TRPM 194

chapter 194

“(Wait.)”

Albatross PMC, who had been ready to break through a passage into the prison cell at any moment, immediately froze at Maurice’s sudden hand signal.

“(Why?)”

“(Check the receivers.)”

Following Maurice’s signal, the Albatross PMC operatives all pulled out their receivers to check them—devices used to detect signals from their own equipment to confirm the locations of allies.

“(…)”
“(…)”

Seeing the readings, the Albatross PMC team finally understood why Maurice had instructed them to check their receivers. One person’s position was unusual.

The individual who should have been guarding the superpowered target’s cell—their most important objective—was somehow moving outside the passage.

“(…We’ve been spotted.)”
“(…Looks like we’ve been compromised.)”

It could have been a simple case of leaving their post, but in that scenario, they would face disciplinary action later, so it was unlikely to be intentional. Knowing this, Albatross PMC concluded that the prison side had noticed their presence.

“(…No choice. The passage is only half-complete, but we can still get half of them out.)”
“(…We also need time to persuade the target and disable the restraints.)”
“(…Then we’ll have to buy that time.)”

The Albatross PMC operatives weren’t equipped for combat. They had no intention of fighting the guards head-on.

“(Create as many forks in the passage as possible. Keep changing its structure. We need to delay the guards from reaching us as long as we can.)”
“(Understood. But blocking the hole we came through will be difficult. Not just the distance—they’ve done something.)”
“(…It doesn’t matter. As long as we can slow them down, that’s enough.)”

All Maurice needed was enough time to persuade the prisoners. Once that was done, the rest would be easy. After freeing the restraints and getting the prisoners on their side, fighting together would be straightforward.

“(I’ll open the hole. Three, two, one.)”

The moment the esper who had been creating the passage clenched all their fingers, holes leading into the prison cells appeared.

“What?!”
“The water… ugh!”

A waiting telekinetic restrained the seawater from flooding the cells, but the splash startled some of the prisoners. Albatross PMC quickly silenced them and began persuading them while keeping watch for approaching guards.

“…If you come with us, you can start a new life in Vietnam under a new identity.”
“…”
“That’s our offer. You can refuse, but please make your choice quickly.”
“…It’s uneasy, but what the hell, let’s try it.”

Not all prisoners accepted immediately, but most of the ones targeted by Albatross PMC agreed.

“Any life is better than rotting here fighting monsters for the rest of our lives.”
“There’s no one waiting outside… I just wanted to survive, not die.”
“You’re willing to take in people abandoned by their country… your organization is impressive.”

For these prisoners, the future was either dying fighting monsters or being killed by their restraints. With a third option offered, no one refused.

“Hold on…”

Once the prisoners agreed, Albatross PMC used pre-prepared devices to destroy the restraints.

Crack…!
“Ugh… such a brutal method… but effective…”

The restraints attempted to take the prisoners’ lives with weak explosions as they were destroyed, but Albatross PMC neutralized them before detonation, saving the prisoners. Some suffered burns from the heat, but at least they survived.

“So, how do we escape now?”
“Put this in your mouth and follow us.”
“Huh… you mean going out through the sea like we came in?”

The prisoners put on the breathing devices handed by Albatross PMC and tried to escape through the holes.

Bang!
“Stop right there!”
“Subdue them all!”

It seemed the escape plan was about to fail. Guards had rushed into the cells, sensing something unusual. They weren’t the elite operatives who had dived underwater outside the prison with the warden. But…

Bang!
Thud…!
“Ugh?!”
“(Ugh?!)”

The guards’ equipment, like that of the elite operatives, drew power from the mental energy of espers. Even without strong swings, the prisoners and Albatross PMC members struck by the weapons collapsed to the floor.

“Arrest them!”
“Yes!”

Naturally, the devices used to destroy the restraints were confiscated, and most escapees were subdued.

“(…What…?)”

Maurice retreated deeper into the passage and pondered.

“(…Why… why? Guards usually wouldn’t enter the cells unless the prisoners cause a ruckus…)”

He had confirmed this multiple times, so he had been confident the plan would succeed. Even if intruders were detected, guards could enter the cells only to check. But their actions suggested they already knew something had happened inside the cells.

“(…What should I do?)”
“(…First, create a new passage to the outside. Otherwise, this mission won’t succeed and only casualties will rise.)”

