◈ Episode 075

Click.

A teacup was placed on the table. Adrian stared blankly at the woman setting up the tea set. Even though she wasn't a servant, her actions were incredibly natural.

There are three people, and three glasses. Does that mean you prepared your own share as well?

While Adrian was inwardly bewildered, the woman took out a small bottle from her bosom.

"Excuse me for a moment."

She put a drop of clear reagent into the cup with the tea. The woman calmly observed the change that occurred inside the teacup. After a while, she returned the third cup to the tea cart.

"No problem."

"Ha, did you think something poisonous would come out? That's really unusual."

"You should worry too much, but not too little. How could you not be concerned about something that Your Majesty puts in your mouth?"

Carmen took it leisurely and left with a greeting. Adrian, who had been staring at her back, only looked away after the door closed.

"In 4 or 5 years, the person has completely changed."

Carmen Moville was a noble lady who could be found anywhere, a common woman who wore dresses and gossiped with her fellow children of the same faction.

But what about now? One day, she disappeared and came back as a grown woman. With a gait that was determined. Instead of a flowing dress, she wore a jumper that seemed to hide a lot of things.

Carmen had become a warrior.

"What on earth are you planning?"

Adrian didn't touch the car. He just glared at the person on the other side. Even though the person he usually feared was giving him a sharp look, Ainoa didn't feel uncomfortable for some reason.

It was just a little refreshing. It was rare for Adrian to visit the villa where he lived. Even when they were sitting across from each other over teacups, he felt a strange sense of alienation.

It was funny. I thought it wasn't the kind of feeling I should have for my family.

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

Adrian clicked his tongue.

"The authors who are your guests. Carmen Mobile, yes, that's true. Carmen is still an enemy of the Mobile family. She is qualified. But those Minos are a different story."

"Did they do anything rude to you, brother?"

"If you say it's rude, then the fact that Minos entered the castle is rude. It's been 100 years. There hasn't been a Minos who has walked around the castle with his limbs in the past 100 years...!"

Even she was a dancer who was treated as the king's plaything at the time. Minos, who was invited as an equal guest, was buried in the distant past.

Ainoa committed a great act of outrage. Even though her radius of action was limited to her own palace, she made dozens of Minos put their feet in the dirt.

But still, the stupid sister was confident.

"It's not particularly illegal."

"The law is not everything. Don't you know that there is also custom?"

"Have you been observing all the customs, Your Majesty? Well, from what I understand, I don't think so."

"There is a line that must be kept."

"If it's good, then it's ultimately about conscience. I keep my own good. My conscience doesn't say anything that I'm ashamed of. Do you think that's the answer?"

He took a sip of tea and exhaled shallowly. Adrian frowned. He was more curious than angry at his brother's arrogant attitude.

Was he always talking like this?

'No, that can't be.'

The Ainoa that Adrian knew was a more frustrating person. She didn't show her true feelings and pretended to be harmless and obedient. She wasn't hated or detested, but she didn't have affection either.

When I looked at him, I used to feel a strange discomfort that was hard to explain. But now, he has become openly prickly. He doesn't try to hide his prickly attitude at all.

"...What happened?"

"There's nothing I can tell you, Brother. At least not yet."

It was a tone that left room for questioning. Before Adrian could ask, Ainoa continued.

"You said 100 years."

She gave a small laugh.

"It's really petty to have insisted on a convention that can be broken so easily for 100 years. Bastitera has been stagnant for too long."

"What?"

"Stagnant water is making even the newly falling rainwater murky. The water quality of this country has long been polluted. People drink dirty water and suffer from epidemics."

Even if you only venture a little outside the capital, you can see the reality of Bastitera. There are many estates that have to survive each year on the meager subsidies left over from the embezzlement of nobles.

The land that was swept by the disaster a few years ago is still in ruins. Has there been even a single penny of compensation given to those who lost their land?

There is a huge imbalance in Bastetera.

Ainoa had known this since ancient times. Adrian knew it too. Everyone knew it, but no one took off their shoes and stepped forward.

That's how it's been so far.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

Splash!

The wooden table screamed. The corner Adrian held with one hand dented and the cutlery on it clanked.

"You're saying you'll eventually covet my spot?"

"You are always the same, Brother. Is the only thing on your mind the throne?"

"You b*tch!"

bang!

Unable to contain his anger, he slammed the table. The teacup fell over and the tea spilled. The glass rolled across the table and fell to the floor, shattering.

She's young, Ainoa thought for a moment.

He was no different from a child who had his toys taken away. He was a possessive brother from the beginning. There were some things that didn't change even as he grew up.

Surprisingly, it wasn't scary. It was because I had experienced more scary things. The short period of just a month or so of experiences changed Ainoa's values.

There was also something to reference.

"Don't worry. My brother will succeed Abamama in the future. He will naturally do so without you doing anything. So, it would be better to worry about what happens after your goal is achieved. That will be more constructive in many ways."

At this point, Ainoa's path to the throne is a thorny one. It is difficult and long. I don't think CellbroLogics Lab will cooperate until the end.

I wasn't interested in the first place.

"I, too, am a mere Bastetrian, and I look forward to your reign. Please consider what is about to happen as a gift from me."

"I see you're planning something. I don't know what they've put in you, but it can't be done. Minos can't be involved!"

Minos, Tabes.

It's just discrimination. We need to break down this narrow-minded thinking. Ainoa looked down at the dirty table and stood up.

"I'll clear the way for you, so just don't get in my way."

"Ainoa...!"

"I'll take my leave now. Next time, I'll see you in a better spot, with a brighter face."

If possible, he added.

That's when I was about to leave Adrian behind.

"Oh, I was wondering something too."

