Chapter 13 : Voice Massage

Returning to the present time, Cloud was already trying to treat as much as he could of his commander Ron's wounds. At the same time, he was extremely angry at Kanz and Fiora, and even angry at himself.

"Cloud, how did you get here? Weren't you on a mission in Zone 11?" asked Kanz as he approached.

"I saw the government crowd heading here, so I followed them. Besides, I know this day is the day of the monthly meeting," Cloud replied calmly.

"It seems they came from the main passage to Zone 10. We have no allies there to detect government movements early," Kanz tried to analyze the situation.

Ron was silent during the comrades' conversation. Fiora tried to approach Ron, but Cloud stood in her way like a massive wall.

"What is the meaning of this, Cloud?" Fiora asked irritably, thinking of Ron.

"I still haven't received an explanation for what happened. How did this happen? And how did you remain in good condition while Ron ended up injured like this?" Cloud asked in a sharp tone, his face showing serious expressions.

"Hey, Cloud, come closer..."

While Cloud was waiting for an answer from Fiora and Kanz, he heard Ron's voice calling him to come closer. Without uttering a word, he approached Ron, who whispered something to him. This made Cloud slightly ease his anger.

"Alright, I understand." Cloud nodded after hearing Ron's words and then stood up.

He then turned towards Fiora and Kanz, saying, "Let's work on cleaning up the area. Ron explained everything to me."

As soon as Cloud finished speaking, Fiora bypassed him and rushed towards Ron. She began examining him carefully and with focus. Her eyes showed anger and pain at the state Ron was in. Meanwhile, Javier and his group approached where Ron and his team were.

"Cloud!?" Javier said, surprised.

"It's good that you're still alive, Javier. I need to talk to you privately," Cloud said, giving Javier a scrutinizing look up and down.

While Cloud's gaze was focused on Javier, he noticed both Kaura and Hattan. With a keen look, he discovered that Hattan had an injury to his ear, which was caused by Kanz earlier.

"It seems that Ron isn't the only one who sustained an injury here, isn't that right, Hattan?" Cloud advanced with firm audible steps.

"Uh... It's... It's nothing, just a scratch," Hattan said nervously, avoiding looking at Cloud.

Cloud was now four steps away from Hattan. Hattan was tall, but for Cloud... he was nothing, even though Cloud was only three centimeters taller than Ron. Cloud's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Hattan. Hattan felt this, so he couldn't look Cloud in the eye, knowing full well that Cloud would figure out the reason for his injury without anyone telling him.

"Your ear was hit by a bullet. I can see that. Moreover, the distance from which the shot was fired at you was very close. Therefore, I rule out that you were hurt during the battle," Cloud said, advancing step by step, slowly.

"You were injured before the attack on you. This means the shooter is someone among you carrying a weapon. It's not Fiora because she uses an assault spray weapon. That leaves only... Kanz." Cloud stood directly in front of Hattan, now separated by only centimeters.

"Hattan, did you cross the line with Ron?"

Hattan was already nervous from Cloud's gaze. His tension increased as Cloud got extremely close to him. But the question Cloud posed a few seconds ago forced Hattan to retreat in defense, sensing that Cloud... did not intend any goodwill from his tone.

"I understand from this that you indeed crossed the line. I won't deal with you now, as I have more pressing matters to address than dealing with someone whose words outweigh their actions." Cloud's tone was not devoid of annoyance and threat.

"Stop, Cloud. You said you wanted to talk to me, right? Let's go over there and discuss what you have," Javier approached Cloud and grabbed his shoulder.

"Alright, let's go. As for you, Fiora, you need to take Ron to the base directly for treatment, provided your vehicle is still in good condition. If not, steal one of the government's vehicles. Most likely, some of them are still in good condition," Cloud directed his words and then followed Javier for a private discussion.

"Alright," Fiora responded to Cloud and then refocused on Ron, saying, "Come on, Commander, take your time." She held his shoulders and helped him stand.

