Chapter 113
Chirp-chirp!
Yan, who had been unconscious, suddenly snapped his eyes open and struggled to his feet.
“Ugh…”
A headache that felt like it could split his head in two was creeping up on him.
Upon standing, Yan realized something was amiss and stealthily glanced around.
“This place is…”
It wasn’t the underground sewer but the dormitory of the training center.
Then, a familiar voice reached his ears.
“Y-you’re awake, young master?”
“Lia?”
Yan’s eyes widened as he looked towards the source of the voice.
Lia was looking at him with a downcast face, as if she expected him to be angry.
Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Ah, no! But because of me…”
Yan ruffled Lia’s hair, which bore a guilty expression.
“It’s my fault for not being careful, so don’t look so troubled.”
“…Okay.”
“But how did we get back to the training center without any issues?”
“I carried you here, sir.”
“Diana, sis!”
Yan turned his head and there was Diana, approaching with a bright smile.
“Are you saying the Inspector General carried me all the way here?”
“When we arrived, the look on the Chief Instructor’s face was priceless. You missed a great opportunity, sir.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yan scratched his head at Diana’s jest.
He couldn’t know what expression the Chief Instructor had, but it seemed he was quite flustered to see Yan unconscious.
Speaking of which.
“Lia, what kind of way is that to address the Inspector General?”
Diana waved her hands dismissively.
“Oh, I told her to call me that. I’m quite fond of children, you see. Come here, Lia, let me comb your hair.”
“Well… if you say so, that’s a relief.”
Yan looked at Diana with half-closed eyes.
‘She’s old enough to be a mother, isn’t she?’
Diana’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
“Why do you look at me with such eyes, sir?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
There was no need to upset Diana by bringing up age.
Yan got out of bed.
“Where is the Chief Instructor?”
“In his office, on a call with the Crown Prince, discussing matters. But he won’t mind if you enter.”
“Thank you.”
Yan clenched his fist lightly and stretched his legs to make sure his body was in working order.
Fortunately, it seemed there were no broken or injured parts.
“I’ll go see the Chief Instructor.”
“Alright.”
Yan left Diana, who was combing Lia’s hair, and stepped outside.
He then headed straight for the Chief Instructor’s office.
As he walked, he noticed the determined expressions on the faces of several instructors.
‘Is it a full-scale war now?’
Not a fight with swords and spears, but one with politics and the press.
Having retrieved the most important Lia, proving the Special Task Force Commander’s human experimentation wouldn’t be too difficult.
Yan knocked on the door of the Chief Instructor’s office.
Knock-knock.
“Come in.”
With the Chief Instructor’s permission, Yan opened the door and entered.
On the table, there was a communication device displaying the image of Crown Prince Leon.
Leon, who was in conversation with the Chief Instructor, asked with concern when Yan entered.
– I heard you collapsed. Are you feeling alright?
“I am, thanks to your concern, Your Highness. I’m not seriously injured.”
– But if it weren’t for you this time, we wouldn’t have even thought of ousting the Special Task Force Commander.
“It’s not just me. The Chief Instructor and Your Highness worked hard, allowing me to move freely.”
The Chief Instructor chuckled from the side.
“Modesty, huh? I heard from the Inspector General that you killed the Black Shadow guarding the place along with the watchers.”
“…I was just lucky.”
Leon smiled warmly at Yan’s modesty.
– Excessive politeness can make the listener uncomfortable.
“Then let’s say I did well.”
At Yan’s easygoing response, both the Chief Instructor and Leon laughed heartily.
However, Leon’s face soon turned serious.
The Chief Instructor and Yan straightened up and listened to Leon’s words.
– The hearing will proceed as scheduled, a week from now. So, be careful not to fall into the Special Task Force Commander’s traps until then.
The Chief Instructor and Yan nodded at Leon’s words.
With the Special Task Force Commander’s weakness in hand, it was hard to predict how he would react.
– If anything goes wrong or seems likely to happen, contact me. Take care of yourselves until then.
“Yes, Your Highness, I understand.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
As Yan and the Chief Instructor bowed, the communication device flicked off.
With Leon’s image gone, the Chief Instructor straightened up.
“You’ve pushed yourself quite hard this time, haven’t you?”
“And you haven’t, Chief Instructor?”
The Special Task Force Commander may not be as powerful as a Duke, but there weren’t many in the empire who could stand against him.
It was a remarkable feat to have held him off for so long.
‘Is he truly one of the future Three Great Swords of the Continent?’
Yan inwardly clicked his tongue as he examined the Chief Instructor’s body.
There were scars here and there, but no signs of a fatal attack.
The Chief Instructor looked at Yan and propped his chin.
“Now it’s time to prove that the Special Task Force Commander conducted human experiments. Do you have a plan?”
“Yes, we will proceed with a neutral magician’s cooperation to verify Lia’s memories.”
“That’s good. After all, tampering with memory magic is an impossible feat. But what if the Special Task Force Commander denies knowing anything about it?”
Yan narrowed his eyes at the Chief Instructor’s persistent questioning.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
The Chief Instructor laughed softly.
“Of course not. Once the hearing begins, the Special Task Force Commander won’t be able to deny it.”
It wasn’t because there was solid evidence or because the Special Task Force Commander was conscientious.
“We must eliminate any possibility that the Emperor and human experimentation are connected.”
If the Special Task Force Commander destroyed the evidence and the hearing itself was canceled, it would be a different story.
But if the hearing goes ahead, all the nobles will have to pay attention to this case.
And that would be a burden even for the meticulous Special Task Force Commander.
If the nobles start investigating and even a hint of connection to the Emperor is found, the empire will be turned upside down.
‘And that’s something that the thoroughly brainwashed Special Task Force Commander can never allow to happen.’
