Bad Born Blood Chapter 212

212
I continued to pursue Balek.

The canvassing of the roster of prosthetic technicians was coming to an end, and the most troublesome group remained on the list.

‘A group of engineers from the Accrecia Empire, Deus Ex Machina.’

It was an organization called Machina.

Even though I was from the empire, I felt very awkward after hearing the explanation.

‘Those who were driven out even from the Empire because of their extreme worship of machines.’

Makina even argued that a superintelligence should be developed to rule the empire.

They were a group of radicals who were a headache for the imperial rulers who revered the emperor as a god.

‘They fled to Border City to escape the pressure of the Empire.’

Considering the authority and darkness of the Imperial Family, it would not have been surprising if Deus Ex Machina had been completely wiped out.

However, most of the main members of Machina were high-ranking engineers and nobles, so they were able to escape with their lives.

‘Above all, their patriotism is twisted, but not false. They do not act against the interests of the empire.’

In fact, there was a precedent for Machina refusing to transfer technology despite pressure from the Bellato Federation.

From the perspective of Border City and the Federation, Machina’s very existence was left alone because it brought about a trickle-down effect of technology.

‘I didn’t even know there was an organization called Deus Ex Machina.’

It was a group whose records were erased in the Empire. After all, it was a group that left the Empire more than half a century ago, and since it had not caused any major incidents, its name was never mentioned in Imperial society.

“Is this really all that’s left?”

I stared at the building in the distance.

A rectangular high-rise building in the Accresia style came into view. The exterior walls were made of cold metal plates, and the only external decoration was a dark red outline.

In many ways, it was a building that was full of the characteristics of the Accresia Empire.

Below the building, there were guard androids that were often seen in the Empire, surrounding the building like statues. At first glance, they seemed inoperable, but the lenses that served as eyes occasionally took on a cold red glow.

‘Machina is a patriotic group, not just uncooperative with the imperial family. They will always be informed of news from the empire. There may be someone inside who knows my face.’

I took out the battle mask I used when I was guarding Anguis Regina. The battle mask, which resembled the Equusian’s battle helmet, was eerie.

Click.

I pushed the mask down to fit my chin. The lock at the back of my neck engaged.

‘Hoyot, unfortunately, Makina is an organization that is beyond my influence. They are so conservative that they do not even interact with Tarpa or the Vagabonders, who are superior in science and technology and friendly to humanity. Naturally, they do not want to associate with Tajirun either.’

I thought back to Jafar’s advice. The more I listened to it, the more I realized that Makina was a shitty organization. It seemed like they were made up of extremists that even the Empire would shake its head at.

I have to negotiate with Makina based on my abilities alone, without Jafar’s background. They won’t just hand over the records of their full-body prosthesis like that.

Thud, thud.

I walked to Makina’s building.

Wheein, wheein.

The security androids’ eyes were focused on me. I felt their gaze and stood at the entrance of the building.

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard Android’s dry voice.

-Identity. Business.

It was a mechanical question, with even the smallest sentences omitted. Even in the Empire, androids weren’t this arrogant.

“I can’t reveal my identity. My job is… … body maintenance. It’s a very high-end body, so I can’t leave it to just anyone.”

Before I could finish speaking, the androids gathered and formed a wall.

-Unknown identity. No entry allowed.

The Android’s optical lens blinked in warning.

“My body is a special product that embodies the skills of Tarpa craftsmen. Only those at your level can touch it.”

I rolled up my sleeves, revealing the prosthetic arm up to my shoulder. The prosthetic arm, imbued with Lapis’ artistic sensibility, had curves that mimicked the texture of muscle without the need for artificial skin.

Any skilled engineer would know that this is something remarkable just by looking at the neat circuitry faintly visible beneath the prosthetic hand.

‘The Empire’s science and technology, although differentiated over the years, are fundamentally based on Tarpa technology.’

The empire of long ago was not as exclusive to alien races as it is now. The first race to make contact and establish a technological agreement with the empire at that time was the Tarpa.

Even if Machina’s engineers dislike the alien race itself, they might not be uninterested in Tarpa’s technology.

When you delve deep into a field, you become very curious. When you see a strong person, your aggression boils over.

As a prosthetic engineer, you would naturally want to see and touch great prosthetics yourself.

‘You must be curious. No, you should be curious.’

The androids were silent, as if waiting for instructions from their superiors. Their eyes were fixed on my prosthetic arm.

-Demand disarmament.

The android reached out to me. This is difficult. I am now a piece of meat walking into the jaws of a beast.

The fact that Makina has survived in Border City for decades means that he has a considerable amount of violence of his own.

“Safety guaranteed. Weapons required.”

I said, imitating the Android’s noun tone.

-No entry.

“I’m not interested either. I want to be trained by the best, but I don’t want to risk my life for it.”

I turned around with a foolish look on my face.

‘Catch me.’

If this doesn’t work, we’ll have to find another way.

-Sigma’s communication. ‘I’ll check your body.’

The voice changed in the middle of the conversation. It seemed as if someone from Makina was interested in my body.

-Entry permit.

The androids scattered left and right, opening up a path.

The building’s entrance was a metal door that did not reveal the inside, revealing its closed nature.

Clank, woooosh.

There was a harsh sound of a lock opening from inside the metal door. Then the metal door slowly slid to the left.

Again.

I went inside. The metal tiles felt cold against my heels.

There were no heating or cooling facilities, so the interior was as cold as a refrigerator, and the air was stuffy because the building was designed without ventilation.

‘Anyway, they’re all full-body.’

