novelnext Chapter 265 : Project Nightfall
Chapter 265 : Project Nightfall
Searching for Peter Jones...Search Results: 52
Since Trinity Academy had produced countless graduates over the years, there were naturally many people with the same name, Peter Jones.
In fact, fifty-two was actually fewer than expected.
Both "Peter" and "Jones" were incredibly common names in New Valhalla City.
There was no choice but to examine the records one by one and compare them.
He opened the first Peter Jones file.
The moment he did, he couldn't help frowning.
“Damn……”
The report contained such an enormous amount of information that it was hard to believe it all belonged to a single person.
Of course, the problem wasn't the volume.
It was the contents.
Place of origin.
Age.
Activity records.
Those were merely the basics.
DNA mapping.
Relationships.
Hobbies.
Past history.
Everyday behavior.
Thoughts and beliefs.
Medical history.
Internet search history...
It even contained information that intruded into areas touching upon a person's very dignity.
‘Disgusting.’
Judging by everything...
The data had been gathered through CCTV cameras and hidden cameras installed throughout the Academy.
Maria had claimed this level of data collection was "absolutely necessary."
Lexus couldn't understand it.
No matter how he looked at it...
This went far beyond invading someone's privacy.
Seriously...
If he'd been an Academy student and learned someone had been collecting information about him like this...
He would've bitten through his tongue and killed himself.
Filthy corporate bastards.
He had no idea who started this practice...
But it disgusted him beyond words.
And knowing that Maria and Aaron had been fully aware of a place like this while doing nothing about it left him deeply disappointed.
‘I'd started thinking they were decent people too.’
He muttered that only briefly.
Remembering why he'd come here...
Lexus resumed searching through Peter Jones' records.
Soon enough...
He found the Peter Jones he had been looking for.
‘Let's see…….’
Name: Peter Jones
Age: 20 (Estimated)
Gender: Male
Place of Origin: Fallen Sector
Department: Tactical Combat Department, Second Year
Affiliated Corporation: Stingray Foundation
The basic personal information wasn't particularly worth examining.
After that...
The records detailed every aspect of his Academy life.
Because he came from the Fallen Sector, he failed to establish broad friendships.
His classmates appeared to intentionally ostracize and exclude him.
However, he seemed accustomed to such treatment and did not actively resist, responding maturely even when subjected to bullying and harassment.
Perhaps because of that composure, his relationships steadily improved over time.
His exceptional combat ability and outstanding instincts particularly stood out during various classes and training exercises.
As a result, despite his origins in the Fallen Sector, multiple corporations showed interest in recruiting him.
His relationships with fellow students appear to have improved significantly around the second semester.
His combat abilities are especially exceptional in close-quarters combat, particularly martial arts, and he also possesses talent for infiltration and stealth.
He demonstrates remarkable compatibility with various modules and shows little rejection toward Cyberware.
Few personal connections due to his Fallen Sector background.
Has a younger sister unrelated by blood.
Requires evaluation regarding suitability for operational participation.
“So he was an honor student here too.”
Just like before, he'd been bullied because he came from the Fallen Sector.
But before long...
He'd proven his abilities and earned everyone's recognition.
He was probably the kind of person who naturally commanded respect without aggressively asserting himself.
Still...
One thing caught Lexus' attention.
“Operational participation?”
What operation were they talking about?
Since the current page offered no explanation, Lexus flipped to the next.
Investigation suggests this student was connected to the Everheart Couple Robbery-Murder Case.
Following the incident, it appears he resolved to personally raise the Everheart Couple's daughter due to overwhelming shock and guilt.
Unfortunately, no direct evidence connecting him to the incident was discovered.
However, he appears to possess an overwhelming sense of responsibility toward his younger sister.
Initial observation reports concluded that the student displayed an unusual obsession with money, but the true cause appears to be his sense of responsibility toward his younger sister.
No matter how unreasonable the order, he readily accepts it whenever his younger sister is mentioned.
Furthermore, likely due to his upbringing, his moral values are severely distorted.
He displays little resistance toward crimes, including murder.
He also possesses exceptional ability at concealing those distorted morals from others.
Determined to be suitable for operational participation.
“……There's that operation again.”
Judging from the report...
Whoever had written it intended to exploit PJ's guilt toward Iri in order to recruit him into some kind of operation.
Lexus continued searching through the files, trying to discover exactly what this "operation" referred to.
Finally...
He found something that appeared significant.
Project N81191, "Nightfall."
Overview: Fallen Sector District 391 Purge Operation.
Details:
As part of the city's recent expansion plans, redevelopment of the District 391 landfill area within the Fallen Sector has been approved.
However, severe opposition from local residents and human rights organizations has raised concerns that the contract with [REDACTED] may not be fulfilled.
