Chapter 130: I Am the Reason
Colonel Ryan looked with both his eyes—the human one and the glowing cybernetic one—narrowing his brows cautiously as he studied the sanitation worker standing before him, who spoke with absolute composure as though he saw no difference in rank or authority between them!
The Colonel felt entirely uneasy looking at this man’s face...
For he did not look or act like a simple sanitation worker at all! Rather, his very being radiated a strange, remarkably imposing aura—an aura that felt suspiciously familiar to the Colonel. Unconsciously, Ryan raised his hand to stroke the armored cybernetic portion of his face with extreme slowness, only becoming aware of this automatic gesture moments later.
That behavioral reflex was an automatic reaction that occurred whenever he recalled a specific individual who had left a profound mark on his life... It was a sudden, peculiar sensation that sparked internal astonishment and perplexity within him.
Colonel Ryan exhaled heavily to break the ice, speaking in an unexpectedly calm tone:
"How important is this information you carry?... You may rest and sit on that sofa first."
Cain offered a light, satirical smile, exchanging a fleeting glance with Lucy before they headed toward the luxurious leather sofa the Colonel had indicated in the middle of the room. Cain and Lucy nodded their heads in formal respect, then sat with completely relaxed shoulders as if they owned the place!
At that moment, sheer bewilderment swept over Raphael’s face as he observed his master’s conduct. Raphael had served under Colonel Ryan’s command for a long time and had never seen him treat even higher-ranking officers or officials with such tact or deference. Instead, he usually confronted everyone with harsh military coldness and sharp arrogance.
Yet when Raphael analyzed the situation in his mind, he assured himself that his master certainly didn’t genuinely respect two lowly sanitation workers; such nonsense did not align with the Colonel’s strict persona! His master was undoubtedly employing a psychological charm technique and tactical gentleness to make the worker and woman feel secure and comfortable, prompting them to reveal all their information without fear of police authority or intimidation by military uniforms.
Raphael smiled to himself, realizing this plan... After all, he believed this was the professional mindset and flexibility senior officers ought to possess during interrogations.
However... Raphael did not know the full truth!
Inside Colonel Ryan’s head, he was equally surprised and baffled by his own friendly behavior! By nature, he had never been a welcoming or gentle person to strangers, but he persuaded himself with the exact same logic: he was doing this solely to untie the tongues of the worker and the woman, allowing them to unload whatever information was in their minds without fear.
Despite this logical justification, Ryan was an officer who had fought in dozens of bloody wars and battles that had turned his hair gray. He possessed an extensive record of blood and inevitable victories, and through all those turbulent years, he had naturally forged a sharp combat instinct!
And his instinct was warning him at this exact moment in a roaring voice: ’Do not lower your defenses under any circumstances!... Be careful, there is danger!’
Yet Colonel Ryan reasoned that this was merely standard professional paranoia. He was accustomed to being wary of the smallest details and slightest movements; thus, he did not grant this instinct much weight, expecting it to be logically impossible for a mere sanitation worker to pose a genuine threat to a tech-decked officer like himself.
Meanwhile... Cain analyzed the scene with pure rationality, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at the Colonel who had invited them to sit.
Cain did not grasp the precise tactical details that had prompted Ryan to invite them to sit, but he clearly felt that cautious energy emanating from him... It was what was commonly known in the higher realms as "warrior’s intuition."
Moreover, the armored cybernetic portion spanning half of Colonel Ryan’s face closely resembled the cybernetic half of that foolish man whom Cain had recently exiled through a dimensional portal into the depths of the infinite abyss!
It seemed they shared a similar technology or blood relation... yet Cain noted that this Colonel appeared far more composed, rational, and in control of his mental acuity than that reckless fool who had dared to insult and disrespect him earlier.
And that was precisely what separated a true, complete warrior from a foolish man possessing mere fleeting authority: sound intuition and quick assessment of the situation... As for the rest, it was merely trivial background noise.
At that moment, Colonel Ryan turned his stern gaze toward Raphael, who remained standing near the open door, and commanded in a firm voice:
"Why are you still standing there, Raphael? Take the rest of the soldiers and get out there to clear this debris and the shattered desk immediately!"
Raphael delivered a swift military salute, nodding his head: "At your command, Colonel, sir!" He then scurried quickly out of the room, shutting the solid door tightly behind him to make way for the confidential conversation.
After Raphael’s departure, Colonel Ryan turned his face entirely toward Lucy and Cain, who were sitting steadily and elegantly on the sofa.
"...And now we move to the evening news segment with the anchor..."
The rapid sound echoed from the mounted television screen. Colonel Ryan raised the remote and shut off the screen instantly, plunging the office into silence. He then stepped forward with steady strides and sat with dignity on the comfortable leather chair directly opposite them.
The Colonel interlaced his organic and cybernetic fingers together, speaking in a calm, formal tone:
"Very well, modern guests... What is the nature of this important information you wish to disclose to me?"
Cain looked directly into the Colonel’s eyes—both the human and cybernetic one—without batting an eyelash. His gaze was entirely devoid of fear or awe, as though he did not care in the slightest about the presence of a high-ranking officer before him, nor did he view him as possessing a higher rank in any way inside this closed room!
Leaning back in his seat, Cain spoke with a tone carrying a faint trace of artificial regret:
"In truth... I wanted to say something specific that might interest you deeply, Colonel, and demand your utmost attention."
Those words struck Colonel Ryan as mere fluff and unnecessary stalling, prompting him to ask with growing impatience and a desire for closure:
"Then why do you not disclose this information directly without preamble?"
A calm, enigmatic smile formed on Cain’s lips as he stared into Colonel Ryan’s eye, speaking in a heavy, confident voice:
"In fact... I wanted to inform you, Colonel, that I have begun to feel quite guilty regarding all the actions and chaos that my partner here and I have caused in the recent past... For in truth... I am the direct and original cause behind everything that is happening right now!"
Colonel Ryan’s human eyebrow shot up instantly, and his cybernetic eye ceased its red pulsing for a moment in pure surprise.