278: Memory Peeping
"Thank you for coming, Vee-sama. As you can see, it ended up just a minor scratch."
"I'm sorry. I failed to protect Vee-sama, Sata-sama, and Dr. Mizeon."
Before us stand Dr. Mizeon and Mai Seetogoyashi.
Dr. Mizeon has only a minor scratch on her shoulder.
Mai also has similar wounds scattered across her body and is receiving treatment, including being wrapped in bandages by what appears to be an Imperial Army medic.
"First and foremost, it's a miracle you're alive. When I heard about the attack on the Vanilla Sid Mod Research Institute, I couldn't believe it."
Yet, despite saying that, Vilejaniara's eyes were fixed on the documents placed in the room—the evidence showing that the firearms used against Dr. Mizeon and the others were old-fashioned revolvers, not blaster mods, but conventional firearms equipped with shield-piercing mods to fire solid projectiles.
So I carefully examine the documents as well... Ah, yes, now that I look at it closely, the oddities become quite clear.
The shield-piercing mod is indeed applied, yet the bullet's caliber and velocity—both seemingly inferred—are slow, as if deliberately designed not to kill, with careful restraint.
"Dr. Mizeon, and Mai. I'm sorry, but could you both please drink this?"
"Is this it?"
"It smells strange. You mean this?"
"Yes, please. It's something like a new preventive medication, so since it's available, let's use it for testing. Ah, rest assured—it's been thoroughly verified for safety."
"I see. Understood. Then..."
While I furrowed my brow at the matter, Vilijanila skillfully persuaded Doctor Mizeon and Mai to drink the Hekyo Moruly she had rubbed into them.
In addition, I've positioned myself so I can step in front of Viridiana at any moment, while Memocchi and Johariss subtly prepare to subdue the two of them.
"!?"
But it turned out to be an unnecessary worry.
They drank the Heikyo Moreyu with puzzled, strained expressions, fell silent, and then suddenly snapped to attention as if noticing something.
And while it was good that the two hadn't gone wild, I thought their reaction also confirmed that Vilijanila's concerns had been justified.
"Yeah, yeah... I see. That was a close call. Thanks, Vee-sama, Sata."
"Thank you. Vilijanila-sama, Sata-sama. It seems our mental block has been cleared thanks to you."
"Is that so? Then, that's what we're saying, is it?"
"Yeah, I think it's been stolen. I was fixated on one thing in my mind just a moment ago. But I never thought this mod could be used like this... Given that, there might be other troublesome ways it could be used as well."
The enemy... Funaqa's method involved attaching a tiny amount of Magatsuki powder to bullets from a handgun equipped with a shield-piercing mod. By inflicting a wound with such a bullet, the target would be brought under her dominion.
Fortunately, it seemed the amount of Magatsuki powder and the control capability provided by the electronic mod were proportionally related, so she didn't have to resort to brainwashing or forced obedience.
Still, she could guide thoughts and drag out memories.
And since the gathered information could be sent to Magatsuki's main unit... it meant the information had ended up in the hands of Funaka, who was likely to possess the main unit.
"Dr. Mizeon. For clarity, I'd like to confirm—your thoughts were focused on the Vanilla Seed OS Research Institute, correct?"
"That's right. Even I don't understand why I'm so fixated on it, but I kept imagining details like its location and security status."
And the crucial point—the stolen information... was about the Vanilla Seed OS Research Institute.
That means the attackers' objective—something whose location wasn't even certain—was to uncover the whereabouts of the Vanilla Seed OS Research Institute, and they've succeeded perfectly.
"Well, I suppose it might sound odd coming from me... but maybe it's better that they stole the location of the Vanilla Seed OS Research Institute. I mean, I had some other rather clumsy information I wasn't able to disclose."
"...I'd rather not know."
"Good. Just keep it that way."
However, from Dr. Mizuon's words, it becomes clear that using Magatsuki powder allows only limited information to be extracted.
Probably, just as you need to enter keywords when searching something on a search engine, it's necessary to send related words first from the Magatsuki side.
Moreover, when combined with the fact that Mizeon's injury was only a glancing blow thanks to Mai's efforts in shielding him, it's highly likely that the information obtained was both slower and less accurate.
In other words, the information the opponent received was probably only partial.
Additionally, once it becomes clear that information was being gathered from researchers like this, the reason why the researchers sustained only minor injuries will also become apparent.
Probably, they needed them alive for information gathering.
That's why they only gave them minor injuries.
Maybe they planned to use them later as agents... but that's easily dealt with by Hekyo Morely, isn't it?
"Lord Virijanila!"
A soldier from the imperial army suddenly bursts into the room from outside.
Curious, I turn my gaze toward the source...
"The corpse suddenly started moving after we tried to make it drink the liquid provided by Lord Virijanila!!"
"Indeed... as expected..."
If the goal was information gathering, then why were some guards and nearby residents killed?
Because they were in the way?
No, that's not it.
The report from the imperial soldier who just arrived holds the answer.
Application of electronic control mods.
Even with low output, a corpse with no will of its own can still be controlled.
In other words... acquiring combat forces in the form of zombies, just like in old movies.
That's why the security guards and nearby residents were killed.
"Technically possible, yes—but it's extremely unpleasant to actually experience."
"Vee."
"I understand. First, I'll share information with His Highness and the others. We'll discuss things after that."
Vilijanira left the room and headed toward the place where the Prince and the others were located.