– Tick.
Time passes.
The first tick was my time, when I was alive.
– Tick.
The second tick was the time of those who have vanished.
– Tick.
And the third tick is.
“…It’s time.”
My time, now dead, no longer exists in this world.
Cesar Li stood up. He was dressed in a dark blue mechanic’s uniform.
As soon as he stood, those who had been lined up around him also moved. They were all robust men, around twenty in number.
Like Cesar, they were all clad in mechanic’s uniforms. The deep hats covering their heads concealed half of their faces.
Cesar disliked that he found solace in wearing the hat. He hated having to care about others’ gazes due to his now grotesquely altered appearance.
He walked forward wearing the hat. One of the followers who had accompanied him asked.
“Are we finally going?”
“Yes. You’ve made sure we’re prepared?”
“Of course. I’ve already identified the locations.”
What time, where to go, and what to do. All the information had been collected and assembled. This was the workshop established for this moment, and these were the people who had run tirelessly towards just this moment.
“Three years…”
It took a long time.
To witness this day, they learned about mechanical repairs for the first time in their lives.
For this day, they lived under the guise of mechanics, thoroughly hiding their true selves.
For this day, they signed a contract with the Caldera Imperial Academy and built trust with a tavern located in the city.
And finally, today had arrived.
“Cesar. What about your friend?”
“Friend?”
At his colleague’s question, Cesar tilted his head. Who was he referring to as a friend?
“That, why. I’m talking about the priest friend who’s been acting as a professor at the academy. Aren’t you pretty close? Last time you made a fuss about wanting to meet him.”
“…Lucio.”
Lucio Antorelli. Cesar recalled his face. As his colleague pointed out, it might be dangerous to act without informing him.
But….
“…Leave it be.”
“What?”
“Leave it be. I’ll handle it myself.”
If he informed him, it would likely mess things up. Cesar’s decision was quick.
“Anyway, I had no intention of executing this plan without any sacrifice.”
The vengeance of a blade sharpened over three years, meant to repay those who took everything from him.
And among the few connections he had forged on the battlefield, which to choose… Cesar would, without hesitation, choose the former.
“…Lucio. The fact that you’re not joining us is your own choice.”
He wouldn’t chase after him like other ambitions.
However, how he deals with it is up to him. He was sincerely hoping it wouldn’t interfere.
– Clang—!
The garage door opened. Faint light began to push away the darkness of the dim garage. Cesar pressed his hat down deeper on his head.
Four vehicles parked outside the garage. Seeing that, Cesar asked the colleague standing beside him.
“Is this it?”
“Yeah. I prepared it in advance. Four in total.”
“You packed the goods, right?”
“Of course. They’re loaded in the trunk. I intentionally split them between tool bags, so they shouldn’t be noticeable and will be easy to transport.”
“Good. We’ll move according to the plan. As arranged, split into two vehicles for the tavern, two for the academy.”
There wouldn’t be any getaway vehicle. Cesar had no intention of submitting to the passage of time.
‘I cut ties here.’
Those stirred by rage and hatred ultimately face destruction for the sake of the world. Cesar and his twenty companions genuinely believed that.
“Get in. Once again, stick to the plan.”
Recalling the ‘plan’ they all had set together, Cesar got into the vehicle. His gaze fell upon his wristwatch.
Eight o’clock in the morning sharp. There wasn’t a single deviation in Cesar’s plan.
“Let’s go.”
As the car slowly began to move, Cesar quietly closed his eyes. The various noises started to fade away.
– Tick.
The fourth tick.
It was the time of a shattered future.
*
I looked at Chief Curbin. His dark eyes also met mine.
“Professor?”
“…Ah, yes. Could you repeat that?”
“I wanted to ask if any suspicious individuals had been sighted within the academy recently.”
Suspicious individuals. Within the academy.
I didn’t know exactly what she meant by ‘suspicious individuals.’
But what I truly worried about was.
– There were indications that an agent from the intelligence bureau, someone close to Adelheit, committed arson.
The words left by Cesar. An agent from the intelligence bureau, who had been emotionally close to Adelheit, set fire to a building.
And I remember Cesar’s angry reactions upon realizing this fact. The declaration of vengeance against Adelheit.
I felt anxious. Was Cesar’s raging fury not encroaching upon the territory of the intelligence bureau?
And I felt fear.
Was Duke Adelheit already aware of Cesar’s existence and the plan he had made, and was he using the intelligence bureau to wipe out the companions Cesar had gathered?
A myriad of suspicions arose. If the person they were pursuing was indeed Cesar, should I disclose the fact that I had spoken to him?
Cesar aiming for personal revenge against Duke Adelheit. Should I warn them that he was likely to do something?
If possible, I wanted to choose silence. I understood better than anyone the reasons behind Cesar’s desire for revenge and resentment towards Duke Adelheit.
Cesar might kill Duke Adelheit. I was aware of that fact as well.
However, the murder of Duke Adelheit….
– Professor Antorelli, how was I?
Suddenly, Laura’s face came to mind. I slowly opened my closed eyes.
Laura von Adelheit. If Duke Adelheit were to die, she would likely be the one most saddened by it.
And one of the students I must protect at all costs.
I snapped back to reality. Chief Curbin was still watching me. In her dark eyes, suspicion began to surface gradually. I had to respond.
“I haven’t seen any particularly suspicious individuals.”
“……”
Chief Curbin’s gaze deepened as she scrutinized me.
Her piercing gaze seemed to cut through me. I would not flinch from that cold stare. Instead, I met her gaze head-on.
After what felt like a long standoff of gazes, how much time passed?
“…I see.”
