Chapter 68


    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Hey, wake up and eat)]


    ?Wow!?


    ?Food!?


    Looking around, I woke the kids up. Six dead catfish were what I brought back, using arms forbat and even the small arms on my chest, gathering them all up.


    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (After eating, we’ll move to another ce)]


    ?Building a home??


    [ZZZ (Yeah.)]


    As always, number number 26 understood quickly. it used its tentacles to grab the catfish and stuffed them into his body. Because of his translucent body, it was clear how the catfish dissolved inside him.


    ?Tasty.?


    Just like number 26, who never had picky eating habits, he quickly finished off one of the catfish. On the other hand, Adhai, after sucking the blood of the dead catfish with his oral tentacles, wrinkled his brow.


    ?Food? ?Not tasty?


    A Gagon, contorting his expression like that, was something I hadn’t seen before. Compared to Amorphs whocked any facial expressions other than the movement of their mouth, Gagons seemed to have a more rich range of emotions.


    ?Taste.? ?Terrible.?


    Seemingly as it was really unpleasant, he shivered while furrowing his body.


    ‘It’s kind of like that.’


    Among the foods I had eaten since bing Amorph, the worst tasting was definitely the calorie bars. That’s until I had the dead catfish. I did provide it, but it was undeniably unptable. I didn’t have much to say about Adhai’sints.


    However, number 26 didn’t seem to share the same sentiment. It pulled out his tentacle and smacked Adhai’s head.


    ?Pain!?


    ?You’ll grow big if you eat a lot. If you want to be big like the big ones, you gotta eat everything.?


    ?I? ?Growth? ?Desire?


    ?That’s right.?


    ?I? ?Growth? ?Bigger? ?Adult? ?Know? ?Possible.?


    “…”


    ?Pain!?


    Let’s leave those two alone since they seem to get along well. I waited until they finished eating the dead catfish before moving to the next location with the kids.


    In this sewer system, sewage treatment facilities were ced at intervals along the passages for purification. Here, through the dead catfish and small sewage treatment facilities,rger foreign substances were sieved out in the primary phase, followed by a secondary system in the deep underground city sewage treatment nt to purify the contaminated water.


    ‘Upon closer inspection, there are no detectors except in ces with small sewage treatment facilities.’


    The detector seemed to send a signal only when there was an object nearby that wasrge enough for small sewage treatment facilities to handle.


    ‘With my size, I will definitely trigger it.’


    Among us, Adhai, who has the smallest size, barely escapes the conditions of the detector.


    ‘Even if I don’t trigger it, it’s too risky to build a nest around the detector.’


    Since there are small sewage treatment facilities nearby, there is a very high chance that the city’s managers wille regrly to inspect.


    Even if we’re unlucky, people mighte today. It’s too risky to build a nest in such a ce.


    ‘I guess this should be enough.’


    The point where I intended to build a new nest was rtively far from both the manhole and the sewage treatment facility, almost equidistant. This ce had rtively shallow water and protruding parts on the walls, providing space to restfortably for number 26 and me. But since Adhai wasn’t an aquatic organism, It needed a space to restfortably.


    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(Wait for me to build a nest)]


    ?Yeah.?


    After informing the kids, I climbed the wall and moved up to the ceiling.


    ‘The nests I had previouslyid were all destroyed while I was asleep. As expected, the enemies quickly discovered the secret passage. They would undoubtedly search the secret passage and eliminate my nest along with it. So, I n to create a new nest in this sewer system.’


    ‘Normally, I would let the mucus secreted from my body solidify and wait for it to be a nest. But not this time. I’ll have to directly apply the secreted mucus to build the nest.’


    ‘Since I can’t install the nest underwater, when ites into contact with water, the mucous consistency doesn’t solidify. But it doesn’t matter once the structure and spores of the nest arepleted.’


    ‘Water is still a good medium. The nest, through various stimuli from the surroundings, can perceive nearby objects, environments, and more.’


    ‘Starting now.’


    I used my arms to apply the mucous substance being secreted from my body onto the ceiling. The highly viscous mucus flowed and solidified like stctites. The mucous substances that flowed down along the rounded tunnel walls spread out like wooden stems and lightly touched the water surface.”


    ‘After an hour of starting to build the nest, the basic framework wasplete.’


    The newly formed nests on the walls and ceiling will expand on their own without me interfering.


    ‘Great.’


    As I confirmed the slow expansion of the nest, I pressed my body tightly against the ceiling. Firmly securing myself with hands and feet to avoid falling, I linked the auxiliary mechanism on my jaw to the nest. The nest grabbed my consciousness and pulled me in.


