Chapter 240

Nero was silent for a moment. He couldn't immediately understand the other's words that had poured out like water.

Leniency, or whatever. Normally, he would have sneered. The leniency of the privileged was usually meager.

But the strange undercurrent he felt in the Commander's words made him tilt his head slightly without realizing it.

There were parts he hadn't heard properly and had glossed over due to irritating words in between. But "clean up what you've done" remained clear enough to leave an afterimage.

Nero thought the "deeds" he was referring to meant the suspicion he had aroused in some people by pretending to be a Council member. But it didn't make sense to tell him to clean that up and return to his original form and position. As he mulled over what the other had meant, he recalled another "deed" he had asked his seniors to do before coming here.

'Could he be suspecting that I'm the cause of the surveillance network issue?'

Nero's expression stiffened rapidly. He already knew about the article regarding the surveillance network from the newspapers piled in a corner by the territory residents to make temporary hospital beds.

Realizing that there wasn't much time left until the surveillance network was restored, he had decided to hurry back. Because of this, he had been watching for an opportunity to leave this place urgently after saying a final goodbye to the Captain.

However, he didn't think the content of that article alone could link him to it. Therefore, he hadn't particularly cared whether the Commander had seen that article or not.

But thinking again, this person was the only one who had caught 'Leonardo Blaine' who had been hiding. His investigative sense would be exceptionally good. Once he suspected that he was from Armsilver, there was enough possibility that he would connect the paralysis of the surveillance network with him.

'Was I too complacent?'

Nero habitually gritted his teeth. He recalled the Captain's words that every being, every situation, deliberately suspected everything about them.

Of course, he might be feeling needlessly guilty about the Commander's vague threats. But if this ominous feeling wasn't just his own groundless fear, the situation would become much more complicated than it was now.

As soon as this person reported this matter, an investigation would be conducted within the military, and a few lives involved, including his own, would disappear without a trace.

Yet instead of reporting, he was telling him to clean it up himself. Nero couldn't fathom what the other's intentions were.

Just as he was staring at the Commander with suspicious eyes, the other struck first.

"Why are you standing still?"

A frosty voice brushed past. The meaning was clear from the moment the greatsword in his hand had disappeared.

Even though the situation had been sorted out in his head, Nero understood even less. This person was the Commander of the Council who valued principles and laws.

He said he didn't want Leonardo to be in trouble, but were the two of them in such a trusting relationship?

He couldn't understand why the Commander would let him go, even abandoning his beliefs.

Saaaa-

Just then, a chilly wind swept through his hair. Nero felt the faint mana mixed in it.

Along with this, the blue eyes he had been facing crossed the empty air. Then, turning back to the front, they shot out calmly but fiercely.

"If you care for your comrade, leave. Don't waste time."

Nero, who had been sensing the direction of the mana, awoke from his thoughts at that moment.

The Commander's appearance, seeming to be in a hurry somewhere, wasn't the behavior one would expect from someone who had come to catch him. Although he should be the one feeling anxious and uneasy, the person reflected in his eyes clearly wasn't at ease.

"..."

"It would be fortunate if you don't get in the way by having your identity exposed," "Take responsibility for removing anything that could leave a trail," and so on. He could tell from the hints that both the Commander's and his own intentions aligned in trying to hide this matter from any third party.

If so, there was no need to cause trouble unnecessarily. However, going back to the beginning, the key was whether he could trust this person.

'...If he hadn't chased me himself, I would have already left long ago.'

Nero frowned at the sudden thought.

Suddenly coming to threaten him and then urging him to leave, he was truly an unpredictable person. But regardless of the circumstances before and after, this was an opportunity. He didn't trust the Commander, but he did believe in the spirit of the man who had risked his life to bring the Captain out of the barrier.

While turning his body to the opposite side, Nero didn't take his eyes off Hugo, who was watching him. Then, looking back once more in the direction where he had felt the mana, he opened his mouth, thinking he should still ask.

"Why are you letting me go?"

Hugo's eyebrow slightly rose. His expression seemed to ask where all his words had gone.

However, instead of repeating what he had said, he hesitated and answered around the time another wind blew.

"Do you want my mind to change?"

If he had clearly said again that it was for Leonardo's sake, he might have really believed it. But at the Commander's words, which responded with threats until the end, Nero frowned and sneered. It seemed he should return the favor once before leaving.

"You say you can find me anytime and put me in an underground prison? You won't be able to do that."

Hugo remained silent at the words without context. Nero continued, raising the corners of his mouth.

"Because I can find you and kill you anytime, Commander. So don't do anything foolish to Leonardo Blaine. If anything happens to him, then I won't let you off easily."

His appearance, grinning alone as if pleased while returning the words that had been said to him, was that of a child who was proud and hated to lose.

