“Stay still if you don’t want to get hurt.”
“…….”
Cliff, a Level 2 Agent of the Federal Intelligence Bureau, cautiously approached the man who was lying on the ground in front of him.
Having undergone rigorous training as an intelligence agent, his aim was steady and unwavering. As he got close, he kicked away the pistol that the man had been using just moments ago and took out handcuffs from his jacket.
The man in the mechanic’s outfit, who had collapsed with a gunshot wound to his leg, did not resist as Cliff secured the handcuffs around his wrists. Cliff tightened the cuffs and asked,
“Tell me… which unit do you belong to? Your shooting skills are quite impressive.”
“…….”
“…tch.”
The man did not respond. Occasionally, pain from his gunshot wound caused him to furrow his brow, but his lips remained sealed. Cliff clicked his tongue and helped the man to his feet.
“Since your comrades have all been subdued, don’t think of any useless ideas. We don’t want to see blood either.”
The man still did not answer. Cliff didn’t really expect a response; he was merely voicing his curiosity.
“By the way, what was the reason for doing something like this? If you’re going to get caught so easily….”
It was strange when he thought about it. Despite possessing excellent shooting skills and quick thinking, they hadn’t fortified the Academy Main Building or aimed for vital spots when shooting at agents.
To classify it simply as terrorism felt off, as they surrendered too easily. In response to Cliff’s question, the man in handcuffs parted his lips.
“…because it wasn’t our goal.”
“What do you mean?”
Cliff looked at the man he was supporting. His face showed no change in expression.
“We have already achieved our objective, and from that moment on, there was no reason for us to fight.”
“…….”
“That’s all.”
The man closed his mouth again. Cliff, too, decided not to pry any further into their intentions.
Since the man’s response moved beyond mere personal curiosity, it was no longer something Cliff needed to involve himself in. He continued walking.
Like Cliff, the agents who brought in the captured mechanics began to exit the Main Building. As Cliff handed the captured man over to other agents, he glanced at the vehicle that was parked ahead.
‘That person is….’
A tall man dressed in a neat suit, holding an umbrella.
‘Was his name… Carmondorf?’
Carmondorf, standing blankly in front of the vehicle that the Adelhaid Duke and Chief Curbin arrived in, seemed lost in thought as he stared intently at the roof of the Main Building. Cliff observed him with a strange look.
After a moment, Carmondorf turned back to the car’s trunk, pulling something out from inside.
Having already retrieved two umbrellas, what else was he planning to take out? Cliff nonchalantly took out a cigarette while watching Carmondorf.
– Thud!
The trunk closed with a sound, revealing in Carmondorf’s hand something that was….
“That’s….”
A silhouette that was recognizable even from a distance. Cliff found himself tilting his head subconsciously at the sight.
It made sense that he was grabbing umbrellas. The overcast sky was shaking as if it would rain at any moment. It would probably pour down soon. Cliff had been thinking of grabbing an umbrella himself.
However, the other object that Carmondorf had quickly stowed away after taking it out of the trunk was….
“Why is he grabbing a pistol?”
It was undoubtedly a handgun.
As Cliff watched Carmondorf walking towards the Main Building, he shrugged his shoulders and put the cigarette in his mouth.
‘Must be for self-defense.’
Considering that there were bomb terrorists present in the city, it wouldn’t be unusual for someone to carry a pistol.
That’s what Cliff thought.
He thought about it every day.
If I hadn’t acted that way. If I hadn’t made that choice.
If I could have saved Helena. If I hadn’t left Helena at the battalion command post. If I had been there with her, protecting her…
In other words, if I had been a bit more useful.
As I continued to dwell on these thoughts, the pool of regret deepened, constricting my heart. The cold wound had not healed, and the blood that flowed from it was chillingly cold.
As I became engulfed in that chill, becoming soaked in that blood…
That’s how I had lived. Who could embrace my wounds?
It was the fundamental formula—my own personal grand theorem—that could propose a solution to my already shattered life. It was the key that would finally allow me to pursue my own life.
While taking the helm of a sinking ship with all escape routes blocked, I was in that state…
– Beep—.
So, what I wanted to say was….
“…what the hell.”
Once the ringing in my ears ceased, the cruel aria created by reality resonated in my now unwarped ears.
The acrid smell of gunpowder. In the cold raindrops, the fading heat of bitter hatred began to emit faint smoke.
And from that place originated the core of hatred…
“…huh.”
Blood flowed from Cesar’s ear. No, it would be more accurate to say from the place that had an ear.
His left ear, which appeared to be torn off… no, it was more like had been pulled off while covered in blood. From there, cold blood flowed.
Not wounds occurring within me, but those wounds transforming into reality.
“Cough, ugh…!”
