Chapter 117

As it turns out, Edwin’s answer was a hold.
I shouldn’t have been disappointed that I didn’t get an answer. If I had asked them outright, I would have suspected them of having an agenda.
‘Because it’s clear he’s dangerous.
The cliché of someone from an antagonistic faction becoming an ally.
As with anything, there’s laundry to be done. Few users are going to like a psychopath with no charm and no compelling narrative. I did the same thing with the Polaris, running the washing machine hard.
But at the end of the day, he is the main figure in the Legion.
‘On first meeting, they appear as enemies.’
After being held captive, Leila’s humanity and Rapp’s vision are revealed to him. As Edwin learns more about Rap, Rap learns more about Edwin.
It is mentioned in the story that he has slaughtered civilians on the orders of his godmother. His hands are branded with blood that cannot be washed off.
Sin is sin, no matter how you look at it.
“I’m not going to play judge, because I’m not in a position to speak for anyone else.
There’s nothing to lose by being careful.
“I was surprised by how good the atmosphere was.”
“Uh, what?”
“The city doesn’t seem to be in a bad mood.”
Edwin was out of the camp, strolling the streets, his hair scrubbed clean of grime, his jerky and soup marketed. Aside from his appearance, the presence of his horns drew attention.
Pecatums on Banzar shouldn’t be too uncommon, at least not in Kavarati. The Hebola, a mostly mutant race, had been driven out.
I didn’t seem to mind too much.
“The Mafia as I knew it, nine out of ten of them were venal. The other one was the devil himself. Money, business, honor as they call it…. They were terribly obsessed with those values.”
“I wouldn’t call it bias.”
The mafia of Polaris has such a disposition in the placenta. Not just in Banzar, but in many countries. There are even organizations that control the judiciary and run the country.
“But this place feels different.”
Edwin looked into the distance and saw people. Passersby, busy or leisurely. Workers repairing buildings. Mafia members chatting with citizens, somewhat awkwardly.
The air is thin with the repressed air of a city dominated by criminal gangs.
“You don’t feel that way?”
“What are you talking about?”
“They’re the ones who nearly wiped out your old crew.”
That was a stupid question.
But it was also an important step. Edwin is only a potential ally. Right now, he’s more of an enemy. A little validation was in order, even if it was a narrow dichotomy.
The answer was pretty cool.
“It’s self-serving.”
“Is that so?”
“Hafael would have taken this city in exactly the same way, and died in exactly the same way, so is there any reason for me to make their deaths special in this regard?”
“Because we were coworkers.”
“Not right now.”
Kim let out a huff of laughter.
“Excuse me. I didn’t mean to ask.”
As it turns out, he’s no pushover. It’s already too accustomed to human deaths anyway. We’ll have to keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesn’t do anything unexpected.
“Oh, right.”
He pretended he had just remembered something he had forgotten. He asked the question he’d been pushing to the back of his mind since he and Edwin had met in the camp, as if he were asking for the menu.
“What’s going on with the godmother?”
Edwin stopped dead in his tracks.
After a couple more steps, Kim stopped and looked back. Looking at their still blank faces, he continued.
“I feel kind of bad for her. I’d like to know what’s going on.”
“Didn’t I say I’d give you time to think about ……?”
“You’re under no obligation to answer, I’m just curious.”
Finding out where she is doesn’t mean you can do anything about it. We need to be prepared to deal with the Godmother. She won’t let you off the hook like she did with Bastitera.
I’m just asking to confirm.
“I don’t know the details.”
“Really?”
“He doesn’t reach out, or perhaps it’s more accurate to say he doesn’t come, for his instructions have always been one-sided, though I doubt his breath reaches this far away land.”
As expected, they’re staying put.
“That’s great. Thanks for letting me know.”
I hope you’re still washing your throat.
* * *
1 month.
We stayed in Kabarati longer than planned. Kim’s warnings have worked, and so far there has been no major conflict between the citizens and the Organization. At best, minor disturbances.
Nuova Era was viewed more like a guest than a ruler to be upheld.
Sovereignty has been handed over to citizens to organize their own problems. Of course, it can’t be all positive. We can expect problems to arise soon, as we have been leaving things to others.
But it was none of Kim and Ekidna’s business.
“I think I’ll go ahead and tap Naraka.”
Ekidna’s eyes lit up as she laid out the map on the table. Kim’s mouth watered as he picked up his bowl. He swallowed hard on a chewed date, then spat it out.
“That’s all well and good, but why don’t you finish your meal?”
“I’m done, and you’re going to eat all day.”
“If you eat fast, you get sick. A person should have room to spare.”
“I have to agree, eating is important.”
Ruby eyes pierced Edwin. He couldn’t stand the sight of him so nonchalantly arguing. He didn’t eat when he was in jail, and now he’s like, what the hell?
But Ekidna wasn’t there.
Antonio was busy keeping up with the citizens and the city. With nearly a hundred people in the organization, there are a lot of things to keep in mind.
