Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 392: The Birth of Evil (9)

The exact instant Alberu inquired about Cale's laughter…

Bang!

A resounding boom echoed as the door slammed shut, imprisoning both Cale and Alberu within.

Neither man paid any mind to the now-closed portal.

‘The record room's entrance isn't a simple door. It's imbued with potent currents, rendered inoperable if tampered with incorrectly. Any attempt at forceful entry results in an explosion, engulfing the room's interior in flames,’

Cale recalled the explicit details provided by the Chief of Staff.

Alberu, his gaze fixed on the still-grinning Cale, commented with characteristic nonchalance.

“Is there something wrong with my face, Your Highness?”

Cale's smile vanished, replaced by a petulant frown as he addressed Alberu. A satisfied smile played on Alberu's lips as he stepped forward.

“So, we just need to pilfer that item, correct?”

His gesture indicated a modest safe, tucked away in the record room's furthest, almost forgotten corner.

‘This record room should contain numerous paper documents. The research findings are all compiled into booklets,’

This was the very reason the room maintained a controlled environment of temperature and humidity.

‘However, all the crucial information resides within the memory card housed inside that safe.’

Cale acknowledged that he would have expended considerable time committing the research reports to memory had Kang Geun Mok not shared that vital piece of intel.

‘The record room itself would have detonated long before then.’

It was precisely at this juncture.

Click.

[Protection Process Step 1]

A distinct mechanical whirring sound preceded the transformation.

Bang!

Above the previously closed door…

Three formidable iron barriers descended, sealing it completely.

“…….”

“…….”

Their sealing was absolute.

While the uninitiated might assume this was a protective measure for the record room's contents, Cale knew better.

“Is the detonation scheduled for thirty seconds from now?”

Alberu inquired calmly, and Cale confirmed.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You are keeping track of the time, I presume?”

“Naturally.”

Cale glanced down at his wrist.

25 seconds-

24 seconds-

“Haa, I never envisioned myself undertaking such a clandestine operation.”

Crown Prince Alberu casually approached the safe, then took a seat directly atop it.

“The act of thievery… It seems I'm experiencing quite the spectrum of novel situations.”

He murmured, his voice tinged with a sigh.

“I concluded all my pressing duties just to engage in… safe-cracking –”

“So, you find this distasteful, Your Highness?”

Cale interjected casually, prompting Alberu's equally nonchalant reply.

“Not at all. It's rather amusing?”

Observing the subtle twitch at the corners of Alberu’s mouth, Cale gently shook his head.

Click.

[Protection Process Step 2]

Another mechanical sound coincided with a collective extinguishing of the record room's numerous and bright lights.

“…….”

An absolute darkness enveloped the space.

“You have ten seconds remaining, Your Highness.”

As Cale relayed the dwindling time to Alberu…

“D, Director-!”

The Deputy Director of the Transparent © Museum, or rather, the Secret Lab, trembled as he addressed the Director.

“I-It appears there has been an infiltration of the Record Room!”

“I am aware! I already know!”

The Director retorted to the Deputy Director before swiftly retracing his steps back towards the museum with remarkable haste.

“Move!”

Despite his reputation as a dedicated scholar, he unceremoniously shoved a guard aside, proceeding with utmost efficiency.

Baaaaaaaaaang—!

Simultaneously, outside the museum, a fiery red serpent ascended into the heavens from the garden.

The Deputy Director, casting a fleeting glance at the spectacle, spoke with palpable urgency.

“These scoundrels must have targeted the Record Room! This is dire, sir! If even a fragment of its contents is compromised!”

“No-”

He then glanced down at his watch.

It was a state-of-the-art smart watch.

“9 seconds.”

“Excuse me?”

“The Record Room is set to detonate at that precise moment.”

Earlier, the smart watch had alerted the Director to the presence of two individuals within the Record Room. It had also confirmed the successful activation of the protection protocols.

‘My priority right now is not to race to the Record Room!’

