Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Ismael La had granted me freedom. The word "granted" felt a little off, but there was nothing I could do about it.  

'For now, I should think of Ismael as my superior.'  

Ismael was backing me with the support of the Federation's high-ranking officials.  

'More than anything, Ismael is someone willing to take risks. If he were a conservative type, there wouldn’t even be room for negotiation or deals.'  

It was purely luck that I had connected with a progressive bureaucrat. My gamble had paid off.  

I recalled Ismael’s words.  

'Luka, your asylum application will be processed within three days. Do not leave Border City, and no matter what happens, you must answer my calls. I need to prove that you’re under my control for the higher-ups to accept this.'  

He was right. I had to wear the leash Ismael handed me. The key was to make it as loose as possible, not to reject it outright.  

'My neck feels tight for no reason. Must be psychological.'  

I unbuttoned the top of my shirt with one hand and rubbed the back of my neck.  

Border City had returned to its routine. The chaos caused by the Legions and the prototype MAU’s rampage had settled as if it had been nothing more than a minor disturbance. The Federation’s information control likely played a role in that.  

I headed to the hospital where Jafa and Lapis were admitted. It was a facility for the upper class, with armed guards patrolling the premises.  

'And Equessian mercenaries.'  

Familiar Equessians loitered inside and outside the hospital. They were Jafa’s direct subordinates. Upon recognizing me, they gave me slight nods.  

'Looks like fighting together softened their hostility a bit.'  

I could sense that their gazes were less hostile than before.  

After clearing identification, I entered the hospital. Walking through the stark white corridors, I stopped by Lapis’s room.  

Beep, beep.  

A periodic signal echoed. Lapis was still breathing with the help of life-support equipment.  

'I’ll find the culprit myself.'  

It was one of my other objectives. Whoever was responsible would suffer unbearable pain.  

Lapis was one of the few good people I had met in Border City.  

'This is the absurdity of the world. Villains roam free while the good suffer misfortune.'  

If the world were just, things like this wouldn’t happen. But reality wasn’t ideal, and people justified their cynicism under the excuse of pragmatism.  

I was no different. A cynical wreck of a person.  

Step, step.  

Leaving Lapis’s room, I made my way to Jafa’s.  

Ssshhh, ssshhh.

Understood. I will ensure Jafa is referred to correctly as female in all future translations. Here is the corrected version:  

---  

The sound of the respirator was harsher than before.  

Jafa was submerged in a cultivation chamber, with only her head exposed. A pale blue liquid circulated beyond the thin glass of the chamber.  

'Full-body regeneration treatment. A procedure fit for the wealthy.'  

Seeing Jafa reminded me of En, who had been beaten by the Legion. En was probably recovering somewhere in this hospital as well. Given the durability of an Equessian’s body, he wouldn't have died.  

Drip.  

I raised an eyebrow slightly.  

One of the numerous IV packs hanging by Jafa’s head was running empty. The drug was flowing directly into her body.  

“Gaaack! Cough, kehh!”  

Jafa awoke with a loud choking sound. Judging by the effect, the drug being administered was likely a combination of painkillers and stimulants.  

“Did she set this up so she’d wake up when I arrived?”  

That was an impressive display of willpower. She must have given the order during one of her brief moments of regained consciousness.  

“Ah, hold on… My thoughts… are a mess… Hooh, hooh.”  

Jafa took deep breaths one after another. The respirator hooked to her mouth automatically lowered to her chin.  

I took a seat and waited for her to return to reality. Her unstable pupils kept dilating and constricting.  

“Hssss, hssss…”  

Once she had steadied her breathing, Jafa locked eyes with me.  

“This attack was aimed at me.”  

“Hoooh, I don’t intend to blame you.”  

Jafa spoke with a noticeably calmer expression. I shrugged.  

“Of course, I don’t feel sorry for you either. You hired me knowing the Empire was after me. It was something you had to risk eventually.”  

