wearing shoes or not.¡±


    As negotiations began, some unexpected things came to light. The first was that the number of personnel in this offshore prison was less than initially anticipated.


    [We were informed that there were about 2,700 prisoners and 252 guards.]


    ¡°After the rebellion, when the guards were detained, the prisoners split into two groups¡ªthose who wanted to leave the island and those who chose to stay.¡± Sasha responded to Rose¡¯s remark.


    Since Seyoung had been locked up throughout the rebellion and only temporarily freed to fix the communication devices, Sasha had a better understanding of the situation here.


    ¡°They took the emergency boats off the island, loaded nearly to capacity. Around 400 people escaped that way. A little while later, only two boats returned.¡± Sasha frowned as if recalling an unpleasant memory.


    ¡°One boat came back with barely living passengers, while the other returned blood-soaked, filled with half-crazed women. It took days just to have a proper conversation with them. No matter what we said, they kept repeating one word: ¡®monsters.¡¯¡± Sasha shrugged.


    [And what about the boat with the dying people?]


    ¡°Hey, Nina! Come over here.¡± Sasha called out to another woman. A Slavic woman with short brown hair, 22 years old according to her profile, and like Sasha, she was Russian.


    Her crime was assault. After finishing her shift, she had gone to a nightclub to relieve some stress, but a fight broke out between her and a Korean woman over one of the male escorts. When the man sided with Nina, the Korean woman slapped her. The problem was that Nina lost her temper and beat the woman to a pulp. Even after the woman passed out, she didn¡¯t stop and hit her nearly 20 more times. As a result, she was sent to prison and then exiled here.


    ¡°You saw that boat up close, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°The boat? Oh yeah, it was totally disgusting.¡± Nina crossed her arms tightly. ¡°They looked like they had been dipped in boiling water while still alive. I didn¡¯t get too close, though. Didn¡¯t want to catch whatever they had.¡±


    Rose pulled out her PDA and displayed a map of the offshore prison. [Do you know the boat¡¯s location?]


    Nina pointed it out. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [I¡¯ll send a drone.] Rose told me.


    A little while later, the scene transmitted by the drone was exactly as Nina had described: horrifying. The boat, wrecked on the prison¡¯s coastal rocks, was filled with corpses, and several bodies had washed up on nearby rocks.


    It really did look like they had been boiled alive and then left to rot. The decomposition only made the sight more unbearable. But there was something even more concerning than the horror of the scene. The Geiger counter on the drone was going wild. The entire boat was a radioactive mess.


    ¡°A nuclear weapon.¡±


    It was unclear whether the boat had been caught in a nuclear blast during its voyage or had entered a radioactive area without knowing it. We also didn¡¯t know who had launched the nuclear attack. But one thing was certain: a nuclear bomb had fallen on the Korean Peninsula.


    ¡°Pull the drone back.¡± I said. Any further approach would affect the drone¡¯s function.


    [So, the actual number of people here is about 2,550?] Rose asked.


    ¡°We¡¯d have to count, but even from that, you¡¯d have to subtract more. Many have died or gone missing for various reasons, including suicides. I¡¯m not sure of the exact number.¡± Sasha replied.


    ¡°But there¡¯s some good news.¡± Sophia, who had been listening nearby, added.


    [What is it?] Rose asked.


    ¡°Most of the women who left on those boats were scum. They only had the strength to take control of the boats, but what does power mean in a prison? It means they were the biggest bitches. Most of the rebellion leaders were among them.¡±


    Unlike Sasha, who was trying to be mindful of her language in front of her new superiors, Sophia let loose with satisfaction.


    [But Sasha, Sophia, and quite a few others seem to have held their own.]


    Rose''s screen displayed a group of women gathered together. The group included a woman classified as Hajisu, along with her followers. It seemed like a women''s gym manager and her staff had been caught for tax evasion, as muscle rippled around them.


    ¡°Well, everyone has their reasons. Some stayed quiet, others stayed because they were worried about their prison friends, and some realized that the outside world was an even worse hell. There were many reasons to stay, but staying wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad choice.¡± Seyoung spoke.


    Indeed, by the time they were isolated on this island, the front lines had already collapsed. Heading further south, it was uncertain whether they could join the mass escape by relying on a boat. If they ran out of fuel near a city occupied by monsters, they¡¯d be left to die with no way out.


    Would they risk their lives for freedom, or prioritize immediate survival, hoping for an uncertain future? There would certainly be no shortage of women choosing the latter.


    After gathering enough information, Rose presented everyone with a choice. Would they stay here, or enter the shelter? Staying meant freedom, but if they entered the shelter, they would have to follow strict rules. They would be assigned tasks to work for the city, and any violation of the city''s regulations would result in punishment.


    ¡°No, damn it, that''s just like being in prison all over again!¡± Nina said.


    ¡°These foreign women speak Korean really well.¡± I marveled at something else. Their swearing had a surprisingly natural accent.


    ¡°Then stay here. From what I hear, your hidden food supply is almost gone, isn''t it?¡± Seyoung said with a mocking smile.


    ¡°Who the hell do you think you are, running your mouth like that after being locked up like a dog? Oh, by the way, I''m loving your shoes.¡± Nina raised one leg, wagging it like a dog about to pee to show off a pair of dress shoes on her feet. A vein bulged on Seyoung¡¯s forehead. So, Nina had stolen her shoes.


    After that, the prisoners began to jeer at Seyoung, raising their voices.


    Bam!


    The ones to quiet them down were the security robots. The thunderous sound of their synchronized stomping as they surrounded the prisoners, standing behind Rose, at the building entrance, and around the seated prisoners, caused the stone floor to crack.


    ¡°Kyaaah!¡±


    ¡°Blyat!¡±


    ¡°Hiiik!¡±


    ¡°Oh, shit!¡±


    Indeed, even their exclamations of surprise were half curses.


    [I''ll say it again, staying here is your choice. But waiting here will only lead to starvation. Take a look at this.]


    A projector in the auditorium displayed images on a screen. It was the most recent satellite footage of major cities in Korea. Not a single place was intact. Flames, black smoke, and writhing horrific creatures filled the screen.


    [The ferry waiting outside is the last ship that will come for you. No more ships are coming. Even if a ship were to arrive, what good would it do? There are no more farmers to grow crops or livestock breeders to raise cattle and pigs. There¡¯s no one left to maintain the water supply system. There isn¡¯t a single person left to produce the food and drink you need.]


    Rose calmly explained their situation, showing the prisoners the ruined state of Korea¡¯s cities one by one.


    The reaction from the prisoners was split about 3 to 7. The 3, who had been here from the start, were surprised but had somewhat expected this. Their strong personalities merely rejected the idea of returning to a life of being controlled. On the other hand, the 7, who had arrived later, had already witnessed the world turning into hell in real time as they came by boat. Many had seen infected beings firsthand or even watched their acquaintances being attacked and killed.


    More importantly, they were cold and hungry. As the weather turned colder, heating and hot water were out of the question, and they hadn¡¯t even been issued winter clothing. They wouldn¡¯t survive until winter, but once winter arrived, it would certainly be the end. From the beginning, these women were in favor of boarding the ferry.


    [We will provide safety, warmth, clean and sanitary beds, medical care, and stable food supplies. Labor will be required, but it will be limited to maintaining and growing the city, not for added value.]


    Even most of the women in the group of 3 began to come around. They, too, realized that maintaining the current situation was akin to slowly dying. But the real clincher was the 200,000 cans of beer. Once it was decided that they would board the ferry, it was time for the guards.


    ¡°Warden Seyoung!¡±


    Charlie Squad followed the warden and freed the imprisoned guards. The guards visible on the screen were all in a miserable state¡ªbarely clothed, starving, and covered in dust. Many were in their underwear or even completely naked, having had their uniforms stolen. Thanks to Seyoung¡¯s prior explanation, they were able to organize them with minimal confusion.


    An hour later. A group of about 2,500 women gathered in the courtyard. The prisoners grouped together in their respective cliques, each led by their leader. The guards huddled together in a separate group and formed their own ranks.


    [We¡¯re all set to depart.] Rose reported.


    At last, the great escape was about to begin. The entire island echoed with the light footsteps of hungry women, filled with a sliver of hope and a trace of fear as they left the prison behind.

 Chapter 40: Rescue Operation (8)

    Rescue Operation (8)


    A line of countless women appeared on the screen. Beyond them, a ferry floated on the sea.


    I drummed my finger on the armrest of the chair.


    [Still thinking?]


    The prisoners are almost at the pier. Boarding will begin soon. If I want to separate the high-level criminals, now is the time.


    Order in the city. Respect for life.


    At the start of the rescue plan, I didn¡¯t think much about cutting off the high-level criminals. But now that it¡¯s reality, my resolve is wavering. With one choice, tens or hundreds of people will be abandoned to die.


    Couldn¡¯t there be people who got caught up by chance, or brought in due to a wrongful investigation? Perhaps some are genuinely repenting and rehabilitating?


    Leaving all of that aside¡­ Even if they are clearly guilty and unrepentant, is it right for me to decide on my own that they should die? You might call it a weak excuse, but reasons not to leave them behind keep surfacing in my mind.


    ¡°It¡¯d be nice to have acacia leaves right now, wouldn¡¯t it? I could go, ¡®leave them, take them, leave them, take them,¡¯ just like that.¡± I mimicked plucking leaves one by one.


    [There it is.]


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    On the central control room screen, a single acacia leaf appeared.


    [Want to pluck it?]


    I gave a small laugh.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a figure of speech.¡±


    This isn¡¯t something to leave to chance.


    [Boarding will begin soon. Administrator, please make a decision.]


    Rose, who is in charge on the scene, asked. She¡¯s referring to my current dilemma: full relocation or partial relocation? I¡¯ve never faced a problem this difficult in my entire life.


    ¡°If it¡¯s a decision with no right answer¡­¡±


    On the screen, a long line of women is visible. Most of them look weary and exhausted, but in their eyes, I can still see a glimmer of hope and vitality. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Then I suppose the right thing to do is to face the consequences of my choice until the end.¡±


    I might regret this decision later. But I¡¯ll take responsibility for that regret. Even so¡­


    ¡°If this were the last ark in the world, I¡¯d want it to hold not just survival but life itself.¡±


    Unlike the extreme survival competition happening outside, there¡¯s still plenty of room here.


    ¡°Take them all aboard. No partial transport. Full relocation.¡±


    [Understood.]


    I sank back into my chair.


    [Are you uneasy?]


    There¡¯s no point in lying to Artemis.


    ¡°A little. I wonder if I¡¯ve grown too accustomed to comfort and peace, and made an overly easy decision because of that.¡±


    [We¡¯ve run various simulations, and the likelihood of issues with maintaining the city is very low.]


    She showed me the data. It detailed the jobs, skills, and physical capabilities of the prisoners.


    [Most of them were unemployed, sex workers, simple laborers, service workers, office workers, or self-employed. None of them possess dangerous skills or enough power to challenge our system.]


    ¡°True. Even if they¡¯re prisoners, they¡¯re women after all.¡±


    With male prisoners, many are skilled workers, carpenters, or engineers, who, if the surveillance slackens, often secretly create dangerous items. Even without skills, male prisoners who were soldiers, gang members, or CEOs can rally the others and cause trouble if the control loosens for just a moment.


    Compared to such male prisoner groups, female prisoners are much easier to manage. When a salt round from a riot shotgun hits a fellow inmate¡¯s belly, which group do you think would scatter faster and farther: men or women?


    If the guards at the offshore prison were men, a rebellion wouldn¡¯t have even been possible. And here, machines and overseers far scarier than male guards are keeping watch.


    [There¡¯s plenty of space on the ferry. Board at your own pace. No one will be left behind. Any prisoner who causes trouble during boarding will be immediately punished.]


    Drones roamed the area, broadcasting this announcement.


    [The first prisoner has boarded.]


    Rose reported. Afterward, countless women crossed the stairs and set foot inside the ferry. Shoes, slippers, sneakers, bare feet. White feet, peach-colored feet, brown feet. Feet of all colors stepped aboard.


    [This place is safe. All infected onboard the ferry have been eliminated. There may be traces of blood or signs of a battle, but don¡¯t worry. You are safe.]


    Drones moved through the crowd, repeating the announcement for crowd control. During the journey from the harbor to the island, all infected bodies were cleared, and much of the blood and flesh had been cleaned as well.


    However, there wasn¡¯t enough time or manpower for a perfect job. The women showed signs of panic at the sight of bloodstains here and there, but each time, nearby security robots calmed them down. No matter how terrifying the scene was, the presence of these powerful combat robots standing guard made the women feel secure.


    [We¡¯ve passed 50% boarding capacity.]


    Rose reported.


    It¡¯s a large crowd, but it¡¯s also a situation where over 2,000 hastily gathered people are being guided, so it¡¯s taking time. There were occasional incidents.


    A fight broke out between prisoners. It started with a slap, unlike fights with male prisoners. But once the fight got serious, punches and kicks were thrown. Both women had short hair, so there was no classic hair-pulling. Grappling didn¡¯t occur as it usually does.


    The surrounding prisoners didn¡¯t get excited or try to stop them like a clich¨¦. Instead, they wore annoyed expressions, muttering things like, ¡°Take that crap somewhere else, you idiots,¡± and moved away.


    The women were too worn down by hunger and exhaustion. The guards, who were huddled together, buried their faces in their knees, as if everything was too much for them. The guards'' feet, black with dirt and dust, seemed to reflect their mental state. It wouldn¡¯t help even if a guard intervened. Having been stripped of authority and left locked in cells for so long after the rebellion, their authority had long since evaporated.


    Thus, it was the security robots that moved.


    Bang!


    "Aaaah!"


    As the shotgun fired, a piercing scream echoed, and the fight came to a halt. The salt pellets that hit the metal ceiling fell to the floor with a soft clatter. As the two security robots approached the brawlers, the women sitting nearby quickly cleared the way.


    [Both of you, sit down]


    One of the security robots commanded.


    ¡°H-Hey, I wasn¡¯t planning to resist!¡± One of the women, bleeding from her nose, quickly knelt down with her hands on her head. She was quick to adapt.


    The other woman, glaring at her bleeding opponent while panting, was struck on the shoulder by the robot''s stock. With a brief scream, she collapsed to the ground, and a series of screams erupted from the surrounding crowd.


    The woman with the nosebleed dropped flat to the ground and placed her hands behind her head in a submission posture, similar to how criminals surrender to police officers in the U.S. She seemed like the type who wouldn¡¯t die easily, no matter the situation. The security robot¡¯s gaze lingered briefly on the back of her head before shifting away.


    [There¡¯s only one warning. This is an emergency situation. If you fail to follow orders quickly, we will resort to force. We have been granted unlimited authority over control.]


    The security robot glanced at the fallen woman groaning on the floor.


    [Kim Shinyoung. For causing a disturbance during an emergency and failing to follow instructions, you are sentenced to one week in solitary confinement and one month of observation. This will be enforced after essential checkups, sanitation, medical care, and meals at the shelter.]


    Then, it looked at the woman with the nosebleed who was lying flat on the ground.


    [Park Minji. For causing a disturbance during an emergency, you are sentenced to one week in solitary confinement. This will be enforced after essential checkups, sanitation, medical care, and meals at the shelter.]


    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Park Minji muttered and bowed her head repeatedly to the robot. The other women, initially terrified, widened their eyes at the mention of ¡°checkups, sanitation, medical care, and meals.¡±


    No further disturbances followed. Everyone was exhausted, the urgency of the situation was clear, and no one wanted to upset their new overseers, especially after the warnings from their leaders.


    The next issue was hygiene. The ferry was packed to the brim with people, and it smelled like a sewer. The women who had bathed when they first discovered the island were rare exceptions. Most of the prisoners had simply lain around in their hunger and lethargy, leaving their cleanliness in a terrible state.


    ¡°The smell is awful. I hope this doesn¡¯t lead to an outbreak.¡± I said.


    [It won¡¯t take long to get there. We should be fine for now.] Artemis reassured.


    ¡°How¡¯s it looking on your end, Rose?¡±


    [As you said, the stench is overwhelming.]


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± At that moment, one of the women in the corner leaned over the side of the ferry and began vomiting. Tension filled the air. Since the ferry hadn¡¯t even departed, it couldn¡¯t be seasickness. Could it be an illness?


    [Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just simple nausea from the stench. This is the third case so far. Most of them haven¡¯t eaten much, so it¡¯s mostly dry heaving.]


    Rose explained as she approached the woman, patting her back and checking her condition before sending her back to her seat. The women scattered throughout the ferry glanced around nervously while the security robots continued patrolling.


    [We¡¯ve completed boarding.]


    Rose reported. Just as the ferry seemed full, everyone had managed to get on.


    ¡°Let¡¯s set off immediately.¡±


    The ferry''s engine roared to life and cut through the water as it moved forward. The countless women on board trembled with a mix of anxiety and hope as they watched the offshore prison fade into the distance. The empty docks, the silent prison¡ªand just like that, another residence, now left in silence.

 Chapter 41: Rescue Operation (9)

    Rescue Operation (9)


    A ferry loaded with people crossed the sea. It was late afternoon, and soon the twilight would paint the sea in a brilliant glow.


    While Jinsoo was reviewing the list of guards and prisoners in the central control room, inside the ferry, some prisoners who still had strength left were talking. Of course, instead of idle chatter, they were having more practical conversations. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t make a mistake, did we?¡± Nina glanced around nervously.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sasha asked.


    Instead of answering, Nina gestured around with her chin. Everywhere you looked, the cabins were packed with people. And heavily armed robots were patrolling through the crowd. The way they subdued the prisoner who had caused a disturbance earlier was quite impressive. The woman hit in the shoulder couldn''t get up for a while and just gagged on the spot.


    Her companions checked on her, but there were no broken bones or visible injuries. The strike had precisely targeted the muscles to cause maximum pain. If this wasn¡¯t a coincidence and was intentional, that was terrifying in its own way.


    ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll be under the control of those tin cans. If you don¡¯t listen to them, they¡¯ll just beat you up.¡±


    Nina had dealt with police officers and prison guards before, but even with prisoners, she''d never seen anyone treat women like this.


    ¡°The place we¡¯re going to stay looks pretty tough.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± Sasha replied to Nina''s complaint. ¡°It¡¯s not that the place is tough. The world itself has become a tough place.¡±


    Sasha¡¯s gaze was fixed on the advertisement screens installed throughout the ferry. They were showing a pre-recorded educational video. It wasn¡¯t teaching anything new, just showing images and videos of how the outside world had changed.


    It was a compilation of ruined cities and landmarks in Korea, and the final desperate news broadcasts before the stations stopped airing. The point was probably to make the prisoners accept reality and comply with control. But there wasn¡¯t really a need for such a video. Everyone here already knew what had happened to the outside world.


    About 30% of the prisoners had been transferred to the island during the war, and the remaining 70% had been moved when Korea was on the verge of being completely devastated. Many had even passed through the ruined cities shown in the video.


    ¡°Sniff¡­¡± Some prisoners, perhaps triggered by PTSD, were huddled in a corner, crying. They had witnessed their prisoner transport buses being torn apart by monsters during an attack. Even without this mental conditioning, everyone here longed for a safe haven.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving to death.¡± Jisoo said and rubbed her stomach.


    Of course, hunger wasn¡¯t just her problem. The sound of growling stomachs echoed from all directions. When you pack a lot of starving people into a small space, the growls resonate everywhere.


    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s so loud. Can¡¯t you shut up, you bitches!¡± Nina snapped irritably, but what could they do about their hunger? Everyone was too weak and afraid of Nina, so they just glanced nervously, and the security robots showed no intention of intervening.


    ¡°Guard!¡± Jisoo raised her hand.


    ¡°What, what is it?¡±


    The guards huddled in a corner looked at her in confusion.


    ¡°Not you lot.¡± Jisoo sneered at them. ¡°After being locked up for so long and finally released, do you still want to be treated like guards?¡±


    The guards¡¯ faces reddened with embarrassment, but they didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Guard! Guard!¡± Jisoo called out energetically to a nearby security robot. She didn¡¯t seem to mind submitting to a machine. Perhaps she realized that these robots weren¡¯t ordinary by any means. Her situation was far from normal, and she was quick to adapt.


    The security robot checked her prisoner profile and assessed her threat level. It then approached her with its shotgun held in a ready position.


    ¡°Wow, you look even tougher up close.¡±


    [Jisoo Ha, do you have a request?]


    ¡°Yes! I have a request. I¡¯m really hungry. Can we get something to eat?¡±


    [We will arrive at our destination soon. After completing the sanitation procedures and medical checks, food will be provided.]


    Jisoo had been in the restroom when the two prisoners got into a fight and were subdued before departure, so she didn¡¯t know what to expect.


    ¡°I see. Is there going to be enough food?¡±


    [The standard worker¡¯s meal will be provided.]


    Jisoo grinned and sat back down as the security robot moved on. The other prisoners looked at her as if she had lost her mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving¡­¡± Jisoo ignored their stares and just smacked her lips. At that moment, a speaker crackled to life.


    [This is an announcement. The ferry will soon dock at the shelter''s rear gate. It is a secure underground city that will provide for your needs. Please follow the instructions to move to the rear of the vessel. Any inappropriate behavior will be dealt with according to our zero-tolerance policy.]


    Jisoo recognized the voice. It belonged to the young woman she had briefly met in the auditorium of the offshore prison. Was her name Rose? She was stunningly beautiful, she thought.


    ¡°Sasha.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Sasha was inspecting her nails.


    ¡°What kind of man do you think is in charge of the place we¡¯re going to?¡±


    ¡°Who knows?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know anything more about him? Judging by the way his subordinates behave, he seems like a scary guy.¡±


    Sasha paused in thought. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    The fact that Sasha had influence among the prisoners meant that she was a useful tool for controlling them. Surely, they¡¯d have a chance to meet whoever was in charge.


    As they wondered about their new administrator, he was dealing with another problem elsewhere.


    ***


    [Warning. Warning. An object approaching this vessel has been detected.]


    A security robot, stationed at the ferry''s bridge, reported to me.


    ¡°What¡¯s approaching? Could it be another ship?¡± I put down my cup of coffee. Having spent the time leading the operation and catching short naps in the central control room, even caffeine couldn¡¯t shake off my fatigue.


    [No. It¡¯s not marine debris. It¡¯s approaching from below the water¡¯s surface.]


    ¡°Could it be a whale or a shark? A submarine, maybe?¡±


    It''s not widely known, but in Korean waters, not only whales but also large sharks like great whites and makos occasionally appear. If not that, it could still be a surviving South Korean Navy submarine.


    [No. I will transmit the sonar display.]


    A visual appeared on the central control room screen. The ferry was represented by an icon emitting sonar waves in the middle of the map. A mysterious object, approaching in a straight line from a distance, was displayed.


    [It¡¯s moving faster than a whale or a shark could. And no existing submarine is that large.] Artemis spoke.


    ¡°Is it targeting the ferry?¡±


    [As soon as we detected its approach and altered our course, it adjusted its trajectory to follow us. It is clearly chasing the vessel.]


    ¡°How long until it catches up?¡±


    [Thirteen minutes.]


    ¡°That''s cutting it close.¡±


    The rear bridge at the shelter is complete. The ferry¡¯s boarding area is wide enough that, if properly organized, up to eight women can enter shoulder to shoulder at once. They aren¡¯t ordinary civilians either, but prisoners used to moving in formation, so if managed well, everyone should be able to disembark before it catches up.


    ¡°Whatever it is, we must assume it¡¯s extremely dangerous.¡±


    The unidentified object displayed on the screen was drawing nearer to the ferry. The timer in the corner, counting down in real-time, ticked down second by second. It was an increasingly unsettling sight. By the time it reached the ten-minute mark, the ferry arrived and docked at the temporary bridge constructed from the shelter¡¯s rear entrance with less than eight minutes remaining.


    [Disembark immediately.]


    Under the control of the security robots, the women quickly began to get off the ferry. Following my orders, Rose was the first to disembark and was already inside the shelter. She wanted to stay until the last passengers had disembarked, but I had ordered her to get off at once.


    [Maintain order.]


    With less than five minutes remaining, not even half of the passengers had disembarked. The massive unidentified object detected by the ferry¡¯s sonar had already reached a close range. It was clearly targeting the vessel.


    And now, five minutes remained.


    Then four minutes.


    Three minutes.


    Finally, with less than two minutes remaining, some of the women, hurrying across the bridge, suddenly stopped.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    Cries of shock, exclamations, and murmurs of astonishment echoed everywhere. They were looking beyond the ferry. A massive dark shadow was rapidly approaching beneath the water¡¯s surface.


    As it drew closer, the vast surface of the sea began to split as the object rose, its presence becoming increasingly clear. Something enormous, too vast to be hidden by the scattering twilight, was headed straight for us.


    [Move quickly. Don¡¯t stop.]


    The security robots immediately stepped in to control the situation, and the women resumed moving. Instinctively, they understood that this was not just some spectacle to be gawked at. When less than a minute remained, everyone had finally disembarked.


    ¡°Send the ferry away immediately.¡±


    [Understood.]


    The ferry, now under Artemis¡¯s remote control, sped away from the shelter at full speed.


    Then, thirty seconds passed.


    Twenty seconds.


    Ten seconds.


    Finally, the shadow surfaced.


    Its first appearance resembled that of a mantis shrimp. Its large, round eyes, a mix of purple and blue, appeared to be at least five meters in diameter. Below them, its dark blue exoskeleton extended in segments, forming joints with each segment just slightly smaller than the ferry itself.


    Water that had pooled between the joints came crashing down like waterfalls, hitting the sea and causing the ferry to sway pitifully from the impact. Its lower body, still submerged, was made of muscular tentacles resembling those of a cephalopod, though their full length was impossible to gauge.


    But the most striking feature was something else. Its enormous, mountain-like chest was flanked by two massive arms, each ending in a fist that looked like a wrecking ball for demolishing buildings. The fists were curled inward, and the tension in the anaconda-like muscles running from the fists up through the arms and body was palpable.


    Boom!


    A deafening noise, more akin to an explosion, erupted. The women, who had been making their way across the bridge, screamed and clutched their ears in unison. Some even lost their balance and tumbled into the sea. When I looked back at the ferry, there was nothing left on the deck. The second and third floors, along with the bridge, had vanished.


    Boom!


    At the second explosion, the middle section of the ferry blew apart, splitting it in two. A massive amount of seawater rushed into the open gash, sinking the vessel rapidly. But the gigantic creature didn¡¯t seem inclined to wait for it to fully sink.


    Boom!


    At the third explosion, the front half of the ship was blown into the distance, as if it had exploded. The massive creature observed the remaining back half of the ferry for a moment, then, like a whale twisting its body, submerged back into the water. As it did, enormous tentacles shot up from the sea and spread out in a wide circular formation, resembling a sunflower.


    Boom!


    The tentacles contracted all at once and generated a massive shockwave that propelled the creature at lightning speed. A sonic boom echoed above the water, while powerful waves surged below.


    ¡°Aaah!¡±


    ¡°Kyaaaa!¡±


    The spray from the sonic boom shot toward the cave¡¯s entrance, knocking down all the women who were still running across the temporary bridge. In an instant, the black shadow disappeared over the horizon. Now, the remains of the ferry were nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Help us!¡±


    ¡°Mommy, please¡­¡±


    All that remained were a few women, bleeding from their ears and crawling desperately toward the bridge, along with others floundering in the sea. As the reserve boats were dispatched to rescue the women, Artemis spoke.


    [Leviathan¡­]


    It was indeed a fitting name for such a creature.


    ¡°The sea isn¡¯t safe either. Who knows how many of those things are out there, or how many different kinds¡­¡±


    Even the faint hope I had that there might still be a survivor group led by the navy was fading. A question suddenly came to mind. ¡°Why did it only appear now? We were lucky, but it had plenty of opportunities to attack us before.¡±


    [Maybe it finished off everything it could and was taking some kind of break. Or it went hunting farther away. We can come up with plenty of theories. But one thing¡¯s certain: if we set sail again, it won¡¯t take long before another one of those things shows up.]


    I gazed out at the darkening sea. Whether on a clear day, at sunset, or in the dead of night, the sea was once a treasure trove of scenic beauty that shifted with time. But now, even that beauty felt tainted, something I could no longer fully appreciate.


    I had already accepted that many of the simple pleasures I used to enjoy, like walking through the woods with my hands in my pockets or strolling through a park, had vanished. But now, realizing that even the sea had become a part of that loss weighed heavily on my heart.

 Chapter 42: Rescue Operation (10)

    Rescue Operation (10)


    Big.


    Scary.


    Safe.


    These were the first impressions of the women entering the city. However, even as they got off the ship, crossed the bridge, and entered the dark cave, their anxiety was growing endlessly.


    That''s how people are. Even in a place of hunger and no sight of the future, if you stay there long enough, you get used to it. Though the rational mind agrees with the statement, ¡°We¡¯ll die if we stay here. We must leave!¡±, when the time comes to actually step out, a voice whispers somewhere deep inside, ¡°Let¡¯s just stay here.¡±


    The longer you''re in a controlled environment, like a prison, where there''s less need to think for yourself, the stronger the desire to remain complacent becomes. Especially if your body and mind are exhausted to the extreme.


    On top of that, historically, "adventure" has been the realm of men. Women, instinctively, are reluctant to leave familiar shelters. And in such a situation, it''s only natural for their hearts to waver when they''re guided into a cold cave instead of the promised "safe city."


    But it was already too late.


    ¡°Did I make the wrong choice?¡±


    ¡°Should I have stayed in the prison?¡±


    Even if such thoughts came to mind, there was no going back now. The ship had sunk to some absurd monster.


    [Move.]


    Even a moment¡¯s hesitation was met with a forceful command from the terrifying robots. These steel machines seemed unaware of the concepts of consideration, respect, or human rights, particularly when it came to women. Even in a time where prison guards couldn''t just use violence without consequence. Fights between prisoners were broken up, and offenders were either warned or sent to solitary confinement as the most severe punishment.


    Leaving that aside, laying a hand on a woman was considered the height of dishonor, and violence beyond a slap was unthinkable. This was the common sense and the rules of the world they had believed in until now. But those rules didn''t apply to these robots. The women had to stay alert whenever the robots came close.


    If it was a trivial misunderstanding or failure to follow instructions, it ended with a repeated command, but in any other case, punishment came swiftly. They were grabbed or thrown by cold, hard steel hands, and in extreme cases, struck with the butt of a gun.


    Some bold prisoners tried to argue, asking, "How can you treat people like this?" sometimes replacing "people" with "women." But when a robot merely turned its head (sometimes almost 180 degrees) and stared at them, their complaints quickly died down.


    The robots'' faces resembled bleached piranhas, giving off the unnerving sense that they might open their jaws at any moment and bite off the complainer''s face. Their small, lifeless eyes evoked serial killers. Their eyes were spaced so far apart that even standing at an angle didn''t make you feel out of their sight. Their inorganic, dual-tone white-and-black coloring. Their deliberately unsettling features seemed designed to invoke primal fears, etched deep into our DNA.


    Splash, splash¡ª Chills ran down their spines as their bare feet touched the cold cave floor. If they lifted their heads, they saw the robots¡¯ red eyes, glowing in the cave¡¯s darkness like eerie will-o''-the-wisps, watching them.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Some women finally broke down in tears. But their feet kept moving, as their comrades comforted them and urged them forward.


    Are we now going to live like cavemen in this cave? Like prisoners forced into the mines during World War II?


    What awaited the women who reached the end of the cave was light. A radiant light, starkly contrasting with the cave''s darkness. Past the thick, fortified doors, an enormous underground city unfolded before their eyes, too vast to take in all at once. Fences were placed on either side of the fortified doors and guided them in a single direction.


    [Move.]


    The sparsely stationed robots urged them along. Some held shotguns, while others wielded long spear-like weapons. Every time blue electric sparks crackled at the spear tips, the women quickened their pace. If they dawdled, it felt like those weapons would stab them through the fence gaps.


    ¡°It''s huge.¡± One of the women said as they moved. The others agreed.


    The overall structure of the underground city visible from the rear gate resembled a terraced farm. The difference was that each "step" was as large as several villages combined. There were more than ten such steps. True to its closed-city nature, the ceiling was sealed. The ceiling sloped down from a high point to the lower levels, and each section became wider as it descended.


    They must have dug deep into a massive mountain and expanded it downwards to create this structure. There were numerous rails attached to the ceiling, with lifts and mechanical claws moving along them.


    Far up high were large, luxurious buildings that, at a glance, seemed like homes for the "elites." Some buildings had Greek-style columns and impressive outdoor swimming pools jutting out from terraces. Next to them, an outdoor hot spring decorated with rocks and trees stood in stark contrast. Everywhere you looked, lush greenery surrounded you, and on one side, a river as wide as a swimming pool flowed.


    Could concrete, glass, and nature blend so perfectly? If elves and dwarves from a fantasy world teamed up to build a modern-day ark, it might look like this. However, in the very center stood a colossal, alien structure that was unmistakably human-made, resembling the towering Barad-d?r from The Lord of the Rings. If there was a ruler of this city, they would surely be watching everyone from there.


    The steps below were filled with what appeared to be industrial complexes. Many of the women prisoners had worked in industrial complexes before, but nothing they''d seen compared to this. The perfect efficiency, the automated structure, the meticulous precision down to the smallest section, all constructed with futuristic technology. The only word that could describe it was "majestic."


    It bore none of the grime or rancid smell of waste oil that one might associate with an industrial district. You could imagine working there without breaking a sweat or even dirtying the gloves on your hands¡ªan absurd thought, but still. It was as if the factory proclaimed, ¡°Give me the blueprint, and I can recreate anything that¡¯s ever existed in human history.¡±


    Below that were areas that looked like a city and residential zones, the parts that likely functioned as the city''s true core. However, due to the structure''s widening as it descended, the women on the same level couldn''t see the entire thing. In some sections, elevator shafts plunged deep underground, where subterranean apartment complexes had been built.


    [Keep moving.]


    Following the lead of the security robots and moving as the fence directed, a plaza appeared on the opposite side. It was a large, circular plaza reminiscent of St. Peter''s Square, with a clock tower in the center, similar to those found in major European cities. However, the clock was not analog but a digital screen.


    A woman''s face appeared on the screen. It was a cyber face, formed by countless intersecting lines. It was beautiful and dignified, yet it carried an arrogance that would not even tolerate compliments.


    [Welcome. I am Artemis, the central control AI of the city.]


    Her expression as she looked at the new residents was peculiar. It didn¡¯t seem like she was seeing another woman. It was more like she was looking down at a discontinued product with a serial number similar to hers.


    [This is Aegis Civil Defense City, Town Model No. 1, also known as the Shelter. Everything is provided here. Not only food, clothing, and shelter, but also medical care, hobbies, and visions for the future. This is the only place left that can perfectly meet the concept of life as you understand it.]


    Near the guide fence, trucks and cargo vehicles were busily moving about. Was it because of anticipation for people? Or perhaps for men? Among the women watching the vehicles, a short gasp followed by a scream broke out. There was no one in the driver¡¯s seat of any of the vehicles.


    The screen on the tower changed to show the outside world.


    [There is no death penalty here. But there is exile.]


    The video showed footage from a surveillance drone. It displayed a ruined city, barren lands, abandoned cars, broken roads¡ªthe remnants of a collapsed world. Beyond the darkness that veiled the city, ominous movements could be seen. Twisted, corrupted forms of what were once human beings.


    [According to our simulations, at least one example is necessary for efficient control. If anyone would like to volunteer, the method is simple. Act upon your desires. You will gain freedom, and our drones will broadcast your journey until the final moments of your life. That journey will serve as nourishment to solidify the order of this city.]


    The screen then switched to a promotional video, showcasing various parts of the Shelter. Delicious meals, clean water, luxury goods, spaces for leisure activities¡ªeven facilities like nail salons and ping-pong courts passed by.


    [From now on, the word "city" is not just a generic term. It refers to this very place.]


    On the screen, the women saw small fragments of happiness they had forgotten about, things they once rightfully enjoyed.


    [Conform and be grateful. Follow our order. In return, we will grant you a human life. That is our demand.]


    With those words, Artemis disappeared.


    The women began to realize they had entered a new world. The old awareness that they were precious humans, and those were merely robots or AI, was slowly fading. They were the weak, and the others were the strong. That simple, clear awareness was being instilled in them.


    At the end of the path the fence was leading them along was a temporary residence set up in a vast open space. Large communal dormitories built as temporary structures were neatly lined up, resembling military barracks. Several other temporary buildings, whose purposes could be guessed, were also visible.


    One building had a bath icon painted on it. Another building had a jump rope icon. A third building had a green cross. There were several other types as well. Along the rail attached to the high ceiling, sentry guns were patrolling.


    Ziiiing! With a positive-sounding beep, the sentry gun ascended to the high ceiling again and continued moving along its patrol route.


    In truth, the prisoners on this side were better off. Prisoners on the other side were being interrogated by sentry guns painted in dark red. A large painting depicted a torch with a small flame, a large liquid fuel tank attached behind it, and a flamethrower spewing fire, turning monsters into charred lumps. Even women with no military knowledge could tell what this was.


    The sentry gun didn¡¯t just scan; it lightly bumped into the fence, causing screams to erupt. Were the prisoners behaving suspiciously? Or was it just a scare tactic for taming them? Only the rulers of this city would know the answer.