The security sequence had progressed without issue, reaching Step 2. This indicated an imminent explosion within the Record Room, and crucially, that the two intruders had not yet managed to escape.

‘They are about to perish.’

He had no clue how they gained entry, but their fate was sealed unless they could somehow exit before the blast.

‘Laboratory Director. Even I would be unable to withstand that catastrophic explosion.’

The young patriarch himself had admitted his inability to survive such an event, reinforcing the immense destructive power.

In essence, it was an explosion potent enough to overwhelm even the mage currently unleashing chaos in the garden.

“Director, why are you heading towards your office—?”

He was indeed en route to his office.

A mere 5 seconds remained.

The Record Room was slated for detonation in five seconds.

‘There is only one urgent task I must attend to immediately!’

He had already instructed for HQ to be notified, but he deemed it insufficient.

‘The young patriarch!’

Or…

‘The Chairman!

No. The Chairman must be contacted first!

Even the young patriarch lacks the access code to this facility.’

Only Honorary Chairman Han Taek Soo and his most trusted confidant, Chief of Staff Kang Geun Mok, possessed knowledge of the record room's access code.

Yet, an unauthorized party had managed to penetrate the premises?

‘Kang Geun Mok has betrayed us!’

This was not information to relay to the young patriarch.

He needed to report directly to the patriarch himself.

‘The direct line is installed in the Director’s office.’

That was the only telephone capable of reaching the Chairman.

This was a privilege afforded to him for his position as Director here.

“Director-nim! We should first proceed to the record room—”

“Be quiet!”

He looked up at the Deputy Director, oblivious to the situation, and pushed his hand away.

It happened at that precise moment.

3 seconds.

His smartwatch vibrated, signaling three seconds remained until the explosion.

Cale spoke from within the darkness.

“3 seconds.”

Alberu calmly turned his gaze towards the source of the sound.

Crackle. Crackle.

That area began to illuminate, even as the lights extinguished.

Crackle-!

A rose gold light started to emanate and expand around Cale.

Alberu remained seated on the safe, and Cale calmly remarked.

“The greatest defense is offense.”

The best defense was to take the initiative.

And even more effective than that—

“Is a preemptive strike.”

Strike the enemy before they can strike you.

– …Impossible!

The Super Rock exclaimed in shock, but Cale maintained his composure.

Crackle.

The rose gold currents crackled more intensely around him.

Click.

Another sound echoed, and…

[Protect-]

Cale began to ponder as he heard the mechanical sound.

If the enemy intended to detonate them…

“We simply have to act first.”

[Proc-]

The mechanical sound ceased abruptly.

– You are truly brilliant!

As the impressed voice full of anticipation spoke…

Crackle-!

A bolt of rose gold energy shot upwards.

“Wow.”

Alberu began to clap.

Clap!

Simultaneously…

Crack.

Several highest-grade magic stones within his inner pocket fractured.

Ooooooooong-

Three layers of mana shields materialized, enveloping Alberu and the safe.

However, no one bore witness to this.

Bababaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang–

A deafening roar erupted, and the rose gold fiery thunderbolt annihilated the record room, the protection process system, and the third, second, and first basement floors—

“W, what is that?”

“Holy shit, get out of the way!”

It continued all the way to the ground floor.

Piercing through the museum, or rather, the now revealed laboratory, it surged towards the sky.

“Hahaha!”

Rosalyn observed the phenomenon, akin to hers yet distinct.

This fiery thunderbolt, possessing the same red illumination intertwined with golden hues, tore through the uppermost floor of the lab and detonated. She watched this spectacle and erupted in laughter.

“W, witch!”

“Apprehend this madwoman!”

She smiled even more broadly upon hearing the taunts directed at her.

Crack, crackle!

She still possessed approximately half of the magic stones.

This was more than she had anticipated, indicating that Rosalyn had grown considerably stronger.

“What is that?”