Kanz remained standing, looking at Cloud, contemplating his solid and leadership personality. At the same time, he looked at Ron. At that moment, expressions of... longing for something that had disappeared or was beginning to fade appeared on his face. But what was it? No one knows.

Fiora and Kanz took Ron with them to their vehicle, which fortunately was undamaged. Hattan and Kaura each departed in different directions, while Javier stayed close to Cloud.

"Any updates?" Javier asked.

"Let's be honest . Most of what the government does is already predictable. Zone 11 was willingly abandoned. You know what that means," Cloud spoke while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Seal off the exits to Zone Nine, understood," Javier nodded.

"Previously it was Zone Fifteen, and now Zone Eleven; the situation has become suspicious, as if they know about our movements," Cloud commented, glancing sideways at his men.

"We're careful to avoid having any devices that artificial intelligence could use to spy on us," Javier assured.

"Maybe someone has one without your knowledge," Cloud suggested, considering all possibilities.

"As you know, the First and Seventh Squads are exceptional units. Plans like these are only shared among us, and the rest of the squads only find out after we execute them. Hence, we can rule out Hattan and Kaura's squads," Javier explained.

"This means there's a spy among us, either in the First or the Seventh Squad. Is that what you're implying?" Cloud asked sharply.

"Yes, Cloud. There's a spy who leaks our plans to the government. Because of this, we've lost many rebels, not to mention plans that failed before they even started due to the government's meticulous precautions," Javier elaborated on his point.

"Hmm..." Cloud hummed thoughtfully, processing Javier's words deeply.

A spy. After what happened in Zones Eleven and Fifteen, the existence of a spy seemed plausible. The notion wasn't new to them; suspicions had arisen before. But now, confirming this had become critical.

After a brief discussion, Cloud and Javier returned to their comrades, specifically Fiora and Ron. Upon arrival, Kanz was nowhere to be found.

"Where's the hacker?" Cloud asked in surprise.

"He said he forgot his gear—guns and a computer—inside the warehouse and went back to fetch them," Fiora explained, glancing at Ron seated in the back.

"This may seem unexpected, but I have a question for you, Fiora," Javier said suddenly.

"And what is it?" Fiora responded.

"I notice you care a lot about Ron. From what I know, you're not someone who usually gets attached to someone younger. If I may ask... why is that?" Javier asked candidly.

Fiora sighed. While listening to Javier's question, her focus remained on Ron. However, she soon turned to address Javier.

"It's related to when I was the leader of the Seventh Squad, about five years ago. Back then, I was stationed in Zone Fourteen, which, as you know... was closer to hell," Fiora began, leaning against the vehicle as she spoke.

Zone Fourteen, five years ago, wasn't like it is now. It's deserted and undesirable now, but back then, it was a battlefield between the rebels and the government. In the past, the rebels didn't have much influence, controlling only three zones: Seventeen, Nineteen, and Twenty. Before heading to Zone Fourteen, they were already engaged in intense combat to dominate Zone Eighteen, aiming to secure a larger foothold on the map of Jinor City.

"Commander Shrown sent me to Zone Fourteen in cooperation with the Tenth Squad. At the time, we were besieged, and I tried to find a loophole to give part of my squad or the Tenth Squad a chance to escape," she tilted her head and sighed deeply.

"I heard about this. You tried to save everyone when you killed the leader of the Tenth Squad," Javier remarked.

"It's true I did that, but I failed. I ended up injured in my knee and completely immobile. I would have perished there... until Ron appeared," Fiora continued.

"He was just a reckless young man, struggling to prove himself to Commander Shrown to earn a place among the rebels. At the time, he lured the government forces away from us, drawing their focus to one spot. I don't know how he managed it, but he did. After we got a bit farther away, a strong explosion occurred, and flames began spreading in almost every direction, as I recall," she narrated.

"Zone Fourteen is an oil port. Despite the 2027 incident, they continued using it for oil storage. I don't understand what they were thinking at the time," Cloud muttered with slight annoyance.

"Anyway, Ron emerged from that place safe and sound. I couldn't believe what I saw then. An eighteen-year-old did that on his own? It felt like a hallucination or a dream, but it was reality, and I chose to believe it," Fiora said, stealing a glance at Ron, who had already fallen asleep.

