An evening when the world turns blue.
Kim Yi-hyeon was talking to the professor separately. The professor and Ghost came to Building 4 and requested a meeting, and Kim Yi-hyeon did not refuse.
If you hadn't come first, I was planning to go and find you myself.
Now is not the time to be careless.
The main topic of discussion was, of course, the talks.
"Isn't there any way?"
"Well, what can I do?"
"Even if the talks end like this, it won't be much different than before. Rather, it could be seen as a slight improvement, since they will be wary of the Legion."
The professor seemed to be organizing her thoughts as she spoke. As she said, no matter what the outcome of the meeting, there were no major difficulties in dealing with the Legion.
When did you fight with active cooperation from the beginning? Just as Kim I-Hyun was active as White Fang in Cilicia and caused the council and the Legion to clash, the professor also created a situation in which he could legitimately interfere.
It was something that could have been done as usual. However, I couldn't help but feel regretful.
"I don't want to waste even a single day on useless things like friction with the guards or political strife."
If each country stopped seeing Cellbrox Labs as an 'uninvited guest' and welcomed them as collaborators in the fight against the Legion, more lives could be saved.
At this rate, even that seemed distant.
'It is an important situation.'
Kim Yi-hyeon was more concerned about this meeting than the professor. The part the professor mentioned was merely a secondary issue. The main point was the latter half after the Legion was destroyed.
Legion is a cooperative relationship under the pretext of dealing with villains. It is about creating a sense of community. Once you open the way, you can move on to the 'next'.
As the regent of Cadillac said, this is the first meeting in 41 years. If it ends in an ambiguous mood, the meeting itself may not come to fruition when another crisis breaks out.
We need an 'enemy' that is both recognizable and threatening.
To strengthen connections between countries.
Therefore, this is a legitimate action.
"I do have an idea."
"Really?"
He gave an answer to Ghost, who asked half-heartedly, thinking that this time there would be no sharp solution. A way to strike a deep sense of alarm into the bones of the optimistic higher-ups.
"We are becoming a legion."
"...what?"
"Literally."
When I was trying to explain to the dumbfounded ghost.
The professor asked me as if he was going to shout Eureka.
"I guess I'll just have to terrorize this place!"
Indeed, the professor was wise. It seems like only yesterday that he was just digging, but he had grown so quickly. Kim Yi-hyun nodded his head with satisfaction, as if he was dealing with a successful student.
"That's it."
For a cause.
* * *
After finishing his work as a security guard.
As dinner time approached, the dining room of the inn was bustling. As Pablo and Leila sat across from each other eating, another agent joined them at the table.
"Oh, Mr. Westcreek."
Leila smiled, saying it was a good thing she came. It was a kind smile as always, but Westcreek could see the sadness hidden behind the bright appearance.
"I guess you're not feeling well."
"Ahaha. Can you tell?"
"Because I've been watching you for quite some time."
The reason was obvious without even asking.
"Are you dissatisfied with the progress of the talks?"
"Maybe my expectations were too high."
"Well, that's how it is for everyone. Who would have thought they'd ignore me like that?"
Unlike usual, Leila did not rebuke Pablo's harsh words. It was because she was so heartbroken.
"I understand. There are conflicts of interest everywhere… and it's hard to understand the dangers unless you've encountered the Legion directly. Even I would have a hard time believing it."
"Everyone is like that. You have to get beaten up badly to come to your senses."
"I don't think that far ahead."
She smiled bitterly.
"The professor and the director are the ones who have it the hardest. Mr. Hyun also seems busy with work in Cilicia."
"Well, it's also something to think about, being so resourceful."
They were taking on so much responsibility compared to a single agent. Even Kim I-Hyeon was actively working as an agent. It was breathtaking to watch.
"You must be really stressed."
* * *
"I guess the bomb is the best?"
The professor spoke with sparkling eyes. His usual intellectual and calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen; today he seemed to be full of life.
"If we use Hyun's spell, there won't be any evidence left behind. The problem is the CCTV and..."
"It would be best to reduce the number of people involved as much as possible. Don't let the agents know. Especially Leila..."
"Yeah, I guess I don't have to take risks. What do you want to do with your goals?"
"Well, it doesn't matter if you decide it arbitrarily, but if you're going to do it, make sure it has impact..."
It was just absurd for Kushan. Kim I-hyeon and the professor. The way they put their heads together and made plans was strangely similar.
"Okay, stop for a moment."
He cut me off as he was listening to the conversation going on.
"What, it's just the best time."
"Do you have any useful comments?"
"No! That's not what I meant."
He spoke carefully, looking back and forth between the two.
"What on earth are you guys up to right now?"
"If you heard, you'd know."
"So. Are you saying that you're going to stage a bomb attack as a hoax?"
The two would-be criminals exchanged glances.
Soon, without saying a word, everyone looked at Kushan.
"no?"
"There's no reason not to do it."
Kushan closed his mouth. He lowered his head and covered his face with both hands. Even if Kim I-hyeon was like that, the professor didn't know how it came to this.
"...I don't know. Do whatever you want."
The confirmation must have been dropped, so there was no room for hesitation.
