Chapter 160

In war, post-battle processing is just as important as the fighting itself. Leaving corpses on the battlefield can lead to decay and become a source of epidemics.

Moreover, military uniforms, gear, and weapons left on the battlefield can be recycled in many ways.

After the command center declared a ceasefire, the majority of the Violet Squad headed towards the forward base.

“Hey, Command Center! Didn’t we finish fighting? So why are we still at it?”

“The Command is informing you. That’s not fighting, it’s just handling them.”

At the point where they had crushed Magnavis’s elite forces, eliminating the remaining monsters and federal army ghouls counted as sweeps or handling, not actual combat.

Compared to the enemies we faced earlier, they’re way too weak. Just rush in and crush them with numbers.

Though our numbers had reduced a bit due to the battle, we still had nearly a thousand members who managed to take care of the surrounding threats with the help of the map.

– Tatatatang!

“Take out all the guys on the map!”

“I’ll mark the green positions. Let’s capture those federal soldiers as neatly as we can! We need to take their weapons.”

With a rumble, Rugilinn’s iron fist and the second vehicle advanced.

The two tanks that blocked the retreat and acted as shields had their front armor scorched and dented all over, yet they still dutifully performed their tasks.

“Our friends are sturdy!”

Survivors who emerged from beyond the barricade sighed at the sight of us.

“Those many enemies gone in an instant…”

“Goodness, this really is Vanguard. Just look at the equipment, this armor and helmet!”

While leading the people back to the forward base, collection efforts were underway at Lion’s Fountain Plaza.

Number 432, rummaging through the bodies, lifted a helmet shaped like an aquarium.

“Wow! Is this Vanguard armor!”

“The helmet’s huge!”

“It’s broken. Let’s just take it for now.”

Seeing us, our friends stood dumbfounded and uttered a comment.

“What have we been doing until now?”

“Yeah, not sure if we’ve been of any help…”

“No, guys! You’ve helped plenty.”

I consoled my friends who laughed wearily. They were exhausted after witnessing our encirclement and annihilation efforts up close.

Most of the casualties lying here were probably caused by the Violets.

Still, it’s a relief that looking at the cadavers scattered across the plaza doesn’t upset everyone too much.

Among them, there were a few that still had a faint breath left.

Awakened Ones are like that. Their lives are tougher and more resilient than regular folks. Some of them, even caught in the bombings, were surprisingly intact.

That’s why the Violets made sure to confirm kill amidst the collection efforts.

Low groans were heard from the ground.

“Cough…”

“Look here! A survivor!”

To our surprise, the leader of the believers was still alive. Charred all over, they looked no different from a lump of coal, but their chest was rising and falling, muttering something.

“Ah… no, the holy war…”

“Shall we kill it?”

“Not now. Let’s take it to the people and execute it. It’s a war criminal, after all.”

The massacre may have been initiated by the clan, but this one isn’t exactly innocent either.

After sticking a recovery potion to its neck, I hoisted it onto a stretcher.

The strange golden crown it had on its head clinked as it fell to the ground.

“What now, it’s broken.”

The ring-shaped crown had shattered into several pieces.

Seeing the title [Damaged Crown of Dominion ☆☆] appear in the status window, it was clear this believer had used it to control the monsters.

“Let’s keep it for now.”

While digging through the corpses diligently, the Violets felt something odd. Something that should have been there was missing.

“Let’s see, there were six Vanguards here… Where did they go?”

“Did they get blown up? That’s strange, shouldn’t there be at least one hair left?”

Even a company-sized number of Violets had gathered the corpses in the plaza, but the distinctive orange hair was nowhere to be found.

Last time I saw it, that hair had been hit by a brain spear near the fountain and had its arm severed.

To think they could have evaporated or been burned away, there wasn’t a trace left behind.

“This is strange, right? Did they teleport or something?”

“Let’s search for them!”

Zheng Liang Violet, who heard the situation, screamed within the network.

“No! It’s a disaster scenario! They’ve escaped like Sima Yi did!”

The squad members began searching the area.

While doing so, one Violet discovered a strange trail. Bloodstains fell near the passage leading from the plaza to the upper forward base.

There were no corpses here.

The bloodstains led sporadically beyond the alleyway. The command center issued an order.

“All Ward Violets near the upper plaza and forward base, pay attention! Report any unusual movements immediately!”

Ward Violets brought large lamps to look down from the rooftop, scanning their surroundings. A hang glider squad flew by, dropping flares.

“There! Something’s moving!!”

As one Ward Violet shone a light, fresh bloodstains glimmered, as if just dropped.