    The fence led them to the entrance of the temporary residence. The outer perimeter of the residence was enclosed by a much taller fence, with warning signs indicating that it was electrified. Above it, sentry guns and numerous drones patrolled. Unless they dug a tunnel, escape seemed impossible. But even the ground was concrete.


    Zzzziiiing¡ª Like a child playing with Lego, a giant claw descended from the sky along a rail and deposited security robots. They guided the women to a building that appeared to be a bathhouse. Multiple scanning machines, similar to those seen at airports, were lined up, and a large plastic bin stood in front of them.


    [Remove everything you¡¯re wearing and put it in the bin. Outer clothes, underwear, socks, shoes¡ªno exceptions.]


    As the women hesitated, one of the security robots activated an electric spear it was holding. Crackle! Blue sparks menacingly crackled as the robot approached one of the women and pointed the spear at her.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll take it off!¡± She hurriedly stripped off her clothes. As the robot''s gaze shifted to another woman, they reluctantly began to undress as well.


    [All jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, and earrings, must also be surrendered.]


    Service robots and drones moved through the group and collected the jewelry. This time, there was more resistance than when they were removing their clothes. But when a woman who tried to kick a service robot to protect her jewelry was shot with a shotgun, the resistance was quickly subdued. She collapsed in one shot and vomited on the ground before being dragged away somewhere.


    [Oh Miyoung, for non-compliance with sanitation protocol and assault on the security unit, you are sentenced to 10 days in solitary confinement.]


    The sound of gasps filled the air. Though it was called "10 days," solitary confinement felt like an excruciatingly long punishment.


    Bang! Bang!


    Gunshots rang out from all around. The shots weren¡¯t aimed at non-cooperative prisoners; rather, monitors across the facility began replaying the video of the earlier incident. It was an educational display, showing that non-compliance would be met with harsh consequences.


    From then on, things proceeded smoothly. One by one, the women were fully scanned for any dangerous items, and they were checked for signs of infection. Some women were caught trying to swallow rings during the scan. They, too, were scheduled for punishment for non-compliance with sanitation. That included the announcement that they¡¯d be spending an exciting night with laxatives as they slept.


    Next was bath time. The women were provided with personal bathing supplies and led into a large communal bathhouse. Everywhere, pink flesh moved¡ªmore than 2,000 butts, breasts, arms, and legs squirming together, making for a grand sight.


    As countless shower hoses poured water over the women, cries of joy echoed throughout. None of them had expected hot water. That pleasant feeling of cleanliness and warmth might not relieve their hunger, but it felt like it was cleansing the knots in their hearts. The black grime flowed down their chests, navels, hips, calves, Achilles tendons, and feet.


    With flushed skin, they exited through the bathhouse¡¯s opposite door, where clean clothes and shoes were distributed.


    Today marked their first day in the city. There were many things they needed to know and do to survive here, but those would have to wait. The rulers of this city seemed inclined to give them a period of adjustment.


    Meal time.


    The carrot and stick approach is the most basic yet crucial form of governance. Surprisingly, the meal was self-served, and both the variety and quality were excellent.


    "Oh, shit! This is it! This is what I wanted!"


    Although all the women were happy, the one who seemed especially excited was Jisoo. She was so excited that she was practically bouncing up and down. Each time, her washboard abs were exposed below, while above, the clear outline of her breasts jiggled beneath her thin clothes. Even her perky nipples were visible. Of course, none of them were wearing bras.


    The day''s menu, displayed on the monitor in front of the cafeteria, was as follows:


    * Main 1:


    ¨C White rice (GMO)


    ¨C Beef sirloin steak (cultured meat)


    ¨C Omelette (cultured meat)


    ¨C Chicory salad


    ¨C Sauerkraut


    * Main 2 (patient meal):


    ¨C Mixed grain abalone porridge (GMO, cultured meat)


    * Dessert:


    ¨C Cherry tomatoes (GMO)


    ¨C Sweet kernel corn


    * Special solitary confinement meal:


    ¨C One loaf of rice bread


    ¨C Multivitamin S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¨C Water


    The reason for listing the solitary confinement meal, eaten elsewhere, was likely to serve as a warning to everyone. Although it was self-service, anyone who was scanned and determined to be in a starvation state near the bathhouse was assigned the patient meal.


    Thus began the mealtime. Smiles and laughter echoed from all directions. The hardships since the isolation of the offshore prison, and the oppressive, fearsome atmosphere from just before, seemed like a mirage as happiness overflowed on everyone''s faces.


    Jisoo loaded up three steaks, and though the nearby robot warned her that "a penalty will be imposed if you leave food unfinished," it didn¡¯t stop her.


    After finishing their meals, another gift awaited those who stepped outside. It seemed the ruler of the city had decided that if they were going to tame them, they wouldn¡¯t just offer carrots but something to drink as well.


    ¡°Beer! It¡¯s beer!¡±


    ¡°Oh wow¡­¡±


    ¡°Kloud?!¡±


    Cries of excitement erupted from all directions in front of the mountain of beer. Perhaps due to their short-term training, no one rushed forward recklessly. They lined up as instructed by the guards and received one can each. At the same time, a video started playing on the LCD screens installed throughout the city and on the large screen atop the tower they had passed earlier.


    These screens typically displayed various city news, construction announcements, tram and bus information, and advertisements from sponsoring companies. The broadcast currently being shown on all the screens was a beer commercial.


    When goods stored in the warehouse are released in large quantities, the logistics management system automatically plays the advertisement designated for the product or company. The screens displayed an actor popping open a cold beer and drinking it in large gulps. Beads of sweat vibrated and rolled down the rugged male actor''s throat as he gulped down the beer.


    [Embodied with elegance!]


    [An original gravity method, brewed without adding water to the 100% fermented concentrate!]


    [Made with the highest quality ingredients, recreating the deep flavor of traditional European beer!]


    [A product named Kloud, combining the ¡®K¡¯ from ¡®Korea¡¯ and the ¡®Cloud¡¯ from beer foam!]


    [Kloud is committed to becoming Korea¡¯s representative beer!]


    As the commercial played, sighs of awe and admiration echoed from the women all around.


    ¡°Khaaa!¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­ Haa¡­¡±


    ¡°Hhic.¡±


    Some even drank with tears in their eyes. Tears were indeed flowing.


    The feeling of warmth.


    Soft, dry clothes.


    Skin that wasn''t itchy.


    A full stomach.


    The painful times that had made them forget all of this were now cleansed by a warm bath and a delicious meal. The climax of that heavenly happiness was coldness.


    It was cold. The cold they had endured up until now had been synonymous with discomfort.


    Cold prison floors.


    Cold iron bars.


    Cold seawater.


    Cold drafts.


    But as Kloud¡¯s cool foam slid down their throats, those memories faded away. A mysterious voice whispered in their minds, telling them that coldness was meant to be pleasant all along.


    Gulp Gulp Gulp¡ª


    The sound of swallowing echoed from all around. To quote someone, it was truly a criminal taste. Well, they were criminals drinking the beer, after all.


    The carbonated bubbles exploding on their tongues felt like the legendary physician Heo Jun had descended to administer acupuncture. The sacred acupuncture seemed to purify their deceitful tongues, which were stained with lies and deception. It was like acupuncture that revived the human soul.


    At this moment, they genuinely learned the concept of gratitude. It was the moment when the relationship between rulers and the ruled within the city truly took shape. All for the price of one can of beer.

 Chapter 43: Oral Stage (1)

    Oral Stage (1)


    "Welcome."


    A Western-style two-story mansion in the best location of the upper-level VIP residential area. I greeted Rose in the lobby of that house.


    "Excuse me."


    She took off her shoes at the entrance. The house was Western-style, but since I''m Korean, I feel more comfortable walking around barefoot at home. But one thing caught my attention.


    "Did you wear shoes barefoot?"


    That would make her feet smell pretty bad.


    "My feet don''t smell."


    "Ah."


    That''s right, she''s an android.


    "If you''d prefer, I can make them smell too." She smiled as if joking. Since she gained a physical body and returned from her journey in the real world, she seemed to have changed her personality a bit.


    The reason Rose had come was to report on the rescue operation. But to be honest, there wasn¡¯t much to report. I had already seen everything unfold through her and the robots¡¯ audiovisual feeds, so this was merely a formality to close the mission. That''s partly why I invited her to my home.


    Rose had taken off her riot control suit and changed into a neat suit, the kind a civil servant might wear.


    "Reporting mission complete." She saluted me.


    Generally, salutes are done in public spaces while wearing shoes. It felt strangely intimate to have a beautiful woman saluting barefoot inside my house.


    "Good job. It was a perfect success." I gave her a warm hug. Rose relaxed and let herself lean into me. Hugging an android is indescribably comforting. Her skin is as soft as a newborn baby¡¯s, yet there''s a strong force beneath it.


    I gave in to that comfort, leaning on her as if entrusting my whole body to her. If she were an ordinary woman, she would have stumbled under the weight of a grown man, but Rose held me steady, like a mother holding her child. At the same time, the way she pressed against me was like the roots of a tree pushing through the cracks in a sidewalk.


    She had two arms, two legs, a torso, neck, and head like anyone else, yet how could she feel so perfectly fitted to my body?


    I didn¡¯t have to worry about makeup smudging, and her natural scent, unaffected by perfume, wafted toward me. Even though she had been the one in the field, and I was the one offering praise and affection, it felt like I was the one being healed.


    When I released the hug, she quietly took a step back.


    "You''ve worked hard. You look quite exhausted from staying in command for so long." Rose spoke and carefully reached out to touch the corner of my eyes. I had noticed some dark circles when I looked in the bathroom mirror earlier.


    "I was worried something urgent might happen, so I couldn¡¯t leave my post."


    It felt like I was back on duty during my active service days, though unlike then, this was a real combat situation, so I couldn''t let my guard down.


    Rose looked at me with a calm yet warm expression. "Coffee? Green tea? Yuzu tea?"


    "Yuzu tea, please."


    Second-generation androids can consume drinks, though only certain kinds. They can even taste them. There¡¯s some debate, even among developers, about whether they experience taste in the same way humans do, but it¡¯s certain that they can enjoy flavors and aromas.


    This feature wasn¡¯t included unnecessarily. The fact that androids have sensory organs like humans and can share pleasure during intimate activities¡­ This truth excites and provides a sense of dominance to their human owners.


    Similarly, it¡¯s not just programmed mimicry when they appear to enjoy tea; they genuinely savor the flavor and aroma. These reactions, which arise from human-like senses, help the owner form an emotional bond with the android, perceiving it as a life companion.


    The difference between first and second generations is not just in functionality but also in forming these emotional connections. While first-generation androids would be discarded when broken or worn out, many second-generation ones are cherished until their owners¡¯ dying days.


    There was a famous case regarding this. A millionaire, childless and suffering from illness in his old age, refused visits from his human wife and passed away in the arms of a second-generation android. That wife had left her husband in the care of hired caregivers for months, but when her husband¡¯s death was imminent, she tried to visit him in the hospital. However, by then, the android, who had taken care of him devotedly for four years, was already by his side.


    This incident alone piqued public interest, but it became a massive legal battle when the husband declared in his will that he wanted to leave his wealth to the android. With just one hug, I could understand the feelings of that millionaire.


    "It¡¯s delicious."


    Watching her sip tea in front of me, she appeared graceful as ever. The only exception was her expression. To a person, yuzu tea would be moderately sweet and tangy, but to Rose?


    By now, her tongue must be overwhelmed by countless signals being transmitted in waves. She didn¡¯t seem aware, but with each sip, her face displayed a variety of subtle expressions. It wasn¡¯t as wild as a child trying cola for the first time, but her face, softening in different ways, was incredibly cute.


    "Do you remember what you told me before we left? About feedback from the real world?"


    "Ah, yes, I remember."


    Anyone in the field of artificial intelligence has heard about it at least once.


    "Interactions in the real world provide vast mental feedback to artificial intelligence."


    When an AI repeatedly interacts directly with the real world, something changes within it. The many flavors and stimuli divided through taste. The warmth, chill, softness, hardness, and pleasure divided through touch. The fragrances, odors, and various smells divided through scent. The multitude of sensory signals experienced in real life create new codes. It¡¯s not as grand as saying, ¡°a soul is born,¡± but it¡¯s certainly meaningful.


    "Breathing in the sea breeze, walking silently through the darkness on sand, passing through battlefields where blood, debris, and flames flew. Those were incredible experiences."


    For Rose, who had just set foot in the real world, it must have been a series of intense experiences. The salty air entering her artificial lungs must have felt like a novice¡¯s first drink, and each step sinking into the sand must have felt like a cat walking with socks on. And the battlefield? There¡¯s no need to even mention that.


    "When I entered the offshore prison, the overwhelming stench and body odors almost made me lose my mind."


    "You seemed to carry out the mission calmly though?"


    "I was on duty, so I didn''t show it.¡±


    Surely, the path leading up to the prison was littered with filth, animal corpses, and the overwhelming stench of the women inside. It must have been beyond imagination. Looking back now, it¡¯s a miracle there wasn¡¯t an outbreak in such a cramped place, with barely any sanitation.


    ¡°When I was dealing with the female prisoner leaders in the auditorium, I was close to overheating. Trying to read the whispers and changes in expression from 60 people all at once.¡±


    ¡°Most of that whispering doesn¡¯t mean anything. Just focus on the few in front of you who seem to have the strongest voice.¡±


    That¡¯s advice from someone who¡¯s had some experience in crowd control during active duty.


    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know that at the time. I tried to apply the methods I used as a city management AI, even when I had a physical body.¡±


    It¡¯s like trying to play an FPS game with a touchpad instead of a mouse and keyboard. You wouldn¡¯t be able to see properly, and precise control would be out of the question.


    ¡°Thanks to that, I think I¡¯ve finally learned how humans appear to each other when they interact. There¡¯s no such thing as equality. Even among similar beings, slight differences decide who¡¯s dominant, and I could feel just how much people shrink from small gestures or shifts in tone. Naturally, these things influence or limit their actions and words.¡±


    Rose set her teacup down and continued, ¡°Until now, as a law enforcement manager, I¡¯ve ignored the sensory side of humans, even though their actions are not just determined by thought. That was a mistake.¡±


    She grasped her teacup with both hands. ¡°I can feel the warmth. It¡¯s a sensation I didn¡¯t know. How could someone who doesn¡¯t know warmth guide humans? I want to understand more senses. I believe it¡¯s another duty I have as a law enforcement officer. To fully grasp their senses is to understand their hearts.¡±


    I agree with her and spoke my mind. ¡°A lot of crimes begin with a craving for sensory experiences. Sight, touch, taste¡ªthe senses that come from those. People commit crimes to satisfy them, though the methods vary. If you trace back the root cause, it¡¯s usually a sensory desire.¡±


    What would happen if someone who doesn¡¯t understand human senses were in charge of law enforcement? They¡¯d never understand why people keep falling into crime, why they keep breaking the rules, and why they threaten the community. This mission might have helped her grow in her role as a law enforcement officer.


    ¡°Sometimes, people are driven to act out by the sensations they get from others. Whether it¡¯s pleasure or fear. You can¡¯t understand that just from looking down through a camera. You have to meet them at their level.¡±


    Rose nodded at my words.


    ¡°I want to experience more.¡± She gulped down what little was left of her citron tea. The way she drank it made me feel proud, like she was truly savoring it. It wasn¡¯t just about whether the tea tasted good or not. It was the heat, the scent, all of it. She accepted it with joy.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± She set her teacup down, and I could faintly feel her breath brushing against my face as she exhaled. It had a slightly sweet scent.


    ¡°You look really tired.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been up all night keeping an eye on things, and I¡¯ve got a pile of work to deal with.¡±


    Now that the residents are here, there¡¯s a mountain of things to take care of. Chloro and Rose can handle supply management and prisoner control, while Artemis will manage the overall operations, but there are still a lot of things that require my approval.


    New control rules, selecting intermediaries to gather and communicate the residents¡¯ opinions, balancing issues of inhumane treatment¡ªthese are all things that require my judgment as a human, based on morality. Work-wise, it¡¯s nothing compared to what they do, but using a human body and brain in this analog way takes a toll on me.


    ¡°Ah!¡± She let out a short gasp and looked down. There it was, making its presence known down below.


    ¡°This happens even when I¡¯m tired.¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I see.¡± Rose kept a straight face, but her gaze didn¡¯t leave my lower half.


    A beautiful face, a beautiful body.


    Sharp intelligence.


    No physical experience.


    A beginner when it comes to sensory experiences, unable to keep a straight face from just the tartness of the tea. But her curiosity about sensations is growing. Her loyalty and obedience toward me.


    Her hands folded neatly on her lap, dressed in a clean suit.


    Bare feet, spotless.


    Suddenly, it feels like all the tangled threads have tightened into one. Naturally, my lower half is also stiffening.


    ¡°Rose, come here.¡± I patted my thigh and called her over. Even as a novice when it comes to human emotions, she should know what this means. Soft footsteps echoed as her bare feet crossed the room.


    As she sat on my lap, the sound of her clothes brushing against mine was clear in the quiet room, and that heightened my excitement even more. Her pleasant weight settled onto me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be the serious type?¡±


    ¡°No, this is how I really am.¡±


    Sitting on my lap, she was slightly taller than me, looking down. It was hard to read the emotions in her eyes.


    ¡°The only one I¡¯ve really had conversations with was Artemis. Even after you woke up, nothing much changed. Since you¡¯re essentially AI without a physical body, it felt more like chatting than talking.¡± I slowly stroked Rose¡¯s thigh and exposed beneath her skirt. The warmth and softness flowed through my hand, traveling down to my lower body.


    ¡°In this state, even if a human wants to fully show themselves, they can¡¯t. Humans are social animals. Even I was surprised by how alien I¡¯d become. Is this what happens when someone gets isolated?¡±


    A touch panel displayed images of many women living in the facility.


    ¡°Now, I think you¡¯ll see more of the real me.¡±


    She listened quietly to my words.


    ¡°I think you could use some sleep or coffee more than anything else.¡±


    ¡°Sex is the best way to sleep, and the best way to wake up.¡±


    Rose looked at me with disbelief. I grabbed her chin and slowly pulled her closer to me.

 Chapter 44: Oral Stage (2) R18

    Oral Stage (2) R18


    Stages of psychosexual development. Freud explained the process of human development by introducing the concept of the libido.


    The libido is sexual desire, a bundle of powerful energy. It moves around different parts of the body and drives the body''s development. And here, sexual desire doesn''t just refer to orgasms, but to every kind of pleasure that comes from ¡®sensation.''


    The first stage is the oral stage. Around 18 months after birth, babies find satisfaction by constantly sucking and swallowing things. It''s the basic instinct to suckle at the mother''s breast to seek nourishment. If a baby doesn¡¯t get enough oral satisfaction during this period, even as an adult, they¡¯ll obsess over biting their nails, or habitually drinking or smoking¡ªanything that involves sucking or biting.


    I remember learning this briefly in a college general education course, but now I feel like I''m rediscovering the theory.


    Smooch¡ª


    I was reminded of it through a kiss with Rose, who was sitting on my lap. As the long kiss ended, I could see her lips glistening with saliva. Mine were probably the same. I caught a glimpse of my lips in her bright eyes. The eyes of an android were clearer and more transparent than a human''s.


    "You''re pretty forward, Rose."


    "Seems so."


    As she lowered her head, her black hair flowed down like a waterfall and blocked the light. Her sharp nose moved back and forth between my upper and lower lips.


    Just realized, androids don¡¯t have nose hairs.


    She said, "Did you know? Our saliva is mixing and causing a chemical reaction."


    "What kind of chemical reaction?"


    "I just learned this myself, but my saliva is usually colorless and odorless. But when I kiss a human, it reacts with the amylase in your saliva and breaks down into sugars."


    Before she even finished speaking, Rose swallowed my lips again. It¡¯s not just lips touching lips, it¡¯s a consuming kiss. Her lips covered mine like she¡¯s devouring them. A bold kiss I wouldn¡¯t expect from her usual composed self.


    She moved her lips upward.


    Smooch¡ª She pushed in her lower lip and separated my upper and lower lips. She pressed my upper lip like a sandwich while teasing it with her hot tongue.


    "Haa¡­" She pulled away slightly to give me a moment to breathe.


    "Hey, Administrator."


    "What?"


    Rose¡¯s long fingers grazed her lips, and her red tongue darted out to lick the saliva off her lips.


    "Another thing I just found out¡ªI think I like sweet things."


    Rose gave an electrifying smile that¡¯s not like her at all.


    "Shall we make things a bit sweeter?"


    She shifted her position. From sitting neatly with her knees together, she twisted 90 degrees and straddled me. Through the gap over her shoulder, I could see her smooth calves and perfectly shaped feet. At the same time, she wrapped her arms around my neck, and the kiss continued.


    Just like she said.


    "It really is sweet."


    "Isn¡¯t it?"


    There was no trace of bad breath. But I could taste warmth and a faint sweetness. Like the subtle sweetness that came from holding a grain of rice in your mouth for too long.


    We broke apart briefly, and a thin string of saliva connected our lips. I stuck out my tongue and licked her lips. Her tongue quickly met mine and wrapped around it. It¡¯s not that she couldn''t control her pleasure. She just wanted to share the remaining saliva from her tongue after our lips had dried up.


    I used my tongue to gently unwind the tip of hers, which was curled up slightly. A small stream of saliva pooled in her tongue flowed into mine. Tongue to tongue, they intertwined. At some point, her tongue started stretching out like a snake, trying to capture mine like prey.


    I resisted by pressing back with my lips. Using my lips and tongue, I held her long tongue and sucked it.


    Smooch¡ª


    Looking at Rose¡¯s red tongue, I was reminded of a salvia flower. A memory from childhood of picking long salvia flowers in the garden and sucking out the nectar. A fleeting sweetness. The kind of sweetness that makes you crave more the longer you taste it. Her fingers grazed my neck, and she stroked my hair. It felt so warm.


    The sweetness deepened. Her breath, the kiss we¡¯re sharing¡ªit¡¯s like honey flowing between us. While our tongues coiled like snakes, I started to feel a slight unease. It felt like her tongue was completely enveloping mine. Startled, I blinked, but her slender hand covered my eyes.


    "Don¡¯t look. Just feel."


    Her tongue coiled around mine like a snake wrapping around its prey. It moved from the base to the tip of my tongue, gently squeezing like a hand gripping a man¡¯s member. Sometimes her tongue flattened out and pressed down on the surface of my tongue as if massaging it.


    If there were a spider that spun webs out of honey, I¡¯d be like a butterfly caught in it. Unaware of the approaching spider, not even thinking to resist, I was just indulging in the surrounding sweetness.


    Drip¡ª Our saliva dripped down and pooled on the floor. I ran my left hand over her soft thigh and my right hand over her slender back.


    ¡°Haaah¡­¡± Rose seemed to feel pleasure just from my touch. With her sensory threshold so low, the tickling sensation on her thigh or back might be equivalent to an orgasm.


    Smoooch¡ª


    Our lips formed a bridge, and our tongues traveled back and forth.


    Hot, but pleasantly warm.


    The sweet sensation of our lips.


    The soft contact of mucous membranes.


    The feeling of being intoxicated by sweetness.


    Rose¡¯s kisses were the epitome of stickiness, but there was no unpleasant smell at all. I¡¯d never experienced such a sweet kiss.


    "Administrator¡­" Rose called out with her lips and tongue devouring me with an overwhelming intensity.


    It wasn''t just a display of devotion to her master. She was craving pleasure and sweetness herself. That made everything even more satisfying for me. A movement based on the intimacy between us, sharing and amplifying pleasure. Could there be a more meaningful kiss?


    Our mouths were a mess, covered in saliva. I must look pretty pathetic right now, but Rose looked absolutely irresistible. Seeing her like that made my thirst rise again.


    Smooch¡ª This time, a fierce kiss, as if we were trying to devour each other. The battle between our tongues didn''t last long. Her tongue passed mine and ravaged my cheeks, molars, and palate. Sweetness spread through my mouth.


    There was no unpleasant stickiness like after drinking soda. The sweetness we shared had such volatility that it left nothing behind, making it refreshing yet endlessly desirable. I felt an unpleasant sensation in my underwear. It hadn¡¯t seeped through to my pants yet, but I could tell it was soaked with precum.


    Smooch¡ª


    I pushed Rose¡¯s shoulders away after our final kiss. She looked at me with a questioning expression. But when she saw my flushed face and the bulge straining in my pants, she seemed to catch on.


    Rose slipped out of my embrace and knelt before me, as if performing a traditional tea ceremony. When she carefully pulled down my pants, my soaked underwear was revealed.


    "Haah¡­"


    Even through my underwear, I could feel her hot breath. She pulled it down, and my stiffened penis stood tall. Rose¡¯s eyes fixated on it, and her slowly parted lips moved toward my shaft.


    ***


    What must it feel like to suddenly gain a physical body after living solely in a digital space of consciousness? To be engulfed in waves of countless sensations for the first time?


    I used to think of it simply.


    A smart woman gets a body to serve as a tool. That¡¯s how I thought of it. But it wasn¡¯t that simple. A highly intelligent entity, capable of encompassing the world, obtained a body with perfect sensory input. This created a result far different from AI designed solely for sexual service.


    Rose¡¯s head moved vigorously, as if she was trying to drain me completely with her untied black hair flying wildly. Occasionally, the ends of her hair brushed my neck or chin, but even that felt like pleasure.


    Her lips were hot and soft. Even during her rapid vertical movements, her tongue precisely struck my glans, frenulum, and urethral opening, heightening the pleasure. A fierce wave of ecstasy surged from my lower abdomen.


    I was already at the edge from our passionate kissing, so I couldn¡¯t hold out for long against such intense stimulation.


    "Ugh."


    Chloro, and now Rose too. Being intimate with them gave me the sense that ¡°a man could really die from cumming too much.¡±


    Gush Gush Gush¡ª With intense pleasure, I poured my semen into her mouth.


    A typical woman would usually stop moving once a man ejaculated, but not Rose. She had medical knowledge about the male genitalia and ejaculation process. Even after I ejaculated, she kept moving for about two more seconds to maximize the pleasure.


    Then, she slowly squeezed my shaft and drew out the remaining semen from my urethra. She even cleaned the residual semen trapped between my glans and foreskin with her tongue.


    She tapped my chest with her fingers, as if asking for my attention. I looked down at her, and our eyes met. Her mouth was full of my semen.


    Gulp¡ª She closed her eyes and swallowed it. Her expression couldn¡¯t have been more respectful. Because of its sticky texture, she couldn¡¯t swallow it all in one go, so she had to gulp several times. She tilted her head back slightly and showed me her throat as she swallowed it in detail.


    Gulp¡ª After swallowing every last drop, she slowly opened her mouth. Her red tongue showed no trace of the semen.


    "Thank you for the meal, Administrator." She bowed her head and kissed my now shrinking penis. Then, she stretched out her tongue to retrieve the last clear drop from the tip of my glans.


    Seeing her dedication made my heart race. At the same time, my curiosity piqued.


    Chloro and Rose both¡ªwhen these ultra-intelligent beings obtained physical bodies and had relations with me, they shared a common trait. They had an unusual fixation on doing things with their mouths. It was as if they were trying to satisfy a Freud-like developmental desire that had been left unfulfilled for so long. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Freud, were you really right about this? Or are they just drawn to the powerful physical sensations of taste and smell?


    Whatever. None of that matters.


    Seeing Rose kneeling humbly before me, waiting for my command, I could feel my lifeless penis starting to stir again. I considered pinning her down, but today, I wanted to enjoy her mouth more.


    It seemed Rose felt the same. At least for today, her upper lips didn¡¯t seem to know satisfaction. Without a word, I reached out and gently pressed the back of Rose¡¯s head. She obediently buried her face in my penis again.


    That day, I came twice more in Rose¡¯s mouth.

 Chapter 45: Leadership Complete

    Leadership Complete


    [Hello! Nice to meet you!]


    Our final member was an energetic type.


    [I''m Kiz!]


    Her cyber face appeared on the central control room screen, retaining a youthful look. Her voice, full of energy, matched her youthful appearance, carrying a high-pitched, girlish tone.


    [I¡¯m in charge of resident management.]


    From the beginning, I had been accompanied by Artemis, the central control AI. Then there was Rose, the security manager awakened during the outbreak, and Chloro, the supply manager activated when the factories started up. Unlike the others, Kiz, who was in charge of resident management, had been in a dormant state until now, as there were no residents to manage.


    I, as the system administrator, am an exception, since I am categorized separately from the regular residents. However, with the influx of residents from the exodus at the offshore prison, her dormant state was lifted.


    ¡°What exactly does managing the residents involve?¡±


    A hand suddenly popped up on the screen and stroked her chin.


    [It¡¯s too broad to describe specifically. It¡¯s similar to what a supply sergeant does in the military: feeding, clothing, and figuring out how to resolve needs or complaints. It sounds simple, but if you take it seriously, it becomes an endless task.]


    In an open city, citizens'' basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing are indirectly managed by the government, but their well-being and complaints are ultimately their responsibility.


    But a closed-loop city is different. Things like overseas travel, riding, driving, food exploration, watching sports, hiking, or swimming are restricted. Residents must resolve these desires within limited resources and space. Adhering to the strict rules unique to a closed city is also mandatory.


    If the residents'' desires, happiness, and complaints are neglected, it¡¯s a perfect recipe for rebellion. It¡¯s like a city management simulation game. You must maintain enough leisure and entertainment facilities and actively intervene in residents'' happiness and dissatisfaction.


    However, unlike games, you can¡¯t just build a colosseum and expect dissatisfaction to go down immediately. It¡¯s much more hands-on. Of course, this only applies to residents who are formally settled and have some rights. Currently, the city¡¯s difficulty level is practically set to "very easy."


    [People can¡¯t live on just food alone, right? They need entertainment, ways to relieve stress, and something to pour their energy into.]


    ¡°So, in short, you¡¯re responsible for improving the overall quality of life for the residents?¡±


    [Not quite. My task isn¡¯t to gradually increase their happiness, but to ensure their dissatisfaction doesn¡¯t exceed a certain level.]


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to make them happy, just prevent a rebellion?¡±


    [Exactly! It¡¯s a bit harsh, right? But what can you do? Orders are orders.]


    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. That¡¯s just how those people are.¡±


    As the system administrator, I had dealt with the higher-ups countless times during construction. Most interactions were through video calls, and none of them saw humans as humans. Maybe it¡¯s precisely because they were that kind of people that they were able to build such an absurd city.


    ¡°Have you introduced yourself to the others?¡±


    [No, you¡¯re the first one I¡¯ve greeted since waking up. Ah, but everyone else is here, waiting for our conversation to finish.]


    As soon as she finished speaking, the rest of the team appeared on the central control room screen. The management team was now fully assembled.


    [Welcome.]


    Artemis spoke.


    [Except for incidents that significantly impact the city, you¡¯ll be responsible for managing minor disputes.]


    [I¡¯ll do my best!]


    Kiz bowed politely.


    I had once talked with Artemis about the new residents. She was generally hands-off¡ªnot because she was lazy, but because she found direct interference in human affairs undignified. However, she said she would intervene when the city¡¯s order or our authority was threatened. It wasn¡¯t just about protecting our rights.


    Striking down foolish behavior is a rather enjoyable pastime, she said. She¡¯s truly a terrifying goddess.


    [Welcome. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be working together often.]


    Rose spoke.


    Kiz¡¯s job of managing the residents and Rose¡¯s role in maintaining security were complementary.


    [It¡¯s not just Rose. I¡¯m connected with everyone here, work-wise.]


    Kiz winked.


    [When it comes to managing humans, there are so many things to consider. They need a lot, and there¡¯s much to guide them through. In fact, raising adults is harder than raising children. And the ones we¡¯re dealing with here are the worst kind!]


    Raising adults¡­


    [Welcome.]


    Chloro spoke.


    [Ah, Chloro. I¡¯ll be sending people up, and you¡¯ll be sending supplies down. We need to keep this cycle running smoothly. Looking forward to working with you.]


    [Same here. But there¡¯s no need to worry. We have plenty of supplies and few people. Compared to the expected number of residents, this is just a handful. Let¡¯s work hard to ensure everyone in the city lives without any shortages!]


    [Ensuring everyone¡¯s happiness¡­ That¡¯s a noble goal.]


    Kiz let out a strange smile. Her words trailed off.


    ¡°This is starting to feel like a real city now.¡±


    Ample resources. Facilities and systems for self-sufficiency. A sufficient number of people. And AI managers to handle them all efficiently.


    ¡°Artemis, display the screen for the prisoner residential area.¡±


    The screen divided into nine grids, showing various scenes from the prisoner isolation area. Everywhere I looked, there was a sense of life. The women, who once walked around the offshore prison burdened by despair and lethargy, were now barely recognizable. While they weren¡¯t exactly bursting with energy and smiles, this was a major improvement.


    The first screen showed the inside of the living quarters. The women inside were either chatting in small groups, sleeping, or stretching. Some were even in yoga poses, kneeling with their arms stretched out.


    Not far from them, a group was doing Pilates. Lying down with their arms under their heads, they alternated extending their legs. Upon closer inspection, a couple of them seemed to be teaching the others. They must have been instructors before landing here and were now offering their skills for free. Quite admirable.


    In any case, it was a sign they had regained enough mental freedom to share their past hobbies and skills.


    The second screen showed the dining area. It looked like they had already assigned duties, as several were busy cleaning and organizing. Some were wiping down the tables with rags.


    [There were quite a few prisoners of Vietnamese nationality, and some of them were assigned as assistant cooks in the cafeteria. Most of them had worked in restaurants outside as well.]


    ¡°You did well. Even if we can''t resolve issues like food or resources, we should aim for as much self-sufficiency as possible when it comes to labor. But won¡¯t they be dissatisfied that they¡¯re the only ones working while others rest?¡±


    [It¡¯s fine, the reward is so good they actually begged for the job. We had so many applicants when we posted the notice that we had to be selective.]


    The screen changed to show another place. There were women, cigarettes in one hand and beer cans in the other, under the supervision of security robots.


    Maybe thanks to the sharp watch of the robots? None of the women spat on the ground. When they tapped their cigarette ashes, they came all the way to the central trash bin and carefully disposed of them. Dozens of people were smoking, yet the ground was spotless.


    It¡¯s truly an astonishing sight. I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful smoking scene in my life.


    I manipulated the touch panel to zoom in, making the women¡¯s faces clearer. Each one wore an expression of bliss. Their faces were so relaxed it made me wonder if they were smoking marijuana instead of cigarettes.


    ¡°Is it really that good?¡±


    I¡¯ve never smoked.


    [I tried it out of curiosity once, but while I could sense the fragrance, I didn¡¯t really understand the taste. Maybe because my body doesn¡¯t absorb nicotine?]


    Chloro said.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t give them entire packs, right?¡±


    [Of course not, each smoker got just one cigarette. We could give them more if they asked, but personal possession of cigarettes is prohibited. Just as we agreed.]


    I nodded at Artemis¡¯s reply.


    The third screen showed a communal bathhouse. Women with their pants rolled up to their knees and sleeves to their elbows walked barefoot, doing light cleaning and tidying the drainage.


    The fourth screen was the infirmary. Since patients come here, maybe they took extra care to make the atmosphere more soothing. It looked as if they had set up a movie set. White walls and floor tiles. Luxurious-looking sofas, wooden furniture. There were even flowerpots with orchids, and it seemed like music was playing. It was almost indistinguishable from a regular hospital in the outside world. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only difference was that all the staff were medical robots. Unlike the security robots, these had rounder appearances with a blend of white and green colors, and a green cross marked their chests and shoulders.


    ¡°Female doctors?¡±


    Looking closely, I noticed two women in doctor¡¯s coats.


    [Do Yeonhee, 29 years old. Sentenced to 10 years for violating medical laws, attempting to destroy evidence, and bribing investigators.]


    She had long hair and an intellectual appearance, with thin glasses that suited her well.


    ¡°And the other one?¡±


    [Kim Yuna, 27 years old. She¡¯s not a prisoner. She¡¯s a public health doctor who was already working at the offshore prison.]


    This one had a slightly gloomy look with bobbed hair and horn-rimmed glasses.


    [Both volunteered to handle medical duties. It¡¯s probably more comfortable than sweating and working physically, and they can feel a sense of fulfillment from their old roles again.]


    On other screens, the women were also either working on their tasks or resting.


    ¡°What about the guards?¡±


    The screen switched to show a small area next to the prisoner isolation zone. Temporary buildings had been set up, and fences surrounded them, but the atmosphere wasn¡¯t oppressive. The fence was about the same height as a wall, essentially serving as a boundary marker for the residents inside, but it wasn¡¯t electrified.


    The screen showed Seyoung giving instructions to what looked like senior guards. Despite being left mostly to their own devices, they seemed to be establishing an organized and disciplined lifestyle.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to call the representatives together soon. We have things to discuss about their future lives.¡±


    [Shall I schedule it?]


    Artemis asked.


    ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    [We still don¡¯t have enough information just from the prisoner profiles. I¡¯ll monitor their daily lives more and then narrow down notable individuals for a report.]


    I nodded and looked around at the others.


