Bad Born Blood - Chapter 124



Only Noblemtl

124

“Wow, it’s been a long time, mister!”

Gilda stopped what he was doing and greeted Kinuan.

“You seem busy, so I’ll make you some coffee. Was the break room this way? The interior looks a bit different.”

“Did you see the sign? We started our business as G&G Industry. We also changed the equipment a bit.”

“Wow, I’ll always be rooting for you.”

Kinuan already knew about the collaboration between G&G Industries and Giselle, but pretended not to know.

‘Calm down. Don’t show your agitation. Act as normal.’

I half-closed my eyes and took control of my body. I consciously controlled my emotional signals and blocked out the anxiety that was showing up in my body.

“I didn’t know you’d be coming down to the lower levels, Instructor.”

I spoke to Kinuan in the steam room. He made coffee according to his own recipe, adding various ingredients to the black coffee. A strange smell came out as the coffee mixed with the boiling oil.

“It’s been a while since I had time. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Kinuan said he didn’t know I was there. There was no way to know if that was true or not.

‘Is it a coincidence or is there a plan?’

Even if I think about it right now, the answer doesn’t come out. The information given to me is limited.

Kinuan is a master of emotional control. Even veterans like Rick Silva Nunez have been defeated because they could not read Kinuan’s mind.

… … Then, as always, I had to assume the worst.

‘Kinuan came here because of Agatha’s chip.’

I think it would be wise to think this way.

“Did you know, sir? Luca has become a celebrity in the lower districts.”

Gilda also took her time with her work and joined in on the conversation. She was quite fond of Kinuan.

“Ah, I know. I think I even got a nickname… … What was it?”

Kinuan sat down with his coffee ready to be brewed.

“They called me the noble hunter Luca.”

I answered it.

“You’ve got a dangerous nickname. You must be having a hard time.”

Kinuan put his lips to the coffee cup and took a sip.

“In many ways, unexpected things have happened. I feel like a lot of things are going wrong with my plans these days.”

“Does anything in the world go according to plan? What we need is not planning, but improvisation. Anyone can get off track. But the important thing is whether you end up a prodigal son or whether you return to the right path.”

“… … I’m trying.”

I sharpened my five senses to read Kinuan’s emotional signals. If I could see with my eyes, my five senses would be like tentacles scanning every nook and cranny of Kinuan.

But surprisingly, Kinuan was dry. It was like looking at a statue.

‘Perfect emotional control.’

Kinuan never showed any outward signs of emotion. The occasional smile and composure were false signals. He protected himself with a shield of deception and stabbed others with a spear of truth. No one was better suited to be a double agent.

And if I want to survive, I have to become a human like Kinuan. No matter what anyone says, he is my teacher.

“Yes, Luca. How are things going? Your life as a cadet will soon be over. There has never been a cadet as eventful as you in the history of the Royal Guard.”

“The results will come out soon.”

Whatever the outcome.

‘Kill Kinuan and blind His Majesty the Emperor.’

‘I will expel Heilas and become the head of Custoria.’

One of the two must be done by my own hands, so that I and the House of Custoria can build.

Both are difficult challenges for me. That’s why I have to choose the one that comes first. Either way, I shouldn’t hesitate when the opportunity comes.

‘Can I beat Kinuan?’

Kinuan had a broken brain, but his depth and capacity were unfathomable. If he acted rashly, I would be the one who would suffer.

‘There’s no need to mention Heilas. He’s a soldier of steel.’

Don’t think too hard, Luca. The scent of your agony will seep out.

“By the way, Gilda’s workbench is magnificent.”

What was coming has come. Kinuan’s curiosity has turned to Gilda’s work.

“This is a job I commissioned.”

There’s no point in lying to her anyway. Gilda and I didn’t even kiss in advance.

“Leaving the technical team at the Royal Guard headquarters, to Gilda? Oh, Gilda. I’m not trying to disparage you. It’s just a fact.”

Gilda, who had been working, raised his head with a sharp expression.

“That’s putting me down! Seriously. Of course, my skills are inferior to those of the elites in the upper echelons. This is a job that Luca gave me to do to give me some pocket money. It’s also a way to get to know each other. I work with Luca’s younger sister.”

Gilda said it naturally and I was surprised.

‘Gilda lied for me.’

I felt like hugging Gilda right away. I never dreamed that she would respond so cleverly.

‘You must have noticed that chip interpretation is a task that requires confidentiality. You’re a smart woman.’

But there was no reason for Gil to lie. She had been listening to Kinuan and my conversation, and she had acted for me.

My heart is pounding. It’s hard to describe. No, let me be precise, I’m honestly touched, damn it.

“So you gave the job to Gilda on purpose. I’ve thought about it for a long time, but you are as expected… … .”

Kinuan laughed playfully and trailed off.

“Are you nice?”

“… … Good boy.”

“Let’s say that’s true. It’s hard to refute each and every one of them.”

I grumbled. We chatted about various things after that. There was even a brief mention of Crown Prince Francis.

“The street parade incident last time and the nickname of the noble hunter. There will be many who want to take your life. There will always be people who hate you even though they don’t have any particular grudge.”

“The number of people targeting me has increased by one or two truckloads. That’s why I’m always armed.”

I pulled my coat aside to expose my weapons. Crucis and Ruina were revealed.

