I Became a Mad Scientist for the Foundation

Episode 194. Wilson!

The commander of the U.S. forces in this operation, Bradley’s flagship was destroyed. However, Bradley resumed command as soon as he returned to the shore, as promised.

It was a bit late, though.

While the Foundation, or rather Pixel and Bradley, remained silent, the U.S. forces coordinating with them were doing absolutely nothing. They needed to assess the situation before they could kill, blow up, or destroy anything.

Communication with Pixel was also cut off.

[This is Alpha-1. Confirmed target ‘Jörmungandr’ has ceased functioning. Currently, Jörmungandr has stopped hostile actions and submerged into the depths.]

[This is Alpha-2. The target is surrounded by fog, making tracking difficult. Suspect target ‘Arizona’ is half-destroyed.]

The silver lining was that the fighter jets succeeded in killing Jörmungandr. Whether it was dead or just injured and knocked out, it was gone.

Arizona was also out of commission. The exact circumstances of Arizona’s sinking were hard to determine, but it was clear that it was no longer in combat.

But where is Dr. Kim?

The objective of this operation was to protect Administrator Pixel from Dr. Kim. Conversely, Pixel’s most important goal was likely to kill Dr. Kim.

“This is Commander Bradley. The field command center has been restored. The sea serpent and battleship have been successfully neutralized. Administrator, are you alive?”

No response came.

Pixel’s communication line was silent. Was he dead?

Bradley pondered. If Administrator Pixel died, there was a high chance the U.S. forces would withdraw their support for Pixel’s system.

What would happen next?

Would they have to negotiate with the Foundation again? Would a new administrator be appointed? He had never seen an administrator die or be ousted before.

If Dr. Kim had entered Pixel’s island, they couldn’t use firepower to contain him. They also had no idea how many troops were inside Pixel’s island.

What was Pixel doing now?

Was he even alive?

The situation outside the command center was far more severe than Pixel had imagined. The underground bunker was already flooded up to the knees.

It was almost impossible to get out.

The radio wasn’t working due to radon gas, and the water was filled with the wreckage of broken robots. The data center’s role in this facility had already collapsed.

But the above-ground facilities weren’t in any better shape. They hadn’t been flooded, and the damage from radioactive gases was somewhat less, but they were likely torn to shreds by Arizona’s cannons.

That was the only hope. Since Dr. Kim was inside this facility, this was the chance to kill him.

To eliminate Dr. Kim, the Minerva series and divine-slaying drones were deployed. Whether the containment would succeed was uncertain…

But it would buy time. Probably.

The Minerva series. One of the many artificial human series created by the Foundation.

They weren’t officially recognized as Special Forces, so they weren’t called that, but their role was similar.

Today’s mission was to eliminate Dr. Kim.

“Minerva-1 reporting to the command center. Target Dr. Kim has been located. Engaging in combat.”

No response came. Minerva-1 frowned. What was going on?

“Minerva-1 requesting response from the command center.”

“Command center.”

“Hey, you bastards. Respond.”

Minerva-1 had no choice but to turn off the radio. Was the command center dead? Had the facility already been taken over? What were they supposed to do… All communication lines except for short-range radios were cut.

Anyway, all they had to do was kill Dr. Kim. A car-sized drone rose into the sky.

Supernatural Phenomenon O-112.

A divine-slaying quadcopter occasionally used by the Foundation.

The flying steel monster rained silver bullets in the direction of Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim and his allies took cover behind terrain features.

But it wouldn’t matter.

The Minerva team had already killed several humanoid supernatural phenomena and divine entities. Dr. Kim’s group had been located and was pinned down.

The divine-slaying quadcopter fired a grenade.

It wasn’t an ordinary grenade. It was specially made for divine-slaying. If they were lucky, they could eliminate the target with minimal casualties.

“Minerva-1. Equip bayonets and prepare to fire in the direction Dr. Kim will emerge. The target appears to be injured or pinned down.”

Of course, Minerva-1’s weapon wasn’t a gun. It was a spear and shield. They also carried a sword in case they needed to throw the spear.

Now it was time for Dr. Kim to show himself.

Suddenly, blue mana surged, and the Minerva team members repositioned themselves. Breakwaters rolled in from the direction where Dr. Kim had been.

Thud, thud, thud. It was a messy technique, but it was a clever move to complicate the situation.

The concrete breakwaters surrounding the facility were impenetrable even by anti-tank weapons. But nothing would change.

It was just buying time.

“Minerva-1. Dr. Kim appears to be accompanied by a high-level mage, codename ‘Hasti.’ Two targets. Proceed with caution.”

The Minerva team advanced cautiously with their weapons at the ready. Dr. Kim moved slightly but showed no further hostile actions.