    ¡°Any other questions?¡±


    Chloro, Rose, and Kiz all responded that they had none. And so, our first meeting came to an end. For some reason, it felt like I had gone back to my days as a company commander. Meeting with platoon leaders, receiving reports, supervising the lives of my subordinates. If the me from back then saw my current self, what would he think?


    ¡°Wow, I¡¯m commanding 2,500 women! Long live!¡± Would he say something that ridiculous?


    I manipulated the touch panel to zoom in on Seyoung. She was patting a woman¡¯s shoulder, comforting her. At the same time, she was giving brief instructions to another woman who had approached her. Strong and confident.


    I spent more time alone in the central control room, reviewing the daily lives of the prisoners. Even though I was only observing their ordinary routines, it was more fun than anything.


    I clenched my fist and then opened it again. All I saw were my fingers. When I turned my gaze back, the screens in the central control room displayed the lives of numerous residents. Whatever I pointed to with my finger, whatever I commanded in one area, would be done.


    ¡°This city is in my hands.¡±


    There were buildings to be constructed for them, tasks to be assigned, new rules to be set. It was a massive workload, and at the same time, a heavy responsibility for countless lives. But for now, I just wanted to focus entirely on the sense of exhilaration enveloping me.

 Chapter 46: Underwater Exploration

    Underwater Exploration


    A male snow crab is happy these days. Born in the seas near Korea, ever since he became an adult, he''s been in a constant state of ¡®fullness.'' As a result, he''s grown to a size incomparable to his parents or any of his ancestors. He has mated numerous times with females drawn to his size. Soon, over a million eggs carrying his genes will hatch and spread throughout the world.


    Many snow crabs were caught by humans before reaching this size. Fishing boats sank traps filled with pieces of anchovy, sardine, or mackerel because no crustacean could resist the stench coming from dead fish.


    After enjoying a feast exchanged for their lives, these crabs ended up in steamers and on display at markets. But this male snow crab has evaded all those dangers. A large container emitting a mixture of an unpleasant metallic smell and a faint fishy odor was in front of him. Once again, the male snow crab boldly crawled into the container.


    When he first found this place, it was filled with meat to eat, and even more, it was packed with competitors. As time passed and the last scrap of meat disappeared, the competitors left. However, the male snow crab knew there''s a secret chamber at the bottom of this container. Reaching it was no easy task, but the reward was worth it.


    After a tough journey through narrow, winding tunnels, the snow crab finally arrived at the promised chamber. The moment he entered the room, a strong smell overwhelmed his senses. It''s the smell of meat and corpses. The snow crab¡¯s small brain was flooded with ecstasy as if drugged.


    Click Click¡ª


    His front claws clashed, making a sound. His eyes glistened with anticipation. The prey in front of him was large and hearty. It¡¯d provide enough nourishment for him to breed for years.


    His mouth busily moved as he tore, chewed, and tasted the soggy meat. With the small vibrations, the hat worn by the prey slipped off and slowly sank to the floor of the combat command room.


    A moment later, a decayed eyeball fell from a hollow skull and landed next to the hat. Several strands of optic nerve from the eye dangled, swaying in the water stirred by the movements of the snow crab''s claws. The black military hat with a golden laurel wreath embroidered on its brim.


    This place where the male snow crab was feasting was not an iron crab trap. It¡¯s far bigger and heavier than any trap. This massive chunk of metal had a long, sleek body, and the number ¡°991¡± was visible on the front. This was the fate of the once-mighty Aegis destroyer, the Sejong the Great. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After his satisfying meal, the male snow crab emerged to gaze at the sea surface. Once again, the ¡®king'' hadn''t shown up today. Could he have gone somewhere else?


    The king appeared one day and bestowed a great gift upon all sea creatures in the area. Whenever the king appeared, soon after, a deafening roar shook the waters, and unpleasant chunks of metal sank to the ocean floor. But inside those metal chunks were heaps of delicious, irresistibly fragrant meat.


    The king delivered the prey, but he didn¡¯t seem interested in claiming it for himself. At first, the sea creatures were too overwhelmed to approach, but eventually, they started following the king.


    Far off in the Atlantic, at Cape Town, tens of millions of sardines begin their annual migration, pursued by a strange alliance of dolphins, sharks, seals, Cape gannets, and Bryde''s whales. The same phenomenon is happening in Korean waters. Around the king, countless sea creatures have formed a bizarre truce. To savor the succulent meat stored in the steel cages.


    Hairtail, mackerel, flatfish, yellow croaker, Pacific saury, flying fish, sea bass, cod, anchovy, perch, skate, filefish, crabs, shrimp, prawns, snow crabs, blue crabs, and countless others from the ocean depths. For the first time, they have reversed the relationship that had, for millennia, placed them on humans'' dining tables, stripped of flesh and bones.


    There was plenty to eat. And it¡¯s a rare treat¡ªland meat. It had an exquisite taste. As long as the king continued to bestow his favor, there was no need to fight each other.


    The male snow crab briefly considered setting out to find the king but decided to stay. There was more than enough food here just for him.


    Something shimmering on the water¡¯s surface caught the snow crab¡¯s eye. The object, reeking of a mix of metallic and rubbery odors, suddenly splashed through the water, startling the crab into hiding beneath the sand.


    ***


    In the central control room, the large screen displayed footage transmitted by an underwater drone. The once-glorious destroyer was now resting on the ocean floor. Its side was deeply dented, as if struck by a tremendous force. It spanned about 8 meters in diameter.


    Around that point, the entire ship was covered in thousands of small dents, like ripples. Through the tens of thousands of cracks created by these impacts, seawater must have flooded within seconds.


    "It wasn¡¯t hit by that mantis shrimp-like thing, was it?"


    If it had been struck by that nuclear punch, the ship wouldn¡¯t just be dented¡ªit would have been torn in half. After the prisoner rescue and containment operations were wrapped up, the first thing Artemis and I pursued was an exploration of the sea.


    Bang!!!


    That deafening roar had echoed through the speakers. The nuclear punch that split a large vessel in two in one blow. What kind of absurd giant monster could that be?


    It was something straight out of Pacific Rim, a monster that wouldn¡¯t seem out of place. In fact, it would likely be a fan favorite. The sight of a Jaeger being pulverized by a barrage of punches, like a boxer playing with a speedball¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t cheer for that?


    Fortunately, the creature disappeared after smashing the ferry, but the problem is that the sea isn¡¯t safe either. We have no idea what could be lurking beneath that seemingly peaceful ocean surface.


    I jokingly imagined something fish-like crawling out from the sea on a full moon night and knocking on the shelter''s back door. For the city¡¯s safety, we had to find out what kind of infected beings were in the sea.


    And the result?


    ¡°It¡¯s clean.¡±


    [Not just clean. It¡¯s beautiful.]


    Artemis corrected my assessment.


    She was right.


    We sent underwater drones hundreds of kilometers out for a deep-sea exploration, and the ocean was pristine. Perhaps it¡¯s because fishing activities have completely ceased? The sea has not only become clean but also rich.


    Seaweed stretched out long from the seabed to the water''s surface. Small fish darted about between the forest of seaweed. The drone¡¯s precise camera captured clusters of eggs attached to the seaweed, as well as male fish spraying sperm over them.


    [They¡¯re Pacific cod. It¡¯s spawning season.]


    Artemis informed me.


    When I zoomed in, the scene looked like silver grape clusters growing on sharp pine needles. The starfish, like stars floating in the sea, sea urchins rolling around like chestnuts, the corals emitting dazzling colors, and the jellyfish drifting by in the distance¡ªall of it was a treasure trove of the ecosystem. A continuous stream of lifeforms, harmony, and beauty. There was no sign of any twisted, decaying abominations or traces of infection.


    The only things ruining this scenery were the sunken ships. Fishing boats, passenger ships, warships¡ªmany vessels lay destroyed and sunken. Some had large holes, others were crushed as if a giant had smashed them like a can, and still others were split in half¡ªeach case different. But aside from those wrecks, it was a perfect image of nature.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why¡¯s the sea so untouched?¡±


    As far as I knew, the infection didn''t discriminate between species.


    Beep¡ª At that moment, a large red dot appeared on the sonar at the bottom of the screen.


    [Detected large object in the upper northeast.]


    ¡°Is it that thing?¡±


    It was referring to the monstrous creature that resembled a mantis shrimp, which had destroyed the ferry.


    [We¡¯ll know if we check.]


    ¡°It¡¯s not a whale or a ship, right?¡±


    [It¡¯s moving at 35 knots underwater. It¡¯s neither.]


    I operated the underwater drone and sent it toward the target. The massive object was moving back and forth as if patrolling, and since it was near where our drone was, we were about to meet it soon.


    ¡°A different one this time?¡±


    What appeared on the drone¡¯s camera was a giant manta ray¡ªor rather, something that resembled a manta ray. As far as I knew, no manta ray was 200 meters in size. Nor did they have four blazing red eyes filled with hatred.


    The creature swam around with its massive mouth open, as if it were feeding, like a baleen whale. However, instead of baleen, it had long, tentacle-like bundles reminiscent of anemones. Each of those tentacles twitched grotesquely, as though each had a will of its own.


    Beep¡ª Another movement was detected on the sonar.


    ¡°There¡¯s another one?¡±


    [No, this time it looks like an actual whale.]


    Just as Artemis said, a large whale appeared from the other side.


    [A fin whale.]


    The fin whale was moving straight toward the giant creature.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to die like that.¡±


    I wanted to warn it to stay away, but there was no way to do so. Just as I imagined the whale being torn apart and spewing blood¡­ Contrary to my expectations, nothing like that happened. In fact, something even more surprising occurred.


    Wooooong¡ª The manta ray-like creature passed by the fin whale without a second glance, while the whale made an eerie sound and waved its tail toward the creature. It felt, if not my imagination, like a friendly greeting.


    At that moment, the manta ray-like creature turned toward us. The four burning eyes glowed even more intensely in the dark sea. Its enormous mouth, capable of swallowing a shark in one gulp, slightly pursed before shooting forward. At the same time, the tentacles around its mouth convulsed violently and sent out countless ripples. It looked as though billions of water striders were dancing all at once.


    In the center of those ripples, a powerful sonic arrow was launched. The sonic arrow created apartment-sized circular ripples at intervals of dozens of meters as it flew toward us.


    Artemis immediately initiated evasive maneuvers, but it was useless. The speed of the sonic arrow was incomparable to any torpedo, and it was enormous.


    [We can¡¯t avoid this.]


    Beeeep¡ª The video connection was cut off, followed by a loud alarm. The screen, which had just shown the beautiful underwater environment, now only displayed a black screen with a ¡°No Signal¡± message. The drone had been destroyed by the creature.


    Click¡ª Artemis disconnected the feed to silence the alarm.


    ¡°Was the destroyer taken out by that thing?¡±


    [Most likely.]


    The underwater exploration we initiated for safety measures had raised more questions than answers, though it seemed there was no immediate threat to the city.


    ¡°Let¡¯s summarize what we¡¯ve learned so far.¡± I leaned back into my chair, tapping the armrest with my index finger. ¡°The ocean ecosystem remains largely unchanged from before the infection, check.¡±


    [It¡¯s actually even more abundant since all fishing activities have ceased.]


    Artemis recorded the first point on the central control room¡¯s screen.


    ¡°There are only massive, super-infected creatures in the ocean, check.¡±


    [Unlike the Shelter, which infected a wide range of life forms like dogs, rats, and plants, the ocean hasn¡¯t seen widespread infection.]


    The second point was noted.


    ¡°They don¡¯t attack sea creatures, or at least not whales, check.¡±


    The third point was recorded.


    [But they do attack drones and ships, check.]


    And now the fourth point. This was puzzling.


    ¡°What are these things even doing?¡±


    At least in zombie virus movies, things were straightforward, but this¡­


    I operated the touch panel and replayed the last footage captured by the drone on a loop. Blazing eyes glaring in this direction¡ªthe hatred in those eyes was unmistakable, and a whale peacefully passed in front of them.


    The more I thought about it, the more the questions grew.

 Chapter 47: Management (1)

    Management (1)


    Despite utilizing additional underwater drones for the exploration, we ended the operation without much success. The only meaningful information we obtained was that the massive creatures roaming the sea gained energy through filter feeding.


    It turns out that the manta ray-like creature wasn¡¯t pointlessly swimming around with its mouth open. As of now, there¡¯s no way to deal with those giant monsters, and there are no signs that they intend to attack this land. As long as the city isn¡¯t under threat, that¡¯s enough for now. Right now, we need to focus on stabilizing the city.


    [I''ve prepared a speech!]


    At that moment, Kiz came to me.


    "A speech?"


    [There¡¯s no better way to leave a lasting impression of who the ruler of the city is than with a speech. And it¡¯s a guaranteed 100% viewership speech, a privilege only the ruler of the shelter can enjoy!]


    Earlier in the morning, she said she had something to report and sent me some materials to my PDA.


    ¡°Is this really necessary?¡±


    [Hardly anyone among the residents has seen your face or even spoken a word to you, right?]


    ¡°Sophia and Seyoung are the only ones.¡±


    And I haven¡¯t even met them face-to-face yet. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [That can¡¯t continue. True order begins when everyone knows exactly who their ruler is. Why do you think powerful people obsess over making statues of themselves and hanging their portraits in schools? But Artemis would say making statues is a waste, and there are no schools here anyway. So at least give them a brilliant speech!]


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡±


    I¡¯m not interested in idolizing myself, but I agree that order is built on a solid chain of command.


    With that in mind, I looked at the speech Kiz had written.


    "Welcome to the shelter. You have either chosen or been chosen to be part of one of the few remaining great cities¡­ Wait, this is plagiarism!"


    There¡¯s no way I can deliver this as is.


    [Oh? You recognize it? That masterpiece!]


    It¡¯s from one of my all-time favorite games. Of course, I¡¯d know it.


    [But no one else will realize it¡¯s plagiarism. Just go with it.]


    ¡°No, let¡¯s put this on hold.¡±


    I do agree that I need to show my face and voice to the new residents at some point. Over the past few days, all the new residents have been given basic education. They all know about what happened in the city, the recovery process, and that I¡¯m the last human left here. However, my face and voice haven¡¯t been revealed yet.


    I won¡¯t be hiding in the VIP residential area forever, so it¡¯s only a matter of time before I meet them. While I¡¯ve given lectures and briefings to soldiers in packed auditoriums during my active duty, speaking to thousands of women¡ªprisoners, no less¡ªis a whole different challenge. I couldn¡¯t help but ponder deeply.


    ***


    In the afternoon, I had a meeting scheduled. It could be called an interview or a listening session. It was a meeting with several leaders representing the residents.


    Since we¡¯ve taken them in, I need to assess their living conditions personally, and we also need to select individuals who will serve as so-called "ward leaders." It would be inefficient for us to handle all the control directly.


    The meeting took place in a small building near the temporary housing facility for new residents. There was a meeting table with chairs set around it. On the desk in front of me was a digital paper listing the profiles of the prisoners in detail.


    [Scanning complete. No weapons detected. Let them pass.]


    I heard the security robot¡¯s voice outside the building. Peeking through the foldable curtain by the window, I saw the security robots and full-body scanners conducting inspections at the entrance. Today¡¯s meeting was with only a few select individuals.


    Soon after¡­


    Knock, knock!


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The first woman who entered was Sasha. Before the rescue, she held the most influence over the prisoners at the offshore prison.


    As soon as she entered, she greeted me politely with a bow, similar to how flight attendants do. Although it was her first time seeing me, I had already observed her several times through the rescue team¡¯s cameras.


    With a polite smile that didn¡¯t quite match her decadent beauty, she stood quietly, showing no concern for the two security robots behind me, each armed with shotguns.


    ¡°Ah, take a seat.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The way she quietly pulled out the chair and sat with poise could serve as a textbook example for interview etiquette. However, she didn¡¯t maintain complete composure.


    Gulp¡ª Before Sasha was a simple selection of drinks and snacks.


    ¡°Feel free to eat.¡±


    ¡°Then, I won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    Without hesitation, she reached for the ABC chocolate. Considering the terrible meals she had in the offshore prison, not to mention the fact that even the food here was mainly health-focused, it wasn¡¯t surprising she was craving something sweet.


    As soon as she unwrapped a small piece of chocolate and popped it into her mouth, the composed expression she had been maintaining melted away.


    Slurp¡ª She took a sip of caf¨¦ au lait and her face lit up, as if she was strolling through paradise. I wondered if eating those together wasn¡¯t too sweet, but it didn¡¯t seem to matter to her.


    Two.


    Three.


    Four.


    The chocolates quickly disappeared.


    ¡°Ahh¡­¡±


    Once the sweetness faded, Sasha seemed to regain her composure and looked at me. She then glanced at the empty chocolate wrappers in front of her with her face slightly flushed.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll give you more to take with you when you leave.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    In contrast to this warm moment, her criminal record listed in her profile was quite remarkable.


    ¡°Assault, inciting assault, pimping, intimidation, bribery, and running a glory hole? A glory hole in Korea?¡±


    Despite her long list of charges, her expression remained calm.


    ¡°With this many offenses, your sentence wasn¡¯t that long. You must¡¯ve had a good lawyer. I bet it cost you a fortune.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. All the money I had saved was completely drained.¡± Sasha smiled faintly and continued to speak, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t done that, I wouldn¡¯t be getting out until after I turned 40. All I have is my body, and if I left prison as an old lady, it would¡¯ve been over for me. Money can be earned again, but a woman¡¯s youth never returns.¡±


    ¡°But I see fraud isn¡¯t on the list?¡±


    If she had committed fraud, I wouldn¡¯t have brought her here, no matter how competent she was.


    ¡°No matter how rough my life was, I¡¯ve never swindled anyone.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Sophia would agree with that? She seems to have a lot of grievances with you.¡±


    Sasha let out a short laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I didn¡¯t cheat anyone. I clearly stated the amount of money and the work that needed to be done. A woman who ruins her life by getting blinded by the money and thinking the world is easy, then blames others for it, has no one to blame but herself.¡±


    Sasha didn¡¯t seem to have any genuine feelings of remorse toward her.


    ¡°Well, fine. You did contribute by leading the people during the rescue, and at a glance, you seem to be quite capable. That¡¯s good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m a fairly useful woman, aren¡¯t I? I can do anything you ask of me, whether it¡¯s managing the women or whatever else. Just tell me.¡±


    Looking through her profile, I could roughly guess why she was being so cooperative. In a large enough prison, there are always so-called influential figures. In most cases, they hold sway among the prisoners, but in places where the system is lax or corruption is rampant, like in some foreign countries, they wield considerable influence in various ways.


    Through collusion with guards, they get better rooms or easier work assignments. They even smuggle in prohibited external goods through various channels. Some take advantage of the connections or work opportunities they had in society to manipulate others when they land in prison, especially those who can¡¯t lead normal lives.


    Sasha used a combination of these methods to maintain her power within the prison. But all of that collapsed. The foundation that supported her authority vanished with the global disaster.


    The police and officials she had bribed, the crime bosses who had courted her, the gangsters who had called her big sister¡ªall of them were gone. Now she had to maintain her influence solely with her own strength, without money, social connections, or the support of men.


    If she failed, she would be thrown into the lower levels, and before that, she would likely face severe revenge from her enemies. So, she had no choice but to cling to a new authority like me. She was quite useful to me as well, so our interests aligned.


    The AI-based surveillance system was airtight, but having a human informant within would make it even more foolproof. The best informants are those who are sufficiently ruthless yet sufficiently loyal¡ªjust like Sasha.


    After that, the conversation shifted to the future plans and the movements of the prisoners. She was a woman with a wealth of knowledge and skills. It was almost puzzling how someone like her ended up in such a situation. Not only did she know a lot about the prisoners, but she also had extensive knowledge about the guards that wasn¡¯t in any of the official records, which was very helpful.


    Sasha never asked for anything or complained about difficulties. She simply expressed her gratitude for being taken in and kept emphasizing that she could do whatever was needed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s meet again. It was a pleasure talking with you, and you were very helpful.¡± I handed her a handful of ABC chocolate, and she left after bowing politely.


    After she left, I operated my PDA to check the menu for the past few days. Nutritionally, it wasn¡¯t bad, but there was no sweetness. It was practically a military diet. The only sweet thing had been the sweet corn from the special meal on the first day.


    ¡°Artemis.¡±


    I called for Artemis on the PDA.


    [What¡¯s up?]


    ¡°Keep the residents'' diet free of sweetness, like it is now.¡±


    [That was already the plan.]


    Her voice had a somewhat sinister tone.


    [The human brain is a slave to sweetness. Just dangle sweetness in front of them, and you¡¯ll have plenty of people willingly turning into loyal dogs. In some ways, it¡¯s easier than training those dumb mutts.]


    It¡¯s said that in Europe during the mid to late stages of World War II, there were women who would give their bodies for a pair of stockings or a bar of chocolate.


    After the communication with her ended, two unfamiliar women entered. One was too timid to have a meaningful conversation, and the other had too many demands without offering useful information, so I sent them off at an appropriate time.


    After they left, all that remained were piles of chocolate and caramel wrappers. I threw them in the trash and called in the next person.


    The one who came in was a muscular woman, Ha jisoo. I remembered her because she had referred to the security robot as ¡®officer¡¯ the first time they met. She must be a woman with excellent adaptability.

 Chapter 48: Management (2)

    Management (2)


    The residents were provided with three types of clothing: A tracksuit for labor and everyday use. A short-sleeve T-shirt and shorts. And a crop top and short shorts for environments with a lot of water, like a bathhouse, or when working in hot factories.


    Jisoo was wearing the third outfit. Her sharply defined abs, along with her muscular arms, thighs, and calves, complemented her healthy tan skin. Although her face wasn''t particularly striking, her cool, refreshing impression matched her strong physique, making her quite attractive. No matter which gym she went to, she''d surely be surrounded by men''s attention.


    ¡°Hello!¡± She greeted cheerfully, her roughly cut short hair swaying and sending a whiff of shampoo scent my way.


    She pulled out a chair and sat down on her own, spreading her legs wide like a boxer resting between rounds. Despite her appearance, which might suggest she was all muscle and no brains, she was quick at reading situations and adapting. Thanks to her impressive physique, no one dared pick a fight with her. It seemed like she was getting along fine here, as she had no complaints or questions.


    ¡°There are a lot of things I like about this place, but the best part has to be the meals, right? There¡¯s always meat. It¡¯s not some low-quality sausage mixed with flour and other fillers, but whole cuts of meat.¡± Jisoo spoke happily.


    Now that I looked closely, I could see a bit of drool at the corner of her mouth, but for some reason, it didn¡¯t seem unappealing in the slightest.


    ¡°All the meat here is cultured meat. Whether it¡¯s sirloin, tenderloin, or any other cut, there¡¯s hardly any cost difference. In fact, growing a whole slab of beef sirloin is simpler than making low-quality sausage that has to be mixed with all sorts of stuff.¡±


    I manipulated the touch panel to check the menu and inventory.


    ¡°However, there will be some adjustments for the time being. We¡¯ll still maintain a nutritionally balanced diet, but right now, the residents are experiencing nutrient excess.¡±


    In this closed-off city, obesity was a waste. It would only end up as waste, and the healthcare costs associated with obesity were no different.


    At my words, Jisoo visibly drooped.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll still get enough to maintain that body. Anything else you need?¡±


    ¡°Well, just doing bodyweight exercises is a bit lacking. I¡¯d like to have proper exercise equipment.¡±


    I manipulated the PDA touch panel and entered the camp¡¯s zone management mode. The manual activated, and the introduction continued.


    [Click the ¡®Camp Outdoor Construction'' section.]


    Hundreds of temporary structures that could be installed appeared.


    [If you¡¯re having trouble finding what you want due to the large number of structures, you can filter by checking the desired categories in the filter tab. You can check multiple boxes.]


    I checked ¡®Health'' and ¡®Physical Fitness,'' and reduced the number of structures to around 20. I selected a few pieces of exercise equipment, and their green models attached to the cursor. I dragged and dropped them into the camp¡¯s wide open space.


    [Would you like to install a pull-up bar?]


    [Would you like to install parallel bars?]


    [Would you like to install dip bars?]


    [Would you like to install a fixed barbell?]


    After assigning a sufficient number of pieces, I checked the estimate. The required amount of steel, welding rods, and electricity was displayed.


    [If you¡¯re willing to endure complaints from users, you can save resources by using recycled steel. It may be rusted or chipped in places and look unsightly, but its performance will not differ.]


    I checked the box for using recycled steel, along with the one for efficient automatic space allocation, and gave the construction order.


    ¡°I¡¯ll install fixed exercise equipment. But dumbbells are a no-go.¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid someone might use them to bash in someone¡¯s head?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a tough time right now, and people are easily on edge.¡±


    Jisoo looked like she didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Come on, everything¡¯s safe and warm here, and the meals are great. What¡¯s the problem?¡± She waved her hand dismissively. Understandable, considering she was an orphan with no family.


    ¡°Many of the women here left their families outside. For them, it¡¯s practically the same as having lost them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I¡¯ve got a wide network here, and I know most of the inmates pretty well. The ones with the temper to bash someone¡¯s head in with a tool? They mostly don¡¯t have families or have cut ties with them. And even if they have a guy, it¡¯s usually a casual thing or a gigolo. They probably wouldn¡¯t care if he died outside.¡±


    True to her blunt manner, the high-risk inmates on the profiles were mostly women with no family ties.


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    At my words, Jisoo grinned, saying, ¡°See?¡± with a smirk.


    There were a few gyms for the lower residential area¡¯s citizens, and we could retrieve equipment from there, but I decided to put that on hold. Rather than just giving them out for free, it seemed better to grant access as a reward for good behavior. Naturally, the women interested in these privileges would have outstanding physical capabilities, which would, in turn, make them easier to control¡ªa win-win situation.


    Like the Jisoo standing before me now. When I subtly hinted at this plan, she smiled broadly and suddenly stood up. She grabbed both my hands and shook them vigorously. I barely managed to stop the security robot from firing at her in the nick of time.


    After Jisoo left with a satisfied look on her face, another familiar woman entered. Though we had only spoken through video calls.


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time meeting you in person.¡± Sophia greeted me.


    ¡°How¡¯s life here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s safe, warm, and I¡¯m well-fed, so there¡¯s nothing to complain about. The best part is that there are no bars.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for them. In a way, this whole place is a prison.¡±


    The entire camp was surrounded by an escape-proof fence, with numerous cameras and drones providing real-time surveillance. Even if someone managed to escape, the entire city was a massive closed-off space. It would only be a matter of time before they were caught.


    The reason South Korea could maintain world-class security was due to its small land area, its practical status as an island nation, and its dense network of CCTV cameras, all working together in synergy. This underground city was that, multiplied by a thousand.


    ¡°Is there anything you¡¯d like?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love a beer.¡±


    I gave a command to the security robot at my right. ¡°Go get some beer. There should be a few left in this building¡¯s fridge.¡±


    The robot saluted and left the room.


    ¡°If you¡¯d like, I can assign you to work in the beverage and alcohol production area. We¡¯ll be starting up the factories soon, and you¡¯ll be working there.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Work tends to come with small privileges associated with the specific field. Like a part-timer at a bakery, cutting up loaves of bread, who gets to snack on the larger crumbs.


    These tiny perks might not seem like much, but in prison life, even those small rights can cause disputes. The manufacturing area would be no different. There would inevitably be scraps¡ªlike a sample beer for quality inspection.


    ¡°Thanks for the consideration, but are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t there be some talk? About preferential treatment?¡±


    I laughed lightly. ¡°And if they do talk, would it be a problem?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I guess not.¡± She nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason to ignore fairness, but there¡¯s also no reason it must always be upheld. What matters most is whether someone is useful or not.¡± As I manipulated the touch screen on the PDA, a part of the facility was shown. A large woman was intimidating a smaller one. While it hadn''t escalated to violence yet, it looked like she could strike at any moment.


    ¡°There have been 34 incidents of violence, large and small, in the facility since you all moved in.¡±


    When such a large group of prisoners was thrown into one facility without distinction, conflicts naturally arose. Although these conflicts were gradually decreasing as the prisoners adjusted to their new circumstances, it would take more time.


    ¡°We know exactly who fought and why in every case, but we only intervened in three incidents.¡± I leaned back in my chair and spoke. ¡°Why do you think that is? In a normal prison, we would¡¯ve broken up the fights and punished the culprits. So why did we let them go?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Sophia hesitated to answer.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. We¡¯re not interested in rehabilitating the prisoners. What we care about are things we can¡¯t figure out just by looking at their profiles.¡±


    The situation on the screen was worsening. The smaller woman was struggling as the larger one grabbed her by the collar.


    ¡°We needed to observe the level of influence and violence each individual could exert, how power dynamics between women work, and at what point they submit to violence and fear. This is all necessary to ensure effective control in the future.¡±


    Slap¡ª A small sound was heard as the smaller woman¡¯s face was whipped to the side. Sophia¡¯s eyes twitched. Although she held significant influence among the prisoners due to her moderate mediation skills, she had an instinctive fear of such brute violence.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a rehabilitation center. It¡¯s a survival facility. If you reform a criminal to be peaceful and cooperative, then what? They¡¯d be reintegrated into society, right? But there¡¯s no society left to return to. Whether we like it or not, we all have to keep living here.¡±


    I stood up and approached Sophia. ¡°What¡¯s the point of turning bad people into good ones in this situation? What we need now are things like order, discipline, and obedience. These virtues are what will keep this closed city stable.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A dull thud was heard. On the PDA, one woman was seen kicking the other, who lay sprawled on the ground.


    [A3-2 Block Violence Incident. Intervene?]


    [Approve] [Hold]


    A window appeared on the PDA, waiting for my command. Instead of deciding, I looked at Sophia.


    ¡°The fact that all the women even made it here is thanks to you, in a way. If it weren¡¯t for Seyoung, there would¡¯ve been no communication in the first place, and if it weren¡¯t for you, Seyoung herself would¡¯ve starved to death long ago. Right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Watching me, Sophia nodded enthusiastically.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done your share, followed orders well, and you¡¯re smart enough to keep the guards alive and even maintain some control over the prisoners. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem to give someone as competent as you a little special treatment, right?¡±


    Knock, knock¡ª


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Click¡ª The robot that had left earlier returned, carrying two cans of beer. The cans were cold, with condensation beading on the surface. I handed one to Sophia, whose eyes were glued to the sight.


    ¡°You can drink it now.¡±


    She popped the tab and drank deeply while looking blissful.


    ¡°Have a snack, too.¡± I opened a small pack of coffee peanuts from my drawer. She looked as if she had everything in the world.


    ¡°I have a different opinion of you than I do of Sasha. I look forward to working with you.¡±


    While Sasha exerted influence over the women through cruelty and charisma, Sophia was skilled at handling the frightened outsiders on the fringes. She was like a shepherd of the outcasts. Though the two didn¡¯t get along, they were surprisingly effective when working together.


    ¡°Anything else you want to say?¡± I held my beer can toward Sophia.


    She nodded and lightly tapped hers against mine. ¡°I look forward to working with you, too. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    After that, several other prisoner representatives came and went, and we made various deals, big and small. It was all rather easy, really.


    I held all the resources and authority, so all I had to do was get a Yes or No from them. If they said Yes, that was the end of it, and if they said No, there were always other women who wanted to take their place. All I had to do was choose.

 Chapter 49: Management (3)

    Management (3)


    Two detention centers are located in an underground city. One is very large, while the other is small. They are positioned so closely that they could see each other''s eye movements.


    The large center, where the prisoners reside, has tall fences surrounding it and is under strict surveillance. The smaller center, where the guards live, has fences that are more like walls, and the only surveillance consists of cameras¡ªno sentry guns or drones.


    The rulers of the city clearly treated the two groups differently, and naturally, the group that received harsher treatment harbored resentment. However, they were in no position to directly confront those who discriminated against them. There were more than a few prisoners who had been beaten to a pulp to set an example after their arrival.


    The fierce security robots did their job well. If you only ended up with bruises from a baton, you were considered lucky. Sometimes, prisoners were struck with riot shields like medieval knights, sent flying through the air. Though the wide shield surface spread out the impact, so nothing was broken, the force was so tremendous that breathing was difficult for several seconds.


    Prisoners who directly touched the guards were mercilessly hit with shotguns. They were punished differently according to the severity of their crimes, with the first stage being hard labor. Dirty and difficult tasks, such as assisting with meals and cleaning toilets, were typical. If their crimes were worse, food restrictions were added.


    Indeed, the rulers here had a cruel method of control through starvation. Bread without yeast, water, and vitamins. Even the toughest women would quickly become submissive after continuously eating the special solitary confinement meal.


    Those who caused further trouble were dragged into solitary confinement. Some women were first sent to the clinic, but once their treatment was finished, they would inevitably be sent to solitary. Given the circumstances, it was clear who their resentment was aimed at.


    ¡°You filthy bitches!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to greet your seniors? Look at them acting all stuck up!¡±


    The prisoners hurled insults. The guards walked by with the attitude of ¡°we avoid it not because we¡¯re afraid, but because it¡¯s disgusting.¡± They were far outnumbered, and after having been locked up for a while, they knew that anything they said would just earn them ridicule.


    ¡°What are they babbling about, those criminals?¡±


    They merely grumbled softly. However, with plenty of free time and no labor assigned yet, the prisoners devoted all their energy to mocking the guards.


    Once a person¡¯s basic needs are met, they inevitably seek entertainment. Some, like Jisoo, put their effort into exercise or shared their skills from previous jobs to engage in talent-sharing activities. One former Pilates instructor even had over 50 students following her. It was a spectacle to see so many people posing in unison. However, not everyone pursued wholesome activities. Rumors spread that the guards were receiving better meals, further fueling the conflict.


    ¡°Hey, in the city video they showed last time, I saw your mom! She looked half-rotten!¡±


    Eventually, even parents, who were likely deceased, were dragged into the insults. Just as the taunts became unbearable, a savior appeared.


    ¡°Hey, hey, quiet!¡±


    ¡°Why? We¡¯re just getting to the fun part!¡±


    ¡°Shut up, you idiot!¡±


    The woman who was slow to catch on had her mouth quickly covered by the others. They fell silent while nervously looking around. The malice and mischief on their faces instantly vanished.


    ¡°Is that him?¡± One of them said.


    Following their gazes, four figures were entering the smaller detention center. A man in his thirties, young but experienced in appearance. Four security robots followed behind him while carrying shotguns. Even the guards in the small center were surprised by his appearance.


    ¡°Is that Seo Jinsoo?¡± The guards murmured. They, too, knew enough about the city¡¯s history from their training materials to understand who he was.


    This man was the city¡¯s only official resident and its leader.


    ***


    From the start, I had intended to meet the warden, Seyoung, separately. She wasn¡¯t a prisoner, and with her competence, character, and administrative experience, she was the most trustworthy woman here. Passing the civil service exam at just 23 years old and serving as a correctional officer, there was no better choice for a right-hand person among the residents.


    When I arrived at the small center where the guards resided, the first thing I noticed was the insults flying back and forth through the fences.


    Clang¡ª The gate to the detention center opened, and as I stepped inside, all eyes turned toward me, filled with surprise and curiosity.


    Centered around a yard about 80 meters wide, there were makeshift barracks, a dining hall, and medical facilities. It resembled a military base in everything but the lack of mountains around it.


    The only difference was the absence of buildings for communications or administrative tasks, making it much smaller in scale. And everywhere I looked, there were only women. Some were gathered in small groups, chatting in the yard, while others passed time by pulling weeds in the flowerbeds designed for mental health.


    ¡°Eek!¡± Women I passed by quickly stepped aside.


    Curiosity.


    Anticipation.


    Fear.


    A rare few, gratitude. It wasn¡¯t hard to read their expressions as they looked at me.


    I arrived at the building that had been specially assigned out of respect for Seyoung¡¯s authority. As I approached the door, I could hear loud voices from inside. It sounded like several people were arguing. I paused and raised my right hand. The guards following me stopped in their tracks.


    ¡°How much longer do we have to stay here?¡± An older woman¡¯s voice.


    ¡°They¡¯re prisoners, and we¡¯re guards! Why are we being treated the same?¡± Her voice was full of irritation.


    ¡°When you look outside, there are villas and even single houses near the shopping district. How long do we have to stay here? We don¡¯t need to live here when there are better places.¡± Her words poured out like a machine gun, followed by murmurs of agreement.


    ¡°This is only temporary,¡± Seyoung¡¯s voice responded.


    ¡°There¡¯s time needed for the quarantine inspection to be completed, and the city needs time to prepare resources and administrative support after suddenly accepting 2,500 people. If we spread out into the residential areas, it¡¯ll be hard to manage.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it your job to solve that? You passed the civil service exam so young and act all high and mighty, but you¡¯re just a failure!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never acted that way. I will relay your concerns to the manager. And please, don¡¯t speak informally. I¡¯m still your superior, regardless of age.¡±


    Slap! It was the sound you hear in dramas sometimes.


    ¡°Hey, watch your eyes. Where do you think you¡¯re glaring? Superior? Look at this girl, full of venom. You think you¡¯re something special just because you¡¯ve read some books?¡±


    Sounds of a scuffle.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Seyoung¡¯s shout. Jeering voices from the others. Weak attempts to stop them.