Immediately, a search party surrounded the Violets and descended. Turning on the tactical lighting, a vague figure slipped into a building.

“What is that, a ghost?”

“If it’s a ghost, let’s chase it away!”

As soon as we entered the building, we started pulling the triggers wildly. A bullet sparked in the air, followed by a short scream.

A familiar orange-haired girl appeared right in front of me.

“Well, it seems we were right!”

“How did you…?”

“There’s no one in this world who can run away from our tracking. Surrender!”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

The Violets with guns slowly closed in, wielding hammers. The girl raised her remaining right arm and fired a gun. I flinched in surprise.

Despite losing her left arm, Lera’s resistance was fierce.

“Hey! She’s rushing at us! Charge!”

The shield-wielding arresting squad rushed in and flattened her.

As they grabbed her limbs and tried to bind her with ropes and chains, she thrashed wildly.

“Let go of me!”

“Ugh! How is she so strong!”

“She’s escaping!”

Where did she get that strength from? Lera managed to shake off the arrest team and tried to flee to the other side.

How dare she reject our non-violent arrest despite being a war criminal! The Violets, feeling indignant, raised their electromagnetic rifles.

– Tutu-tung!

“Aaah!”

The blue flash filled the living room. Both of her legs were mangled.

“Cough…”

The arrest team of Violets wrapped a tourniquet around Lera’s legs and loaded her onto a stretcher. They didn’t forget to tie her tightly in case she tried to escape.

“Her condition isn’t good; she’s planning to escape to the underworld!”

“Let’s get her to Daphne quickly. Where does she think she’s going?”

The woman floundered in the darkness. Her life flickered before her like a film that had been cut.

It hurts; it feels like my left arm is on fire. My stomach and legs feel like they’re being torn apart. It hurts so much.

‘So, why am I here?’

-What’s with that blood? Oh my, her condition…

-Daphne! This one’s gonna die soon. Fix her quickly!

The business failed. My parents cried. Mom and Dad worked hard. I didn’t want to see that.

I studied hard. I found out by chance I was an Awakened One, but I had no great talent. Instead, I was recommended for research.

With a professor’s recommendation, I applied and made it to the graduate school.

Time flew by like an arrow, and suddenly I was on the verge of thirty.

-Duct tape? Why didn’t you make it easy to take off?

-Like bandages alone are enough. My limbs are in this state, and my stomach has burst.

I entered a research position thanks to a recommendation from someone I knew. That’s with the four leading clans. Gradually, life began to work out.

My bank account now had high numbers written in it.

I went to a luxury restaurant with my family after such a long time. My parents cried again. I got promoted.

-Here, please organize the tools. I’ll handle the rest.

There were rumors that dangerous experiments were happening in the clan. It sounded exaggerated.

I was told to go on site. They said it would affect my performance reviews.

I saw people die. I was told to get used to it. It was scary, but I endured.

I was ordered to activate illegal artifacts.

I protested that it was too dangerous, but my colleagues laughed at me. My boss pressured me.

They said if I didn’t do as I was told, I wouldn’t leave here smoothly.

When the corpses floated before me earlier, I felt scared. A devil whispered in my head.

‘It can’t be helped. Let’s just do what they say. I need to survive, right? And nothing will happen.’

People died.

The soldiers clawed at their heads and screamed until they became ghouls. Monsters surged through the defense. The forward base crumbled.

‘No, that wasn’t me!’

She excused herself. She said it couldn’t be helped, she was just doing what she was told.

Once more, pain pierced through her.

In the distance, a woman approached in the dark and whispered.

“Don’t make excuses. You’re an accomplice too, right? You let those people die.”

Screams echoed in her ears. Save me, why did you do it? It’s your fault.

As the cold truth pierced her heart like a knife, she shed tears.

‘…It’s true. It is my fault. I’m sorry… I apologize…’

She begged for forgiveness, but the woman laughed and pushed her back. She fell into the darkness.

‘Am I going to die like this?’

It hurts; I wonder what will happen now.

I’ve done so many bad things, so I’ll probably go to hell. I have sinned. I deserve to be punished.

Accepting the truth, her heart finally felt at ease.

Suddenly, her parents’ faces floated into her mind. What will mom and dad do?

Panicked, she struggled.

No, I don’t want to die. I want to see mom. Please save me!

‘I’m such a selfish girl…’

I’m sorry. I want to live. I’m sorry. Anyway, please, someone save me. I’ve never even had a proper romance. I’m still here…

“Gah…!”

Ennis gasped for air as she awoke on the military cot. Medical personnel were moving around her.

