Chapter 158 158: Slayer (1)
One week later, Cain finally arrived at the 78th Floor. After appointing him as acting branch leader and completing the handover, Cain and I discussed the message he had sent. About that 'nursery facility' where Arie branch family members and illegitimate children from the middle area were supposedly gathered—built by the Elders to raise as their personal hunting dogs.
"The 91st Floor, in the middle of the snowfield zone. That's where one of the 'Paradises' is located."
"Paradise?"
"I don't know what it was called when the Elders were still around, but apparently FUG calls it that now."
"Hmm... I see. So then if we just head to the 91st Floor right now..."
"Did I not mention that the snowfield zone on the 91st Floor spans over thirty million square kilometers?"
"..."
I was rendered speechless by the absurdly vast area. No wonder it was a bit cold when I climbed the 91st Floor. Anyway, so I had to find a single nursery buried under snow somewhere in that blindingly white expanse of over thirty million square kilometers? How long would that even take...
It was truly baffling how FUG had managed to find it.
"...So that's why they built it there and nobody ever found out."
"Right. They would have established it in an unexplored zone of the Outer Tower, hidden even from the ruler of the 91st Floor. Quite meticulous. Considering it was a place where the Elders hid their dirty secrets and their means of supplying military force, it makes sense they'd conceal it so thoroughly."
"Cain hyung, you were the former Second Unit Captain of the enforcement squad—don't you know anything?"
"No. I'm not from the nursery. All I know right now is that there's a nursery facility somewhere in the 91st Floor snowfield zone, and that Yuryeo has little interest in the Elders' legacy. If Yuryeo had wanted to find the nursery, she would have found it long ago. The reason she hasn't is either because she's not interested, or she has no personnel to replenish it with—one of the two."
Then one of my plans—to ask Yuryeo for help—was also a dead end. As expected, this time I'd have no choice but to find it on my own.
"Then I'll send my people to search... ah, I don't have people to send."
"I have a pile of work to handle in your place, so it seems you'll have to go yourself this time."
Cain, who had been diligently scribbling something, set down his pen and handed me a sheet of paper. It was a map that narrowed down the likely locations of the nursery facility within the snowfield zone.
"I'm gradually getting in contact with former enforcement squad members. Before long they'll become the sword of your branch. They're all highly skilled, so the personnel and combat power issues will be resolved soon."
"Haha, somehow it feels like we're devouring the Elders' entire legacy."
"Yuryeo has no interest in this matter, and the other branch leaders either don't know the Elders' legacy exists or lack the ability to find it even if they did—so we might as well take it. Now, go on. I've written some brief instructions on the back of that paper too."
"Um... but what about Harpe..."
Cain smirked and pointed at himself with his finger.
"I'll look after her until you get back. It's not my first time caring for a young girl."
"I'll be in your debt."
"Sure."
Cain was handsome, so Harpe probably wouldn't cry from being scared of him. Reasonably reassured, I took Belsian, Orca, and Heron along and left the branch.
Before departing for the 91st Floor, Harpe was standing before me. With Harp cradled in her arms. Oh no, it was late at night—had she been waiting up because of me?
I bent my knees to match her eye level, stroked her hair, and spoke.
"Harpe, you need to be good and get along well with Harp, okay?"
"Oppa... are you going somewhere again?"
"...Sorry, there are still things oppa has to handle personally. Just be patient a little longer and soon we'll be able to stay together all the time."
"Okay! I'll wait! Come back quick! You don't have to bring a gift this time—!"
"Meooow."
"Haha, got it. I'll bring back a little snack at least. Be good and listen to Cain hyung."
Nod nod—the sight of Harpe nodding her head made the corners of my mouth rise on their own. I straightened my knees and stood, then boarded a high-speed floating ship with Belsian, Orca, and Heron, heading for the 91st Floor.
"...I should stop by the Khun Family main house soon too."
Now that the concubine problem was resolved, there was nothing holding me back anymore. I'd just find the nursery facility on the 91st Floor, then go see Mascheny. The fact that it had only been five years since I'd last seen her was hard to believe—it felt like such a long time.
I miss Mascheny.
And...
I took out a small chest adorned with jewels and gazed at it for a moment, then tucked it back inside my coat and looked out the window. I wonder what Mascheny is doing.
Our high-speed floating ship cut through the sky, expelling blue energy, followed by the handful of Arie Rankers under my command.
Toward the 91st Floor.
.....