She heard Ahn Roh Man’s voice behind her, and Alberu turned his head, smiling at him.

“Let’s make our escape now!”

“Excuse me?”

‘She is instructing me, the president, to flee after presenting herself like this?’

‘Can’t you see the reporters converging from all directions?’

‘You expect me to run when I had to steel my resolve considerably before deciding to come here?’

Ahn Roh Man’s expression contorted with shock and bewilderment.

But he quickly stiffened.

Baaaaaang-

A ferocious fiery thunderbolt…

Its immense power sent shivers down his spine for a reason unrelated to Rosalyn’s magic.

Yet, a figure was ascending within that fiery thunderbolt as it shot towards the heavens.

‘Cale Henituse!’

The individual was clad in a black mask and attire, but Ahn Roh Man recognized him instantly.

He then grasped that Rosalyn was correct; it was indeed time to flee.

‘Alberu Crossman is nowhere to be seen!’

There must be a significant reason for that.

He understood the implication perfectly.

‘They have discovered the proof!’

Alberu Crossman had escaped with the evidence that would exonerate Ahn Roh Man’s aide, Mary, and completely overturn the situation.

“Ha, haha—”

Ahn Roh Man chuckled and gestured with his hand in the air.

“Let’s head to the helicopter.”

He smiled at Rosalyn and extended his other hand.

Rosalyn gracefully took his hand and ascended towards the helicopter, which had been stationed at the school and had arrived.

It was at that very moment.

“I—”

He heard the voice of Cale Henituse, who was floating upwards.

Alberu must be concealing something, as his voice was exceptionally loud and altered.

“Why is he speaking there instead of escaping—?!”

As Ahn Roh Man looked on, bewildered and concerned…

Rosalyn began to speak.

She articulated what Cale was about to say.

Cale’s voice reached the reporters, the guards, and the various onlookers gathered there for numerous reasons.

“I am Arm.”

“I, am, Arm!”

Rosalyn placed her hand on Ahn Roh Man’s shoulder as he stared at her and Cale blankly.

“Arm?”

Ahn Roh Man mumbled blankly before flinching at the strength of Rosalyn’s grip.

“Mr. Ahn Roh Man. Listen closely to what I say.”

“Excuse me?”

“You have been working with Arm since today. The entity that secretly approached you is known as Arm.”

“Excuse me?”

Rosalyn was, in effect, implanting the idea of Arm into Ahn Roh Man’s mind, even without Cale’s explicit request.

And as this unfolded…

“W, what is that……”

The Director stared blankly at Cale.

A scorching bolt of lightning, erupting from the sky, obliterated the record room just before its protective enchantments could fully activate.

Flames, ignited by the fiery thunderbolt, rapidly consumed the surroundings.

This was a dire situation.

A cold sweat trickled down the Director’s back, his heart plummeting with dread.

“Arm?”

The Director found himself echoing the mysterious individual's word, a name he’d never encountered before.

Arm.

He couldn’t recall ever hearing of such a name.

‘What is happening? No, I can’t afford to dwell on this now. Wait, what should I be doing at this very moment?’

It was utter pandemonium.

At that precise moment…

“The God of Chaos will soon rule this world!”

‘What? Chaos?’

The black-clad assailant bellowed, then gestured once more.

Crackle.

Fiery thunderbolts…

Baaaaaang!

Baaaaaang!

Baaaaaang—!

They descended from every direction.

“!”

These strikes precisely targeted areas crucial to their clandestine research project.

Admittedly, their research had been temporarily suspended upon detecting suspicious activity from Mary, the President’s trusted confidante.

For that reason, no experiments were actively underway, but—

“N, noooo!”

The destruction of these sites would inevitably expose their work.

Consider the sheer number of helicopters currently circling overhead!

Baaaaaang—!

Baaaaaang!

The points of impact for the rose-gold thunderbolts were all strategically chosen, directly linked to their ongoing research.