Chief Curbin raised the white flag. I sighed in relief internally and nodded.
“Yes. I truly haven’t seen anything.”
“Hm…”
“Is there a possibility that a suspicious individual has infiltrated the academy? If you could share with me a brief description or identification information, I could ensure the safety of the students…”
“Sergeant Cesar Li, Reserve of the Imperial Defense Forces.”
I fell silent. Chief Curbin continued.
“Born in the small town of Cordoba, near the city. Date of birth is September 23rd, Imperial year 1892. Record of service as the leader of the 3rd platoon, 1st company of the 660th Mechanized Infantry Battalion under the 101st Ground Defense Brigade. After the war, he founded a radical and violent veterans’ group called the ‘War Veterans Association’ during the post-war period. Evidence shows plans to illegally occupy the square of the city to conduct violent protests.”
“……”
“In a fire at the War Veterans Association’s office three years ago, confirmation of life or death became impossible, and the fire department concluded death due to the difficulty in identifying the remains at the time. The cause of the fire remains unknown.”
Chief Curbin’s words continued without pause. While she listed all the information related to Cesar, I could do nothing but listen silently.
“This information was collected by the former head of the Federal Intelligence Bureau. After cross-validation, no incorrect information was found.”
“…Is that so?”
“However, there’s additional information I’ve discovered.”
Chief Curbin began to look at me as if she could pierce through me with her gaze. Feeling a chill from her cold, lifeless eyes, I desperately maintained my composure and met her gaze.
“Since his military days, there were a few individuals with whom he was unusually close. Among them was your name. Professor Lucio Antorelli.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You asked about suspicious individuals, didn’t you? So, I’m answering that for you, Professor Antorelli.”
I swallowed hard without making it obvious. My hands were sweaty, so I clenched my fists to conceal it.
In the high-pressure atmosphere, Chief Curbin opened her mouth.
“I received information that Cesar Li is still alive.”
“……”
“And evidence has also surfaced that he is plotting to take someone’s life.”
Was she not revealing the plan regarding Duke Adelheit because she wasn’t sure who precisely Cesar was targeting? Or was she simply unaware, leading her to say such things?
At the very least, I believed it was more likely the latter. They evidently didn’t know Cesar very well yet. Just as I was forming that thought.
“We suspect that Cesar’s target is Duke Adelheit.”
My prediction shattered the moment it was formed. I struggled to stifle my trembling voice as I spoke.
“Why is that?”
“In the past, Duke Adelheit had been brought before a military tribunal. There were two young men who caused a disturbance in the courtroom after listening to Duke Adelheit’s remarks.”
“That incident….”
“Cesar Li and…. you, Professor Antorelli.”
I knew.
Chief Curbin already knew. She understood who was bearing a grudge against Duke Adelheit and that I was one of those who acted alongside him in that grudge.
“The motives behind the disturbance are clear. A little digging through the Defense Agency’s documents would reveal that.”
“……”
“Cesar Li served in the unit belonging to the 101st Ground Defense Brigade, led by Duke Adelheit. Due to Duke Adelheit’s actions….”
“…Please, stop.”
“Should I stop?”
“If you could do that…. I would appreciate it.”
Chief Curbin nodded and created some distance. The moment the pressure that had been looming over me disappeared, a refreshing breeze rushed in, making me feel like I could breathe again.
Chief Curbin pulled out her second cigarette and spoke.
“Well, we at the intelligence bureau are not designating Professor Antorelli as a potential suspect. Considering your past actions, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that you have ties to Cesar Li.”
“How much do you know….”
“Professor Antorelli, the Federal Intelligence Bureau knows everything.”
Chief Curbin lit her cigarette and paused speaking. Thanks to that, I was able to take a moment to catch my breath.
“Our eyes and ears are everywhere, and there’s no way to escape from them unless you’re dead. Just remember that.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
“However, as I said before…. we don’t particularly think you have a collaborative relationship with Cesar Li. But collaboration and silent witnessing are fundamentally different things.”
Exhaling cigarette smoke, Chief Curbin looked at me again. Her black, deep eyes, like piercing shadows, seemed to see through everything.
“Professor Antorelli, if I may ask… have you met with Cesar Li recently?”
“……”
“Yes?”
I said nothing. Actually, it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t.
The Federal Intelligence Bureau was surely trying to capture Cesar. However, if I were to ask if they were my enemies…. that would be a no.
They knew everything about Cesar. For instance, they knew every step he had taken since his birth up until now.
They even discovered the fact that he survived the fire. If I were to lie in front of Chief Curbin, who led such an intelligence bureau….
Then, should I disclose that I had indeed met Cesar? Saying I had simply ‘met him’ would it be okay to share?
Or should I stay silent? Should I keep my mouth shut and raise their suspicions about me even more?
I didn’t know. I truly didn’t know. I had no intention of betraying Cesar, I had no desire to see him become the embodiment of rage, and I had no intention of allowing him to experience another ‘tragic accident.’
Then wouldn’t it be safer for the intelligence bureau to capture Cesar themselves first?
What on earth should I do….
“Professor. Please tell me. Have you met with him?”
“…I, well.”
“It’s okay. Just take your time to…”
And then it happened.
– Boom—!
The ground trembled, and the noise transmitted through the vibrating air interrupted our conversation.
Both Chief Curbin and I almost simultaneously turned our heads. I reflexively turned my head at the familiar sound while Chief Curbin captured the sound with her sensitive nerves.
And then, we saw.
“What….”
“……”
Two columns of black smoke rising somewhere in the vast city.
And the red flames soaring beneath them.
At this moment, it was an intense fire burning hotter than anything else.
