Chapter 37 (1/2)
Chapter 37
(TLN: Ikeno’s POV… Italicized ones are Ikeno’s thoughts)
A athered at the auditoriu the auditorium It was decided that a joint presentation would be held between the research lab’s section one and section two For the following three days, they would present their data through various presentations and simulations Finally, they would test out the prototype for the modified human
Section one members were already settled down in their seats
Ikeno looked at Komori Neito
As always, he’s full of spirit…
The last to enter were the two representatives from the main office They were the ones tasked to oversee and report the results to the main office The decisionsto be announced by thees
We’re talking about that Ko to have some sort of trick under his sleeve Even so, I refuse to lose to him Wait and see… I’ll show you my abilities
[And noill proceed to the modified human presentation]
[Is it okay if we start first?]
Ikeno quickly snatched the lead
[H section one present first?]
[I don’t mind at all]
Receiving Komori’s words, their presentation started
Section one’s idea was to use a [Beetle Crystal] and integrate it to th They nahts of Europe It was a y into raer
Coility, it was possible to use a great sword to cut down its enele slash
While the modified hue and lacked hard numbersIkeno assured that the crystals are easily produced and have great flexibility in applicationFurtherlobal invest said crystalsThere was no reason for him to lose
Ikeno took advantage of his communication skills and made a perfect presentation
[ {Chevalier} huh? I didn’t payTellas it is a complicated method, I reckon it would take more than two days]
[Not at all Please confire of our report Construction takes about thirteen hours While the testing would approximately only cost one day]
[Oh, to be able to do it that fast…]
[Thank you very much]
Three years of experience working for Metallica had taught him how to exploit his capabilities and in turn display a perfect product
[Next will be Section two Chief Komori, if you please]
Neito stood up, but retorted
[Ah, no For section two, Research head Maki-san will be the one to explain She’s more informed than me]
[……hm]
[[T-Thanks for having me]
It was the first time Maki held a presentation Ikeno knew much of this in advance Ikeno didn’t kno they did it, but they ies conversion rateIt certainly was an interesting idea, but it had a huge problee issue The idea of a self-ih to overturn the [Chevalier]? How es would put an emphasis on the methods potential would determine the outcome of the competition
At least, that&rsq
uo;s what Ikeno thought It was at that moment…
Blackout, red lights were flashi+ng and the loudspeakers ailingIt was an eency alarm
[!!!??? What’s happening!!??]
[What’s going on?!]
The judge’s were screarily at the audience Well it was an expected reaction Anybody would panic after hearing the eency alarm
Normally, this wouldn’t even be possible This was Metallica’s top secret island Only a few people know the exact location and furthermore, the island is heavily shi+elded
Since it housed Professor H’s research projects,this was done to guarantee that they wouldn’t be exposed to any danger
But for one reason or another, soed to find them despite the odds
Ikeno, understanding the situation, raised his voice and shouted
[Calency alar the island They should only have crossed the first detection line Even if they rode the fastest shi+p in the world, it would approximately take them three hours to reach the island Until we can confirm the situation, all level two and below are on standby and should be ready for battle]
[Evacuate both judges to the underground shelter until we can ensure their safetyFor those who are above level two…]
[… Confiro! Please stay here Maki-san]
Reacting a few seconds late, Neito regained his senses and followed up on Ikeno’s announcement
Ikeno escorted the two judges fro the with his section one subordinates and Neito’s section two subordinates, they went to the control room
It was the brain of Purgatory IslandFrom the control room it was possible to oversee the security of the whole island; it could detect and monitor the enemy over radar
Entering the control room, they immediately looked at the surveillance h the defensive line]
[!! Th-This is-!]
It was a subular submarine
It bore a mark which everyone knew A five colored symbol etched on the side
They knew
The five representatives of justice Psychic soldiers who fight evil
[Maroon Five!]
[W-What does this mean?]
Niina spoke in a frightened tone
[… I don’t kno, but they ed to find this place]
Nieto was unusually calm It may be unusual, but maybe it was because of his past experiences
[Hmm, so is the competition canceled? That’s unfortunate]
Anice Jairus felt no fear
[What a disaster! Those guys plan on attacking this island!]
