127
Living in a comfortable upper-class area, there is something we often forget.
Lava flows beneath Akbaran. Geothermal power was one of Akbaran’s key power sources.
The lukewarm air characteristic of the lower layers was also all due to geothermal heat. At least the surface was habitable. Even though it was the lower layer, it was above ground and not underground.
But the deep areas beneath the city are hell. The air is hot and stuffy, to the point where the vents installed throughout the passages are colorless. It literally feels like your lungs are going to boil. Above all, the air quality is so bad that it is fatally toxic.
“This is where a full-body prosthesis is needed the most.”
Kinuan said as he walked through the underground passage. I was next to him.
Ugh.
My breathing was long and narrow, because I was wearing a helmet with a heavy filter.
On the other hand, Kinuan, a full-body prosthesis, was walking comfortably through the passage. In such an extreme environment, I also felt the urgent need for a full-body prosthesis.
‘Even when I went to the sewers with Heilas and Pygon before, I was the only one in a bad condition.’
Even in that sewer, I was the only one who vomited with living organs. There was an area that could not be endured with willpower or training alone.
The Deep Zone was hardly a zone. It was not a place of residence. No one lived there. There were only geothermal power plants that supplied the city with energy, and passageways and facilities for maintenance.
In any case, the deep zone was a place where most imperial citizens would not come to live. The geothermal power plant was a key national infrastructure facility, so not just anyone could enter.
Kiing, kirik.
In the passage we were passing, the surveillance cameras stopped with their heads down. It was because of Kinuan’s surveillance authority.
“… … If you don’t want to bother me, then there must be a reason you’re using this passage.”
I let out a complaint. Honestly, I was going crazy. The inside of my clothes were already soaked with sweat.
“It’s something that requires a lot of secrecy. It’s better not to stand out. I’m a little hot, too.”
Kinuan opened part of his forearm. He injected a refrigerant liquid into his body. The refrigerant would circulate through his circulatory system, rapidly cooling him down.
I also wanted to inject that refrigerant liquid into my blood vessels because I felt like I was going to die from the heat. Well, that’s just a thought. If I really injected it, I would die instantly.
Instead, I took out the water bottle and connected it to the intake tube of my helmet. The cool water made me feel alive. My tongue moved smoothly.
“These days, we see groups in the lower classes trying to manipulate and influence public opinion.”
I said it as if I was changing the subject. There was an instigator attached to me during the Enrico incident. The moment I tried to capture him, the bomb collar went off. That means there’s a pretty scary force behind it.
“There are many forces in the Empire that seek to manipulate public opinion. The force we are about to meet is one of them.”
Kinuan said as he opened the door that was like a side passage next to the passage. His back was exposed, defenseless.
‘Can I kill Kinuan now?’
The high-temperature deep zone was an extremely unfavorable battlefield for me, a living being. I wouldn’t be able to exert even half of my fighting power. If I failed to surprise attack here, I would be the one who was helpless.
“Luka, if you want to achieve your goal, it would be better to move slowly.”
Kinuan spoke, looking straight ahead. He must have been talking about the expulsion of Heilas.
“I’m trying.”
“The military or the royal family will soon make a decision. In fact, it is nearly impossible for you to oust Heilas and seize control of House Custoria in this short time. The only way left for you is to cooperate with the royal family and destroy House Custoria from within.”
It’s a harsh reality. Even if you want to deny it, it’s coming at you fast.
… … I feel sick. It feels even worse because of the heat.
Kinuan continued to speak as if he was pushing me.
“If you wish to walk the path of the Watcher, it is time to make your choice. There is not much time left. Not only is there not much time left for me, but yours is also not much time left.”
Those words sounded like a threat to me.
Crunch.
Kinuan, who had been walking for a while, opened the next door.
Phew.
The air flow became faster due to the temperature difference. A passageway connecting to the outside was finally revealed.
“Luka, the group we’re going to meet from now on is Nemesis.”
