Chapter 234
Chapter 234
Return Visit (2)
Probably, if they took it back to the body, those muscles and nerve bundles would reconnect with it, allowing it to live again.
“To think someone could resurrect as long as only the head remained alive. That’s truly unbelievable.”
― Wa… wait. Hold on. I-I can guide you. Wasn’t your goal to kill the Emperor? I-I can help!
While staring at the Security Captain’s head still struggling desperately to survive, Kairus tightened his grip.
A crunching sound rang out together with the noise of something being crushed apart.
“I don’t need it.”
After flicking his hand to shake off the crushed remains, Kairus stepped forward. Since he already knew where he had to go, there was no hesitation in his stride.
“So you came.”
Inside the dark palace, Denver Hudson stood waiting.
Kairus lightly waved a hand toward the Guardian of the Nation before speaking.
“You must’ve heard the news.”
His wife, whose time had been frozen, was already secured by Kairus.
“To freeze the time of your sick wife. Truly touching.”
“…Is Liriana safe?”
Instead of answering Denver Hudson’s question, Kairus tossed him the ring Liriana had been wearing.
After catching the ring, Denver Hudson slowly examined it, confirming whether it truly was the ring of the Liriana he remembered.
“If you want your wife to remain safe, don’t interfere with me.”
At Kairus’s words, Denver let out a dry chuckle.
“That’s a difficult request. The fact that you brought Liriana’s ring means you already know the rough details.”
“A sick wife, frozen time, a contract with the Emperor. Is there anything else I need to know?”
At Kairus’s question, Denver shook his head.
“That much is enough. You already know everything that needs to be known.”
Denver slowly lifted a wooden stake as he spoke.
“The Imperial Intelligence Department sent people to Bennett City.”
“The two of us came. You’re not stupid enough not to understand what that means.”
The one protecting Liriana was Nora. And under the justification that it required power equal to Kairus and Irena, she was even using Moon Sand.
“Even if the Imperial Intelligence Department sent hundreds, nothing would change.”
“We’ll see about that.”
After replying coldly, Denver Hudson slowly raised the wooden stake.
“If the operation succeeds or fails, I’ll receive word. Until then, I see no reason to open the way for you.”
In simple terms, it meant everything depended on Nora now.
“How about waiting quietly instead of fighting?”
Irena suggested.
In place of an answer, the wooden stake in Denver’s hand instantly turned into charcoal.
Crimson flames licked through the cracks of the split charcoal, and the temperature inside the palace soared in an instant.
“Fuck, if you wanted to fight, you could’ve just answered with words.”
So that meant he intended to fight.
Kairus and Irena each raised the output of their battle gear and prepared for combat.
While the two of them fought Denver Hudson hoping for a favorable outcome.
Nora Galatea was receiving a phone call at the office in Bennett City.
“Director, what is it?”
― The Imperial Intelligence Department contacted me, you know? And they told me something interesting.
Younia had personally called Nora.
And she said the purpose of the call was information obtained through the Imperial Intelligence Department.
Already, Nora felt a slight sense of foreboding.
― Agent Nora Galatea. Are you currently securing the wife of the Empire’s Guardian of the Nation, Denver Hudson?
Younia’s voice sank coldly.
It was no longer the gentle voice from moments ago.
“…That is correct.”
― This is a very good opportunity. Lunaseeker agents are currently heading toward Bennett City. I’ll give you the code, so verify their identities and then hand over the Guardian of the Nation’s wife to them.
Nora shut her eyes tightly.
So this was how they were going to do it.
― Agent Nora Galatea. Your answer?
“Please reconsider.”
At the Director’s order, Nora Galatea expressed her refusal.
At that moment, the other side of the receiver became so silent that not even breathing could be heard.
― Would you like to say that again?
After a long silence, Nora answered Younia’s returning words.
“For Lunaseeker’s sake.”
― No, from where I’m standing, it looks like you got attached after sticking around Featherwing for too long.
Younia’s judgment was not entirely wrong.
But Nora also had something to say.
“Director. Kairus Featherwing possesses Veil of Plumed Mist. And Angelene’s Answer chose Irena Kellogg as its new master.”
Those two trusted Nora enough to entrust Liriana’s protection to her.
So what would happen if Nora handed Liriana over to the Republic under the pretext of following Lunaseeker’s orders?
“The two superhumans who somehow managed to maintain a good relationship with us will immediately become enemies of the Republic.”
― Do you think the Republic can’t handle just those two?
From Younia’s perspective, it was only natural to say something like that.
She was being asked to abandon a means capable of controlling the Empire’s Guardian of the Nation just because they feared two people.
“You received the reports about what those two did to the Empire.”
Still, Nora’s argument had merit as well.
The Empire was currently being shaken to its core, and Kairus and Irena were indeed the cause of it.
And if the Empire could be shaken apart like that, there was no guarantee the Republic could not suffer the same fate.
― Fine. So the reason you disobeyed my orders is because it’s for the Republic’s sake, is that it?
“Yes.”
A slight warmth returned to Younia’s voice.
She had not been persuaded, but there was at least a nuance suggesting she was willing to give Nora a chance.
― My orders are blades wielded through the will of the Republic’s government. The agents have already departed for your location.
“…I figured as much.”
Lunaseeker agents would come to receive custody of Liriana Hudson from Nora.
But Nora intended to refuse the transfer.
― As Lunaseeker’s Director, I will judge Nora Galatea’s deviation as an act ultimately committed for the Republic’s benefit.