A grenade thrown by Dr. Kim created a water pillar, and the fog further limited visibility. Were they trying to escape?

[This is Minerva-7. Observing Dr. Kim. Moving to a favorable position for combat.]

[This is Minerva-6. Attempting to snipe.]

[This is Minerva-5. Enemy lightning spirit attempting electromagnetic interference. Divine-slaying drone malfunctioning. Advance and block their movements directly.]

“Minerva-1. Confirmed.”

Without a command center or rear support, the back of their heads felt vulnerable. But they already knew where Dr. Kim was hiding.

They advanced.

I nudged Wilson with my foot.

The enemy is coming this way.

“Go crush their ankles, Wilson.”

Let’s see. There are four of us on the field now. Me, Wilson, Hasti, and the Hero.

Hasti seems to be tied up disrupting the flying things in the air. The Minerva series monsters are coming toward me.

The enemy doesn’t seem to know the Hero is on the field. I told him to flank and attack from behind, but who knows how that will turn out.

The Minerva team.

I don’t know the details, but they’re Pixel’s strongest combat assets, similar to Nanami. Artificial humans created by the Foundation.

As expected. I unfolded my clockwork wings and faced the Minerva unit charging at me with a bulletproof shield.

Bullets ricocheted off my wings. A spear struck the shield. So they use spears? I couldn’t immediately see a way to counter them.

They’re wearing gas masks, so chemical weapons are probably out of the question. Even with the shield and wings, all I could do was block their attacks.

If I moved away from the breakwater cover, the rest of the Minerva team would likely succeed in sniping. I wish the Hero would hurry up. Maybe it won’t work out.

I blocked a kick with my shield and was pushed back a step. My opponent prepared to throw the spear. It probably had some magical power, like the Longinus replica that subdued Hasti.

Bang! The bulletproof shield was shredded.

I threw the broken shield aside and grabbed my gun. My opponent drew a sword and charged again. I spread my wings and retreated further.

One exchange. Briefly, Wilson attacked the enemy’s foot, causing them to misstep. Thanks to that, I managed to create some distance-

Clang! The Minerva team leader swung his sword, and Wilson was cut in half.

“Wilson!”

I screamed, but the Minerva team leader crushed Wilson’s remains underfoot.

So Wilson could die too. The wreckage of the bowling ball wasn’t moving. Don’t worry, Wilson. I’ll avenge you.

I moved through the breakwaters that Hasti had haphazardly shifted. If I stuck my head out above the breakwater forest, I’d get sniped.

Click, click.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Minerva team leader hesitated under the firepower of the Gauss Musket. The shield blocked it all, but that wasn’t the real plan.

I pretended to reload while stepping back slightly. I dropped the magazine on the ground. The Minerva team leader charged again.

He had a victorious look in his eyes.

He made a mistake. Never underestimate your opponent—that’s the basics of combat. I’m not great at close combat, but I have a supernatural means of movement.

I held the Gauss Musket with a bayonet like a spear under my arm and charged with all the strength of my wings.

The impact was strong… but the bayonet pierced my opponent. It was a small wound, but I couldn’t miss the moment of confusion.

I kicked the shield away and pulled the trigger, hitting the torso directly. The failed reload was a feint. I still had one bullet left.

This time, I really reloaded and emptied the magazine into the staggering Minerva team leader. The Minerva team leader stumbled and fell.

He seemed dead.

Blood seeped onto the muddy ground.

It was too early to let my guard down. I fled through the breakwaters that were moving around like turtles. Now it was the Hero’s turn to shine…

The letters engraved on the holy sword glowed gold.

Only then did the Minerva team members realize the situation and turned their guns, but it was too late. Bullets ricocheted, and everything touched by the holy sword was cut down.

One down. The Minerva team members, caught off guard, picked up their weapons, but nothing seemed capable of subduing the Hero.

Bang!

A recoilless rifle hit the Hero’s armor, and the holy sword flew out of his hand, but Ahn Yuri got back up without a care.

‘Who is the evil one?’

It was a line from the Hero’s prayer. He asked for the wisdom to distinguish what evil must be cut down and what good must be protected.

It was a dilemma he had been grappling with since his return, but Ahn Yuri had finally reached a proper conclusion.

Special Forces capable of overthrowing entire nations with just a few teams. High-ranking officials of the Foundation. All of them were responsible for the world’s wrongs.

Here, helping Dr. Kim was the right thing to do.

No, it always had been.

The Minerva team’s weapons couldn’t stop the Hero, and the Hero moved again.

First, he threw the member who fired the recoilless rifle. Then he went after the others. The Hero’s cape fluttered behind him.

Situation resolved.

Ahn Yuri picked up the holy sword again and dusted off his armor. Why are the breakwaters walking around? It’s driving me crazy.

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