Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1767: Blacksheep: Part-3

Armoury Sector… this was the second level surrounding the Delta Tower, an industrial sector filled with nothing but enormous metallic-white warehouses stretching across the horizon.

“Where exactly is the gate to the next level?” Young Aether muttered, his brows knitting together in confusion as his gaze swept across the endless rows of identical structures.

He had already circled the sector several times, yet he hadn’t found a single gateway leading upward. Everywhere he looked stood the same metallic warehouses, each sealed behind thick composite doors embedded with holographic authorisation panels.

Even after attempting to force one open, the door hadn’t budged in the slightest.

^Authorisation rejected!^

The cold digital message echoed inside his visor.

Even RIN couldn’t bypass the security protocols protecting the storage facilities.

“You can hijack an entire military-grade Mech-suit, but a basic storage shed is where you draw the line?” Young Aether said with an amused chuckle, raising an eyebrow as he tapped one of the glowing access panels.

^…These warehouses are directly linked to the Central Delta Tower’s quantum security network. Forcing them open without proper authorisation would immediately trigger a sector-wide alert. Even I can’t silently overwrite a live authentication chain without exposing our location.^

“Whomp~Whomp~”

Young Aether exaggerated a mock crying gesture, complete with an imaginary tear sliding down his cheek.

For a brief moment, RIN remained completely silent.

Then she let out an irritated snort.

^Hmph! If I hadn’t taken control of that Mech-suit earlier, your ugly ass would’ve been riddled with enough bullets to qualify as modern art. Hmph!^

“…”

Veins slowly bulged across his forehead.

Did this bitch just call him ugly?

What the fuck was modern art? His ass?

The nerve…

Actually… that wasn’t even the correct word anymore.

The BITS!!

Still… she wasn’t exactly wrong.

Without RIN’s assistance, reaching this far would’ve been significantly more difficult. He might have survived through sheer stubbornness and experience, but he certainly wouldn’t have done it this efficiently.

As annoying as she was, having a self-aware artificial intelligence watching his back was proving far more valuable than he had expected.

That, however, was exactly what bothered him.

‘What are the odds of someone obtaining a fully self-aware AI… and of all people, it ends up with the person destined to destroy this world?’

Sure, it could simply be coincidence.

A 99.9 % coincidence.

But it was always that remaining 0.1%… the tiny fragment that refused to fit neatly into logic… that forced him to wonder whether an unseen hand had quietly arranged everything long before he ever arrived here.

He knew he had absurdly good luck with women. Even he couldn’t deny that anymore.

But this?

This crossed the line between fortunate and fundamentally suspicious.

Maybe… he had caused it himself.

After all, RIN had mentioned that a mysterious spark originating from his Origin Card had awakened RIN’s consciousness, or something along those lines.

There were simply too many possibilities to ignore.

Even so, Young Aether remained confident that he would’ve eventually reached this point regardless. It certainly wouldn’t have been as smooth or as peaceful as it had been with RIN’s support, but he would’ve found another path eventually.

She hadn’t changed the destination. She had merely optimised the journey with ruthless efficiency.

“So… what do we do now?” Young Aether asked, his eyes scanning the perfectly ordered landscape of alloy structures once more.

“We’ve searched this entire sector several times, and all we’ve found are storage sheds. There aren’t even any soldiers stationed here.”

^According to the facility map, the gateway to the next level should be located somewhere within this sector.^

Young Aether slowly turned in a complete circle, carefully examining every corner.

Yet despite everything surrounding him…

There wasn’t a single gateway anywhere in sight.

They were standing exactly where the map insisted it should be.

Which meant only one thing.

Either the map was wrong…

Or the gate wasn’t meant to be seen.

Young Aether inwardly sighed. He had expected to find his friend somewhere in this sector and use him to get closer to the Delta Tower, but even he seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

Just as he was wondering what to do next…

Ssssnnnnnngggg~

The low hum of engines echoed through the silent sector as an armoured transport truck glided across the empty roadway. Blue propulsion rings shimmered beneath its frame, leaving behind faint ripples of distorted air.

Young Aether immediately slipped behind the corner of a storage shed, pressing himself against the cold alloy wall while quietly observing the vehicle as it passed.

This might be his only chance to move deeper into the facility.

Just as he was about to follow the truck, it came to a smooth halt before one of the storage sheds. Two soldiers climbed out, their heavy Mech-suits releasing soft bursts of compressed air with every step. They walked to the rear of the truck, lowered the tailgate, and swiped their military identification cards across a holographic scanner.

A moment later, the enormous reinforced door of the storage shed rumbled open with a deep metallic roar.

Young Aether patiently waited until both soldiers disappeared inside before silently making his way toward the truck.

He was just about to climb into the cargo compartment…

…when his eyes instinctively drifted toward the interior of the open shed.

His pupils instantly widened.

Towering mountains of translucent Origin Core Crystals filled the warehouse from floor to ceiling. Countless crystalline blocks emitted a soft multi-colour glow.