“Why don’t you get out of the way? Just like I don’t give a shit if I’m a Legion or not, I’d like you to do the same. Is that too much to ask?”
“Was that something I shouldn’t have heard?”
Edwin wiped his mouth with his handkerchief and stood up.
“I’ll be spending a moderate amount of time in the neighborhood.”
“If you have nothing better to do, go see Priya. She likes you.”
“He, the child, is personally uncomfortable with….”
“He’s not that young. Whatever.”
Kim dismisses them without a word, bows to them, and walks away. Echidna stares at Edwin’s back, and only huffs when he’s out of sight.
“Hey, can we leave it like that?”
“Why not?”
“You said you’re still looking at the liver.”
Needless to say, Edwin hasn’t gotten back to me a month later.
Ekidna seemed to be unhappy with that. Rap or no rap, it’s not like he’s ever been a full-fledged member of the group.
They see him as a reactionary who could turn at any moment. Kim, on the other hand, could care less.
Because we know what it looks like in the game.
“He’s not a sneaky bastard.
I don’t have the personality to go undercover for a month at a time. It’s obvious from the fact that he boldly walked into the checkpoint in the first place. He’s as straightforward as a rock.
So far, he hadn’t gotten into any trouble, so there was nothing to worry about. At least until they left Kabarati. Edwin hadn’t gotten to know Kim, either, because nothing much had happened in the first place.
Not right away, even if it’s behind your back.
“I’m more interested in what she thinks of me.
It’s not about men and women, of course. It’s a matter of affiliation. Ekidna thinks Kim is an agent of the Rap, and she knows that he wants a companion to take him to Naraka.
And after that?
If they serve a mutual purpose, do they end the relationship neatly?
“Mafia?
While this is true of any criminal organization, the Mafia has a reputation for being particularly susceptible to defection and betrayal. In an extreme example, he wouldn’t be surprised if Ekidna tried to lock him up after the job was done.
“I don’t know, you figure it out. Anyway, the timing is a problem. I left Ravi to scout it out…….”
It was an unlikely situation.
“Nuova Era is going to fail anyway.
And very badly.
* * *
A key contributor to the length of stay was a lack of information.
“It was quiet again today. It’s like a haunted place.”
“That’s right. I’ve heard rumors, but this is even better.”
Ekidna pressed her index finger to her temple and twisted it.
Naraka.
Even in Timorta, rumors abounded. Or, more accurately, only rumors, as nothing was known about the faction that currently occupied it.
Nowhere to be seen. And nowhere to be approached. Some of Timorta’s idiots had even gone so far as to say that Naraka was currently empty.
I’m seriously thinking about that stupid thing.
‘……It’s too early to tell. I haven’t even been inside the city.’
There is a constant sandy breeze around Naraka. It may not be strong enough to keep people or vehicles out, but visibility is limited. Ravi’s spell is limited to peeking through.
Due to the unique environment, few birds fly over Naraka. Frustrated by the lack of progress, I asked the natives of Kabarati about the situation.
It wasn’t without stories.
I, Naraka… am a cursed land.
It was a common perception among citizens.
People disappear from there all the time.
Among the Schönne, there was a thunderbird who had no regard for life, and somehow managed to break through Hevola’s surveillance and cross the sandstorm.
And it never came back.
We don’t understand why out-of-towners with nothing to lose flock there like fire moths to enjoy the riches. The sands of Naraka eat people.
“Eats people….”
Ekidna rested his chin on his palm and muttered to himself. He flicked his fingers against the cup, and it tinkled, tinkled, tinkled, tinkled, as a series of fanciful stories swirled in his head that seemed to resonate with him.
Mystic (神祕).
It was suspicious, but I couldn’t dismiss it as a lie. In reality, there are things happening on the continent that are beyond human comprehension.
And with a pretty high frequency.
“You don’t mind?”
“What.”
“So….”
After a moment’s hesitation, Ekidna said with a sigh.
“Isn’t that scary?”
“Of course it’s scary.”
Kim replied as if he were stating the obvious. There was nothing false about it. He’d always been afraid, not just of Naraka, and that’s why he’d prepared as much as he could.
We’re still in the process of preparing.
“That doesn’t mean you can go back.”
It’s a metaphor.
He realizes he’s come too far and there’s no physical way to go back. A story that not even Asterique or Chelsea would understand, let alone Ekidna.
But it did work.
“That too.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Keep scouting, I’ll give it ten more days.”
As if to convince himself, Ekidna said.
“If I don’t have an income by then, I’ll just have to live with it.”
The will was firm.
As expected, she didn’t change her mind. For the thorny path is hard, and when I look back, I see what I have already lost. Positions and businesses I’ve lost, men pierced by thorns.
Ekidna is that kind of girl.
They don’t know compromise. They won’t stop until they have it all, and as a result, they will lose it all.
And Kim had no intention of helping her anymore.
“So much for being mafia.
The day of my return was fast approaching.