Chapter 147: Interview |
The outer walls of the Containment Room were forged from thickened reinforced steel, while the Observation Room was situated high above.
Kyle heard the sound of a piano the moment he walked through the door.
He knew nothing about music, only that the melody was incredibly complex. He glanced at the speaker in the corner, then turned his gaze to the narrow observation window on one side of the Observation Room. From here, he could see the upper section of the Containment Room, which seemed to be fitted with a ventilation system.
The doctor in charge of this Subject shook hands with Lu Keleisia. Upon hearing the purpose of their visit, a look of pride and joy surfaced on his face.
Kyle began to suspect that they were suffering from Cognitive Pollution.
"Listen, Kyle, it is playing a duet with the Class-D Personnel," Lu Keleisia said.
Well, it could also be Memetic Contamination.
If the medium of transmission was music, perhaps his Eye Patterns had shielded him from it.
Kyle ignored their enthusiasm. In his mind, this entire group was already being controlled by some sort of Cognitohazard. He chose to trust his own judgment.
The moment his gaze landed inside the Containment Room, the complex and melodious piano piece instantly lost its flavor, leaving only half of the duet playing.
In the center of the Containment Room sat an upright piano. A blindfolded Class-D Personnel struck the keys a few more times. Realizing the other musical notes had vanished, he tapped the black and white keys in confusion, seemingly unable to understand why the duet had ended.
"Do not look at it, Kyle. Just look at its shadow," Lu Keleisia reminded him.
The elevated piano bench where the Class-D Personnel sat only took up a small portion of the space in front of the piano; the other side was completely empty.
When Kyle suspiciously averted his gaze, a massive shadow was immediately cast onto the floor.
As long as he only looked at the shadow and did not observe the main body, it would not disappear.
From the shadow, he could make out its humanoid torso, the three lower arms branching out from each elbow, and a sharp, long tail with a crescent scythe-like structure. It hovered close to the ground, swaying its body at an incredibly fast speed.
No matter how he looked at it, this did not seem like a docile creature.
Not to mention the fact that it could not be directly observed. This was a highly dangerous Anomalous Effect.
However, he soon noticed the rest of the Containment Room. He could not help but rub his eyes, glancing at the Eye Patterns on his hand, suspecting he was hallucinating.
How was this a Containment Room? Wasn't this a hotel room?
All the biological Containment Rooms he had seen along the way were extremely spartan. The most comfortable ones merely provided a few books and an old gaming console in addition to a bed, wardrobe, and desk. Containment was not about inviting an Anomaly to stay in a hotel; it was about providing a space where they would behave cooperatively and not attempt to escape, preventing them from harming the outside world.
Yet the Containment Room before his eyes was practically at the level of a presidential suite.
The piping Kyle had spotted from above was actually an exhaust duct for a range hood. Following it down, he saw a fully equipped, luxurious open kitchen with a fully stocked spice rack. Aside from knives, it had absolutely everything. The kitchen area was right next to the ingredient transport chute, and the walls were plastered with numerous childish drawings. The center of the Containment Room housed the elevated piano and a desk, while directly opposite was a sports toy area—complete with a basketball hoop.
Now, Kyle was even more convinced that this Anomaly possessed a Cognitohazard property.
Perhaps it didn't use its abilities to harm people, but rather used its effect to make the researchers provide it with better living conditions...
Still, did this count as part of the containment procedures?
The hand he had tightly gripped over his Communication Device's alarm button finally relaxed.
Providing an A-class Hazard Item with luxurious living conditions to ensure it wouldn't go out and commit murder or arson—and even lowering its threat level as a result—made logical sense.
However, Kyle's gaze soon fell upon the blindfolded Class-D Personnel, who had stopped playing and was waving toward the observation window.
The man appeared incredibly relaxed. He even turned around to speak to the Entity hovering in the air and pacing around the piano.
"It seems we have visitors... How about we continue the 'Eight-Handed Concerto' later?"
The shadow with six lower arms paused and swayed from side to side, as if expressing agreement.
