"We fought the wrong enemy and protected the wrong people. I wish I can talk to those who died in the shores of the Battle of San Simon, and the women and children slaughtered at the Pabalan Massacre, and tell them that their sacrifices ended up killing those who truly desired the best for our people, and protected those who truly hated and meant harm to us."
- Emilio Fabian Domingo Agoncillo III, general of the Marl Kahn revolutionary army and first Marl Kahn prime minister
An excerpt from his memoirs "Blood of Patriots"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
At the islands where the battles between the Marl Kahn royal army and the United Rebellion army are fighting, the presence of the Bougainvillea forces has become increasingly important.
"7th Wing and 3rd Wing, consolidate your forces and attack the enemy's flanks! Make them crowd the frontlines while the Marl Kahn infantry pushes through."
["Understood, sire! Moving to position!"]
When this offensive started off, their opponents were nothing more than starved rebels armed with civilian-grade rifles, farming blades and improvised weapons. The only reason that the Marl Kahn army detachment deployed there was unable to steamroll through them was because they knew the jungles like the back of their hands, they flawlessly set-up fox holes and tunnel systems and they set up many traps that made use of poisons, pitfalls filled with stakes and venomous animals.
In truth, the reason why the Bougainvillea forces was allowed to participate right on the frontlines was because of their airships and its capability to detect these structures and traps, lessening casualties from the royal army's side, as well as communicating with the naval ships and artillery pieces at the shores for bombardments. However, for a while, actual combat was barred from the Bougainvillea forces, mainly for the sake of protocol, but also as a matter of national image given that they are essentially foreigners participating in a localized conflict.
["AAAAAGGGGHHHH—!!!"]
"Lord! The 4th Wing and 1st Wing has been hit by enemy fire! Requesting—"
"No need to ask for my permission! Pull them out NOW!"
However, things has changed these past few days...
"...Colonel Avelino, pull out the infantry and order the artilleries to continuously fire to provide cover for the retreat."
"Understood, General!"
"Hmph... This is quite troublesome..."
At his seat overlooking the map spread out on the table, General Josefino Lunato looked pensively on the lack of progress in their campaign against the rebels. It has been 4 days since they last had a major change in the battle lines, and during that time, the fighting capabilities and quality of personnel and equipment among the rebels has dramatically increased.
"Here it is, General."
"Oh-ho. Thank you, corporal. Now, now... This is certainly unexpected."
As the general and his subordinate officers looked at the object placed on the table by the general's assistant, they all had angered expressions on their faces. The general in particular, is visibly bottling up his frustration.
"My men risked their lives to prove what they saw out there and you repeatedly denied, gentlemen... With this evidence now in front of you, do you still hold onto that belief?" Jonathan spoke and motioned for his soldiers to bring more of the recovered objects that came from the battlefield earlier. One by one, as the objects lined the table, it increased the credibility of the Bougainvillea force's words.
The objects on the table ranged from the standard issue rifles of the royal army, beat-up but still operational mortar launch tubes, a mechanical part specifically used for anti-air guns and even a shattered Logical Calculator gem alongside a rudimentary Combat Computation Unit. All of these things proved that the rebels are not only increasingly being well-equipped, they are also being well supplied given that these weapons can only be used reliably if they have ample ammunition and spare parts. The most worrying object however, was the equipment that allowed someone with enough magical proficiency to fight as a Wizard.
"Baron, your men's words has been proven and we no longer have any doubts about it. Which is why I must address our men here today with this question... How? ...How in the f*ck did this happen?!!"
Right when the general shouted that question, he struck the table and it reverberated across the meeting room. His men shuddered in fear, knowing full well about their superior's infamous temper.
"How did they end up having our standard equipment?! How the f*ck did they get access to anti-air guns and mortar cannons?! Are all of you imbeciles?! Didn't I tell you to lock down the island and don't let anyone near here?!!"
"Sir! The intelligence given by the headquarters are—"
"The headquarters and the half-wits working in it are not here! This is not their battlefield, this is YOUR battlefield! Why are you depending on their words when you are the ones who are here and can see what the f*ck is going on here?!!"
