Bad Born Blood - Chapter 128



Only Noblemtl

128

The mission with Kinuan ended quietly, and I returned to the Custoria mansion.

And the season of storms began.

The first week is said to start with cloudy skies and strong winds. At this time, no flight ban is issued within Akbaran.

The first week was the last chance to prepare for the storm. From the second week onwards, air vehicles and airships were not used.

From the third week, when the storm’s power reached its peak, it was practically a curfew. This was the time when casualties were rapidly increasing.

I spent my first week of Stormy Season at the Custoria Mansion.

Rattle, rattle.

I stared at the window, which was shaking violently. I couldn’t see outside. It was because the outside was reinforced with iron plates.

This storm season has been quite bad even in its first week. From what I’ve heard outside, accidents involving aerial vehicles, airships, and drones are constantly happening.

‘There’s a reason they’re issuing a no-fly order starting from the second week.’

I was doing a handstand with one finger on the floor. My sense of balance had returned to a satisfactory level. This meant that I was finally getting used to the new body.

‘Starting from the third week of the Storm, Nemesis will cause riots and terror in the upper-class residences. Many nobles will die.’

In particular, nobles from families that the imperial family controls will die noticeably.

‘And taking advantage of the chaos, the imperial family also directly eliminates key figures in the military.’

Those in charge of the darkness of the imperial family will then move. It may be childish, but let’s call them the guards of darkness… no, ‘shadows’. The shadow of the imperial family.

‘Will the shadow of the imperial family target the Custoria family?’

Is Heilas a target for elimination? Even if there is, is there anyone with the power to assassinate Heilas? It is absurd that a soldier of Heilas’s level would be killed by a mob. A natural assassination is difficult.

‘Ivan… … failed to give me the opportunity to assassinate Kinuan.’

I made contact with Nemesis along with Kinuan. In the meantime, there was no opportunity to kill Kinuan.

‘Cooperation with Ivan is ruled out for now.’

If Ivan gives me a chance, I might notice and take action. But for now, I think it’s right to assume there won’t be one.

Whirlwind.

I jumped up, hitting the floor with my hands. I spun around and landed lightly.

‘The only way left for me is to kick out Heilas.’

I pondered Kinuan’s advice.

‘Did Haylas tie me to the family to use me? If it was a plan, when did it start? Or was it a coincidence?’

Maybe Kinuan just swayed my heart with his words. Kinuan is a man skilled in controlling the mind.

‘Who should I trust and who should I betray?’

The choice is mine.

‘Agatha, I never had a chance to see and learn from Noel’s choices. It was too late to give him the information.’

The time of choice is approaching.

Creak.

I left the room because I felt a presence outside.

The mansion was crowded. This was because relatives who normally lived in the upper-level quarters came to the mansion only during storms to escape misfortune. It was a wise decision.

“You’re leaving now? We don’t know when the no-fly order will be issued. The storm is stronger than I thought.”

I looked down the hallway and saw Eva stopping Heilas. That was the presence I felt.

Heilas was wearing his guard uniform. He seemed to be planning to go out to headquarters.

“Something important has come up. I can’t miss it.”

Helas emphasized that even if he had no work to do, he should not stay in the mansion.

If you are trapped in the mansion during a storm, you will not be able to respond to the changing situation. You should stay in the city center in the upper districts, even if it is dangerous.

Heilas and Eva locked eyes with me.

“You are in charge of the mansion while I am away, Luca. I have told the people to take your orders above Eva’s.”

Heilas stood before me and spoke. The title changed strangely. It was ‘you’ instead of ‘you’. Just like the other children.

I couldn’t answer quickly.

‘This may be the last time I see Heilas.’

My stomach was churning.

“……All right.”

That’s all I had to say.

I had no time. It was too late for me to perceive the plans and trends of the empire. My power and actions were not enough to change the great current.

‘If Heilas were to die, it would be a dishonorable cause, and the royal family could be punished for the crime, leading to the destruction of the family. Even if the destruction is avoided, Custoria would lose all power.’

If I lose my power, I will lose my means of protection. The resentment and ill will that the Custoria family has accumulated under their power will strike like a disaster. And I will have to act as Archie Domini, whose records and identity have been erased.

“Lukaus Custoria, remember my request.”

Heilas tapped my shoulder and went down.

‘Am I an insurance policy against my own failure?’

There was only one thought in my head.

‘Heilas will not know that I am a Watcher. No matter how great one’s insight, it is difficult to discern the strange office of Watcher of the Emperor from the limited information available.’

But Haylas must have felt something from me.

The strange coexistence with Kinuan, the excessive publicity given to the cadets, the exchange with the Crimson Crown Prince Francesque, and Agatha’s obsessive trust.

Even circumstantial evidence would suggest that Haylas knows I’m operating in some area he doesn’t understand.

‘He thought that I was the one who could save his family even if he failed. He took a gamble.’

So, even though Heilas found me suspicious, he didn’t pursue me. He had to win my favor. He worked hard to create a situation where I would become attached to the Custoria family.

Considering Kinuan’s advice, all the pictures came into view.

‘Heilas is using me.’

This is not wrong. He showed off that he cared for me more than his own children and even went to Eunwolgwan with me. If I think about it, it was an excessive amount of special favor and favor.

‘I’m sure the affection you showed me wasn’t all fake. But it’s clear that there’s some calculation involved.’

I wanted to twist my lips into a smile.

No matter how much ability and talent you have, there must be a reason why you treated me, an orphan from the lower classes, so well!

