Bad Born Blood - Chapter 142



Only Noblemtl

142

Ilay tapped the thumbs of his two clasped hands together. He was thinking at high speed while listening to what I was saying. The edges of his pupils were flashing as if they were representing the speed of his thinking.

“I now understand the relationship between you and Kinuan, which has been puzzling me until now. Kinuan’s true identity is unexpected. I didn’t know you would be so complicatedly entangled. Your strange behavior up until now was also due to that reason.”

I didn’t need to explain it in detail. Ilay was excellent and could expand on the situation just by context.

“I am already disqualified as a Watcher. Next time we meet, Kinuan will try to kill me.”

After gathering his thoughts for a while, Illei opened his mouth.

“… … The situation is too difficult. It’s on a different level than when I was with Ramones. I understand why you haven’t told me yet, but this isn’t a problem you can solve alone.”

Illei let out a deep breath that she had been holding. I added an explanation of the current situation.

“Heilas will pretend to rebel and gather the subversive elements of the military and the Royal Guard. Then he will purge them and present them to the Imperial Court as tribute. That is the only way to save the House of Custoria and the Royal Guard.”

“Even if the Imperial Family accepts Heylas’s tribute… …Luka, you won’t survive. Prepare for exile now. You won’t be able to escape once the storm is over.”

Ilay’s proposal is also an option.

With Heilas dead, I go into exile, and House Custoria will survive.

… … But an indescribable emotion was surging inside me. I couldn’t choose that option even if I died soon. The moment I chose that option, it felt like my existence would change.

“The conclusion is not yet known. There are still more cards left in Heilas’ hand that he does not know about. Cards that Agatha has been holding tightly but has not shown until now.”

I share all my knowledge and information with Heilas. Heilas will create new options with the expanded knowledge and information.

“Have you contacted Captain Heilas?”

“No. I don’t know if the communication was cut off or if he’s not receiving it. However, he probably already thinks of me as an enemy. He disobeyed orders repeatedly and killed two of his closest aides. Ivan will be reluctant to have contact with me and Heilas.”

“Luka, listen carefully to what I have to say. I am against the plan to contact Heylas. Heylas is at a disadvantage and is hostile to you. It is irrational to join hands with Heylas, who has decided to surrender conditionally. And I am not sure that Heylas will come up with a better plan.”

I know that. My plan right now is full of holes. Even my chances of survival are low. It’s the worst option that anyone would choose.

Right now, I need the determination to choose the ‘worst’.

“But this is the closest option to the outcome I want.”

“Not everyone gets what they want. You know that better than I do. I don’t want my friend to suffer pointlessly and die.”

Ilay glared at me. He didn’t back down easily either.

“Then I guess the choice to save Lillian Ramones was realistic.”

As I complained, Ilay’s expression changed.

“Luka, we don’t have to talk about that here.”

The table that Ilay was leaning on was starting to crack. The wooden table split, causing food and dishes to spill out.

“It’s not difficult, Ilay Kartika. Either watch me jump into the fire pit with your back to me, or jump in with me… … Choose one of the two.”

I stared at Ilay with my eyes half-open. Ilay put his hand on his waist and grabbed the hilt of his sword.

“There is also the option to subdue you here.”

“I think it’s better to quit. I think there was a similar situation before. Who won then?”

I raised my chin arrogantly and scratched my cheek.

There was a fierce silence. Only Ilay’s fingers, holding the hilt of her sword, moved.

“Forget the bluff. You’ve just recovered from your serious injuries. I’ll knock you out here and put you on a cargo ship bound for Bellato.”

I was convinced here.

… … Ilay Kartika is trustworthy.

I felt guilty because I felt like I was testing my friend.

“Please, Ellie. You’re the only one who can help me right now.”

Illei bit his lower lip and grimaced. His fingers trembled as he fumbled with the handle of his sword.

I lowered my head, exposing my head and neck.

“Luka, please, don’t do this. This is suicide. You’re not the kind of person who acts out of a cheap sense of justice.”

I heard a voice that sounded like it was about to cry. I closed my eyes and thought.