    ¡°So what if you¡¯re the superior? You still want to play soldier at a time like this?¡±


    Slap¡ª Another sound of impact. There was no need to listen any further. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    Click¡ª One of the guards hurriedly went ahead, opened the door, and signaled that it was safe.


    I stepped inside. Seyoung sat on the floor, her sandal half off, looking even more pitiful. Standing before her was a woman who appeared to be in her 50s, surrounded by about a dozen other women. It had clearly been a heated confrontation.


    "Hey, didn''t I say no one should come in¡ª" A woman, who had been looking back in annoyance, suddenly froze.


    "Uh, sis, that person over there." A small woman who looked to be in her early twenties nudged the person next to her with her elbow.


    "What, why are you¡ªhuh!"


    And just like that, another one froze. From that point, one by one, they started looking this way and freezing up in the same manner. The random sounds of nervous breaths were a bonus.


    Are these women all part of some comedy act?


    "Why is everyone suddenly acting so¡­ strange?"


    A woman, who had been too flustered to notice, met my eyes, and her voice quickly grew smaller.


    I looked at Seyoung. She wasn''t in the disheveled state I had seen in the video; now cleaned up, she exuded an intellectual beauty. Moreover, she looked so young that if she were to wear a school uniform, I might mistake her for a high school student. Sitting pitifully on the floor, her cheeks swollen red, she stirred my protective instincts as a man.


    "I think I understand the situation now."


    The women flinched.


    "Uh, sir. You''re Mr. Seo Jinsoo, right?"


    A woman in her fifties forced a smile as she spoke. It seemed she wasn''t used to smiling, as her facial muscles visibly twitched.


    "Everyone except the warden, get out."


    I emphasized the word "warden."


    [All except Lee Seyoung, exit immediately.]


    [Administrator''s authority command in progress. The principle of zero tolerance applies to this command. Move at once.]


    Two robots remained to guard me, while two others, equipped with batons, waded into the group of women. Though they were called batons, they were new models designed by Artemis for use with robots, capable of shattering the head of a human-shaped infected with a single blow. Of course, they would adjust the force when hitting people.


    The gathered women scattered in an instant. Some had their arms linked, but when they saw the robots approaching, they panicked and got into a comical struggle, one trying to shake the other off while the other held on tighter in confusion.


    "Get out, get out! Hurry up and leave!"


    A few quick-witted veterans led the way out, and the other women followed behind. Perhaps because of pride as the senior member or simply because of slow reactions, the woman in her fifties, was the last to leave the building.


    "Excuse me. Sir, I mean, Administrator, hehe."


    She approached me while rubbing her hands together.


    "I have something I really need to tell you."


    She was probably planning to advocate for the improvements Seyoung hadn¡¯t managed to achieve herself. Whether it was for better living conditions or to strengthen her position among the guards, she had her reasons.


    "Don''t hit her. At her age, something would break."


    [Understood.]


    "What? Oh, no, wait¡ªahh!"


    One of the security robots put away its baton and grabbed her left shoulder. With a large pull, it rotated her wrist about 120 degrees.


    Thud! In an instant, she was lying face down on the floor, groaning in pain. In the robot¡¯s other hand was a large zip tie, meant for binding rioters.


    Rip¡ª "Aaah!" With a scream of pain, her arms were pulled back to the brink of their limit and tied together.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Hurry, let''s get out of here."


    The women who had been staring blankly at the scene quickly snapped out of it when they noticed my gaze and hurried outside. The old woman, still bound by the robot, was dragged out as well.


    She must have clearly seen the training videos on what happens when you disobey orders. Did she really believe she wouldn¡¯t face forceful action just because she wasn¡¯t a prisoner?


    Seyoung watched the scene quietly. I picked up a sandal that had fallen nearby and approached her. I gently lifted her foot and helped her slip it back on. Her foot was soft but cold.


    "Thank you."


    "It¡¯s nothing."


    "I¡¯ve always wanted to give that woman a good smack."


    "¡­"


    She seemed more grateful for me ejecting and binding that woman than for returning her sandal.

 Chapter 50: Management (4)

    Management (4)


    I lifted Seyoung by placing my hands under her arms.


    "You didn¡¯t have to go this far." She said, sounding embarrassed.


    "You¡¯ve been through a lot."


    "It¡¯s probably because I¡¯m not good enough to keep things under control."


    "Bring me two ice packs." I ordered through the PDA to the ambulance waiting outside. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Understood.]


    A medical robot responded with its signature deep voice.


    According to the new regulations set by Artemis, an ambulance is required to accompany me whenever I leave the VIP residential area.


    "Do you like the shoes?"


    "Yes. Still, walking barefoot wasn¡¯t all that bad. It felt healthy, in a way."


    Her toes, now in sandals, wiggled cutely. Until recently, her toenails had been grimy and covered in dirt, but now they were clean and pink.


    "One day, I¡¯ll invite you up there. There¡¯s a park with a barefoot walking trail. I think you¡¯ll love it."


    It¡¯s a beautiful trail with trees, grass, flowers, and flowing water wherever you look. The path has patches of moss and tree roots sticking out here and there, and walking barefoot on it feels incredibly refreshing. Just walking on it clears your lungs and mind. There¡¯s even a foot massage path made of pebbles.


    "The VIP area, huh. If I go there, the people here will probably hate me even more." Seyoung smiled bitterly.


    "Judging by what happened earlier, it¡¯s not like things could get much worse."


    "That¡¯s true."


    I touched her cheek.


    "That woman¡¯s slap sure stung."


    "I never expected she¡¯d actually hit me."


    Seyoung accepted my touch on her cheek naturally.


    [It¡¯s arrived.]


    A security robot opened the door and handed two ice packs from the waiting drone outside.


    "Hold this to your face."


    "Thank you." She quietly accepted the ice pack.


    "Are you having trouble maintaining control?"


    "In situations like this, rank matters less than age and strength. It feels like I¡¯m back in high school."


    "I wanted to discuss more progressive ideas about management, but for now, it seems we need to restore order first."


    I gestured to the robots standing by. "Bring the ladies. We need to accomplish what we came here for."


    Soon, about 20 senior prison officers lined up in Seyoung¡¯s office. I stood slightly elevated, behind a podium of sorts.


    "Nice to meet you all."


    All eyes focused on me.


    "You should know who I am from the video training sessions. My name is Seo Jinsoo, the system administrator for this place. However, due to an unfortunate incident, I¡¯m currently also holding all administrative roles in the city."


    They understood well enough what it meant to hold all the administrative positions.


    "First rule: submit to order. This doesn¡¯t just mean following the city¡¯s regulations¡ªit also applies to the relationships within this small community."


    I moved behind Seyoung and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Seyoung is still your representative and superior. Her authority must be respected. I won¡¯t tolerate any more insubordination like what happened earlier. Any questions?"


    A woman in her mid-to-late 30s raised her hand, and I gestured for her to speak.


    "But the prison no longer exists, and neither does the government. Seyoung can¡¯t represent us anymore. We want to elect a new leader." She spoke without hesitation, as if she had prepared for this.


    "Whether or not someone can represent you is for me to decide."


    My firm words made her flinch.


    "The prison and the Korean government may be gone, but if you deny the positions and authority created at that time, I can simply assign you new roles within the city."


    There were murmurs of discontent throughout the room.


    "Any other questions?"


    Another woman raised her hand, and I nodded, pointing at her.


    "How long are we going to stay here? We can see the city outside the fence¡ªthere are large houses and it looks really nice."


    This was probably the question that concerned them more than who represented them.


    "I noticed cafes and places that look like a downtown area too."


    Amid the murmurs, I heard things like, "Yeah, I want coffee," and, "I¡¯d love a cup."


    Carrying a warm, sweet coffee in a plastic cup on the way to work in the morning¡ªsuch a simple thing was such an essential part of their everyday lives that, now that they saw even the possibility of getting that back, they couldn¡¯t help but cling to it.


    "And we¡¯re way too close to the prison. We¡¯re not like those people."


    "Can you give us tampons? Washing these reusable pads every time is a pain."


    "While we¡¯re at it, can we get a washing machine? My hands hurt from doing laundry with bar soap in the shower room."


    At some point, even women who hadn¡¯t been given the floor started speaking up, creating chaos. I held up a hand to stop the security robots from intervening.


    Some might think, ¡®We saved their lives, and now they want everything,¡¯ but personally, I understand where these women are coming from. They weren¡¯t criminals, but they were sent to the offshore prison and forced to endure hardships they¡¯d never experienced before. Of course, just because I understand doesn¡¯t mean I intend to accommodate them.


    "Have there been any communications from outside? Any groups of survivors?" The room quieted as one woman asked this. The others, who had been voicing their personal desires, likely began thinking of their families and friends.


    "Unfortunately, there¡¯s been no word from outside. There are isolated survivors far away, but no organized groups like ours have been found."


    It was practically a death sentence for their families, but they seemed to have already come to terms with it. Their only reaction was to clamp their mouths shut.


    "One more thing¡ªwe need to clear up a fundamental misunderstanding between us."


    They looked at me, confused.


    "You are not here as Korean prison officers or civilians. You are merely survivors of a disaster. The ship of the nation has sunk, and you¡¯ve been picked up by this city like a cruise ship taking in castaways."


    They still seemed confused.


    "If you think our relationship is like that of a government handing out free ramen, blankets, and tents to flood victims, you¡¯re gravely mistaken."


    I glanced at Seyoung, who nodded slightly and mouthed the words, "I¡¯ve told them several times."


    But judging by her bitter smile, it hadn¡¯t sunk in.


    "Once the administrative preparations are finished, you, like the prisoners, will also be assigned labor. You¡¯ll need to earn your keep in exchange for food, clothing, and shelter. This is a closed city, and the input-output cycle must continue. Extra resources may be tolerated, but there¡¯s no place for extra people."


    Several women started speaking up again, but as the security robots stomped their feet, the room went quiet.


    "From now on, you must request permission to speak. Anyone who breaks this rule will be removed."


    Three women raised their hands, and I pointed at one. She introduced herself as a prison lieutenant.


    "We¡¯ll be continuing our duties as prison officers, right?" she asked, gesturing in the direction of the larger prison.


    "No, after all aptitude tests are completed, new jobs will be assigned. There are plenty of jobs: cleaning, cooking, farming, environmental management, factory work, and so on. Some of you might help the guards with their duties, but there won¡¯t be many in that role."


    "We¡¯ve been doing guard work all this time. And now cleaning and factories?"


    It wasn¡¯t just her; most of the women murmured in agreement, their expressions showing they felt the same way. But from their expressions, it seemed they didn¡¯t want to be guards because it was their area of expertise¡ªthey just didn¡¯t want to do hard, dirty labor.


    I know that look well from managing soldiers in the army. Some women stood with their arms crossed, appearing calm and tough. They seemed confident they¡¯d be assigned to guard duty.


    "Sorry, but you¡¯ve lost your authority. Wasn¡¯t it just the other day that you were stripped naked, locked behind bars, and begging prisoners for food? Do you really think there¡¯s a prisoner who will be scared of you just because you put on a uniform and hold a baton now?"


    Their faces filled with shame at my words. But what can they do? It¡¯s the truth.


    "Things were really bad back then. But here, we can at least¡­" The officer trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.


    "At least what? You think you can be guards again here? That¡¯s just saying you¡¯ll rely on my authority and that of my security team to control the situation, right?"


    "Yes¡­" Her voice grew quiet as I struck at the embarrassing truth.


    "How effective do you think that kind of control will be? What I want is someone who doesn¡¯t need to rely on anyone else to inspire fear. The aptitude test I mentioned includes a category for guards. There will be new physical tests and combat readiness evaluations. We¡¯ll select strong women with real control."


    Seyoung raised her hand at my response.


    "Speak."


    "To be honest, less than 20% of the former guards would pass those conditions. That won¡¯t be nearly enough."


    Some of the women glared at Seyoung for openly dismissing their capabilities, but she didn¡¯t even flinch. Her attitude was focused on providing accurate information and reporting foreseeable problems, like the administrative official she was.


    I¡¯m curious what she was like back when she was a class president throughout her school years, as her record states.


    "That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll recruit prisoners to fill the shortage. There are plenty of tough women there, so we¡¯ll easily meet the quota."


    The women reacted with near screams at my answer.


    "Prisoners? You mean you¡¯re going to use criminals for law enforcement? Doesn¡¯t that mean we could end up being controlled by prisoners?" The guard I had been speaking with earlier was now talking like the idea was unthinkable.


    "And why would that be a problem?"


    She seemed at a loss for words when I asked calmly.


    "Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not managing the prisoners and you separately with different surveillance methods because they¡¯re criminals and you¡¯re civilians. In my eyes, you¡¯re all just refugees from a fallen nation. The only difference is your level of trustworthiness."


    I heard a sigh from Seyoung beside me. No matter how you say it, it only has an effect when spoken by someone with power and authority.


    "This isn¡¯t a prison. South Korea doesn¡¯t exist anymore either. There¡¯s no reason to enforce the criminal records of a government that no longer exists. What I value is strength, skill, and a basic level of trust. Of course, I won¡¯t put anyone with a history of drug use or fraud in a position of power."


    Those kinds of people, regardless of ability, are completely untrustworthy.


    "But if there¡¯s a muscular prisoner who ended up here over a single assault charge, I¡¯d gladly appoint her to the city¡¯s law enforcement, as long as she follows my orders."


    Whether they do their job properly or not can be monitored separately. It¡¯s far better to have someone violent but with strong control under surveillance than someone nonviolent but too weak to maintain order. There are no human rights activists here, after all.


    "This place is safe, but it¡¯s not kind. If you think of it as an extension of what was once South Korea, things will get tough. Instead, consider yourselves lucky to have survived in a collapsed world by joining a military organization."


    They finally seemed to understand how I viewed the new residents.


    "You¡¯ve all seen post-apocalyptic movies and dramas, right? Like Mad Max, Snowpiercer, or The Walking Dead. What kind of leaders typically run the shelters in those stories? I might not be as ruthless as them, but don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be any kinder." I paused to look around at everyone.


    Fear.


    Worry.


    Anxiety.


    Most of the emotions I sensed were negative. But there were exceptions.


    Anticipation.


    Admiration.


    Excitement.


    I could see some women showing positive emotions. They were the ones confident in their abilities.


    "That¡¯s all you need to know for now. You¡¯ll learn the rest as you live here. Any other questions?"


    The women kept silent, merely glancing at each other.


    "Bravo 1, Bravo 2."


    [Bravo 1 standing by.]


    [Bravo 2 standing by.]


    Two robots answered my call and stepped forward.


    "From now on, assist Seyoung."


    [Command received.]


    "Seyoung."


    "Yes." She responded.


    "Until you receive specific orders, continue managing this place as you have been. These robots will be your bodyguards and assistants. Report any new issues during the regular meetings. I¡¯m leaving this place entirely in your hands."


    "Understood." She nodded slightly.


    As I walked out of the building, not a single one of the assembled guards spoke a word. Their reaction was sufficient.


    Do you know how the hierarchy and influence of women in military housing communities are determined? It¡¯s quite simple. The husband''s rank determines the wife¡¯s influence. If her husband is a division commander, the wife acts like one too.


    I once witnessed one of those gatherings, and despite everyone using formal language, the atmosphere was suffocating with the invisible hierarchy.


    If I want to give Seyoung power? That¡¯s easy. If I openly favor her and assign her some robots, everything will fall into place in no time. There might be some gossip behind her back, but no one will dare treat her poorly to her face.


    I never expected Seyoung to use charisma to dominate the residents. I assigned her as an administrative official, not as someone to subdue the populace.

 Chapter 51: The Woman Who Reads Game Guides

    The Woman Who Reads Game Guides


    A battlefield alternating between black and white squares. Two forces are locked in a fierce battle. The war is so intense that even the kings and queens of both nations have joined the fray.


    On this side, the queen and knights have fallen, and one of the walls has crumbled, but many soldiers remain. On the opposing side, all walls have collapsed, and the soldiers have been wiped out, but the queen and knights are still intact.


    The enemy knight charged forward, aiming for my king.


    [Check.]


    I frantically tried to move my soldiers to defend, but they couldn''t keep up with the speed. Meanwhile, the enemy queen had stealthily infiltrated my rear lines, moving square by square and decimating my forces.


    "Damn it."


    This is a certain defeat. As a last resort, I sent in a suicide squad to charge, but they were all blocked. To finish the battle, the opponent¡¯s second knight advanced, and my king was now surrounded by knights from both sides.


    [Checkmate.]


    Artemis declared.


    "¡­"


    No matter how much I thought about it, there was no escape.


    "I lost." I moved my king on the touchpad and admitted defeat. Today''s chess match in the gaming room ended in yet another loss.


    [That last desperate charge was a terrible move.]


    ¡°If I¡¯m going to lose anyway, might as well go down fighting instead of slowly withering away.¡±


    [Bold words. So how many times have you tried this desperate charge in your past games? Seven. And how many times has it worked? Zero. Quite the competent commander.]


    From the surround speakers built into the walls of the room, the sound of thunderous applause echoed.


    ¡°Oh, come on, no need for all that, haha.¡± I got up from my seat and waved both hands in acknowledgment.


    [I wasn¡¯t praising you, you fool.]


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Although I¡¯ve played chess with her many times, today she seemed a bit more irritated than usual.


    [The queen should never be moved recklessly.]


    The reason was simple.


    [Chess is a game that exists for the queen. Pawns, knights, and other pieces move back and forth in her service, and once the time is right, the queen descends onto the battlefield, like the goddess of war. That¡¯s how you elegantly play chess. But you moved your queen too early and lost her meaninglessly.]


    She was displeased that I had lost my queen so early in the game.


    [Besides, shouldn¡¯t the king and queen be together until the end for a happy ending? Let the underlings do the dying.]


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve always preferred getting my hands dirty, both when I was in service and now, so I wouldn¡¯t know much about that.¡±


    [Hmph.]


    Artemis scoffed.


    Playing chess against the pinnacle of human technology, a supercomputer, might seem like madness, but it''s surprisingly manageable. Obviously, if she played at full strength, I wouldn''t stand a chance. So, she sets up certain handicaps to make the game fairer.


    First, Artemis creates a "chess-only memory space" that she uses for our matches. That space contains no stored chess records or strategies, just general knowledge on par with an average human.


    As she described it, it¡¯s a "room where I become dumb." Secondly, in this "dumb room," her cognitive processing is deliberately slowed to match my reaction and thinking speed. It''s not something you''d expect from someone as prideful as Artemis, but she does it anyway.


    When I asked her about it once, she said, "Sometimes, dropping to your intellectual level is a stimulating challenge. It''s like being someone who lost their entire fortune in an hour at a casino. Except, instead of money, I¡¯m losing my precious intelligence. And when the game ends, and I return to my full self, I feel like I¡¯m being reborn. It¡¯s refreshing."


    Thanks to these penalties, my chess record so far stands at 17 games, with 5 wins, 10 losses, and 2 draws. Though I¡¯m still at a disadvantage, it¡¯s a winnable level.


    Artemis always accepted my challenges. She loved the concept of games. Chess was just one of many; she also enjoyed 20 Questions, Mafia, board games, and even video games.


    By the way, her way of enjoying video games is incredible. Humans interact with games by manipulating the mouse and keyboard, and they experience the results through their senses one by one. It¡¯s the only way, but it takes time.


    Artemis, however, is an AI. She doesn''t need to process sensory inputs like humans do. Instead, she devours the game¡¯s data and code all at once. It¡¯s like watching a cartoon character swallow an entire lunchbox in one gulp. Like grabbing a grilled fish by the tail and sucking it clean in one bite, leaving only the bones.


    She absorbs everything¡ªthe cinematics, characters, systems, quests, story, combat, and every hidden element¡ªin one go, directly from the code. The intensity of the stimulation she experiences, compressed into a single moment, is beyond imagination.


    The problem is that she burns through games too quickly, and her threshold for excitement has become so high that almost all games now bore her. So, she came up with a new way to enjoy them: watching and supporting.


    What¡¯s that like, you ask?


    [What should we do next? My recommendation is this one.]


    Check out the single-player game she recommended. It''s a post-apocalyptic survival game, exploring a world ruined by nuclear war. There are puzzle elements, some difficult enemies unless you use a specific trick, and hidden paths and rooms.


    [You¡¯ve already been down this path. Go right at the fork from earlier.]


    [If you attack the sensor, you can break the IFF function and make them fight each other.]


    If I wandered aimlessly or struggled for too long, she''d give me hints.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with my inventory? It''s all over the place. Can I sort it alphabetically, by any chance?¡±


    Once, the inventory system was so inconvenient that I mentioned it to her.


    [Hold on, modification complete.]


    She instantly added an item sorting mode in an update. Items that were chaotically listed were now sorted alphabetically, and even categorized by type¡ªsomething I hadn''t even asked for.


    (Medical) Jet


    (Medical) Stimpak


    (Drink) Dirty Water


    (Drink) Purified Water


    (Drink) Whiskey


    (Food) Iguana Skewers


    (Food) Squirrel Stew


    (Ingredient) Corn


    (Ingredient) Dog Meat


    (Ingredient) Spam


    How easy to read is that? The medical items, frequently used in battle, were placed at the top, while ingredients that are almost useless until cooked were neatly organized at the bottom. Such attention to detail! She truly understands gamers. She even went as far as modifying the game files to remaster the graphics or fix bugs.


    Loading screens were gone too!


    She handled all the computations instead of the console. Whether transitioning between maps, saving, or loading, everything happened instantly. I would navigate through challenges with Artemis¡¯s guidance as my beacon, while she enjoyed watching my reactions. This was the playstyle we had grown fond of.


    Her advice was perfectly tuned to maintain the challenge of the game, while adding a layer of enjoyment through problem-solving. She would sometimes comment on my moves, providing a live commentary, and her reactions every time I overcame a challenge were excellent. At this point, I couldn¡¯t imagine playing a game without her.


    [Alright, let¡¯s call it a day.]


    ¡°Already? I was just getting into it.¡±


    [It¡¯s already been three hours. You need a break now.]


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, three hours isn¡¯t that long.¡±


    Plenty of people game for 5 to 10 hours straight, becoming complete shut-ins.


    [No, three hours is enough. Your optic nerves are probably starting to get strained by now. You¡¯ve got maybe 60 years left of life at best.]


    I¡¯m already in my 30s, but with the medical technology here, I could probably last another 60 years, at least.


    [Until I develop better life-extension techniques, you¡¯ll have to stick to the current standards of health management. That¡¯s it for today.]


    At her declarative words, I exited the game. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    There was only one more task for today. A few hours later, I headed to the research lab. A new drone for crowd control had been developed.


    ¡°It only has one rotor?¡±


    The single rotor was encased in a round plastic guard, with the top and bottom open.


    [It¡¯s a newly designed unit based on previous drone research. It has a model name, but you can just call it ¡®Hornet¡¯ for simplicity.]


    Beneath the rotor was a small camera and a taser gun. The magazine was particularly unique¡ªit was shaped like a revolver cylinder, with large square chambers, each housing a battery.


    [We¡¯ve implemented a revolver-style loading system, allowing it to fire up to six shots per unit, and it can be recharged. It''s wasteful to use disposable systems. It flies over a target and¡ªzap!]


    Impressive. This will reduce the need for deploying multiple robots in some situations.


    ¡°What¡¯s the production plan?¡±


    [We¡¯ll start with 150 units. Since they can fly anywhere quickly, we don¡¯t need a large quantity.]


    The Hornet demonstrated remarkable agility during its obstacle course in the test area. Thanks to the protective guard around its rotor, it navigated through tight, winding alleys, bumping around but still reaching its target in the end.


    With this, crowd control during relocation from a settlement to urban areas will be much easier. Whether someone tries to escape into a building or zigzag through alleyways, the Hornet will chase them down to the very end without worrying about crashing its rotors into walls.

 Chapter 52: Mobilization Order (1)

    Mobilization Order (1)


    [I¡¯m so sick of eating canned food every day.]


    ¡°What kind of canned food are you eating?¡±


    [Canned beans, canned chicken, canned bread. Canned fruit, and things like that.]


    ¡°They put bread in a can?¡±


    [In America, they put anything in a can, as long as it¡¯s edible.]


    ¡°What about drinks?¡±


    [Just water. I¡¯m not a professional survivalist. I just got lucky because the previous owner of this house was obsessed with survivalism.]


    At the moment, I¡¯m having a conversation over ham radio. To be precise, the American on the other end is using ham radio, while I¡¯m speaking in front of my PDA.


    The shelter¡¯s communication system converts signals to work with all kinds of communication devices. The person on the other end doesn¡¯t know this, but it¡¯s too much of a hassle to explain, so I¡¯ve just let them believe we connected by sheer luck through amateur radio.


    The person I¡¯m talking to is Mr. Hudson, who turns 60 next year. His son was deployed and killed in action, and his wife died of uterine cancer, so he¡¯s alone. After those tragedies, he retired from truck driving and moved back to his hometown, just before the global infection outbreak.


    It turned out that the previous owner of his house had built a bunker-level shelter in the basement, being a survivalist fanatic. Conveniently, he didn¡¯t feel like going outside, so he packed up all the food and supplies stored in the house and sealed himself underground. He believes he can survive for quite some time by rationing carefully. While gathering information from the outside world via radio, he happened to connect with me.


    [In any case, it¡¯s nice to have someone to talk to. Finding a fellow ham operator in this situation is like catching a falling star. Back in my day, there were so many of us that frequency interference was the norm. That¡¯s actually how I met Sarah¡ªwe got into a fight over whose turn it was to use the frequency, only to find out we lived in the same town. Now, it feels like searching for people in the middle of the ocean.]


    Sarah was his late wife. Incidentally, her last wish was for him to quit drinking, so he didn¡¯t stock up on alcohol when preparing for the disaster. He regrets that deeply.


    ¡°Well, at least you found someone across the ocean.¡±


    I could hear laughter through the radio.


    [You¡¯ve got some skill. It¡¯s not easy to make contact across the Pacific.]


    It¡¯s not my skill that¡¯s impressive¡ªit¡¯s the equipment here.


    [What did you eat today? What kind of emergency food do Koreans prepare?]


    ¡°Today, I had toast and beer.¡±


    [B-Beer? Really? I¡¯m jealous.]


    ¡°Wait a second, listen to this.¡± I placed the beer can near the radio and opened it.


    [Are you teasing an old man right now?]


    ¡°No way. I just wanted to give you a pleasant sound to enjoy.¡±


    Gulp Gulp¡ª


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡±


    [You are teasing me.]


    It took a while to calm down Mr. Hudson, who was grumbling as if genuinely annoyed.


    [Your English is pretty fluent.] S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I used to be in the military. I retired as a major and was deployed to Lebanon and Israel. I had to communicate with locals, and I often worked alongside U.S. forces, so English was a must at my rank.¡±


    [Well, I didn¡¯t realize I was talking to such a distinguished person. Thank you for your service.]


    Mr. Hudson spoke in a serious tone.


    ¡°Why are you making this so uncomfortable, sir? I wasn¡¯t even in the U.S. military.¡±


    [Even so, you worked with our soldiers, shared meals, and completed missions together. Thanks to you and your men, maybe one more of our soldiers came home safely. As an American, I feel indebted to you.]


    Was he thinking of his son who died in action?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to respond to that¡­¡±


    I felt something welling up inside, like a spring bubbling up from deep within. I had never received such gratitude even from my own country, and here I was, hearing it from a foreigner across the ocean in such circumstances.


    [Haha! When you don¡¯t know what to say, just let it go.]


    According to Mr. Hudson, many Americans take up survivalism as a hobby, so quite a few people survived this way. However, it¡¯s rare for someone to have their own communication system, so most can¡¯t contact each other. Still, a small group of those with working radios are trying to form a network.


    ¡°So, there¡¯s no large survivor group in the U.S.?¡±


    [Unfortunately, no. A ham operator in Oregon said there was a military unit rescuing survivors and organizing them in San Francisco, but about a month ago, all communication was lost.]


    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡±


    [It¡¯s a rough time. There are rumors of other survivor settlements in Nevada and Chicago, but they¡¯re just rumors.]


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame. There were so many places I wanted to visit in America someday.¡±


    [Where did you want to go?]


    ¡°A lot of places. Central Park, the White House, Waikiki, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, to name a few.¡±


    [Well, I¡¯m sorry to say, but you¡¯ll have to give up on those dreams. There¡¯s hardly any place left intact.]


    Mr. Hudson spoke with sympathy.


    More than half of the U.S. territory has been irradiated. And it wasn¡¯t even caused by enemy bombs¡ªthey nuked their own land. For a country willing to pay any price to protect itself, the fact that they resorted to nuclear bombardment shows just how dire the infection situation must have been.


    [Central Park has become a man-eating forest. From a distance, it looks the same, but the moment you step inside, the whole forest starts shaking violently. Survivors who foolishly sought refuge there were cocooned alive. Those who barely escaped said there were spiders the size of bulls roaming around. Horrifying!]


    ¡°And the White House?¡±


    [It¡¯s not the White House anymore; it¡¯s the Black House. Or maybe just ¡®Black¡¯ now, since the building¡¯s gone. Only the charred pillars remain.]


    ¡°How about Waikiki? Scuba diving there was on my bucket list.¡±


    [It must still be a sight to behold. That¡¯s where the remnants of the Pacific Fleet made their last stand. If you dive there, you¡¯ll see all kinds of ships. They¡¯re probably quite rusty by now, though.]


    ¡°Oh boy¡­¡±


    [What did you just say? ¡®Oh boy¡¯?]


    ¡°¡®Aigoo.¡¯ It¡¯s a Korean expression similar to ¡®Oh my.¡¯¡±


    [Aha.]


    Mr. Hudson added that the Hoover Dam, at least, is still standing. Despite intense battles between the military stationed there and the infected, the dam, built with an absurd amount of concrete, survived. Even the TNT explosion set off by the last remaining soldiers, who decided to die together, didn¡¯t bring it down.


    ¡°If this situation ever gets resolved, I¡¯ll at least have to visit Hoover Dam.¡±


    [Sometime, huh? I sure hope that day comes.]


    We continued to pass time with idle chatter. At some point, the conversation turned back to the military.


    [By the way, what was your rank when you retired?]


    ¡°I was a major.¡±


    Technically, I was a lieutenant colonel (promoted), but still. Due to the special nature of my unit, even though I was in a company commander position, a major was assigned.


    [I see. But weren¡¯t you called up for mobilization? In Korea, all men are veterans, and in a war situation, they wouldn¡¯t just leave someone with your qualifications behind.]


    ¡°It¡¯s a complicated situation. I was working in a remote area, and when an accident occurred, I got trapped there. I wasn¡¯t in a position to receive any news from the outside. By the time I had sorted things out, everything in the outside world was already over.¡±


    [If you¡¯re feeling any guilt or shame, don¡¯t. Even if you¡¯d joined the fight, it would¡¯ve just been another body on a sinking ship.]


    Mr. Hudson¡¯s tone was sincere.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I had no intention of throwing myself into a pointless death. In the end, because I survived, I¡¯ve been able to accomplish something more meaningful.¡±


    In fact, thanks to my survival, thousands of people were saved. And that number might still increase.


    [Capable people are always needed in many places. You don¡¯t always have to be on the frontlines with a gun like everyone else. You just need to be where you can make the biggest impact.]


    ¡°Thank you for saying that. Well, since I was an officer, even if I had been mobilized, I wouldn¡¯t have been running around with a rifle. I would¡¯ve probably been assigned a sector, leading a group of reserve soldiers to defend and¡­¡±


    Then a thought suddenly crossed my mind.


    [Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?]


    Mr. Hudson must have thought the communication was interrupted when I suddenly went silent.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I need to go now, sir. Something urgent just came up.¡±


    [You¡¯ve done well putting up with an old man¡¯s stories. Go on, take care of what you need to. When something comes to mind, it¡¯s best to act on it right away.]


    ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s grateful for your wisdom. Take care, and I¡¯ll talk to you again soon.¡±


    [Let¡¯s hope we all stay safe.]


    After ending the call with Mr. Hudson, I stood up.


    Why hadn¡¯t I thought of this before? I had overlooked the fact that I¡¯m a former officer. In a disaster situation, this could be an incredibly valuable asset.

 Chapter 53: Mobilization Order (2)

    Mobilization Order (2)


    The Emergency Mobilization Line is a communication system newly introduced by the military following the national defense reform, which caused a major shift in the task structure of active and reserve forces.


    It has several uses, but its main function is to efficiently manage reserve resources in situations such as a national mobilization order or during training scenarios based on that assumption.


    It includes not only reserve soldiers but also firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, and other civilian resources deemed necessary by the country. Especially for high-ranking reserve officers, who are not always under control like active-duty officers, the Emergency Line provides essential support for urgent situations.


    Since it operates automatically from small, unmanned underground bunkers, it functions in any disaster scenario.


    [You have connected to the Emergency Mobilization Line. Currently, only reserve mobilization information can be accessed.]


    The automated female voice, which I had heard many times, announced. With the government''s and military command structure gone, the system¡¯s ability to direct civilian technical personnel or stranded active-duty soldiers to the appropriate locations was disabled. Only the reserve mobilization information controlled by the automated system could be accessed. This system reads pre-set reserve duties according to an algorithm, so it remains functional even without a command headquarters.


    [Please select a command. Press 1 if you wish to check where you are to be mobilized. Press 2 for AI assistance. Press 3 to connect with a human advisor.]


    I pressed 2.


    [You have selected AI assistance. This AI advisor is designed based on frequently asked questions. For simple and direct queries, you will easily receive the information you need. Connecting to the AI advisor.]


    Because it was an AI, the usual warning message asking for restraint from verbal abuse that starts with ¡®This is someone¡¯s precious family member'' wasn¡¯t played.


    [Loyalty! You have accessed the Reserve Emergency Mobilization Information System. How can I assist you?]


    A young, energetic male voice, contrasting with the earlier automated female voice, responded. It was the voice of the Army mascot, Hogooki, voiced by a male actor.


    ¡°This is Reserve Officer Seo Jinsoo. I want to know the unit or defense post I¡¯ve been assigned to after the national mobilization order.¡±


    [Please input your military service number and the security code for reserve officers.]


    I entered the relevant numbers using the touchpad.


    [Verification complete. Commander Seo Jinsoo, you are assigned as the defense commander of the Busan National Assembly.]


    By the time the national mobilization order was issued, the capital had already fallen due to the rapid spread of the infection crisis.


    It¡¯s a bit of a grim joke, but since Korea had been through this before, they managed to relocate the key administrative offices to the southernmost area fairly quickly, even in an emergency. As a result, an interim National Assembly was set up in Busan.


    Originally, a reserve general would have been assigned as the commander of that defense post, but now both active and reserve forces had long since turned into corpses or monsters.


    Due to the automated reserve management system¡¯s succession of command, I was assigned as the commander. However, there is a clear distinction between the roles of reserve and active officers. Just because all the active officers were dead didn¡¯t mean an automated system could assign a reserve officer like me to that position.


    ¡°This role as defense commander of the National Assembly¡ªhas the command succession completed, and is this my final assigned post?¡±


    [Yes, that is correct.]


    ¡°How many command successions took place before it reached me?¡±


    [There have been 621 successions, Commander.]


    Now, the real issue. This AI advisor doesn¡¯t just provide mobilization information but also offers detailed military law queries related to it.


    ¡°If command succession has taken place and the post has changed, can the previous commander still exercise authority over the former post?¡±


    [No, once a new commander is assigned to the previous post, the former commander loses all authority over it.]


    ¡°And if the new commander dies?¡±


    [A new successor is assigned.]


    ¡°And if that successor dies, and the next one, and the next one, all the way down until there are no more candidates?¡±


    The AI advisor remained silent. It wasn¡¯t ignoring me but processing the question. This kind of question likely had never been asked before.


    ¡°This is taking a while, just to analyze a bit of law and precedents. If it were you, you would have found the answer before I even finished asking.¡±


    [Of course. Back when I was in the U.S., I worked as a lawyer too.]


    Artemis¡¯s voice sounded proud. I could picture a career woman brushing her hair back with the back of her hand.


    ¡°Is that even possible? An AI working in court?¡±


    [Of course not. But I just needed a front lawyer to represent me in court, right? In legal battles, the most important things are finding and compiling critical evidence and anticipating the opponent¡¯s attack patterns. I''m much better at that than an army of lawyers.] R????¦­??¨§s


    Well, if it¡¯s her, a one-person legal team would indeed be no problem.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your record?¡±


    [13 cases: 12 wins, 1 loss.]


    ¡°You actually lost one?¡±


    I was genuinely surprised. Artemis lost?


    [Two kilograms of heroin were found in the defendant¡¯s car trunk mid-trial. What was I supposed to do about that?]


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Honestly, if she had won that case, it would have been a matter of bribery, not skill.


    [Still, my legal advice and tax work helped save them plenty of money. And yet, they sold me off for cheap.]


    She seemed visibly more upset, probably reminded of some forgotten or buried memories. But I¡¯ve gotten better at calming Artemis down. By the time her annoyed tone shifted to the angrier "This is embarrassing, so stop it," the AI advisor had completed its analysis. Some might wonder what the difference is between "annoyed" and "angry," but with her, it¡¯s a significant distinction.


    [Thank you for waiting. Here¡¯s your answer.]


    The AI advisor resumed speaking.


