Chapter 212

You’ve left someone else’s worries behind.
Given the number of people, it was quite a bustling procession. The entire Dustborn outreach team, some of the lab members including the professor and Leila, and the Pekatum royal family and their entourage.
On top of that, there was a completely different person in the room.
“This is a different experience.”
“Yeah, I’m sleepy and about to pass out.”
As Kim deftly picked up Asterique’s already bleeding head, Altayre couldn’t take his eyes off the car window. Like he was looking at a very beautiful view.
“What’s so great about a wasteland with nothing in it?”
“The wasteland has its own flavor,” he says, “and to a man of the sea, rural life is extraordinary, and to a man of the city, the seclusion of the countryside is special.”
“Well. I see what you’re saying.”
We don’t know the details of Vidya’s life. I can only guess. I imagine they practice their own religion in a dingy stupa, drinking and smoking when they’re bored to death.
“I know this is new, but can I go back?”
“Didn’t the Prefect of the Prefecture beg you not to go?”
“Let’s laugh at the jokes.”
“Don’t worry, I’m laughing in my heart.”
“That’s dirty and hard to understand.”
It’s not 100% fake.
I asked, if not begged, for time.
Because after the summit, we have other things to do.
‘I’ve worn the necklace you gave me before.
If Altair disappears, there will be no way to contact Vidia from this side. We do not know the location of the forest where the tower is. The witches were in desperate need of cell phones.
The purpose is none other than the professor’s memory.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
The deadline is before the summit, but we have time until the end of the talks. At that point, there will be no avoiding it. If he refuses, I’ll be persistent, so he won’t have a choice.
It’s all about the picture.
If anyone complains later, the logic is complete: you chose it. It doesn’t matter if it sounds cold. I don’t know if society has ever been cold since the dawn of time.
“In all seriousness, it would be a narrow departure from discipline, but I don’t think the priest would mind. After all, he owes you a favor.”
“Didn’t you bounce that off the help sphere?”
“It’s a lot of work to offset.”
The attack on the Imperial Palace is obviously a huge event. Much bigger than the life and death of a godmother who is, to the outside world, little more than a Legion officer. But Vidia, who lives apart from the world, has a different perspective.
To Vidia, the Godmother was a disgrace and a traitor to the clan, and because of her overreach of power, the entire clan would bear the brunt of the backlash. It was the first crisis in their long history.
On the other hand, they don’t care what happens to Shiran.
You may have taken one bounce, but that’s about it.
“Thanks to you, I’m enjoying a rare distraction.”
“Sure. As long as it’s fun.”
It was a rare experience for everyone, not just Vidya. Attending a summit with the royal family of Pekatum. The trainees are already drooling over the experience.
“If I mess up, will I be shot…?”
“Seconds, maybe not a firing squad? I mean, there’s international law and stuff, yeah. But being branded an international criminal and wanted? Ugh, that might be worse than a firing squad.”
“I’ll kill myself cleanly then.”
As an aside, Leone’s condition has since stabilized. This was thanks to the extra care she received in Wangseong during the last few days of preparation for her departure. Her own resilience also played a role.
“What a bunch of bullshit.”
Chelsea snorted from the driver’s seat. Even with the juniors coming in, it was still her job to drive when Turkham wasn’t around. Neither Leone nor Yudahee had licenses.
“It’ll be surprisingly quiet when you get there, won’t it, boss?”
Chelsea still doesn’t know the truth about the bombing.
I didn’t feel the need to pinch him, so he nodded.
“Well, except for terrorism.”
“That’s the last thing that should happen, but I’m sure security will be tighter this time since we’ve been embarrassed before, and there’s no Legion, so it’ll be smooth sailing, right?”
Sometimes Chelsea’s head was a field of flowers. Or maybe the sense of foreboding was so strong that it turned on her escape switch. If so, that’s a great insight.
“I don’t know.”
Sadly, I don’t plan to refrain this time.
* * *
The summit was reconvened after four years of public condemnation of Legion. Attendance was slightly lower than last time. This was due to the short notice and the fear of a resurgence of terrorism.
“On the contrary, I think we’ve got a good group of people.”
Arriving with a day to spare, Kim ran into Bryce at the pre-party. Once again, Dustborn had received an offer from the council. It was proof that things were going well.
“That’s more than I expected, even considering the proxy attendance. It’s gutsy. I wonder if he’s afraid to come to a conference where terrorism has taken place after what happened to Shiran.”
A legitimate question to have.
In short, it’s an information imbalance.
The leader of a nation that actively utilizes spies has a general idea of what happened in Shiran. Bryce, on the other hand, only knows the broad strokes: “The Legion terrorized Shiran.
“How about the Kilikian Parliament.
Kilikia is a mix of cultures from many countries, but that is simply due to the large number of immigrants. I’ve never heard of rumors of spies in the council.
‘Maybe it’s just suspicion, after all, I had a conflict with Xuran.
The atmosphere is palpable.
“By the way, how’s the situation in Fort Kilikia these days?”