If it weren't for the fact that it lacked a neck and had a rather small head, it might have actually tried to nod.
Allowing a human to stay in its containment environment just to play music with it—this did not seem like something a high-risk Anomaly would do.
Kyle turned toward the group of researchers. The nervousness and anticipation on their faces made them look like parents bringing their child to meet a teacher.
"Why was it originally classified as an A-class?"
Lu Keleisia explained, "When a biological Anomaly is discovered, it is always initially suspected to be part of a larger Biome. Generally, the classification is adjusted after follow-up investigations are completed. It is just that the person who initially handled its Containment Work was irresponsible. They locked it in here and considered the containment finished without even conducting a test, so its rating was never adjusted. After this team took over the research, they concluded that it merely lacked proper education. The proficiency it displays now indicates it can participate in combat."
She pulled up the file belonging to the Containment Object in front of them for Kyle.
Meanwhile, the doctor in charge of the Subject stepped up to the microphone in the Observation Room, leaned in, and spoke to the chamber below. "D-52125, move to the adjacent practice room and prepare to assist with the demonstration. We are about to conduct a combat test."
"Test."
The creature, which was roughly two meters tall, let out a cry that sounded like a low Screech, but it was undoubtedly speaking a word.
"Yes, 5031, it is time for a test."
As Kyle moved toward the other observation window, he flipped through the Records. His eyelid twitched when he saw that the first skills taught to the Containment Object were 'juggling, cooking, and playing the piano'. When he read that it had once cooked a holiday dinner for the entire facility's staff—with dishes reportedly matching the standard of a high-end chef—he found it impossible to describe his exact feelings.
'Just what exactly are these researchers planning to turn it into...'
However, he gradually began to agree with Lu Keleisia's assessment.
It had empathy and incredibly strong learning capabilities. After being released from years of solitary confinement, it displayed a remarkably gentle nature. The Class-D Personnel acting as its teacher had never suffered any intentional or accidental harm. Over a period of two years, it had evolved from a violent, beast-like creature into a highly skilled chef, musician, and juggler. Recently, it had also shown a talent in the realm of combat—which was exactly what the researchers wanted to demonstrate to Kyle.
The observation window offered a full view of the testing chamber. D-52125 entered alone and stood to the side on standby.
Kyle guessed that the Entity was also floating into the room while in its invisible state.
According to the Records, it completely ceased to exist when being observed by people. It would only return when no line of sight or other objects occupied its existential space.
The Class-D Personnel pressed a switch and interacted with a solitary door on the right side of the testing ground. He knocked on the door panel as a signal, then stepped a short distance away and closed his eyes.
"This is a Blast-Proof Door from a standard containment unit," the doctor supervising 5031 explained. Then, he issued a command into the microphone: "Door. Open."
All the researchers in the Observation Room averted their gazes. Kyle also briefly closed his eyes, cutting off all Observation.
The Entity, which had been floating Beyond the World in a state of nothingness, abruptly appeared. It let out a cry in response and swung its sharp, long tail.
With a sharp clang, it vanished from sight, disappearing from this world once again.
When Kyle opened his eyes, he saw that the thickened metal door had been ripped from top to bottom by a sharp weapon, sliced cleanly in half like a tin can lid.
The cut was perfectly smooth, and its destructive power clearly went far beyond just this.
The room fell silent as the researchers eagerly awaited his reaction.
Kyle looked down and tapped the words 'Cannot be captured by any cameras or recording equipment' on the document. He asked, "How is its physical resistance when it manifests? What is its maximum movement speed? Does this Class-D have any other assignments?"
Before the supervising doctor could answer, several nearby researchers began cheering in hushed voices.
The first member of the Combat Group had been decided.
"We made good progress today. The interview ends here; we can look at the other candidates tomorrow."
Lu Keleisia happily wrote down the first designation on the roster.