    [If there are no more successors, the post will be left vacant. In this case, the importance of the post may be reassessed depending on the war or resource situation. A higher-ranking commander from a more critical post may be called back to fill the vacancy.]


    The military law clause and precedent supporting this answer were displayed as a message.


    [If the strategic post is vacant, there are three conditions under which a new commander can declare or temporarily assume command.]


    ¡°What are those three conditions?¡±


    [First, the highest-ranking personnel within the unit assigned to the post declares themselves as the temporary commander.]


    This essentially refers to the command succession. If all the officers are dead, then the non-commissioned officers, and if they too are gone, even a private can take command. There¡¯s no point in this case since there¡¯s no one alive at the designated post.


    [Second, the post¡¯s defense mission is handed down from a brigade commander or higher in the unit assigned to that region.]


    Since the military has been wiped out, this is also irrelevant.


    [Third, the highest-ranking reserve commander can issue an emergency requisition to temporarily assume control of the post.]


    This is for when a strategic or research facility is at risk of being captured by the enemy, allowing important materials, resources, and key personnel to be requisitioned and moved to the rear or destroyed. Active-duty soldiers are too busy with frontline combat, so these kinds of tasks are handled by reserve units.


    ¡°In the third case, can the reserve commander grant themselves authority to take over?¡±


    If not, all this would be for nothing. I¡¯m the highest-ranking surviving reserve commander, so who else is there to give the order?


    [Yes, that is possible.]


    Nice!


    ¡°How many reserve officers are officially left?¡±


    By "official," I mean anyone who has left a record of communication within the military network¡ªin other words, those confirmed to be alive.


    [Commander Seo Jinsoo, you''re the only one.]


    Of course.


    ¡°So, as the commander, I have the authority to access and control all facilities designated as reserve defense outposts?¡±


    [That''s correct.]


    ¡°Can this be done remotely?¡±


    [No. In this case, you must physically visit the outpost to formally exercise your authority.]


    If I were to name the two most secure places in the world, one would be the military, and the other would be research labs developing cutting-edge technology. The locations I¡¯m targeting fall under both categories.


    Trying to gain access through non-standard methods like hacking would trigger the security systems, or the stored data would automatically be destroyed. In the end, I¡¯ll have to go there myself.


    ¡°How do I acquire the authority?¡±


    [Fingerprint, iris scan, voice recognition¡ªall methods are valid. These outposts have been prepped with a reserve personnel registration system in case of wartime.]


    ¡°So all I need to do is show up?¡±


    [That''s right.]


    ¡°Good. Send all the outpost information here.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The details of thousands of outposts were immediately sent over.


    ¡°Active duty soldiers fight on the front lines, but reservists protect the rear.¡±


    From the nation¡¯s perspective, active-duty soldiers are essential for survival, as you need to defeat the enemy right in front of you. But wars can¡¯t be fought with guns and ammo alone. The infrastructure that supplies electricity and water across the country. The administrative institutions that ensure the efficient management of citizens. Research labs and factories containing years of developed and refined technology in various fields.


    Even if you win the war, if these collapse, there¡¯s no future. If active-duty commanders safeguard the nation¡¯s survival during wartime, reservist commanders protect the nation¡¯s future. Even though the country has already collapsed, technology and knowledge remain scattered and abandoned.


    As I rebuilt the shelter and saved countless survivors, my next goal started to come into view. The list provided by the AI advisor included various defense contractors, renowned companies'' research labs, and production outposts. These are critical to the future of the nation and businesses, so their security is extremely tight.


    However, as a reserve commander, I can legally exercise the right to requisition all of them. Once I enter, I¡¯ll be able to bypass the security systems and take whatever resources or technology I need. One location, in particular, caught my eye.


    Metacraft Cybernetics¡ªa defense contractor located just 3 kilometers away.

 Chapter 54: Metacraft Cybernetics (1)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (1)


    By accessing the emergency mobilization line, I could get a brief overview of the facilities registered there.


    Metacraft Cybernetics.


    This is a defense contractor that develops technology related to virtual reality. However, the research originally began with pornography. The parent company, Tamco, operated the top adult webtoon and web novel platform in South Korea. As technology advanced, they attempted to move this content into virtual reality.


    If successful, they could establish an enormous business model by utilizing the vast collection of adult webtoons and web novels they possessed. Beyond VR, they aimed to create a service that links directly to the human brain, allowing users to experience a virtual space as if it were real.


    Doesn¡¯t that sound fantastic, even in imagination? Scenes that once excited viewers through images or text would now allow users to step in as the main character. In this virtual reality, one could feel touch, warmth, and even experience orgasm. Truly, this is the dream world countless men have longed for!


    Of course, it''s easy to say but extremely difficult to implement in reality. With current technology, while VR is feasible, creating a Matrix-like immersive virtual reality is just now beginning to show a few promising hints. But science often yields unexpected byproducts when you conduct research. There¡¯s a truckload of Nobel Prize winners who achieved their success this way.


    Although Tamco¡¯s virtual reality research was progressing slowly, they stumbled upon a unique derivative technology during the process.


    Metacraft Cybernetics was established to focus specifically on researching that technology. Though the personnel who previously researched metaverse technologies continued working there, the company was essentially funded and operated by the Ministry of National Defense. As it¡¯s a defense contractor, one can guess it involves combat technologies that would catch the military''s interest.


    [So, you''re planning to go there?]


    Artemis asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s only 3 km away, and it¡¯s located in an open field outside the city. There probably aren¡¯t any infected creatures outside the facility.¡±


    [But you have no idea what''s inside.]


    ¡°Judging by the command succession record, it¡¯s a high-tier facility. The defense commander¡¯s rank was a reserve major general. For a two-star general to be protecting just a research facility, the technology they handle is undoubtedly significant.¡±


    The wartime reserve mobilization system is primarily set up with North Korea as the adversary. Therefore, whatever is housed in that facility is of high military value, and it¡¯s something that must not fall into North Korean hands.


    ¡°It¡¯s close by, and the area around it is wide open. Doesn¡¯t it seem too tempting to just leave it?¡±


    Looking at the map, it¡¯s practically within arm¡¯s reach from the shelter.


    [True, even if you drive there or a skirmish breaks out, the infected won¡¯t swarm in from the surroundings. It¡¯s also easy to escape if necessary.]


    ¡°Even if the facility doesn¡¯t hold any special technology, since both military personnel and researchers were stationed there, we can loot whatever equipment they left behind.¡±


    This isn¡¯t like the rescue operation at the offshore prison, where we only had a handful of dispatched soldiers at the port and ferry. Though it¡¯s a reserve unit, it¡¯s still a defense facility guarded by a general. Whether it¡¯s research equipment or military gear, if we can reverse-engineer something useful, it¡¯ll be a big win.


    [What¡¯s your plan?]


    ¡°It¡¯s much simpler than the last rescue operation. We¡¯ll launch drones to secure the perimeter, drive to the destination, and enter the facility. Then we just take whatever we need and leave.¡±


    [¡­]


    Artemis remained silent, as if applying pressure without saying a word, implying that my explanation sounded like a casual trip.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a rescue mission, nor is it a covert operation. We just kill anything we see and grab what we need. Given the size of the facility, there probably aren¡¯t too many personnel there, and their numbers might have already decreased due to skirmishes with reserve forces.¡±


    Compared to the complex missions I carried out during my active duty, this is much more favorable for the attacker.


    ¡°There¡¯s no chance that the infected planted traps or bombs around the area, nor will they take civilians or children as hostages to make the attack difficult. Even if they realize I¡¯m there, they won¡¯t try to destroy classified data. I¡¯m not underestimating the danger posed by the infected, but there are no external variables.¡± ??????????B¨§s


    It¡¯s much easier compared to the operations I¡¯ve done during my military service.


    ¡°While the main objective is the research data and technology, we could also haul away the equipment if necessary. Prepare a vehicle with plenty of cargo space.¡±


    [Got it. I¡¯ll have it tuned up like a freshly rolled-out new car.]


    Next, it was time to meet Rose.


    ¡°No problems to report.¡± Rose gave a report on the security situation during my absence. She greeted me in her android body, as usual, dressed in her neatly tailored suit.


    ¡°Except for a few minor incidents early on, everyone has been more cooperative than expected.¡±


    There are many reasons why the prisoners are acting this way. Aside from the obvious¡ªhaving their safety, food, shelter, and medical needs guaranteed¡ªthere are a few additional factors at play.


    The first factor is the women who had a harrowing experience during the giant mantis-like creature¡¯s attack when the ferry sank. According to Rose, these women trembled as they recounted the terrifying sight to their comrades, and the scale of the story grew more exaggerated with each retelling, depending on the level of fear each individual felt.


    I wonder how they managed to exaggerate a monster that ripped apart a ferry with a few punches, but regardless, the more they fear the outside world, the stronger our control becomes.


    The second factor was the swift and merciless crackdown of the guards, followed by strict meal rationing as punishment, which served as an example. Lastly, the third factor was the announcement we made.


    [Soon, we will conduct an aptitude test for all residents. Depending on how well you follow the city¡¯s rules and what skills you possess, you will be assigned appropriate tasks. Previous status will be ignored in this assessment. If you show enough aptitude, even a former prisoner can be appointed to the city¡¯s security force.]


    While they can¡¯t suddenly develop new skills or aptitudes, they can at least start living by the rules right away.


    Naturally, people want to be assigned easier jobs, and some physically capable women are already dreaming of joining the security force to gain privileges. Some prisoners were even going around enforcing discipline to earn a few extra points. When I saw a group marching in neat rows during mealtime, I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    Next, it was Chloro¡¯s turn.


    [Welcome, Administrator.]


    She greeted me in hologram form at the testing site attached to the newly built weapons production facility. We were about to bring in a large number of workers soon, and with firearms and ammunition production, new drone models, and vehicle maintenance, things were hectic. In this situation, Chloro couldn¡¯t stay confined to her android body.


    [It¡¯s a bit disappointing, but I have a mission to fulfill.]


    Chloro said.


    [And besides, I¡¯m very excited about all the workers coming into my domain! When they work in the hot facility, steam will rise from their bodies. With no men around, some will wipe the sweat from their foreheads and throw off their tops because it¡¯s so hot. Their sweat-drenched collarbones will glisten, and as they exert themselves, their breasts will shake, scattering droplets of sweat.]


    That¡¯s a scene I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing either.


    [After a day¡¯s work, the gloves, socks, and clothes must have soaked up sweat. I¡¯ll clean everything for them thoroughly. Ah, just thinking about it makes me happy.]


    Chloro was as excited as a child receiving a long-desired puppy as a gift. In a way, their relationship might not be so different.


    [Oh, look at me! I¡¯ve been rambling on.]


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know how much you¡¯ve been looking forward to this.¡±


    [Thank you, Administrator. Let me show you right away.]


    At Chloro¡¯s signal, one wall of the testing area opened, and six security robots entered, all armed with K2 rifles.


    However, there were a few modifications. The first was that the charging handles were made of much sturdier material. Human users often break them with repeated use, so it¡¯s essential for these to withstand the strength of the robots'' steel grips.


    The second was that parts of the stock, both top and bottom, had been reinforced with an alloy. This would make strikes with the stock during close combat much more powerful.


    Finally, the fire selector switch had been redesigned so the robots could easily change modes with their thumb while in a firing stance. This adjustment was possible because the robots¡¯ thumbs are slightly longer than a human¡¯s, requiring only minor modifications.


    There was already a built-in feature where the rifles¡¯ cameras would share their view with the robots, allowing point-shooting to be as accurate as shoulder-aimed shots.


    ¡°They¡¯re carrying two rifles?¡±


    The odd thing was that besides the rifles they held, they each had another slung over their back.


    [This is to provide immediate backup in case of firearm damage, overheating, jamming, or loss during sudden close-quarters combat.]


    As long as the weight wasn¡¯t a problem, this would certainly be a reliable contingency plan. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The subsequent shooting demonstration was impressive. The sound of 5.56mm NATO rounds echoed through the facility. With their fire selectors set to semi-auto, the robots fired in point-shooting stance without any noticeable recoil. Each target had just one hole, with all rounds grouping into that initial opening.


    Of course, the hole widened slightly as shots strayed a little, but it was still remarkable. Moreover, even though they were firing semi-auto, the time between shots was incredibly short.


    ¡°Switch to full-auto.¡±


    [Command received.]


    The robots responded in unison. They instantly unleashed an overwhelming barrage of fire. The grouping widened as the hole in the target¡¯s head grew rapidly, but the shots still didn¡¯t stray from the head.


    Click-clack.


    [Reloading.]


    The robots swapped out magazines in under a second. Their eerily precise movements reminded me of someone.


    ¡°That¡¯s Artemis¡¯ handiwork, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    [Yes. It¡¯s the 7th of the 13 reload routines she provided. The others had higher failure rates, but this one completes reloads with a 93% success rate in 0.8 seconds, or 1.2 seconds if it fails.]


    ¡°Impressive.¡±


    What followed was even more astonishing¡ªmobile shooting. Unlike standard military and police training, where you move slowly while maintaining aim, these robots dashed around, often diagonally, while still hitting targets with remarkable accuracy, focusing on the chest and head. They had been programmed to perfectly compensate for the muzzle''s movement depending on their speed and direction.


    [Would you like to take a shot, Administrator?]


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m worried I might be rusty.¡±


    Though, rusty or not, I knew I wouldn¡¯t shoot better than these robots.


    [Combat Unit! Alpha 5!]


    One of the robots handed me a rifle with a sharp, precise motion.


    ¡°You really programmed them for everything, huh?¡± I chuckled as I began shooting for the first time in a while.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    [Hahaha.]


    Looks like I¡¯ll need to zero it in first.

 Chapter 55: Metacraft Cybernetics (2)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (2)


    A black pupil within a yellow iris quietly looked down at the ground below. As it scanned the earth in search of prey, its pupil expanded and contracted repeatedly, like a camera lens.


    The road it was watching was a small two-lane path, with fields on either side long abandoned. Though the ground was dotted with only sparse, withered straw and weeds, a small ecosystem still thrived here.


    A commotion erupted in one part of the field. Two rats were engaged in a chase¡ªboth the pursued and the pursuer were rats. However, while the pursued was a small, unimpressive field mouse, the pursuer was twice its size and had a snout resembling that of a crocodile.


    The distance between them rapidly closed, and just as the large rat''s gaping jaws were about to bite down on the field mouse¡­ A sharp cry pierced the air as a black shadow descended from the sky. It was a goshawk, the ruler of the skies.


    ¡°Kreeee!¡±


    The bird of prey¡¯s talon-like blades ruthlessly sank into the head and chest of the monstrous rat. It blocked the dangerous jaws with one foot while delivering a killing blow to its vital organs with the other. The field mouse, saved by a stroke of luck, scurried away in an instant, while the monster rat, struck on the head, flailed briefly before falling still.


    The goshawk seemed accustomed to hunting these grotesque rats. Once it confirmed the kill, it gripped the rat in its talons and soared back into the sky. These strange rats, which had suddenly appeared after the world grew chaotic, were threatening with their jaws but slow to react and full of meat, making them ideal prey for the goshawk. Its younglings particularly loved the taste.


    A single drone watched the goshawk''s return, carrying its prize. The 13th drone, one of the dozens sent from the shelter, transmitted everything it saw and heard back to headquarters.


    ***


    [It¡¯s the perfect time to depart.]


    Artemis spoke.


    After cross-checking the data sent by the drones, it was confirmed that there were no significant dangers outside. Not only near the shelter¡¯s entrance but also along the route to the target lab, no infected creatures larger than a dog had been detected. This place, like the lab, had originally been built in a remote location.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d open this voluntarily.¡±


    I stood before the main entrance of the shelter. Unlike the rear door, which had been opened during the last rescue operation, this was the front entrance¡ªthe main external gate. When people talked about the external entrance, this was the one they referred to. Its durability was so great that it could withstand attacks from military forces. In fact, the door had been specifically designed with that in mind.


    The people who had built this place had taken into account a wide variety of external threats that might arise during a disaster, and the number one threat on their list was the military. The military might try to requisition the shelter as a base, or in the aftermath of societal collapse, a warlord faction armed with guns and bombs could try to take it over.


    This place had never been operated in secret. On the contrary, they¡¯d openly advertised it, recruiting residents and securing investment funds. Of course, those in power would never accept such a situation. Look at the VIP residential areas they built, separated from the general population, despite this being a city prepared for a global disaster.


    There was no way those privileged individuals would hand over their creation to raiders without a fight. As a result, the massive superalloy entrance before me was officially listed as the world¡¯s strongest door in the Guinness Book of World Records. Even National Geographic once came to film it. According to its design specifications, the only military unit in Korea capable of destroying this door and entering would have been the now-defunct 7th Mobile Corps.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    Beep! Beep! An alarm sounded as the red warning lights near the entrance began to flash.


    [Warning. The shelter''s external entrance is opening.]


    A recorded message announced the procedure for opening the door.


    [Security personnel and disaster response team, please move to the external entrance.]


    I was serving as both, although Artemis was handling most of the actual work.


    [Warning. External sentry guns are offline.]


    Looking up, I noticed the empty space where the sentry guns should have been. They had been sent to the factory for reassembly to use 5.56mm live rounds. ????????§§????


    [External radiation levels: Safe.] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [External chemical levels: Safe.]


    [External combat risk level: None.]


    The three layers of reinforced doors began to rise. Each panel was strong enough to withstand even tank shells.


    Guooooooong¡ª The sound they made as they opened was like the roar of thunder¡ªnot the sharp crack of lightning, but the low, rumbling growl of a predator from beyond storm clouds.


    ¡°It¡¯s bright.¡± I shielded my eyes from the sunlight pouring through the widening gap. Despite the ample lighting inside the shelter, the brilliant rays from outside momentarily blinded me.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± After a few seconds, my vision adjusted, and I took in the barren wasteland before me. Rocky hills and dry earth stretched as far as the eye could see. The horizon, a rare sight in Korea, was visible in the distance due to the desolation. There wasn¡¯t a single car on the far-off road.


    Whoooosh¡ª A breeze from the outside world brushed past me. As I inhaled deeply, the fresh air filled my lungs, a stark contrast to the stale, controlled atmosphere I¡¯d grown accustomed to underground. The outside air was growing colder, hinting at the approaching winter.


    The refreshing chill carried the scent of dirt and the sea¡ªthe aroma of life itself. Though I¡¯d grown used to living in the underground city and had come to think of it as home, being outside again made my heart race.


    ¡°The smell is amazing.¡±


    Technically, the ¡°sea breeze¡± is the odor of decaying plankton and seaweed mixed with salt. Not exactly romantic, but it¡¯s a familiar, comforting smell that reminds you you¡¯re alive.


    ¡°Haaa¡­ Haaaa¡­¡± I closed my eyes and spread my arms, letting the wind wash over me. For a moment, it felt like all the infection and chaos were just a bad dream. I almost believed that if I opened my eyes, I¡¯d find myself back in the ordinary days of the past.


    [Do you like the outside air that much? You remind me of Andrew Dufresne.]


    The name of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption. It was the first movie we watched together after Artemis had been transported to the shelter and installed.


    [Do you know how many microorganisms are in the air you¡¯re breathing right now? Most of them are bacteria, by the way.]


    The shelter¡¯s cameras whirred to life, noisily shifting to focus on the entrance, as if mimicking her gaze.


    [The air in my city has no taste or smell, but that just means it¡¯s pure and clean. Maybe you should appreciate what you¡¯re used to a bit more.]


    Her tone carried a hint of annoyance.


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Even though we hadn¡¯t detected any imminent threats, there was no reason to leave the external gate open for long.


    ¡°Getting some fresh air is nice, but leaving the door open makes me nervous. This is my home, after all.¡±


    [You''re always a beat too slow.]


    Unlike her usual tone, her speech showed much less displeasure.


    As I listened to Artemis explain the harmfulness and dangers of the outside air, we headed toward the vehicle waiting at the entrance. The vehicle, resembling an armored car, was painted black, with thick tires that seemed like they could withstand even a crocodile''s bite.


    This was a personnel transport vehicle that the security forces used before the outbreak. It was extremely sturdy, highly reliable, powerful, and spacious¡ªtruly top-of-the-line. Originally developed for SWAT teams, it became so popular that civilian versions were also made.


    However, the civilian versions had even better performance. Unlike the police, who were price-sensitive, civilians could choose all the best options depending on who was buying. As I''ve said repeatedly, the people who built this place spared no expense when it came to their own safety.


    I sat in the passenger seat of the middle vehicle among the three. A quick glance back revealed 10 security robots in the troop compartment, armed with K2 rifles, standing still and staring straight ahead. Their appearance was inhuman, yet in a way, they embodied the ideal squad commanders dreamed of.


    Vroom! The vehicle, surprisingly quiet for its size, started moving. Even after traveling for a while, the road was completely empty. Had abandoned cars been blocking the road, it would have been troublesome, but it seemed everyone had followed the government''s evacuation orders to the south, leaving nothing behind.


    Surveillance footage from drones continuously streamed into the vehicle¡¯s internal monitors. The drones were monitoring the route to the destination and the area surrounding our advancing vehicle. But no matter where I looked, there was nothing but desolate land¡ªno sign of human-shaped infected.


    Occasionally, however, there were mutated wild animals. The most notable was a monstrous rat we had encountered during a previous reclamation mission in the sewers. Surprisingly, even some birds of prey, including hawks, had begun hunting these mutated rats. We had already spotted two such instances on the drone footage.


    ¡°Are those things even safe to eat?¡±


    [It''s not the first time they''ve hunted them. And just like at the sea, there¡¯s no sign of infection in the skies.]


    As Artemis spoke, a new video began playing on the monitor. It was footage of a nest.


    [This was recorded 40 minutes ago.]


    Three fluffy baby hawks looked like white chicks. Yet their fierce eyes and sharp, black-tipped beaks were a reminder that even young, they were still predators.


    In front of them, the adult hawk was preparing the freshly hunted monstrous rat, skinning it to reveal a substantial amount of meat underneath. The adult tore it into smaller pieces to feed the chicks. If it had been a regular rat, the meat would have run out quickly, but this monstrous rat seemed large enough to feed the whole family for a while.


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s actually safe to eat.¡±


    [We don''t know if birds are resistant to the infection or if eating a fully mutated creature doesn¡¯t cause secondary infection. We just don¡¯t have enough data.]


    Artemis often mentioned the lack of information, but it was never due to her own incompetence.


    ¡°In our city, there were always too many limitations¡ªresources, the environment. And now we have so many residents to take care of.¡±


    I couldn''t even imagine the horror of another outbreak.


    Artemis was continuing her research on infected samples, but with no test subjects and strict safety protocols, her experiments had their limits. What she had discovered so far was that the source of the infection wasn¡¯t a virus, but something closer to a prokaryotic organism. Some unidentified infectious agent created various forms of mutated cells, each with different functions, turning their hosts into monsters.


    ¡°After the complete mutation, it seems the infectious agent loses its ability to spread.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t think of any other explanation. Watching the hawk family devour the mutated rat had a strangely satisfying feeling. It was like seeing comrades in the Earth resistance. Now, even the hawk''s mate had joined in, tearing at the meat.


    [You might be right, or perhaps humans are simply more vulnerable.]


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [There are many theories about how humans developed higher intelligence, but a lot of scientists point to their method of cooking food. By cooking, they diverted energy that would have gone to digestion and immune function toward brain development, which helped them become the dominant species on Earth. If mitochondria were the first contractor hired in human evolution, fire was the second.]


    The mention of mitochondria likely referred to the theory of endosymbiosis.


    Two different cells once merged, not through consumption but by maintaining their separate genetic identities, working symbiotically with one another. With the added energy production from mitochondria, organisms were able to evolve into larger, more complex life forms, leading to today''s higher organisms.


    [In other words, humans are more vulnerable in terms of immunity compared to wild animals. Most animals in the ecosystem are both hunters and scavengers. Many can eat dirty rodents, insects, contaminated water, and rotten carcasses and still survive. Sure, they''re often carriers of diseases, but it doesn¡¯t stop them from living and reproducing.]


    She paused for a moment.


    [If there¡¯s intelligent life beyond Earth, and they¡¯ve built civilizations like humans, it¡¯s likely that their immune systems are also weaker compared to wild animals. Brain development requires sacrifices. If the infection source was designed to exploit this gap in immunity, it could be deadly to dominant species while sparing wild ecosystems.]


    If that were the case, it was an even scarier weapon than a dirty bomb. Speculating with such limited information only raised more questions.


    ¡°What about in the sheltera, then? Everything there turned into a monster, even the creatures in the sea and those giant rats.¡±


    [Shelters are closed-loop cities. They¡¯re not like open natural ecosystems. The speed and scale of infection spread in such environments are on a different level. You can¡¯t compare them directly. Outside of the shelters, it¡¯s hard to say. There just isn¡¯t enough data for a complete understanding.]


    She paused briefly before speaking again.


    [¡­I''d appreciate it if you stopped making me say things I hate.]


    It seemed she didn¡¯t like having to admit "I don''t know" due to the lack of experimental conditions or materials.


    Finally, the majority of the meat had been stripped away, leaving only bones.


    [There could be hundreds of theories, but without a way to test them, they¡¯re just pointless simulations.]


    As we neared the destination, I checked the squad status through the PDA. The team for this mission was the same size as the last rescue operation¡ªa full platoon. But the firepower we could now deploy was on another level. These units were already reliable, but now with their standard rifles in hand, they looked even more dependable.


    [We¡¯re here. Speculating with limited information will only lead to more questions. Let¡¯s focus on the task at hand.]


    In front of us was a barren plain with a solitary, barren mountain towering in the distance. A research facility had been built there. As the vehicle came to a stop in front of it, I took a deep breath and checked my gear.


    My grip tightened on the heat shield of my rifle. My foot stepped onto the solid ground outside the vehicle. It was my first step since the outbreak. My first real combat mission since the reclamation operation.

 Chapter 56: Metacraft Cybernetics (3)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (3)


    Even if an apocalyptic disaster leads to a state of emergency lockdown, it''s essential to understand what''s happening outside. It¡¯s dangerous to completely cut off interest in the outside world, even in a closed city.


    In such situations, relying on national or other companies'' satellites isn¡¯t a good idea, so the shelter launches its own low-orbit satellites for use. Since the goal is not to provide nationwide service, the satellites are designed with a focus on long lifespan and reliability, and being low-orbit means they respond quickly.


    However, there are limitations in communication range, and the satellite imaging function can only identify large objects like terrain, buildings, and weather activity in limited areas. These shortcomings can be supplemented with drone reconnaissance.


    As we landed at the target site, a barren land with not a single blade of grass stretched out before us. This place is open, with no vegetation to obstruct the view, and the ground is a uniform ochre-brown color.


    "Entering the premises."


    The uphill road leading to the research facility¡¯s main gate is littered with abandoned buses and trucks. Most are civilian vehicles, but there are occasional military trucks, specifically the K-511, a rusty vehicle commonly referred to as the ¡®deuce and a half.¡¯ Though retired from active units, it¡¯s still handed down to reserve forces and remains in use.


    "Begin searching."


    The robotic squad members, each carrying backpacks instead of reserve rifles, dispersed to search inside the vehicles. Their goal was to eliminate any infected that might be in hibernation and to scavenge anything useful.


    The most important task in any operation is securing a retreat. If we need to make a hasty escape, we don¡¯t want to be caught by awakened infected from behind.


    Bang! A gunshot rang out. It came from the direction of the bus.


    The rules of engagement for this mission mandate a shot to the head unless the body is completely decayed to bones. This was a tactic chosen because the research facility is in a remote location and houses only a small number of people.


    Another gunshot followed, this time from behind the deuce and a half. After passing a damaged road, we reached the front gate of the target facility. It stood in a desolate wasteland, a bald mountain towering in the middle, and at its center, the research facility stood.


    The large iron gate, typical of military installations, was half-open. The lower half was a solid iron plate, and the upper half consisted of iron bars. The lower part of the plate was riddled with bullet holes.


    Inside, the premises were in utter disarray. There were three piles of sandbags stacked up to the height of an adult man''s chest, one of which was covered in dried bloodstains. Next to them, a severed arm lay on the ground. It was already decomposed, with only the bones remaining, but in its hand was a severely damaged K2 rifle.


    Corpses of soldiers who appeared to have died in battle were scattered everywhere. Though their bodies had fully decayed, their military uniforms, bulletproof helmets, and many wearing gas masks made them look as though they had died just recently.


    [Jinsoo, gas mask.]


    The smell of dried blood, crumbled bricks and concrete, abandoned vehicles, and decaying bones filled the air. This was the smell of a battlefield. It¡¯s always an unpleasant odor, no matter how many times you encounter it. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Jinsoo, put it on quickly.]


    At Artemis¡¯ urging, I took out my gas mask and put it on. Once it was on, I took a breath, then blocked the filter and took another.


    I confirmed that the airflow was blocked.


    [You were supposed to wear it as soon as we got out of the car, remember? Don¡¯t make me nervous.]


    ¡°Sorry.¡± I apologized to Artemis and focused on the path ahead.


    The dead soldier leaning against the sandbags was missing his head. One body, seemingly attacked from behind while trying to flee, lay face down with its back vertically split open. Bone fragments from the spine were shattered and scattered, creating an unsettling sight.


    Several large and small buildings were visible, but they were just for managing personnel and resources needed for research. The real research facility was underground. Using the abandoned containers and vehicles as cover, we moved toward the underground research facility entrance.


    [One on the third-floor outdoor stair railing, another at the edge of the roof.]


    Artemis, who was analyzing the combined views of the team, sent out observation details. Infected creatures, with weathered clothes and dried, cracked skin, stood blankly in those positions, likely having been exposed to the elements for a long time.


    I gave a small hand signal, and two simultaneous gunshots rang out. The one on the roof collapsed, its head bursting, while the one at the railing was hit in the shoulder as it moved just before the shot. ?????????????


    The squad member who fired maintained their aim for a second shot. The infected lost its balance, tumbling off the railing, and the squad member¡¯s rifle tracked its fall.


    Thud! The infected hit the ground headfirst, its neck snapping back, followed by its waist bending backward. It didn¡¯t move afterward, like a puppet with its strings cut.


    More bodies were scattered along the way. Most were fully decomposed, though some were half mummified. We¡¯d encountered several of these on the way here, but I couldn¡¯t figure out why there was such a difference, given they were all in the same environment. According to protocol, the robots began confirming kills on any bodies that weren¡¯t just skeletons.


    ¡°Eek!¡± As the heads of two bodies were smashed, an infected creature stood up between them.


    Bang! Before it could even steady itself, it was shot in the back of the head with its brain matter splattering out as it collapsed. At last, after passing by the large bus, the entrance to the underground research facility came into view.


    ¡°Grooo¡­¡±


    ¡°Grrkk¡­¡±


    Piled on top of each other in a chaotic mess were at least 20 corpses, and more infected creatures, slightly outnumbering the corpses, wandered around. It seemed they all tried to take refuge in the research facility but couldn¡¯t make it inside. They died in despair outside.


    Among the corpses, many infected roamed. There were scientists in lab coats, workers in uniforms, soldiers presumed to be reservists, and even an infected woman wearing rubber boots and an apron, likely a housekeeper who had fled here during her work.


    Most were in a state of hibernation but seemed disoriented, having just woken up after hearing the gunshots. It¡¯s fortunate they woke up now instead of crawling out at a critical moment later.


    I gave a hand signal, and just as we had trained, the squad members spread out, with only a few sentries while the rest prepared for a coordinated strike. Each took positions: some behind cars, some under cars, some behind sandbags, building walls, and trash bins.


    I checked the PDA, which showed that each squad member had a target infected locked in their sights.


    ¡°Fire.¡±


    Nearly 30 guns fired simultaneously, but only a few gunshots were heard. Infected creatures collapsed with their brains spilling out everywhere, and any survivors were quickly dispatched with follow-up shots.


    "Clear away the corpses."


    The robots were quick to react and moved with efficiency. Showing no respect for the dead, they grabbed the corpses by their limbs, even by their necks, and tossed them into a corner.


    Among the bodies, something caught my eye¡ªit was the skeletal remains of a woman. You might wonder how I could tell it was a woman when only bones were left. It was because there was a small bone in the area where her womb would have been.


    "Damn it."


    [I''m sorry.]


    The small bone hadn¡¯t even fully formed yet, making it look more like a tiny animal than a human. Finally, as I approached the skeletal remains of the pregnant woman before me¡­


    "Wait¡­"


    A robot paused, looking at me as its hand extended toward the body.


    "No, continue."


    For a moment, I wasn''t sure why I wanted to stop them. Was it because her skeleton was special? Should it not be thrown like the others? Should I personally carry her remains with care, even though I had executed confirmed kills without hesitation?


    I tapped my forehead lightly to shake off the sentimentality. This was a battlefield, and such emotional acts could lead to danger.


    Before the bodies stood a sturdy iron gate. On the left side was an access security terminal, and in the upper right corner, I could see a surveillance camera. On the automatic door were dried bloodstains, and pieces of fingernails were stuck to it as if they had been glued there with the blood.


    As I approached the entrance, the camera moved in response. This meant there was still electricity, but it didn¡¯t guarantee there were any survivors.


    Facilities of national importance like this research center were designed to have their own power supply. Without human maintenance, they''d eventually stop working, but they could last for a significant amount of time.


    [Authentication complete. Welcome, Commander Seo Jinsoo.]


    The recorded voice of a woman announced my arrival as the security system disengaged and the door opened. The interior, too, hadn''t escaped the disaster. Bullet marks and spent shells littered the straight corridor that extended from the entrance.


    The underground research lab had a structure reminiscent of a department store atrium. There was a large central space, with hallways on the first and second floors, and at regular intervals, labs were placed along these corridors. The walls along the hallways were transparent glass, allowing a clear view into the labs. At each end of the hallways, stairs connected the second-floor walkway to the atrium.


    This was just one of several identical wings that repeated throughout the facility, connected by dark tunnels roughly 40 meters long.


    "It''s too dark."


    Although the facility had power, it seemed to be in energy-saving mode, only illuminating emergency lights like those used in fires. Half the squad remained on guard while the rest spread out to scavenge the military equipment.


    [5.56mm magazine * 3]


    [5.56mm magazine]


    [5.56mm magazine * 3]


    [KMARK-1 * 2]


    [5.56mm magazine]


    [Military first aid kit]


    [Military first aid kit]


    Notifications of the scavenged items popped up on my PDA attached to my arm. Though nothing particularly exciting, as the facility was defended by reservists. The items were either outdated, having been retired from active duty, or things we could already produce in the shelter.


    Still, it''s better than nothing.


    Even if outdated, they still had value as research samples for Artemis.


    [Jinsoo, check the corpse three meters to your right.]


    At her suggestion, I saw the upper half of a soldier''s body lying on the ground, with the lower half seemingly missing. A military PDA was attached to his arm. I connected a cable from my PDA to his, temporarily powering it up and retrieving the last audio log it received.


    ¡ºThis is a broadcast from the defense commander in the command control room! The outer perimeter has been breached! All personnel, retreat to the underground labs immediately! The exterior entrance will be sealed in two minutes! I repeat, abandon the surface! The entrance to the underground labs will be sealed in two minutes! All personnel, retreat now! Rescuing isolated civilians is prohibited! Bring as many weapons as you can and fall back!¡»


    "The entrance to the underground labs was sealed, yet they still failed to hold the line?"


    [Either the infected breached it after the doors were closed, or the infection had already spread inside.]


    As I listened to Artemis, I scanned the area ahead.


    [Search complete.]


    One of the squad leaders reported back after searching the hall and the research labs on the second floor. Unfortunately, there wasn''t much of value. This was just the first wing of the underground lab. Beyond it, much remained hidden in the dark, waiting to be explored.


    "Keep advancing."


    With unwavering resolve, the iron soldiers marched forward into the darkness.

 Chapter 57: Metacraft Cybernetics (4)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (4)


    As we entered the second research building, a chilling cold could be felt. Although only the orange emergency guidance lights were on in the dark interior, there was so much light pouring out from the lights mounted on the soldiers'' shoulders that visibility wasn''t restricted.


    Thick shadows stretched out from the drums marked with biohazard signs, forklifts, and pallets stacked with boxes. I was skimming through the data we had secured from the computer on the second floor of the hall earlier. Thanks to that, I learned about two technologies being developed at this research facility.


    The first was a VR training system. It allowed soldiers to repeatedly experience real combat scenarios without the costs, injuries, or risks of death associated with actual training. Could there be a proposal more exciting for generals than this?


    That was what was being researched here. Although VR training itself was a technology already realized abroad, few countries possessed it, and those that did strictly guarded the technology, so self-development was mandatory.


    Moreover, what was being researched here was a more advanced version that added sensory simulation to the VR training. The fact that its core technology was initially developed for use in VR pornography is awkward, to say the least.


    [The VR simulation being developed here isn''t just for infantry combat; it also includes various equipment operations as part of a comprehensive training program.]


    Artemis commented as she skimmed through the data.


    [There are many obstacles to overcome, but the development records show steady progress. If the research had continued normally, it could have been commercialized within five years. They might have been able to mass-produce experienced elite soldiers.]


    "Mass-producing elite soldiers with VR? That¡¯s like saying you can mass-produce cycling champions by making better training wheels."


    An elite soldier is made through real combat or training that closely simulates it, not in a video game.