I know that too. That’s why I kept feeling uneasy about Heilas’ favor. But when I realized the truth behind it, my mouth started to hurt.

Heilas boarded the air vehicle, escorted by his relatives and vassals.

Wheeeeeeing!

The air vehicle rose into the sky with more shaking than usual. The engine roared loudly enough to drown out the wind, and the propellant flames were longer than usual. It meant that the flight was not easy.

‘What decision will Haylas make?’

I will not see with my own eyes whether he succeeds or fails.

“Lukaus.”

After seeing her off, Eva called me. She and I moved. She was the first to enter my room.

“Mother, I know you are dissatisfied with me. But I am the head of the household… … .”

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

Eva sat down on the chair as if she was tired. She let out a small sigh and continued speaking.

“Heylas, will he be able to return to me alive? I ask because I think you would know better than I do.”

I flinched.

Eva doesn’t have great insight or political sense. Just looking at her actions so far, it seems like that. Sometimes, she gets too greedy and does stupid things.

… … But couples who are in love seem to be different in some way.

Even Haylas couldn’t hide all his insecurities from Eva. I don’t know, but according to Martina Divana Grace, who is well-versed in physiology, men easily reveal their secrets in bed.

I licked my lips several times. I didn’t know what to say. This was a first for me. Should I say comforting words? Or cold reality?

Thinking about this makes me go crazy. I wish you would just send me to the battlefield.

“I don’t know. But if we look at the probability objectively, it’s low.”

I’m not the type of person to say nice things. Sometimes, I hate myself for being like this.

It was an uncomfortable situation. The silence was broken as tears fell down Eva’s chin.

“… … If the worst happens, don’t worry about me and just leave me alone. I don’t think I can live without him anyway.”

“Father’s request includes you, uh, no, Mother.”

I almost called her name.

“Let’s talk frankly. I don’t think of you as a son anyway. You probably don’t think of me as a mother either. But as long as Haylas trusts you, you’re the only one who can protect my children. No matter what happens, protect my children.”

“I think so. You don’t have to say it like that.”

Eva shrugged her shoulders.

“You still don’t understand what I’m saying, Luca. I’m telling you that even if the Custoria family falls and all its members die, even if you abandon your duties and office as acting head of the family… you must protect my children.”

Eva looked straight at me. The light streaming from the edges of her pupils was almost madness.

… … Heilas gave up on being a father. But Eva was a mother.

I didn’t answer. My silence was a denial.

“I just hope he succeeds.”

Eva said this and stood up. She left my room.

It hadn’t even been an hour since I took my empty seat at Heila’s.

‘It’s already hard.’

Eva bowed down to me. It was to make an unreasonable request. Even if I wanted to grant that request, there was no way.

As expected, Gaju didn’t suit my aptitude. If I could just throw him away, I would throw him at Jupe.

I needed more options. The current situation is not where I wanted it to be. I don’t want to be responsible for the crumbling House of Custoria.

‘… …Is it too late, or is it not too late?’

I rummaged through my pocket and took out two chips. Agatha’s chip and the chip with the restored data.

‘I have to see Noel Mulizka’s choice.’

I was left with only one option.

Beep.

I called Giselle. As soon as she came in, I immediately got down to business. I wouldn’t have said that if I had seen her face properly.

“Giselle, you need a way to contact Barbara. If you send a signal to the net, Barbara will respond.”

Giselle’s face was hard. Her fingertips were trembling.

“… … Let’s say you respond to my signal, there’s no reason for Barbara to help us.”

I bit my lower lip. It was time to speak.

“Barbara is a spy for the Empire. She is in a precarious position where her tail could be cut off at any moment. I have information that can increase Barbara’s chances of survival. She will not refuse to cooperate.”

Giselle stood there, dazed, like a broken computer, overwhelmed by information. The bizarre circumstances of the past had probably hit her head in an instant.

“Wait a minute, Barbara, those events at the Academy, then… … .”

Giselle muttered and stumbled. I quickly stretched out my arm and supported Giselle, who was about to fall.

Giselle’s face distorted as she slowly came to terms with the situation. She couldn’t help but grab my arm, so she dug her fingernails into it and scratched her forearm.

Knock knock, knock.

The artificial skin on my forearm was tearing.

“Father and you… … What on earth did you think of me all this time?”

It was a poisonous expression that seemed like it could stab a person. It had been a while since I had seen such an expression on Giselle’s face. And unlike before, this time my heart ached.

“Heylas and I have always been in this world. It’s a crazy bottomless pit where there are no fools, only fools. You’re just standing at the entrance.”

I had no intention of gently appeasing Giselle’s anger. If I have to struggle to persuade her even to this extent, cooperation is impossible. I like her, but public works are a separate matter.

“Giselle, if you want to see the darkness with the same eyes as I do, come to your senses and listen to me. If you can’t stand it, then just slap me in the face and get out of here.”

Giselle took a step back and raised her hand. I suppressed my fighting reflex, anticipating the shock that was to come.

match!

Things flashed before my eyes.

… … Her hands are sharp. Her arms are also prosthetic, so they are like a lump of metal. My molars just broke and moved around in my mouth. The joints in my jaw are also out of place and creaking.

“I want to slap you and listen to your story.”

Giselle said as she sat down. She crossed her arms with a fresh expression.

Ugh!

I moved my mouth up and down and left and right, using my hands to adjust my misaligned jaw.

“Ugh, um. That’s a third option. You’re being greedy, wanting to do both.”

As I said that, I picked up a piece of broken molar with my finger and pulled it out. Well, I guess I got it for cheap.