“It’s not a sense of justice. There’s a chance of winning. If you don’t like the plan after hearing it, you can knock me out here or not. This can’t be done without your cooperation anyway.”

I said, raising my head. Blood dripped from my nose onto the floor. I roughly wiped the blood away and opened my eyes.

My nose was throbbing. My forehead was hot as if I had a cold. My overheated head wouldn’t stop.

Chijijik.

There was a noise in my prosthesis. It wasn’t the prosthesis that was broken. It was my brain that was the problem.

… … My brain nervous system is being damaged by the continuous overwork and Aquis Victima. But I can’t stop now.

Phew!

I heard a blood vessel burst in my left biotic eye. My vision was red. Red tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Luka? Hey, you are… … .”

Even Ilay couldn’t continue speaking.

“It just happened. My brain won’t stop until I solve the problem in front of me. It’s like a curse.”

This is the price paid for the increased level of Aki’s Victory.

My brain senses all the dangers and problems around me and always maintains a high level of concentration to solve them. My cognition, five senses, and insight have become more sensitive and heightened, so I can’t ignore even the smallest variables and dangers.

‘Four forks, three spoons, eight plates, and three broken ones. Among them… … .’

During this time, I was compulsively counting the dishes that had fallen on the floor. This was not something I did on my own. My brain was just mechanically inputting everything in sight.

Even if my consciousness is slightly out of focus, I feel like I have wasted my brain. I need to turn my consciousness inward, not toward external senses.

Damn, I’m going crazy. No, I’m already crazy.

“… … Okay, tell me about that brilliant plan. I think I’m the only one who can grant your wish for the afterlife.”

I raised my head. Ilay, who had put down the hilt of her sword, was sweeping back her disheveled bangs.

* * *

I prepared my equipment for the mission at the Lavienrose mansion. I hope this isn’t the last mission in my life.

But it is likely to be the last. This is not pessimism, but a realistic look.

Even if your goals are idealistic, your thinking must be realistic.

Creak, creak.

I folded my fingers one by one.

The hastily repaired body listened to me pretty well. Even though it wasn’t in perfect condition, it wouldn’t be defeated by a half-assed guy.

Chiik.

I borrowed the chest armor that Ilei had been wearing and put it on. The only peculiarity was that the transformable helmet folded along the neck frame. It was the style that Ilei preferred to wear.

OMG.

I ran my fingers along the neck rim. The folded helmet slowly rose up to cover my head. I ran my fingers along the rim in the opposite direction, and this time the helmet folded again.

‘Giselle.’

My gaze stopped on Giselle, who was lying on the bed. She was not in danger of dying, but she was not waking up. It was because she had suffered a great deal of mental shock in a short period of time.

I am a human being trained and modified to withstand extreme environments and pressures. But Giselle is different.

This incident has left Giselle with many psychological scars that will never go away. On top of that, if I die, I will suffer terribly. That’s why I didn’t want to die.

Martina Diva said she would take care of Giselle during the storm. In many ways, I owe Martina a lot. I will have to repay it someday.

“… … I’ll go and come back.”

Even if you’re prepared to die, don’t die, Luca.

I muttered and left the room. The interior of the mansion was immediately recognized. I saw things I had never seen before. It was thanks to the four hours of sleep I had had.

‘Please, Ilay.’

Ilay is no longer in the mansion. He left the mansion four hours ago after hearing of my plan.

When I went down to the first floor, I saw Jin Ga-woo drinking. Martina Diva was next to him, putting snacks in his mouth one by one.

-The area has been sealed off, so citizens… … .

I was watching the outside news on a large screen that filled the entire wall. The story about the blockade and riots in the upper zone continued to flow.

“Ah, Luca. I didn’t ask you earlier because I was in a hurry… … Did you try the syringe I gave you?”

I lifted the hem of my coat over my combat uniform. A metal syringe was revealed. It was a gift I had received from Jin-ga-u when I visited his laboratory before.

“I think I’ll probably write it today.”

“What about the manual?”

“I read it all.”

I said as I walked towards the back door of the mansion.

“Really? Let me ask you one thing. How many steps were there just now?”

“… … There are 42 of them. Should I also tell you the number of the railing posts?”