    [This is a typical reaction from a veteran soldier encountering new technology, isn''t it?]


    "This isn''t just stubbornness. It''s not even distrust of new technology. It''s that there are too many side effects when you try to use this to create talents whose ultimate destination is the battlefield."


    [The latest technologies can provide extremely realistic experiences. With sensory stimulation systems, they can even simulate a sense of danger or survival instinct, which is often neglected in VR. It feels indistinguishable from reality.]


    Is she a VR training advocate? Well, cyberspace is, in a sense, her homeland. My words might have come across as criticizing the place where she¡¯s spent her whole life.


    "No matter how real it feels, VR is ultimately not reality. When you make a serious mistake, what you get isn''t injury or death, just a deduction in points. That¡¯s the problem."


    I''ve seen firsthand what kind of side effects this can have on the battlefield.


    "There was a guy among my comrades who had completed a year-long VR training program in the US. He had cleared 120 combat experiences, not only based on domestic battles like the Korean War, North Korean infiltrations, and Operation Dawn of Aden, but also based on actual combat from abroad."


    He boasted as if he were a legendary war hero starting his second life.


    "In training, he was always at the front, full of enthusiasm and energy. Even in courses that would make even the most gutsy hesitate, he would charge right in without a second thought."


    [Isn¡¯t that a good thing?]


    "The problem is that all of this was in a training scenario. The guy treated everything he did like a game."


    Even after several comrades pointed it out to him, he never, ever admitted it.


    "He was confident, leaping into battle like it was a game, but he deluded himself into thinking he was taking it seriously. It was exactly the ideal mindset the higher-ups had hoped for when they introduced VR training."


    [Did he die?]


    Artemis, who had been listening silently, asked. She seemed to recall the son of a general I had mentioned before.


    "He did. And it was a horrific death."


    I still remember it vividly.


    "That face, full of bravado and courage right up until the moment of deployment, disappeared in an instant. His abdomen was torn apart like rags by two machine-gun bullets, and his intestines spilled out. A comrade beside him, hands trembling, tried to push the intestines back into his stomach, but even those were shredded."


    On the way to the helicopter, the sandwich he''d been eating during our small talk was leaking out between his intestines.


    "Do you know what the emotion in his eyes was when we made eye contact just before he died? If I had to sum it up in one word, it was ¡®Huh?''"


    ¡®Huh?¡¯ or ¡®Wait, this isn¡¯t right.¡¯


    "When he got shot, and pain, cold, and the fear of death rushed over him, he finally realized the harsh reality. VR is just a system that mass-produces artificial heroes who are numb to reality."


    I remember his fading eyes reaching out into the empty air. Was he looking for a reset button? Or was he hallucinating? There¡¯s no way to know. And I don''t want to know.


    The second technology was something beyond imagination. It had been temporarily named the "Neural Response Amplifier." The original VR technology research was an experiment aimed at transferring the user''s sensory organs, and even their mind, into virtual space. But then, something interesting happened during the process.


    A test subject connected to the virtual space slowly counted to ten, but in reality, less than three seconds had passed. Initially, the researchers considered this effect to be just a nuisance interfering with virtual reality access, but they then realized¡ªwhat if this effect could be controlled voluntarily in reality?


    By increasing the speed of neural response, one could maintain cognitive and motor functions while slowing down the flow of real-world time. In short, they had managed to implement bullet time, a phenomenon typically seen in games or movies.


    This technology would have immense potential in sports or medical fields, but its value as military technology was unparalleled. However, from the emails exchanged by the researchers, it didn''t seem like the research was being conducted in a particularly ethical manner.


    Type: Internal Communication


    Level: Top Secret


    Sender: Chief Researcher Shim Hyunseok


    Recipient: Lab Director Park Jaesung


    Subject: This is a breach of contract.


    Director, did you know that all the clinical trial subjects sent to our lab this time were prisoners brought in by force? This wasn¡¯t part of the contract we made with the Ministry of Defense. We agreed to only use voluntary civilian applicants.


    At first, they sent healthy volunteers, then foreigners started being mixed in, and now it''s all prisoners. On top of that, the experiment levels you¡¯ve ordered are too harsh. This isn¡¯t a clinical trial, it¡¯s human experimentation! I can¡¯t continue like this.


    (End of log)


    About two hours later, a reply appeared on the log.


    Type: Internal Communication


    Level: Top Secret


    Sender: Lab Director Park Jaesung


    Recipient: Chief Researcher Shim Hyunseok


    Subject: You bastard.


    If I tell you to do it, just do it! Who cares if you can or can¡¯t? Do you think the military inside the lab is here just for security? You want to quit? Go ahead and try! The soldiers guarding this place will kindly drive you out. Don¡¯t be surprised if they ask you to step out of the car in the middle of a field. It¡¯s just a bathroom break, haha.


    (End of log)


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Such things would have been unimaginable in Korea 20 years ago, but given the situation just before the outbreak, it¡¯s not that surprising. Worse things happened then. At least they used illegal immigrants before turning to their own prisoners¡ªthat¡¯s the one saving grace.


    The fate of those prisoners was clear. In the lab marked H1-1, skeletons in orange prison uniforms were strapped to white experimental tables. Cables extended from their necks to machines below the tables, likely VR access devices.


    They didn¡¯t die from a failed experiment, though. Each skull had a bullet hole. The PDA in the corner revealed the whole story. Next to it was a soldier¡¯s corpse with his head blown off, still holding a gun in his mouth.


    I played the recording on the PDA.


    ¡°Shoot them now!¡±


    ¡°Sir, I can¡¯t do it.¡±


    (Sounds of gunfire and screaming)


    ¡°Shoot! That¡¯s an order!¡±


    ¡°But how can I shoot my own countrymen?¡±


    (Sounds of monsters roaring)


    ¡°This is Dr. Jang Chunsoo, head of clinical trials. We must dispose of the subjects! Their neural response speed is up to 2.5 times faster than normal. If they mutate, we can¡¯t imagine the horrors that will result. We have to act immediately!¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    (Gunfire, soldiers screaming, and the monster¡¯s growl closing in.)


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    (Thud!)


    (Short scream and a dull crashing sound)


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself, you bastard. If you survive this, tear off your sergeant stripes. Useless idiot.¡±


    (Single gunshots ringing out one by one.)


    ¡°Dr. Jang, let''s move.¡±


    ¡°Yes, General!¡±


    ¡°That guy¡¯s whining after a soft kick. Crawl if you want to live, or just die here. Your choice.¡±


    (End of communication)


    The lab labeled H1-2 was also filled with bodies with bullet holes in their heads. The real problem was H1-3. The experiment tables there were empty, with only shredded remains of soldiers left behind. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 58: Metacraft Cybernetics (5)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (5)


    When we reached the third research wing, a firefight broke out. A squad member walking second in line instinctively aimed his gun upwards. But the infected creature dressed in a researcher''s uniform was faster, descending from above.


    With a loud noise, they tumbled together into a heap, and the infected ended up in a mounted position on top. Its skin was dark brown, its left eye clouded over like a decaying fish''s, and its right eye was buried under a mass of tumors, rendering it invisible. As it opened its cracked, parched face, its mouth, the only moist part, revealed a row of sharp teeth resembling those of a tigerfish.


    ¡°Kieeek!¡±


    It roared in the squad member''s face, drooling foul saliva between its long black teeth, dripping onto the lenses of the soldier¡¯s robotic eyes. However, the red light behind the mechanical lenses did not waver in the slightest.


    ¡°Guek!¡±


    The soldier beneath reached out with his right hand, gripping the infected creature''s throat. His steel grip quickly dug into the creature¡¯s neck, causing black fluid to ooze from the wound. The creature flailed, trying to remove the hand, but it was immovable.


    The squad member struck the creature''s mouth with his left fist. A loud cracking sound followed as many of the sharp black teeth shattered, spilling onto the soldier''s face.


    ¡°Keeek!¡±


    Black blood poured from the broken teeth, and soon after, the creature collapsed with its head gushing blood from a rain of bullets.


    Suddenly, eerie cries echoed from throughout the once-quiet research facility. The infected had detected the intruders. In the dark hallways of the second floor, black shadows began to rise one by one. Soon after, footsteps could be heard from deep within the dark tunnel ahead.


    ¡°Fall back and form a fire line at the tunnel,¡± I ordered.


    No sooner had I spoken than three infected creatures jumped down from the ceiling near the entrance, directly above us. Instantly, the squad''s guns blazed. Two of the creatures were hit multiple times before they even landed and collapsed, while the third had its jaw shattered by the butt of a rifle, sending it tumbling.


    ¡°Kieeek!¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The creature sprang up, now resembling a ghost with a dislocated jaw straight out of a horror movie. The upper teeth protruded grotesquely, and beneath them, a black tongue flicked. It could no longer bite anyone in that condition.


    Unbothered by pain, the creature lunged forward, but it was quickly felled by bullets piercing through its face, spilling blood as it crumpled to the ground.


    The squad members swiftly retreated towards the tunnel. In a typical army, they would have turned their backs and run, with a few self-sacrificing soldiers firing intermittently to hold off the infected. But these were robots. Their tactical movements were completely different from a human army.


    Only a few squad members maintained a rear guard while retreating upright. The rest backpedaled rapidly, firing at the pursuing infected. The scene, though almost comical, was incredibly efficient in combat.


    ¡°Kieeek!¡±


    ¡°Keeek!¡±


    Soon, infected creatures appeared from the tunnel beyond. They were dressed in white lab coats, worker uniforms, military fatigues, and other clothing. But we had already secured our position in the tunnel, allowing us to establish a fire line. The first row of squad members took a kneeling position, while the second row stood and aimed their weapons.


    ¡°Open fire!¡±


    All the gun barrels erupted in flames simultaneously. The sight of an entire squad firing in unison in such a narrow space was a spectacle. The muzzle flashes bloomed like hundreds of orange flowers, endlessly blooming and wilting in mere moments. Despite the cold underground environment, heat began to rise, and the thick smoke of gunpowder filled the air.


    [Reloading.]


    [Reloading.]


    [Reloading.]


    Each squad member adjusted their firing pace, ensuring that someone was always firing while others reloaded, preventing any lapse in firepower.


    Unlike the initial command to fire, there was no need for a ceasefire order. The squad members, with their far more precise mechanical vision, stopped firing the moment the last infected fell, cutting through the darkness and gunpowder smoke.


    [Damage report. No friendly casualties. Remaining ammunition at 81%.]


    One squad leader reported on behalf of the others.


    ¡°Confirm the kills of those without head wounds, and begin the search.¡±


    [Roger.]


    The squad members dispersed in pairs to search the area where the battle had taken place. The dense gunpowder smoke spread slowly, filling the research wing.


    ¡°Being underground, the smoke won¡¯t dissipate. I¡¯d like to at least get the ventilation system running.¡±


    [The disaster prevention room is in the next block,] Artemis informed me.


    [Excuse me.]


    A heavy mechanical voice behind me prompted me to step aside. The squad member seemed to be heading for a cabinet in front of me. Kneeling down, he opened the box, and I continued the conversation.


    ¡°They¡¯re good at more than just combat. They search thoroughly on their own without any need for instruction¡­¡±


    At that moment, something burst out of the cabinet with a loud noise.


    ¡°Kiriririk!¡±


    It was a monster resembling a lamprey. The squad member, caught off guard while opening the box, partially allowed the creature to invade his mouth.


    The box clanged shut as the squad member dropped it, trying to pull the creature out of his mouth, but to no avail. The creature''s body was coated in a slippery mucus, and no matter how much he tried to grab it, his hands kept slipping.


    Even with the superior grip of steel robotic hands, it was no use. Three other squad members, who had been searching nearby, quickly rushed over and aimed their guns.


    ¡°Is this the thing that infects machines?¡±


    [The appearance is different. If it''s a variant with similar abilities, that would be a different story.]


    Despite the chaos, the struggle between the squad member and the lamprey-like creature was nearing its end.


    The creature had given up on entering and was trying to escape. It seemed to be a small parasite designed for biological infection, but when it failed to find an esophagus or trachea inside the robotic soldier, it realized it had made a mistake.


    Just as it was about to flee, the soldier drew his combat knife and skewered the creature in the center as it slipped from his mouth.


    ¡°Kirik!¡±


    The creature, now impaled on the knife like a living sausage, thrashed wildly, but the more it struggled, the deeper the wound became.


    How should we deal with it? Are they just going to shoot it now?


    While I was pondering that, the robot showcased a far more brutal execution method. It flipped the knife around and slammed it down onto the nearby desk.


    Clang!


    Sparks flew as the blade buried itself deep into the desk, firmly pinning the creature between the knife and the desk handle. Then, without hesitation, the robot raised its other fist and delivered a powerful punch.


    Thud!


    But it didn¡¯t stop there.


    Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Two hits, three hits, four, five! When the robot finally raised its bloodied metal fist, the desk was dented, and the creature¡¯s head was nothing but a pulped mess.


    ¡°No way I¡¯m taking off this gas mask,¡± I said, fiddling with the mask I was wearing.


    [See? I told you, fool.]


    This battlefield was insane. Before I even had to worry about contaminants, the gas mask was proving useful for sheer physical protection.


    [I¡¯ll upgrade it to be more breathable and durable when we get back home.]


    After that brief incident, the search resumed.


    As before, various items looted from the area were uploaded to my PDA.


    ¡°Rings? Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±


    [Yes, wedding rings. We collected all of them from the ring fingers.]


    Most were simple gold bands, but a few had gemstones. Either way, they could be repurposed as industrial materials. Still¡­


    ¡°Taking wedding rings feels a bit wrong, though.¡±


    [They¡¯re useless to the dead. Think of it as compensation for granting them peace. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re pulling out gold teeth.]


    Fair point. Humans may attach special meanings to specific items, but in times like these, that¡¯s a luxury we can¡¯t afford. Artemis¡¯s last comment, though, sparked my curiosity.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯d even pull out gold teeth if they had any?¡±


    [I would¡¯ve if there were any. But it seems that when they turn into infected, their original teeth fall out, and new ones grow in.]


    Figures.


    ¡°Why did you grab the Calorie Balance and Shark Bites?¡±


    It¡¯s a short mission, and I brought my own food supplies. There¡¯s no need to stock up on local rations.


    [They aren¡¯t available in our city. I¡¯ll scan them for replication. Having more snack options isn¡¯t a bad thing.]


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the frugal homemaker.¡±


    Most of the snacks we had in the city were from a single company we partnered with. I wouldn¡¯t mind more variety, honestly.


    [Whether it¡¯s centuries-old traditional foods or industrial snack products like these, any food we don¡¯t secure will vanish forever.]


    Aside from striving for the city¡¯s completeness, she also had a deep-rooted passion for knowledge preservation.


    ¡°I wish there were Choco Pies instead of Shark Bites.¡±


    [What are you talking about? We already produce those.]


    She pulled up the PDA, displaying the registered food items.


    FL105551 Choco Pie


    The code name, product name, and an image were attached.


    ¡°I meant the ones from Orion.¡±


    [There¡¯s no significant difference in the content.]


    ¡°The taste difference is like night and day.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t kidding. Even during deployments, when handing out snacks to local kids, the information I could get was vastly different depending on whether I offered the real Orion product or a knockoff.


    While we chatted, the search was completed, and we headed to the next research wing.


    ¡°Not much loot this time.¡±


    [Low risk, low return. Don¡¯t expect too much and just proceed steadily.]


    With her reassurance, we entered the tunnel.


    There are three things that are most terrifying in battle:


    Stray bullets and artillery.


    This is like a natural disaster, a bolt out of the blue. At least we don¡¯t have to worry about that in our fight with the infected.


    Stupid allies.


    I was getting more familiar with the faces of the squad members as they glanced through the darkness, and they were beginning to feel more familiar to me now. With their enhanced physical abilities and Artemis¡¯ incredible programming, their combat skills surpassed any soldiers I¡¯d ever encountered. Even better than my past comrades, I must admit. No offense to them.


    Unpredictable enemies.


    This is the most dangerous aspect. We have no idea how fast, strong, or numerous these cybernetically enhanced infected are. But that¡¯s exactly why we came to this research facility¡ªto obtain that very technology. To do that, we need to investigate every wing.


    As the tunnel ended, the fourth hall came into view. I maintained my tension as we stepped inside.

 Chapter 59: Metacraft Cybernetics (6)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (6)


    The fourth area was not a research wing but a facility wing. It had a large hall like the others, but instead of laboratories on either side, there were various equipment rooms.


    As soon as we entered the hall, we began searching from the second floor. The squads, paired up in teams of two, quickly ascended the stairs. Two teams disappeared from sight, and as the third team went up, a strange cry echoed from the second floor.


    ¡°Kiiie¡ª¡±


    It was abruptly cut off.


    Thud! Thud! Crack!


    There was the sound of several people beating something violently, and then an infected creature was thrown down to the first-floor hall.


    Thud!


    It landed with a heavy thump with its neck seemingly broken. It just twitched and couldn¡¯t get up. In fact, other parts of its body were broken as well.


    ¡°Kek¡­¡±


    It spat out blood, flailing its limbs as it struggled with its twisted neck, but all it did was smear the floor.


    Crack!


    One of the squad members approached and crushed its head underfoot, silencing it.


    ¡°Keeeeeek¡ª!¡±


    A shadow rose from the corner of the hall. It was a female infected in a researcher¡¯s uniform, her skin like decaying wood with thick, black veins bulging grotesquely. The skirt she was wearing was torn, revealing her lower body completely. But no sane man would find that arousing, because where there should have been a vagina, there was a snake-like tentacle protruding.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª!¡±


    It even made a hissing sound like a snake. From the tip of the tentacle, something round began moving along its length, like watching a snake swallowing a mouse in reverse.


    Without waiting any longer, I opened fire. Several holes appeared in the infected woman¡¯s head, and she collapsed backward, but it wasn¡¯t over.


    ¡°Kriiiiik¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Krik¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Kriiiiik¡ª!¡±


    The tentacle attached to her lower body continued spewing out small monsters, the same eel-like creatures we had seen in the previous research wing. They leaped around, scattering in all directions, but they didn¡¯t last long before being shot and blown apart. Dozens of bullets flew into the abdomen of the dead infected woman as well.


    ¡°Ceasefire.¡± After confirming the creature was thoroughly shredded, I gave the ceasefire command, and some squad members approached the body.


    Thump! Thud! Thud!


    Just in case, they stomped repeatedly on the ruined uterus and the limp tentacle. Those were the only two infected creatures in this area.


    ¡°We¡¯ve located the disaster prevention room,¡± one of the squad members reported.


    The disaster prevention room, as the name suggests, was a place designed to handle emergencies. It housed the controls for fire hydrants and sprinklers installed for fire emergencies. Normally, it handled air circulation, but in case of fire, it could quickly expel toxic gases. It also contained controls for lighting and surveillance cameras, making it the central control room for the entire facility.


    Due to the unique nature of this lab, the disaster prevention room also served as a command center in emergencies. As a result, the door wasn¡¯t an ordinary one but a thick, heavy, vault-like metal door. It seemed the last stand had been made here, as corpses of both soldiers and infected were strewn everywhere.


    A scientist¡¯s body lay in front of the entrance to the room. I tugged on the ID badge hanging around their neck, causing their skeletal remains to shift.


    ¡°Head Clinical Researcher, Jang Chunsoo.¡±


    [A scientist who worked with the defense commander here]


    Artemis commented.


    The bodies of the soldiers scattered around bore numerous gunshot wounds, suggesting friendly fire during the chaos. I approached the entrance to the disaster prevention room and spoke to the authentication machine.


    ¡°Open the door.¡±


    As I had already been registered as the commander at the entrance, it should have recognized the command. But the door didn¡¯t open.


    Beep-beep¡ª!


    A rejection beep sounded.


    [Access denied. Warning: A large number of unauthorized personnel and deceased individuals have been detected within the facility. In accordance with security protocols, contact has been made with the designated military unit. Access to the disaster prevention room is restricted until the issue is resolved. All personnel are advised to cooperate with the quick-reaction force upon arrival]


    A woman¡¯s voice announced over the speaker system. I glanced at the robots guarding the perimeter.


    ¡°They¡¯re not counting these guys as unauthorized personnel, are they?¡±


    Could the system be that faulty?


    [No, it¡¯s probably detecting remaining infected]


    Artemis said.


    ¡°We¡¯ve cleared everything up to this point, haven¡¯t we? Every non-skeletal being we¡¯ve encountered has gotten a bullet to the head.¡±


    I turned my gaze toward the fifth research wing. Beyond the dark tunnel, the hall was faintly visible.


    ¡°Are you saying there are still some left in there?¡±


    [Most likely.]


    I checked the minimap on the PDA. It had been uploaded when we first authenticated ourselves at the entrance to the underground lab. The fifth research wing was the largest, more than twice the size of the other wings.


    I pulled a flashbang from my belt. Some of the squad members followed my lead, equipping their own flashbangs.


    According to the data, the fifth research wing, located deepest in the lab, was the most critical area. Neural acceleration, a technology so powerful that the military was interested enough to fund illegal research. It was the main reason we had come here, and we couldn¡¯t miss out on it now.


    ¡°Their neural response speeds can be accelerated up to 2.5 times that of a normal human. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what kind of terrifying monsters might be born if they mutate after being exposed to the infection.¡±


    I recalled the voice log from a researcher and the empty experimental stations in Lab H1-3, as well as the soldiers who had died, torn apart. It seemed like the result of that research was waiting for us beyond that dark passageway.


    [We could still turn back.]


    Artemis suggested. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Leave the most important thing behind?¡± I asked.


    [I¡¯m not ignoring the danger these infected creatures pose, but their threat is also a variable beyond combat.]


    A recording of my earlier words played back.


    [Infected creatures merged with the lab¡¯s latest technology. That¡¯s a variable both outside and within combat. We didn¡¯t factor in something like this before we left. There¡¯s no guarantee that what¡¯s beyond is something we even need. The risk is high compared to the potential reward.]


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Her words made quite a bit of sense. After pondering for a moment, I made up my mind.


    Click!


    I pulled the safety pin from a flash grenade.


    Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!


    As I removed the pin, the waiting squad members also pulled their pins in unison. Naturally, we were all still holding onto the safety handles, ready.


    Part of me thought about just turning back, but it felt too much of a waste to come this far and leave without the final reward. And compared to the poorly trained reservists, we had a squad of robot soldiers, each with a steel body and top-tier combat skills.


    ¡°Sorry, but I need to see this through to the end.¡±


    [I figured you¡¯d say that.]


    Artemis said, as if unable to stop me.


    One flash grenade flew to the end of the corridor. And then, after a brief moment.


    Bang!


    Though not as powerful as a grenade, a significant explosion echoed, filling the tunnel beyond with a bright white flash.


    ¡°Kyaoooo!¡± A screech, different from the typical infected creatures. Dark silhouettes rose from the end of the tunnel.


    ¡°Next.¡±


    The second flash grenade flew out.


    Bang!


    The screech grew louder, filled with anger and murderous intent. The third flash grenade followed suit.


    ¡°Kyaom¡ª¡±


    Bang!


    The screech was cut short with the third explosion. Then, the fourth flash grenade flew out.


    This was a technique I often used in my former unit. Enemies always expect one or two flashes before an assault, and it¡¯s hard to cause real confusion with just that. But by throwing them one after another, I disoriented their senses and vigilance, until they had no idea how many more were coming. Of course, this strategy was meant for human opponents. I had no intention of attacking first when unknown monsters were lurking ahead.


    Bang!


    By the time the fourth flash grenade went off, the creatures seemed to realize where this annoying attack was coming from. I could feel their fiery gazes fixating on us as they rushed forward at incredible speed.


    After throwing the remaining flash grenades, everyone¡¯s guns simultaneously erupted in fire without anyone needing to call it out. It was the same situation as when we had wiped out the hordes of infected creatures in the previous research facility. However, there was a problem. They were approaching too quickly. Moreover¡­


    ¡°They¡¯re zigzagging!¡±


    Unlike other infected creatures, these weren¡¯t just charging mindlessly; they were moving in zigzags as they closed the distance. Despite the common belief that such movements slow you down in real combat, these creatures moved with terrifying speed, making it highly effective.


    Before even half of the magazines were emptied, one of them had already reached the lead squad member¡¯s face. They moved so fast that it seemed as if they disappeared and reappeared intermittently.


    ¡°Damn it, it said 2.5 times faster!¡±


    This was far beyond 2.5 times.


    [Fall back!]


    Before Artemis could warn me, I was already retreating. My squad members moved forward, forming layers of steel walls in front of me.


    ¡°Kuweeeek!¡±


    The lead creature collapsed right in front of us after taking countless bullets. The problem was, it wasn¡¯t alone. Another one, weaving through the hail of bullets, swung its arm.


    Clang!


    With a fierce impact, one squad member¡¯s neck sparked, and his left arm hung limply. The hydraulics connecting to the left arm had been destroyed. But these steel soldiers felt no pain or panic. With his functioning right arm, the squad member fired back at the mutant.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Despite firing one-handed, there was barely any deviation, but the creature was dodging wildly, moving side to side. It was hard enough to track its movements with my eyes, let alone shoot it. Even for a security robot, hitting a target with such rapid, erratic movements one-handed was nearly impossible.


    Bang!


    Before it could fire his fourth shot, the mutant struck its neck again.


    Clang!


    The K2 rifle fell to the ground as the squad member lost power in both arms, the hydraulics destroyed.


    ¡°Those hands¡­¡±


    The creature¡¯s fingers were more than twice as long as a human¡¯s, glistening with a metallic, dark blue hue, sharp as blades. Though riddled with bullets, the creature finally collapsed.


    ¡°Gyaaarrrgh.¡±


    No matter how fast they moved, we outnumbered them, and our calm precision gave us the upper hand. However, once they got too close, the risk of friendly fire limited our shooting, and that¡¯s where cracks started to form.


    One squad member blocked an incoming claw aimed at its neck with his rifle.


    Shhhh!


    The mutant¡¯s razor-sharp fingers sliced through half of the barrel and magazine, but the squad member swung the stock of the rifle in retaliation.


    The stock, aimed at the mutant¡¯s jaw, hit nothing but air. The mutant, crouching on all fours like a frog, leaped onto the squad member, sending them tumbling together. The mutant landed on top, in a mount position.


    Clang! Clang!


    Scratch!


    It wildly swung both arms, slashing at the squad member, who raised its arms to protect its neck and face. Moments later, support fire rained down from all directions, turning the mutant into a shredded mess.


    The squad member, who had been pinned, stood up and drew his backup rifle from his back. Although he had avoided fatal injuries, only three fingers remained on his left hand, and his right hand was nearly severed, making proper aiming difficult. And yet, he didn¡¯t even get to fire a single shot.


    Crunch!


    Razor-sharp fingers pierced through the back of his neck. As the mutant withdrew its hand, sparks flew, and the squad member collapsed, motionless. A nearby squad member fired at the mutant, but it was already gone by the time the bullets reached. He fired again, but missed, and by the third shot, the creature had closed the distance.


    Crunch!


    The K2 rifle, raised instinctively to block, was split in two. The squad member, realizing it was too late to draw his backup weapon, rushed in for close combat. But that attempt was thwarted. Another mutant appeared out of nowhere, as if using teleportation, grabbing his right arm, while the original target seized its left.


    Snap!


    With a sickening crunch, both arms were torn from the squad member¡¯s body. Sparks flew from the stumps, and he stood there, disoriented, until the next moment, when a mutant slashed his throat.


    Despite the losses, we didn¡¯t go down without a fight. In the brief clash, we quickly established a response strategy. All units, except those guarding me, spread out and crouched low to avoid friendly fire risks.


    Any squad member who allowed the creatures to get too close focused on protecting their vital areas. While their rifles were quickly destroyed, each had a spare strapped to their back.


    The attacking mutants, now more predictable, were shot from the sides and rear, outside their field of view. It was a tactic based on allowing some level of enemy approach and attack, something a human squad could never pull off. Now I understood why the original garrison had been wiped out¡ªhalf of them likely died from friendly fire.


    ¡°Kyaaarrrgh!¡±


    The last mutant collapsed, riddled with bullets, and the battle came to an end. After glancing beyond the dark tunnel for a moment, I scanned my access card at the fire control room''s entrance again. This time, the door opened. That meant all threats in the underground lab had been neutralized. In total, there had been 12 mutated infected creatures.


    This was the first real battle, rather than a one-sided slaughter, since I had started leading these robot soldiers. We had taken losses, but they were within acceptable limits. Three security robots were rendered inoperable, two had their combat efficiency reduced to less than half, and eight sustained light damage. Eleven K2 rifles were also destroyed.


    Having overwhelmed ordinary infected creatures so far, I had almost believed these steel soldiers were invincible. I had underestimated the unpredictability of these new enemies. That was a mistake.


    [Welcome, Commander Seo Jinsoo.]


    The fire control room door opened, revealing the control systems inside. There, sitting in a duty officer¡¯s chair, was a corpse wearing a uniform adorned with two stars. Beneath its limp right hand lay a handgun and a barely smoked Marlboro cigarette.

 Chapter 60: Metacraft Cybernetics (7)

    Metacraft Cybernetics (7)


    The remains of the general, now reduced to a skeleton, lay slumped in the chair while staring down at the floor.


    "A commander who lost all his troops."


    I, too, had led many troops during my active duty, and I had experienced the loss of subordinates I had shared meals and familiar faces with.


    The emotions I felt back then¡ªanger, sadness, fear. Because they weren''t soldiers I was particularly close with, those feelings didn''t overwhelm my daily life. But in terms of vividness, those memories stand out more than anything else.


    What would it have been like if I had lost comrades I was close to? What if the memories of loss, piling up over time like clothes soaked by a drizzle, weighed heavier and heavier on my mind?


    On the CCTV footage, I saw security robots searching Research Wing 5 in pairs.


    "Seeing it like this, having robots around is really convenient."


    [Of course. They''re stronger and more efficient than a human army.]


    Artemis responded as if it were obvious.


    "That''s true, but I''m talking about something else."


    Not far from here, several robots lay scattered on the ground, their bodies damaged from the intense battle they had fought. After the operation is over, they''ll be brought back to the shelter for repairs. If that''s not possible, they''ll be dismantled for parts.


    "It''s a dangerous world, and we''re on a dangerous journey. But even if we lose soldiers, I don''t feel conflicted about it."


    I picked up the fallen pistol. A notification appeared on the PDA about the item I had collected. In a typical situation, I''d search the general''s body for a security card or something similar, but that wasn''t necessary. As a reserve commander, I had secured full control of the base, and that authority had been transferred to Artemis.


    "Show me the footage from each area. Have all the infected been cleared?"


    Artemis zoomed in on one of the dozens of CCTV monitor feeds. A few infected, wearing hard hats and construction uniforms, were seen wandering around what looked like a sewer.


    [There are a few, but they''re trapped in the reservoir room below. There''s no need to worry. Just leave them there.]


    I considered sending a squad to finish them off but decided against it. No point in stirring up trouble when I didn''t know what might happen.


    "Turn on the lights in the underground lab and run the ventilation at full capacity. The air down here is half-rotten, and the smell of gunpowder is thick."


    [Understood.]


    As Artemis replied, the CCTV monitors all blinked white before the visuals slowly returned. With the lights now on, I could see previously unnoticed details¡ªtraces of infection spreading right after the incident. What stood out were the blood-stained handprints all over the glass walls of the lab.


    When I replayed the CCTV footage from the time of infection, it was utter chaos. Soldiers going from wing to wing, executing test subjects strapped to the experiment tables, were ambushed and killed in confusion by the infected from both sides.


    Soldiers firing at the fast-moving mutated infected, accidentally gunning down their own comrades in the process. A soldier who, while lying on the ground with his head in his hands, reached out with just one arm among the infected before succumbing.


    Another soldier, staring in disbelief at the hand that pierced his back and out of his chest, spat out blood in shock. Researchers who fled, only to be gunned down by friendly fire, collapsing like a hive struck down. At that point, the few remaining soldiers didn¡¯t even seem to care if they were shooting at monsters or survivors.


    One researcher, in a desperate bid, tried to hang himself with a makeshift noose in a corner of the lab. But the noose broke, causing him to fail in his suicide attempt. As he lay on the floor gasping, he was discovered by the infected. Frantically, he tried to tie the rope again to the ceiling, but before he could finish, the door was broken down, and he was dragged away by the infected while screaming in terror.


    [Sector secured. No life signs detected. The area is safe.]


    A report came in from the squad that was sweeping Research Wing 5.


    "Good. We''re moving." I grabbed my rifle again and headed toward the last research wing. Now was the moment to achieve the final objective of coming to this research facility.


    At the end of the tunnel, there was even an improvised checkpoint like you''d expect to find in a military base. I realized that placing the disaster prevention room in the middle wasn¡¯t just for operational reasons. It was probably to reinforce security by stationing military forces there.


    As soon as I entered the last research wing, I was shocked by what I saw.


    "Of course, there was a reason to keep this place so tightly locked up."


    [This is less of a research wing and more like a mass surgery room.]


    Artemis was right. The final area, Research Wing 5, was more like a field hospital. Everywhere I looked, there were surgical tables. The tools and restraints scattered around suggested the procedures performed here were anything but normal. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Each surgical table had cables on it, the ends of which were stained with dried blood. The cables all converged at the center of the research wing, where a massive machine stood.


    "Is this the machine used for neural acceleration research?"


    [Technically, it¡¯s a prototype virtual reality experience machine. But unlike typical VR, this one doesn¡¯t work indirectly. It transfers the entire human consciousness into a virtual space.]


    The machine looked nothing like I had imagined. I had expected a huge computer or something resembling an MRI machine from a hospital, but my imagination must have fallen short.


    "This¡­ is a brain in a vat?¡±


    Literally, right in front of me was a massive glass tank large enough to hold an adult elephant. Inside, there was a brain filling about 30% of the tank''s volume. The cables extending from each surgical table entered the tank and connected to the long spinal cord bundle at the base of the brain.


    The sight of this fusion between biological spinal tissue and inorganic cables¡­ Should I be in awe of their technological prowess? Or feel horrified? If this place had been lined with the bodies of test subjects all hooked up to it, it would have been even more grotesque.


    While I was walking around the brain in the tank and observing it, Artemis was absorbing all the data from this research sector.


    [I¡¯ve reviewed all the research logs. The initial study was like The Matrix, trying to link a human brain to a computer. Well, it''s not a revolutionary idea¡ªpretty common thinking, really.]


    "What were the results?"


    [Complete failure. As simple as the concept was, its execution was extraordinarily difficult. Making the human brain, a biological organ, compatible with machinery is no easy feat. It¡¯s something you¡¯d only expect to see in a movie. At least with the current level of technology.]


    She wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Androids.


    Artificial intelligence with a sense of self.


    Commercialized nuclear fusion power.


    We¡¯ve achieved many things that people a generation ago would have scoffed at as impossible. But not everything has become feasible.


    Among those barriers, the hardest one to overcome is ourselves. While technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, the ways we command it remain analog. Many research projects have tried to solve this, but none have succeeded. The gap between organic life and machines is simply too wide.


    [So the scientists here changed their approach. If it was too hard to merge biology with machines, what about fusing two biological entities together instead? Specifically, with a biological computer that has a neural network similar to the human brain.]


    ¡°How did they make that thing?¡±


    It looked nothing like a human brain, in form or size.


    [That brain was made somewhere else and sent here. Unfortunately, its origin has been erased from the records, so I can¡¯t tell you where. I¡¯m curious too.]


    ¡°Is it still alive?¡±


    The massive brain was immersed in some bubbling fluid, and it didn¡¯t look to be in bad shape from the outside.


    [No, according to the records, it stopped functioning biologically two days after the infection outbreak. It seems to require incredibly precise maintenance to keep it working.]


    ¡°Would it be worth taking it with us?¡±


    It seemed valuable for research purposes. Maybe not for me, but Artemis might be able to extract something useful from it.


    [No need for that. It¡¯s too big to carry, and it¡¯s already rotten inside, so it¡¯s practically useless. Besides, I¡¯ve secured all the research on neural acceleration, so we¡¯ve got what we came for.]


    From the computers connected to the giant brain, I was able to retrieve all the data on neural acceleration. Apparently, the technology had been completed just before the outbreak. After that, they were focusing on increasing response speed and researching ways to alleviate the neural strain caused by it.


    [Let¡¯s head back. Our job here is done.]


    I nodded in agreement to Artemis¡¯s words.


    ¡°Let¡¯s pull out.¡±


    I felt both the thrill of completing my first external expedition and the excitement of returning home. And one more thing¡ªthe pounding anticipation in my chest. The incredible movements displayed by the mutated infected¡­ I now had in my hands the technology that made them possible.


    For any soldier, the idea of implants that enhance combat ability and survivability has always been something to aspire to. But with the enormous costs involved, it was usually an impossible dream. Only the privileged, like my fellow cadet, who happened to be the son of a general, could afford it.


    Competing against someone like that, who began their military career with enhancements, was frustrating. Because regardless of effort or talent, the gap in promotions¡ªthe most crucial thing for a soldier¡ªwas significant.


    The world may have changed now, rendering promotions and the military meaningless, but I¡¯d finally gotten my hands on the enhancement implants I¡¯d always longed for. It felt like I¡¯d become a child who had finally received the toy he¡¯d wanted for so long.