A silver-haired girl turned her head at the noise. Her friendly blue eyes formed a gentle curve.

“Don’t worry. You’re in the forward base.”

“Forward base? Uugh…”

Ennis tried to stand but felt a piercing pain. The girl gently pushed her back down with a soft yet firm tone.

“Just lay down and rest for now. I’ve treated you, but you’re not fully healed yet.”

Only then did Ennis get a glimpse of her condition. Bandages were wrapped around her abdomen, legs, and arms.

‘My arm…’

Even her left arm was back in place. It had definitely been severed earlier.

“Wow, that was close. If I hadn’t had experience healing many of my friends, it would have been difficult to heal you completely. Once you’re out of here, make sure to visit the hospital and get plenty of rest. And…”

While the girl was earnestly explaining, girls clad in black began to stride into the makeshift infirmary, carrying a stretcher.

“Daphne! It’s urgent. Fix her quickly before she falls apart!”

“Lay her down here. What about her legs and arms?”

The girl in black whispered something to the silver-haired girl. The warm gaze that had been looking kindly at the patient turned cold in an instant.

“I see. They haven’t found her body? Oh my, it’s been lost. Well, there’s nothing that can be done then…”

Ennis glanced at the side. A severely injured woman was getting treated. The silver-haired girl worked diligently, but her movements were rough.

‘Who is she? She looks familiar…’

While recovering the forward base and waiting for the rescue team and the elevator, representatives from the remaining clans and soldiers gathered in the makeshift meeting room.

Seated at the most prestigious position was our Violet squad. Given our achievements, it was only natural.

“Ready for filming. One, two, three. Go!”

I splashed water on the head of the vice student council president. Lera sprang awake with a groan.

“Hey, war criminal. Get up!”

The monitor in the meeting room displayed the opposite warehouse. The guy tied to the chair struggled to lift his head.

“Let me warn you in advance, if you pull any tricks, I’ll press this. Do you see the red button?”

I threatened him by holding the red switch right in front of his eyes.

Currently, he was covered in explosives. At any moment, I could turn him into tomato ketchup.

Right now, he was trapped in the warehouse. Due to the case involving the Vision Prism, people decided to interrogate the prisoner from a safe distance.

It was also a measure for preventing violence. Outside, countless people were ready to tear him apart.

“Ugh… let me go!”

As soon as he woke up, Lera started thrashing around.

He still had plenty of energy, but with ropes, chains, and duct tape binding him, not to mention the chains of will, there was no way he could escape.

I crossed my arms and watched him thrash about.

The moment he noticed something unusual, his eyes gradually widened.

“Fool. You realized!”

“What did you do to me?”

I showed him the mirror I had prepared instead of answering. Horror filled Lera’s eyes when he saw himself in the reflection.

“My, my legs…!”

It was unsurprising. The only thing left attached to him was his right arm.

His left arm had been blown off by the brain spear, and both legs below the thighs were mangled by an electromagnetic rifle while being captured.

“Did they fall off during transport?”

“If it were Daphne, she would have managed to attach them somehow. But what do we have to attach them with…”

We both chuckled.

Currently, his two legs were neatly packed in our inventory.

Thanks to the characteristic of the dimensional bag that preserves everything except living organisms, they would be kept fresh.

A wicked yet amusing thought crossed my mind.

“Let’s show his legs and neck to the Student Council President! She’ll be thrilled, right?”

When I mentioned the Student Council President, Lera got angry, making me even more curious about the nature of their relationship. Would she get mad, or would she just brush it off coolly?

“Damn it…”

“Why the anger? Once you get prosthetic limbs, you’re good to go! The Vanguards have plenty of mechanical arms! And with time, they can even regenerate.”

“…”

“Now, I’ll ask a question. Lera Valestern, why did you target the Vision Prism?”

She glared at me in silence.

“If you don’t answer, I’m going to sell you to the Stigian Rain Gang. You know what that means? They’re full of perverts.”

The Violets in the warehouse mocked him, mentioning the infamous underworld. He trembled in rage.

“Or, I’ll throw you out to the people outside. They’ll rip you apart. Just like a toy!”

Despite multiple threats, he remained silent, acting like a well-trained professional.

“Oh dear, young lady. I’m rather disappointed by your statements.”

“What do you mean?”

Suddenly, a burly man sitting on the edge of the meeting room spoke up.

“Do you think our staff are ragpickers scavenging for cigarette butts? They’re all upright individuals with homes and families.”

“Exactly! Those types wouldn’t even take trash if you paid them. Haha!”

