The Hound Dreams of Rebellion

Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Reunion

Red and yellow flames were ferociously swallowing the surroundings like hungry monsters.

A tall young man was observing the scene beyond the window with his hands behind his back.

In a relaxed posture, as if appreciating a work of art.

A sturdy build like steel.

Healthy-toned skin.

Anyone could see he possessed a superior set of physical characteristics.

His black hair, calmly swept back, was sparkling like silver scales depending on the reflected light.

"The ancestors must be furious."

The young man opened his mouth while keeping his eyes fixed on the fire.

"Is it not so?"

"The First Emperor was a great pioneer who raised the Empire amidst chaos and division, and a true model of a ruler with insight and strength that no one could fathom. He would have surely understood that those flames burning now are a sacrifice for the well-being of the Empire."

Verdo, standing in attendance behind the young man, answered as if he had been waiting.

"Indeed, a wise answer to a foolish question. My thinking was shallow."

The young man laughed with satisfaction.

"It is merely the private opinion of an ignorant soldier. Please do not give it a thought."

"Your humility is excessive."

The young man turned to Verdo with a faint smile.

"The Empire has always united as one amidst numerous challenges and trials. With that power, we were able to achieve today's prosperity. These days, it is simply lamentable that there are so many foolish people who do not know this obvious truth."

"You are speaking of the anti-imperialists."

When Verdo asked suggestively, the young man nodded heavily.

"They are like insects insidiously gnawing away at a grand tree."

The young man's eyes narrowed thinly.

The emotions contained within them were being thoroughly controlled.

Even an elite Prominence would likely find it difficult to read his intentions easily.

On the other hand, the young man himself remained sharply honed, as if he could pierce through the opponent's heart at any time.

"The masses do not fathom the truth of the supreme good. Heroes who lead the foolish onto the right path have always existed. Just as you did in the past."

"It was the greatest honor of my life."

Verdo's eyes, reminiscing about the past, were soaked in deep emotion.

"That aside, how is Redstone lately? Is there no talent fit for the future throne?"

The young man tossed a question while leaning back in his chair.

"I am sorry to say, but they are rare. Since we try to carefully select talent who will not be a shame to the Empire's reputation. At most, would there be about two noteworthy individuals recently? I believe you already know well since one of them has entered the Imperial Palace."

"Lensis. You mean the bloodline of Lindewald. Excellent soldiers have been produced from the Lindewald Family since long ago."

The young man smiled.

"Lensis is quite excellent. He is worth aiming for the position of the next Captain of the Imperial Guard. He is a talent too good for Marcus. Who is the other person?"

"Compared to Lensis, his innate abilities are lacking, but he possesses a strong tenacity and a talent for not giving up. And he is from the slums."

"The slums. He might be able to plant a ray of hope in the lowly."

The young man sank into thought while stroking his chin.

He was substituting the two talents just mentioned into the future of the Empire.

"Which of those two do you think is suitable for the young hero of the next Empire?"

Then, deep wrinkles emerged on Verdo's forehead.

It was a cautious look, as if gauging the young man's mind.

He must never answer lightly.

"In my opinion...."

***

"We have been thoroughly played."

Jinfre laughed lowly.

The statue of the First Emperor Gaius, which was the symbol of the Empire, was damaged.

More than anything, the bigger problem is that we missed the Spark group who committed such an atrocity.

Currently, their whereabouts have become unknown.

Not even a trace could be found.

'Is this possible?'

A doubt sprouted in my mind.

Neustadt is the heart of the Empire.

A huge fortress wall firmly surrounds the outskirts of the city, and the turrets erected everywhere number in the dozens.

Since the city was built, it was also an impregnable fortress that has never once fallen to an enemy.

The interior of the city cast beyond the high outer wall is strictly maintained in terms of public order.

In Neustadt, no one dared to dream of a crime against the Empire.

Above all, Neustadt was also the city where the most Prominence resides.

To break through such tight security and escape easily?

Even while causing a riot in the Grand Plaza as if it were their own front yard?

"We can no longer overlook the atrocities of the Unnormal."

Isel expressed her opinion in a strong tone.

"It is certainly bothersome."

Jinfre chimed in quietly.

Under the dark lighting, the cigarette smoke that leaked out of his mouth was scattered thickly.

'Jinfre. The more I know him, the more difficult it is to fathom his heart.'

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

The higher the position, the heavier the responsibility one must bear.

Due to this incident, Jinfre must have received pressure from the higher-ups.

Because he is the head of Obsidian.

Nevertheless, leisure and a cynical attitude could be seen in Jinfre.

