T/N: Sorry for the late chap.
Been sleeping since this 7 p.m. Translator san was dead ass tired.
-------------
"Suu, report the situation."
"Boss, we have captured thirteen members of the Chaos Splitters and seized several anomalous items. Additionally, we found this. It should be the key you specifically mentioned."
In the transmitted footage, Suu reported while holding a gold, ornately designed antique key.
It had a distinctly aged appearance.
Suu inserted the key into an electronic lock that was clearly incompatible with it.
However, as the antique key twisted—
With a crisp click, the electronic lock instantly disengaged.
Watching this scene, Haruto raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
The enigmatic and elusive Chaos Splitters, the ones responsible for orchestrating the first containment breach at an SCP Foundation site—
Had been caught just like that?
And the key was in their possession? These people seemed to be high-ranking members of the Insurgency?
That's insane!
"Bring them all back to the site and make sure the key is properly secured."
In the end, Haruto could only instruct Suu accordingly.
Suu nodded and sealed the key inside a specialized containment box. After ending the call, Haruto turned to the girl sitting across from him.
"You've learned some things about the Foundation from the Chaos Splitters, though they clearly twisted the truth to suit their agenda. But the fact remains, the Foundation prioritizes containment and control of anomalies. We can't just let them roam freely. So, you'll likely have to stay at the Foundation site from now on. That sound of high heels clicking out of nowhere can be quite unsettling, after all."
Hearing this, the girl looked somewhat downcast.
However, after a brief moment, she nodded in understanding. This further confirmed that her true nature was kind and considerate.
Previously, she had simply been manipulated by the Chaos Splitters.
Seeing her acceptance, Haruto nodded and prepared to arrange a proper containment chamber for her.
At that moment, the girl hesitantly spoke up.
"Um… could I maybe have some literature books? A completely empty room feels a bit…"
It was clear she had already accepted this temporary containment cell as the standard for her living conditions.
Haruto nodded and added, "The Foundation can provide certain amenities and fulfill reasonable requests. Feel free to ask."
Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Ultimately, Invisible Friend (SCP-126) requested the following:
-Three literature books and five newspapers per week.
-A single bed with a double-thick soft mattress.
-A pink vanity dresser with a small selection of cosmetics. (Although, truthfully, we don't understand who she's putting on makeup for.)
-And, once a month, a private meeting with Haruto.
These requests were easy to fulfill.
The Foundation gladly agreed.
It hardly cost anything at all.
The girl didn't even require three meals a day, she was easier to sustain than Cthulhu.
In fact, given her exceptional literary knowledge and gentle personality, she could even occasionally serve as a psychologist for Foundation personnel.
Constantly dealing with all sorts of bizarre anomalies was mentally exhausting.
At such times, chatting with the girl, discussing literature, could be an excellent way to relieve stress.
As for the final request—meeting with Haruto.
Haruto wasn't surprised by this.
In truth, he might be the only person in this world who could see and physically interact with the girl.
Even though she tried her best not to appear too dependent on him, wanting to avoid being a burden or causing trouble— In the end, loneliness was inevitable.
Just meeting Haruto once a month was enough to make her happy for a long time.
So, he gladly agreed to this condition as well.
After settling her in—
The Mobile Task Force "Black Ball" arrived at the site.
Thirteen Chaos Splitters members were escorted in. Haruto, however, first went to check on the key.
[Skeleton Key (SCP-005), Containment Classification: Safe.]
[This item takes the form of an ornate key capable of unlocking any lock. The origin of this ability is unknown.]
[Note: Pretty handy as a spare house key, isn't it?]
Holding the golden key and reading its containment entry, Haruto nodded.
Yep. Not a fake.
Based purely on its properties, this wasn't some overwhelmingly powerful anomaly. However, its potential for destruction within the Foundation was immense.
Even storing it in a high-security containment area wasn't reassuring.
Haruto decided to carry it with him at all times.
Then, he turned his attention to the thirteen Chaos Splitters.
One by one, he devoured them.
Their memories unfolded in his mind like a vast picture book. Flipping through them briefly, Haruto couldn't help but sneer.
These thirteen weren't just Chaos Splitter members.
They were the Chaos Splitters.
Or rather, according to their memories, the entire organization consisted solely of them.
They were indeed talented individuals.
Take one of them, for example—
A physicist from Waseda University, an elite in a highly specialized field of physics on Earth.
His family also held considerable influence in Japan.
With his talent and background, he had access to knowledge far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
For instance, he had learned of the Foundation's existence.
He had even participated in the Foundation's recruitment tests (alongside Yukinoshita Haruno).
However, due to his arrogance, he failed the very first trial and was immediately eliminated.
After all, the Foundation sought not just talent, but also strong mental fortitude.
Following his rejection, he underwent a memory erasure procedure.
At the time, the Foundation had yet to adopt Black Ball technology and was still using basic D-Class Amnestics.
While his memories were wiped, faint impressions remained.
Just like what had happened with Yukino before.
But unlike Yukino, this man bore a deep resentment toward the Foundation.
He viewed himself as extraordinary, yet the Foundation had dismissed him so effortlessly, wounding his fragile ego.
That was when the Chaos Splitters found him.
He quickly joined them, using his family's resources and personal skills to assist their cause.
Of course, cognitive distortion played a significant role as well.
Although the Splitters leader didn't possess strong mind-altering abilities, the fabricated narrative of the Foundation being a tyrannical dictatorship—
Combined with the physicist's lingering bitterness—
Easily ensnared him.
The other members followed a similar pattern.
Only thirteen people, but they had some real capabilities. Additionally, among them was the supposed leader of the Chaos Splitters.
This surprised Haruto slightly.
However, after devouring the so-called leader, he couldn't help but laugh coldly.
First off, it was just a puppet.
The memories it held seemed complete, but upon closer inspection, there were numerous small logical inconsistencies.
Clearly, this was a carefully fabricated memory, implanted into an empty husk.
According to these false memories, the leader had stumbled upon the Foundation's existence due to family connections and then awakened a power that could alter perception.
However, looking at the technology and anomalous items the Insurgency had used, it was obvious that these thirteen couldn't have developed such things.
Most likely, they had received them from their true leader.
The real mastermind behind the Chaos Splitters wasn't of this world. And now, they had successfully pulled off an escape.
Previously, they must have believed that Invisible Friend (SCP-126) was impossible to capture.
But when Haruto apprehended her on the spot—
The Splitters leader, thinking themselves clever, executed a fake surrender tactic.
They handed over their newly recruited subordinates, a puppet leader, and the Skeleton Key all at once.
A few underlings? They weren't worth keeping if escape was impossible.
A puppet leader? Losing it was no big deal.
As for the Key, since the Foundation now knew about it, its usefulness had diminished. Invisible Friend relied on the Key to infiltrate the Foundation.
Without her, the key's effectiveness was drastically reduced.
And since the Foundation was now aware of its properties, they would undoubtedly take precautions.
Given all this, the key was no longer irreplaceable.
Sacrificing so much—
All to make the Foundation believe they had completely eradicated the Chaos Splitters. This way, the real leader could vanish back into the shadows and continue their schemes.
A solid strategy.
But against Haruto's overwhelmingly unfair methods, it was nothing more than a ridiculous trick, worthy only of mockery.
"He's quite the slippery one, but it's pointless! Maintain global scans—I doubt it'll take long before we catch the real one."
Haruto gave the order.
The Foundation staff nodded and went to make the necessary arrangements.