* * *
Lucerne International Exchange Center, VIP rooms in Building 3.
-How about Ishrad's research? I know that there are many other countries besides the home country that supported Ishrad in the early stages of the disaster, but I haven't heard any news about them. Is there a reason why you can't make it public?
-… … Of course, I have not forgotten the help I received in the past. The desire to contribute to the peace of the continent is strong, and the researchers in the ivory tower are working hard and diligently, but… .
-There haven't been any notable results yet?
-It is embarrassingly so.
A conversation that was either a meeting or a hearing was broadcast live on TV. Ainoa listened to it and sat down on the rocking chair. Rock, rock. A sense of comfort, along with a sense of weariness, came over her.
The five-day conference. Three days have already passed and today is the fourth day.
The meeting was sluggish. Regarding the legion that should have been the main topic, it ended with the irresponsible conclusion that 'each country should figure out how to deal with it on its own.'
It seemed like that inside them.
'The work is so serious, it's not even funny.'
On a topic that discussed the importance of the agenda, they sat around talking about such things. In Ainoa's view, there were only a few agenda items that were productive. Perhaps the only one that was more productive was the re-establishment of the non-aggression pact.
"I never thought there would come a day in my life when I would look at my older brother with pity."
Adrian was already worn out by the subtle and overt contempt and belittling. No matter how persistently he tried to warn her of the dangers of the Legion, it was of no avail.
The most vocal of the Shiran Emperors remained indifferent. The next most powerful were the Chancellor of Harrenhal and the Regent of Cadillac, who took every opportunity to disparage Bastetera.
Even from the perspective of an observer, it was so disappointing that it made me feel skeptical.
"I think it was expected."
Carmen, standing near the door as usual, responded.
"Because Bastide has never been accepted by the international community. It wasn't a problem of one side, but rather a mutual hatred between the two sides."
It had a long history.
Mutants born with horns on their heads. Pecatum excelled at anything that involved physical exertion. Including good deeds and evil deeds. It was obvious which one of the two would receive the most attention.
The nation founded by the exiled Pecatums is Bastite. Most of the Pecatums who ran away from their hometowns became mercenaries or criminals and became notorious. Hatred built up over hundreds of years.
It was a terrible shackle that couldn't be removed overnight.
"Ugh. I feel stuffy in many ways, stuffy."
Bam.
I turned it off using the remote control. It was a civilization that even the royal family didn't have. If you try to get it, you can get it, but electronic devices like TVs are only meaningful if they are widely distributed.
What good would it do to spend so much money on an idiot box? There's no broadcasting station or anything in Bastitera.
The world outside the pond reflected in Ainoa's eyes was dizzyingly vast. How many hundreds of years would it take for the backward Basteira to catch up with the technology of the powerful nations?
I had a lot of worries and a lot of complaints.
"I really don't understand this way of thinking."
"I've heard it three times today, Lady Ainoa."
"I know. I'm so annoyed, but you're the only one who can listen to me."
Ainoa recalled the humiliation she had felt at the party. Then, she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"If you're going to look down on me because I'm a Pecatum, then look down on me the same way. Do my horns look like a toy or decoration? Or do I look cheap and shabby?"
I may not have noticed it if I only looked, but I actually received an offer that made my ears feel dirty. I was on the verge of losing even a faint bit of humanity when I saw the princess of a country being treated like a prostitute.
Carmen, with a bitter smile, continued her promised repertoire.
"And Hyun doesn't even pretend to know?"
"It's a problem if you only pretend to know, really. Of course I know the situation, but I don't know…."
In fact, there was no need for Ainoa to come to Geneva. Adrian, the true representative of Bastetera, had come forward himself, so what difference would it make if she accompanied him?
However, there were two reasons for coming all the way. One was to gain knowledge. My goal of seeing a foreign city with my own eyes had already been achieved.
The other one was a very personal matter.
"I didn't know you wouldn't contact me for half a year."
"You told me not to contact you directly. Or send a letter."
"It's not that I haven't thought about it...."
I heard that Kim Yi-Hyeon had been wandering around somewhere all this time. If so, who would have gotten the letter? It was easy to predict that it would be blocked by the Asterique Line.
'I don't really have any intention of interfering with their relationship.'
Perhaps it was because she had lived her whole life suppressing her greed, but Ainoa still felt difficult about herself.
"Ugh, anyway, my feelings are complicated."
It was at that moment when I was about to throw a tantrum, asking for sympathy.
It was a very unexpected sound that rang out.
─Kwaaaaang!
It was an earth-shaking explosion.
"Hic! What, what is it?"
Ainoa shrank back in panic. Meanwhile, Carmen was on high alert, as if flipping a switch. She quickly ran to the window and quickly glanced outside to assess the situation.
"What is that?"
The scene captured in sight was more serious than expected.
Building 9 on the other side. One of the buildings assigned to the Shiran Empire. On the rooftop, black smoke was spreading like a cloud. The shattered railing fell down, making a terrible crashing sound.
"Carmen. What's going on?"
"It looks like a bomb attack."
"…Terrorism? Could it be them again this time?"
"I'm sure it will be true."
Carmen's palms were covered in cold sweat.
"It's the Legion."
no.