Ainoa spoke as if she had remembered it belatedly. Her tone and expression softened somewhat, becoming somewhat similar to what Adrian remembered.

But the feeling of discomfort remained.

"...What is it?"

He replied with a face that had become noticeably tired. No matter how angry he was, the other person was like that, so he would only get tired.

"Your brother introduced you to Se-sa, right?"

"세사?"

A puzzled reaction. After a while, he pretended to know.

"Ah, that was your servant's name. Now that I hear it, I can't see him."

"...."

"What's this? After all that, do you still have something to say?"

Ainoa shook her head.

"No, nothing."

* * *

widely.

The last four-star agent, Navy, closed the car door. The total number of members of the operation team led by Kim Yi-hyun was seven. It was not a large number, but it was not lacking either.

It was necessary to look at the faces, not the numbers.

'Rather, it's excessive in terms of power.'

In addition to the usual four, including West Creek, Asterique, and Chelsea, and Kim Hyun himself, two five-star agents from Redwood and Navy were added.

'With this formation, even Mithril will be enough.'

If the terrain is favorable, she can even compete with Snowfield. It's funny that even these 7 people can be pushed back. That's because she's a monster that's out of standard.

Unless the godmother herself steps forward, there won't be much danger. The team was formed with the expectation that they would be attacked by the Legion on the way.

The two teams sent to different locations were also organized with the combination in mind. Even though they don't have elite agents, they are regular agents of the lab who usually work together. I don't know their individual tactics, but their coordination is better than this.

"Is that right? The mine you were talking about."

Redwood's Rocco said. "Hyungnim" was the title given to Kim I-hyeon. He was thick-skinned enough to be friendly even to people he had never spoken to before.

There was no awkwardness from the perspective of the other person.

'Because he's a guy who's full of energy.'

Meanwhile, the other two new faces remained silent. Daisy from Redwood was quite shy, unlike Rocco, and Navy from Rap was originally reserved.

"I'm a bit skeptical about the credibility of the information. But it's not a place where civilians would go. If it turns out to be a waste of time, then let it be."

"If you go, you'll find some traces."

About five hundred meters away, the mine entrance was visible. An abandoned mine. No one was found in the village we passed by. The residents seemed to have moved out long ago.

'The timing may be a bit different, but this place is exactly the same.'

Just like Cilicia, the subjugation content will be opened after the Basteterra Civil War. The 'Lasquita Mining Village' here was also one of the highlights.

Of course, this is not your average ghost town.

"Since we came so openly, they might have noticed our approach. Someone might steal the data and run away, but don't worry about it. We only need to take 50, not 100."

The purpose is to collect evidence. Clues that will become Ainoa's sword. If you can take the 'real thing' instead of just the documents, it would be a great harvest.

"I'm going quickly. Follow me."

Kim Yi-Hyeon entered the mine with a riot shield and a pistol in both hands. He was followed by agents armed with guns and knives. Asterike was also holding an ordinary sword.

I quickly crossed the tunnel.

At first glance, it looked empty, but the road was unnaturally clean. It was evidence that there was still someone maintaining it.

As they continued to advance along the rails of the minecart, Westcreek sent a signal. It meant that he had detected something. His spells were excellent not only for combat but also for detection.

Fork in the road.

The light did not reach the darkness on the other side. The agents exchanged glances in their limited field of vision. Soon, the group entered the path on the left.

Thud, thud.

Kim Yi-hyun and Roco were the only ones making footsteps. While the two of them were walking ahead, the agents put the lights down on the ground. They stayed behind for a while, keeping their postures low.

Hit the button!

A sound approached from the road I had just passed. The enemy appeared not only from the rear but also from the front. Armed forces equipped with guns and combat uniforms. The number of people is still unknown.

'It's not Pecatum.'

Kim Yi-hyeon rushed in as soon as he confirmed that the enemy had no horns on his head. It was a narrow passage. The tactic of putting up a shield was effective. The iron plate easily blocked the gunfire.

"Ugh!"

The soldier who collided with the shield fell down. At the same time, four people scattered to the sides as if they were stuck to the wall. Kim I-Hyeon excluded the left side and turned the direction of the shield to the right.

Two soldiers aimed their guns at Kim I-Hyeon's side, but the trigger was not pulled.

Bam!

A blade was stuck in one man's neck.

Rocco threw the body of the soldier who fell down with his sword still stuck in it like trash. Then he extended his palm and slammed the head of the second soldier against the wall.

The head was smashed and blood trailed down. It was a strength that was hard to imagine from such a delicate body. Rocco pulled a new dagger out of his pocket and turned his head to the left.

And then I let out an exclamation of "Wow."

"It's a bit scary."

"Is that so?"

The remaining two were already sprawled out at Kim Yi-Hyeon's feet. One had a blown jaw, and the other had a sunken chest. Blood was thickly stained on the top and bottom of the shield.

Kim Yi-hyeon rubbed his chin with the back of his hand. Without even losing his breath, he held out his gun. Towards the soldier who was still lying on the ground, trembling.

bang!

After a brief convulsion, the soldier stopped moving.

"Is this the end for now?"

"In my opinion."

Kim Yi-hyun and Roco looked back. There were some changes in the ranks, but no one was injured. There were only a few corpses visible beyond the agents.

The battle in the rear also seemed to have been settled. An ambush attack from the front and rear. It was effective, but not enough to make up for the difference in capabilities.

'If it were me, I'd just collapse the mine.'

It was a means they could never take. Although it was one of the main branches of the Legion within Bastitera, it was highly unlikely that any officers would be stationed there.

In other words, there is no one to take responsibility when data is lost. Of course, there must be someone responsible, but everyone values ​​their own life. Since this side is also a minority, they would rather try to eliminate it by force.

"Once you're done, move again."

You have to get the job done while you're being looked down on.