[W-What are we going to do?! The research lab doesn’t even have any weapons stored! We don’t even have a fighting force!]
[How are we going to hold out? What’s more, what if that submarine doesn’t only carry the Maroon Five but also one hundred uardians…]
[If they attack we’re all doo to be killed!]
Most of the members from section one and section tere researchers and scientists The [battle] they were supposed to be engaged in was supposed to be the coIt was obvious that Ikeno didn’t bring a fighting force with him
Koi was calm, but therest of the room was in a state of chaos
Though Neito looked distressed but he didn’t show any sign of fear
Instead he started thinking
What should I do? How can we escape from this situation? As ht our way out of this We relied on the anony force The only ones that can probably fight are Ikeno, Tsurugi and Anice
Seeing that the ene capability, they were clearly at a disadvantage They had a fighting force that could only withstand a single blast of psychic energy
[… Ikeno, what do you think of their fighting force?]
Ko to establish that they were equals at this moment
[I’d say five froanization and a dozen more Guardians… They clearly outclass us]
Neito was about to reply “Stating the obvious… You can already tell just by looking at the screen…” but he disregarded the idea
[…… How did they discover this place?]
While Ikeno was thinking
This is bad, bringing up the issue noould be a bad thing
One of their subordinates shouted out
[We can’t be sure how they did it, but… somebody… somebody must have leaked the information…]
[T-That’s right! Somebody clearly leaked out information!]
[Why would souys?]
[That’s right! they ain in the dark]
Tsk, how did it come to this?
As an evil organization, co the rank and file It was natural to feel a sense of doubt towards one’s co-workers
[W-Wha-?! That’s i us all! In the first place, we hardly even knohere we are!]
Niina’s response was good, but futile
When you think that someone could sacrifice others to save hi extra, then it would make sense Furthermore, the island’s location could be easily detery
At this point Ikeno reluctantly confirmed that someone within their ranks must have sold information to the enemy It was news that inspired chaos, but there was no other reasonable explanation
They had no choice now but to doubt each other The ht even be one of their subordinates There was even a possibility that the mole could leak their defense plans even as they tried to take down the ene further, even Komori was a suspect He could leak inforo on ho the competition
[If that’s the case you–!]
[Calht now Wait for the Boss’ decision]
[…… Understood]
Section one’s members were calm, but the air in the room was full of doubt
The e with the confused voices and the fear of being attacked by the heroes of justice It was a helpless situation
There were few points clear and unclear
The research lab housed Professor H’s various experi the place could be a massive bloards Metallica
Despite the professor’s data du vital to Metallica, there was still a mole
What does this mean?
[Hey Ikeno!]
Neito called out to Ikeno, as lost deep in thought
[……Hm? What?]
[Isn’t there a chance of us winning? No, if there isn’t, is there a way to create one?]
It seems like Komori Neito still has his sense of hu about the Harrison offensive, he asked the sa
The saoes for me I won’t lose to him
[… At a minianization If we have that and a talented co the attack]
Ikeno had fought with the Rocks organization in the past and of course he’d never lost a battle With his techniques sharpened by experience, he kept on winning the battles
But there were no modified humans on the island
(TLN: Back to Neito’s POV)
[… A talented commander huh?]
Hearing Ikeno’s words, Neito found a way out of their desperate situation
[… Niina, call Maki]
[Eh?]
[Hurry up]
I won’t die here I’ve used too h my plans
[U-Understood Boss!]
After Niina ran off, Neito decided to tell Ikeno his plans,
[Ikeno, I’ll undergo the coht now]
There was no other way He already finished his training And his success rate had already been determined
[What do you mean?]
Ikeno’s face expressed sincere doubt towards what Neito was about to do, but he understood what Neito was thinking
[Maki-san’s idea was using [Spiritual Silhouette] to enhance one’s capabilities There is no need to iery only takes a couple of hours]
[And then what? Your plan lacks sustainable power I doubt you’ll be a capable fighting force Seeing all that’s happening around us, what assurance do we have that you won’t escape alone after the surgery?]