"Sir! I must stand to defend my fellow officers! This is not something we were prepared—"
"What?!! Did you leave your brain in your mistress's p***y, Denzon? You were not prepared for this? Where the f*ck were you trained? Marl Kahn Military Daycare for Wimps?"
"Hah—!"
"Shut the f*ck up, you bunch!"
Hearing that sarcastic question, some of the officers snickered and giggled, earning the general's annoyance who threw his pencils at each of them and shouted at them.
"You fools seem to mistake our deployment here as some outing at an island resort where you can just kick back and not care about anything. Well let me bring you louts back to reality... today alone, we lost 400 men... good, patriotic men whose families you now all owe a handwritten letter. And while you're writing those letters, know this... It's your incompetence that led them to their deaths. Because if you did your job properly as I ordered, the rebels will not be reinforced by fresh troops, they will not be able to acquire those equipment from who-knows-where, and we would've already reported this war to be finished soon."
The general went on and on to berate his men, telling them off for not following his orders and being lackadaisical in their duties. Before long, he became tired and was brought back to his seat by his assistant.
"...Let this be a lesson for everyone. Just because we're fighting informal insurgents doesn't mean that we can lay back and forget the fact that we are fighting a war. And another thing! Stop depending on the intel given by the HQ! We have men here that has advanced scouting training! Let them out to gather information themselves!"
Right at the tail-end of the general's rant, Gunther entered the meeting room and whispered something to Jonathan.
"...Is this proven?"
"Yes, my lord. We have recordings of it in our Soul Cores that we already sent to yours, and the analysts that has seen it has determined what the possible contents of the cargo are."
Immediately after confirming that, Jonathan raised his hand and after the elderly general addressed him by name, he activated an illusion spell around the room to project a video captured by his men just a while ago.
"What is this, lord baron?"
"It's a recording of an overhead surveillance sweep done by my men just 20 minutes ago. They've found the secret bay where the rebels are unloading their reinforcements and equipment... and I want you to focus right here, gentlemen... does it look familiar?"
Once Jonathan zoomed the projected image towards a pile of boxes coming out of a small cargo boat disguised as a fishing vessel, the officers shot up from their seats in shock.
"T-That is—!"
"How did that slip past us?! No! How did those slip into Marl Kah in the first place?!"
On the boxes are the acronym "C.C.C.A" or in other words, Chi-Kohe Commune Citizens' Army. This proves that the rebels are no longer a localized insurgency, but an internationally funded and supported one. Because of this, the gravity of the situation has increased tenfold.
While his subordinates are still locked in shock, general Josefino gave an order to his assistant.
"Isabella... Get me a ManaCom line directly to the prime minister's office."
"Understood, sir. Leave it to me."
As his assistant left to contact the headquarters, the general called out to Jonathan to ask him a question.
"Lord Bougainvillea. I know this is beyond the agreement set by His Majesty and the lord Viscount regarding the aid you will provide, but if I may request—"
"Just order me so, General. I'll set out immediately to fulfill it."
"Wha—?!"
Faced with the general's surprised expression, Jonathan gave an assuring nod to the elderly man.
"I came here not only because the king asked for a favor but because I wish to learn more about the art of war. For the past few weeks, the royal army has understandably held us back for the sake of Marl Kah's national image and the fact that it views the forces it has deployed to be enough to handle the battles... The losses your forces sustained here today is already enough, general. Let us help you with willingness in our hearts."
"...Yes, young lord... and thank you."
After the meeting ended, Jonathan went back to his personal quarters where Gunther was waiting while re-arranging the latest information they have from the battlefield on the board.
"Update, Gunther."
"Yes, sire. Just like what we showed earlier in the meeting, it has been confirmed that the rebels are not only using military-grade firearms and equipment, but also those imported from halfway across the world. Our analysts state that the cargo must've been slipped into the country by port authorities either bought or are sympathetic to the rebels, before being brought here in the front lines by disguised boats."
