319 Chapter 319: Let Everyone Down (1/2)
”Eh…”
I hesitated for a moment, and then frowned.
”Um…you do realize that the national tournament is about to begin, right? Is this mission extremely urgent? Can't it wait until after the tournament?”
Kureha leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. A Machiavellian smile formed coldly over his pretty face, as if she had decided to take on the role of the bad person today. What the hell? Seriously? Why did she need to do that?
”Actually…no, it can't. I'm very sorry for doing this to your team, but we'll need you to pull out of the tournament.”
”Then I'll convey my apologies as well. I'll have to reject the mission.”
”Even though people's lives are at risk?” Kureha countered. She stared at me, but I returned her gaze evenly. ”You are friends with the late Troy King, aren't you? Then you of all people should know how important it is to stop these fanatics, and the murderers they employ. To prevent the further loss of innocent lives.”
”Miss Kureha, there is no need to play the guilt card or hero card on me. I'm not stupid. If I don't take the mission, you'll offer it to someone else. And I'll be frank, I know that you won't be entrusting a mission of utmost importance to a student like me, especially if it involves so many lives. At best, I'll just be a volunteer helping out the other people that you have already hired or plan to hire, but even if I do not participate, my absence will not make a lot of difference. Especially since you'll find other people to fill the gap eventually.”
Cecilia giggled and patted Kureha's bare shoulder.
”I told you that Richard's a smart guy. It won't be easy to trick him.”
”Aw…” Kureha moaned in defeat. ”And here I thought I could appeal to his sense of justice!”
”I also have a sense of responsibility toward my teammates. I can't just ditch them right at the beginning of a tournament and run off for a mission by myself.”
”You…are certainly different from Troy,” Kureha agreed, nodding her head. ”If it was Troy, he wouldn't have hesitated…especially if the mission concerned his brother, Tyrant King.”
”Troy will be missed.” Cecilia sighed. ”He was a legend…a one of a kind, whose strength and bravery are unparalleled among those in our generation. To lose such a prodigy in such a fashion will be a huge blow to the Federation.”
”If you're asking me to take Troy's place, or to replace him, then I'll tell you frankly that I can't,” I said bluntly. ”I am not Troy. I am nowhere as talented or powerful as him. No one can ever take his place. Especially not someone like me.”
”Brother Richard, you think too poorly of yourself!” Adrian protested. I shook my head.
”No, I'm just being realistic. Besides, I will do the things that I can do…and I hope I'll be able to help in ways that Troy wouldn't be able to accomplish. I am not Troy, I will never replace him…but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit around and do nothing. I will help out in my own way.”
I narrowed my eyes determinedly.
”And one of those ways is to ensure that my team does well in the tournaments…and to make sure I don't let down my teammates by abandoning them.”
”Good answer.” Cecilia nodded in approval. She cast an annoyed glance at Kureha. ”And don't worry about it. Kureha is just pulling a prank on you. We don't need you to actually pull out of the tournaments. In fact, we actually need you to stay in the tournament for as long as possible…in other words, we also require you to ensure that you don't get eliminated. Make sure your team gets past the qualifiers and do well in the knockout stages.”
”…huh?”
Now this was an entire 180 degree. While I was gaping at Cecilia, Kureha burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that she ended up tumbling off the couch and rolling on the carpeted floor clutching her stomach and hammering the ground.
I held up both hands and held my head, looking as confused as Jackie Chan when he was trying to comprehend some foreign Internet meme.
”Someone, please explain to me what's happening? And no jokes, please. No more pranks. I want the truth.”
”Sorry…” Kureha gasped. ”I just couldn't help it. I needed to rip off Divian.”
”Who the hell is Divian?!”
”You ought to know her. She's from Battle Frenzy.” Of all people, it was Cecilia who gave the reply.
I groaned and massaged my forehead. ”Okay, okay. Enough of that Battle Frenzy nonsense. So what exactly is this mission? I thought you said it has something to do with the Assassins Guild. So why do I need to remain in the tournament for as long as possible?”
”We heard that the Dark Church might make their move during the national tournament. With so many teams from so many academies from all over the Federation congregating in one place, it's the ideal situation for the Dark Church to commit a terrorist act and inflict maximum casualties to ruin the Federation. They will definitely take this chance to act. And from our intelligence agents, the Assassins Guild is still under their employ.”
”So they plan to attack the participants in the tournament.” I scratched my head and nodded in understanding. ”I'm guessing that you want me to help keep an eye out for them and thwart their plans if necessary.”
”That's right.” Cecilia smiled, pleased that I comprehended her intent so quickly. ”Since you've fought them before, you're probably the one in our generation most familiar with their modus operandi. That's why we felt that we can count on you.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a knot of tension building up behind it. That was some pressure there. ”…I understand. I'll do my best.”
”Thank you. That's all we expect, really.”
”Knowing Brother Richard, he may take this chance to wipe out the Assassins Guild!”
I glared at Adrian. The kid expected too much of me. He reminded me of Harvey Deng, though I prayed that the two would never meet. I shuddered to think what would happen – it was entirely possible the both of them would start up a fan club.
”I can't do that. But I will do my best to stop and apprehend whatever Assassins I encounter.” By stopping, I meant I would kill them in self-defense, as I did those Assassins who tried to kill me. Honestly, I would have killed Anastasia if she forced my hand, but it was more through sheer dumb luck that I knocked her out instead of outright killing her, and Feng Hai showed up opportunely to take her off my hands.
”Excellent. Then the contract is as good as signed.” Cecilia nodded in approval. While she gave me the stuff to sign, she continued to brief me. Conjuring a holographic screen, she called my attention to a huge map that displayed the Global Federation.
I watched the floating, holographic map, fascinated.