# Chapter 189
Even looking at it again, it’s a bizarre sight. Of course, I understand that it naturally became this way because all conditions had to be tailored to the experiment.
But to witness this desolate, lifeless space filled with twitching, deformed creatures…
“This is creepy as hell…”
Lee Hwan murmured unconsciously. Lumps of flesh, swollen or twisted in various places, were still twitching and sending vital signs as if they were alive.
When he calculated the CCTV’s blind spots and glanced around, he saw an experimental subject that appeared to be half-dog sleeping in a solution.
Its short muzzle and floppy ears resembled a specific breed of dog, making it too domesticated to be considered a wild animal.
However, its fur looked coarse enough to stand stiff even when wet, and curved fangs protruded here and there from its closed muzzle. Judging by its massive paws like those of a predator, its genes must have been mixed from the moment of conception.
“They’ve done all sorts of things.”
The creature twitched as if dreaming in the womb. It seemed like it had never even been born. Created in this laboratory, it had never left the solution.
The fourth basement floor—this laboratory might not only be a research space for experimenting on subjects but also a cultivation facility to breed them.
“When they’re experimenting on humans, there’s no way animals would be spared.”
Jade’s gaze was dry as he examined the glass tubes while responding. Lee Hwan couldn’t bring himself to add anything and just silently turned his head.
“They’ll all fail anyway. These experiments barely produce any surviving specimens, and monsters can’t be tamed. The lower their intelligence, the more impossible it becomes.”
Moreover, judging by their absurdly twisted appearances, the main purpose of these creatures might simply be to observe their reactions.
That’s probably why the drugs were stored here as well.
“…Let’s go steal the drugs.”
He had already heard about one or two drugs related to human experimentation through Kang Dongha. Though Dongha said the information was obtained through covert investigation and couldn’t guarantee its accuracy, he wouldn’t have included uncertain information in an operation like this.
“Don’t rush. We don’t have time.”
Despite rarely feeling cold, Lee Hwan sensed a chill penetrating his body. He easily surmised that he had felt this same sensation before.
Pshhhh— Click.
Two or three yellowish drugs were placed in the case Jade was holding. The liquid moved sluggishly as it was tilted, not freezing despite the extremely low temperature.
“I want to go down quickly.”
“Below isn’t much better either.”
That’s true. Especially after seeing a space like this, seeing a well-organized laboratory would only add to the bizarre feeling.
When he checked the time, he found that despite thinking they had hurried, only about 6 minutes remained. By now, Taesung would have arrived at the research building.
“Security release in 3 minutes…”
Movement between the underground and ground levels in Building D was strictly controlled. Especially for the underground laboratories, even inter-floor movement was impossible without an authorized ID.
If it weren’t for Kang Dongha, they wouldn’t have even known that the control system was on the upper floors.
‘If something happens underground, the administrator has to trigger a complete lockdown and cross over to Building B.’
Afterward, Naru would quietly clean up traces of the disaster and fabricate the causes of death for researchers who couldn’t escape.
In this system, only the Kang family and some high-ranking administrative staff were safe. There was a reason why their offices were all concentrated on the upper floors.
‘They know it’s dangerous, yet they put it right in the middle of Seoul.’
It was probably the Chairman’s decision. The old man didn’t have time to monitor operations by traveling long distances repeatedly, and his physical strength wouldn’t allow it either.
‘When 3 minutes remain, security will be released. Security-related commands are always entered exactly 100 seconds later. Notifications will go out to relevant departments simultaneously, and since we have higher authority, staff will swarm to Building D within 5 minutes at the latest.’
As Lee Hwan sighed and headed toward the elevator, Jade pushed the case into his inner pocket and followed.
The final glimpse of the fourth basement floor before leaving seemed quite ominous. A shivering sensation. Lee Hwan sank into silent contemplation.
These artificial life forms filling the space would likely be replaced with new experimental subjects before the year’s end.
Most would be confined to the solution, undergo various modifications, and then be disposed of as deceased. But if any specimens were lucky enough to survive and be “born,” where would they go?
Would they be killed off too, or would they be alive somewhere?
If they were alive, what would they be used for?
* * *
Ding-!
Through the door that opened with a clear sound. The eyes of the researcher waiting for the elevator widened.
Before he could cry out, a chop flew at his neck.
“Urk…!”
While Jade caught the falling body and quietly moved it aside, Lee Hwan quickly looked around to check for any signs of people.
“I hear voices from the right. Getting closer… at least two people.”
“No wonder there was no one upstairs.”
Originally, only a small number of researchers were stationed in the underground laboratory. They couldn’t involve just anyone in this kind of work, and it operated 24 hours a day.
A space divided left and right around a massive cylindrical pillar. Lee Hwan and Jade quickly moved to the break area on the left.