"Chi-Kohe, huh? Part of the Atlanterran Confederation but are in their own way, their own country. These are the states that are run by the socialist political parties, right?"
"Yes, sire. They're at odds with much of the confederation due to the intricate history between the two prevailing political parties of Atlanterra. While they have the land mass and potential economy to secede from the confederation, they cannot do it because they lack financial independence that is provided by the federal government."
"I thought you said they have enough land mass and potential economy to be on their own? Why are they dependent to the federal government, then?"
"Their social programs has many beneficiaries but only a portion of the population pays enough in taxes to pay for those programs. Before, those states has a lot of companies who built their headquarters and factories there because of the large population that can provide them with ample manpower, but after corporate taxes increased there year by year, almost all of those companies left those states, opting to head southward or on other countries, particularly in Yropa where they don't even have to pay taxes since they are technically only "renting an office" there."
Wow... that's one way to leave before you're drained to death. I guess there's a reason after all why they sent weapons and equipment here.
"So they sent these weapons here to spread their influence, huh?"
"We suspect it to be so, yes. Given Marl Kah's wealth due to it being one of the foremost manufacturers of LogiCals and magic metals critical for their production, if a government that is sympathetic or entirely joins Chi-Kohe, they would have access to enough capital and control over the worldwide LogiCal market." Gunther spoke and shortly after, concluded their predictions. "It's possible that if Marl Kah loses here, what the Confederation failed to do months ago in Silesia, the Commune Association would be able to attain, which is weakening Ostadonia and preparing the continent to further incursions."
For a moment, Jonathan pondered on their findings and tried to make sense of it all. He knew that at this moment, Marl Kah's forces that are here are helpless against an enemy that can meet or possibly even outmatch their capabilities. General Lunato's words and his reputation would likely speed up the arrival of a much larger force, but the same can be said to the enemies who are likely going to use the lull in the fighting to strengthen their defenses and prepare themselves for a siege... However, his worries comes from another angle.
"Gunther... what was it again that Renzo concluded on his last report to us?"
With the mention of that name, Gunther looked for the paper attached on the board that contained that report, and read the last few lines aloud.
"I therefore conclude, within the bounds of the information I have gathered and confirmed to be true, that the only way that the Marl Kahn United Socialist Front can operate is that someone with enough money and power are controlling them all within the shadows, someone that matches or even goes beyond the political power of the royal family."
That conclusion by his master spy bothered Jonathan. He knew that Renzo is meticulous with his work and would not conclude his report with those words if he doesn't vehemently believe in it. However, a part of him wants to believe that it cannot possibly be the case.
"Obviously, there is no one that can match the royal family in political power. Even if it's a republic with democratically elected officials, the grip of the crown over its citizens is still overwhelmingly huge."
"You are right, sire... But you should also consider the fact that if the socialist front is doing all of this all by themselves, it would be impossible for them to get this far without this certain "shadowy leader". We have to consider the possibility that there is someone out there with more power and precedence than the People's Presidium of the socialist party, and as Lady Robinson said to Renzo-dono..."
When Gunther mentioned that, those very words echoed in my mind with the voice of the person who first thought of it.
"...Trust no one. Not even the royal family."
This doubt has already been in my mind even before Renzo came here and later told me about the suspicions of Martha. Both he and I admit that in terms of skill and instincts, Martha is better than her brother, which is why we didn't want to dismiss her advice... but with the things that Renzo uncovered and the fact that we are now facing a rebel army armed with weapons and equipment that only those with power equal to the royal family can slip into this country, that advice is growing into a fact.
"...Leave for now, Gunther. Let me think about this by myself for now."
"Understood, my lord! Please call us if you ever need help."
After Gunther left, Jonathan locked his door and cast a spell on it to make it soundproof. He did this because he knew that if what he is about to mumble to himself is heard by a passerby, it would destroy the rapport between his men and the Marl Kahn army.
"...There's a rebel collaborator among the army. The meeting earlier proved it. Someone here helped in letting them slip in... but who?"
