Chapter 253: Rainstorm (3)

Chapter 253: Rainstorm (3)

Libras Aerial Garden, the empty office.

Johanna terminated the spatial channel attached to Shion Ascal.

This one has quite the story too."

How his mother died, how his father diedJohanna had no real interest in the details.

She was only interested in the fact that he was an orphan.

...Mother.

Johanna murmured, stroking her chin. Her own mother had died when she was young.

Now, she couldn't even recall her mother's face. Not even a common portrait to remember her by.

Knock-knock

Just then, a knock sounded.

"Come in.

The door opened, and the person who entered was Belingham Kantar.

Johanna's eyebrows twitched.

"It's been a while. What brings you here?

"Ah. Ive come to explain the candidates for the head of the Intelligence Agency team and to seek a vote.

Belingham Kantar smiled briefly as he laid down the documents.

"Team leader candidates.

"Yes. Currently, we have Dezherby, Pellington, Cynthia, and Bell Moorefour in total.

Johanna had already made up her mind. One of the conditions she had proposed to Bell Moore when assigning him to monitor Shion Ascal was to support his bid for the team leader position.

"Bell Moore. Lets go with this one.

Johanna lightly checked it off with her fountain pen.

Belingham Kantar collected the document, nodding in thanks.

"Thank you.

Then, instead of leaving, he continued to stand there.

Johanna looked at him with a peculiar expression.

"What? What is it? Is there anything else?

...No. Its just that you dont hold me back anymore.

Belingham spoke as if he felt somewhat neglected. Johanna frowned.

"Even if I held you back, you wouldnt come to me, would you, Belingham?

"That's not what I mean.

A somewhat joyful smile spread across Belinghams lips.

"Lately, it seems someone has caught your interest."

...Interest?

"Yes. Theres a rumor going around inside Libra. You always look contemplative, and you're always plugged into something.

Belingham pointed to the earphones connected to her laptop.

...Its nothing.

Every night, its the surveillance and wiretapping reports delivered by Bell Moore.

She dissects every single word Shion Ascal says, contemplating them.

"Are you in love or something?

Stop talking nonsense."

Johanna's face contorted with disdain.

If you have nothing else to say, then leave?

"Yes. But it's a relief. That Lady Johanna is showing interest in something else."

It's not interest."

"Then what is it?

Suspicion.

Johanna did not add more to her words.

"Then Ill take my leave. Ive heard theres an important tenant moving in soon, good luck with that."

With a swish of his hand, Belingham waved goodbye. He left with a sly smile, walking backwards out of the room, and Johanna felt a nagging irritation.

Interest?"

Interest. Johanna looked at her laptop.

In this file, there were photos of the bastard, recordings of his words, and not just his bank statements, but every single detail of his life, including his call logs.

...Is my suspicion excessive?"

There was nothing suspicious about him.

He was cleaner than any other Chaser of Libra.

Even Johanna's Balancer Vitro had given him a positive assessment

He only did things beneficial for Libra, and although it might be excessive, there was no doubt about his loyalty.

[Chaser Ascal is trusted by Derek, and even by Jade.]

If he had gained the trust of those two lunatics, Derek and Jade, it must be proof that hes truly trustworthy.

...Teh.

Johanna closed her laptop. She swiveled her chair around and looked up at the ceiling.

Perhaps it was because she had been looking at Shion Ascals photos and listening to his voice for too long.

In the empty space, his face faintly emerged like a painting.

The reason I didn't kill Quantum Mechanic isn't grandiose.

Simply, could a villain like Jesco change? In his not-so-long remaining life, could he truly live in atonement?

I just want to accumulate data on that issue.

'Great work!

Grawls voice flowed into my head.

But, theres an inquiry from Zed!'

'An inquiry?

Yes!

[Zed] is [Jake]'s alternate account. It means Grawl is operating two informants, [Zed] and [Jake], at the same time.

Because of the rumor spreading in the Libra Intelligence Agency that Jake is a close informant to Shion Ascal, he created another informant who has no connection to Shion at all.

'The target is Derek!

...Derek?

Yes!

I nodded my head.

'It must be related to Vern.

Vern and Derek are uncomfortable with each other, but their pride is too strong. So, they're likely to engage in a stubborn fight without backing down.

Shion was silent for a while, but then he chuckled.

From the beginning.

His laughter-filled voice echoed in her ears.

It shattered something inside Elise.

A spray of emotions welled up.

I see."

She chuckled too.

Thanks to this guy, she gained certainty.

"Thank you."

Father always said the family was the most important thing in the world.

It was a lie.

There are values far more important than that in the world.

In fact, there are infinitely many.

Therefore, no one has the duty or right to prosper their family by killing people.

Thus, Petra must now be reborn anew.

Its thanks to you.

Elise pressed enter.

An unnamed seashore. Yael was delivered to the dock, bloodied.

Ken Petra had become aware of his betrayal.

. Well, this is something.

Yael looked in the direction of the voice with half-dulled eyes. A man was looking at him, wearing an awkward smile.

"Young master.

The man who called himself the young master.

"Do you perhaps remember me?

Yael smiled silently. It was someone he actually knew.

I know. The son of the elder I killed."

His face hardened. Yael just raised an eyebrow.

I remember.

Before being trapped here, Yael had killed countless people. Not only his own grandfather but also many of Petras shadowy elders, all those he had murdered.

To prevent them from harming Elise.

"Youre aware, I see.

The man frowned his lips and with a thud, dropped a corpse beside him.

It was a journalist who had dared to demand money from Petra.

...Yeah. Of course, I remember. I keep a memory of everyone Ive killed."

"Ha.

He let out a disbelieving chuckle. His face flushed red as he lifted one leg.

Crunch!

He pressed down on Yaels head.

"At least you're lucky. You'll die here, you filthy murdering bastard.

Thud, thud, thud.

As he methodically stomped down, Yael was suddenly struck by a thought.

"Arent you committing murder right now as well?

Im exterminating vermin. You killed an innocent father."

Innocent.

They always say this.

If theres no visible crime, if they havent been to prison, if they havent been judged by the law, then theyre innocent

Thats why Yael never regretted his killings.

Shouldnt you be thanking me, then? Your father's death put you in his place.

The man clamped his mouth shut. His anger must have reached its limit.

Sssshing

A sword was drawn from his waist. Yael looked at it and smirked.

Well, this kind of death isn't so bad.

Its actually a good death.

There was a time when he had nightmares of being killed by Elise.

"Die, you vermin"

A flash of lightning split the air. A sharp sonic boom tore through the space. The split air bled in all directions.

But Yael was unharmed. His eyes were drawn somewhere.

Right beside him, on the ground.

The head of a man, rolling aroundthe son of an elder he had killed.

...What are you doing?"

A voice came from above. Yael looked up.

There was a man.

Someone he never imagined would come to this place, as unlikely as a bald man growing hair.

"Get up.

Shion Ascal.

He smiled at Yael.

"You need to go to your sister. There's big trouble.

He then showed a smartphone.

Even with unfocused eyes, Yael read the messages.

[Community, SNS simultaneously exploding with Petra familys corruption...]

All sorts of Petras dirty laundry were bursting like firecrackers.

However, among all the revelations, the one that garnered the most attention was:

[Shock! The son of Senator Ken Petra, declared dead over a decade ago, is actually alive...]

It was Yael himself.

Fascinating, isnt it?"

Shion extended his hand to him and said.

For a politician, a scandal involving their child is far more lethal than a few murders.

...You can say that again.

Yael grasped his hand. He struggled to steady his wavering body and stand up.

The two men stood side by side, looking at each other and smiling.