Chapter 674: Purging the Foundation's

【File? -010】

Deep within the hidden reaches of the Foundation, in an underground fortress unknown to any outsider, lies the true location of the Overseer Council.

This is the brain and heart of the Foundation.

The entire structure is hidden, secure, and insured, safer even than the underground fortress of the American Great Leader.

The main structure is composed of reinforced concrete with embedded lead plates, and each sector has independent energy, air circulation, water circulation, and carbon circulation systems.

And the conference room, as the only place where all O5s will be present, has protection that is the top priority.

Not only have the aforementioned protection levels been upgraded, but Mobile Task Force agents are stationed outside the door, and even the main gate uses composite armor that has not yet been popularized in the current world.

Carved above the door is the Foundation's emblem, the initials of "Control," "Contain," "Protect"—S·C·P.

"Click, click, click!"

The overhead lights in the conference room turn on one by one, illuminating everything in the room.

The furnishings in the room are simple—

In the center sits a wide round table, surrounded by thirteen high-backed chairs, with Roman numerals corresponding to one through thirteen carved on the backs of the chairs.

Other than that, there is nothing else.

At this moment, the alloy door slowly opens, and an old man leaning on a cane slowly walks in and sits in the chair directly facing the door.

Carved on the back of that chair is—"I."

Before long.

The remaining twelve O5 councilors, either alone or in groups of three, walk in through the open door.

Everyone is wearing black formal attire, exquisitely tailored and meticulous; the ties on their chests also have a deep black color, with fine and complex patterns.

Their gazes are profound, silent among themselves, occasionally meeting each other's eyes, only to look away instantly.

But in this brief moment, the exchange of information has already ended, and the division of factions has as well.

Thirteen O5 councilors, thirteen masters of the anomalous world, thirteen emperors of the underground world, gather here.

Once the last person sits in their seat, adjusts their collar, tugs at their tie, takes out documents and letter paper from a folder, and then takes a fountain pen from their chest pocket and places it to the side.

O5-1 takes out a pocket watch, clicks it open, and sees the second hand jump to the position directly facing 12.

"Let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point."

Hearing this, the vast majority of O5s have their expressions turn solemn.

Only O5-7 has nothing but calmness in their eyes—the kind of look often seen in diviners, the unruffled gaze of someone who has foreseen the future and watched the ending.

O5-1 pays no mind to this and continues with the meeting agenda:

"Today, the 13 of us have gathered here for a meeting. The purpose of the meeting has three main points:"

"Discussing the nature of 'SCP-Laplace';"

"The subsequent impact of the war;"

"And—"

He picks up the fountain pen, pointing the cap at O5-7.

"Holding O5-7, Professor Fermi, accountable for the containment breach incident of 'SCP-8260-EX'."

"In other words, purging the traitor within the council."

After speaking, he uncaps the fountain pen and makes a few checkmarks on the letter paper in front of him.

Hearing this, the eleven people other than Number One and Number Seven feel a collective shock in their hearts.

Purging an O5! This is the first time since the Foundation's establishment! And it is the first time an O5 will leave in such an undignified manner!

Before today, the ways an O5 left were limited to a few types:

Finding a good successor, abdicating, and completely withdrawing from the Foundation's power arena;

Or after abdicating, moving into deeper levels of power maneuvering;

Dying by suicide, or accidental death;

Passing away of old age while in the O5 position.

But regardless of which one, at least when shedding their number and leaving the Overseer Council, it was very dignified.

Even if they committed an unforgivable mistake while in office, it would end with the disappearance of the number on them.

Other O5 councilors would not delve deeper, would not target the family they came from, would not target the forces they cultivated.

This is an unwritten rule.

—Usually speaking, it is that silent, unwritten, yet profoundly subtle rule, the bottom line for O5 councilors with each other.

And like today.

With O5-1 setting the tone, publicly attacking, and using voting—this ancient method of adjudication inherited from Ancient Greece—to convict an O5 councilor.

This is the first time in history.

And it is a very undignified time.

Seeing gazes of doubt, curiosity, mockery, or calmness cast their way, O5-7 does not have much expression, only responding with a calm gaze.

And outside the file.

As the internal meeting of the Foundation's highest decision-making body unfolds before the audience, everyone's heartbeat speeds up, and some even forget to breathe.

"Damn, they're actually playing for real?" ===== CHAPTER 676 =====