It is the Empire’s representative terrorist organization. I wasn’t surprised. It was one of the forces I expected.
‘The scene of Kinuan’s collusion.’
This was the scene of collusion that Heilas had been looking for. If it were me in the past, I would have been filled with thoughts of running to Heilas and reporting it right away.
“Is this His Majesty the Emperor’s order?”
This collusion must be the Emperor’s order. Kinuan nodded.
“It’s the same thing that always happens during the storm. That’s why I’m bringing you along. Later, even when I’m not around, you’ll have to do something similar.”
It was like a handover. It felt like the predecessor who was leaving was teaching the successor how to do things. If our jobs were ordinary, we would have felt a certain emotion at this moment.
We passed through the deep zone and ascended to the surface. Soon, we saw many abandoned ruins. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the outskirts of Akbaran.
Ssuk.
Kinuan searched through the ruins and uncovered a tent. Beneath it was a rusting, skeletal vehicle.
It looked like a junk car on the outside, but upon closer inspection, the engine and other parts were intact. Even the rust marks were just camouflage.
“Move to the entered coordinates. It will take about an hour.”
Kinuan sat in the passenger seat. I also put my helmet on the back seat and jumped into the driver’s seat. Since it was an open car, I could easily jump in and get in.
Kiiing!
The vehicle rolled its wheels fiercely as it advanced through the ruins. We left behind even a trace of the ruins and entered the wasteland.
Kinuan had his arms crossed and his eyes closed. His presence was as quiet as if he were asleep.
‘What is Kinuan’s current fighting power?’
I promised Ivan that Kinuan would die. Today might be the day.
As if responding to my murderous intent, Kinuan lowered his eyes. He moved his thick lips.
“Luka, the hardships and confusion you are going through are the path I have already walked. Trust me. The path of the Watcher is the best for you.”
It was a word that could have many different meanings depending on the situation.
“Even if the process is different from what you intended, I will eventually become a supervisor.”
“Hmm, I’ll give it a try. By the way, I killed my predecessor and became a watcher.”
Kinuan said in passing. But I almost stepped on the brakes. It was a bombshell statement that made my eyes roll back.
“This is the first time I’ve heard the story from my predecessor.”
I barely managed to suppress my trembling and continued my story.
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“It’s nothing special, it happens everywhere in the Empire. The better the whole body is cared for, the longer it will last. It’s common for a child to not be able to wait for his father to retire.”
I was going crazy. My heart was pounding hard. This time it sounded like the story of the current emperor and Ivan.
“I don’t know why the instructor killed his predecessor, but it doesn’t seem like a very good story.”
“It was different for you and me. I was more of a reserve than a successor. The age difference was only ten years. Unless my predecessor died suddenly, it would have been difficult for me to become the next Watcher. There was a high possibility that I would be ‘consumed’ by being sent on a mission that even Watchers would avoid.”
“… … Rather than a betrayal, it was the best way to survive.”
“Anyway, even if you’re after me, it’s not an unfamiliar situation to me.”
I almost reached for the Crucifix next to me. I was so confused.
‘Is the match to be decided here?’
The plan that immediately came to mind was simple: turn the steering wheel to flip the car over, and at that moment, decapitate Kinuan with the Crucis.
‘But I won’t be fooled by such shallow tricks.’
I drove calmly. Nothing had happened yet.
I stared at the car’s radar screen. The old screen didn’t show any landmarks, only the distance and direction to the destination.
What awaits me at the destination coordinates may not be Nemesis, but the executioner.
“You’re thinking too much right now. If you keep adding impurities, your decisions will be slow. The more things you have to protect and situations you have to avoid, the more inefficient your thinking becomes. You have to go around and around, leaving the quickest answer. This won’t work, that won’t work either.”
Kinuan’s words were so sweet. It felt like the fog in my mind was clearing.
‘Protect the Custoria family.’
If we rule out this premise, the answer becomes clear.
