Chapter 159

Chapter 160. I Won’t Give You Affection (2)

Kai, whose wrist was grabbed, glared at Keter. It was the hollow gaze of someone whose emotions had dried up.

“Fine, I was planning to kill you anyway.”

Despite the absence of even a breeze, Kai’s hair fluttered, and his clothes billowed. An invisible, transparent aura enveloped his entire body.

Kai’s decision to issue a warning before raising his momentum wasn’t out of consideration for Keter.

It was due to the nature of the ancient hero’s martial art he had mastered, the “White Eternal Body.” This was an ultimate counter-type technique, so he deliberately showed an opening to provoke Keter into attacking.

A situation on the brink of explosion.

Contrary to expectations, Keter didn’t attack. He didn’t even raise his momentum. Instead, he got angry.

“Seriously, do we really have to spill blood like this?”

“……?!”

Kai was baffled. He had predicted 1,254 possible actions Keter could take.

Attack, defend, evade, flee, deceive… He was confident he had predicted everything Keter could do from his current position, but among them, there was no option for “attempting to talk.”

Keter did something even a madman wouldn’t do.

“The spy uncle is happy to learn about Eslow’s potential, Jeffrey is happy to be the hero who saved the city, and I’m happy to be friends with the spy uncle.”

Keter, who had released Kai’s wrist, shouted toward Jeffrey.

“Sir Jeffrey! Good job! You can stop fighting now!”

Kai was speechless. Who said they could just stop fighting? Above all, Jeffrey had no reason to listen to Keter.

But for some reason.

“Understood.”

Jeffrey, who had been aggressively pressuring the homunculus, stepped back.

The homunculus followed Jeffrey to the end, attacking, but Jeffrey had already shifted his stance from offense to defense and evasion.

“Why is Jeffrey obeying your orders?”

Kai was hit with continuous shocks. Jeffrey, who should only obey the Lord’s orders, was following Keter’s commands. Why?

In truth, even Keter hadn’t expected this result. It was just something he said out of habit. But Keter spoke as if there was a deeper meaning.

“Do I really have to say it out loud?”

“……!”

Kai concluded that there was some kind of “agreement” between Keter and Eslow. Otherwise, there was no reason for Jeffrey to follow Keter’s orders.

‘There’s no way Keter is Eslow’s subordinate. We’ve been monitoring Eslow’s movements 24/7 for the past year.’

If Keter were truly Eslow’s subordinate, he would have been killed by any means necessary.

But the Keter before him now didn’t seem like Eslow’s subordinate at all. Instead, they appeared to be equals, or perhaps collaborators.

‘Then the story changes.’

Keter’s divine status is only significant in the Lilian Kingdom. From the Empire’s perspective, it’s not that rare. Additionally, his family, the Sephira, isn’t politically appealing due to their flaws.

But if Keter and Eslow are involved, there’s plenty of room for negotiation.

Snap!

As Kai flicked his finger, the homunculus stopped its attack.

While Jeffrey and the homunculus faced off, Kai straightened his clothes.

“Prince Keter. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Kai Essential of the Empire’s Special Operations Unit.”

“Solver Keter.”

Swish.

Keter handed over a business card.

Kai’s eyes sparkled as he saw it.

“A solver… What an interesting profession.”

“Judging by your tone, are we friends now?”

“Not yet.”

“Alright, if you have any questions or tests, feel free to ask.”

“Then I won’t hold back. Do you have a Grand Duke backing you?”

“Behind me is only the sky and the earth.”

“What is your relationship with Lord Eslow?”

“An acquaintance of an acquaintance. We use each other.”

“Does Sephira want to cooperate with the Empire?”

“Both are wrong.”

Keter pointed at himself with his thumb.

“I—”

Then he pointed at Kai with his index finger.

“Want to be friends with you, uncle.”

“…For what purpose do you want to be friends with me?”

“Purpose? I don’t like that word choice. It’s too stiff and formal. I’d rather call it symbiosis.”

“Sym…biosis?”

“There are three main reasons to make friends: they’re capable, they’re fun, or you feel a connection. From that perspective, Uncle Kai…”

Keter held up three fingers. Using the Empire’s gesture of the middle, index, and thumb.

