Venus is the cradle of humanity?
I had meant to ask which planet the ruins were on, but I ended up hearing something completely unexpected.
“There is a great deal to explain if I am to tell you that story. There is the unknown account of the Venus exploration that began with the ruins discovered during the Mars expedition, and there is also the story of humanity’s secret uncovered on Venus, as well as the research that identified dark energy users through DNA testing.”
Several important-sounding things rushed past all at once.
I wanted to hear more, but it was hard to stop him.
Because he truly seemed to have no time.
Still, he did not leave out the important part.
“The reason we became certain of Earth’s destruction was also because we confirmed that Venus had been destroyed. Earth, too, is heading toward destruction for the same reason as Venus. Back then, there was still dark energy left in the solar system, so we could buy time, but that is impossible now.”
All I knew about Venus was that it had a thick atmosphere and was an incredibly hot planet.
A hot planet?
“Don’t tell me Earth is going to heat up and become like Venus?”
“Yes. The critical point was passed long ago. Before long, the greenhouse effect will make Earth burn like Venus as well.”
It was completely different from what I had heard all this time.
I had thought abnormal climate changes would make it hotter and somewhat harder to live, but for that to destroy the Earth...
It was not easy to understand.
But his explanation ended there.
“We are short on time, and I do not know enough to explain everything myself. When you go to Paradise, there will be scientists who can explain it to you.”
“I’m going to Paradise?”
It was a strange thing to say.
I did want to go to Paradise, but I had never said so.
“I heard that you wished to see as many relics as possible.”
“Yes.”
“And that you made new black stones the condition for exchange.”
“Yes.”
“That is why. In truth, there are not many relics on Earth. Relics that must be used on Earth, like the one I brought, are modified and used here, but most relics are in Paradise.”
He was right.
The relics I had seen on Earth numbered three.
Two mental magic relics used for security and as lie detectors, and one magical relic.
On top of that, the magical relic was being used for research.
“We will bring as many of the relics on Earth as possible, but after this, you will have to go to Paradise to see more relics. When you meet them this time, they will say that and try to persuade you.”
I had been worrying all this time about how to get to Paradise, but all of that had been useless worry.
If the deputy director of the Intelligence Bureau was this certain, the odds of him being wrong were low, so it seemed I did not need to worry about going to Paradise.
However, there had to be a reason he was saying this.
I asked him.
“Will that become a problem?”
At my words, he shook his head.
“No. I am merely telling you in advance. Unlike on Earth, it will be difficult for our Intelligence Bureau to help you in Paradise.”
As he spoke, his brows drew together.
“Moreover, that place is the Inner Circle’s backyard. It is their own kingdom, one that they discovered and developed. I thought it would be better for you to know beforehand.”
I felt like I understood why he was explaining so earnestly.
It seemed he was worried I would go to Paradise and take their side.
I shook my head.
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
There was no need to worry.
I was currently more than satisfied with Margreta and the Intelligence Bureau, and I did not particularly like those in power either.
[That’s not what they should be worrying about. If anything, they should be worried about you raising hell.]
After looking at the internet for a few days, Soph’s way of speaking had become even cruder.
It was crude, but it was not wrong, so I did not refute Soph’s words.
After hearing my answer, the deputy director made one last request.
“The fact that you told only us about the ‘Awakening Drug’ is enough that we are not too worried. However, until we verify the sample and meet the President, I would like you to keep that matter secret. If word spreads before the results come out, it will be difficult for us to handle.”
It was not a difficult request.
“I will do that.”
The deputy director stood up with a satisfied expression.
The food had arrived, but he did not touch it and headed outside.
Margreta and I followed him, and before he got on the elevator, he asked me,
“I heard you moved your funds to America. This time, we sent the money to Korea, but from next time on, shall we send it to America?”
“Yes. Please do that.”
After hearing my answer, he headed to the rooftop.
After he left, I checked my phone and found that the money had increased again.
From ten billion to tens of billions. I had done nothing, yet money kept piling up.
When I put my phone in my pocket, Margreta apologized to me.
“I’m sorry. It was difficult to handle at my level.”
I waved my hand at her apology.
“It’s fine. It couldn’t be helped.”
There had been a moment that made me slightly dizzy, but the result was not bad.
If anything, I had gained a lot of information.
In any case, the immediate headache was over.
Now it was time to take care of the reason I had come here.
“You don’t have any other business right now, do you?”
At my question, Margreta tilted her head.
“No. Why?”
I pointed my finger downward.
“Let’s go shopping.”
“Shopping? Ah, are you going to buy daily necessities to take over there, like last time?”
I shook my head at her words.
I had no intention of buying things in such a petty way like back then.
“No. This time, I’m going to sweep out this department store.”
I intended to fill boxes with expensive items until my bank account was drained dry.
I pulled along the puzzled Margreta and began shopping.
I went around to various sections and swept my finger across the products.
