I created a foundation

They looked at each other almost at the same time and saw the same message in each other's eyes.

confidential……

The Foundation is on maximum alert... and top-secret intelligence regarding the Chairman's movements...

Very likely……

Being heard by an "outsider" whom they had always habitually ignored!

Chapter 58 Please Come with Us

Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her beautiful almond-shaped eyes slightly and looked in the direction of Yotsuya Miko's finger.

Eriri also stopped biting her nails and looked in the direction of the sound with some impatience.

The entrance to the deep archives in Area B in the command hall is usually not noticed by anyone because of insufficient light and the fact that it is not a core area.

At this moment, there was indeed a figure standing there quietly.

A young girl wearing the light grey librarian uniform most common in the Foundation's logistics department was pushing a small metal filing cart piled with several documents.

Her movements were gentle and made almost no sound.

Her expression was calm, even with a hint of indifference, as if she was out of the matter.

It's Kato Megumi.

This name, along with the almost negligible impression associated with it, appeared in the minds of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri almost at the same time.

Then, a feeling of astonishment, even stronger than when Yotsuya Miko exclaimed just now, ran through their backs like an electric current.

They... didn't even remember when Kato Megumi appeared there.

It was as if this girl appeared out of thin air.

Or to be more precise, in their subconscious, that corner seems to have always been... empty.

At this moment, Kato Megumi herself stopped pushing the file cart, and the metal wheels made a slight friction sound on the smooth floor.

She tilted her head slightly, with just the right hint of barely perceptible confusion in her eyes, and looked at Yotsuya Miko, who was pointing at her with an expression of disbelief.

Then, her gaze calmly turned to Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, who also looked confused and bewildered.

This is the first time 19.

This was the first time since she could remember that someone could "locate" her existence so clearly and accurately from such a long distance, without any deliberate search or attention.

Her innate, almost "rule-like" ability to blend seamlessly into any environment and remain unnoticed by anyone...

In front of this girl of the same grade who always seemed timid and easily frightened...

It actually... completely failed.

The look of surprise and doubt on Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri's faces faded away quickly like the tide, and was replaced by a sudden solidified seriousness and vigilance.

They looked at each other almost at the same time.

There was no need for words, the tacit understanding cultivated over the years allowed them to instantly read the same message from each other's eyes.

confidential.

The highest level of alert within the Foundation.

The chairman personally went to Izu to fight against the top secret information of the "Deep Sea King", a "Ghost"-level disaster.

This information, which was enough to cause a sensation, was very likely... no, almost 100% heard by an "outsider" whom they habitually ignored.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath, and the slightly lazy attitude that had been caused by monitoring the battle situation in Izu disappeared instantly.

Her eyes became as sharp as a knife, and she exuded an oppressive aura of a superior.

Eriri also put away her usual tsundere attitude, her golden twintails seemed to be stretched tight, and her little face was full of solemnity.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

"Kato-san."

Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke first, her voice calm and without a trace of emotion, like a piece of polished ice.

She walked slowly forward, and she and Eriri stood on both sides, vaguely surrounding Kato Megumi next to the file cart.

"You seem to have heard something you shouldn't have."

Ying Lili didn't say anything, but silently took out a baseball bat that was shining with cold metallic light from a spare equipment rack next to her.

She weighed the baseball bat in her fair hands, neither lightly nor heavily, making a dull "whooshing" sound. Her eyes also became a little fierce, trying to create enough deterrence.

This is the Foundation's standard procedure for handling similar incidents. It is simple, efficient, and has been tested many times in practice.

"So, now you have two choices."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice remained steady, but every word she said was filled with unquestionable determination.

"One, accept our kind help and undergo a small memory-clearing operation. Forget everything you heard and saw here today and return to your peaceful daily life."

Her eyes fell on Kato Megumi's overly calm face and continued.

"Second, join us and become one of us. Of course, this requires passing a series of rigorous assessments and reviews."

