Inside Under Cube's Control Room, I stand in front of two familiar faces. The first is Tomer, my grumpy Latina secretary whose perpetual scowl seems etched into her features. The second is Kim Hosup, my portly friend with a penchant for information technology.
Tomer eyes me with her characteristic disapproval, her folded arms conveying a sense of impatience. Hosup, on the other hand, looks up from his array of monitors, adjusting his glasses as he gives me a nod of acknowledgment.
The Control Room, the nerve center of our operations, hums with the low buzz of machinery and the soft glow of digital displays. It's here that our collective efforts converge, and in the face of the unfolding revelations, the need for a strategic discussion becomes imperative.
With a deep breath, I prepare to address my comrades, but my abruptness seems to have provoked both of them instead.
Tomer shoots me a sharp look, her annoyance evident. "So what is up? I am busy… Did you forget, you want me to enroll your Djinn subordinates here in Cube? It is easy to sneak them in, but to ensure that they will not be found out is too much! I mean… Isn't the forged documents too much of a clue already?"
Hosup, engrossed in his technological endeavors, chimes in, "I am busy too, Hyung-ssi… Though I have recently finished decoding the Orb of Solomon and extracted Hajin’s left information, I am still a busy guy… Nayun has requested me to create a base on the moon, but it is difficult doing it with just drones alone."
"Sorry, guys… But it is an emergency," I explain, a sense of urgency in my voice. "The two of you, stop all that you are doing. Tomer, please kindly get my ships, and have them search for an island. The Hero Association and an unknown group of Djinns are working on something… something I wish them not to learn. I will send you more details later…"
Tomer's irritation deepens, and she demands, "Seriously, what is happening?"
"And you, Hosup, I am sorry to impose on you, but this is important. I want you to hack into the Hero Association’s Physical Database…" I instruct, knowing the difficulty of the task I am assigning.
Hosup looks up from his smartwatch, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "You mean their archives where they keep physical documents? How? I am not a super spy; I am the guy behind the chair."
"Use drones. You can do it. You are free to use Under Cube’s resources. I don’t know, make a drone the size of a fly? You have the Orb of Solomon too," I suggest, confident in his technological and operational prowess.
Hosup, still processing the feasibility of the task, questions, "Is that even technologically possible?"
"You are smart, you can manage," I assert, trusting in his abilities. “Use our every resource…”
Tomer interjects with a sly comment, "I feel bad for you, Hosup, he is demanding, isn’t he?"
I shoot her a stern look. "Shut up, Tomer. This is really an emergency!" The urgency of the situation leaves no room for unnecessary banter, and it pains me because I love bantering around.
I stride into my bedroom, a sense of urgency pushing me to grab my VR helmet and swiftly secure it on my head. As I immerse myself in the virtual reality space, I find myself alone. The suddenness of the summon might have caught my comrades off guard.
Rachel, my reliable comrade, should be on a mission in Germany, compromising a private lab focused on bio weaponry. Chae Nayun, adopting her alter-identity as Wrath, is likely causing chaos in Italy, dealing with Devil Sympathizers that have unexpectedly emerged, threatening the stability of the region reminiscent of the tumultuous times during Outcall. As for Suho, an unsettling silence surrounds his whereabouts, and my attempts to contact him remain unanswered. Is this a flag? I hope it isn't, but the uncertainty gnaws at me.
Is this a flag? I hope it isn’t a flag! I shake off the worrisome thoughts, focusing on the imminent discussion we are about to have. Rachel, my dependable comrade, materializes in the virtual space, with a stare, I swear, can kill. I feel a pang of concern gnawing at me for the absentees.
"I can explain, but the others are not yet here," I admit, addressing Rachel's intense stare as she takes her seat in the virtual space.
"We should wait for the others, then," Rachel suggests, her tone firm yet patient.
"I am here!" Chae Nayun's voice rings out as she materializes in the virtual space, her presence breaking the anticipation. However, her immediate concern for Suho overshadows her arrival.
"Where is Suho?" she queries, searching the virtual space for any sign of our absent comrade.
"Last time I heard from him he brought Sven to where the attack on the Human Dragon will happen. He said he will investigate the location and make plans in advance," Rachel provides an update, her brows furrowing in concern.
I interject, attempting to clarify the situation, "How is that even possible? Aileen, the Human Dragon, is with me… She is in Cube, right now. I had Cube AI babysit her."
Rachel: !!!
Chae Nayun: ???
"I can explain. This is a super emergency, and that’s why I called all of you. Suho is not here yet… Damn, I am really sorry, guys, for the abruptness. I might as well start," I apologize, my sense of urgency prevailing over the formalities.
In the virtual space, I manipulate the environment to summon digital images, presenting files that Aileen had taken from the physical archives of the Hero Association. The gravity of the situation necessitates immediate attention, and my comrades focus on the visuals as I prepare to unravel the complex web of information.