"""Zahard Army Imperial Guard! All— attention! To Princess Mascheny Zahard— salute!!!"""
Click— click— click—
"""Great glory to Zahard!!!"""
"...Haah, right."
"Good work, all of you."
Mascheny looked at the fanatics lined up before her and openly showed her annoyance. Regardless, the Zahard Army fanatics merely gazed at Mascheny Zahard with eyes full of reverence and loyalty.
The Rankers of the Zahard Army Imperial Guard assigned to this mission. The one who served as their leader stepped forward and explained the mission to Mascheny in detail.
"You've already been briefed, but the objective of this mission is to hunt down the FUG High Ranker under pursuit. The last place they were sighted was the 91st Floor, and our Royal Palace has also obtained intelligence that FUG is hiding somewhere in the snowfield zone of the 91st Floor—"
Mascheny, who had been listening quietly, couldn't stand the boredom any longer and stood up from her seat.
"Right. So the objective is to find FUG hiding somewhere in the snowfield zone? I already know all of it, so skip the explanation and move quickly."
"Ah, understood. Please forgive the rudeness... relay the order to launch the floating ships and head for the 91st Floor."
"Understood."
The Zahard Army Rankers all boarded their respective floating ships in unison, and Mascheny, along with Ascensio who had come along nominally as her escort, boarded theirs as well.
Whirrrr—
The floating ship fleet carrying the Zahard Army Rankers, Ascensio, and Mascheny all rose into the air simultaneously and began sailing toward the 91st Floor.
Ascensio cautiously approached Mascheny, who was standing and gazing out the window with boredom.
"...Noona, once this mission is over, are you really going to go see Hoaqin?"
"Ascensio, if you're going to be a nuisance, get off the floating ship. We're in the middle of a mission."
"...I'm sorry."
After shooting Ascensio a glance, she went back to the sofa and plopped down, then leisurely poured and sipped some wine.
I do miss Hoaqin... when should I go see him? I should go at some point... should I just finish the mission and go like Ascensio says? No, I still haven't decided what to say when I get there... what if I go too late and he's already taken concubines? Haah, seriously...
"...Haah."
Was I always this much of a coward? Utterly disappointed by this newly discovered side of herself, Mascheny let out a deep sigh.
Right, come to think of it, this is ridiculous. Since when have I ever been so considerate of others?
Her mood shifted in an instant, and she glared out the window with widened eyes.
There's nothing complicated about it. I just need to do what I want. I miss Hoaqin, so I should go see Hoaqin.
...Once this mission is over. Right now it's still... I need to prepare in various ways...
"I wonder what he's doing."
"He's probably thinking about you, noona."
"Heh, that would be nice."
— Attention all floating ships. A mass inter-floor warp will commence shortly. Please brace for turbulence. Glory to Zahard. Over.
Rummmble—
The floating ships sequentially emitted blue light, flashed, and warped toward the 91st Floor.
....
91st Floor, Snowfield Zone
The Elders' Nursery Facility, commonly known as 'Paradise'
♬♩♩♪♫♬♫♬♪♪♪♩♩~
Somewhere in the frozen wasteland spanning over thirty million square kilometers, a beautiful melody resonated. A warm, peaceful melody that seemed as though it could thaw this permafrost.
And then—
♬♫♪♪♪♪♩.....
It stopped.
The naturally flowing melody lost its sound in an instant. A silence so eerie it was chilling. Within it, the one who had been playing the piano slowly raised their head.
"Oh, Chaplin. You're back. So, how did it go?"
"We've located one additional 'Paradise' among the others. It would be good to use it as our hideout and take in the children there as well. Like the children here, they should be blank slates."
"Hmph... those Arie Family Elders really were frightening people. Well, they're dead now so it doesn't matter. We're making good use of the legacy they left behind."
"However, it seems we left a trail in the process of finding the nursery facility."
"Oh? Is that so? By whom? Arie? Zahard?"
"...In my estimation, both."
♩—
He pressed a single key lightly and smiled eerily.
"That's troublesome. I was just starting to like this place. Ahhh, I detest fighting."
"But if our trail's been found, we'll have to abandon this home eventually, and then I'll be angry, and if I need to vent my anger... I suppose... I'll have to kill all those friends, won't I?"
"That would be for the best."
"Ah, Chaplin. Then first, listen to my new composition. I just finished writing it."
♬♩♩♪♫♬♫♬♪♪♪♩♩—
The melody that had stopped began to flow once more.