Bad Born Blood - Chapter 43



Only Noblemtl

043

“Instructor Kinuan is provoking us.”

I insisted on using the word ‘we’ to the captain of the guards. I relayed to the captain of the guards the impure words that came out of Kinuan’s mouth.

“… …Luka, do you remember when I told you before that Kinuan was on an unofficial mission?”

I nodded in response. Unofficial missions are not recorded. That’s why even the captain of the guards didn’t have a clear understanding of Kinuan’s true identity.

This means that even the captain of the guard is not someone who has access to all information. He, like me, is in a position to receive orders from his superiors.

“The same goes for terrorist Rick Silva Nunez. Rick and Kinuan seem to have been working mostly unofficial missions at the same time. They must have some kind of relationship.”

“One is an instructor, and the other is a wanted criminal.”

“You must be wondering at this point. If Kinuan is so suspicious, why have you left him alone until now?”

It’s true. I’m very curious. But survival comes first.

“If there is a reason why I shouldn’t know, I will close my ears.”

The captain of the guard folded his arms and closed his eyes. He leaned back in his chair and opened his eyes.

“I’ve decided to trust you, Luca. Investigating Kinuan is an order from higher up than the Royal Guard. The higher-ups think they can use Kinuan to get to the heart of the terrorist group Nemesis. They could kill Kinuan right away, but… … they’re leaving him alone. Kinuan knows that too.”

There is no way around it. No amount of torture will be able to open Kinuan’s mouth.

“You gave such an important position as instructor to such a subversive person?”

I said in a loud voice.

“I said I would leave if they didn’t give me the instructor position. Well, Kinuan won’t be able to leave the Royal Guard alive, but he’s also a capable instructor. Is that clearing up your doubts?”

“I’ve been by Kinuan’s side for quite some time, but honestly, I don’t see any sloppy side to him. He’s a person who takes good care of himself and doesn’t reveal his inner feelings.”

Kinuan was more profound than I was. He was a difficult person.

“Stop whining and do your best. You’re the only one who can do the job. Over the past dozen years, I’ve had many students train Kinuan, but none of them have gotten as close as you. Kinuan likes you.”

I chewed over the captain’s words. There was no way I could get out of this.

“… … Then I need more authority than a cadet.”

I listed the permissions I needed: free passage between the lower and upper levels, a special weapons permit, access to a higher-level database than I currently have, and a certain amount of research expenses.

“This isn’t hard to organize, is it? And?”

The captain of the guard gave his permission without hesitation.

“I know it’s not a military-like thing to say, but I don’t want to die over something so dull, especially because I knew too much.”

“I won’t lie. I’ll tell you the truth. If I receive an order from my superiors, I have to make this incident a thing of the past. There are many people I have to sort out. Including you. But I will do my best within my authority. I promise you this. That’s why I incorporated you into my family. You will receive an official ID card within two or three days.”

This is the best we can do. The Empire is ruthless. I know that.

“Just what you said is enough for me.”

It’s not enough. But I can’t ask for more. My life is at the discretion of the captain of the guard.

* * *

The guard cadets wear standard standard equipment. One melee weapon, such as a single-molecule-coated dagger, and a pistol are the standard weapons. They are also given additional equipment as needed for their mission.

… … I have always been dissatisfied with single-molecule blades. The first few times they cut, they cut very well. But after that, the coating gradually peels off. It was a chronic problem. Once the coating peeled off, it was just a sturdy blade.

However, it is understandable. The single molecule coating itself is the result of an advanced process. It is a high-performance weapon that is hard to find on the market. Naturally, the unit price is high, and it is difficult to provide better equipment to cadets.

On the other hand, the standard pistol is a common gun. Of course, it has all the conveniences and is well-made, but its power itself is mediocre.

I visited the Imperial Workshop. The workshop technician assigned to the Royal Guard looked me over.

“Did you get your special weapons permit? That’s a bit much for a cadet.”

It’s rare for a cadet to visit here. At best, they’ll come to run errands or something.

In the Imperial workshop, technicians and androids were seen moving busily. They were making equipment for high-ranking soldiers who had received special weapons permits. The smell of iron and acrid smells lingered here and there.

“It just so happened.”

The technician didn’t ask any more questions. That was a wise thing to do.

“Do you need a catalog?”

The workshop technician had an additional arm attached to his back. He held out an electronic catalogue with the arm attached to his shoulder blade.

I waved my hand over the screen and quickly flipped through the catalog. I had something in mind before I came.

“I want to use a high-pressure, heavy weapon. In the form of a knife.”

I said, pointing to the list of heavy weapons.

“Hmm, you know it’s a difficult weapon to handle? I wouldn’t recommend it as a professional. You have a lot of living parts.”

“I know.”

The technician shrugged as he saw my expression.

“I just make it when the order comes in. As you know, your personal contribution will be deducted from your salary in installments.”

