189
I took a deep breath, intoxicated by the afterglow of battle.
Although I had sealed the Hwagwang Islands myself and was under restrictions, this time I was able to fully display my skills in close combat. Captain Menoa of the Guard was a capable person who could accept that ability.
‘When I was a cadet in the Royal Guard, I had three or four opportunities a month to vent my aggression. There were also frequent combat missions.’
One of the hardest times I had in Akbaran was when I was dispatched to Krachia Academy. I thought I was going half crazy at that time.
‘It’s quiet now that the resolution is over.’
I closed my eyes and checked my inner self. The desire that had been overflowing to the point of being expressed on the outside was no longer surging. It would eventually come back, but not for the time being. My emotional turmoil had also subsided, and I was able to see the world with a clearer sense of reason.
Looking at it this way… … I am also a person who is very far from normal. Although my aggressiveness was high among the cadets, they all had similar tendencies and types to me.
However, although most of the people I met in Border City were far from normal, I was the only one who couldn’t control my aggression.
“You went from being a monster to being human.”
Ragnata spoke to me from inside the duffel bag.
“I’m starting to feel like pulling that tongue out.”
I opened my eyes with my arms crossed. I stared at Jafar and the captain of the guards.
‘How strange.’
The two seemed to know each other. Jafar looked down at the captain of the guards and said something in Tajrun.
The captain of the guards did not show any particular emotion while fighting fiercely with me in a situation where all his subordinates were annihilated. He expressed his feelings through solemn behavior.
‘But the emotions that came out when facing Japha were showing on his face. Anger, contempt, hatred… … .’
The captain of the guards hated Jafar intensely. He was shouting at him in Tajrun, and Jafar was listening to him silently.
‘Will Jafar save the captain of the guards?’
I too could now vaguely discern the emotional signals of the Tajirun race.
Jafar looked at the captain of the guards with pity. He extended his hand to the Equusian mercenary and signaled for him to be transported.
But then something strange happened.
Wood crunch!
The captain of the guard did not receive Jafar’s sympathy. He struck his own neck with his free hand. The neck bent as if it was dislocated by the blade, and the eerie sound of life being cut off resounded.
-If you give him emergency treatment right now, he can be saved, Jafar.
One of the Equusian mercenaries spoke through the translator. Now that I think about it, I don’t see Yen.
“No, let me die. It was my own choice.”
Jafar turned his back and said, his already narrow eyes opening even more faintly and sinking into thought.
“Is this situation basically over?”
I spoke to Jafar. Jafar looked back and forth between me and Ragnatha.
“Mr. Luca, your group has grown. And I remember asking you to escort Anguis Regina, not to provide support… … .”
I shrugged. I had nothing to say. I came here purely to satisfy my personal needs.
‘Jafar didn’t need my help.’
Jafar had prepared a lot for today. Even I was surprised by the bold move of blowing up a floor of the building.
“Anguis Regina is in the safe house. Should I go get her?”
“I’ll leave that to someone else. I’m more curious about the person next to you. He doesn’t look normal.”
“He’s the assassin who attacked Anguish Regina. And… …he’s an acquaintance of mine from the past.”
I brought it up appropriately. I heard Ragnata laugh softly.
“Then, since you’re saying he was an enemy, I’ll send him to the detention cell and ask you the details later. Is that okay?”
Japha must be having a terrible headache right now. There were more than a few situations that needed to be dealt with.
‘And I also had the luxury of caring for Jafar.’
I nodded and handed the duffel bag containing Ragnata to Equusian. Ragnata would be taken to the detention cell in the basement of the building.
“This old man is badly injured, so give him some painkillers and antibiotics. Don’t let go of his arm. He’s weak and his legs are missing… … He used to be an assassin who could do a lot of damage. If you let your guard down, you’ll lose your head. Many of your colleagues have been hit as well.”
Equusian flinched at his colleague’s story, but soon seemed to have put aside his personal feelings and went downstairs carrying the duffel bag containing Ragnata.
Jafar activated the hologram on the terminal and gave instructions to the staff. He then chatted with the press and Border City officials. Jafar was informing key figures in Border City that the disturbance had calmed down.
“I’ll create a press release with more details and send it to you. Oh, yes, hoyooo, the report will be out the day after tomorrow… … .”
Being the head of an organization is a very tiring position. I felt like I couldn’t do it even if I died. I had to say things I didn’t mean. If it were me, my life would be cut in half due to stress.
Jafar gulped down water as if he had finished taking care of urgent business.
“Is Yen dead?”
“I almost died. I think I’m getting treatment now.”
“You were acting all smart, but I guess you got screwed.”
“Because she took on the most dangerous role. It was Yen who bought me time to activate the explosives. Yen has never let me down. He has never failed a mission.”
Trust is oozing out of them. They say they are employer and mercenary, but it’s only natural since they’ve been through thick and thin together for a long time.
I wanted to see how En fought. I’ve always been curious about his skills. I guess I’ll get to see it someday. Judging from the fact that he was able to buy time against the Menoa Guard, he probably wasn’t just talking.
“Are we going to renegotiate with the Menoa family now? They’re back to being exiles. We’ve repelled one attack, and they’ve suffered a lot of damage, so there’s room for peace.”
I took a chance. Jafar looked at me as if he was thinking about something.
“Did you hear about my information from Anguise Regina?”
“About half. The other half somewhere else.”
“That woman mentioned the Menoa Guard earlier. As you said, she is a former member of the Menoa family, and is currently an exile. Does that interest you?”