    Instead of Amorph’s small body, this gigantic artificial structure felt like my own body. Information about the fluids flowing through the city’s veins and the impurities within seeped into my mind. In the pitch-ck darkness, dead bodies and catfish feasting, their names unknown, existed under the vibrant and morous city, surrounded by an immeasurable dampness.


    Unexpectedly, amidst my exploration of the sewers, my senses picked up something unusual.


    ‘A person?’


    Suddenly, I sensed human presence in various parts of the sewer. Initially, I thought it might be corpses discreetly disposed of. However, seeing that they were not moving along with the current but rather moving independently, it was evident that they were living individuals.


    ‘People here? And so many at once?’


    ‘I need to investigate.’


    I detached the link and leaped into the water.


    ?Where to??


    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I have something to check)]


    ?Got it. I’ll wait.?


    After informing number 26 that I would return soon, I headed toward the detected movement of people.


    While submerged in the water, I felt a change in the water’s flow. With only the auxiliary mechanism protruding above the surface to detect the air, I heard voicesing from a distance.


    ‘There’s more than just one or two.’


    The current location was a junction. Movement from 10 individuals on the left and three on the right was detected. From the unrefined movements and trembling in their voices, it was evident that they were all civilians.


    ‘Why would civilianse here?’


    Lowering myself underwater again, I moved towards the quieter right passage with fewer people. Apart from the sound of water, the sewer was silent. But the noise of the three people there echoed through.


    “If we manage to survive and get out of here, it’s a confirmed release, right?”


    “That’s what I heard.”


    “It’s better than dying in the entertainment zone. Damn, do you know what happened to the guys who came with me? They all became raw fish before they died.”


    “Damn, it gives me chills. Crazy bastards. Why did they send us here? What could possibly be here?”


    “I don’t know what’s here, but those who keep their promise. If we get out alive, we’re all free.”


    “Ugh, that idiot must be having a good time. His head’s a flower garden.”


    Three men were conversing among themselves as they approached this way. They were in a state of undress, without protective suits in this filthy ce. The only equipment shielding them in this contaminated space was the oxygen masks covering their faces.


    “Even at the Entertainment District, I’ve never dealt with this much crap. Now, it’s crap-water.”


    “Stop grumbling. Be careful; the depth is increasing.”


    “Damn, I have aquaphobia, for f*ck’s sake…”


    The passage I was in was rtively deep from a human perspective. Moments ago, when the sewage surged up to chest level from waist level, they cursed.


    “For f*ck’s sake! Couldn’t they at least provide us with protective suits?”


    “Be careful not to wet the gun! That’s all our credit!”


    “We might as well be frozen with debts.”


    They raised their shlights andser guns high to prevent them from touching the water.


    ‘They don’t seem like administrators.’


    Those with responsibilities for the foundational facilities of the space city belong to advanced management; they wouldn’t be here with such shabby equipment. Moreover, something one of them said caught my attention.


    ‘Confirmed release?’


    In MegaCorp, ‘confirmed release’ has two meanings. One is the literal sense of release, the other refers to tasks assigned to those employed by MegaCorp. Employees fall into three categories: individuals with overwhelming debt, criminals whomitted major crimes, or humans from farms nurturing employees as livestock.


    Employees are treated as resources rather than humans. Their employmentsts until MegaCorp deems it profitable, and until then, they’re obligated to follow MegaCorp’s orders unquestioningly.


    ‘In themunity, they jokingly call them “Corporate ve” (社畜), which means livestock.’


    [Note:- The term “Corporate ve” (社畜) is a Korean ng word thatbines the Chinese characters “社” (society) and “畜” (livestock). It is used colloquially to refer to individuals who are perceived as working tirelessly for society or corporations, often at the expense of their personal well-being.]


    In the game, mercenaries used by MegaCorp yers are also former employees. Most employees die beforepleting their service, either for reconnaissance or as meat shields.


    ‘And their debts are transferred to family or rtives, ording to the setting.’


    Personally, I found it excessive, but among users who enjoy dystopian settings, it was well-received.


    ‘Anyway, those guys seem like employees.’


    Employees are essentially subhuman, ves even, and it’s crucial not to leave their positions voluntarily. Their presence here implies someone deliberately ordered them here.


    ‘Let’s observe a bit more.’


    Their armaments weren’t significant, so there wasn’t an immediate need to attack. I approached them slowly while submerged. My slow movements caused a slight disturbance in the waves.


    “Whoa!”


    “What’s up?”


    “Something just moved in the water.”


    “Oh, Don’t bullshit! It’s just us here.”


    “No, seriously! Something moved over there!”


    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ( Team 15. What’s going on? Why did you stop?)]


    “Uh, nothing at all.”


    [The other teams are still moving. Team 15 doesn’t seem enthusiastic about fulfilling their obligations.]