He reports Ivan’s misdeeds to His Majesty the Emperor… …and acts as a spy for the Imperial Family within Custoria and the military.
In this complex structure, the clear powers are the Emperor and Kinuan, no matter what anyone says. Agatha also said that Custoria would never be able to defeat the Imperial Family.
“Some people say that impurities make a person stronger.”
I said it as if I was trying to resist temptation. Kinuan let out a hollow laugh.
“That is nonsense. Even if you don’t know who said that, think about it. Isn’t it the person who put those impurities in chains on you? If you shoulder those impurities, who will benefit the most? That person is the one who is forcing you to suffer losses and sacrifices by imposing obligations and responsibilities on you.”
It felt like someone had hit me over the head with a hammer. It was one of the things I had always been struggling with.
‘That I am getting weaker.’
When I didn’t have a family or a clan, I was sharp. All I had to do was protect my own safety. I wouldn’t have suffered like I do now, worrying about this and that.
‘Heilas Custoria.’
… … Heilas put the impurity called family on my back. And it was he who emphasized the impurity and humanity.
I feel like throwing up.
I hope my guess is wrong.
‘Acting head of the household.’
A symbol of trust in me. I was secretly happy. It must mean that they trusted me that much. That’s why I worked even harder. In order to protect the Custoria family somehow…
I want to deny it. However, it is difficult to control the reasoning of Akiess Victoryma. My thoughts were stretched out following the clues Kinuan threw. Kinuan must have been aiming for this too.
My forehead and nose were hot. They were throbbing as if blood was pooling.
“I tell you again, your confusion and suffering is something I have already experienced. During this storm, the imperial court will launch a large-scale purge. Many key figures in the military will die. Deal with it wisely, young Watcher.”
Kinuan even revealed important plans to me.
Beep, beep.
The radar screen’s beeping sound became faster. Before I knew it, I was getting closer to my destination. Thanks to this, I was able to change the direction of my thoughts.
‘person?’
I squinted my eyes in the direction of my destination and saw a person standing on a hill in the distance. He was still so far away that he looked like a dot.
Kinuan got out of the car and took the lead.
“Let’s walk from here. Oh, and cover your face. If I find out your identity, I’ll pull the trigger right away.”
I put on the helmet I had thrown in the backseat. Having killed Rick, I was a wanted criminal and an enemy to Nemesis.
The hill approached. An armed man was waiting for us with a gun. The man had a cloth wrapped tightly around his eyes to match the climate of the wasteland. He had equipment like drones and heavy weapons hanging from his waist and back. He looked like a seasoned soldier.
“Who is it?”
The man looked me over and asked Kinuan.
“He’s a colleague who shares our same views. I can’t reveal his identity yet.”
“You and I have a long-standing partnership, but… … this is difficult. Are you asking me to trust someone whose identity is unknown?”
“What if you don’t believe it?”
Kinuan stood still and spoke. The man frowned, put his hand to his ear, and spoke to someone.
“… … Okay. Let’s start exchanging information.”
Kinuan took out his terminal. The lens opened, and a map of the upper area appeared as a hologram.
“For Rick.”
“For Rick.”
As promised, Kinuan and the man paid tribute to Rick.
On the holographic map, the route from the lower level to the upper level was connected by a line. Each route was detailed with the date and time.
As I stared at the map, I noticed something strange.
‘There is no escape route.’
There was a way into the upper area, but no way out. There was no plan to get out alive.
“How many people can you mobilize?”
Kinuan asked quietly.
“There are about a hundred guys who know how to fight properly.”
“I see.”
They were preparing a terrorist attack during the storm. Detailed plans were being quickly exchanged.
I also took note of their plans one by one. According to Kinuan’s arrangement, Nemesis will attack the nobles designated by the imperial family.
Pieces of confusion were coming together one by one. The outline of the picture was beginning to emerge.
… … How many pieces can I add and touch in this picture, and according to whose plan will the picture be completed?