“Interest aside, it’s easier to find Kinuan if I know about you. I suspect that your hiding information has something to do with this matter as well.”
Jafar is in a difficult position right now and has a lot to do, and negotiations with the Menoa family are essential.
‘But chief bodyguard En was seriously injured.’
There is a power vacuum in Jafar, and I am the perfect fit to fill that void. I have the opportunity to access Jafar’s private information.
“Mr. Luca, you can probably guess what I’m going to say now. It seems like you’ve been leading me on to this, ho-yot.”
It’s good that we can communicate well. I laughed.
“For the time being, I will take Yen’s place. It’s free. I won’t receive any compensation.”
“… … Of course, if you have a conscience, you shouldn’t accept it. Incidentally, it’s very difficult to hear the word ‘conscience’ from Tajirun.”
* * *
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Three more days had passed since the Jafar boss attack. Jafar boss was slowly returning to normal. It seemed that Anguis Regina’s tour would resume once things stabilized.
Thud, thud.
I walked down the hospital hallway to En’s room. I went there to hand over the work to En, albeit formally. Well, it was just an excuse, I just wanted to see for myself what kind of a jerk he was.
“Hmm, it’s a rag. But it’s still alive, so I guess Equusians are stronger than humans?”
I said as I looked at the chart of Yen on the monitor screen. It was hard to find a place where the bones were not broken. The body was filled with iron bars that held the bones in place.
-You came to visit your senior in the hospital and you are empty-handed?
En, who was lying on the bed, turned her head towards me and said. I rummaged through my pockets and took out a crumpled energy bar and threw it on the bed.
“It’s rich in nutrients. It’s perfect for patient food. Is that okay?”
En frowned. The Equusian’s face without his battle helmet seemed unfamiliar.
The Equusians are said to be a species that evolved from creatures similar to horses on Earth, just like we are apes.
However, just as we have lost most of our hair, the Equusians do not have much of a horse’s traces. This is the result of a long evolution. Rather, they seem to resemble reptiles because of their blue skin.
Anyway, the appearance of the race is not my concern. What matters to me is that the Equsians are a tenacious and hardy fighting race.
-Hospital food is disgusting, but this tastes better. Next time, buy me a Jaffa Burger or pizza. They don’t even let you order delivery here.
En glanced at the energy bar and grumbled.
“I don’t know if there will be a next time, but remember this. For the time being, I am Jafar’s personal bodyguard. Is there anything else I should know?”
-It would be difficult to guard Tajirun with the human biological cycle.
“You don’t have to worry about that, because sleep control is also possible.”
– And Jafar eats occasionally, but he’s a big eater. Oh, and he won’t eat unless he has a carbonated drink. After eating, he usually sleeps for more than half a day.
The more I know about the person I’m protecting, the better. But hearing even these little details made me feel like a nanny.
“also?”
-There will be times when Jafar wakes up screaming in his sleep. Just leave him alone. He often has nightmares. Lastly, regarding Jafar’s personal life, his employer’s personal life is… … .
En couldn’t continue. He suddenly vomited blood. His vital signs flickered on the monitor screen.
CLANG!
The door opened and the medical staff came running. The medical staff looked at me and started talking about how this patient absolutely needed to be rested. Originally, he was not even allowed to speak. Even now, they say his vocal cords and lungs were pierced by metal rods.
“See you next time, Equusian, unless we both die.”
As I said that, I left the sickroom.
* * *
I confirmed that Lapis Lazuli, Boyan, and Gabriel are all safe.
Of course, Angus Regina was also safe and well. She was preparing to return to the tour. The attack by Sergeant Jafar that had caused a stir in Border City seemed to have been gradually forgotten.
Rattling, rattling. Boom!
The Jafar Corporation headquarters was under construction. Heavy equipment was piled up around the building, and construction drones were flying around, reattaching the burnt-out exterior walls.
As interior construction was also in progress, people were rushing back and forth carrying materials and furniture.
Thud, thud.
I went down to the basement of the building, stuffing my pockets into my new coat. There were cells lined up, and beyond the bars were strange aliens and sometimes humans. This was a ‘private prison’ for those who had committed crimes against the Jafar boss. There were not only criminals, but also people who were simply undesirable.
“I’ll kill you! Japha! Japha! Japhaaaa!”
“In the patty of the Jaffa Burger! In the patty! I heard it! I heard it! Aaaah!”
“You lock someone up for a year just because he ate a few meals without permission?! Let him go! Something is wrong!”
As I passed by, people grabbed the iron bars and started shouting and making a fuss. Many of them looked crazy.
Some people even spat on me. I lifted my foot and kicked my hand against the iron bars as I passed. It became quiet a little when I heard the sound of fingers breaking.
Squeak, thud.
I went down one more floor and closed the iron door.
From here, it was a soundproof VIP detention room, and Ragnata was in the innermost room. She was receiving proper treatment. Her amputated leg was wrapped in bandages, and her broken arm was also in a cast. The smell of medicine was faintly wafting.
“I guess it can’t regenerate on its own? It would be pretty fun if its legs just grew back.”
I said to Ragnata as I sat on the chair beyond the iron bars.
“If that’s possible, you’d be a monster, not a human. By the way, I’m bored, so next time, please bring me a few books.”
“I have no reason to do you such a favor. If you want something, you should trade equally. You owe me just to keep you alive.”
A deep wrinkle formed at the corner of Ragnata’s mouth. She smiled.
“If there’s anything you want from me, just tell me, boy.”
I interlocked my thumbs and pursed my lips.
“What do you think is the weakness of the Archies Bigtima user?”
I asked her about her experience.