The cost of production in the Imperial Workshop is as high as the quality. If you order decent equipment, you have to spend two to three years’ salary as a cadet. However, since we receive support from the Empire, my contribution was only 10%. This is manageable.

“Even if compressed, it will be a little bigger than the knife you were using.”

“I am taking that into account.”

“Oh, and the single-edged sword is also good, right? It has a cleaner weight distribution and is easier to use. You’re not planning on stabbing with a heavy weapon anyway.”

I nodded. As expected, he was a master craftsman of the Imperial Workshop. With his wealth of experience, he knew exactly what I intended.

Heavy weapons are weapons that are literally made heavier to increase their power, and high compression is the process of compressing such heavy weapons to make them smaller to fit my body type and needs.

High-pressure, heavy weapon.

It may not seem like much, but it is something that only the Imperial Workshops would dare to make. In order to maintain the tensile strength of compressed metal, it is reprocessed at the atomic bond level, something or other… If you are curious, read the description in the catalog.

I ordered a high-pressure heavy weapon in the form of a sword. To put my requirements simply, it looks no different from the sword I used to use, but it is incredibly heavy.

It is not even possible to lift it unless it is a high-performance body. It is also difficult to handle. Instead, it was able to maintain high killing power and cutting power even without a single molecule coating.

“I would also like to order a pistol separately. I need one with high single-shot power. I don’t need assisted firing or cybernetic linkage, so I want the electronic components to be minimal.”

I waited for the technician’s recommendation. I don’t know about swords, but it would be better for the craftsman in the workshop to choose a gun. He would find a good weapon to suit my needs.

After just a few conversations, I had come to trust the craftsman in front of me.

“Just wait. The single shot has high power, but it looks like a pistol… … .”

The technician’s pupils glowed. He was searching for something.

“It’s more for close-range shooting than long-range shooting. The number of bullets doesn’t matter.”

I added. It’s too greedy to expect long-range shooting with a high-powered pistol in the first place. If that’s the case, you should use a rifle.

“A stun gun would be nice. Have you ever used one?”

“I know how to use it.”

It needs warm-up before the first launch, but the power is tremendous. It was something I had in mind.

“You have to use energy cartridges and live ammunition together. The power should be the highest level for a personal firearm. The bullets should be those with refrigerant cartridges. Otherwise, if you fire two shots in a row, the gun will overheat and break down.”

The terms of use are cumbersome. But I had no complaints. My demands were also demanding.

“When can I come and pick it up?”

“A week.”

It’s a difficult order, but it’s fast. I guess that’s why it’s called the Empire’s Workshop.

* * *

I have less than a year left in my cadet life. After that, I will become a full-fledged guard. In the meantime, I am relieved of my menial duties.

‘Ilay hasn’t come back yet.’

Ilay, who had returned to his hometown, had not yet returned to the training camp. I didn’t bother to contact him first. I didn’t want to bother him by calling him to ask how he was doing when there was no business.

“Luka… … Custoria? What on earth did you do? No matter how much the captain of the guards cared for you, you were an adopted child of the Custoria family?”

A colleague I met in the break room said this. The rumor spread like wildfire.

Luca Custoria.

I was adopted as the captain of the guard. I even completed the official registration.

Not only the cadets of the Royal Guard, but even the instructors and the guardsmen I occasionally met spoke to me. They were all curious. How did I get to this point?

I am not of noble birth. I came from a lowly, two-digit family in an orphanage. It was a miracle of success.

But my mind was not at ease. In exchange for joining the family, I had to carry out a very dangerous mission.

I told everyone I met that it was because I had saved Giselle Custoria at the Academy. It wasn’t strange, since I was usually favored by the captain of the guards.

But no one believed me except the cadets. The instructors and guardsmen probably thought there was a bigger story behind it. And they were right.

“On paper, we’re father and son, but don’t call me father anymore. It’s embarrassing.”

The captain of the guard stood at the airfield and said, He was waiting for me.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not that clingy, ‘Father.’”

The captain of the guard burst into laughter. As he approached the air vehicle he had prepared, the door opened.

Thud, thud.

I boarded the Kustoria family’s air vehicle. The captain of the guard sat opposite me.

“Are you nervous?”

“If not, I’d be lying. I’m a little nervous.”

Now I was on my way to the Custoria family’s mansion. It was a formal greeting. I had never seen anyone from the Custoria family except Giselle and the captain of the guard.

“I don’t like this kind of formality and formality either. But since we’re family, I have to say hello.”

“If you set a policy for how I should behave in front of other family members, I will follow it.”

The captain of the guards who heard what I said smiled as if he found it amusing. He rubbed his chin as if he was patting himself, then opened his mouth.

“Behave like you usually do. It will be a refreshing stimulus in many ways. And to my children.”

The captain of the guard laughed like a mischievous boy.