TRPM 135

chapter 135

[(Now, let’s head back to the machine room, regroup with the others, and get out of here.)]

The boss of Albatross PMC said this to his subordinates via communicator.

It seemed their goal had been to film the scene where Oracle was recruiting vengeful awakened individuals.

‘However, just filming that scene alone probably won’t deal much damage to Oracle.’

They filmed someone scouting others? That’s natural.

On its own, it wouldn’t spread by word of mouth, so there’s little reward in having filmed it. Still, information like the name “Oracle” and that their headquarters is on Mars could prove somewhat useful.

‘Ah, but the World Awakened Association might do a sweep to see if anyone inside belongs to Oracle.’

Even Oracle wouldn’t have completely swallowed up the World Awakened Association. Doing a sweep wouldn’t necessarily reveal Oracle’s members immediately, though.

I was thinking this while watching Albatross PMC prepare to return.

Waaahhh…!

[(Code White. Basement 5 server room. Code White. Basement 5 server room.)]

Suddenly, a siren blared and the broadcast started.

Code White…

‘A code followed by a color… Is this a medical code? It’s been a while since I’ve heard one in person. But what was White again?’

Medical codes are mostly used in hospitals, but some public organizations, including the Awakened Association, also use them.

The codes I knew precisely were Code Blue (CPR needed), Code Red (fire), and Code Purple (a threatening visitor). Code White’s meaning was unknown to me.

But considering the mention of the “Basement 5 server room,” I could roughly guess.

[(Code White? What does that mean?)]
[(Sigh… Looks like our guys were caught stealing info from the server room.)]
[(Stop chit-chatting via brain message. Move faster!)]

Albatross PMC quickly assessed the situation. Upon hearing the broadcast, they started running toward the server room where their teammates likely were. I followed them.

Of course, we weren’t the only ones heading toward the server room.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

I saw people running in the same direction. They wore the same uniforms as the guards at the entrance—meaning they were in charge of security in this building, probably heading to apprehend Albatross PMC members in the server room.

[(What should we do, boss?)]
[(What else? The guys in the server room can’t handle those guys on their own…)]

We need to buy our guys in the server room enough time to finish their job and escape. The Albatross PMC boss said so.

“(!)”

Right after the boss spoke, some of the guards running toward the server room stopped and looked our way. Albatross PMC had deactivated their stealth gear, revealing their presence.

“(…Take them down!)”

The guard who appeared to be the leader charged, and the two sides clashed.

However, Albatross PMC’s chances of winning were slim.

‘Albatross PMC only has daggers, while the guards have batons and tasers.’

The difference in abilities and numbers between the two groups wasn’t significant, but the difference in armament was. Plus, the Albatross PMC members were avoiding using their powers to conceal their identities.

Vwoom…!
Clang!
“(Ugh?!)”

Albatross PMC members struggled to block or evade the guards’ batons with their daggers. The reach of a baton compared to a dagger is much greater, and the guards had the advantage of using their powers.

“(Slowly subdue them, but don’t let them escape while encircling them.)”

Aware of their advantage, the guards pressed Albatross PMC slowly, and of course, PMC’s situation worsened.

[(…So what now, boss?)]
[(Hold on. Once the guys in the server room escape, we can use stealth gear to get out too.)]
[(I don’t think using stealth gear alone will be enough.)]

Albatross PMC continued communicating via earpiece, fending off the guards. Time, however, was not on their side.

“(Are they intruders?)”
“(Probably. We decided to subdue them for questioning.)”

More guards from other areas kept coming, worsening the situation for Albatross PMC. I wondered if they had a secret escape plan, but apparently, they did not.

‘Before my regression, I heard they were never caught… but now, if I don’t help, they’ll be captured here.’

It wouldn’t be good for Oracle’s enemies, the elite Albatross PMC, to be caught here. I had no intention of interacting with them directly, but helping now seemed wise.

I reached for the Harmonized Sword in my pocket dimension, but hesitated.

‘If I use the Harmonized Sword, it would reveal that I—or rather, the Artist—intervened. That’s a bad move.’

Also, I had to avoid killing or harming innocent guards. Instead, I drew a wooden sword from my pocket dimension to make my presence known.