The whole body prosthesis does not have to worry about air quality, heating and cooling, etc. The whole body prosthesis can withstand any adverse environmental conditions.

I walked with my eyes squinted inside the mask. The dotted lines on the floor twinkled and guided me.

The hallways of the Makina building were free of even the usual picture frames or decorations. Only a single color of metal stretched from the ceiling to the walls and floor.

‘This is a structure that is not good for mental health. Of course, none of the people here are in their right mind.’

If it had been an imperial building, there would have been artwork here and there to idolize the imperial family. That would have been better.

Wheein.

The elevator door opened. When I went inside, the floors were written in letters, not numbers.

‘From Alpha to Omega… … .’

The elevator moved automatically to the Sigma floor.

‘My senses are on edge.’

I trust my senses and my trained intuition. If it weren’t for Archie’s Victima’s intuition, I wouldn’t have come to this place.

My head was pounding and I had a slight headache. My expanded cognition could distinguish every single gear sound in the elevator.

If a trap were to be triggered in an elevator, I would be able to detect it quickly.

My senses and my separate, parallel tactical thinking created a tight escape plan.

Whenever I encounter a dangerous situation, I simulate it and find a solution. Every time I find a way to overcome the danger, I feel a surge of pleasure inside me.

Every time this happens, I feel strange. It’s fun, but it also makes me realize that I’m a very greedy person.

I can’t live a normal life, so if I lose the violence I have, it’s over.

Remember what Heilas said, Luca.

Without the human impurities, I am nothing more than a fighting machine, a monster seeking stimulation and murder.

The legacy of Heilas filled my mind.

… … The emotional past was deeply etched in my mind. Perhaps it was because this building was in the imperial style.

Ding.

The elevator door opened.

The complex and pungent smell of metal was mixed with the stale air. The bad air made me feel like I was going to vomit. This air was harmful to living things.

I opened my mouth slightly, wetting my lips with saliva, and slowly inhaled and exhaled.

The entire floor was a single room. Various research facilities and equipment were packed tightly around the walls.

‘That guy is Sigma.’

In the center of it all sat a man with a middle-aged appearance. Despite his human form, he had an inorganic aura. He was a type often seen in the empire. The aristocrats who had lived for over a century usually had this kind of aura.

Less noise.

The man stood up from his seat and walked towards me. His red lab coat had Sigma written on it.

“I’m sorry. I’m not originally in charge of partial prosthetics, so the ventilation facilities are inadequate. If you need a respirator, I’ll prepare one for you.”

Sigma said.

“No, it’s okay.”

The honorific came out of my mouth naturally. It seemed that the instinct of an imperial soldier still remained in me.

Sigma had an imperial air, and he was probably four or five times older than me. He was the epitome of an experienced imperial noble.

“Is this your first time at Deus Ex Machina? I’m Sigma. In Machina, we abandon our original names and call each other by codes and symbols.”

Sigma treated me like a gentleman, but his attitude was dry and devoid of emotion.

‘My senses are confused.’

It was confusing whether Sigma was a full-body human or an android. Even though he was a full-body human, he didn’t show any of the unconscious signals that a human would naturally show.

“It’s not polite to make a guest stand. Sit down.”

Sigma reached out and pointed to a metal chair. Leaning against the hard metal chair, his back strained uncomfortably.

‘For now, we’ve succeeded in making contact.’

It’s time to ask who has had a full body procedure here recently. Of course, they won’t give you an easy answer.

“This is a body made by a Tarpa craftsman.”

I rolled up my sleeves and extended my arms to explore, buying myself some time.

Sigma’s gaze stopped on my arm. The pupil of his artificial eye expanded and contracted unnaturally like a camera lens.

‘Is there a human brain in the head?’

It was too rigid to be human. Even its involuntary movements were mechanical.

“Oh, right. That’s why you came up here.”

Sigma muttered. I felt a strong sense of discomfort. My hand almost reached for the hilt of the sword.

Profit.

At that moment, a sealed door opened. A man wearing a shirt that revealed his chest walked over with a sly smile. He was a nerd who wore glasses despite being a full-body prosthesis.

‘Jingau? Why?’

The head of the Empire’s 4th Research Institute, Jin Ga-u, was here.

Heart, don’t beat. I have shown extreme coolness.

There are probably countless sensors here that detect my vital signs.

“Sigma-kun. Border City is always fun to visit.”

Jin Ga-woo stood at the sink and said while washing his oily hands.

“Your curiosity never diminishes as you age.”

Sigma spoke politely to Jingaou.

Until now, Jin Ga-woo’s existence was beyond my guesses and expectations.

I took Jin-ga-woo’s existence into account and started thinking and reasoning again.

‘It’s not strange that Jin Ga-woo is here.’

Jin-ga-u is a person who has received permission from the imperial family to engage in exchanges with other countries.

Deus Ex Machina is a pro-imperial group, even though it is at odds with the imperial family. It wouldn’t be strange if it had a connection with Jin Gao, who was renowned as a scientist.

‘Even though Jingauga is the head of the Imperial Research Institute, he is not someone who is blindly loyal to the Imperial Family. Makina will know that well.’

Jin Ga-woo is also a person with a scientific supremacist mindset. He would be a good match for Makina.

Yeah, that’s not important right now.

There is one important thing here.

‘Did Jin Ga-woo recognize me?’

Judging from Sigma’s words and actions, it was Jingawoo who allowed me to enter.

Thud, thud.

Jin Ga-woo walked toward me, wiping his wet hands on the hem of his clothes.

“It’s a sphere.”

Jin Ga-woo said with a big smile.