After she finished speaking, she stopped talking and waited for the other party's answer.

In the past, faced with such situations, the vast majority of "lucky" witnesses, after the initial shock and fear, would wisely choose the former under the dual pressure of the powerful aura of Foundation members and the "physical persuasion tools."

Only a few with special talents or who demonstrate sufficient value will be considered for admission.

However, the reaction of Kato Megumi in front of them was completely beyond the expectations of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri.

Faced with this scene that could be called a "trial", Kato Megumi's expression remained calm, as if what they were discussing was not some leaked secrets or life choices, but something as simple as what to eat for lunch today.

She first glanced at the metal baseball bat in Eriri's hand, which exuded a dangerous aura. There was no fear in her eyes, but rather it was as if she was evaluating a work of art.

"Sawamura-senpai."

Kato Megumi spoke in her unique, calm tone.

"This prop... doesn't it appear a bit too often in your daily work?"

Eriri's grip on the baseball bat suddenly froze, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

"You, what are you talking about! This is standard equipment!"

She retorted somewhat angrily, but her confidence was clearly lacking.

Ever since Chairman Lin Qing used it to cause "physical amnesia" to Eriri herself, this baseball bat seems to have become a...symbolic prop for the foundation to deal with similar incidents.

Although there are more professional technical means to clear memory in actual operations, taking out a baseball bat always has an inexplicable deterrent effect.

At least, that's how it used to be.

Kato Megumi ignored Eriri's explanation. She turned her gaze to Kasumigaoka Utaha and answered seriously.

"Kasumigaoka-senpai, regarding your proposal."

"First of all, I don't have any special interest in things like amnesia."

Her eyes seemed to flick back and forth between Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, as if trying to confirm if they had heard clearly.

"Secondly, although I understand that everyone might be very involved and enthusiastic..."

She paused, as if choosing her words.

"But I don't have much desire to join a role-playing club for now."

"puff--"

Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha has extraordinary composure, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly when she heard the description of "a role-playing club".

Eriri almost threw the baseball bat in her hand.

"Role-playing club?!"

The blonde girl's voice rose an octave, filled with disbelief and offended anger.

"You, you take our great SCP Foundation... for what?! We are maintaining world peace! We are containing anomalies! We are protecting ignorant humans!"

She brandished a baseball bat, trying to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, but she looked more like a little girl who was furious after her middle school fantasy was punctured.

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised her hand and held down the shoulder of Eriri, who was about to go berserk. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her tone again.

"Kato-san, I think you may have some...slight misunderstandings about what we are doing and the situation you are in."

She tried to correct Kato Megumi's perception using more serious words.

"We're not role-playing. Everything you've heard about the Deep Sea King, the disaster on Izu, and the Foundation's actions, all really happened."

"And you, as an ordinary student, accidentally heard these S-level secrets that you were not supposed to know."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes became sharper.

"According to regulations, we must ensure that this information is not leaked through you, causing unnecessary panic or even leading to more serious catastrophic consequences."

Her words were powerful, and every word carried the authority and responsibility given to her by the foundation.

If it were anyone else, they would have been suffocated by this momentum by now, and would either be begging for mercy in tears or be frightened into incoherence.

But Kato Megumi just listened quietly, her expression still as calm as a still pond.

She nodded, as if to indicate that she understood the logic behind Kasumigaoka Utaha's words.

"Well, that does sound serious."

She spoke in a calm tone as if she were discussing the weather.

"So, what Kasumigaoka-senpai means is that if I don't choose to lose my memory and join your... well, this sounds powerful organization, I will be regarded as a potential

The source of the information leak was then dealt with, right?"

Her tone was so calm, as if she was stating a fact that had nothing to do with her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri were once again choked by her words.

They found that all the carefully prepared threats and the tense atmosphere they tried to create seemed so pale and powerless in front of this stubborn girl who seemed to come from another dimension.

She was neither afraid nor excited, and she didn't even show the slightest bit of nervousness.