The collapsed researcher was still near the elevator. He was bait. To momentarily draw their attention.
“Oh.”
The sound of people hurriedly moving was heard, probably having discovered the fallen researcher. Three people in white coats gathered closely in front of the elevator.
As Jade fixed his gaze on them, two small potted plants flew silently and struck the researchers’ heads one after another.
Thwack, thud!
Lee Hwan caught the falling bodies with his Shield. The classical music softly playing throughout the fifth basement floor elegantly concealed their assault.
The cleanup begins now. As planned, the two of them would split up and render all the researchers incapable of action. As quietly as possible, not even giving them time to send an emergency signal.
This was only possible because there were no security personnel. This place was accessible only to researchers with underground access permissions, and even among them, only those with a certain level of status.
There was no reason for anyone unrelated to the experiments to be here, and having Awakened individuals would create difficulties in sealing the underground in case of emergency.
Lee Hwan and Jade looked at each other and nodded once. Then.
Tap!
They split off in a flash, leaving behind only the faint sound of footsteps.
Whack! Thud! The handling was clean and swift. When multiple people were together, they’d pin them down with gravity all at once, then strike the back of their necks.
It was a simple task, but there was something precarious about it. From an Awakened person’s perspective, these people were so fragile—like soft tofu that could be killed with just a slight mistake.
‘It can’t be helped if they die, but…’
Having fewer people to interrogate wouldn’t be good. Moreover, thinking that he might kill someone while trying to knock them out didn’t make him feel great.
After dealing with four people and standing in front of the secondary security zone where the red room was located, Lee Hwan met Jade, who had been waiting for him in front of a transparent automatic door.
“You handled it quickly.”
“There wasn’t anyone on my side.”
Damn. No wonder there seemed to be so many—they were all on this side.
“Thirty seconds until security release. Now we wait at this door.”
Jade, glancing at his wrist, announced the imminent time. Lee Hwan felt like his heart was pounding so hard it might tear through his sternum and burst out.
He suddenly found it hard to breathe. For a brief moment, he wondered if this was really happening. That the end was finally approaching.
The first regression, followed by eight more regressions. After a total of nine attempts, he had found the key to survival, and now only the final stage remained.
“10.”
9, 8, 7… The memories of regression mixed chaotically, flashing and disappearing. The moment they were driven to the battlefield by the monster wave, the apocalyptic world where even the framework of the nation had collapsed, the hopeful first regression, the post-regression life where he worried about even a single cup of instant noodles, the tension and responsibility that always weighed on his shoulders, and…
Kang Taesung, who had come this far without giving up to keep his promise to find him. His friend, and yes… his lover.
Lee Hwan narrowed his eyes and bit his lip. Too many memories flooded in, making his breathing rough. Meanwhile, time, which had stretched like rubber, was finally reaching its moment.
“5.”
- 3. 2. 1.
Exactly 100 seconds.
Whirrrr-!
Flash. The light above the door turned green. When he pressed the button, the door opened wide.
Now, about one minute more would pass, and when it reached the scheduled time of 3 o’clock, Beolmae and the Management Bureau agents would pour down through the elevator.
And Taesung, who had been waiting, would arrive a little earlier than them. After joining up with him, they would immediately enter.
Lee Hwan ran through the plan in his head one more time, thinking about Taesung who was working hard to get here. He probably left the Hunter department premises and came to the research building a few minutes ago.
If he had rushed into Building D as soon as the time came and gone down to the basement, he would have reached the first basement floor in less than a minute and pressed the elevator button.
Then the elevator, which had been staying at the fifth basement floor, would have gone up, and by now would be coming down with him on board.
Even though it wasn’t difficult enough to fail, somehow tension crept in. Would he arrive safely? I hope he came without any trouble.
As Lee Hwan was waiting for Taesung with his strangely fluttering heart.
Beeeeeep-.
Suddenly, a faint, uneasy alarm sound was heard. Then.
Click.
“?”
Following a sound like a fuse blowing, the entire laboratory was plunged into darkness.
The classical music that had been softly echoing, the faint machine sounds that had been humming in the background—all stopped simultaneously. The vast space was instantly immersed in deep silence.
‘…’
As he extended his hand with anxious eyes, he caught Jade’s arm, who was equally surprised.
“What… is happening?”
“…It seems the power has gone out.”
Why would the power go out, and why exactly when they released security?
Then flash. Suddenly, lights came on everywhere, and the interrupted music began to flow again. The peaceful melody sounded eerie as they remained vigilant, watching their surroundings.
♪♬♩♪-.
After looking around warily for about a minute, Jade suddenly had a look of realization on his face. He glanced up at the CCTV with a stiff expression and clenched his jaw so hard that his chin jutted out.
At that moment.
Eeeeeeeeeee-!
Without warning, a siren blared, and the surrounding lights turned red.