“You meet all three. You’re capable, you’re fun, and you remind me of my younger self.”

“…Your words are hard to understand. If you want something from me, there’s no need for the unnecessary label of ‘friends.’ Just state your demands directly. No need for the pretentious title of ‘friend.’”

“Demands? I don’t have any.”

“Wealth, treasures, the martial arts of heroes. The Empire can fulfill your wishes. Freeing Sephira from political isolation is also not a difficult task for the Empire.”

“That’s not cool.”

“……?”

“Begging for help and receiving it. And surely you’d expect something in return. That’s just a transactional relationship. Not friendship.”

“This ‘friendship’ you keep emphasizing, what kind of relationship is it?”

“Simple.”

Keter approached Kai and drew a circle with his toe. Then he drew another circle around himself, slightly overlapping the first.

“It’s a relationship where we step into each other’s lives. The good and the bad.”

“…….”

Kai, who had been looking down at the circles, erased the one at his feet.

“My life and future belong to the Empire.”

“Are you being threatened? To pledge loyalty to the Empire? Are your family held hostage, or did you swallow a poison that requires regular antidotes?”

“All wrong. I live for the Empire by my own will.”

“If you chose it yourself, then it’s your life.”

“……!”

“Has my persuasion worked, uncle?”

Kai’s pupils trembled. On his emotionless face, a sprout of emotion that had been erased began to grow.

‘Keter. What kind of person is this…?’

Kai had never met anyone who treated him like this. It wasn’t coaxing, nor was it persuasion.

Then, is Keter an ally?

No.

Then, is he an enemy?

I don’t know.

I can’t tell. Keter is an unknowable existence.

‘To shake my heart like this…’

The Special Operations Unit is fundamentally strong-willed and resistant to magical mental attacks. Yet, Kai’s heart was shaken by just a few words from Keter.

The concept of “friendship” Keter presented was incredibly alluring. The idea of stepping into each other’s lives carried no burden or constraint.

‘But it goes against the Special Operations Unit’s discipline… against…’

It doesn’t!

While the Special Operations Unit strictly prohibits forming “family,” there’s no rule against making “friends.” No such clause exists.

‘…Even if it doesn’t violate the rules, the Special Operations Unit’s principles must solely serve the Empire.’

After a moment of contemplation, Kai spoke.

“Keter. You are a dangerous person in many ways. Being a Ruquer from a danger zone equivalent to the Demon Realm, possessing archery surpassing the Sephira family, and having a close relationship with Lord Eslow. Considering these three points, I will designate you as a person of interest.”

Though the content was a clear expression of hostile intent, the tone was dry and matter-of-fact—yet Keter sensed a hint of curiosity bordering on goodwill.

“The only reason I’m not killing you now is to assess your anomaly, not out of goodwill. This is merely a temporary reprieve.”

“You’re being shy. So, are we friends now? Can we speak casually?”

“…Do as you please.”

Kai walked past the enigmatic Keter and approached the homunculus.

Of the two homunculi fighting Jeffrey, one was fine, but the other was down and unable to get up. It had been struck by a sword created by Eslow’s authority.

Kai knelt and examined the fallen homunculus. Keter, following behind, also peeked curiously.

“Unit 3, report your status.”

At Kai’s command, the fallen homunculus spoke in a stiff voice.

“Severe damage detected in the mana core fusion reactor.”

“Reset the mana circuits, bypass, and attempt self-repair.”

“Attempting. Failed. Insufficient minimum area required for mana circuit reconstruction.”

Kai, who had been kneeling, stood and ordered the intact homunculus.

“Unit 2. Carry Unit 3.”

As Kai prepared to leave normally, Keter interrupted.

“The one called Unit 3. What will happen to it?”

“…It will be disposed of. The damaged core can’t be reused.”

Kai answered, curious about why Keter was asking such a thing, trying to gauge his intentions. Just as he was about to turn away—

“Then give it to me.”

“……?”

Kai looked at Keter with a baffled expression.

“You’ve seen the value of the homunculus, yet you ask for it. How shameless.”