Other clans sitting at the edges chimed in with light comments.

“Ugh, I’m sorry…!”

Shockingly, I had treated decent people like sexual deviants in a red-light district.

Given how things had turned out, I had only one answer.

We would take the power lines, connect them to him, and flip the switch.

“Lightning Bolt!”

“AAAH!”

After a long watch, Lera still refused to speak.

People started getting bored, and Chief Harbor turned off the monitor in the meeting room.

“Well, I think we all expected this. An elite from the clan wouldn’t easily spill the beans even under torture. Let’s get to the point.”

We started the meeting. Discussions about how to respond to the recent incident exchanged back and forth.

“We need to formally protest and alert the media, the Inspection Bureau, and the Federation! Even as the four major clans, they’ve crossed a line!”

“They attacked federal soldiers. This is clearly an act of terrorism.”

“Now’s the time to inform our other friends and flex our muscles. If we rally together, we can take down even a giant clan!”

Field representatives from smaller clans who suffered losses and Captain Klein spoke up. The general sentiment was to get back at Magnavis.

Chief Harbor, who was quietly observing, finally opened his mouth.

“But who will bell the cat?”

“…”

The clan members fell silent, only glancing at each other for cues. The captain stood up.

“The federal army will not stay silent. Once we leave the dungeon, I will report to the higher-ups. There will definitely be measures…”

“Captain, it’s Magnavis. That clan with the Grand Mage. As some might know, the Federation used to have a serious problem with that war hero. It won’t be easy to mobilize.”

When the chief explained in a serious tone, the captain crumpled his face and sat back down.

“They got burned by a mage? What kind of nonsense is this?”

“So, there’s got to be an alternative, right? You’re just opposing without a solution!”

“Exactly! Coward!”

Faced with criticism, Chief Harbor lost control and let his anger out.

“Damn it, let’s look at the reality rationally. Our Atlas has lost most of its clan assets and personnel this time. In this state, how are we supposed to fight them? Do you think I want to take revenge?”

How to deal with a giant clan presented a practical dilemma, leaving people confused.

Soon, a debate erupted.

“How pathetic! I’ll take the initiative. Let’s duel!”

“Like that’s going to happen! What can a freelancer do? No, calling you a representative of individual contractors is also hilarious. You’re just a nobody!”

“What? What did you just say? You little piglet!”

Amid the shouting, the meeting room door swung open. All eyes turned to the entrance.

“I apologize for being late. I took some time to check on the status of the underclassmen. If you don’t mind, may I have a moment to speak?”

“Sister Adela!”

Adela approached me with a wink, placing a signal device and black box on the desk.

“A little while ago, the troops from the Magnavis group attempted to track down and harm this multidimensional signal device of mine.”

“Right! Adela was here!”

Adela continued her speech not as the student council president of Aegis Academy, but as the upcoming head of a noble family.

“I have no intention of letting this incident go unnoticed. I will treat it as a challenge and threat to the Cascadia family and will report this incident to the patriarch and the elders as soon as I return to my clan. During that process, I will order every possible means of response.”

Everyone held their breath at her statement. Chief Harbor spoke up quietly.

“Are you… really sure that’s okay?”

“Okay? Innocent people have died. They’re definitely scheming something with dangerous artifacts. Whatever it is, it must not be let go without a response!”

Someone asked.

“…We appreciate your willingness to lead, but a war will break out.”

Adela answered in a tone much colder than I had ever heard her use.

“The Cascadia family has always stood at the forefront. Even if it leads to the gates of hell.”

Hearing the family motto from Adela, I could tell just how serious she was.

‘Oh no, even the Adela family can’t overpower or defeat the four major clans! This is dangerous. The academy city will be in dire straits.’

‘Is it really necessary to provoke a bigger conflict?’

Sitting back and watching the meeting unfold, the Tenth Clone raised a hand.

“Violet… no, Ariel? Do you have something to say?”

I answered.

“Is there really a need to spill blood directly? Just leave it to me!”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

All attention shifted toward me. Everyone seemed curious about what I was about to say.

Tenth Clone explained the entire plan, withholding sensitive details related to the academy. The expression on everyone’s face momentarily darkened and then hardened.

“Lady, have you completely lost your mind?”

“Actually, it’s quite plausible. If we do this, we can drain their strength completely. We only need to handle the cleanup.”

I turned to Adela.

“What do you think, Sister Adela?”

She looked stunned.

“I never thought there’d be a plan like this…”

Hehe, it seems everyone has become completely captivated by the Violet squad’s brilliant strategy.

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