“Thank you, Director.”
At Nora’s words, Younia let out a faint chuckle.
― Agent Nora Galatea. Do you know what’s amusing about organizations?
“…Pardon?”
Faced with Younia suddenly speaking about the contradictions of organizations, Nora unconsciously asked in confusion.
― The strengths that once earned someone promotions eventually become the flaws that prevent them from advancing any further.
In Lunaseeker’s case, blind loyalty worked favorably toward promotion.
Obey your superiors, stay loyal to the organization, act without questioning orders, and you would receive high evaluations and rise quickly.
― But once you reach a certain level, none of that matters anymore.
Blind loyalty was no longer necessary.
You had to question things, make judgments, and issue orders yourself.
Someone who had lived their entire life as a hunting dog was suddenly forced to become the hunter instead.
― Being able to make your own judgment and disobey your superior’s orders is a virtue required to rise higher.
“Thank you.”
At Nora’s response, Younia snorted.
― But you still need to bear responsibility for it. Five Lunaseeker agents are heading toward you.
If she refused to hand over Liriana, they would immediately attack Nora.
But in truth, it was not a problem.
Nora currently possessed Moon Sand.
However, Younia was not someone who would overlook that possibility.
― You declared your refusal to obey your superior’s orders. As of this moment, your lease rights to Moon Sand are temporarily suspended. If you refuse compliance, Agent Nora Galatea will be considered unwilling to continue operating as a Lunaseeker agent.
In other words, she would no longer be treated as a Lunaseeker agent.
“…Understood.”
― Good. That is all. If you insist your choice is the correct one for the Republic, then prove it through your own ability.
Nora placed Moon Sand, which had been hanging at her waist, onto the desk.
Then she pulled out the kitchen knife she had used before and gripped it tightly in her hand.
Its output surpassed Standard Nocturne Model 1, but even so, it was far from enough to face five agents at once.
Still.
Nora took a small deep breath.
‘What matters is the person using it. The person.’
Repeating those words to herself over and over again, Nora waited for the arrival of the Lunaseeker agents coming to take Liriana away.
About thirty minutes later, the sound of knocking echoed through the office door.
It was the knock pattern she had already been informed about.
“I refuse. I will not hand over Liriana.”
They could not choose methods like a surprise assault.
Because this was a kind of test.
“Does the Director know about this as well?”
“Yeah. She told me that if I refuse her orders, I should prove myself through ability.”
At Nora’s words, faint laughter echoed from beyond the door.
It was the sound of several people laughing together.
“That’s nice. I really, really hated seeing some green little bitch who hasn’t even been an agent for long getting treated like a department head and acting all high and mighty.”
“There sure were a lot of complaints in the company about my treatment.”
It had been an absurdly rapid promotion.
There was no way she could avoid making enemies within the company.
Originally, Nora was supposed to be treated like the rookie, tailing senior agents everywhere.
Still, Lunaseeker was not such a sloppy organization that people could openly display those feelings, so everyone had merely suppressed their dissatisfaction and doubts.
But not here.
“So you can’t even use Moon Sand now, huh?”
Nora did not answer.
Voices were still coming from beyond the door.
But they were already inside the office.
Holding the kitchen knife in her hand, Nora spun the blade once with a flick before replying.
“If you were curious why I got promoted so quickly, you’ll find out today.”
With a snap, the sound of something breaking rang out.
The black rod.
It was the most textbook form of groundwork Lunaseeker used before entering combat.
“Nora Galatea. A brat with no real combat experience who hasn’t even been active as an agent for very long.”
A male voice whispered near her ear.
“Have you ever fought another Lunaseeker with your life on the line?”
The next voice belonged to a woman.
Naturally, Nora had no such experience.
But….
Nora smirked and swung the dagger toward the darkness.
With a sharp clang, blades collided and sparks scattered.
She had never fought another Lunaseeker prepared to kill.
But sparring with Featherwing had practically been part of her daily routine.
“I’m different from you.”
Within the darkness, the agents moved silently as they aimed for Nora’s life.
Inside pitch-black darkness, Lunaseeker agents dressed in black and wielding black weapons attempted to slit their opponent’s throat through silent movements.
“I can read all of it. Seniors, maybe you should’ve trained a little harder?”
But not a single movement escaped Nora’s senses.
Only the occasional sparks flying from colliding daggers briefly illuminated the surroundings.
And each time, all that could be seen were the wounded figures of the other Lunaseeker agents.
“…How?”
“I trained with Featherwing practically every other day.”
Featherwing was the enemy who understood Lunaseeker better than anyone else.
How Lunaseeker moved. What they aimed for.
The habits they carried.
Through continuing her sparring matches with Kairus, Nora had instead deepened her understanding of Lunaseeker itself.
“Kh… ugh….”
And this was the result.
Even with five Lunaseeker agents attacking her, they could not take Nora down.
No, it had gone beyond merely failing to take her down.
Instead, they were being subdued in return.
“I won’t kill you. We work together, after all.”
She had only inflicted wounds severe enough to prevent them from operating immediately.
Even for Lunaseeker agents who had undergone the procedure, these were injuries severe enough to keep them inactive for at least two weeks.
The time required for all five Lunaseeker agents to be neutralized was roughly thirty minutes.
After finishing the suppression, Nora picked up the phone once more and contacted Younia.
“I proved it through ability.”
― Good. Nora Galatea’s opinion regarding this matter will be accepted.
Just as promised, Nora succeeded in preventing Liriana from being taken away by others.