“But I didn’t expect them to go after you this aggressively. You must be a far more important figure than I had assumed.”  

Importance was part of it, but there was also 'obsession.' Ivan Accretia had shown a peculiar fixation on me from time to time.  

'It’s better for her to think I’m important.'  

I saw no reason to correct Jafa’s assumption.  

“I’m currently going through the process of seeking asylum.”  

“So that was your objective. You could have reached out to the Federation’s bureaucrats through me.”  

Even after being forced awake in critical condition, Jafa hadn’t lost her sense of judgment or composure.  

“I decided it was better for multiple people to have a stake in me. That way, I won’t be tied down to any single person, and my influence increases.”  

“Hoooh… It’s true that I lack the capacity to fully take you in. I’ve been realizing that more and more lately.”  

Jafa seemed somewhat disheartened.

“The search for Kinuan is still ongoing. It’s a top priority for me, so don’t worry about it.”  

Jafa let out a self-deprecating chuckle.  

“I have no choice but to trust you now. You’ve slipped out of my control.”  

“That doesn’t mean I’m completely free yet. When Deputy Minister Ismael or the Federation’s bureaucrats come, make sure to get our stories straight. I still need your help, Jafa.”  

Jafa and I coordinated on a few matters. She would handle things in her own way.  

“…I have nothing left to hide from you anymore. I’ve laid everything bare.”  

“I know.”  

I had seen her struggles and her resolve clearly.  

I stood up. There was nothing more to discuss here. Jafa would need to be briefed on the company’s situation and decide on a course of action while she was awake.  

“Jafa, I’m looking for Giselle Custoria.”  

“That much, I already know.”  

I turned back at the door.  

“And do you know why?”  

Jafa’s eyes widened slightly before she chuckled.  

“Hooht.”  

* * *  

Two days remained before my asylum process was finalized, and my terminal rang, disrupting my rest.  

-Luka, I’ve found Oh’s whereabouts.  

As soon as I got the call from Son Seok-jae, I moved immediately.  

Oh disappeared the moment Lapis’s air vehicle exploded. He had frequently clashed with Lapis as well.  

‘A prime suspect.’  

But I doubted Oh was the true culprit. There had to be something—or someone—bigger behind it.  

‘Who?’  

At first, I suspected Son Seok-jae, but it wasn’t him. A scheme by Jafa to drive a wedge between me and Sonsu Industries? That didn’t seem right either.  

‘Then Kinuan?’  

Kinuan and Lapis had no connection whatsoever. Kinuan caused sudden chaos, but… he didn’t indulge in senseless slaughter or suffering.  

What would Kinuan gain by harming Lapis? My suspicion? My pain?  

It felt strangely inconsistent with Kinuan’s past actions.  

‘Who’s behind this?’  

For now, I needed to find Oh.  

‘He’s just a civilian at best. Extracting the truth from him won’t be difficult.’  

I walked along the main street of Border City.  

Screeeech.  

A jet-black sedan came to a stop in front of me, its doors lifting upward.  

In the driver’s seat sat an employee from Sonsu Industries. In the backseat, Son Seok-jae was dressed in a sharper, more intimidating black suit than usual.  

“Get in. I’ll explain on the way.”  

Without a word, I slid into the seat beside him.  

“Where is Oh?”

“It’s a low-end entertainment district. Honestly, there aren’t many places for someone on the run to hide. My employees are searching every corner, so we’ll hear back soon. Once we know the neighborhood, finding him will be quick.”  

Son Seok-jae spoke while repeatedly tapping on a cigar box, absentmindedly running his fingers over it. He must have been itching for a smoke.  

“Go ahead and light one. You’re older than me; no need to be so restrained.”  

“Well, I won’t refuse, then. That aside… about Oh.”  

“He’s just a soon-to-be corpse.”  

Son Seok-jae lit his cigar and took a long drag. His gray hair blended into the smoke as he exhaled.  

