Chapter 82

Chapter 82

I took a deep breath and exhaled as I glanced at Yoo Geum-yi lying on the long bench. I wanted to go to the bathroom to check my busted face and aching side myself, but I couldnt possibly leave Yoo Geum-yi alone here. I decided to go once Lee Jihyun and Kim Ga-young returned, and waited for them to come back.

I didnt want to risk separating the girls with so many unfamiliar men around. No matter how decent someone seems, you never know when or how a crime might occur. This man named Kanu could be showing kindness only to me.

I was in the midst of scraping together what little vigilance I had in my head, which had rarely been activated before. Kanu, who had been trying to stop the bleeding from my forehead, was a rather cheerful man in his 40s. As he chattered about his major, research field, and lab, he asked me,

Whats your name?

Park Moohyun.

Where are you guys from?

Uh

I wondered if it was okay to reveal that we could get out of the research center through the South District. They could be desperate to leave the research center like that Arthur Goodman guy. Seeing that I didnt seem to want to talk, Kanu said,

Then ask me what youre curious about first. Ill tell you as much as I know.

Why didnt you escape?

Oh, well, its already been revealed anyway. Im terminally ill, so I gave up my escape pod to someone else. My brain is very special, you see.

Kanu pointed to his head and made a light tapping sound with his fingertips. Then he frowned, perhaps due to a headache, and held the area around his forehead for a moment. I watched him endure the unavoidable pain and slowly asked,

Surgery wont help?

Its already spread a lot, and they said I might lose my memory if I have surgery, so I refused. Ill just research until I die.

Im sorry to hear that. What about the others? I thought there would be more people here.

There are only about 10 people left now. I was a bit late getting to the escape pods because of severe dizziness, and at that time, Bel Oh, Bel is Belial Riley, the director of this Seabed Pollution Center. He was handling the chaos of people trying to take each others escape pods. He sent out the teenage researchers first.

Teenagers? Teenagers? Minors arent allowed in the underwater base, right? I asked Kanu in surprise,Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates

There are researchers that young? Theyre minors.

You know, there are kids whose brains are a bit different. They can do even the most complex calculations in their heads, memorize a 300-page book in just 5 minutes, and instinctively grasp CD without even learning AB. Those kinds of geniuses, like a new human race created by humanity.

Ah, there were kids like that. Ive seen exactly one in my life. I first learned that there were separate education centers for the gifted in our country because of that kid. Usually, we would eat ice cream together, play games, watch TV, and kick a soccer ball around, so I had no idea his brain was so extraordinary. He said he was doing research somewhere.

Are you a doctor?

Kanu was smiling with his whole face, even though I was pressing a towel against my right eye and could only see through my left. I shook my head right away.

No, Im a dentist.

Please quickly recognize my uselessness.

Ah, youre the new dentist who came this time. The Deep Black, was it?

I laughed at Kanus words. Laughing made my busted lips hurt. My cheeks and the corners of my eyes hurt too. How did I get hit in the face? I licked my lips and my completely torn-up mouth with my tongue and corrected the name of my dental clinic.

Its Deep Blue. I feel so wronged. Ive only been here for 5 days, and this happened. This place is really a mess.

I think so too. Im a senior researcher, but Im about to quit soon.

Kanu held out his fist to me in a friendly manner, so I held out my fist as well. The two fists collided weakly and fell apart. I touched my side and let out a low groan. Lets not touch it. This is the first time Ive been beaten up like this. Biting my lip at the pain that sharply rose, I said,

If the injuries are mostly around the face, I can somehow take a look.

We should do something about your face, kid.

Kanu circled his finger around my face and said,

Who did you get hit by? Seeing that the girls faces are fine, it seems like you fought, but thats what a man should do.

I think theres a huge misunderstanding. How busted is my face for him to say something like that? Ive never hit anyone before today. Ive never been hit either. And if were talking about the extent of injuries, Yoo Geum-yi and Lee Jihyun, who were hit with an iron chair, would be worse. I cant even imagine how much Kim Ga-young injured her hands while pouring hydrochloric acid in the dark without being able to see properly.

Im ashamed to say I didnt do much. The reason I made it here is because those people fought more fiercely than I was hit.

Yoo Geum-yi, who had been lying down, faintly groaned, holding her lower back. Hearing that voice, I asked Kanu,

Do you happen to have any medicine here?

I have painkillers, and there should be a few in the other offices too.

I suppose you dont have eperisone hydrochloride or aceclofenac? Or just regular disinfectant. Cold medicine, or if all else fails, bandages. Even mouthwash.

Looking at Kanus face, I hurriedly changed my question. Surely there would be at least one in the lab, right? Hey researchers, you brush your teeth, dont you?