"Since that day, I've felt this way. I feel he's someone I should follow rather than someone who should follow me. I didn't see fear in his eyes, as if he had faced death countless times until he became accustomed to it. That's the reason I care about him—because I'm alive thanks to him," she concluded, taking a long look at Ron before refocusing on Cloud and Javier.

"That explains a lot. There are many people who owe me their lives because I saved them, yet none of them act like you," Javier commented on Fiora's story.

"Maybe you care about him so much because he reminds you of your late brother, who shares similar features with Ron, doesn't he?" Cloud interjected unexpectedly.

Fifteen years ago, Fiora wasn't part of the newly emerging rebellion. She lived in Zone Nineteen with her younger brother and their paternal aunt. Her life was simple and ordinary, and she paid no attention to the rebellion. But when her younger brother was killed by government forces, Fiora was consumed with rage and hatred, eventually joining the rebels at twenty-two years old.

"You could say that. I see Ron as a brother, a friend, and a support. I feel a sincere desire to protect him. Thanks to him, I've learned that my anger won't bring back my late brother but will instead cause the deaths of others," Fiora said, extending her hand to Ron and wiping his forehead.

"Ron has a unique influence on all of us. Who would believe that a young man who's only been in the rebellion for five years has gained almost everyone's approval?" Javier remarked.

"You're right, and I think Cloud agrees with you too. You're closer to Ron than any of us, aren't you, Cloud?" Fiora directed her question to Cloud, who had been mostly silent.

Cloud merely nodded slightly, confirming Fiora's words. Fiora smiled and returned her gaze to Ron. As she gently touched his forehead and face, he opened his eyes.

"Is touching other people's faces this delightful?" Ron joked in a weary voice.

"Did I wake you?" Fiora asked with a smile.

"Yes, you did," Ron replied honestly.

"Good. We don't want you to die so easily. That would be disgraceful for a squad leader," Javier quipped.

While the comrades were in good spirits, Cloud heard the sound of someone running. He quickly realized it was Kanz, but when Kanz emerged from the warehouse door, his expression was... shocked.

"Ron! You need to hear this!" Kanz yelled as he ran toward the group.

"Huh? What's going on?" Fiora asked.

Kanz stopped beside the vehicle, panting, with his bag on his back and his laptop in his hands.

"Ron... Ron, you have to listen to this," Kanz repeated.

Cloud felt uneasy about Kanz's behavior. Javier looked puzzled, just like Fiora, while Ron, with a relaxed gaze, focused on Kanz.

"What do I need to hear?" Ron asked.

Kanz didn't say a word. He simply grabbed his laptop, opened it, and began typing, tension evident on his face.

"I received an audio recording from an unknown source, but what's shocking isn't the source—it's the recording itself," Kanz said, his tone revealing his anxiety and discomfort.

"Play it. Let's see," Ron said nonchalantly.

"I swear you won't like it," Kanz warned Ron.

Fiora began to feel anxious about Kanz's words. Javier grew uneasy, while Cloud clenched his fist in anger, sensing the recording would hurt Ron. Although he hadn't heard it, Cloud's intuition was strong.

Kanz pressed the play button, and the audio recording began. Initially, it emitted unpleasant scratches, but after a few moments, the sound became calm, and then...

"Um... Ron? My dear?" a woman's voice came from the laptop.

Javier and Fiora realized it was a woman's voice. It was a beautiful voice, but what puzzled them was that she said "Ron" and "my dear." They considered the possibility that it might be a message from a girl Ron secretly loved. However, they were still contemplating what Kanz had said: why was it something Ron wouldn't like?

On the other hand, Kanz tightly clenched his hands, his facial expression tense and harsh.

As for Ron and Cloud, both displayed expressions of agitation, bordering on anger. Cloud furrowed his brows and slightly opened his mouth, while Ron's face became entirely grim, as if he were about to explode.

This was a recording... of Mayuri's voice—Ron's mother.

To be continued ...