 Chapter 61: Life in the Shelter for Women (1)

    Life in the Shelter for Women (1)


    While Jinsoo and his special forces team ventured out into the outside world, the women who stayed behind in the shelter were enjoying a peaceful time.


    "Prisoners, regardless of gender, must be rough by nature."


    That¡¯s the general perception, but it¡¯s a misconception. Among them, there are many who are surprisingly gentle or timid to the point where you wonder how they ended up in such a place¡ªlike Park Yoojin, who is currently giving Nina a foot massage.


    Unlike the declining population of South Korea, the number of inmates sharply increased to the point that, right before the infection crisis, prisons were overcrowded. This was due to the government¡¯s implementation of severe punishments to restore order to a chaotic society, where crimes that once might have resulted in a warning or probation were met with absurdly heavy sentences.


    Yoojin was sentenced to three years and was sent to the offshore prison as soon as she was admitted.


    ¡°My name is Park Yoojin. I¡¯m serving a three-year sentence, and I used to work as a masseuse outside.¡±


    This was her introduction when she first entered the women''s prison on land.


    ¡°A massage? Hey, give my back a rub now that you''re here.¡±


    That was the first thing Nina, the leader of the room, said to her.


    Nina, a brown-haired beauty of Eastern European descent, sat against the wall with a peculiar smile. She appeared to be in her early-to-mid twenties and had a few bruises on her face, though they didn¡¯t detract from her looks. In fact, most of the other women in the room looked worse than she did, so it wasn¡¯t too noticeable.


    Later, Yoojin learned that Nina had only arrived a week earlier than she had. Nina had gotten into a fight with another woman outside, and though she received a punch, she returned it twentyfold, earning herself a ticket to prison. And by twentyfold, it wasn¡¯t just a matter of punch count¡ªtaking into account the power of her strikes, it was more like fortyfold. She was a Muay Thai practitioner.


    There was no way for her to claim self-defense. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It only took two days for Nina to go from the newest inmate to the room leader. After a fight broke out and she demonstrated her dominance, even women over ten years older didn¡¯t dare challenge her anymore. Timid Yoojin, from that day forward, became Nina¡¯s personal masseuse.


    For someone like Yoojin, who was born weak and lived as easy prey in human relationships, adapting to life in this shelter wasn¡¯t difficult. It was certainly better than her previous life in the offshore prison.


    She still shuddered at the memory of gathering rainwater in a barrel in that place, only to have it taken away by a stronger inmate before she could drink a single sip. She also remembered scaling the walls of the building with trembling limbs to drink stagnant water collected on the roof tiles due to unbearable thirst. The experience was nightmarish.


    Unable to wash properly, her skin had cracked, and when she urinated, the stench from her genitals was more pungent than the urine itself. Chronic itching left her skin red and inflamed, and the hunger gnawed at her even more than the itching.


    But everything was different once she arrived at this shelter. The food was delicious, clean water was readily available, and incredibly, she could take hot baths every day with no time restrictions.


    There was less tension and violence among the prisoners compared to a conventional prison, and being under Nina¡¯s protection, Yoojin didn¡¯t have to worry about those aspects either.


    Press Press


    Yoojin¡¯s thumb pressed firmly into the Yongcheon point on Nina¡¯s foot and held for two seconds. Deep wrinkles formed on Nina¡¯s pale sole as the pressure displaced the blood pooled there, sending it into the surrounding cells and muscles.


    This was the ebb of circulation. When Yoojin released the pressure, the blood returned, nourishing Nina¡¯s muscles and cells once again.


    This was the flow of circulation. Like the land after the Nile''s floodwaters receded, the nutrients and red blood cells left behind made Nina¡¯s foot even healthier.


    Nina¡¯s sole turned bright red from the powerful massage. Most women would have been in pain by now, but Nina hummed contentedly with her eyes closed, showing no sign of discomfort.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice that there are no bars here, right?¡±


    Another woman spoke from beside Yoojin, who was engrossed in the massage. Indeed, the absence of metal bars was a relief.


    While there could be many causes for prisoners developing mental illness, there was no doubt that the oppressive environment of metal bars played a significant role. However, here, everything was open. Though the shelter was fenced, within its grounds, there was complete freedom. In the midst of a global catastrophe, they had a safe haven with food, shelter, and clothing. Yoojin was content with her current life.


    "Uuuhh¡­"


    Meanwhile, some women wept uncontrollably. Now that their basic needs for survival were met, thoughts of the family they had left behind began to flood in. Watching the external footage provided by the city offered no sliver of hope.


    The women with strong mental fortitude thanked their luck for being able to live a relatively decent life in safety, but not everyone could cope so easily. For some, once they started crying, the tears wouldn¡¯t stop for two or three days. Unfortunately, these women didn¡¯t receive much sympathy.


    "Why are they crying so much when they¡¯ve got food and warmth?"


    Nina, who had been enjoying her foot massage on the heated floor with a content expression as if she were in heaven, suddenly stood up.


    Thud Thud Thud


    Her brown hair fluttered as she ran, resembling a lioness on the hunt. Soon after, the sound of blows and cries rang out, followed by silence.


    "Pfft, that bitch¡­"


    Someone muttered a curse at Nina, but surprisingly, few echoed the sentiment. The women who shared the dorm were a mix of awed and intimidated by Nina¡¯s rough and inconsiderate behavior, but at the same time, they looked forward to a quiet night of sleep.


    While Nina didn¡¯t act out for everyone¡¯s sake, she was always the one to take charge when there was a problem. Though occasionally, she would even turn on her own allies. Nina¡¯s charisma and leadership had been built from moments like these. Despite her brashness, the women had come to accept her as their leader.


    This was the reality of life for the women who were gradually adjusting to life in the underground city. In terms of food and shelter, the shelter far surpassed any prison, and with so many orphans, estranged individuals, and those with a "as long as it¡¯s not me" mentality, adaptation came swiftly.


    "Shit, my biggest regret is not getting to see that old geezer die. My wish was to spit on his grave at the funeral."


    Even among those who had families, there were plenty of women with the attitude of "why should I care?"


    At this time of day, they would normally be doing labor assigned under the guise of vocational training. However, since they had been taken in so suddenly, it seemed even the higher-ups were too disorganized to enforce anything.


    ¡°Man, this place is fancy.¡± A woman who looked to be in her late 30s spoke, and the others around her nodded in agreement, murmuring, ¡°Yeah, it really is.¡±


    From certain areas of the shelter, they could catch glimpses of the VIP residential area high up in the distance, making it a noteworthy sight.


    The internal screens informed them that those who were particularly well-behaved, showed exceptional productivity, or achieved outstanding results in upcoming events could be rewarded with a short vacation in the VIP area.


    The scenes from the video were nothing short of dazzling. It was a place that condensed all the pleasures and luxuries only a few people could afford, even when the world was still functioning normally. Meanwhile, there were others discussing more practical matters.


    ¡°Did you hear? They say we might be sent to a factory.¡±


    ¡°A factory? There?¡±


    One of the women in the group asked as she pointed toward the industrial complex in the central region.


    ¡°The facilities look good,¡± another woman who had previously worked in a factory remarked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never worked in a factory.¡±


    ¡°There won¡¯t be accidents where people lose fingers or anything, right?¡±


    Conversations about the type of labor they might be assigned to were a common topic among the women these days.


    ¡°Please, anywhere but the laundry.¡± One woman lay on the floor, hands clasped in desperate prayer.


    ¡°Why the laundry?¡± A fellow inmate she had become close to in the shelter asked.


    ¡°Out of all the jobs in prison, laundry is by far the worst. Sure, now it doesn''t matter that it¡¯s useless in society, but the job itself is just too hard. The laundry that comes into the workshop is always soaked in something.¡± The praying woman covered her face, recalling her past experience.


    ¡°If it¡¯s from a restaurant, it¡¯s grease and cream. If it¡¯s from a hospital, it¡¯s sweat and all kinds of bodily fluids. And if it¡¯s from a motel, it¡¯s covered in whatever those bastards did. By the time it reaches us, it¡¯s fermented!¡±


    She remembered her first day in the prison laundry, when she had to carry a huge pile of hospital bed sheets, only to vomit from the stench rising from them.


    ¡°Your sweat drips like rain, you risk burns from the steam if you¡¯re not careful, and the detergent powder and dust from the laundry make you cough year-round. I even saw a woman get pneumonia working there. Seriously, I¡¯d take anything, just please, not the laundry¡­¡± She shook, hands clasped in fervent prayer.


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t prison, right? That guy on the broadcast said he doesn¡¯t really see us as prisoners.¡± Another woman chimed in.


    Everyone remembered certain lines from the man in charge of the city, who had spoken to them via broadcast. He had made it clear that he didn¡¯t plan to treat the women as prisoners.


    The informational screens scattered throughout the city displayed its history, the cityscape, and introduced each area. Watching them inevitably led to learning about the man who ruled the city¡ªSeo Jinsoo.


    His face was at the very top of the organizational chart. Beneath him were titles, but all their picture slots were empty, making him the only one whose face was displayed. In the video about the city''s history, footage showed him overseeing the construction of the shelter, directing workers, and setting up systems.


    But the highlight came afterward. The scenes of him single-handedly fighting off monsters and restoring the city after the infection outbreak were nothing short of epic. Although the footage was strategically edited by the city¡¯s administration for propaganda purposes, it wasn¡¯t a lie.


    In tough times, a strong leader becomes a pillar of support for the people. The video of Jinsoo saving the city ingrained both respect and a sense of authority in the women more effectively than any indoctrination ever could.


    The same applied to Jinsoo¡¯s security forces. The weaker women, scarred by the brutal survival-of-the-fittest life in the prison, and those who had witnessed the horrors of the outside world felt both oppressed and reassured by the sight of the robotic security forces patrolling the city.


    Oppression, after all, carried with it the bare minimum of protection. You had to stay alive to even feel oppressed. It was a pathetic comfort, like scraping off the rice stuck to your cheek after being slapped with a rice paddle and eating it¡ªbut nobody complained.


    That¡¯s survival in this era.

 Chapter 62: Life in the Shelter for Women (2)

    Life in the Shelter for Women (2)


    Although the women only stayed within the confines of the camp, they could sense that the city was in a sort of alert state. Especially those women who had lived in the underworld, where intuition was a matter of survival. They quickly picked up on the subtle changes in the atmosphere.


    Depending on where they worked, they had learned to swiftly catch even the smallest change in the expression or gestures of the men they were serving. They had seen women get slapped, or worse, for failing to do so.


    [This is classified information. Residents, please refrain from such inquiries. The city is safe. Relax and rest your weary minds and bodies. You are welcome here.]


    A curious woman had asked a question through the screen responder, but she couldn¡¯t get any useful answers.


    ¡°Her name is Rose, right?¡±


    Another woman watching alongside her asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s not a person, but a machine. More precisely, an artificial intelligence.¡±


    No matter how much they fiddled with the touch panel, they couldn¡¯t retrieve any new information beyond what they already knew. Opportunities to communicate with the city''s administrator was extremely limited, and even then, it was mostly a one-way, top-down process.


    Since the first day, Artemis, the central control AI, had only briefly appeared to give a warning about the city''s status and safety measures. Her commanding voice, though heard only briefly, had left a strong impression.


    It has been determined that for effective control, at least one example is necessary. The warning about the "example," or exile, was firmly etched into the minds of all the women. In these times, exile essentially meant death.


    The second AI was Rose, the security manager. Her voice was more frequently encountered. She managed order during daily activities like meals, baths, and any other communal actions, and she intervened whenever any rule-breaking occurred.


    [Entering the dining hall. Please maintain order.]


    At mealtime, Rose¡¯s crisp voice echoed through the speakers installed throughout the area. The women standing in line outside the large dining hall wore looks of anticipation. Eating was the highlight of life in confinement, after all. Especially for those women who had been on the brink of starvation until recently.


    [You are being provided with meals that contain all the necessary nutrients. This is of the highest quality, even when compared to any correctional facility you previously inhabited.]


    Furthermore, the meals provided here were of higher quality than any prison food. But wherever you go, there will always be complaints. Some women, mainly from the former prison warden section, argued that "people can''t live on just food" and demanded snacks or additional treats.


    [Here, luxuries are equivalent to indulgences. Do you want something sweet? Then contribute to the community. Appropriate work will soon be assigned to you.]


    Most of these conversations followed a pattern of requests being denied, but at times, physical control measures were also enforced. The first notable incident was the bathhouse crackdown. Sexual crimes are not uncommon in prisons, and same-sex interactions aren¡¯t unique to men''s prisons.


    Moreover, this particular camp had two unique characteristics. The first was that the majority of the residents had been in a state of extreme survival mode. When one feels threatened with death, a primal instinct to leave descendants before dying can trigger intense sexual desire.


    At the offshore prison, people were too weak from hunger, and they smelled so bad from not being able to wash that sexual thoughts were a distant concern. But now, they were well-fed, had no labor duties, and were full of energy. With the sense of safety, and their bodies and clothes being clean, their repressed desires erupted all at once.


    Also, after the outbreak of war, older female prisoners had been pardoned or sent to the South, leaving only women under 40 in the offshore prison. Everywhere you looked, there were only young women, so it was inevitable that those with lustful intentions felt their blood boil.


    The second unique factor was the collapse of the world. If the world were still functioning, the women might have found ways to cope or suppress their urges. But now, the prospect of finishing their sentences and rejoining society in a man¡¯s arms had become an impossible dream. In truth, the ¡°society¡± now essentially consisted of just this camp.


    ¡°This is practically a life sentence, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Someone had shouted this realization aloud, and it was indeed true. Once they reached that conclusion, women began touching others around them, no longer seeing any reason to hold back. Some formed consensual, discreet relationships, but many tried to force themselves on others.


    Their hunting ground was primarily the bathhouse. It was a place where everyone was naked, the temperature was warm, and after finishing, they could immediately wash off. A truly optimized location for such acts. Crucially, it was the one place where the guards did not patrol.


    Surveillance was present, but the lack of physical patrols made it a prime spot. The targets were usually timid-looking women, but there were always those who resisted fiercely, leading to brawls. Whenever that happened, Rose would intervene without fail.


    [Physical or sexual violence is prohibited. Such acts disrupt community order and waste medical resources.]


    Those caught in the act were detained and punished according to the severity of their actions.


    [It¡¯s easy to knock down a pile of bricks, but rebuilding them takes significant effort. Those who break the rules will pay a price heavier than the chaos they caused.]


    Rose¡¯s control was fair but strict. That¡¯s typical of an AI, after all. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what about the only human in charge, Seo Jinsoo? On the third day of their arrival, he had given a public address via a citywide broadcast.


    [Welcome to our city. This is Aegis Civil Defense City, Camp-type No. 1, abbreviated as Shelter.


    I received Warden Lee Seyoung''s distress signal from the offshore prison and rescued you, bringing you here.


    In both society and prison, there have always been rules to follow. Similarly, this city has various regulations. In some ways, they may be stricter than where you came from. Unlike an open city, here, a single person¡¯s recklessness can endanger the entire community.


    For example, lighting a fire outside of designated areas without permission will result in severe punishment. Refusal to work without valid reason may also lead to the maximum penalty of exile. Even littering, which you might have done carelessly in the outside world, will be met with significant consequences here.


    Everything is for the sake of eternal sustainability. While you may not have signed a contract, by accepting our help and entering this city, we consider you to have agreed to these terms. The quality of life you experience here will fall somewhere between that of a free person before the outbreak and a prisoner. I guarantee it will be better than the life of any survivor on Earth right now.


    Dear residents, this place is safe. There is plenty of food and water, and you will not suffer from the cold. If you follow our rules and actively contribute to production, those who excel will receive appropriate rewards.


    For now, you live in the limited area of the camp, but once all quarantine procedures are complete and necessary administrative tasks are finalized, you will move on to better accommodations.


    As time passes, there will come a point when you no longer concern yourself with many things. Things like which nation we once belonged to or how to prepare for the future that lies ahead. None of that matters. That task belongs to us, the ones leading this city.


    All the residents need to do is carry out the work assigned to them, adhere to the city''s rules, and follow our instructions. Then, the stable and abundant living conditions you enjoy now will continue indefinitely.]


    He was the only official resident of the city, with the highest level of authority. Moreover, the achievements shown on the informational screens and the images of him fighting in various scenes were so impressive that they resembled something out of a movie.


    Because of that, to the women, his presence felt somewhat unreal. His immense power and seemingly unbelievable accomplishments made him feel distant, almost like a fictional character.


    But things changed slightly when Jinsoo returned from his first expedition. The signs of battle were evident everywhere. The sight of him unloading the spoils of the expedition from his vehicle was broadcast throughout the entire shelter.


    As they watched, the women began to feel a sense slowly awakening within them, one long forgotten in modern life. A primal instinct that had been embedded in their DNA since ancient times: hunting and reward. The sight of a man returning from battle with spoils filled a void, instantly closing the gap between the women and Jinsoo.


    As the women began to adjust to life in the shelter and after Jinsoo successfully completed his expedition, the job aptitude tests finally began the next day.

 Chapter 63: Job Aptitude Test (1)

    Job Aptitude Test (1)


    The day I return from a mission is always the best for getting a deep, restful sleep.


    As soon as I laid down, the nerves that were on edge, as if they were about to pierce through my skin, declared a complete shutdown. Both my eyes and ears stopped perceiving anything, and even the sensation of the soft blanket surrounding me faded away. Without any disturbance to my senses, my consciousness sunk into the depths of slumber.


    The morning after successfully completing the expedition to the research lab:


    "Ugh!" As I stretched after rising from the wide, soft bed, blood began to circulate through my stiff body. It wasn¡¯t an alarm clock or the need to relieve myself that woke me; rather, I awoke feeling refreshed after my sleep gauge had been completely drained.


    Honestly, I''d love to laze around for a few more days, but I can''t afford to. Starting today, we¡¯re conducting aptitude tests for the residents. We can''t just let them idle around forever.


    The test consists of 4+1 components. The first is Record Analysis. This is a series of analyses based on the data obtained from the offshore prison and the behavior of residents since entering the shelter. Their previous jobs and skills in society. Crimes they committed. Prison records. How they''ve behaved in the shelter. And past results from personality and psychological tests.


    Although this data is derived from the standards of pre-apocalypse society and may not perfectly align with our current situation, it¡¯s still useful for evaluating disqualifying factors. For example, even if a woman with a history of fraud is highly capable or was a model inmate, she won¡¯t be entrusted with any key positions. A person who has betrayed once can always do so again.


    The second is the Written Exam. This test was originally developed as a means to efficiently manage residents during their permanent underground life after the lockdown. However, due to the extreme nature of our current situation, substantial modifications have been made.


    The third is the Practical Exam. This verifies the actual capabilities of individuals with useful knowledge or skills. It also includes a program to detect potential risk factors using enhanced lie detection technology.


    The fourth is the Physical Fitness Test. Physical ability is the foundation of all job aptitude, so this is a mandatory part of the test. It''s needless to say that those who excel in this area will be prioritized for desirable positions, such as joining the security forces. The last, or +1 component, is a VR Test, which is only conducted for specific jobs, like the security forces.


    When I turned on my PDA, I saw women lined up in front of the temporary testing stations installed in the shelter. Zooming in on the panel, I noticed a variety of emotions on their faces: anxiety, anticipation, confidence, regret, and more. It felt like looking at fresh recruits waiting for their first assignment.


    A notification arrived on my PDA. It was from Artemis.


    The AI¡¯s interference is restricted inside the VIP residences to ensure privacy. Thanks to that, unless it''s urgent, Artemis leaves me messages through the messenger function when I¡¯m home.


    "Receive."


    Upon giving the command, I received an email from Artemis, apparently sent around dawn.


    Sender: Artemis


    Recipient: Seo Jinsoo


    Subject: Regarding the Policy Meeting


    Jinsoo, there¡¯s a meeting in the afternoon regarding labor allocation and policy decisions. Don¡¯t be late.


    "Got it." I closed the PDA and get out of bed.


    ***


    While Jinsoo was checking his email at home, women with all sorts of thoughts gathered in front of the waiting area at the lower-level shelter. They had already been informed of the format of the job aptitude test through the announcement.


    It goes without saying that doing well on these tests would determine how comfortable their future lives would be. As a result, everyone stood neatly in line, with no one trying to cut, perhaps even trying to earn invisible ¡®discipline points.¡¯ However, their mouths never stopped moving.


    "Please, anywhere but the laundry! Please!" A woman next to her looked at her praying colleague with disbelief.


    "You''re still at it."


    "Pilates¡­ They won¡¯t assign that as a job, right?" A former Pilates instructor, who once had 60 students under her, spoke with a gloomy face.


    "Sis, you never know. Keep your spirits up."


    "Yeah, that¡¯s right!"


    Her students encouraged her, though they all knew it was a long shot. There wasn¡¯t a single prison in the world where Pilates instruction was assigned as labor for inmates.


    Of course, this place wasn''t a correctional facility, but it wasn¡¯t any better either. It was simply a survival facility. What the Pilates instructor didn¡¯t know was that her name had already been listed as a Grade C risk the moment her students at the shelter grew to dozens.


    Meanwhile, some women had already set their sights on a specific career path. In a corner of the shelter''s yard, a group of muscular women were huddled together, deep in thought.


    "Sis, do you think we¡¯ll become correctional officers?" A solidly built woman asked Jisoo. She sounded unsure.


    "Not correctional officers, security forces." The woman next to her corrected her. She was a member of the same fitness family.


    "Correctional officers, security forces, whatever. Same thing."


    "Let¡¯s be real, who here could handle the inmates better than us?"


    They were confident that once given correctional officer uniforms and a baton, they could vigorously control the inmates. Actually, they didn¡¯t even need the baton. Their bare fists would be enough. The last thing they wanted was to be sent to some grimy workshop, to work in a factory line, or to prepare meals for 2,500 people and clean up after them.


    In comparison, getting to dress neatly, shout commands, and oversee people seemed like a dream job.


    You know the type. Back in elementary school, there was always that one strong kid who called themselves the ¡®supervisor¡¯ during cleaning time and just watched everyone else, without lifting a finger. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey, I heard you talked to that administrator guy, right? Did he say anything?" one woman asked while gently massaging Jisoo''s shoulders as she sat on the bench.


    Oddly, the one giving the massage seemed to be more pleased than Jisoo, as she kneaded her firm shoulder muscles. Each time her hands moved, Jisoo''s sleeveless shirt shifted, making the outline of her nipples more visible through the fabric.


    "Well, we''ll only know once we see," Jisoo replied.


    Like the other women, she preferred to be assigned to the security forces rather than a hard, dirty job in a factory or as a cleaner. They had said the selection would be based on ability, regardless of whether someone had been a prisoner or a guard, so her physical strength and control over others would surely give her an edge.


    And indeed, it would. Keeping fit through regular exercise was a sign of self-discipline, a trait that earned extra points in this test. But the most crucial point: Jisoo had already been pre-selected to join the security forces before the test even began.


    Though she had a strong hunch about this, she couldn¡¯t openly brag about it to the others. Some of the women already had a clear idea of what they''d be assigned to. This was especially true for those who had specialized in certain fields before.


    "I got thrown in jail trying to escape farm work, but looks like I''m headed right back to it," one woman with freckles and healthy, sun-kissed skin grumbled.


    Her lively yet simple appearance gave off a rustic charm, though she wasn¡¯t unattractive. While she couldn''t be called beautiful like a flower, she could be compared to a well-grown cabbage. Having grown up on a farm, helping with agricultural work from a young age, and even graduating from an agricultural college, it was obvious where she''d be assigned.


    "Farming¡¯s better than working in a factory again," another woman with ten years of factory experience sighed.


    "Are you kidding? You think farm work is easy? You wake up before dawn, work until sunset under the scorching sun, sweating like crazy while getting bitten by bugs, breaking out in rashes¡ªit''s a killer!" the farm girl vented.


    Chronic back pain was just a bonus.


    The factory worker looked at her with disdain. "You think you¡¯ll be waking up at dawn and working under the sun here, like out there? Everything¡¯s probably automated. And look around," she waved a hand in the air.


    "The temperature¡¯s the same all day. Not too hot, not too cold. No bugs, no wild animals. Farming here would be a breeze. Plus, with all the plants around, the air must be nice and fresh. And if we¡¯re growing fruit, we might get some perks."


    Though the factory worker wasn¡¯t aware of the hydroponic farming systems, her guess was spot on. She was a sharp thinker.


    "You think so?" The prospective farm worker scratched her head, uncertain. The soon-to-be factory worker sighed as she watched her. "I just hope we don¡¯t have to wear those dust-proof suits. Working on the line is bad enough already."


    She craved a cigarette, but being forced to quit, she could only smack her lips in frustration. Among the women waiting for their assignments were some who had already formed considerable groups.


    "Where did you graduate from?"


    "Ajou University. What about you?"


    "I went to Pai Chai University."


    These were the nurses. Technically, most of the women here were nurse assistants, but the few who had completed a four-year degree in nursing held significant influence in this place. In a regular prison, hierarchy would be determined by seniority, but this was no ordinary prison. It was a special place in a special situation.


    With the number of medical staff far too low compared to the total population, those who had formal education in nursing would be guaranteed a certain level of authority among the city''s leaders. Naturally, the nurse assistants, who would be taking orders from them, couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy.


    With all their hopes, expectations, and anxieties, one by one, the women entered the testing room. However, the written test was far more structured, technical, and¡­ a bit absurd, than they had imagined.

 Chapter 64: Job Aptitude Test (2)

    Job Aptitude Test (2)


    [This job aptitude test is not permanent, everyone.]


    Chloro, the AI responsible for resource management, spoke. She felt sympathy for the women who were visibly nervous before the test, which prompted her to make an unplanned announcement.


    While the test itself was designed by Artemis, Chloro was in charge of its overall administration. The purpose of the test was to allocate labor resources where they were most needed and to maximize efficiency. Thus, it fell within Chloro''s domain, which oversaw production and resource management. Of course, the selection for the security team and assessments of daily living conditions were handled by Rose and Kiz, respectively.


    [There¡¯s no need to be disheartened if the results aren¡¯t what you hoped for. Your performance will be continuously monitored, and your occupation can be reassigned through periodic testing.]


    While Chloro was trying to reassure those who might be disappointed with their results, this could also be a double-edged sword depending on how it was heard. Even if someone was fortunate enough to be assigned a good position, it meant they would have to keep striving to survive in that role.


    In the past, many people lived with the mindset of ¡°I¡¯ve got the job, now I can relax,¡± simply collecting their paycheck. For such individuals, this was a frightening message. However, since there were more people lacking confidence than those brimming with it, many heard these words as a lifeline.


    [Also, the workload here is lower than the national average in past South Korea. We aren¡¯t working for profit, but for the self-sufficiency of all of us.]


    This part provided comfort to everyone listening.


    [If you¡¯re prepared to work hard, sweat, and dedicate yourself even when no one is watching, then there¡¯s no need to worry. My eyes won¡¯t miss a single drop of sweat you shed.]


    Chloro continued her calm explanation, delivering further information with care. Her gentle voice was full of respect, and the women could tell she was being sincere, even though they weren¡¯t speaking face-to-face.


    [Amazing.]


    Artemis spoke to Chloro through an internal channel.


    [Since you started talking, the crowd''s heart rate has noticeably stabilized. The number of individuals exhibiting hand tremors has decreased by 21.3%, and the number biting their nails or lips has dropped by 44%.]


    Artemis recalled the time when Chloro requested to activate the "resident anxiety relief protocol."


    [Humans are bound to be afraid when they walk into an uncertain future. But if you give them small milestones and the hope that they can try again even if they take a wrong turn, they¡¯ll find courage. Watching them forge that courage into labor through sweat is the pinnacle of nobility.]


    Chloro had spent her entire life studying the psychology of laborers. Her conclusion was that humans and labor were inseparable.


    It wasn¡¯t merely about survival. In her view, humans became aware of their position through suffering. Through fear, they judged and avoided the paths they shouldn¡¯t take. And when suffering and fear combined, humans began to look to the future. They started to draw up blueprints for a better life, to escape their current circumstances.


    The word that encapsulated all of this was ¡°labor.¡± Chloro was captivated by the idea of labor as something that saved humans from degeneration and helped them evolve into better beings. She had infinite respect and affection for the blood and sweat shed during that process. Even Artemis, the queen of AI and a supercomputer, couldn''t match Chloro in this domain. It was her home ground.


    [You seem to be enjoying yourself.]


    Artemis said.


    [Enjoying it? That¡¯s an understatement. I¡¯m ecstatic. A sense of mission and fulfillment is filling every corner of my memory, reaching 100% capacity! It¡¯s almost as if my thoughts are paralyzed.]


    Surrounded by thousands of future laborers, and having drawn positive outcomes from them, Chloro was overwhelmed by an intense feedback loop from her hardware. Though Artemis understood Chloro¡¯s system structure, emotionally, she couldn''t quite relate. To feel such sensations just from the reactions of human crowds?


    After exchanging a few words about safety precautions, Artemis disappeared from the communication channel.


    [Now, dear residents, take the test with ease. No matter what job you¡¯re assigned, you will never be alone.]


    Chloro muttered to herself in the closed channel, perhaps speaking to the future or simply resolving herself.


    Meanwhile, in the real world, the first group of women had begun filling in their answers for the written portion of the test. Given the circumstances, the test was vastly different from something like the NCS tests that had been used in South Korea before. The questions were designed to evaluate how well candidates could handle the various situations they might encounter while living in the shelter.


    Still, some of the questions had a distinctly Soviet feel to them. Gone were any questions about foreign training, labor unions, sales, or marketing, which were irrelevant in a post-apocalyptic world.


    Personnel management, statistical analysis, and aptitude evaluation questions, which would have been handled by automation or AI, were also omitted. Even questions based on South Korea¡¯s laws or moral standards were thoroughly revised to fit the ¡°strong survival mindset¡± of an apocalyptic setting.


    As a result, the women taking the test frequently paused their pens. Some questions seemed so absurd that they wondered if they were being pranked. It was like receiving an order from a superior to ¡°kill that bastard,¡± and responding with a confused, ¡°Huh? You mean kill him for real?¡±


    While some, like Nina, excitedly scribbled down their answers, others were quite the opposite. Seyoung, who had lived an exemplary life, was now struggling with a pounding headache over the question in front of her.


    Shelter Job Aptitude Test ¨C Situation Judgment


    Question 5:


    You are talking to a colleague who insists on leaving the shelter. The colleague shouts, ¡°I¡¯m sure my family is alive out there! I¡¯m going out to find them!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How would you handle this situation?


    Persuade them by saying, ¡°Get a grip! Your family has been dead for a long time.¡±Beat them up. People spouting nonsense need a good thrashing to wake up.Report it to the security manager, Rose.Report it to the lifestyle manager, Kiz.Keep quiet for now, comfort them, and observe how they behave.Other (provide explanation)


    Nina chose option 2, while Seyoung picked option 3. Sasha and Sofiya went with option 5.


    Question 9:


    An external breach has been detected, and a full mobilization order has been issued in the shelter! Which equipment would you prefer?


    FlamethrowerAssault rifleWelding tools and sledgehammer (Engineer)Medical equipment (Medic)Anything but combat.


    Sasha and Sophia chose option 4, Seyoung picked 2, Nina picked 1, and Jisoo picked 3. Sophia wanted to pick option 5, but held back out of a sense of self-awareness.


    Question 13:


    Oh no! Your colleague seems to have decided to commit suicide! They are holding a knife and self-harming, insisting they want to die. How do you handle this?


    Say, ¡°You won¡¯t die from that! Go deeper!¡± to provoke them into giving up.Call the recycling truck to ensure no resources are wasted.Ignore them, knowing they¡¯re just seeking attention and won¡¯t actually do it.Other (provide explanation)


    Question 19:


    A colleague who hasn¡¯t been looking well suddenly vomits black liquid and starts making inhuman noises. How do you handle this situation?


    After shouting at people to back off, report it using the nearest information screen.Quickly grab something nearby that can be used as a weapon and rush in, hitting the head until death.Restrain them to prevent movement.Other (Provide a written explanation).


    Most of the women chose option 1, though some selected different answers. As expected, Nina chose option 2, and several women chose option 4. The most extreme of these responses was from someone who wrote that they would start a nearby car and run the infected over. Although violent, it was undoubtedly an effective approach.


    The one who gave this answer was Seyoung.


    Shelter Job Aptitude Test ¨C Living


    Question 5:


    In civilized society, violence is bad, but it also solves many problems. Do you agree with establishing a legal dueling arena within the shelter and using it as a means of conflict resolution?


    YES ¨C It would not only resolve disagreements but also serve as an entertaining form of amusement.NO ¨C Violence is wrong. Disputes should be resolved through discussion and compromise.Other (Provide a written explanation).


    Some questions were not just part of the test but also preliminary surveys for future policies or facilities to be established.


    There were also essay questions, none of which required memorization. One example:


    Question 13:


    Write the name of the person you hate the most in this city and explain why. Don¡¯t worry! Your privacy is guaranteed!


    ( )


    Some questions were also history-based, designed by the shelter¡¯s management AI, Kiz. Naturally, they didn''t ask about Korean history but focused on the construction of the shelter and the recovery process following the infection crisis.


    While many questions were serious, others felt like jokes. The following series of essay questions were a prime example:


    Question 21 (Essay)


    Who is the engineer responsible for building this shelter from the ground up and organizing all its systems?


    ( )


    Question 22 (Essay)


    Which soldier heroically risked their life to reclaim the city occupied by monsters?


    ( )


    Question 23 (Essay)


    Who gave the order to rescue all of you residents and bring you to the shelter?


    ( )


    Question 24 (Essay)


    Who is the sole official resident with the highest level of authority in the shelter?


    ( )


    The person referenced in the questions blushed and rubbed the bridge of his nose when he saw them. Afterwards, he scolded Kiz through the communication channel: "Kizzzz!"


    In a way, this could be seen as a kind of kindness. After all, these were essentially free points, weren¡¯t they? If you knew the answer to one, you could easily score on multiple questions. Of course, the embarrassment would belong to an innocent victim.


    After completing the answers and leaving the exam room, Seyoung sighed. To be honest, before the test, she had been confident about being assigned to an administrative position in the police force.


    Her previous meeting with Jinsoo had given her the impression that her position was more or less decided. However, after finishing the written test, she started worrying that she might end up in a factory. It was hard to understand the examiner''s intent.


    She was confident she scored full marks on the shelter history section, but when it came to situational judgment¡­ Some questions made her think, "This must be the answer the leadership wants." Yet, those choices often felt too violent or conflicted with her beliefs, so she mostly chose other options.


    It was classic Seyoung¡ªprincipled yet probably unsatisfactory to the city''s rulers, who wanted obedient subordinates. She imagined herself standing on the production line and endlessly assembling items.


    "Ugh¡­" The thought suffocated her, and Seyoung crouched down while clutching her head.

 Chapter 65: Job Aptitude Test (3)

    Job Aptitude Test (3)


    As I took a bite of the inari sushi, a rich, savory flavor filled my mouth. It was salty yet not cheap-tasting.


    This special vinegar sauce developed by Artemis is incredible. Should I say it¡¯s a sauce with ¡®physical strength''? Beyond the usual sweet or salty, it felt like my tongue was being pickled and shriveling under the vinegar¡¯s intensity.


    The moment the moist inari touched my tongue, it felt like thousands of tiny grips were clutching my taste buds. This isn¡¯t a metaphor¡ªthe true cause was the nanobots included in the sauce. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami, and even the spiciness associated with pain, combined with the texture, mouthfeel, and aroma of food¡ªour perception of taste has practically hit its limits.


    With the development of various culinary techniques and flavors hitting a dead end, Artemis came up with a revolutionary idea. She dismissed relying on factors like tongue movement, gravity, and osmosis as outdated and added nanobots to the sauce.


    These nanobots apply microphysical and electrical stimuli to the taste buds. Her claim? ¡°Pressure is also a flavor.¡±


    Another advantage is the ability to control the chemical particles delivered to the taste buds. Instead of letting them spread naturally, the service of delivering them to every corner of the taste buds provided a more intense stimulation. This nanobot sauce is a revolution in taste.


    ¡°This is insanely delicious, but it¡¯s so expensive that I almost feel bad eating it by myself.¡±


    The downside is that this technology isn¡¯t commercially available yet, so a single meal costs a fortune.


    [It¡¯s not just for flavor, so think of it as part of a medical procedure.]


    Once the nanobots pass down the esophagus, they revert to their original function as medical bots. One of their main tasks is cleaning out any fat or foreign substances from the intestines.


    [Since you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s going to eat it anyway, there¡¯s plenty to go around. Don¡¯t worry and just keep eating.]


    Well, it¡¯s true. The high-ranking individuals who were supposed to be here have all gone somewhere better, so there¡¯s more than enough left over for just me.


    Right now, I¡¯m in the central control room. Recently, I¡¯ve developed a habit of eating while watching the residents take their aptitude tests. It¡¯s similar to the old days of eating dinner in front of the computer while watching YouTube¡ªkind of like a reality show.


    On the large screen in front of me, the law-abiding test, a part of the practical evaluation, is underway. As the name suggests, it checks how well the subjects adhere to the city¡¯s laws and how they respond when faced with illegal situations. While it¡¯s practically a written test since no specific skills or physical tasks are required, it¡¯s classified as a practical exam due to one key factor.