    “No, no! We’ll move right away!”


    The leader, equipped with a smallmunication device on his chest, repeatedly bowed his head.


    After the transmission ended, he seemed furious and began hitting the person next to him violently. Due to the shlight hitting his head, blood streamed from the side of his temple.


    “You idiot! If you want to be raw meat while still alive, do it on your own! Don’t drag us into this mess!”


    “Sorry!”


    “Stop fighting, you crazy idiots!”


    Indeed, they were bait. Someone intentionally set up bait here.


    ‘The Knights.’


    Recently, they’ve been causing trouble here since their arrival, invited by the council. But I didn’t expect them to find me this quickly. Their tracking of my movements is faster than I anticipated.


    If the Knights are here in the sewers, it means the city’s higher-ups are sharing their ns. Yet they haven’t sent heavily armed knights and soldiers this way.


    ‘They’re not concerned about casualties. There’s definitely something fishy.’


    Regardless, for now, killing these three here is on hold. Their n is uncertain, and unless the enemy is foolish, they would have prepared a number against the bait.


    I remained motionless in my position.


    Three of them passed me, trembling with anxiety and fear.


    “Look! You idiot, there’s nothing here.”


    “Did I see wrong?”


    “Cough, I think I’m feeling unwell already. Let’s finish this quickly and leave.”


    I quietly followed behind them. One of them with a sensitive disposition towards the back shone a shlight, but I wasn’t caught, as nothing could be seen in the murky water.


    Continuing to follow them, we reached a junction where multiple paths intersected, and about 60 people in simr attire were waiting. Among them stood a knight in silver armor.


    Getting closer could risk getting caught. I didn’t enter the open area but stayed behind the wall, leaving only the auxiliary organ exposed.


    ‘Everyone seems to have arrived.’


    The knight was unaware of my presence and wasmunicating.


    “This is Team 3, Tennessee. No more than 60 members present.”


    [Chizik, This is Team 1, Vicus. No more than 80 members present.]


    [Hey, Chizik, this is Team 2, Jacob. Five members haven’t arrived yet, Chizik, awaiting orders.]


    “Team 3, Tennessee, sir Jacob’s signal is weak. Requesting a check.”


    [Chizik, got it, Chizik, understood.]


    Listening their conversation, I scanned the surroundings with the auxiliary organ. Many footsteps above me suggested that those present were all soldiers.


    ‘There’s a nearby manhole, so they’re using this as a base.’


    ording to the overheard information, the enemy has three bases. When I linked to the nest, I couldn’t sense the other two. Their positions seemed quite distant from each other.


    A wide search point narrowing down to specific areas. The enemy is trying to surround and lure me into a specific area.


    ‘When I take the bait, the Knights and soldiers will continue to reinforce their encirclement.’


    ‘Just like fox hunting.’


    The difference is that instead of hounds, they’ve set multiple baits. They’ll keep reinforcing their encirclement until one moment, and that’s when they’ll initiate the operation to eliminate me.


    “Team 3, Tennessee. Awaiting orders.”


    [Chizik, Team 2, Jacob. Everyone is assembled.]


    [Team 1, Vicus. Understood. Initiating Operation Ghost Hunt . Release all the baits.]


    “Did you all hear? Move quickly.


    “Yes, sir!”


    Even though they were tantly treated as bait, there was no sign of resistance among the people here.


    ‘It’s obvious since there’s a bomb in their heads. Well, technically, it’s an ultra-small chip emitting electromaic waves, but the effect is no different from a bomb. Disobedience results in the brain being fried.’


    The baits, with mncholic expressions, began to return along the same route.


    The three who guided me here also turned to walk back through the passage they came from, but Tennessee called them back.


    “Hey.”


    “Yes?”


    “Why is there blood on your head? Did you get attacked?”


    “Oh, no. This guy just tripped…”


    “Tsk, how pathetic.”


    Tennessee clicked his tongue and gestured, and the three bowed their heads and moved on again.


    “Hmm.”


    When the bait stopped in ce, amunication directly came in from the headquarters. I saw it when I followed the three earlier; it’s certain.


    There’s a high probability that some sort of chip is embedded in their bodies to transmit signals with movement. Perhaps themand the bait received is to move continuously along a predetermined route.


    ‘If someone dies or bes immobile, that’s when they dispatch knights and soldiers.’


    However, the recent scene was intriguing.


    From the base’s perspective, they don’t know about the bait’s minor injuries.


    ‘This is getting interesting.’


    Unstablemunication in the sewage, limited information exchange, a dark and obstacle-filled battlefield. All of these suit my tastes perfectly.


    ‘They’re hunting me, huh?’


    It’s an amusing proposition. Since I love hunting, we’ll see who bes the fox after this hunt is over.


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