“They were here…” he muttered under his breath, unconsciously taking a step toward the warehouse.

^What are you doing? You need to sneak into the truck before they come back.^

RIN’s voice carried an unusual hint of urgency.

Yet Young Aether remained rooted to the spot, unable to tear his eyes away from the breathtaking mountain of crystals. Their mesmerising radiance reflected within his pupils, almost hypnotic in its beauty.

‘If I set all of this on blast…’

He instinctively swallowed.

Even without lifting a finger himself, the sheer amount of Origin Core Crystals stored inside this warehouse possessed enough concentrated energy to erase the entirety of Delta City from existence without leaving behind so much as a crater.

Now it finally made sense.

No wonder RIN couldn’t bypass the warehouse’s security.

The value of everything stored inside this single shed easily surpassed dozens of C-Class Mech-suits.

“What should I do…?”

His gaze lingered on the endless stockpile.

If he could somehow get his hands on even a fraction of these crystals, they would become an unimaginably valuable resource for everything he planned to accomplish in the future.

But there was another problem.

If he killed the two soldiers now, he might lose his only opportunity to discover where this transport truck was actually headed.

A transport truck operating inside a sealed military sector almost certainly meant there was a hidden route connecting this place to somewhere else.

He needed them alive.

Two shadows slowly emerged from inside the warehouse.

‘Fuck it!’

Without another second of hesitation, Young Aether leapt into the truck’s cargo compartment, silently disappearing behind several supply containers.

Carefully peeking through a narrow gap, he watched as the two Mech-suits returned, each pushing an anti-gravity cargo trolley carrying a massive block of refined Origin Core Crystals.

The trolleys floated effortlessly above the ground, their gravity-nullification emitters producing only a faint electronic hum despite transporting what should have weighed several tons.

The soldiers stopped before the tailgate.

With nothing more than a gentle push, both trolleys smoothly glided into the truck, locking themselves into magnetic suspension rails embedded within the cargo bay. The enormous crystal blocks remained perfectly motionless, suspended in midair without the slightest vibration.

Once the loading sequence was complete, the rear gate automatically sealed shut with a heavy metallic clang.

A second later…

The engines roared back to life.

The truck silently accelerated forward.

Only after the vehicle had travelled a safe distance did Young Aether step out from behind the containers.

His eyes immediately landed on the two gigantic Origin Core Crystal blocks hovering inside the cargo compartment.

“Damn…” A slow grin spread across his face. “Is the Lord of Luck seriously on my side today?”

Without wasting another moment, he instantly stored both enormous crystal blocks inside his storage space.

“Once I finish this job…” he murmured with a satisfied smile, leaning comfortably against one of the containers, “…I’m definitely coming back for the rest.”

Just as time passed quietly…

^We have a problem, Aether.^

“Huh?”

^The hospital personnel have finally noticed the sudden disappearance of their doctor… and the rescue team leader.^

As she spoke, RIN projected a live surveillance feed directly before his eyes.

The holographic display flickered to life, revealing the hospital corridors in real time. Medical personnel wearing sealed biohazard suits hurried from room to room, searching every corner for the missing doctor. Meanwhile, the black-suited rescue team had split into multiple groups, frantically combing the entire facility with anxious expressions, clearly searching for their leader.

^If they enter the control room and forcibly take back the system, I won’t be able to maintain control of the hospital anymore. What should we do?^

Young Aether silently stared at the footage.

He already knew the obvious answer.

Continue with the plan.

Yet…

For some reason…

He hesitated.

^Don’t tell me you’ve changed… and you don’t want to harm those people anymore?^

Young Aether remained silent.

Was that really the reason?

Even he couldn’t answer that question.

No one could possibly understand the thoughts colliding inside his mind at that moment. They were tangled together like countless threads, refusing to separate into a single clear answer.

Just as he parted his lips to respond…

“GET ON YOUR KNEES, INTRUDER!”

Young Aether’s pupils contracted.

Before he could even react, the armoured truck suddenly transformed.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Its side walls folded outward like mechanical petals blooming in reverse, exposing the entire cargo compartment in an instant.

Brilliant tactical floodlights ignited from every direction, washing away every shadow.

Young Aether’s expression changed.

He was completely surrounded.

Dozens of military-grade Mech-suits stood in a perfect encirclement, their weapons already locked onto him.

Standing at the very front was a noticeably larger Mech-suit.

Its armour was heavier.

Its reactor emitted a deeper crimson glow.

And engraved upon its broad shoulder plate…

…was the number ’10’.

Commander 10.

“I said get on your knees, intruder!” Commander 10 barked, his amplified voice carrying unquestionable authority.

Young Aether slowly climbed down from the truck.

Then, without resisting…

He knelt.

Both hands rose into the air in surrender.

^Is… that it? You’re surrendering? Shouldn’t you fight?^

Even RIN sounded stunned by the sudden turn of events.

She had never expected them to discover him this quickly.

Young Aether gave no reply.

He simply remained silent.