Yan knew this from experience.
He knew the extent of brainwashed loyalty.
Yan’s eyes shone as he spoke.
“If the hearing goes well, it’s our sure victory.”
The Chief Instructor nodded in agreement.
* * *
A Few Days Later
The Special Task Force Commander received a summons and hurriedly set off to an undisclosed location.
Creak.
As he opened the door and entered, the person inside looked down at the Commander with a piercing gaze.
“Did I perhaps assign you a task too difficult?”
“…No, not at all.”
“Have I not always emphasized? It’s the process that’s important, not the result. No matter how grand the outcome, no one but you and I should know.”
Detecting the subtle reprimand in the calm words, the Commander hastily knelt.
“I apologize!”
“My disappointment is profound.”
A shadow fell over the Commander’s face, a stark contrast to his usual assertive demeanor when facing the Crown Prince.
The seated figure asked,
“So, the Crown Prince has requested a hearing. Do you think you can handle this mess on your own?”
The Commander nodded firmly, his eyes filled with resolve.
“Just leave it to me, I will not let you down.”
“Very well. You may leave now.”
With the dismissal, the Commander bowed and exited.
Crunch.
Once outside, the Commander clenched his teeth, recalling those who had put him in this position.
Crown Prince Leon, Chief Instructor Damian, and his disciple, Yan.
‘And to think the Inspector General would join them.’
It was understandable for the Crown Prince and the Chief Instructor, bound by blood, but the Inspector General was unexpected.
She had crossed lines before, but never like this, not since the execution of her lover.
But this time, she had surpassed all boundaries.
The Commander turned to his aide approaching from behind and commanded,
“Bring all the inspectors from the Inspectorate whom we have leverage over to me today.”
“All of them, sir?”
“Every single one.”
The aide, recognizing the cold determination on the Commander’s face, nodded gravely.
He knew this was no ordinary order.
As the aide turned to carry out the command,
The Commander issued one more order.
“Keep a close watch on every move at the Dragon Soldier Training Center, in case they try to leave.”
“Yes, sir!”
The aide saluted vigorously and departed.
The Commander watched the aide leave and then promptly headed somewhere with a purpose.
* * *
Moments later, he emerged not at the headquarters of the Special Task Force but at a mansion that resembled someone’s private villa.
The knight guarding the entrance of the mansion halted the Task Force Commander’s approach.
“How did you come by?”
“I have an appointment with someone today.”
The Commander produced an invitation from his pocket and handed it to the knight guarding the gate.
The knight’s eyes widened as he unfolded the invitation, then he promptly opened the mansion’s grand doors and ushered the Commander inside.
Unlike the Task Force headquarters, which was furnished only with practical furniture and utensils, this place was strewn with luxurious furniture and art pieces.
After a short walk,
“You are expected inside.”
The knight bowed his head, leaving one door between them.
With a stern face, the Commander opened the door and entered.
Inside, a middle-aged man with white-streaked hair was chuckling heartily, arms crossed, as he regarded the Commander.
“Welcome, Task Force Commander.”
The Commander slightly bowed his head to the middle-aged man.
“It’s been a while, Count Zion.”
Count Zion was a noble of the East, wielding power not unlike that of a Duke.
And he was famously known for his disdain for the Chief Instructor.
For the Commander, who needed to bring down the Chief Instructor and Yan at all costs, Count Zion was an essential figure to win over.
“Well, I was surprised by your sudden request to meet. What’s the matter?”
Despite his concerned tone, his face was filled with mirth.
The Commander ground his teeth subtly, so as not to be noticed.
‘This sly fox.’
He was sure the Count already knew why he had come, yet he insisted on hearing it from the Commander himself.
With an indifferent face, the Commander looked up.
“I need your help.”
“Hmm? You’re asking this powerless person for help?”
The Commander glared at Count Zion with sharp eyes.
He was irritated by the Count’s rhetoric, which was clearly designed to make him anxious.
In such cases, it’s better to throw a fastball.
“I will give you the weaknesses of the Eastern nobles collected by the Task Force.”
Count Zion’s arms remained crossed.
Seeing this, the Commander’s eyes twisted in frustration.
‘Greedy old man. Is this not enough for you?’
But the Commander concealed his inner thoughts and continued.
“And I will take care of the… oversights, shall we say, of Count Zion.”
Only then did Count Zion uncross his arms.
It meant he was pleased with the bargaining chips the Commander had offered.
“Hahaha, weaknesses, you say? This could be a chance to get a drink from my careless friends.”
“That it could.”
The Commander nodded, reading Count Zion’s true intentions.
Though he spoke lightly, it was clear he would use those weaknesses to expand his influence in the East.
“You’re in quite a predicament, aren’t you? I heard the Chief Instructor landed a heavy blow on you.”
“Yes, please help me.”
At the Commander’s words, Count Zion smiled broadly.
“Alright, how can I assist you?”
And so began the clandestine conversation between the Task Force Commander and Count Zion.
* * *
With a satisfactory answer in hand, the Task Force Commander rose from his seat and expressed his gratitude to Count Zion.
“Then, I’m counting on you.”
“Haha, I’ll flex my muscles a bit, so don’t worry too much.”
Having received a firm response, the Commander opened the door and stepped out.
The Commander’s eyes gleamed coldly as he left the mansion.
He had gambled away golden information, long fermented to perfection, just to entice that slippery snake.
But there were no regrets.
This deal would ensure he wouldn’t be the one to lose.
“Alright, let’s see who wins this game.”
He had taken a hit by losing Lia back to the enemy.
But he had no intention of just taking blows lying down.
The Commander immediately moved on to his next appointment, a meeting with the inspectors.