Judging by his voice, he seemed to be about the same age as Leonardo or a little younger, but Hugo didn't want to argue anymore with a kid whose blood hadn't even dried on his head. Instead of answering, Hugo just stared at him, closing his eyes tightly and then opening them.

Then, disappointed by the bland reaction, Nero added one more thing.

"Felix Montero."

He lightly hit his left chest with his fist. It was where Felix's name was engraved on the battle uniform.

"I personally put him in a hospital bed, so he's probably in better shape than the others. Give this guy a reward instead of me. This face is the number one contributor to hunting the mother body."

Nero tapped his cheek with his palm and grinned. Hugo furrowed his brow at the sight of him. He was about to check his wristwatch out of habit while lightly ignoring him, but realizing the absence of the watch, he said with a low sigh:

"I'll keep that in mind."

It meant he understood, so get lost quickly. As if he had finally heard a satisfactory answer, Nero closed his mouth and turned away expressionlessly.

There were more than a few things that bothered him, but as the Commander said, there was a lot to deal with now. He still couldn't understand the other's true intentions, but it was clear that he didn't want someone hiding in the forest to discover this current situation. Nero, who had deliberately stalled for time while observing Hugo's demeanor, concluded that it was okay to leave the rear to him for now and depart.

Chwaaak-

Parting the leaves, Nero instantly leaped into the darkness. He left without looking back, making his previous time-wasting seem meaningless.

As he stepped on tree branches and jumped vigorously, belated self-loathing washed over him, and he hit his own head several times.

"Ugh, you idiot. What were you thinking?"

If his seniors found out he had been discovered, it would be as good as a death sentence. He had put on airs in front of the Commander, saying he could kill him and whatnot, but it was rather the opposite. Assassinating an imperial duke wasn't an easy task by common sense, and in the current situation, it seemed more likely that he would end up on the guillotine faster.

'How am I going to explain this to the seniors? I feel like I'm going to get beaten with a stick... No, no. But I saved the Captain several times.'

Nero rationalized to himself while organizing his thoughts on what to do next.

Having been chased by the Commander, he had to take a much longer detour than the route he had planned. It would be good to go back the same way he came, but returning to a situation where he didn't know who was there carried a big risk.

Grumbling, Nero climbed higher up the trees to secure his view. And at that moment, he saw the gate's flag fluttering vigorously not far away. Nero turned back with a puzzled face.

The direction in which the Commander had driven him while chasing was consistently heading towards one place. Towards the eastern gate of Fidele Territory, the closest to the escape route.

***

Hugo stared at where the troublesome fellow had disappeared, then slowly moved his steps with his hands behind his back.

Although only one person had disappeared, the sound of insects that hadn't been heard before was now clear. In the silence he had barely regained, he took a breath and melted all the ice embedded around.

The ice, which had instantly turned to water and seeped into the ground, became another stream that straightened the tilted trees. Everywhere his slow steps trod, the devastating scenes somewhat regained their original appearance.

The dug-up ground became flat, and the fallen undergrowth stood upright again. But the already broken trees didn't come back to life. It was just like the current situation. No matter how much one tried to hide it as if it never happened, it couldn't become an event that never occurred.

They could only graft the trees and set them up plausibly, but the traces of splitting remained.

Hugo knew this well.

"Russell."

Hugo suddenly stopped as he was walking. He quietly called out a name to the empty air. After a moment of silence, someone's footsteps brushed the ground.

A figure hesitantly came forward from behind a thick tree trunk. It was the 8th Platoon Leader.

Hugo, who had been staring with an emotionless gaze, said to her:

"I thought I told you there was no need to follow."

At the Commander's voice that pierced coldly, the 8th Platoon Leader couldn't raise her head properly. Unable to meet his eyes, she looked only at Hugo's feet and repeated the same words as before instead of adding another excuse.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I was worried..."

Hugo watched her with a cold gaze. He had known her for a long time and knew she wouldn't lie.

Although she was unusually stiff, unlike her usual self, it was because she was much more upright than him. It didn't look like she was hiding or concealing anything.

Hugo soon moved his steps as if it wasn't a big deal. As he passed by her, the 8th Platoon Leader naturally followed her superior while reading the atmosphere.

"Since when were you there?"

"Pardon?"

Hugo asked as the silence continued. The 8th Platoon Leader responded in surprise for a moment, then quietly looked up at the Commander who was staring ahead. She hesitated for a split second, wondering if she should tell him exactly.

As the answer was delayed, blue eyes glanced down at her. Although they were clearly no different from usual, if they seemed particularly cold today, that must be her imagination.

Thinking so, the 8th Platoon Leader quietly recalled 'that fellow' she had encountered inside Peak 118.

Soon, composing her expression and turning her eyes away from her superior, she answered as calmly as possible.

"I came just now."