Cesar was enduring the pain. With one hand gripping Laura’s nape, he had a pistol in the other hand, leaving no room to tend to his bleeding.
I slowly turned my head towards the muzzle spilling the smell of gunpowder.
“…….”
There, a man with eyes as wide as lanterns.
Carmondorf, Maximilian von Adelheit’s former aide, now a near secretary, held a handgun that he must have brought from somewhere, aiming it at Cesar.
“…w-what.”
In an instant, my vision began to spin. I felt as if my blood was rushing back into my head.
At the same time, a thunderous voice broke through the suffocating silence.
“Carmondorf—!!”
It was the Adelheid Duke. He approached with a bright red face, stepping forward emphatically.
– Slap!
Without a moment’s hesitation, he slapped Carmondorf’s cheek, who was holding the gun.
“What… what are you doing right now!”
“…Y-Your Grace. We must kill that person immediately. Are you thinking of just listening to such a rogue’s words? The lady is in danger!”
“Don’t you see that the gun is aimed at Laura’s head? Are you crazy?! What are you doing!!”
“I… I mean… that…”
Carmondorf stammered as he tried to explain. I still felt as if I were wandering through a dream.
“Y-Your Grace! Regardless, we must kill him! Right now….”
“Put the gun down! Right now!”
I looked at Cesar. Cesar, bleeding from his ear, was looking at me with an expression of both pain and ecstasy. The veins in his neck and the back of his hands were protruding.
“Carmondorf! Right now, put the gun down and go back to the car!”
“I can’t do that….”
“This is a command! You idiot!!”
The Adelheid Duke shouted, and Carmondorf continued to gaze blankly at Cesar.
The handgun in his hand was pointed downwards, but if he were to raise his arm, he could readily aim it at Cesar.
And the handgun was emitting faint smoke. Evidence suggesting it had just fired a bullet was vividly present before my eyes…
“…Ah.”
Everything became hazy before me. I accepted the instinct that was taking control of my body without any words.
“…Ah! Stop!”
“Damn it!”
“Professor! Professor Lucio!”
When I regained my senses, I had already grasped Carmondorf’s collar tightly and pushed him towards the rooftop door.
Thus, gazing at Carmondorf’s bloodied lips, I moved my tightly clenched fist. Even the pistol that had been aimed at Cesar was tossed aside, just like that.
“Hey, you bastard—!!”
I was thrashing about in the painfully cruel reality.
Cesar tilted his head, bringing the bleeding ear close to his shoulder. The warm fluid seeped into his shoulder while simultaneously causing a tingling sensation in his ear.
“Cough….”
Still, the muzzle of the pistol in Cesar’s hand was unwaveringly aimed at Laura. That did not mean he was free from pain.
It hurt. It was excruciating. He was not someone who lacked sensation, nor was he a madman capable of not feeling pain.
Therefore, it was natural that his gunshot-wounded ear ached.
“Professor Antorelli! Calm down…!”
“Professor Lucio!”
He could only laugh at the farcical scene unfolding right before him. The corners of Cesar’s lips twitched into a slight smile.
Carmondorf, being relentlessly beaten against the closed rooftop door with a vacant expression, and Professor Antorelli, who was turning him into a mess. And the surrounding people trying to intervene.
“Cough… heh….”
It was impossible not to laugh. How could it be so foolish?
Cesar did not understand the reason for Carmondorf suddenly firing the gun. Perhaps it was because he had gone mad upon seeing Laura, who was being held as a hostage.
“Do you find this amusing?”
Laura asked, her voice trembling as she looked at Cesar. Cesar blankly stared down at her and then suddenly burst into laughter.
“Do you think I’m laughing because it’s fun?”
“Then….”
“I’m laughing because it’s tragic.”
Because the sight of himself and everyone here was so ugly and pathetic. Cesar found it amusing and couldn’t contain himself.
He waited quietly, bleeding, until the fight between Carmondorf and Professor Antorelli calmed down. It wasn’t long before Professor Antorelli’s pounding came to a stop.
“…ha.”
Then Cesar wiped the smile from his face. His eyes turned toward Carmondorf.
The expression on Carmondorf’s face as he looked at Cesar. The emotions contained in that expression were…
‘Surprise?’
Surprise, bewilderment, impatience. The feelings that surfaced on Carmondorf’s face were all of that nature. Recognizing this, Cesar’s complexion darkened.
It was understandable to feel anxious seeing Laura with a gun pointed at her head. Anyone would feel urgency if the master’s daughter was in such a position.
However, the problem was that those feelings were not directed at Laura. Carmondorf’s eyes were solely focused on Cesar.
Finally, once he broke free from the grip of the now calm Professor Antorelli, Carmondorf called out to Cesar with a bewildered expression.
“You…! How are you still alive?!”
That was enough to make Cesar’s gun barrel tremble slightly.
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