"From the context, these documents might be the reason why the Hero Association has decided to target Aileen—what you see here, my friends, is a project proposal, a thesis titled 'Analysis of the Time Curve, and its effects on History.' Look at the proponents. Almost half of them are missing personnel, but after cross-referencing them to our database, it appeared that these 'missing personnel' were actually Djinns! Aileen has found direct evidence of the Hero Association’s collusion with Djinns!" I reveal, emphasizing the weight of the revelation.
Chae Nayun interjects with a touch of sarcasm, "Well, we are not any different… We have Djinns too." Her words carry a hint of irony, half-blaming me for my drastic move in my individual capacity to rescue what remains of the Djinns, and even go so far as to provide them protection.
Reflecting on past events, I recall a pivotal moment about half a year ago when Tomer was already working alongside me. During that time, the Djinns faced imminent extermination due to the coalition of Heroes, Hunters, and Mercenaries. Driven by a mix of personal reasons and a sense of compassion, I decided to intervene using my alternate identity as the Savant of Sloth to aid the Djinns. It was a choice borne from selfish motives, yet there was an undercurrent of kindness that nudged me forward.
Despite the contract between the Djinns and Devils and the subsequent damnation, I remained resolute in believing that there might be a solution. Much like our efforts to assist Yeonha in her battle against devilization, I held onto the hope that redemption might be possible. And in all its complexity, I had to reconcile that Tomer, who was already my subordinate at that time, is a Djinn herself.
"Come on, Nayun, there are good Djinns too!" I protest, adopting a somewhat childish tone in my defense.
"You can't keep going off on your own, doing who knows what. We need to trust each other and work as a team." However, Nayun promptly turns the tables on me, pointing out my tendency to go rogue and act in my individual capacity.
I continue making excuses, "I just thought I could handle things faster on my own, you know? It wasn’t meant to—"
"It wasn’t meant to what? To make us feel like we can't rely on each other? We're a team, and that means we face challenges together." Her words carry a reminder that our strength lies in collective efforts, and each member of the group plays a crucial role.
I admit to my mistakes, "I get it. I messed up. I should have communicated more." Ugh… I feel terrible… I hate losing in arguments, and against Nayun too, not boot.
"Exactly,” As Nayun admonishes me for straying from the collaborative path, I begin to feel a sense of guilt for my recent tendency to distance myself from the team. “We're here for each other. Don’t forget that." She adds.
Inside Under Cube's Control Room, I stand in front of two familiar faces. The first is Tomer, my grumpy Latina secretary whose perpetual scowl seems etched into her features. The second is Kim Hosup, my portly friend with a penchant for information technology.
Tomer eyes me with her characteristic disapproval, her folded arms conveying a sense of impatience. Hosup, on the other hand, looks up from his array of monitors, adjusting his glasses as he gives me a nod of acknowledgment.
The Control Room, the nerve center of our operations, hums with the low buzz of machinery and the soft glow of digital displays. It's here that our collective efforts converge, and in the face of the unfolding revelations, the need for a strategic discussion becomes imperative.
With a deep breath, I prepare to address my comrades, but my abruptness seems to have provoked both of them instead.
Tomer shoots me a sharp look, her annoyance evident. "So what is up? I am busy… Did you forget, you want me to enroll your Djinn subordinates here in Cube? It is easy to sneak them in, but to ensure that they will not be found out is too much! I mean… Isn't the forged documents too much of a clue already?"
Hosup, engrossed in his technological endeavors, chimes in, "I am busy too, Hyung-ssi… Though I have recently finished decoding the Orb of Solomon and extracted Hajin’s left information, I am still a busy guy… Nayun has requested me to create a base on the moon, but it is difficult doing it with just drones alone."
"Sorry, guys… But it is an emergency," I explain, a sense of urgency in my voice. "The two of you, stop all that you are doing. Tomer, please kindly get my ships, and have them search for an island. The Hero Association and an unknown group of Djinns are working on something… something I wish them not to learn. I will send you more details later…"
Tomer's irritation deepens, and she demands, "Seriously, what is happening?"
"And you, Hosup, I am sorry to impose on you, but this is important. I want you to hack into the Hero Association’s Physical Database…" I instruct, knowing the difficulty of the task I am assigning.
Hosup looks up from his smartwatch, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "You mean their archives where they keep physical documents? How? I am not a super spy; I am the guy behind the chair."
"Use drones. You can do it. You are free to use Under Cube’s resources. I don’t know, make a drone the size of a fly? You have the Orb of Solomon too," I suggest, confident in his technological and operational prowess.
Hosup, still processing the feasibility of the task, questions, "Is that even technologically possible?"
"You are smart, you can manage," I assert, trusting in his abilities. “Use our every resource…”
Tomer interjects with a sly comment, "I feel bad for you, Hosup, he is demanding, isn’t he?"
