Chapter 89:
Leonard stayed at his desk all day Saturday, handling various tasks and closely monitoring the progress of the SAPPHIRE hunt. Suddenly, a phone rang. He picked up and said, "Yes?"
He immediately recognized the voice of O5-4-A, who had been dispatched to the Middle East: "Sir, I have urgent news. I just emailed you a video of ORIA and their use of a first Eigenweapon."
Leonard's eyes widened. "EIGENWEAPON? OH HELL."
He hung up and opened his inbox:
TO: the administrator@overwatch.scpinet
FROM: o5-4-a1@overwatch.scpinet
SUBJECT: Eigenweapon
Hello, Sir,
A few hours ago, during a battle, ORIA deployed an Eigenweapon called Ifrit. Our units on-site managed to record the confrontation, and the footage was sent to Site-Beth. After analysis, we've confirmed that Ifrit controls flames, can create sandstorms, and has a high resistance to physical damage. Here is the video:
---
Leonard watched the video, witnessing the sheer power of Ifrit. He sighed, grabbed his headset, and spoke: "Graves, in my office."
In an instant, Graves appeared, standing at attention. Leonard turned his screen toward him and replayed the video. Graves watched without a word. Leonard then asked, "How sure are you that you can take it down?"
Graves thought for a few seconds and replied, "Give me three reality benders and five thaumaturgists from Resh-1, and we can destroy it easily." Leonard smiled and said, "Then deploy a Resh-1 team with you and head to the Middle East immediately."
Graves looked concerned. "Boss, your tribulation is in less than 48 hours. I can't leave you behind."
Leonard smiled. "Don't worry about me; go." Graves nodded firmly, "Yes, Boss," and left the room at a run.
Leonard stood up and exited his office. The two Resh-1 operators guarding the door snapped to attention as he passed. Walking through the corridors of Area-01, he noticed each Resh-1 member he encountered saluting him with unwavering respect. Leonard felt a thrill of excitement but kept his expression neutral.
He entered the communications room, filled with screens streaming data from across the Foundation and the world. Leonard spoke, "Display images of Operation 'Diamond Hunt.'" The largest screen at the center of the wall shifted to show multiple feeds and details: captured personnel, gathered intel, and planned actions.
"Mmm… tomorrow is the day of their supposed attack," he murmured. "I hope they manage to stop it."
Leonard exited the room, took the elevator, and ascended to his home. Emerging from the basement, he picked up his radio and said, "I'll be heading out in five minutes. Prepare a foot escort team." Without waiting for a response, he set the headset down on his bed, changed clothes, and stepped out of the house.
As he moved down the street, he noticed the Resh-1 operators, invisible due to their optical cloaking gear, shadowing his movements. Checking his watch, he saw it was 3:00 p.m. He stopped at a café, choosing a seat on the terrace where he ate, quietly observing the streets of Lille. For a moment, he savored the calm, reflecting on the immense pressure he'd been under lately—Foundation business, unending conflicts, and his looming tribulation. He sighed at the thought.
Then, his gaze fell on a group of teenagers. He recognized them from his old high school, and a pang of envy flickered through him as he watched them, living freely and without the weight of his responsibilities. Leonard soon rose and made his way down a deserted alley, walking at an unhurried pace and casually scanning his surroundings.
Leonard paused in front of several closed and abandoned shops. Then, he spotted one store still open, though it looked rundown. Raising an eyebrow, he stepped back to examine it. The storefront was black, the windows coated with dust, and above it, a faded sign read "Walters Furniture," though the word "Furniture" was partially worn off.
A faint whisper from beside him came through his headset: "Sir, this could be an anomaly. It might be wise not to enter." But Leonard only smiled, ignoring the warning, and stepped inside.
To his surprise, the interior was immaculate. The floor gleamed a spotless white, with a pristine false ceiling and plastered white walls. Behind the counter stood a man in his fifties, who greeted him with a warm smile. "Hello, I'm Charles Mason. How may I help you?"
