TRPM 173

chapter 173

There was absolutely no movement to rescue the operatives who had been discovered by Oracle.

To Oracle, operatives active on Earth were nothing more than disposable tools, to be used and discarded at any time.

If one of these disposables was particularly exceptional, they would be brought to a forward base on the Moon or to headquarters on Mars.

They had no concern about information leaking through them. After all, the intelligence these disposables possessed wasn’t enough to reveal anything about Oracle itself.

Of course, this was only the stance of headquarters.

“(These idiots…)”

The head of Oracle’s UK branch lamented upon learning that his subordinates had been caught while trying to accomplish a mission.

Their position in the UK had already been weakened due to the failed museum terrorist attack a few years ago and the capture of the Archmage Katie Hunt, and now their operatives were being apprehended as well…

‘(I need to clean up the safe houses quickly.)’

Though the captured operatives didn’t have information about Oracle headquarters, they did possess knowledge of the UK branch, so it needed to be cleaned up as quickly as possible.

With the current UK Awakener Association, it wouldn’t take long to extract information from the foolishly caught operatives.

‘(Alright. This should suffice.)’

Oracle’s UK branch was close to a safe house that doubled as a supply point, so there was much to do.

They had to erase all traces of the identities of those who had lived there and take all supplies with them.

Thanks to a drug developed by Oracle, even using psychometry, any traces could be erased without leaving a clue.

Supplies were managed using multiple pocket dimensions.

“(Phew… cleanup is done…)”

The branch head, along with the remaining operatives who had not been caught, finished the cleanup and got into a car.

A subordinate sitting in the driver’s seat asked him:

“(Where are we going now?)”

“(The UK is lost. We’ll have to move to another country.)”

The operatives’ expressions darkened at the branch head’s words.

All of them had been born and raised in the UK, so leaving it behind didn’t feel good.

“(…Where to?)”

“(…Africa is a bit risky… let’s go to Australia.)”

Africa was almost entirely under Oracle’s influence, effectively consumed by the organization, but the environment there was poor. So the UK branch head decided to head to Australia instead.

Australia was a country still recovering from the first terrorist attack by Oracle using doppelgängers.

“(Understood. Let’s head to the airport.)”

“(Wait… not the usual airport. We’re going somewhere else.)”

If they went to their usual airport, the UK Awakener Association would already have agents stationed to extract information from the captured operatives. Going there would be insane.

“(There’s an emergency-use airport only known to branch heads.)”

The UK branch head told the subordinate the airport’s location. The driver turned the car in that direction, and the branch head sighed as he looked out the window.

‘(All this trouble because of those idiots…)’

Because of this incident, it would be nearly impossible for him and the UK operatives to rise through the ranks… that is, to reach headquarters.

All Oracle operatives wanted to go to headquarters…

‘(…Though I don’t remember where headquarters actually is.)’

Still, he remembered hearing the headquarters was safer than anywhere else when he first joined Oracle. Presumably, his memory of its location had been erased.

Putting that aside…

“(…I need a target…)”

Losing subordinates and the UK branch was in the past. To make up for it, he had to accomplish even more.

The branch head knew he was no different from the captured operatives who had failed in their missions while trying to gain recognition, but he couldn’t avoid compensating for the loss.

“(List the Level-3… no, Level-2 key targets our organization has designated.)”

“(I don’t remember all of them. I remember the famous ones—should I list those?)”

“(Yes.)”

Following the branch head’s instructions, an operative in the back seat began reciting names.

These were names that anyone interested might have heard of—mostly prominent scholars, politicians, or veteran Awakeners.

However, a few names seemed out of place.

“(Chloe Greenwood…)”

“(Wait. Chloe Greenwood? That actress famous for being an elf?)”

“(Yes.)”

“(Wasn’t she Level-3? She awakened into an elf body but had no other notable abilities, so I thought she was Level-3.)”

The operative replied:

“(I heard she was promoted to Level-2 last year or the year before. I don’t know the details, but it’s speculated that it’s because she got involved with Han Geon-woo, a Korean Auror Master… presumed to be the Artist.)”

“*(Hmm… no special abilities manifested in her?)”

“(No. Oh, but there’s a special instruction. We’re supposed to capture her alive if possible and leave no trace or witnesses.)”

Level-2 key targets were usually to be recruited. Capturing her alive meant headquarters judged recruitment impossible.

“(Capture alive… Are they planning to analyze her DNA?)”

“(Or perhaps stage a hostage situation with Han Geon-woo, the Artist.)”

As they discussed, the driver spoke up:

“(That elf seems to be in Africa right now.)”

“(What?)”

The operative pointed to news on the car’s navigation screen showing Chloe Greenwood boarding a plane to depart. The caption explained she was traveling to a newly discovered natural site in Africa.

“(She always seeks out natural wonders. Seems she’s doing the same in Africa.)”

“(Hah… fearless girl.)”

Africa—different from other continents, heavily influenced by Oracle yet with poor public safety. And now the target had walked right into it voluntarily.

“(Branch head… do you think what we’re thinking?)”

“(I don’t know your thoughts, but I think that if the elf is kidnapped in Africa, no one will care.)”

Both Chloe and her guards could be easily subdued by Oracle if they chose to act.

“(We’re going to Africa.)”

“(Yes. I’ll contact the branch there.)”

“(It’s a shame to split the credit, but without their help, tracking the elf would be difficult.)”

Chloe Greenwood boarded the plane to Africa, accompanied by her guards.

“(Why is this newly discovered site only found now? How has it survived until now?)”

One guard asked the team leader, and others seemed to share similar questions.

“(The site survived because even if monsters attacked, there were sizable villages along the path. Locals fought to protect their homes, unknowingly protecting the site as well.)”

“(And it was only discovered now because…?)”

“(This site was a cave, hard to find. But with the new low-frequency detection devices, people expanded their activity areas and naturally discovered it.)”

The guards understood why the site had just been discovered. The one who asked nodded in understanding.

“(…I don’t think I’ve met them before. Are they new?)”

Chloe asked, and the team leader shook his head.

“(Not our team.)”

“(Another team?)”

“(Yes. Africa is dangerous, so another team joined the flight in addition to my original team.)”

“(Ah… that explains the many unfamiliar faces.)”

Chloe noticed there were more guards than usual.

“(By the way, the person you asked about is the leader of the team that joined this time.)”

“(Really?)”

Chloe looked a bit surprised; she had guessed the person was new because she looked very young.

‘(Well, I also look younger than my age.)’

She must be slow-aging like Chloe.

“(Oh, by the way, she’s exactly 22 years old.)”

“(…What?)”

Chloe was shocked. Leading a team at 22?

“(This industry is meritocratic. I became a team leader quickly because of my skills.)”

Chloe glanced at the team leader next to her as the young woman confidently boasted.

“(Her bragging is strong, but her skills are solid.)”

“(Ah, yes.)”

Chloe laughed awkwardly, trusting the team leader who had worked with them for years.

Suddenly, the plane shook violently.

Beep…! Beep…!

“(What… a monster?)”

“(Impossible! Even a flying monster can’t reach the stratosphere where planes fly!)”

“(Then… what is happening…?)”

The crew was moving frantically, signaling something was wrong, but Chloe and her guards could do nothing. Even if a monster appeared outside, they couldn’t leave the plane to fight.

Then a distorted voice came through the plane’s speakers:

“All passengers on this flight must follow our instructions. Stay calm. The pilot is in our hands… you won’t want to see what happens to a plane without a pilot.”

Everyone went silent.

This was…

‘(A hijacking…?)’

The plane had been completely seized by someone.