326 – The Past (5)
Jitter’s plan was simple, and therefore deadly.
“The way to reveal the existence of time travelers is simple.”
“It’s simple. Explain in detail.”
“It’s a trap that only time travelers can fall into.”
“…What if it’s a trap?”
“The secret warehouse that was originally intended to be built. Now, it’s being used as a trap.”
America’s secret warehouse was supposed to be built. No, in fact, the basic construction had already been completed.
The United States was collecting items from the tower as a nation, and this was not limited to the United States. There was a lot of demand to study items from the tower, and the supply was limited.
The problem was that there was no proper place to store the items purchased in this way. Because they were so expensive, there were even attempts to steal them at the risk of one’s life, and for comparative analysis and research, they had to be in one place. Thus, the warehouse was naturally created.
In order to avoid revealing the absolute location, abandoned bunkers were reused, and the construction itself was mainly made up of automated machines and players. (Jitter originally had long-distance teleportation abilities, and also had inventory abilities. Using the abilities of the two together, it was possible to perform feats that were normally impossible.)
Therefore, there were less than ten people who knew the location of the warehouse. And they were all trustworthy people. It was impossible for the location to be discovered ‘by chance’.
“There are only a limited number of humans who know the location of the warehouse.”
“… That’s right. From procuring materials to the construction process, wasn’t it all handled by you and your subordinates?”
“So, have you ever mentioned the existence of the warehouse to anyone else? Or even hinted at its location?”
“None at all.”
“In conclusion, unless someone has mind control traits or the ability to read other people’s memories, there is no way to know where the warehouse is located. Do you agree?”
“… I agree.”
“Then this plan will succeed.”
Thump. Jitter tapped the table with his finger.
“I’m heading to the secret warehouse right now. The teleporter, the president, and me, no one else but the three of us can know.”
“…What do you plan on doing when you go to the warehouse?”
“I will install cameras and sensors. Please make sure they are of a type that does not make any noise.”
“Oh, I see. What do you plan to do next?”
“I don’t do anything.”
“?”
Jitter’s cold eyes stare piercingly at the President.
“And after some time, I will spread the word to everyone inside who knows the location of the warehouse. That a tremendous treasure has been moved inside that warehouse.”
“It’s the bait.”
“That’s right. It’s a trap to find out if there are any mind-controlling or surveillance-type abilities.”
First, weed out the insiders. The tactic of spreading different information internally to filter out who is a traitor and who is a trustworthy ally has been used from ancient times to the present.
“I understand that there is a dedicated escort player for the President. Is that true?”
“… That’s right.”
“I will keep a separate watch on him and the President. There may be someone with mind control or mimicry abilities. Please understand.”
“… I see. So, what are you going to do after filtering out the insiders?”
“I’ll wait.”
Again, Jitter’s plan was simple. And that’s why it was deadly.
“Wait, and wait.”
“…What’s the point of just waiting?”
“I’ll wait long enough, a month or two before the incident that the President is unaware of, and I’ll spread the word about the warehouse. And I’ll destroy the warehouse.”
“…no way.”
“you’re right.”
Jeter was planning to spread the rumor that ‘there used to be a secret warehouse in the US’. What’s the point of spreading such a rumor after the warehouse has already been destroyed? This is a trap to catch the regressors.
“A normal person would see a completely collapsed warehouse. There is no point in coming to the warehouse at the point where I spread the rumor.”
but.
“But if there is a time traveler, it is different. He can go back in time after hearing the rumor, and so he will come to the warehouse. The point in time that I will put in the rumor. It is impossible for anyone to know about the warehouse, and even if there is a mind control person, it is impossible for them to know. If there is a human being who comes to the warehouse at that point.”
“…”
“He is a regressor.”
The President was silent, both because Jeter’s plan was so radical and because it seemed so likely to succeed.
“… I heard that there is a person with prophecy and fortune telling abilities under you. What will you do if a fortune teller, not a returner, comes?”
“It was a trap from the start. There is no way that it would lead its owner into a trap. And I plan to keep the secret storage empty from the start. There is no way that the trait that leads its owner to treasure would activate incorrectly.”
“…”
“If you’re worried about what happens when things go wrong, that’s okay. I have a plan for when that happens.”
There are no resources required. Oh, and the only thing you need is to build a new secret vault. But that’s nothing.
“… Good.”
The president approved the plan.
**
Mahesh, an Indian. Current President Michael Jeter’s assistant and prophet. (Also acts as secretary, but is not of much help.)
If someone were to ask Mahesh what prophecy is, he would reply, ‘I don’t know.’
Prophecy is not something that comes from a thought process. Mahesh dares to assert that the prophet is more ignorant than anyone else.
Cause? I don’t know. Process? I don’t know that either. All I know is the result.
He is born with a background that is inferior to that of an ordinary person, and his reasoning ability is inferior to that of others. When someone asks him, “Why does this happen?”, he cannot answer. It is because he himself does not know.
But if you ask him, ‘Are you sure this is happening?’ he will nod without a moment’s hesitation. He doesn’t know anything, but that’s why he knows. Because he’s ignorant, he can claim that his claims are ‘certain.’
Is it a process of advanced thinking for wild animals to avoid earthquakes? Is it a result of learning and skill for newborns to swim right after birth? No. It is instinct. And prophets are those who live off instinct. They are the sharpest of all.
“No.”
I could tell because it was Mahesh.
“… Fortune-telling on regressors… is not allowed.”
“You say it’s not possible?”
“Just, no. You can’t know for sure, and there’s no way to know. It’s just ‘blocked.’”
Mahesh’s limited vocabulary was unable to express what he was feeling at the moment. There was only an incomprehensible sense of denial and fear.
“… I think it would be better not to touch the regressor. I don’t think the results will be good.”
“Is that a prophecy?”
“No. It’s just my personal… feeling.”
“Okay then.”
Mahesh’s advice fell on deaf ears. Jeter had no intention of relying on such uncertain feelings, and Mahesh was also unsure of his own intuition.
okay.
It was such a tragedy.
**
Time goes by.
The regressor did not come. The warehouse collapsed. The rumor spread as planned, but the president could not shake the thought that this was a meaningless thing. (Dok Soo-hee did hang around the warehouse on a false date, but Jitter stopped her.)
Eventually, as time passed and monsters appeared, Jitter killed the dragon, and the world changed, the warehouse remained the same. It was still in a destroyed state.
“…Do regressors not exist?”
“I don’t know. It might be before the regression. It might not be.”
“You… haha. I wish you were always so cool-headed.”
To add credibility to the secret vault, the president has recently reduced his use of books for public interest reasons, which has led to a somewhat weaker response when the monster appears, and a reduced political base as a result, but for now, he is staying put because Jeter and the president had a plan agreed upon in advance.
“So, the plan is…”
“I will do it.”
“Good.”
The current president’s public opinion is the worst. The number of people who died because of monsters is countless. When disaster strikes, people tend to curse the leader, and the current leader is the president.
But if everything goes according to plan, the approval rating will recover quickly. It is inevitable that there will be some regrets, but since it has already been decided, Jitter will follow along without complaint.
The task is set. Now just do it. There’s no need to think about it.
“…”
But Jitter is still human, so that too was questionable.
Indeed. Is this the time before the regressor regresses? Or is there no such thing as a regressor? I thought there would definitely be a regressor. Was he wrong?
I don’t know. But he has a set job to do. He just does what he has to do…
So it seemed like America was changing, with the president falling and Jeter taking power.
but.
“To stop the monsters, we have to become stronger.”
Time goes backwards.
As always.