Jin-ga laughed. He put his hand inside Martina’s clothes and stroked her body. In fact, I don’t know if the piece of cloth Martina was wearing should be called clothes.

“I tell you in good conscience that if you use that in a state of hyperarousal with that level of arousal, you’ll probably die. Or at the very least, you’ll become a wreck.”

“The advancement of science requires sacrifice. I will dedicate myself to contributing.”

I nodded and pushed open the back door.

“Wow. I like you, Luca.”

“Honestly, I hate you, sir.”

Jin Ga-woo laughed heartily. I opened the door, leaving that laugh behind.

thud!

I left the mansion and closed the door. Unlike the comfortable mansion, the damp air was the first thing that greeted me.

When I looked up, I felt like I was already going to get depressed. The sky was dark and it was raining heavily.

I walked forward, passing through the complicated alleys and exiting onto the main street.

Beyond the buildings, all I could see were flames and smoke. The flames were clearly red, but in my view, they were colorful. The billowing mass of smoke felt like a metaphorical figure.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Next I hear the roar of the crowd. It’s like someone is shouting through a loudspeaker right in my ear.

My head hurt from the overstimulation. I felt around my neck and unfolded my helmet.

Kiiing!

Even the sound of the helmet working was grating on my nerves.

La Vie en Rose’s VIP mansion is located in the lower area, and the riot is taking place in the upper area and its border.

However, the lower areas were not safe. This was a lawless area where even the minimum level of security had disappeared. The security force that existed was concentrated in the upper areas.

Crime was rampant in the lower-level areas, taking advantage of the chaos. Dead bodies of only a few days old were visible in every alley. Even the interiors of buildings were not safe. Looking around, broken windows and bloodstains were everywhere.

“You, what, ugh! Shut up!”

As I passed by, I hit the robber’s head with my palm. His face sunk in and his eyeballs popped out. The knife he was about to stab me with fell to the ground.

My violence just now was purely a combat reflex. I didn’t think or move in any particular way.

Thud, thud.

I walked down the street like a ghost. My consciousness was not clear. I deliberately tried to lose my concentration.

Now is the time to conserve your brain.

… … When I came to my senses, I had arrived at the border between the lower and upper levels. It was one of the checkpoints of Akbaran.

A huge crowd of people blocked my path. They were shouting upward.

“We have the right to be protected!”

“Send out the drones and androids!”

“I, I’m from the upper floors! Get out of the way, get out of the way!”

“Stop being so annoying!”

The area below the checkpoint was a crucible of chaos. Protesters and people trying to enter were tangled together. Some were trampled to death.

-If you enter without permission, I will shoot. I warn you again. Without permission… … .

Soldiers at the checkpoint were blocking the crowd.

I slowly opened my half-closed eyes. I regained consciousness and became aware of my surroundings.

‘This checkpoint is better than the other ones.’

Because the checkpoint was close to a middle-class residential area, no bloodshed occurred.

The soldiers did not use violence rashly. Most of them were from lower classes, and their relatives and acquaintances may be among the protesters. If there were no orders from their superiors, they would maintain a calm standoff.

‘The imperial family will not give the order to open fire unless the protesters turn into rioters.’

The empire and the royal family were reluctant to commit senseless massacres of their own people, and only committed the necessary level of tyranny. Surprisingly, they always chose the method of minimizing the damage. However, because the time span is so macroscopic, it appears as a cruel tyranny when viewed through myopic eyes.

Knock, knock.

I pushed my way forward, pushing people away. Some of them, overcome with emotion, tried to grab my body in anger. Each time, I broke their fingers and arms.

chuck.

I stood in front of the checkpoint, cutting through the crowd. The border line was flashing yellow, sending out a warning.

“If you come closer… … .”

The soldier who was aiming at me couldn’t continue speaking.

Creak, creak.

I felt around the neck rim and folded the helmet.

“My name is Lucius Custoria. Every citizen of the Empire is entitled to the protection of the Imperial shield… … This is the right of the Imperial subjects proclaimed by His Majesty the First Emperor, Dino Kratzia.”

I can’t stop now.