“There’s a lot of noise, there’s a scandal every day, there’s illegal drugs on the market, and there’s a lot of underworld douchebags.”
“Gee, it never changes there.”
“Haha, you betcha.”
The lighthearted Bryce was a different man now. The rough edges of his mercenary days had faded, and he carried himself with the ease and weight of a city leader.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It just seems to be getting more and more stuck.”
“I cannot be purely pleased to hear it from your mouth….”
“No, that sounds pretty sincere.”
“Of course you are. You’re not the kind of person to give empty compliments.”
At least it’s clear that I’m not saying this as a compliment.
“Whatever. Just a little more work.”
Kim patted Bryce’s forearm and glanced around the party. A crowd gathered like reporters at a crime scene. Through the crowd, she could see a distinctive head of red hair.
“Shiran’s here, too.
For a moment, I was consciously looking in this direction and made eye contact with Maximilian. But he quickly looked away. He seemed to realize that there was no point in pretending to be friendly.
That wasn’t all.
“Albatross.
The leader and deputy leader of the Albatross have made an official appearance. Dutifully following the dress code. Irene smiled to herself as she realized that Anima had made sure they were in order.
I realize that I’ve gotten to know so many new faces.
“When do you expect to be back?”
“I don’t know the exact timeline, but it’s probably sooner rather than later.”
“That’s great. Maybe I can take some time off when you get back.”
“Uh-uh, don’t worry, Mae. Echidna will work you like a cow.”
“You can trust Mr. Lusano.”
Tomorrow, the talks begin.
* * *
March 6, 2048, Lucerne International Exchange Center.
-D-2, all is well.
-D-3, clear. We’ll continue to be vigilant.
The conference center was heavily guarded. Thousands of people patrolled the perimeter, and there was all sorts of equipment, including thermal cameras.
The security forces in Geneva were on to something, and if the security had been the same before, I wouldn’t have been able to pull off a prank. Fortunately, I wasn’t planning on pulling any tricks this time.
“First, let me thank you all. While the continent is in turmoil, we are here because we see each other as companions in these last days. We are…….”
Kim sat at the table as acting director of the Cellbrox Labs. The room was crowded, and he could feel their eyes on him from time to time, among them the Führer of Harenhal and the Regent of Cadillac.
“They’re probably the most vocal at this point.
It was actually Harenthal’s Führer, Kenneth Klawewert, who called the meeting. There is an unspoken power struggle, even if there is no specific chairman. He naturally took the initiative.
“I’ll cut to the chase. A great dark cloud has fallen over the continent, and the anomalies we are now seeing across the continent are the result of it. I dare say it is a threat to humanity’s right to exist, greater than any previous ‘cataclysm’.”
It wasn’t a politician’s hyperbole or exaggeration; most of the people in the room were aware of the rift. It was serious enough to distract them from their focus on Xuran.
Defending your country is not the end of the story. If a nation falls because it fails to deal with the Rift, if it becomes the territory of monsters and parasites, where else will their claws go?
“Now is the time for unity.”
A powerful voice rang out.
But with a crowd like this, there are bound to be mudfish muddying the waters.
“I’ll accept it as an agenda item, but before we discuss it, would you mind?”
Regent Reindorf of Cadillac interrupted. His face was businesslike and cold, more reminiscent of a soldier than a statesman. His head turned slowly, his gaze fixed on a single point.
From Kim, to be exact.
“I don’t think you have the right teeth to be sitting here.”
“I have to disagree. Cellbrox Labs has done a lot of good internationally since the cataclysm, and everyone knows how many lives have been saved by the cheap drugs and contamination instruments they distributed.”
“Let a deed be a deed, and an allegation be an allegation.”
The regent said in an afterword.
“We’ve all heard the rumors at one time or another: Isn’t the technology that Cellbrossix Labs has to do with inhumane experimentation, with disaster?”
“You’re in the wrong place. This is not a hearing. Slanderous accusations without evidence can be found at….”
“I heard that they’ve taken Kushan, the director of the lab, from Xuran.”
Sparks flew and Maximilian flinched.
“There was an attack during the transport to the courtroom and Major General Kushan is missing, Prince Maximilian, am I misunderstanding something?”
“…… This is related to an ongoing investigation in my home country. I can’t say anything about it.”
“So at least the charges against Major General Kushan have not been dropped.”
A piercing stare.
“Recent events on Shiran. Can you prove that they have nothing to do with the Cellbrox Labs?”
My gut rumbled.
Some sigh, others look intrigued. Some stared at Kim with the same questioning gaze as the regent. All in all, the lab was full of coincidences.
Against all odds, Kim smiles inwardly.
“Ah, this flavor.
A political arena with all sorts of intentions.
I don’t enjoy it, but it’s just the right amount of stimulation once in a while.
When you can afford it, of course.
“I’m sorry, what did you find in Shiran?”
He crossed his arms and tilted his head stiffly.
“We had no idea.”
Let’s do it.