Leonard smiled back politely, "Just browsing."
"Feel free to make yourself at home," the man replied, his smile never faltering.
Leonard strolled around, noticing various unique pieces of furniture. He stopped by a sofa entirely covered in cacti, labeled "Desert's Desire," raising his brows. Continuing, he saw a chair made of smoldering coals and lava titled "Burning Need." Another couch was made entirely of egg cartons, each filled with strange contents. A sense of realization dawned on Leonard, and he quickly exited the store, nodding farewell to the attendant.
Just as he was about to activate his headset, a notification flashed across his eyes:
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for discovering SCP-279-FR. Please contain it.]
He activated his headset and contacted the Area-01 command center. "Send a standard Foundation containment team to the dead end on Rue du Guet in Lille to secure SCP-279-FR."
With his instructions given, Leonard exited the alley, blending seamlessly back into the quiet streets.
---
On a television screen, a journalist appeared holding a microphone, with a police barricade in the background.
"Good afternoon, everyone. This is Érine Voirin reporting live. We're currently at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, where a significant force of police, gendarmes, and military personnel launched an operation on the building behind me earlier today. According to a statement from the Paris police prefecture, the institute is suspected of harboring a major terrorist network believed to be responsible for the recent wave of attacks across Paris, Strasbourg, and Brittany. In an unprecedented move, all branches of French armed forces have come together to track down these terrorists."
As she finished her report, she noticed a high-ranking police officer nearby and quickly approached him. "Hello, I'm a journalist with XXXX news channel. I have a few questions, can you answer them for us?"
The officer's initially stern expression softened as he noticed the camera. He nodded, adjusting his posture slightly.
"Of course," he replied, his tone now calm. "You may ask your questions."
The journalist held the microphone up to him and said, "Officer, could you explain the recent wave of raids and law enforcement operations across France? We've noticed that the majority of these have targeted research-focused institutions."
The officer considered his words, then replied, "Well, we've observed that this terrorist group of atheist extremists is primarily made up of researchers and scientists. As a result, the intelligence services conducted a nationwide investigation and identified several research institutes."
The journalist continued, "But who exactly are they?"
The officer replied, "They are a very dangerous terrorist group, specializing in the use of chemical and biological weapons. Their goal is to eradicate all religions that exist in this world. To achieve this, they do not hesitate to kill anyone who stands in their way."
The journalist said, "They sound terrifying. What actions is the government taking against this group?"
The officer replied, "Today, more than 50% of our forces are focused on eradicating this group. We've received support from several allies to combat and dismant—"
BANG! The TV screen shattered. A man, his weapon pointed at the TV, yelled in fury, "It's all lies! We're here to save humanity from this plague, and they paint us as psychopaths when they're the real lunatics."
Another man pulled the gun from his hands and said, "Calm down, we don't want to get caught ourselves." He unloaded the weapon and handed it back. "Come on, the leader's waiting."
The two men left the room and walked down a hallway. Still seething, the first man asked, "What are our losses?"
The second, keeping his composure, replied, "So far, we've lost the lodges in Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, Lourdes, and Lyon. The lodges in Toulouse and Paris are severely weakened."
The first man kicked a chair in anger and growled, "Ignorant fools, damn France, damn SCP Foundation. I swear, once we've freed humanity, I'll make them all pay."
The second man merely rolled his eyes, stopping in front of a door. "We're here." The first man quickly composed himself, adjusting his attire. They knocked, and a voice from within called, "Enter."
They stepped into an office cluttered with plans and documents. Several figures were gathered around a table, including two teenagers and an adult in tactical gear. The teen standing in the center looked up and asked, "What is it?"
The first man reported, "All the bombs are planted. We're just waiting for tomorrow."
The teenager grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Perfect. Tomorrow, my friends, is our day of glory. It's the day we'll purge those religious fools who poison our world."