“(!)”
“(Ugh…!)”

Those who had been fighting froze, noticing me. Everyone’s expression darkened—Albatross PMC thought a stronger opponent had appeared, lowering their survival chances; the guards thought reinforcements had arrived for PMC.

“(…Huh?)”
“(…Huh?)”

But the tension didn’t last long. Both sides realized something was off.

‘What… they’re not reinforcements…?’
‘Then why is someone this strong suddenly between us…’
‘Report up. At least an Aura Master or a Grand Mage has appeared. Request backup.’

The guards, encircling Albatross PMC, whispered to each other while keeping an eye on me.

[(…Does anyone know who that is?)]
[(Ugh… I’ve met many Aura Masters and Grand Mages, but…)]
[(No idea. Still, thanks to them, we survived. Let’s stay low for now.)]

Albatross PMC caught their breath, and the fight entered a brief lull.

‘…Hmm…’

I expected a brief lull when a third party intervened, but did I reveal too much presence? Some guards looked ready to risk their lives to stop me if I acted.

At that moment:

[(Boss, there’s a small issue, but we succeeded in stealing the vengeful awakened data.)]
[(Really? Then you guys get out first.)]
[(Boss? What about…)]
[(Our situation isn’t good. And you can’t do anything here anyway. Escape first.)]

It seemed Albatross PMC had finished in the server room. Now, their goal shifted from buying time to escaping. I noticed a member, presumably a mage, preparing a spell.

[(Ready?)]
[(Yes, we’ll activate it on signal.)]

I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“(Stop them…!)”
“(But…!)”

The guards sensed magical energy and tried to attack PMC, but hesitated because I was between them. PMC gained enough time.

[(Now!)]

On the boss’s signal, the PMC mage unleashed the prepared spell:

“(Smoke)”

A thick smoke created with magic to obscure vision. Normally, such a spell isn’t used alone.

“(Ugh…! My body…!)”
“(Don’t inhale the smoke! It’s not poisonous, but your body will be sluggish!)”

The mage mixed a Paralyze spell into the smoke, activated when inhaled. Usually, such spells could harm allies, but…

‘Albatross PMC planned for this.’

They seemed unaffected, likely thanks to masks that doubled as gas masks and part of their stealth gear. Other awakened present were slightly slowed, but PMC had enough time to escape.

“(They’re gone…!)”
“(What… in that short moment?!)”

Using stealth gear, they disappeared. The smoke and stealth gear made tracking them extremely difficult. Even if found, paralyzed guards couldn’t catch them without extraordinary skill. I also went into hiding.

“(Damn… That person’s gone too!)”
“(…Damn it!)”

The guards slumped in frustration, tossing their batons. The responsibility for missing the intruders fell on them. It wasn’t their fault—they just did their job. And their failure was unavoidable—they couldn’t have captured someone like me anyway.

‘Anyway…’

I followed Albatross PMC members heading toward the machine room.

“(Everyone’s safe.)”

Back at the machine room, Albatross PMC—who had infiltrated the Awakened Association headquarters—now regrouped after escaping.

They gathered, checked personnel, and accounted for equipment.

“(Did we leave anything behind?)”
“(It seemed urgent, but we shouldn’t have left anything.)”

The boss asked; a member replied. They hadn’t brought much, and what they did bring remained on them. The only loss might be a burned Albatross PMC logo in the machine room. There was minor damage from this mission.

“(Ha… I need to lay low for a while.)”

The mage who used Smoke and Paralyze sighed. Using magic openly before so many guards risked leaving magical traces.

“(The Awakened Association will likely have collected remnants of my magic.)”
“(Yeah.)”
“(They could use it to curse me….)”

The curse from residual magic wouldn’t be strong but could still be painful. It would require a skilled spellcaster to enact, but this was the World Awakened Association headquarters, with many Oracle agents mixed in. Traces of magic would inevitably reach Oracle’s mages.

“(I’ll make protective dolls for a while, so don’t call me for other matters.)”
“(Understood. For now…)”

The Albatross PMC boss decided to return to headquarters. His subordinates, visibly tired, followed.