While Clare was introducing herself to the captain and explaining what had happened to her, I went over the situation in my head once more.
It seemed that New World had found their way into positions of power in more countries than just Russia and America. But I couldn’t understand why so many people would cooperate with New World despite the obvious risks. There was no benefit to doing so.
“Clare, how does New World reward their collaborators?” I asked.
“With money and anti-aging drugs.”
“You mean...”
“Yes. New World has developed a drug similar to the one Noa developed for the sake of living on G-88. But New World found a different use for it.”
Information about the drug described how it stopped time within the body. But the drug could only suppress aging; it couldn’t be stopped completely. And having to take such a drug continuously made it potentially harmful.
As I was thinking it over, Clare stopped working at her terminal and turned to look at me. “Kouki, New World’s technology, scientific knowledge, and personnel could be on the same level as Noa’s,” she said solemnly. “The difference is that none of our people are so sly or deceptive.”
“Noa’s fight won’t be over until you’ve defeated New World,” the captain added.
Clare smiled and corrected her. “Captain Yulia, aren’t you on Noa’s side? You should call it ‘our fight.’”
“You’re right. And we can’t afford to lose. What’ll we do? Right now, my subordinates are using delay tactics against the enemy to give Arakawa a chance to escape. But now you’re telling me that the extraction team we expected might include assassins from New World...”
“You’re right,” Clare said. “We need to change our plans. I think we can break through the forces encircling the old city by heading north through the underground passage that I used to get here. To pull it off, we’ll need to withdraw from each area simultaneously. It’ll be hard to determine the best timing without knowing what’s happening overhead.”
While the two of them were holding a strategy meeting, I suddenly had a realization about Clare’s story. She’d been constantly on the move, and hadn’t told the extraction team or research team that I was safe. That meant that New World might not be aware that Clare was still alive.
“Clare, do you think New World knows that you’re alive?” I asked.
“Good question... I don’t think they know. I’ll need to make contact with some people before we escape, so they’ll find out then. Captain, the equipment we have is...”
They really don’t know, I realized. What if I died here...? What if we tricked New World into thinking I died here? What would they do? If their objective is to kill me, perhaps they’ll show their hand once they think they’ve succeeded. If we just knew what their objectives were, we could make plans to stop them... or at least my mom could make plans.
“Captain, is there somewhere safe where we can find supplies?” I asked. “It doesn’t matter how far away it is.”
“Hm... There’s a secret base in Chelyabinsk, Ural. Our allies in the National Security Unit control it, so I think it’s safe. Lieutenant Colonel, I’m sorry. If my soldiers die in battle, I can live with that, but I can’t deliberately sacrifice...”
It’s about 1,900 kilometers from Old Moscow to Chelyabinsk... If we can get onto Highway M5, it should be easy to get there, I reflected. First, we need to cause confusion to give us time to move. Me dying would be the most effective thing. This world is always misunderstanding me. For once, I should deliberately spread a misunderstanding throughout the world myself.
“Could I make a suggestion?” I asked. “I’ve got an idea.”
I waited for both of them to stop their discussion and look at me.
“Right now, we don’t fully understand New World’s intentions,” I said. “Allowing them to achieve their first primary objective could give us a chance to learn their true intentions. Let’s make it appear that everyone including me died in this battle, and then we’ll retreat to Chelyabinsk.”
“I see,” Clare said thoughtfully. “We’ll watch how New World acts after we’ve all died, and then use that to determine their intentions?”
“Right.”
“But how would they be sure that you’ve died in battle?” Captain Yulia asked. “We don’t have time to be dressing up corpses.”
“A while ago, you set off explosives within the subway station to slow down the enemy, right? Let’s set off all of our remaining explosives next time they attack. We can make this whole area cave in. They’ll be fairly sure that we’re dead, but the extraction team will definitely dig through the rubble to find our bodies. I’m sure the Russian government will also have the fire department, police department, and the military dig through the rubble so that my body can be returned to my mother.”
“So we’ll buy some time, and we’ll limit their movement at the same time,” Captain Yulia said. “Before the search even begins, the Russian military and the extraction team will have to fight New World. It’ll be total chaos. I didn’t realize there was such a devious mind behind that cute face of yours. I guess this is why they call you the demon child.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Well, what do you think?”
I thought it was the best plan we had, but the final decision would be up to Clare and the captain.
“This could work,” Captain Yulia said.
“I think it will work,” Clare agreed. “But I have one question.”
Clare was looking at me sternly.
I know... I know. I’m worried about that myself, but we’ll just have to believe in her.
“What about Miki?” Clare demanded. “Do you think she’ll stay calm if she learns you’ve died?”
“I’m sure she’ll continue to believe I’m alive until the body has been found and DNA tested. During the Arakawa particle incident, she never stopped believing I was still alive.”
“Very well,” said Clare. “We’ll consider this an acceptable level of uncertainty. Now, Captain, let’s begin planning our response to the next attack. Be ready to send word to your subordinates when the time comes.”
“Understood.”
As I watched the two of them hastily figure out the details of our strategy, my thoughts turned to my family and friends.
I’m sure a genius like Mom will see through my plan. She’ll know what to do. And I know Macho Man will stay calm and remain ready to sortie at any time. But what about Shingo and Aikawa? They’ll worry about me. And Alice... I’m sure she’ll cry.