Chapter 171: Tiger. (1) (1/2)
In an unexplored forest overflowing with dark energy, Allen sat under a moving tree and its thorny vines.
“One… two… three…”
He counted the stars in the sky. Small but large motes of light reveal distant worlds. Allen closed his eyes and pondered over his and his family’s future.
“He must be working; it doesn’t matter if he’s not here.”
He heard a voice then. Allen looked back.
“Take this.”
Lilia Primienne stood there, a stack of files in hand.
“Burn it as soon as you read them.”
“…”
[Report on the Demon Blood Kinship: Status of Terrorism by the Demon Blood Clan]
[Management of Demon Blood Prison Camp and the Case Settlement of Prisoners]
[Development of Betan’s ‘Distinguishing Magic’]
[Prison Camp Gas Chamber Agenda]
[Rohalak Expansion]
A total of four confidential documents related to the all-out suppression of the Demon Blood Clan. Allen noted one in particular.
“Gas chamber?”
“It’s an enclosed space full of toxic air.”
Allen shut his mouth. No matter how much he thought about it, he could never know when the continent became like this. Was it the fault of the Demon Blood because they were born as they were?
“How long are you going to keep acting beside Deculein? If this bill goes into effect, it will be too late then.”
Allen looked at Primienne. She was expressionless, but Allen knew the complicated feelings hiding behind that mask.
“Do you know what the Professor said to me?”
Primienne shook her head.
“Deculein’s name also came up a lot on the agenda. There are many things the Professor himself agreed to.”
“His name is not on the gas chamber.”
“…Anyway, it is the truth that the Professor has agreed to the oppression measures. The amount of Demon Blood that he’s murdered could fill a truck.”
For those Demon Blood living in hiding, the name Deculein was more frightening than the grim reaper. Rather than be caught by him, many would rather be killed by a tiger.
“He even put children in Rohalak.”
“But there are no children who’ve died in Rohalak. And the Professor said that children are different. Children hold no fault in whatever era and whatever moment.”
“…”
Primienne clicked her tongue. What happened to the most cold-hearted child in the Yukline family? What in the world are they seeing in Deculein?
“The higher-ups want to assassinate the Professor.”
“No, as the leader, that command is-“
“Elesol is hoping for it. Your flesh and blood.”
“…”
Allen looked at Primienne. Elesol was a name that he hadn’t heard in a long time.
“The leader doesn’t have much time left. Now that Carixel is in Rohalak, Elesol will command the Demon Blood.”
“If you assassinate the Professor, the oppression of the Demon Blood will intensify.”
“We are ready for the war. Rather than being trapped in gas and the clan dying purposeless deaths, rather than doing nothing….”
Primienne was feeling the tension slowly suffocating them these days. With the distinguishing magic invented by Betan, there wasn’t much time left.
“It’s a gas chamber, Allen. There is no record of slaughtering humans like this in any history of the continent.”
Then, Allen asked back dully.
“…What do you think? Do you want me to kill the Professor?”
“…”
Primienne didn’t answer. The truth was, Deculein remained as a special memory for her too, so she shook her head.
“Leave during the winter. Since it’s Reccordak, you can walk away easily. Your new identity has already been decided. And even if it weren’t for you, Elesol would try to kill Deculein anyway.”
“…It’s now time to go back.”
Allen stood. He took a step forward, and with that stride, moved thousands of meters. In simpler words, he disappeared into the forest.
“…”
Primienne left alone, looked at her watch. It was 4:13, and dawn was breaking over the mountain. Deculein must have woken up already, too.
*****
Scratch— scratch—
I wrote the techniques and the magical circle using a fountain pen. It was the last remote test of the advanced lecture.
[1. The following is a magic circle that applies the theory of the Iron Man. Interpret correctly and predict the usefulness and outcome of the magic.]
A question that collected only the essence of what I have taught so far. If there was an answer sheet for this test, and a student submitted a proper answer, it would be longer than most research papers. So, I was quite proud of the level of difficulty.
It was brutal.
Scratch— scratch—
The volume of the test question that I wrote so far was seven pages, and the mana I consumed was roughly about 5 thousand. I was planning on making six questions, but I hadn’t even finished one, and I would probably need more than 8 thousand mana and almost two weeks to complete it.
Scratch— scratch—
I looked at the clock after using about half of my mana on Understanding. It was 5 am.
Knock, knock—
I opened the door.
“Professor, how are you?”
The guest waiting outside bowed.
“…Primienne? What’s going on?”
“I brought the plan. Can I come in?”
I nodded, motioning her to come inside and sit.
“…”
“…”
It was silent for a moment. I looked her up and down in her attire as the Deputy Director of Security. She wore a thick padded jacket and a fur hat.
“Do you hate the cold?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you were originally from the North.”
“I hate the cold. Even if I’m from the North, I can still hate the cold.”
“…Okay.”
Primienne put a total of three crystal balls on my desk.
“This is for the conference about Sylvia. If you can participate, please do so.”
Each was connected to executive members of the Intelligence and Security Bureaus. The demand for a meeting was sudden, but I agreed to serve as a consultant regarding Sylvia.
“…Of course.”
“Then, start the connection.”
When she nodded, Primienne blew mana into the crystal.
“Ah, ah. Can you hear me? Director?”
—…
“Ah, ah. Director. Ah, ah.”
—…
“Hey.”
—Hmm? I can hear you. Primienne?
“…Yes, the Professor is beside me.”
—Ah! Professor, nice to meet you. I’m the Director of Security, Dron.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Primienne also connected with the second ball. This time, it was for the Intelligence Bureau.
—Nice to meet you, Professor. Please do understand that I cannot tell you my rank and name due to the nature of our service.
“I don’t mind. Let’s get to the point.”
—Yes, we are reinforcing Sylvia’s surveillance rank.
“The reason is…”
—The circumstances where Sylvia and Rohakan have made contact have been determined.
I listened silently, showing no expression. Primienne tried to read my face, but it was only amusing to see her trying so hard.
—Rohakan is a Black Beast grade criminal. Therefore, those who have made contact and cooperated with him despite knowing his identity are subject to the Empire’s legal surveillance. Also, Sylvia has communicated with him not once but several times.
“Do you have evidence?”
—Yes. Primienne has it readied.
She handed me some pictures of Sylvia and Idnik conversing with Rohakan.
—What do you think?
“…Did the Intelligence Bureau take it directly?”
—It’s evidence that was tipped off to us.
“There’s no crazy person in this world who would take a picture of this and report it.”
—…
“They have no class… if such paparazzi were discovered, it would be over.”
—Yes.
Tsk—
I clicked my tongue.
“Anyway, as long as her contact with Rohakan has been verified, it’s a given to reinforce her surveillance.”
—Yes, that’s right.
That was the answer the Intelligence Bureau wanted.