"Our first mission will most likely also take place in the Ninth District. I will apply for a sufficiently spacious stationing ground from our superiors. Oh, by the way, 5031 occasionally supplies dishes to the cafeteria, so our meals are guaranteed. The staff do not know it cooks the food, but they can taste that its culinary skills are excellent."
The Records stated that 5031's culinary skills had far surpassed those of ordinary human chefs. It seemed they were going to eat very well in the future.
Kyle made a mental note of this. Perhaps it could be used as a means to recruit team members. After all, food was the most important thing to people, and Anomalies were no exception.
Lu Keleisia was just about to make a call to ask where they would be staying tonight when Kyle suddenly raised his head. "Wait a moment."
Over the past few hours, Kyle had read through most of the files. He pointed at the currently opened page of the document. "This person—CVA-D-9013—is also at Facility 159. Why did we not go see him? This Anomalous Effect is quite useful."
"Oh, you mean the 'Queue Effect'. He was transferred to assist the Mobile Task Force's logistics after the Containment Breach at Facility 031, but he ended up being 'returned'."
'Facility 031 again?'
Kyle had heard about the Containment Breach incident there; it was an artificial disaster triggered by a defector.
Another Class-E Personnel who received special attention from Dump Truck was also commanded during that operation. He wondered where that person had gone and whether they were receiving focused training.
Kyle was quite curious about that individual, but since they were in different departments, information did not flow very easily. He guessed that person was also exceptionally gifted.
'I really hope I get a chance to meet them,' he thought.
"'Returned'?" Kyle's train of thought shifted back to the Queue Effect.
"I sent it to you. Take a look at this guy's 'rich resume'. The former director of Facility 031 being demoted was largely thanks to him." Lu Keleisia tapped on her Communication Device, forwarding a document retrieved from the Ethics Committee.
Kyle was startled by what he saw.
"Repeatedly violating scheduled activity times to enter unauthorized areas", "Repeatedly removing visual Memetic Contamination shielding equipment during activities in violation of regulations", "Repeatedly interfering with normal facility operations"... The amount of time this guy spent in solitary confinement made up nearly half of his total containment time. If it were not for his consistently good attitude when admitting his mistakes, which made the Ethics Committee deem him somewhat cooperative, and the director being lenient enough to never approve solitary confinement exceeding three days, this guy would probably have to rot in jail.
It seemed that after the Containment Breach at Facility 031, the Ethics Commissioner had completely lost patience with the Queue Effect.
Refusing to give up the optimized containment benefits after his transfer while simultaneously resisting orders, all while constantly adopting the tone of a victim during conversations—no wonder he was returned by the previous Mobile Task Force before even completing his training period.
An ordinary Captain would immediately give up upon seeing such a troublemaker. An unstable member posed more of a risk than a benefit to a squad. Even in a support squad, a subordinate who dropped the ball at a critical moment was no different from an enemy.
Kyle, however, looked thoughtful.
He could actually understand this complex, ordinary person's mentality to some extent—believing that The Administration owed him, hating being controlled, feigning obedience on the surface while constantly looking for opportunities to cross the line, and then feeling both guilty and indignantly angry due to a 'sense of victimization' when caught.
"Let me go talk to him. This kind of visual meme is very useful. Perhaps I can persuade him."
"You are the Captain. I trust a professional's judgment, so go ahead right now." Lu Keleisia jotted down the ID number. "Also, we need to hurry up. The roster must be submitted within a week, followed by training. According to my estimates, they will hand down our first mission in less than three months."
"Are there any hints about what we will be dealing with?"
"No matter what it is, if we perform poorly, the team will be disbanded, and all members will go back to where they came from."
Kyle took a deep breath and stretched his hand, which was aching slightly from gripping files all day.
"I will not let that happen."
"Alright, they have granted me authorization. Let's go and have a good chat with this troublemaker."
When Kyle walked into the Interview Room, CVA-D-9013 was already sitting across the table, wearing an exaggerated framework on his back designed to conceal the area that transmitted the Queue Effect.
Before entering the room, Kyle quickly finalized his initial assessment of the man.