“And while we’re at it, I think it’s best to tell you. There’s a group you and I need to meet with before the storm comes. I’ll call you soon.”

I felt instinctively that this was an opportunity. This could be a turning point.

‘Finally, Kinuan and I are moving together.’

It could have been Ivan’s arranged opportunity. I suppressed my agitation and excitement.

“Luka, data transfer and recovery is complete!”

Gilda raised his head from beyond the equipment and shouted. It seems that the data recovery of the chip I entrusted to him has not really been completed.

‘You have to trust Gilda.’

I stood up and approached Gilda.

After a while, I stopped manipulating the holographic interface.

“Looking at the data format, it looks like some kind of video… … Shall we play it?”

“Oh, well, let me check.”

I nodded nonchalantly.

Kinuan was also drinking coffee and watching us. His gaze was strangely fierce.

Beep.

A large holographic screen was projected onto the wall. Then, after a few moments of noise, the image became blurry.

-Haa, gasp, ah.

An ominous sound spread out. Then, the clearer image showed two men and women roughly rolling around.

A man with a statuesque figure and a woman with unrealistic proportions are seen. Their skin is shiny as if wet. The damp air seems to be felt just from the screen.

Even to me, a layman in this field, it was quite… … strange. It was a sensual video to the point where it felt artistic.

And there was an abnormal aspect to the relationship between the prosthetic bodies modified for sexual enhancement. The man and woman were entangled like octopuses and snakes. Their actions were vicious and fierce, as if they were treating each other as prey.

“… … Ah, it’s like this.”

Gilda shrugged and ended the video. I felt awkward for no reason and took two steps away from Gilda.

“I didn’t know there was data like this, really.”

“No, no. There are many cases like this. Since the chip was strangely secured, I thought there were hidden assets, so I restored it… … Well, you know? From collections, to parents, to memories and records from my youth, and so on.”

Gilda smiled bashfully and said it was okay.

“Anyway, it seems like I don’t need this data.”

“Then shall we dispose of it?”

“The owner of the chip would want that too. He would like to protect his honor.”

Kinuan stood up leisurely after watching us. He approached me with a smile.

“Looking at the contents, I’m glad I didn’t leave it inside the Royal Guard. May I ask whose chip it is?”

“… …It’s Nikolaos’s.”

Sorry to sell your name, Nikolaos.

But I guess Nicholas’ walls must have been no ordinary castle. This wouldn’t be a disgrace… … I’m rationalizing to myself.

“You had a nice cup of coffee, Gilda. And Luca, you shouldn’t stay in the lower areas for too long. I have information that someone is after you.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

Kinuan stood up from his seat.

“Are you leaving already? I just finished work. Why don’t you play around a bit more before you go?”

Gilda tried to grab hold of him as if he was sorry, but Kinuan refused as if he was sorry.

“I’m busy too. I came here today because I had some business to attend to in the lower areas. I also came to see Janelle.”

Kinuan left the factory, leaving behind only an empty coffee cup.

thud.

The factory door was closed.

‘Kinuen didn’t come here knowing anything in detail. He must have been curious about my visit to the lower zone during such a sensitive time, so he followed me. Today, he just poked me in a subtle way.’

I even felt a strange pleasure. It was almost certain. I had succeeded in deceiving Kinuan. I figured out his intentions and defended against him!

Of course, I didn’t do this on my own.

‘Even Kinuan would not have expected that Gilda would help me like this.’

Thanks to unexpected help, Kinuan was able to get through it without any problems.

“Thank you, Gilda.”

Gilda smiled faintly. She lightly tapped my shoulder with hers.

“The actual data recovery will be over soon, so just wait there. I don’t know what the circumstances are, but… … I’ll be rooting for Luca.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Working with Giselle made me even more confident. Luca is a good person.”

I smiled bitterly.

“I’m probably not as good of a person as you think.”

“Maybe that’s true for some people, but to me, he’s a good person.”

Gilda operated the latest terminal. It seemed that the data recovery work was also in the final stages.

“Your quick wit was amazing earlier. You must have had a hard time finding that footage so suddenly.”

I said, praising Gilda’s work. I took out my credit chip and was entering numbers. This was the extent of the case I could give.

“Oh, that’s my collection. If you want to see more, I can send it to you. I only have the best ones. Actually, after the kidnapping incident, I had no sexual desire for a while… … I’ve gotten a lot better lately, so I’m enjoying life again.”

Gilda said calmly. I was momentarily speechless. She must have been secretly struggling to get over her terrible past experiences.

… … I thought about it for a long time, but Gilda was no ordinary person. He may not be strong, but he had an unbreakable spirit. No matter what kind of storm he went through, it seemed like he would eventually get back up again.

I suddenly remembered that Gabriel was at the factory today as well. He must have come for security, but I felt uneasy for no reason.

“Gilda, maybe Gabriel and… … .”

“As I said last time, Gabi and I aren’t that kind of people. I said I see your face.”

It’s not that I hate Gabriel. But somehow, I felt that a good woman like Gilda was a waste for him. Hmm, I guess it’s because my symbol is twisted.

Click, beep.

The machine’s sound was heard one after another. Gilda wiped the sweat off his body, straightened his upper body, and gave me a thumbs up.

Data restoration is complete.