His mind, however, was racing faster than any supercomputer.

How?

How did they find him?

He had entered carefully.

He hadn’t exposed himself.

He hadn’t made any obvious mistakes.

Then why?

How had they known he was hiding inside the truck?

His thoughts suddenly drifted back to the Armoury Sector.

The complete silence.

The empty roads.

The total absence of soldiers.

…

Was that entire place… nothing more than a trap?

Commander 10 looked down at him before letting out a mocking laugh.

“I’ll give you credit,” he said with a haughty grin. “Sneaking this deep into Delta Tower isn’t something even a fly could accomplish without permission. Yet somehow, a mere stray dog managed to crawl all the way into our front yard.”

He slowly raised one armoured finger.

“What unbelievable arrogance.”

With a casual gesture, he signalled one of his subordinates to move forward and secure Young Aether.

“How did you find me?” Young Aether finally asked, his voice remaining unusually calm.

Commander 10 leaned forward slightly before laughing again.

“Hmm? Find you? Haha” He shook his head in amusement. “You’ve got it all wrong. I wasn’t the one who found you.”

He pointed toward one of the approaching Mech-suits.

“Well… in a way, I suppose I was.”

“After all…”

“He belongs to my squad.”

Young Aether frowned.

He didn’t understand.

Then the approaching soldier stopped only a few meters away.

“You shouldn’t have run away…” the soldier said with an amused chuckle.

The familiar voice echoed through the external speakers of the Mech-suit.

And at that exact moment…

Young Aether realised where he had slipped up.

It was the very same soldier who had questioned him after he walked out of the Assembly Unit.

FUCK!!

Commander 10 smiled beneath his helmet.

“You see… I didn’t take him seriously when he reported an intruder. I mean, come on, only idiotic suiciders would do such nonsense.” He let out an amused laugh.

“But then I received reports about the accident in the Delivery Unit. At the same time, the surveillance drones around the nearby Assembly Unit mysteriously malfunctioned for nearly an hour and… these all happened right before he saw something emerging from the restricted area… not even us could enter… ahah”

He slowly spread his arms.

“What a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”

“Hahaha… not bad. Not bad at all. You actually made it this far.” His tone gradually turned colder. “Don’t worry. Whichever division you belong to… we’ll be sure to return the favour by delivering your cherry head back to them on a silver platter.”

The soldier stepped forward and raised his weapon, aiming directly at Young Aether’s forehead.

Young Aether’s face instantly paled.

“A-Are you really going to kill me? Just like that?” he stammered, raising both hands as his body trembled violently.

“Sir… please… please don’t kill me! I’ll tell you everything! Please!”

Commander 10 burst into laughter.

“Look at you.” He shook his head with utter contempt. “Begging for your life… how pathetic.”

His laughter slowly faded.

“Because of you, I lost my opportunity to enter the portal.” His voice became ice-cold.

“Your head alone should be enough compensation for my Governor.”

Young Aether’s trembling suddenly stopped.

His eyes quietly narrowed.

“Portal…” he muttered.

His expression gradually turned emotionless.

“So… they’ve already entered the Otherworld.”

Commander 10 frowned for a brief moment before casually waving his hand.

“Finish this bug.”

“We’re leaving.”

The soldier silently acknowledged the order.

He lowered the muzzle from Young Aether’s forehead toward his chest, ensuring the shot wouldn’t accidentally damage the head.

After all, their commander was going to present his head, right?

The weapon’s energy immediately began charging.

A brilliant sphere of compressed energy rapidly formed inside the barrel as rings of red energy pulsed outward, accompanied by a sharp electronic whine.

The soldier’s finger slowly tightened around the trigger,

Crack!

Click!

BOOM!!

Every Mech-suit on the battlefield instinctively flinched… because the soldier’s head exploded.

Nobody saw what happened.

Everything occurred in less than a heartbeat.

The instant the soldier began pulling the trigger, Young Aether had already seized the gun, twisted the soldier’s wrist with overwhelming precision, and redirected the barrel upward.

The shot fired.

Straight into the soldier’s own helmet.

The visor shattered into countless glowing fragments as the energy beam tore through the helmet, erasing his head in a single devastating blast.

Splllasshhh~

Blood erupted from the severed neck in a crimson arc, splattering across the metallic ground as the now-headless body remained standing for the briefest moment before beginning its slow collapse.

Commander 10 abruptly turned around.

The sudden silence had warned him before his eyes could.

For a single second…

Young Aether’s icy gaze met Commander 10’s.

Between them, the headless corpse slowly fell while blood sprayed into the air like a crimson fountain, hanging suspended for the briefest instant as though time itself had slowed.

Then…

“KILL THAT BASTARD!!”

Commander 10’s furious roar shattered the silence.

At that exact same moment, Young Aether’s voice echoed just as loudly.

“EXECUTE THE PLAN!”

The Twin Eclipse instantly materialised in his hands.

^Understood. Releasing all security locks. Disengaging emergency containment. Initiating the alarm override.^