I shoot her a stern look. "Shut up, Tomer. This is really an emergency!" The urgency of the situation leaves no room for unnecessary banter, and it pains me because I love bantering around.
I stride into my bedroom, a sense of urgency pushing me to grab my VR helmet and swiftly secure it on my head. As I immerse myself in the virtual reality space, I find myself alone. The suddenness of the summon might have caught my comrades off guard.
Rachel, my reliable comrade, should be on a mission in Germany, compromising a private lab focused on bio weaponry. Chae Nayun, adopting her alter-identity as Wrath, is likely causing chaos in Italy, dealing with Devil Sympathizers that have unexpectedly emerged, threatening the stability of the region reminiscent of the tumultuous times during Outcall. As for Suho, an unsettling silence surrounds his whereabouts, and my attempts to contact him remain unanswered. Is this a flag? I hope it isn't, but the uncertainty gnaws at me.
Is this a flag? I hope it isn’t a flag! I shake off the worrisome thoughts, focusing on the imminent discussion we are about to have. Rachel, my dependable comrade, materializes in the virtual space, with a stare, I swear, can kill. I feel a pang of concern gnawing at me for the absentees.
"I can explain, but the others are not yet here," I admit, addressing Rachel's intense stare as she takes her seat in the virtual space.
"We should wait for the others, then," Rachel suggests, her tone firm yet patient.
"I am here!" Chae Nayun's voice rings out as she materializes in the virtual space, her presence breaking the anticipation. However, her immediate concern for Suho overshadows her arrival.
"Where is Suho?" she queries, searching the virtual space for any sign of our absent comrade.
"Last time I heard from him he brought Sven to where the attack on the Human Dragon will happen. He said he will investigate the location and make plans in advance," Rachel provides an update, her brows furrowing in concern.
I interject, attempting to clarify the situation, "How is that even possible? Aileen, the Human Dragon, is with me… She is in Cube, right now. I had Cube AI babysit her."
Rachel: !!!
Chae Nayun: ???
"I can explain. This is a super emergency, and that’s why I called all of you. Suho is not here yet… Damn, I am really sorry, guys, for the abruptness. I might as well start," I apologize, my sense of urgency prevailing over the formalities.
In the virtual space, I manipulate the environment to summon digital images, presenting files that Aileen had taken from the physical archives of the Hero Association. The gravity of the situation necessitates immediate attention, and my comrades focus on the visuals as I prepare to unravel the complex web of information.
"From the context, these documents might be the reason why the Hero Association has decided to target Aileen—what you see here, my friends, is a project proposal, a thesis titled 'Analysis of the Time Curve, and its effects on History.' Look at the proponents. Almost half of them are missing personnel, but after cross-referencing them to our database, it appeared that these 'missing personnel' were actually Djinns! Aileen has found direct evidence of the Hero Association’s collusion with Djinns!" I reveal, emphasizing the weight of the revelation.
Chae Nayun interjects with a touch of sarcasm, "Well, we are not any different… We have Djinns too." Her words carry a hint of irony, half-blaming me for my drastic move in my individual capacity to rescue what remains of the Djinns, and even go so far as to provide them protection.
Reflecting on past events, I recall a pivotal moment about half a year ago when Tomer was already working alongside me. During that time, the Djinns faced imminent extermination due to the coalition of Heroes, Hunters, and Mercenaries. Driven by a mix of personal reasons and a sense of compassion, I decided to intervene using my alternate identity as the Savant of Sloth to aid the Djinns. It was a choice borne from selfish motives, yet there was an undercurrent of kindness that nudged me forward.
Despite the contract between the Djinns and Devils and the subsequent damnation, I remained resolute in believing that there might be a solution. Much like our efforts to assist Yeonha in her battle against devilization, I held onto the hope that redemption might be possible. And in all its complexity, I had to reconcile that Tomer, who was already my subordinate at that time, is a Djinn herself.
"Come on, Nayun, there are good Djinns too!" I protest, adopting a somewhat childish tone in my defense.
"You can't keep going off on your own, doing who knows what. We need to trust each other and work as a team." However, Nayun promptly turns the tables on me, pointing out my tendency to go rogue and act in my individual capacity.
I continue making excuses, "I just thought I could handle things faster on my own, you know? It wasn’t meant to—"
"It wasn’t meant to what? To make us feel like we can't rely on each other? We're a team, and that means we face challenges together." Her words carry a reminder that our strength lies in collective efforts, and each member of the group plays a crucial role.
I admit to my mistakes, "I get it. I messed up. I should have communicated more." Ugh… I feel terrible… I hate losing in arguments, and against Nayun too, not boot.
"Exactly,” As Nayun admonishes me for straying from the collaborative path, I begin to feel a sense of guilt for my recent tendency to distance myself from the team. “We're here for each other. Don’t forget that." She adds.