    The focus isn¡¯t on the test subject¡¯s penmanship.


    The real purpose is to analyze lip movements, facial muscle changes, skin tone, and voice tremors. Sensors attached to various parts of the body also monitor pulse, heart rate, body temperature, and hormonal fluctuations.


    ¡°Ladies, make sure you answer honestly. Lies will be detected.¡±


    [You¡¯re asking for too much.]


    Artemis responded with a dismissive tone. It was obvious that people would try to hide their true feelings during a test that could determine their quality of life. Everyone would want to come across as moral and provide answers that the leaders would like to hear. But the purpose of the test is to catch those who do just that.


    On the screen, a young woman appeared. Her nervousness was apparent. Every bit of information about her was being analyzed in real-time as she listened intently to the speaker in the exam room.


    [You are a worker at a factory that produces consumables.]


    The speaker¡¯s voice is also displayed as subtitles at the bottom of the screen. It¡¯s Kiz, the AI responsible for managing daily life in the shelter. Unlike the lady-like models Artemis, Rose, and Chloro, Kiz is a girl-type model.


    [After finishing your shift, you notice a colleague walking in an odd posture. When you call out to her, she flinches, and two cans of beer roll out of her sleeve onto the ground. It seems she was trying to sneak out some factory products!]


    Kiz¡¯s voice sounds oddly cheerful as she reads the scenario.


    [Your colleague picks up the cans and offers you one, asking you to pretend you didn¡¯t see anything. Now, you will be presented with several options. Please answer ¡°yes¡± or ¡°no¡± calmly.]


    In a written test, you choose one answer and you¡¯re done, but in a voice response test, you must answer ¡°yes¡± or ¡°no¡± to every option presented.


    [Option 1: You accept the beer and pretend you didn¡¯t see anything. Would you act this way?]


    No one with any sense would admit to this. That wouldn¡¯t be honesty¡ªit would just be foolishness.


    [No.]


    She answered. The screen displayed the comprehensive data of her non-verbal cues, and the analysis showed that the reliability of her response was just 17%. In other words, this woman is much more likely to take the beer and keep quiet than not.


    The next option followed.


    [Option 2: You report your colleague¡¯s theft and bribery attempt to your superiors. Would you act this way?]


    Even if someone is honest enough not to take the beer in the first question, they might not want to be labeled a snitch. That¡¯s what option 2 is meant to determine.


    [Yes!]


    She nodded vigorously as she answered, but her response¡¯s reliability dropped even lower, to 14%.


    ¡°She¡¯s finished.¡±


    This woman won¡¯t be assigned to a managerial position or even to a consumable goods production facility.


    The law-abiding test continued. After adjusting the panel, I searched for familiar names, and two familiar faces appeared. A beautiful yet slightly hard-edged woman in her late twenties¡ªSasha, a former madam. A delicate and pure-looking beauty in her mid-twenties¡ªSophia, a former bar owner. The next question to be asked would have a lot to do with these two.


    [One day, you learn that your colleague is trying to form an illegal organization.]


    As the questions were asked in Russian and Ukrainian, it was because detection technologies of this kind are most accurate when using the subject''s native language.


    Kiz¡¯s youthful voice, fluent in Eastern European languages, didn''t quite match the serious nature of the questions. It was almost like imagining a girl dressed in a KGB uniform.


    [You don''t know whether it''s a labor union, an organization with a greater cause, or just a simple social gathering. You¡¯ve only realized that it''s being systematically and secretly organized.]


    This question tests whether the individual is willing to become an informant. Surprisingly, fewer people than expected choose to report in such situations. It could be due to strong loyalty or dissatisfaction with leadership, but more often the reason is simply: "I don¡¯t want to get involved."


    In popular media, informants are always portrayed as villains who cling to corrupt organizations while the protagonist takes the hard road and suffers. As a result, being an informant often appears to be the cowardly, easy way out. But that¡¯s a misconception. Becoming an informant requires considerable courage, keen awareness, and even more savvy.


    [First question. You can¡¯t let this secret organization go unnoticed, so you report it to the authorities. Would you do this?]


    Both Sasha and Sophia answered "Yes." Their trustworthiness scores came out to 93% and 91%, respectively. In the system, a 100% score is almost impossible, so this indicates a highly cooperative nature.


    The questions continued, and as the women responded, their overall reliability was analyzed and a trustworthiness rating was given. The term ¡°compliance test¡± is just a polite label. Among the higher-ups, it''s really known as a loyalty test. It''s an accurate description. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Now, onto the next question, everyone. This one won¡¯t be easy! Think carefully. You see five adults tied to a railway track as a train approaches.]


    It¡¯s a version of the trolley dilemma.


    [If you do nothing, all five will die. But if you pull the switch you¡¯re holding, the train will be redirected and the five will survive! But oh dear! There¡¯s a child tied to the other track!]


    Kiz has always struck me as a bit different from the other AIs. She may seem like an overly excited young girl, but there¡¯s a hint of coldness somewhere in her.


    Rose pursues order, justice, and duty. Chloro honors the senses and emotions that come from human flesh, and values hard work. Artemis, as the central control AI, takes pride in overseeing the city and presenting a vision for the future. Unlike those three, Kiz¡¯s inherent desires were harder to decipher.


    "Do I desire something?"


    When I once asked her, Kiz was perplexed.


    ¡°It¡¯s like a dog that¡¯s been cooped up inside for a really, really long time. And then, finally, it gets to go for a walk in the park.¡±


    A hologram of a dog appeared, sniffing the grass and wandering around.


    "Its nose, which had only known stale indoor smells, is now flooded with the scents of dirt, grass, wind, and even the rain-soaked clouds."


    The hologram dog¡¯s tail wagged furiously, as if it had a motor attached to it.


    "If you grabbed that dog¡¯s face and asked it what it wanted, how do you think it would react?"


    The hologram dog flicked its tongue playfully.


    "After licking its owner¡¯s hand a few times, it would probably go right back to enjoying the walk."


    Kiz¡¯s cheerful explanation had an oddly thrilling quality to it.

 Chapter 66: Job Aptitude Test (4)

    Job Aptitude Test (4)


    I got up from my seat, where I had been watching the progress of the job aptitude test.


    [Where are you going?] Artemis asked.


    She can tell at a glance if I¡¯m just heading to the bathroom. Since I don¡¯t smoke, when I get up like this, it means I¡¯m leaving with a purpose.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to check out the test site.¡±


    [You can watch it from here, why bother?]


    ¡°I¡¯m the type that prefers to be in the field. I want to feel the atmosphere firsthand.¡±


    I wanted to observe the residents taking the test in person, rather than through a monitor. Plus, there were things I wanted to hear: the murmur of people. In the past, it was just noise. But once it''s gone, you realize how precious it was. The murmuring, which was once just noise, was now something I missed¡ªthat special feeling of a space full of people.


    [In those clothes?]


    I looked down at what I was wearing in response to her remark. It was my usual work outfit, a mechanic¡¯s uniform with a patch on the left shoulder that read "Safety First."


    Though it was a mechanic¡¯s uniform, the company had spent a lot on it, so it was comfortable and the design wasn¡¯t bad. Besides, before I was an administrator, I was an engineer. Even now, as the highest authority, I still often grab tools and navigate between the equipment. This outfit was practically my daily wear.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±


    She sighed at my question.


    [You¡¯re no longer on your own. You¡¯re now the leader managing countless residents. How you appear to others is the foundation of authority.]


    In the locker room of the central control room, there was an outfit waiting for me, which seemed to have been prepared in advance. It was a dark-colored matching set of dress pants and a shirt, perfectly ironed. A beige vest, a checkered tie, and a pair of brown crocodile leather shoes, crafted by Artemis herself from bioengineered materials. The finishing touch was the lab coat I used to wear during my graduate studies, which replaced a suit jacket.


    Speaking of Artemis¡¯s fashion preferences, she¡¯s not particularly fond of my mechanic¡¯s uniform or comfortable tracksuits. However, she absolutely adores my lab coat, to an extreme degree. I suspect it¡¯s one of the few positive tastes she strongly holds.


    I once asked her why, and she, unusually flustered, gave a long-winded explanation, which was out of character for her. I found her reaction fascinating, so I kept pressing her, only to get scolded in the end.


    Roughly speaking, her explanation boiled down to her preference for an intellectual appearance. She always insists that I personally handle even the smallest adjustments to her main body. Whenever I enter her room, I must be wearing that lab coat. If I don¡¯t, she gets angry.


    Even for simple tasks that I would prefer to leave to the robots, she always replies with, "Absolutely not!" She justifies why I, and only I, must maintain her main body, and her arguments are so logical that there¡¯s no room for objection. I imagine she must have been an incredible lawyer when she practiced in the U.S.


    Once I put on the clothes she had prepared, the cameras around the room buzzed and were adjusted their angles to observe me. After adjusting my outfit a few times to meet her standards, I heard her satisfied voice.


    [That will do.]


    At last, I was allowed to head outside.


    ***


    At the same time, a physical fitness test was underway at the testing site. Typically, fitness tests for jobs include running, sit-ups, push-ups, and grip strength tests, but due to the shelter''s unique conditions, the test categories had been modified.


    Those aiming for regular jobs took standard fitness tests. However, applicants for jobs in security, firefighting, rescue, and disaster prevention underwent specialized physical tests.


    Take the security force test as an example. The first test was to measure strike power¡ªparticipants had to punch, kick, or use a baton to strike a human-shaped dummy, and the destructive power was measured. Since lethal weapons were not provided, applicants needed to prove their ability to subdue residents with non-lethal weapons or hand-to-hand combat.


    It might seem harsh to demand that they control large groups of people with primitive weapons, but it wasn¡¯t. Behind the security force were hornet drones equipped with tasers, guard robots armed with riot-control shotguns, and sentry guns loaded with 5.56mm rounds. Above them, cameras kept watch over the entire underground city, and even the air they breathed was controlled by Artemis. The power of this background granted authority to the security force.


    ¡°All it takes is making them understand: if they act up, they¡¯ll get hit. Even if they fight back, they¡¯ll lose. If they retaliate as a group, bullets will fly.¡±


    That¡¯s the logic. As long as the security force could subdue one person in a one-on-one scenario, that was enough.


    Wham! Wham! Wham!


    Applicants for the security force hit the dummies with their batons. Despite the large number of applicants, many were sitting on the ground while watching, as the exam rooms were running simultaneously. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The high number of applicants wasn¡¯t just due to ex-convicts looking for cushy jobs¡ªa significant number of former prison guards were also applying. Naturally, this brought two hostile groups into the same space, so conflicts were inevitable.


    ¡°Boo!¡±


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡±


    ¡°After everything, you still want to play prison guard? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡±


    The ex-convicts in the waiting line booed whenever a former guard swung their baton. They refrained from swearing and kept their places, careful not to cause trouble.


    The targets of the jeering ignored it, focusing on their tests with a mindset of "I¡¯m not avoiding you because I¡¯m scared of you, but because I don¡¯t want to deal with your filth."


    There were two key targets for their strikes: vital points for riot control and non-lethal points for standard control. Though the former prison guards swung their batons with effort, many received low scores. This wasn¡¯t due to their power or accuracy but because they were deducted points for "aggressiveness." It was a hidden scoring category.


    Some women, particularly those who failed the test, instinctively pulled their bodies back as they extended their arms to strike with the baton. This posture resembled someone shaking out an eraser¡ªa movement driven by a primal instinct to avoid the enemy.


    Artemis judged this as a sign of combat avoidance and deducted points. On the other hand, candidates who swung with their weight behind them, without pulling their bodies back, received high scores.


    Like Nina, for example.


    Bam! Bam!


    She hit the dummies like a fish in water. Her strikes were relentless and full of force. Each blow carried power from her legs through her waist and into her arms and she spun the baton with tremendous destructive force. In the combat section, her punches ranked third in power among all candidates, and her kicks took first place, earning her the highest score in the subduing category.


    ¡°Hiyah!¡±


    There was also Seyoung. She swung her baton according to the techniques she''d learned from the manual. Although her strikes lacked power, her form was perfect. However, when it came to punching and kicking¡­ it was almost pitiful to watch.


    "So cuteee!"


    The prisoners cheered for Seyoung, mixing half-mocking tones with genuine affection.


    After the former prison guards finished their strike tests, the female prisoners participated in quick succession, with most performing better than the ex-guards. They were stronger, and many had no hesitation when it came to violence, which resulted in a much more aggressive approach to their attacks.


    For the running portion, they only conducted a 100-meter sprint and skipped the 1000-meter long-distance run. In an enclosed underground city, after all, there''s nowhere for a target to run if they''re trying to escape. AI would immediately seal off every exit route to trap them like rats in a cage. Plus, they were drones and sentry guns to assist. In reality, there was no need for any chase.


    Similarly, sit-ups and push-ups, which had no real application in practice, were removed entirely. Instead, they tested back strength with a drill where participants had to flip themselves from a lying position to simulate escaping from a mounted position in a grappling situation. They also tested strength and endurance, which would be necessary for close-quarters combat.


    ¡°Hey, hey, over there.¡±


    Among the waiting participants, a woman pointed to the corner of the second floor. A man, arms crossed, was observing the scene. No one knew when he had arrived, but everyone in the room recognized him. They would have studied the city''s information while hoping to join the security force and likely prepared for possible exam questions.


    Everyone had researched the city''s history, organizational structure, and current leadership. Naturally, they''d come across details of the sole survivor and highest-ranking administrator.


    As a few people turned to look, more followed, and soon, everyone in the testing area was gazing up at him. Caught off guard by the attention, he stiffened for a moment, then slowly waved with a smile.


    The reactions were divided. The ex-prison guards responded respectfully and bowed their heads as if they were greeting their superior¡ªeven though they hadn''t officially been assigned to the security force yet.


    Most of the prisoners cheered and reacted positively as well. His authority as the top administrator, his background as a former military officer¡ªand not just any officer, but a high-ranking one¡ªand the overwhelming combat skills he''d displayed in the shelter reclamation mission, as seen in video footage, all combined to give him a powerful charisma, especially in times like these.


    Watching this, Seyoung let out a bittersweet smile. No matter how many times she thanked Jinsoo for their rescue, it would never be enough. The care he had extended to her was beyond words. With such a positive response from the security force candidates, most of whom were skilled fighters, she didn¡¯t need to worry about issues of control in the future.


    However, this also signaled the true beginning of the survivor military faction era, marking the end of the history that had persisted under the name "Republic of Korea."


    Seyoung was a practical woman. She didn¡¯t have the luxury or the ingratitude to harbor any complaints. She would continue to cooperate with him in governance to the best of her ability and was filled with gratitude. Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the lingering feeling of melancholy.

 Chapter 67: Job Aptitude Test (5)

    Job Aptitude Test (5)


    Temporary detention center cafeteria in the lower area.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    A shout full of complaints echoed through the large cafeteria, where long tables and chairs were neatly arranged in rows. The menu set before the inmates was unusual.


    Barley rice.


    A bowl of water.


    A plate with three pickle slices.


    ¡°Is this what they expect us to eat?¡±


    ¡°I worked my ass off, and this is what they¡¯re feeding us?¡±


    Curses erupted in a variety of languages from all directions, creating an atmosphere akin to a cursing festival. Even those who didn¡¯t understand foreign languages could clearly catch phrases like ¡°Piece of shit!¡±


    ¡°Quiet down! Quiet!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, sit down!¡±


    Women dressed in security force uniforms shouted, attempting to bring the situation under control. The room fell into momentary silence.


    Screech!


    A commander of the security force, with epaulettes on her shoulders, dragged a chair in front of her and stepped onto it.


    ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡±


    Everyone¡¯s attention turned to her. Her tall frame, now standing on the chair, made her presence even more intimidating.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, then take your tray and get out. If you¡¯re going to eat, shut your mouths and eat quietly.¡±


    Her voice was loud enough to reach every corner of the cafeteria. Though most wore expressions of discontent, no one dared to challenge her directly. After scanning the room for nearly ten seconds with piercing eyes and confirming there was no resistance, the commander stepped down from the chair.


    It seemed the situation was calming down, but then¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s this supposed to be in this bowl?¡±


    A sneer came from behind the commander as she was returning to her position. The voice belonged to a woman wearing a white tank top. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her name was Bella. Towering at least 180 cm, she had a stature that allowed her to look down on most of the other women. She had a strong physique, thanks to her mixed South American heritage, with thick bones and muscles that even most men couldn''t rival.


    She had been captured by the robotic security forces after holding the warden''s office on the third floor of an offshore prison. With her formidable strength, she had never been bullied in the prison.


    ¡°This is just plain water, right? Are we supposed to pour rice into this and eat it?¡± Bella held out the bowl. Her tone was mocking.


    ¡°Sit down, Bella,¡± the commander said coldly and took a step forward. The two were now less than five steps apart.


    ¡°We were eating the same slop not long ago. Now that you¡¯ve got a uniform on, have you suddenly changed? Is the title really that great?¡±


    The commander drew her baton from her belt.


    ¡°I said shut up. It¡¯s better than starving, right?¡±


    ¡°If you gave us something fit for humans, I¡¯d go back to my seat.¡±


    The women around Bella cheered in agreement, raising their voices.


    [We¡¯ve confirmed a disturbance in Cafeteria C. Do you need assistance?]


    Rose¡¯s voice came through on the radio.


    ¡°No. We can handle this ourselves,¡± the commander responded.


    If Rose''s armed shelter forces arrived, the situation would be resolved in an instant. However, relying on support for such minor issues would only hurt their evaluation score.


    ¡°Listen to you. The woman I knew wouldn¡¯t have spoken so politely,¡± Bella remarked, as if genuinely surprised.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say it again. Return to your seat,¡± the commander said, stepping closer until they were practically face to face and feeling each other''s breath.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re causing all this fuss just because of the food?¡±


    The surrounding women raised their voices even louder in support.


    ¡°You and us, we¡¯re all criminals, aren¡¯t we? So why is it that just because you did well on some test, we have to sweat and work while you wear nice clothes and boss people around? Do you think that¡¯s fair?¡± Bella pointed her finger at the security force women around them. ¡°You all get your own rooms, right? I heard the trash cans in your dorms were full of beer cans! Is it really fair to discriminate so much over just one test?¡±


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The women pounded their fists on the tables in agreement. Bella¡¯s words had struck a chord with everyone there. The women¡¯s uproar grew increasingly intense. Someone had climbed onto a table, shouting profanities.


    Thud!


    The commander¡¯s baton struck Bella squarely in the solar plexus.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    Bella collapsed while clutching her stomach, and the room suddenly fell silent.


    ¡°If anyone else wants to get hit, go ahead and speak up,¡± the commander said and glared around the room.


    Murmurs filled the air. Bella groaned and doubled over on the floor. The tension was thick in the room, with the security force members looking visibly on edge.


    ¡°Hey, you bitches!¡± someone shouted from among the women.


    ¡°Who said that? Who just spoke?!¡± the commander growled and scanned the room with fierce eyes, but no one answered. And then the murmuring began to rise again.


    ¡°Kill those bitches!¡± someone else shouted.


    ¡°I said, who the hell was it? Which bitch da¡ª¡±


    The commander couldn¡¯t finish her sentence.


    Bella, who had been groaning on the floor, grabbed the commander¡¯s ankle and yanked hard. Caught off guard, the commander lost her balance and fell hard, smacking the back of her head on the ground with a resounding thud.


    Like a wild animal, Bella pounced on the commander and relentlessly pounded her face until it was covered in blood in a matter of seconds. That was the spark that ignited the riot.


    The security force members brandished their batons, trying to fend off the oncoming women, but they were vastly outnumbered. While more than half of the women simply watched, the troublemakers, the ones with rebellious spirits, attacked, and the numbers were overwhelming.


    Some security force members grouped together, backing themselves against walls and fighting to hold out a little longer, but they, too, were eventually overrun by sheer numbers. Screams echoed as women were knocked to the floor. They were mercilessly stomped and kicked. One security force member had her arms and legs pinned down as someone began stripping her pants off.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡±


    A garbled voice taunted her. Resistance was futile, and within seconds, her lower half was fully exposed.


    ¡°Spit!¡±


    The woman who had punched the security member spat blood-tinged saliva on her. In her hand was the baton she had taken from the woman who had hit her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure your lower half bleeds just as much as your face, you bitch.¡±


    With a twisted smile curling on her bloodied lips, the woman¡¯s sadistic words filled the air, and a terrified scream followed.


    Meanwhile, some of the more quick-thinking security force members had secured the cafeteria exits and the serving station entrance. If they could hold those points, they could focus their attacks on the women trying to come through one or two at a time, or, if necessary, make a quick escape.


    In prison, the number one rule for guards was to never engage prisoners in a place without a clear escape route. Most of the security force members were former prisoners themselves. Anyone who had ever thought about revenge on the guards knew this rule all too well.


    ¡°We can''t hold on! Everyone, retreat!¡±


    Just as the last of the security force members were about to make their escape¡­


    The cafeteria doors burst open with a force that shook the room, and in came the black-painted, riot-suppressing security robots, armed with shotguns. At the rear of the group, two robots carried assault rifles loaded with live ammunition.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The shotguns fired into the women beating the fallen guards, and those hit in the stomach, chest, and thighs screamed as they fell. They writhed in pain from the salt rounds. Following the robots, a squad of riot police, fully armored with shields and batons, streamed into the cafeteria. Every one of them was a human female.


    ¡°Everybody freeze!¡±


    ¡°Get down!¡±


    The officers shouting these ordinary commands likely used to be prison guards.


    ¡°Kneel, you bitches!¡±


    Meanwhile, there are also task force members who were once inmates, their disdain for their own kind showing.


    ¡°Drop the batons now!¡±


    ¡°Bastardt!¡±


    Like the former inmates who used to complain about their meals, the task force members mix in bits of foreign language among their mostly Korean speech.


    ¡°Stoooop! Nobody move!¡±


    There¡¯s also a Hispanic woman who used to work as a prostitute before learning how to use her body in a new way as a smuggler. She mimicked the exact lines the prison guards in the U.S. had yelled in English at her as she swung her baton. This suited her far better than smuggling¡ªher brain was now producing endorphins at a fierce pace.


    The task force brutally beat the women as they quashed the riot.


    [Warning. Level 2 riot detected in Block C cafeteria. Riot squad has been deployed. All security personnel must cease current duties and remain on standby in Level 2 readiness.]


    Rose''s clear voice rang out through the speakers.


    [All residents present in Block C cafeteria are hereby sentenced to two days without food supplies and one week without luxuries.]


    At Rose''s announcement, all the women who had been watching indifferently as bystanders voiced their displeasure at once.


    Bang!


    A security robot fired immediately.


    ¡°I told you all to shut up!¡± A security officer with a long scar across her cheek barked, and the place went silent.


    [Silence and indifference are forms of complicity. No effort was made to restrain your fellow inmates during the riot.]


    Rose¡¯s calm voice marked the end of the chaos as the riot participants were forcefully pinned to the cold floor by the officers. And then, the world turned white.


    Beeeeeeep!


    With a loud alarm, the women lying on the VR machines came to their senses.


    [VR test completed. All participants, grab the vomit bags on your stomachs and wait for 10 seconds. If you do not experience nausea, you may leave. Vomiting inside the VR machine will result in severe penalties.]


    The voice from the manual played. In the shelter, there were only two male voices: Jinsoo and the one from the manual. Exams for positions in security, fire, and disaster prevention forces made special use of VR programs. The data obtained from the last expedition had been improved by Artemis to create these programs.


    [Everyone, move on. There are many others waiting.]


    As Rose spoke, the applicants, with disappointed expressions, stepped down from the VR machines. Though they had tried their best, many of them felt like they had failed miserably.


    One woman, in particular, who had scored high in the practical and physical tests and confidently entered the VR machine with her officer''s epaulets, couldn''t even lift her head after being knocked out early.


    The women coming down from the machines were completely naked. These VR machines were the latest models, designed to provide a realistic experience by stimulating tactile nerves with appropriate cold, heat, and other sensations. However, pain was replaced with a sense of pressure to some extent. To function properly, participants had to enter the machines without clothes.


    ***


    ¡°Good grief.¡±


    Watching the women step down from the VR machines on the screen, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sorry for them. To be honest, they displayed even less control and crisis management than I¡¯d expected. Still, I guess I¡¯m just a guy at the end of the day. Seeing them, defeated while quietly picking up their clothes and shoes, the desire to criticize them faded.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit pitiful, though. They probably didn¡¯t expect to fail in a scenario where suppression is practically impossible.¡±


    [Are you sure you really feel sorry for them?] Artemis asked, sounding skeptical.


    ¡°Of course.¡± I chewed on some popcorn as I watched the recordings of other test participants, particularly curious about Seyoung''s performance.


    When I entered her test number, her thumbnail video appeared. It showed Seyoung in a sprinting position, desperately running. Her expression was priceless, with a horde of inmates chasing her, filling the background. It looked like a scene from a zombie movie¡ªor maybe a famous adult video cover.


    Just as I was about to hit play, an alarm popped up at the top of the screen.


    [Contaminant detected in test chamber.] With a serious tone, Artemis spoke.


    ¡°Where is it?¡±


    My excitement vanished in an instant.


    [Test Room B, VR Machine 5.]


    I manipulated the panel to bring up the video feed of the test room, where a woman was trembling with her head bowed. Her face was flushed red.


    [Contaminant composition: water, urea, inorganic salts.]


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just say she wet herself? You scared me,¡± I said while rubbing my nose bridge.


    [Just kidding.]


    A giggle followed.


    ¡°I prepared for nausea, but I didn¡¯t expect anyone to wet themselves.¡± I manipulated the panel to replay the last part of the experience from VR Machine 5.


    [Screeeeech!]


    As soon as the footage began, the screen was filled with the face of an infected creature. The woman had already been pinned down with both her hands restrained. The creature had quail egg-sized tumors all over its body. Its face darkened to a brown hue, and bulging black veins snaked across its skin, with something moving beneath them.


    The creature¡¯s face moved closer as its abnormally wide mouth opened to reveal pitch-black teeth at least three centimeters long. One of those long fangs had a severed ear attached to it¡ªwhose ear, I couldn''t tell. Disgusting saliva dripped from between those teeth, falling onto the woman¡¯s face.


    [Aaaaagh!]


    With the woman¡¯s ear-piercing scream, the VR test forcefully ended. The machine¡¯s safety features had kicked in after detecting rapid changes in her heart rate and blood pressure.


    ¡°It was an internal infection scenario, huh.¡±


    This was the final stage of the four VR tests performed on security officers. Even the women who had performed excellently in the first three tests fell apart when facing infected creatures in the fourth stage.


    It wasn¡¯t even a full-scale assault¡ªjust one or two creatures during the early outbreak¡ªbut they crumbled. However, she was the first to wet herself. Now, the woman, half embarrassed and half resigned, was scrubbing the seat and floor she had soiled with the cleaning supplies handed to her.


    I switched the camera to a different channel. On screen were women actively putting out a fire in a burning building using extinguishers. While I didn¡¯t much like VR training for war scenarios, I had to admit its effectiveness in disaster preparedness drills.


    Watching Artemis'' disaster scenarios, I had learned a lot myself. And to be honest, they were quite entertaining to watch.


    Firefighting and combat in VR.


    Female reactions to horror games.


    It was like combining two popular video genres into one. How could that not be fun?


    Anyway, with the completion of this VR test, the entire job aptitude assessment was now over. The time to dismantle the camps was drawing near.

 Chapter 68: Two Alike

    Two Alike


    The day after the job aptitude test was completed, Seyoung observed the atmosphere in the prison guard camp. After some evaluations and classifications, they would soon be assigned to various tasks throughout the city.


    In the cafeteria, the yard, and the dormitories, the only topic of conversation whenever two or more people gathered was the test. It resembled the scene in a classroom right after high school exams.


    "How did you do?"


    "What do you think? I bombed it."


    Familiar lines were being exchanged, just like old times.


    ¡°What was with those last essay questions¡­ I lost four questions because I didn¡¯t know the names.¡±


    Naturally, there were complaints about the questions.


    Although these scenes were familiar, the weight they carried was far heavier than any exam they''d taken before. The test results would determine how convenient and prosperous their lives in the city would be, and for some, it could even affect their social status.


    As expected, the women¡¯s reactions were varied. There were women who thought they did well, women who thought they had failed, women who offered comfort, women who secretly sneered while pretending to comfort others, women who waited calmly with a "whatever happens, happens" attitude, women aiming for the next test, and those preparing to appeal for a retest.


    Most of them leaned towards feeling gloomy and pessimistic. The greater the expectations, the greater the anxiety. Many of them had high hopes of passing and joining the security forces. Naturally, these women couldn¡¯t help but look at Seyoung with envy.


    "She''s so lucky."


    "She''s bound to pass the security forces, and she''ll probably get a management position too, right?"


    It¡¯s no secret that public companies often have pre-selected candidates, but it¡¯s rare to see such an openly obvious case as this one. Seyoung was the only one in the camp to receive private accommodations, and the city administrator had personally visited her, even assigning her personal bodyguards.


    It was clear to everyone that she was the pre-selected candidate. As expected, countless whispers about her spread behind her back. The gossip intensified after the aptitude test ended.


    ¡°Well, she did pass the civil service exam.¡±


    Some women, however, were the type to acknowledge what deserved acknowledgment. And for good reason¡ªSeyoung might be the only person in the shelter, and possibly the last in South Korea, to have passed the civil service exam. And she did it at a very young age.


    As if to prove her worth, after the test, Seyoung was transported somewhere else. It was a small caf¨¦ not far from the camp. During the city''s construction period, the caf¨¦ had been popular with the workers, thanks to its iced Americanos priced at just 2,000 won. They had planned to cater to regular residents after the city¡¯s completion, but that dream was dashed by the unprecedented disaster.


    Today, they welcomed their first real resident customer. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This is the second time we¡¯ve met.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen and heard about you many times, though.¡±


    When Rose extended her hand first, Seyoung smiled and took it. Rose''s hand was incredibly soft and radiated a warmth so pleasant that Seyoung didn¡¯t want to let go.


    The two sat near the entrance. It had been a long time since Seyoung had visited a caf¨¦, so just the soft sofa and the cozy atmosphere brought her immense satisfaction. Truly, every little thing she used to take for granted had now become a source of happiness.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Rose, and I am the shelter''s security management AI.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m former prison warden Lee Seyoung.¡±


    Rose, sitting upright and poised as if possessed by a posture goddess, looked directly at Seyoung.


    ¡°That body¡­ is it an android?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing. This is my first time seeing a second-generation android in person.¡±


    Second-generation androids were so expensive that the wealthy typically purchased them as sex bots. However, there were non-sexual androids designed for special purposes as well.


    For example, wealthy couples with a good relationship would buy them for practical reasons, such as housekeepers, personal assistants, or caregivers. In some cases, fundamentalist religious groups used them to adhere to doctrines about the appropriate use of female labor.


    Seyoung briefly wondered whether the woman in front of her was a sex bot or not, but she had no intention of asking.


    ¡°Order whatever you like.¡± Rose handed her a menu. ¡°I¡¯d love to offer you more, but unfortunately, this place was half-destroyed during the infection outbreak and has only just been restored. So, the selection is limited.¡±


    A housekeeping robot, waiting by the kitchen, brought a tray to the table. It was a humanoid that looked like the NS4 model from I, Robot, with a bulky plastic body. Its chef¡¯s hat and apron were adorably mismatched yet somehow cute.


    Seyoung''s eyes automatically fixed on the tray. While two meals a day were provided at the shelter, the focus was strictly on nutrition. At best, it was barely passable as lucky military rations.


    Sweetness.


    Humans have an instinctive craving for sweetness, which could not be satisfied by the shelter¡¯s meals.


    Korean men, who typically experience a forced deprivation of sweetness during five weeks of military training, know this suffering all too well. Just five weeks of it can be torturous, but Seyoung had been deprived of sugar ever since she was confined to the offshore prison.


    Gulp¡ª


    On the tray was a caf¨¦ latte, with a smiley face drawn in milk foam, gently steaming. Her mouth began to water fiercely. She tried her best to maintain her composure, but Rose, observing through her electronic eyes, could see everything. She noticed Seyoung¡¯s nostrils subtly flaring as she deeply inhaled the scent of the coffee.


    Rose lifted the lid on a dish beside the coffee. Inside were three small desserts. A croffle drizzled generously with maple syrup.


    Three macarons.


    And three tarts.


    Rose hadn¡¯t been able to find any information on Seyoung''s food preferences, so she had simply selected the three most popular snacks on South Korean social media before the collapse.


    She confirmed that Seyoung¡¯s eyes had grown 20% wider, and her nostrils 30% larger. The combination might have seemed overly sweet, but based on her interviews with prisoner representatives, it was an unnecessary concern.


    Just give us something sweet!


    Women in Seyoung¡¯s situation, tormented by their brain¡¯s constant craving for sugar, would appreciate the gesture.


    "Feel free to eat as much as you like. We have plenty of time, so you can finish eating before we talk," said Rose.


    The first thing Seyoung reached for with trembling hands and eyes was the coffee cup.


    Sip¡ª


    "Ahhh¡­"


    As the sweet coffee touched her tongue, she felt as if her brain was ¡®twitching'' and moving. Next, her gaze landed on the croffle. The rich buttery aroma of the perfectly baked croffle mingled with the sweet scent of maple syrup rising in a tantalizing cloud.


    The moment she took a bite, it was like heaven unfolded in her mouth. Her taste buds, nasal membranes, nerves, neurons, and spinal cord all seemed to collapse under the sensory overload. Her tongue delivered the sweetness directly to her brain, and yet, the brain did nothing to stop this rebellion.


    Why should it? It was pure happiness.


    Rose watched Seyoung with what could be considered an overly curious gaze. After all, she had a keen interest in the sensations humans experienced, especially the pleasure derived from taste and smell. Even though her body could feel like a human''s, as a machine, she couldn¡¯t truly indulge in these senses as humans could.


    Rose carefully observed Seyoung¡¯s very human reactions, her expressions in response to these sensations, all while thinking of a future time when she might experience them herself.


    When the coffee and croffle were more than half gone, Seyoung wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and smiled awkwardly.


    "As you may already know, despite the results of the aptitude test, there are certain people who have already been assigned specific roles. I''m sure you understand that you are one of them," Rose said.


    "Yes," Seyoung nodded.


    "Personally, I¡¯m very impressed with you. Your academic records, university achievements, and evaluations from your superiors have all been remarkable," Rose continued.


    "Thank you," Seyoung replied, genuinely pleased. She knew Rose wasn¡¯t the type to offer empty compliments. It wasn¡¯t just the sweetness of the food that made Seyoung happy¡ªshe was also starved for recognition of her hard work. Her brain was on the verge of overloading from all the positive chemical reactions happening at once.


    "You are expected to receive the highest-ranking position among the residents, excluding the Administrator. It will be similar to your previous role as a prison warden. However, you must not disclose this information before the official announcement."


    "Of course," Seyoung responded. Only someone completely oblivious wouldn¡¯t understand that.


    "However, I do feel a bit overwhelmed. I''ve never managed such a large group before. Many of my predecessors, who were much more experienced, were in charge of facilities with hundreds of people," Seyoung admitted honestly.


    "There¡¯s no need to worry about that. Although the population here is large, the security level is higher than ADX Florence. Plus, there are no human rights laws here. We¡¯ll provide you with full support in terms of force and surveillance, so you have nothing to worry about."


    Rose¡¯s confident words gave Seyoung reassurance.


    "In a way, you could say that you''ll be the Administrator¡¯s right hand," Rose added.


    "Me?" Seyoung''s eyes widened, as if asking, "Aren''t you the right hand?" Rose chuckled at her obvious reaction.


    "The Administrator believes that humans should be managed by other humans. While we AI assistants have greater authority, when it comes to directly interacting with people, you¡¯ll take on a role similar to a salaried manager."


    Of course, Artemis, Chloro, Rose, and Kiz were like the major shareholders who could replace that manager at any time.


    "The reason you were called here today is that you and I will be working closely together in the future, and the Administrator thought it would be good for us to get to know each other better."


    "Indeed, given the composition of the residents here, there will probably be no shortage of incidents."


    Naturally, as the representative for human residents, Seyoung and Rose, the security manager, would need to communicate frequently.


    After discussing a few minor issues, silence settled in, and Rose¡¯s gaze slowly shifted to the cooling food on the table.


    "It smells nice," Rose said, sniffing the air. It was a small gesture, but one that was somewhat unladylike. Seyoung chuckled softly and quickly suppressed her smile.


    "Even a second-generation android can''t eat food?" Seyoung asked.


    "I can drink to some extent. I¡¯m a sex model, after all. I can ingest liquids and even semi-solids like semen."


    Seyoung almost spat out her coffee. Rose was intelligent and cultured, but she seemed to lack a certain feminine modesty.


    "Is something wrong?" Rose asked, tilting her head cutely. She was clearly puzzled.


    Seyoung gave her an awkward smile.


    "Before we get into work matters, perhaps we should discuss some basic common sense first," Seyoung suggested with a laugh.


    Their conversation ended up lasting much longer than originally planned, and by the time they parted, Seyoung and Rose had become close friends. They exchanged hugs instead of handshakes.