“Why? You’re going to dispose of it anyway. Doesn’t that mean you’re throwing it away?”

“Why are you interested in something being thrown away?”

“I often pick up discarded things. It’s a hobby I could introduce.”

Keter’s words weren’t empty.

Maknun, Jairo, even the first vampire Elije—all were things he had picked up. Beyond that, Keter had collected many things.

He didn’t attach much meaning to it. He dismissed it as fun or interest, but in reality, it was a kind of compulsion ingrained in Keter, who had been abandoned by his parents.

Only, Keter wasn’t aware of it.

“I refuse. The homunculus is a treasure of the Empire, a weapon not yet known to the world. Even if it’s to be disposed of, I can’t hand it over to you.”

“I swear on my soul not to tell anyone.”

“The cost of producing a homunculus is beyond your imagination. Even recycling it would recover hundreds of thousands of gold.”

“Then will you give it to me if I pay the cost?”

“Why are you so fixated on this? Do you feel pity because it looks like a boy?”

“I don’t know about pity, but I feel a sense of responsibility.”

“Responsibility?”

“It’s partly my fault it ended up like this. If you had given the order in time to send reinforcements, it wouldn’t have been defeated by Jeffrey. Right?”

“…These things aren’t alive. They only pretend to be. So there’s no need to feel responsible.”

“Doesn’t matter. Whether it’s alive or dead. But if it can be expressed as alive or dead, it seems like it wants to live, no?”

As Keter pointed at Unit 3, Kai shook his head.

“Homunculi are artificial life forms. They have no soul. They’re just dolls that follow orders. So they can’t have the desire to live.”

“Then why is it looking at me like a stray cat?”

“This is……”

Kai’s brow furrowed. Unit 3 really did look like a stray cat.

“It’s broken. You’re just imagining things. Unit 3, speak for yourself. Do you want to live?”

“…….”

“Unit 3, answer!”

Under Kai’s pressure, Unit 3 spoke.

“I don’t know.”

“…What?”

“Living and dying. I don’t know what those are, so I can’t answer whether I want to live. Please tell me. What is living and dying?”

“It’s… asking questions?”

Kai, who had handled homunculi before, had never seen them act human-like. But Unit 3 suddenly asked a human-like “question,” which surprised him.

‘The Empire’s researchers would be shocked.’

The Empire’s researchers had declared it. Homunculi aren’t living beings. They’re just weapons made with artificial souls. So they can be handled without guilt.

But what Unit 3 is showing now is like a curious child, isn’t it?

‘Then I can’t hand it over to Keter.’

Of course, this change was noticed thanks to Keter, but giving Unit 3 to him as a reward was out of the question.

“Keter.”

“Your tone changed. You’re not saying you don’t want to give it now, are you?”

“I never said I would in the first place.”

“You acted like you would if it had emotions.”

As Keter persisted, Kai grew increasingly annoyed. He didn’t want to stay in this place any longer and just wanted to leave quickly.

“Fine. If you want the homunculus so badly, buy it from me.”

“How much?”

“5 million gold.”

“5 million? You said it was hundreds of thousands earlier.”

“That’s the cost recovered when it’s disposed of. If you’re buying it under the condition of keeping it secret, then it’s 5 million gold.”

5 million gold is an amount no individual can afford. Even the head of a prestigious family couldn’t easily spend such a massive sum.

Kai drove the nail in to make Keter give up.

“Unit 3’s lifespan isn’t long. At most, three months. Would you really spend 5 million gold to buy such a homunculus? I wouldn’t, even if I had the money. That amount could let your descendants live comfortably for generations.”

“Hmm, 5 million gold is indeed a hefty sum.”

“If you don’t have it… no, you don’t. Step aside. I don’t have time to waste.”

“Impatient, aren’t you? Wait a moment.”

Keter pulled out a blank check from his pocket and a pen, writing the amount without hesitation. He then handed over the check, already signed.

Kai thought the check was a fake to deceive him. But it was a genuine blank check issued by the “Infinite Bank.”

What was even more shocking was the amount written in the blank space.

“6 million gold……?!”