I know well that he has a grasshopper-like temperament, being crazy about drinking, singing, and dancing.

However, isn't the matter serious right now?

'He could at least pretend to be a little serious.'

Whether it's simply because of his naturally easygoing personality, or if he looks down on the high-ranking people.

"Isel. Please report on Unnormal."

At Jinfre's request, Isel stepped forward as if she had been waiting.

"There are a total of 3 known members of Unnormal so far."

When the hologram projector was activated, Spark's silhouette first revealed its shape.

His characteristic playful eyes and confident expression emerged vividly through the 3D image.

Next is the Invisible Man whose name is unknown.

The image of the fellow recorded in the Alkaz Prison visiting room was enlarged.

Finally, even the one with the nimble build and the blowgun.

The Obsidian agents took the information regarding the trio into their minds with grim expressions.

"They possess at least one or more unique abilities. What is noteworthy is that their abilities are similar to specific animals or monsters."

The moment I heard her analysis, I recalled what I experienced in the Wasteland.

The Hybrid that had attacked by squeezing through the sand.

That monster, which looked like all sorts of living creatures mixed together, had discharged electrical shocks from its snout.

'It was an ability similar to Spark's.'

Although the Hybrid's electrical shock was at a negligible level compared to Spark's.

Spark was a superior version in every aspect.

"Ered. It seems you are thinking something similar to me."

Jinfre was wearing a significant smile while looking at me.

When we encountered the Hybrid in the Wasteland, the words Jinfre had said came to mind.

That the Hybrid might be a being created by the Empire.

At that time, I had let it slip by as nothing special.

But now....

Meanwhile, Jinfre exhaled the smoke from the cigarette he had inhaled deeply and gave instructions to the assembled agents.

"They might not have left Neustadt yet. Perhaps they are waiting for an opening while holding their breath. There will be traces left somewhere. Find them without fail."

"Yes."

The agents scattered in all directions with determined expressions.

"...Traces probably won't appear."

Jinfre, who watched until the agents completely disappeared, muttered lowly.

"Why are you so certain?"

When I asked back carefully, a bitter smile was drawn on his lips.

"Because all the incidents that have occurred so far are impossible with the power of Unnormal alone."

I agree with his words.

'Unnormal has another collaborator besides Ivad and Joffrey.'

There is a high probability that the collaborator is a being who exercises considerable influence in the Empire.

The fact that the Spark group perfectly evaded the Empire's dragnet and fled is proof of that.

'They even perfectly assassinated Ivad and Joffrey.'

Jinfre would know that fact as well.

Nevertheless, he hid his pessimistic inner thoughts and encouraged the agents.

It must be the fate of one who wears a hat of authority.

"We should try as much as we can. It is too early to give up."

That was my thought.

Immediately after hearing those words, Jinfre smiled brightly.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I intend to track the whereabouts of the guard. As I mentioned before."

I mean the person who was responsible for the safety of Ivad and Joffrey, who were awaiting trial.

That was also one of the few remaining links to this case.

Because other clues to track the whereabouts of Unnormal had already faded away like mist in an instant.

"Ered."

Jinfre's call.

I stopped my steps mid-way as I was about to leave.

"No one can guarantee whether those steps you take from now on will be a safe route or the center of a storm. You will have to decide after careful consideration."

In the eyes of the advising Jinfre, indescribable complex emotions were mixed.

"Are you saying that only by stepping forward can I reveal what is waiting ahead?"

When I interpreted his warning in the exact opposite way, Jinfre burst into laughter.

"As expected of you."

***

I put in a lot of legwork, but in the end, I could not meet the guard.

'At least it is certain that he is not in Neustadt.'

The place where I found a clue was the personnel records archive.

The guard's name is Heni Van.

Heni was dismissed from his post due to the negligence he committed this time.

Afterward, he was demoted to a place called 'Engrove'.

Engrove.

It was an unfamiliar place name.

It meant it was a small city with little presence.

'Strange.'

I stared intently at Heni's transfer order to Engrove.

The time of creation for the said transfer order was 7:00 AM today.

It was only last night that Unnormal escaped and caused a riot.

It is an obvious fact that Heni committed a major blunder in his duties.

Therefore, the demotion itself is not a strange thing.

'However, along with the dismissal from the post, even the demotion to the province. The time it was decided is too fast.'

Through drafting, review, and settlement to final approval.

Signatures of high-ranking officials, starting from the personnel administration practitioner, were carved in turn on the transfer order.

Heni's rank is a 3rd-class guard.