“Ten of those large TVs.”
“Pardon?”
“Ten of this audio set.”
“Pardon?”
“And ten each of that refrigerator, washing machine, bed, and dining table.”
The bewildered employees saw my card and began rushing around frantically.
“Move quickly! Don’t we have stock?”
A short while later, the assistant manager came running over and attached himself to my side.
“I apologize. The manager should have been the one to attend to you, but important guests keep arriving, so he is not currently present. I will assist you with all sincerity.”
Once the assistant manager arrived, things moved even faster.
The items I pointed at were moved one after another.
“Will it be enough to move them to the underground parking lot? We can transport everything wherever you wish.”
“That’s fine. Just leave them in the parking lot.”
The employees looked puzzled at the hard-to-understand request, but no one said anything to me.
The other shoppers also looked at us with astonished eyes.
But no one came over to ask me anything.
Margreta, who had been watching my shopping with an incredulous expression, began choosing items with me once she understood the situation.
“The beds are better over here. This maker is better for tables, too. Now that I think about it, this department store doesn’t have many decent items.”
Unlike me, Margreta did not choose only things that looked nice.
She picked out proper luxury furniture one by one, and at her words, the employees grew tense and moved about in a frenzy.
After we had been choosing things for quite some time, she looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“But even if you buy electronic appliances like this, you can’t use them without electricity. What are you going to do about power? I don’t think this department store has generators...”
“Do you require generators as well?”
The assistant manager standing beside us cut in at her words.
He looked as if he would procure generators too, if necessary.
I took out my phone and a business card as I spoke to Margreta.
“I’m going to ask someone else for the generators.”
The business card I took out was the one I had received from the ruling party leader a little while ago.
I called the aide’s number written at the bottom of the card.
The other party answered immediately.
—Yes. This is Kang Seokil, aide to Representative Yun Seonghak. This is Mr. Hyeon Myeong, correct? How may I help you?
As expected, the other party knew who I was.
“I need a warehouse immediately. You must have heard, but I’m short on time.”
—I will handle it right away. As it happens, there is an empty warehouse in the outskirts of Seoul. I will make it available for immediate use. Is there anything else you need?
The other party answered immediately as soon as he heard me.
I became curious as to why the ruling party leader had an empty warehouse, but instead of asking, I told him what I needed.
“I would like you to obtain around twenty solar generators and twenty oil generators. The largest ones possible that can still be moved.”
—Understood. I will have all of them prepared in the warehouse by tomorrow. Is there anything else you need?
As expected, this was the pinnacle of power in Korea.
The aide answered without hesitation.
“That should be enough. How should I handle payment?”
—You need not worry about that. We will take care of it.
Hearing the aide’s words, I could clearly feel what it meant to attach oneself to power.
They said money could buy power, but truly strong power did not need money.
“Please convey my thanks to the Representative.”
—Understood. I will contact you once the items have been filled in.
When I hung up, Margreta was looking at the business card and smiling.
“Is that the business card of the Korean ruling party leader we just met?”
“Yes. I got the card, so I should make use of it.”
“You really did connect yourself to the ruling party leader just to use him, exactly as you said.”
“What other reason would there be?”
While Margreta and I chatted with smiles, the assistant manager was breaking out in a cold sweat beside us.
He had heard our conversation as well.
The manager had been unable to come because he was attending to important people, but my side was no less formidable, so it was only natural for him to be worried.
On top of that, Margreta added weight to his concerns.
“Oh, right. The helicopter we’ll be taking will arrive on the rooftop soon. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”
“...Th-that’s fine.”
At Margreta’s words, the assistant manager even stammered.
A short while later, we were notified that the items had been prepared in the parking lot.
We followed an employee down to the parking lot.
In one corner of the parking lot where cargo came and went, items were piled up like a small hill.
They were all things I had bought.
“Sleep.”
I put the employee who had guided us to sleep, then put all the items into the box.
In an instant, the parking lot was empty.
The assistant manager, who had come to tell us that the helicopter had arrived, saw the empty parking lot and opened his eyes wide.
He asked me, sweating coldly,
“Could it be that the items haven’t been prepared yet?”
While discreetly hiding the sleeping employee, I answered him.
“No. They’ve all been moved.”
“How, already...”
“It’s like the magic you see on TV.”
When I said it jokingly, Margreta let out a small laugh.
But the assistant manager did not laugh.
“You don’t have to worry. The items were moved safely, and even if a problem arises, the department store won’t suffer any damage.”
After saying that to the pale-faced assistant manager, I headed to the elevator with Margreta.
We boarded the helicopter that had arrived on the rooftop and headed for Pyongyang.
In Pyongyang, Catherine and Maxwell, who had brought the relics, and a middle-aged American were waiting for us.
He was a man I had seen often on TV.
The man who, together with NASA, had launched a spacecraft all the way to Mars.
The richest man in the world was waiting for us.
Origin (1)