Chapter 87: The research
While Nioh flipped through the research logs, Akron and Althea returned from their individual scouting routes.
"I found traces of combat, north from here," Althea reported, walking up briskly. "There’s dried blood and some plasma residue. Judging by the patterns, someone in the research group is probably injured."
"They’re moving by flyship. An old model," Akron added as he pulled out his communication device and projected a map. "It’s likely equipped with a low-altitude frequency jammer—nothing advanced—but based on the energy trail and speed, they should still be within a thousand-kilometer radius."
He tapped on the map, zooming in on a single location.
"This is the only safe zone nearby."
Nioh didn’t respond immediately. His eyes narrowed as he sent the research log to both of them.
"The team wasn’t honest about what they were doing out here," he said. "The file refers to something called Operation: Pink Fog. Turns out these bastards were luring civilians from the outer city—offering them money, shelter, opportunities. Then using them as live subjects."
The atmosphere grew heavier as both Althea and Akron scrolled through the document.
"For over ten years... they’ve run tests on more than five hundred people," Nioh continued coldly. "Injecting them with condensed samples of the fog. Watching them mutate. Documenting every stage of their suffering."
Akron gagged, then turned to the side and vomited into the bushes. "They turned human beings into... into humonculi. Just to test their pain thresholds? Their endurance?! This is—this is monstrous."
"My guess," Nioh said, voice sharp, "is that this isn’t a kidnapping at all. The mercenaries? They’re not asking for ransom—they’re buying time. This is revenge. And the research team didn’t flee to the safe zone."