In the relevant department, the only superiors higher than Heni are 2nd and 1st-class guards, the Vice-Minister of Security, and the Minister of Security.

In other words, Heni was a high-ranking official.

He would have rolled in that field for at least 20 years.

'To process the treatment of an official who was in such a key position in just half a day?'

It is excessively swift.

As if they were waiting for it.

Since the details of the incident must be examined, it should take several days until the decision on the personnel transfer is made.

'When Heni was guarding Ivad and Joffrey, someone must have approached him.'

His identity is a high-ranking official of the Empire.

He would be a person who has risen to a position high enough that even a 3rd-class guard would have no choice but to be at his beck and call.

'That person is related to Unnormal.'

Since traces of a blowgun were found in the bodies of Ivad and Joffrey.

'He would have asked Heni for cooperation. So that he could easily eliminate Ivad and Joffrey.'

Either he threatened Heni using his high position, or he presented an enticing bribe.

There is a high probability he chose a bribe over a threat.

Because inducing voluntary cooperation would lead to stable cooperation in the long run.

'For now, this is it. In order to reveal a clearer truth, I have no choice but to put in more legwork.'

I exited the archive and entered the street.

'...What is happening?'

A commotion was occurring in the middle of the street.

"You talk about peace even in this situation? What a joke!"

Passersby were pouring insults at a group of people.

The passersby receiving the insults were holding content that talked about peace.

They seem to be pacifists.

Have they not come to their senses even after being beaten by the military police?

"A crazy terrorist group is running wild in Neustadt, and you want to reduce military spending! What nonsense!"

"Are you going to chant about peace even if your family is brutally murdered by those guys!?"

The voices gradually grew louder.

Someone picked up a stone and threw it toward the pacifists.

That became the catalyst.

Passersby picking up pebbles one by one.

"Ah!"

A pacifist who was hit by a stone on the forehead let out a single scream and collapsed.

Finally, it did not end with stone-throwing and spread into a violent incident.

'Unnormal is creating a sense of anxiety among the citizens of the Empire.'

In normal times, pacifists would not have been condemned to this extent.

'What foolish people who can't even grasp the atmosphere.'

I clicked my tongue and passed them indifferently.

***

I boarded the train to Engrove.

Fwip.

I unfolded a map.

Engrove.

It is a small city located in the southern part of the Empire.

There isn't even an airport to get there, so I had no choice but to board the train.

It was called a city, but it was practically no different from being a large village.

It was a region that underdeveloped.

'It will take roughly 5 hours.'

As the departed train gradually added acceleration, the landscape beyond the window flowed quickly.

The dense buildings in the center of Neustadt were pushed further and further back.

Cramped shops and houses changed into sparse warehouses and small workshops.

Soon, even those faded away as we reached the end of the city.

The train was passing the edge of civilization and entering the desolate Wasteland.

Whoosh.

The sandstorm whipped fiercely and hit the carriage window.

The bleak yellow land gradually gathered on both sides of the train track.

Drowsiness as intense as the angry sandstorm covered me all at once.

Only then did I realize.

That after Spark's escape, I had not slept a single wink until now.

-...We will soon arrive at Engrove. Please ensure you do not leave any belongings....

...I opened my eyes.

'I feel much better.'

I was able to have time to rest unintentionally.

I got off the train.

There was no one getting off at Engrove besides me.

Indeed, passengers who have business in a rural small city would be rare.

Whirr.

The low-pitched engine sound caught my ears.

That sound was getting closer and closer.

'An airship? There shouldn't be an airport nearby?'

The airship headed toward a nearby makeshift landing strip.

It is gradually descending to a low altitude and reducing speed.

Thump.

Soon after, the airship smoothly straightened its posture, adjusted the flow of air, and landed on the ground.

It's a seasoned skill.

The airship in question was not the budget model commonly found at airports.

A private airship.

The metal surface reflected by the sunlight was glistening.

The sleek design, as if slicing through the wind, caught my eyes.

'Ghostwing. It's a model that runs the extreme of luxury.'

I had no choice but to admit it.

The Ghostwing had a quality that stimulated a man's desire for ownership.

'A thing like that is not something just anyone can possess.'

Hiss.

Finally, the door of the Ghostwing opened.

Beyond it, two men got down in turn and set foot on the ground.

...Immediately after confirming their faces.

I could not hide my surprise.

"8th Prince?"

Marcus and Lensis.

The gazes of the two men tilted toward me.

"I knew we would reunite soon, but I didn't know the timing would be this fast."

Marcus showed a peculiar look while looking at me.

"The fact that you came here means you have reached the same conclusion as this body."