[REDACTED] requested that Stingray eliminate the residents and members of the human rights organizations to ensure fulfillment of the contract.
Stingray refused, stating that it could no longer afford additional losses.
In response, [REDACTED] proposed an alternative.
Instead of headquarters personnel, they requested that Trinity Academy Scholarship Students be provided as combat personnel.
After Stingray rejected the proposal once again...
[REDACTED] requested that only students who volunteered participate in the operation.
“Those bastards……”
Lexus cursed aloud.
Simply put...
This operation known as Nightfall...
Was a massacre.
Someone contracted with the Stingray Group had repeatedly demanded combat personnel to eliminate everyone obstructing the redevelopment project.
Stingray repeatedly refused...
Before finally giving in.
Stingray handed over its scholarship student records, allowing [REDACTED] to freely select students.
Naturally...
[REDACTED] specifically targeted those with nowhere to turn...
Or those burdened by serious weaknesses.
And of course...
Peter Jones was among them.
Almost entranced, Lexus continued reading.
Before long...
He had finished every document.
“……Since it'd be obvious humans were responsible if conventional weapons were used... they deliberately drew Mystics into it.”
They lured monsters from afar...
Then unleashed them upon the residents instead.
If that was the case...
Could PJ have died during the operation?
Perhaps while luring the monsters...
Or while releasing them into the Fallen Sector...
Had he lost his life?
That was what Lexus initially thought.
But his prediction proved wrong.
According to the report...
Operation Nightfall had been completed successfully...
Without a single casualty among the participants.
Furthermore...
There were records showing Peter Jones continuing to attend classes and training afterward.
His prediction had been mistaken.
However...
It hadn't been entirely wrong.
Because beginning with the reports written after Operation Nightfall...
The following observations appeared.
Operation Nightfall appears to have had a significant psychological impact upon the student.
His grades in every subject have declined by approximately fifteen percent.
He is frequently observed staring blankly into space while eating or showering.
Following a routine Mentalist examination...
A parasitic-class Mystic was discovered within his brain.
After comparing the anticipated treatment costs against the student's projected value...
It has been determined that the cost is excessive.
As a result, terminate the student's contract and...
“Ah……”
Unable to stop himself...
Lexus let out a sorrowful sigh.
The story was simple.
Stingray had lent Peter Jones to [REDACTED] for Operation Nightfall.
During that operation...
He became infected by a brain-devouring parasite.
And Stingray decided he wasn't worth the cost of treatment...
So they planned to discard him.
Then...
Everything went wrong.
“……Attacked Aaron Stingray.”
Peter Jones, furious over the termination of his contract, attacked Chairman Aaron Stingray.
The sane Peter Jones never would've done such a thing.
But by then...
He had already been suffering from delusions and paranoia caused by the parasite.
Nowadays...
Everyone openly knew Aaron Stingray was a high-level Adaptee.
Apparently...
Back then, the students hadn't known.
Attached to the report was Peter Jones' diary, written after he became infected.
A parasite?
That's ridiculous!
My mind is perfectly fine!
This is all part of Stingray's scheme!
Even now, the Stingray Group continues sucking the lifeblood from countless poor people while swelling its grotesque body larger and larger.
The citizens are slowly being crushed beneath that mountain of flesh until they can no longer breathe.
So wouldn't eliminating one such disgusting person benefit society?
If staining my own hands with blood makes the world a better place to live...
Then so be it.
Remember me, Iri.
I'll change this world for you.
The date on that entry...
Was the day before Peter Jones attacked Aaron Stingray.
Naturally...
The attempt failed.
Peter Jones couldn't inflict even a scratch upon Aaron Stingray before being subdued.
Moreover...
The intense heat generated during the battle accelerated the parasite's invasion of his brain.
“There's... nothing after that.”
The report only briefly described Peter Jones attacking Aaron.
There was absolutely no mention of what Aaron had done with him afterward.
No traces remained within the database.
There was no way to determine whether the records had been intentionally deleted...
Or simply never written in the first place.
“……”
There was still no conclusion.
If he wanted the missing piece...
He'd have to speak with Maria again.
Quietly shutting down the terminal, Lexus left the archive.
Returning to the office, he requested another meeting with Maria.
Despite her busy schedule...
She agreed immediately.
“Have you finished reading everything?”
“I came because I want to know what happened next.”
Lexus asked,
“So...”
“What did His Highness the Crown Prince do with PJ?”
“Must you know?”
“……That's what the client hired me to find out.”
“……I see.”
Maria closed her eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then she finally spoke.
“To tell you only the conclusion...”
“He's alive.”
“H-He's alive!?”
Maria nodded.
“Though...”
“I'm not sure whether what he has now can truly be called 'alive.'”