Maurice didn’t know how the prison guards were aware of their actions, but escaping the prison island was necessary. He issued a retreat order. The reply was disheartening.

“(…Impossible. I think they prepared the entire outer wall to prevent us from escaping like that.)”
“(…Damn.)”

Maurice gritted his teeth. The escape route was blocked. His own body could make it through, but his subordinates would all be captured.

“(…They’re proud enough to fight the darkness of the world and Oracle, so they won’t spill anything about Albatross PMC…)”

If handed over to Korean police or military, their identities would soon be exposed. Unlike Oracle, Maurice hadn’t erased their memories, so affiliations and bases could be discovered. In the worst case, their connection to Richard, head of the Global Espers Association, could also be revealed.

“(…Damn…)”

Where had it gone wrong? Was it delaying to gather more prisoners besides the main target? Or targeting this prison because a superpowered individual had been falsely imprisoned?

“(…Was it simply a mistake to target this prison island?)”

Maurice ground his teeth and looked at his trapped subordinates. Those already captured were lost, but he needed to free the rest. How…?

“(…We need a variable.)”

A variable the guards couldn’t control. Something to divert their attention from the intruders.

“(…There’s one.)”

Perhaps it could even create an opening to rescue the others.

“(…We will now liberate the strongest esper on this prison island.)”

A superpowered individual of Archmage-level output. Once freed, the guards would have no time to focus on the intruders, giving time to rescue the subordinates.

“(…Understood.)”
“(…To get through the guards and destroy 24 restraints… not going to be easy.)”

The subordinates signaled back with determined expressions. Meanwhile, an Albatross PMC operative with detection powers motioned to the others.

“(…Crisis. What do we do?)”
“(…Location?)”
“(…Straight ahead. Turn the corner made to delay them, and there are the guards.)”

Right, there were still enemies pursuing them.

“(…Scatter. Someone reach the esper!)”

Albatross PMC operatives scattered through the branching passages. The twisted paths were obstacles even for them, but there was no choice—they couldn’t use the main passage or the one to the cells.

“(…This way.)”

Maurice visualized a map in his mind and pushed through the passage. Reaching a corner where he sensed movement, he reached out.

“…Gah?!”

It was a guard in a diving suit. Maurice grabbed his arm to prevent him from swinging his weapon and slammed him into the wall, subduing him.

“(Weapons are threatening, but as long as they don’t hit me, it’s fine.)”

He confirmed the guard was unconscious and saw the weapon drop from the limp hand.

“(…I can’t use this equipment.)”

High-end equipment like this usually has biometric security. Even if it didn’t, Maurice couldn’t risk testing it, so he pressed on.

“(…Hmm?)”

Maurice continued subduing the blocking guards one by one until he reached near his destination. But sensing something unusual, he inspected the passage walls instead of moving forward.

“(This wasn’t done by one of our espers. Does the prison side have a similar ability?)”

Maurice focused his senses ahead. Though not a sensing-type, he was strong enough to feel nearby presences.

“(…Once past here is the superpowered target’s cell… five are guarding it.)”

Five couldn’t fight in the narrow passage; the prison esper must have widened it.

“(…We can’t beat them.)”

Still, there was no turning back.

“…!”
“Enemy!”

Maurice quickly swam between the five guards, not to fight, but to reach his objective.

Thud…!
“(Ugh?!)”

He was hit, but focused on his goal.

“(Dig!)”

He forced a hole through the concrete wall—the wall of the target’s cell.

“Hmm?”

Using all his magical power, Maurice created a hole. The magically reinforced concrete resisted full penetration, so it wasn’t large enough for a person, but sufficient for objects.

“This is…”

The esper immediately recognized the equipment Albatross PMC had brought to destroy the restraints and understood how to use it.

“What…!”
“Put that down immediately!”

Hearing water pouring through the hole, guards rushed in, but it was too late.

Crack…!
Crack…!
Crack…!

The esper had already destroyed about ten of the 24 restraints…

Grrr…!

And had obliterated the remaining 14 with their powers.

“I never expected this….”

Who would have thought I’d be freed one day.

“…”
“…”
“…”

The most dangerous esper had been liberated. Realizing this, the guards fell silent.

Waaaaaah…!

The emergency sirens began to blare.