“Hoo… That’s better. When we meet Oh, let’s at least confirm the facts accurately before deciding what to do with him.”  

“You care about your subordinates quite a bit.”  

“That’s why they follow me. Oh is one of my most diligent employees. He even volunteers on weekends. I can’t imagine someone like him planting a bomb. In short, he may have a sharp tongue, but he’s a good guy. There must be more to this story.”  

Son Seok-jae spoke as if he were cautioning me, a faint smile forming through the haze of smoke.  

“I’m not going to beat him senseless or kill him right away. No one wants to find the real culprit more than I do. I don’t believe for a second that he acted alone.”  

“Haha, good. I feel like our trust is deepening. You know, ever since I met you, my business has been running smoothly. It’s like having a goddess of fortune by my side.”  

Something about his phrasing rubbed me the wrong way, but I let it slide.  

The road was narrowing. Ahead, the streets became too tight for a vehicle to pass through.  

“Keep an eye on the car.”  

Leaving only the driver behind, Son Seok-jae and I stepped out.  

As we entered the alley, a group of employees was waiting for us. Beneath their coats and casual clothing, they wore lightweight bulletproof vests, with pistols or knives strapped to their waists.  

“Boss, we found Oh. He’s been holed up in that building since yesterday.”  

One of the employees reported to Son Seok-jae.  

“Only Luka and I will go in. The rest of you, secure the area.”  

At his command, the Sonsu Industries employees surrounded the abandoned building, locking down the perimeter.  

‘They’re all used to this kind of work.’  

Judging by their efficiency, they weren’t much different from a gang.  

Son Seok-jae and I entered the building alone.  

It was an old apartment complex with no electricity. Light filtered in through shattered windows and crumbling walls, serving as the only illumination.

“Luka, remember what we talked about earlier. Verifying the facts comes first.”  

Son Seok-jae reminded me as we climbed the stairs.  

We stopped in front of the room where Oh was staying.  

I blinked. My senses stretched out, slipping through the cracks of the door. Information from beyond the door flooded into my mind, carried by sensory tendrils.  

The intuition of *Akies Victima* allowed me to perceive what lay beyond the door as if I could see through it.  

‘Haah, fuck.’  

I swallowed my sigh without letting it escape.  

Clatter.  

Son Seok-jae opened the door. At that moment, I thrust my palm in front of his face.  

Bang!  

A gunshot rang out.  

Ssshhhhh!  

The bullet slammed into my palm and stopped cold. If I hadn’t blocked it, it would have blown a hole through Son Seok-jae’s face.  

Clink.  

The spent bullet fell to the ground from where it had been lodged in my hand.  

“Oh?”  

Son Seok-jae peeked out from beside my palm, his expression calm despite having just dodged death. He wasn’t overly shaken—he knew I would protect him from most unexpected threats. Even considering that, he had some serious guts.  

We looked inside the room. As expected of an abandoned building, the interior was barren and decrepit.  

‘Oh.’  

I turned my gaze to him. He stood there, gripping a knife and a pistol.  

‘And a Tarfa’s corpse.’  

A body lay on the bed. Judging by the revealing outfit, the victim had been a prostitute of the Tarfa race.  

‘Strangled to death? Disgusting.’  

For a civilian to strangle someone with their bare hands wasn’t easy. It required overwhelming rage and hatred.  

“W-Wait, Oh. Why did you shoot at me? Calm down.”  

Tears and snot dripped down Oh’s face as he glared at Son Seok-jae.  

“S-Sir, y-you promised! You said I could h-hate aliens all I wanted! B-But now… you’re p-protecting a Tarfa?!”  

“What are you talking about… that was ages ago—”  

“S-Shut up!”  

Oh pulled the trigger again. I reached out once more and stopped the bullet.  

…It seemed that Son Seok-jae and I had underestimated the malice of ordinary people.  

This was why the world was chaos.

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