The man did not look like a troublemaker at all. Aside from nervousness, there was no trace of rebelliousness or impatience on his face.
Kyle searched for a more appropriate comparison as he opened the door and entered the room.
The guy looked exactly like a random passerby one might encounter jogging in a park—ordinary, cheerful, perhaps even a bit...
"Are you guys trying to find fault with me again? I was about to fall asleep. Why did you have to wake me up at this hour?
What do you want?"
Well, his attitude toward The Administration was indeed quite poor.
Kyle sat down across the table. He did not argue, nor did he agree, and he hadn't brought any files with him.
He politely sized the other man up once more. "Ray, right?"
This form of address startled the curly-haired young man across from him. It had certainly been a long time since anyone from The Administration had called him that. "...Right." He immediately revealed a look of vigilance and suspicion. "So what did you call me here for?"
"I am Kyle, a Field Agent from the Field Department." Kyle greeted him, though restricted by regulations, he did not shake Ray's hand. "Do you know Intern Robin?"
"Of course!" At the mention of that name, Ray's eyes lit up. "So you are, um... her friend?"
'Robin is a woman?'
Kyle had only known the neutral-sounding name prior to this. He quickly glossed over the revelation; bringing it up was merely a tactic to build rapport. "We work for the same superior. I heard about that Containment Breach. She performed very well, and you provided a lot of help."
"But of course! I saved an entire squad," Ray replied proudly. "If it wasn't for me, they would have been buried long ago."
"Afterward, you were transferred to the Mobile Task Force as special external support. Why did you stop going?"
Ray crossed his arms, causing the concealment framework on his back to rattle. "Are you here to give me a pep talk?"
"No, I am just curious. After all, many people want to join the Mobile Task Force. You get better treatment, and you get to leave the facility." Kyle deliberately omitted any words related to containment. "So, why?"
"Because I don't want to help them."
"But you also refused to be transferred back to your original facility?"
"Because the conditions here are quite nice. Isn't it only natural that I don't want to leave?"
After Ray finished speaking, he stared at Kyle with a nearly provocative look. There was a faint hint of fear in the depths of his eyes, but he still held his defiant stare.
"You don't like The Administration?" Kyle asked in an exaggerated tone.
Ray dropped his arms and raised his voice. "Buddy, your Administration is just one giant prison. No matter how nice the cell is, it is still a prison, and I was sentenced to life imprisonment for absolutely no reason! I was just walking around normally, and then people started bossing me around. If I want anything, I have to follow commands like an animal and train myself to death on the field just to earn it. Why should I? I am merely taking back what I deserve."
This dissatisfaction with The Administration was unacceptable to Kyle; he needed loyal team members.
But in reality, loyalty could be cultivated.
At the very least, he could test if the man's resentment could be mitigated.
"In terms of a prison cell, what level would your original Containment Room be considered?" Kyle honed in on the key point.
"A standard cell."
"And the current one?"
"A premium cell—so, are you here to deliver the things I requested or what? What exactly are you trying to say?" Ray leaned forward, placing both hands firmly on the table.
"If you were given a large amount of free time and ample living space, would you be willing to accept support training?"
Ray narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him. "Why play the good cop this time instead of the bad cop? Do you think I'd be tempted? I was supposed to get all of this after completing the training anyway."
"Alright then, I suppose I will head back the way I came—oh, right, there will also be a group of non-staff companions and a five-star chef available around the clock. I forgot to mention that." Kyle stood up from his seat. "Since these conditions are not good enough, I will just keep the offer to myself—"
"Wait a minute!" Ray shot his hand into the air. "I think I might have been too narrow-minded about The Administration. If what you are saying is true... but words are empty without proof. You have to prove that you are not just making empty promises."
Kyle held back a triumphant smile and pulled the application form out of his pocket.
"It is all right here, in black and white."
Kyle knew he could handle these 'freaks', and he had the resolve to lead this team well.
Even if leading a squad composed of an Anomaly and a troublemaking Anomaly meant their future was destined to be fraught with difficulties.