The command center on the lowest level of the Hakone base was located 1,500 meters underground. There was only one entrance to the base, and that was protected by three-meters-thick blast doors made of a special-purpose metal. Even if all functions of the Hakone base were to fail, we could still survive in here for half a year. And deep inside the base, there was the gate that connected to G-88. You could call this base our last bastion.
“The entrance to the base has been completely sealed from inside,” an operator in the command center informed me. “It can only be operated by manual commands input from the command center.”
“Very good.” I nodded curtly.
I listened to the other operators as they gave me their reports, and re-entered the authorization code into the main terminal so that I could resume receiving audio from Anton. This time we were using a reconnaissance satellite belonging to Noa. That would allow us to know more about the target location.
“Don’t forget. Our target is Anton Bortkiewicz, a former member of a special operations unit attached to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s intelligence agency. The man is a true professional who I’ve trusted with the safety of my child. If we’re careless, we’ll lose him.”
This seemed to put the personnel in the command center on edge. The speed of their movements increased as they worked their terminals.
It’s about time I told Kouki and Shingo about Anton’s responsibilities, I decided.
I turned around to face the area where the two of them were sitting around, and saw that they were helping themselves to coffee from the coffee machine while laughing about something.
“Buh hee. Didn’t I tell you? I knew that Baldy— I forgot his real name...”
“Anton Bortkiewicz.”
“Right! I knew that Anton was a counter agent.”
“All of your guesses about him were on target,” Kouki grinned. “But do you really believe somebody like him would betray us? I know he has a bit of a thing for little girls, but—”
“Shh! Kouki! Keep your voice down.”
It looks like the boys have reached their own conclusions, but did I just hear that correctly? Anton likes little girls? I’ve made sure that the security personnel dealing directly with Alice and Aikawa are all female, so maybe I don’t have to be too worried... Come to think of it, I do remember him looking at some of the smaller female officers a little strangely.
“Satellite ready,” an operator informed me. “The satellite is able to observe the target area for two hours as it passes overhead. Additionally, we have temporary access to a spy satellite belonging to the United Nations. This will allow us to observe the area for a total of five hours.”
“What?! Oh. Th-Thank you, that’s great. Please express my gratitude to the UN for their cooperation.”
I got a little sidetracked there. I’ll have to look into his interest in little girls later. Right now, I need to know why he’s in Russia. The most likely explanation is that he entered the country to obtain information from a source himself. But that’s something he’s done many times before, and he’s always informed us of his intentions beforehand. The next most likely explanation is that he obtained information about a plot to assassinate Kouki, and now he’s dealing with the matter personally.
“Though that doesn’t seem too likely, either...” I murmured.
Judging by the satellite image, he’s not particularly well-armed. There’s also no way he could learn the location of an enemy’s base in a foreign country without support from our intelligence department. So the only other possibility is that he intends to sell information about Noa. If that’s the case, it’s the trust that the boys have in him that’s going to be most damaged.
I prayed that I was wrong and continued to watch the satellite image displayed on the large display.
Finally, Anton began to move.
“The target has entered a building,” an operator told me.
“Turn up the microphone! I want to hear absolutely everything.”
“Understood.”
Everyone was holding their breath as they silently listened to the sound picked up by his terminal. There was the sound of Anton walking across a wooden floor and then the creak of the door opening.
“Long time no see, Anton.” The voice we heard belonged to a man speaking in Russian. Judging by the pleased tone of his voice, this was someone who knew Anton quite well.
“Long time indeed. Five years, was it?”
“Roughly. Did you get the data I sent?”
“Yes, but what do you want from me?” Anton asked. “I can’t help you now, and I won’t risk causing him trouble.”
Data? This man must have sent something to Anton’s terminal. I quietly instructed a staff member beside me to have all data be transmitted via a Noa server so we could inspect it. Then I went back to listening to the two men talk.
“I never said we’d be causing trouble for Arakawa. I’m simply saying we can use him as a source of intelligence. You’re his protector. There’s enough trust between you and that monster to— Oh, don’t point your gun at me. I thought you were a more reasonable man.”
“Don’t ever call him a monster,” Anton growled. “That boy is my comrade. Insult him again, and I’ll make you regret it.”
It’s clear from the conversation that he’s willing to draw his weapon to defend Kouki’s reputation. If this isn’t a betrayal, then why is Anton in Russia? I looked over at Kouki and saw that he looked just as confused as me. All we can do is keep listening to their conversation.
“Whatever you say, Anton. But the army has taken Captain Yulia into custody. We need you.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. Why else would I return to Russia after defecting? If the government finds me, I’ll be killed.”
“I’m glad you came,” the man said. “Take a look at this.”
“Is this a memory chip?” Anton asked. “It looks like an old one.”
“It’s old, but all of the data is recorded on here. Take your time looking through it. This is how the Alice Project and the New World Project began.”
Alice Project? I thought, startled. We’ve been frantic in our attempts to learn more about that project. Why would this man have all the data? We can’t let Kouki hear about this! Why isn’t Shuuichi here?! I need him to hold back Kouki at times like this. Shuuichi, please, hurry!
Everyone in the command center was sneaking glances at Kouki, expecting him to fly into a rage. But Kouki simply folded his arms and appeared to be deep in thought.
After a few minutes he suddenly said, “Mom, if we can hear what they’re saying, shouldn’t it be possible for us to transmit our voice to them?”
“Yes, it’s possible.”
“In that case, let’s help out Anton. I know you’ve been looking into the Alice Project because I saw reports that Dad left out in his room. Anton has the information that you want, and what I want is to keep Anton safe and help him out. The man he’s talking to must be looking for Captain Yulia. We should offer them our support.”
Shuuichi really is a brainless gorilla! Why would he leave something so important where Kouki would see it?! I was furious. I’m glad that it’s made Kouki calmer about the situation, but I’ll have to teach Shuuichi about his management responsibilities...
“It’s difficult to offer them support if the army is involved,” I said. “If we’re going to negotiate, we’ll need to talk to the Russian government. But we don’t have any bargaining chips we can use.”
“No, I think we do. I’ll need your help, but I can prepare bargaining chips. Before that, we need to see what data Anton is carrying.”
“What bargaining chips?” I asked.
“The precise location of a large, undiscovered diamond deposit located on Russian territory. Details of government involvement in an assassination plot using radioactive polonium-210. Free distribution rights for Noa’s satellite broadcasts.”
If we have bargaining chips like those, negotiation will be possible. I was floored. It might even put us in an advantageous position. I know I’m always asking myself this, but how could Kouki know these things? Did he research in advance after predicting that this situation would arise? I don’t want to believe that. If I accept the idea, it would mean that Kouki really can see into the future.