They struck areas concealed behind what appeared to be mere displays.

All these hidden locations were laid bare by the encroaching flames.

Yet, the fiery thunderbolts did not indiscriminately incinerate everything.

With calculated precision…

They destroyed only what was necessary, leaving the rest exposed for all to see.

“Ah-”

The Director collapsed onto the floor.

“The individuals from the House of Transparent have arrived, sir!”

The Deputy Director announced the arrival of personnel from HQ, even from the House of Transparent itself, but…

“T, too late—”

They had arrived too late.

The Director abandoned any attempt to contact the patriarch.

Whether Kang Geun Mok had indeed betrayed them was no longer the primary concern.

“It’s been looted……”

He was certain that the most vital information had already been taken.

It felt like a foregone conclusion.

These scoundrels must have made off with the safe itself.

“Ah.”

Those who witnessed this event today would undoubtedly question the Transparent © corporation about the incident. The situation escalated dramatically when President Ahn Roh Man made a personal appearance.

“F, fuck—!”

President Ahn Roh Man possessed irrefutable evidence.

It was clear how he would proceed against the Transparent ©.

“It’s the end!”

The Director struggled to suppress his mounting anger.

“The end!”

No, it was his fear that he couldn't contain.

This was truly the conclusion.

‘I’m finished!’

The Transparent bloodline would not allow this breach to go unpunished.

“D, Director, the young patriarch—”

The young patriarch was among the contingent dispatched from the House of Transparent HQ.

The Director managed to lift his head with great effort.

The young patriarch, Han Seo Young, had witnessed the entire incident unfold.

His gaze wasn’t directed at the Director.

Instead, he was intently watching the masked figure who remained suspended in the air, making no move to flee.

“……”

“……”

Han Seo Young and Cale…

Their eyes met.

And then…

A smile.

Cale offered a smile and extended a hand.

Wave, wave.

He waved towards the stoic Han Seo Young.

A mystical voice echoed in his mind at that instant.

– Let’s go.

He glanced downward.

Within the record room, now ravaged by explosions and engulfed in flames…

The sole remaining active magic shield shimmered Amidst the inferno…

Alberu, having previously established a teleportation magic circle beneath the shield, nodded towards Cale.

“Time to make our exit.”

After a blatant act of destruction…

An open act of theft…

Followed by an explosive display…

And now, an equally brazen escape.

None of Cale’s companions questioned whether their actions constituted outright theft.

“Bye—”

Cale bid farewell to Han Seo Young, and then…

Drop!

He descended to the ground.

Paaaat!

The teleportation magic circle erupted in a brilliant luminescence just as Alberu deactivated the mana shield.

And thus, Cale and Alberu… along with the pilfered safe…

A total of three entities vanished instantaneously.

This faction, known as ‘Arm,’ had departed, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake.

“…….”

“…….”

Chaos, sheer disbelief, and profound shock… these emotions swept across Roan from the early morning hours.

Ahn Roh Man, upon receiving a belated briefing on the situation, posed a question to Cale:

“Could you not have simply infiltrated the premises discreetly, secured the safe, and departed without such a spectacle?”

Cale’s response was thus:

“The world would have been far too tranquil otherwise.”

“Excuse me?”

“The louder the commotion, the more restricted the Transparent Corporation’s actions will become.”

‘That will make it easier for us to acquire their assets.’

Cale elected not to voice this last thought aloud, yet both Alberu and Rosalyn offered approving nods.

“…….”

Ahn Roh Man remained silent, sensing the unsaid words hanging in the air, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

* * *

Precisely as Cale had foreseen, the world erupted into a frenzy that very morning.

Commencing in Roan and extending across all of Earth 3… a minuscule spark was ignited, destined to escalate into a world-altering event, an incident that would later be remembered as the Transparent © gate incident.

—

Translator's Comments

The Transparent Gate, eh? Perhaps a nod to a certain classified file in the US? Hmmmmmm.