Jonathan spoke out a conclusion that even his own men doesn't know. Neither Gunther nor Renzo knew that he is suspecting that the rebel group has even grew roots inside the royal army.
"If this is true, then I'll definitively prove it by tomorrow... Right!"
With that, he pored over the map on his room again, formulating a strategy that goes exactly against their tactics so far. In order to prove his suspicion, he must break the expected movements of their side that has already been reported by the mole.
"Tomorrow will be the defining moment."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Back in the luxury resort in the capital, Renzo, still masquerading with his fake identity of Brent Algrave, was on bed with a co-worker who is a communist member.
"Professor... No need to move, let me serve you for tonight..."
In-between impassioned kisses on his cheeks and neck, Millie slid one of her blouse's sleeve past her arm, exposing her underwear below while her other hand gently caressed Renzo's chest to keep him down and engaged.
"Ms. Millie... please stop... I am—"
"There's no need to be wary, professor. This is just a taste of the great things to come."
When Millie said those words, Renzo was surprised. He knew that Millie was indebted to the party, but he never heard her say those words without a hint of unease.
"In the future we envision, no one owns anything, everyone belongs to everyone, and everyone will be happy... So what's wrong with tasting it right now and here, professor? After all, you will be one of the founders of such a world."
As Millie said those words, she drew closer to his face, aiming to kiss him deeply. However, Renzo overpowered her and changed their positions on the bed, with her lying flat and him hunched above her.
"P-Professor! Mmmph!"
"..."
Before she can respond, Renzo placed his lips on her own, catching her in surprise. She said that she will take initiative, but it seemed to her that she finally broke through the professor's sense of self-control... but that thought only lasted for a moment, because as the man whom she locked lips with continued to stare to her eyes, she didn't saw someone who lost control to their urges, but someone who is forming a plan.
"Mmm! Mmmph!!!"
A panicked scream left her mouth but it was kept silent by the other's lips. Slowly, she began to taste a metallic flavor in her mouth as her consciousness faded away. In only 10 seconds since they shared a kiss, Millie was forcibly put to sleep.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Ptoo—!" Renzo spat out an object resembling a tooth with a hollowed interior. After that, he drank an entire glass of water before throwing it all up on the floor. After making sure that he didn't drink the contents of his fake tooth, he checked on the sleeping Millie and found out that his tranquilizing drug worked.
"...I'm sorry, Millie. I shouldn't have involved you in this any further." Renzo whispered to the sleeping woman's ear, seemingly apologizing to her.
Because of what happened, Renzo realized that his cover is basically blown and he has no choice but to leave here alongside her. He knows that it would be a better choice for the sake of keeping his life to just leave Millie here, but somehow, his conscience is telling him that it would never give him peace if he does so.
"...Alright."
After dressing up and wrapping Millie with the blanket on his bed, Renzo left the room and walked quietly through the hallways, heading towards the fire exit staircase of the building that would let the two of them to leave inconspicuously out of the resort.
Right at the hallway where the fire exit is located, he heard the muffled screams and moans of the a woman and peeked over the corner where he saw a room whose door is flanked by a pair of bodyguards. He quickly recognized the bodyguards to be the ones protecting the Vice Minister earlier, and knew that the noises are surely coming from that room.
"...Darn. Stay here for now, Millie. I'll get you back later."
After leaving the unconscious Millie by the corner, Renzo ruffled his hair and undid a few buttons on his shirt, making sure that he looks like a mess. With that, he jogged around the corner and shouted towards the two with a well-practiced line.
"Hey! Hey! I-I-I-I need help!"
"W-Woah!"
"Who are you? Why are—"
He continued to shout to the two in panic, taking both of them by one of their arms and making them fall into a panicked state as well.
"L-L-L-Listen! I-I-I-I was just sleeping in my room and all of a sudden someone was standing there with a gun on their hand!"
""A gun?!!""
"—!!!"
Once he noticed that both of them had their full attentions taken by his mention of a potential armed intruder, Renzo pulled them by their arms and landed a knee strike right on their faces, knocking them out instantly.
Before the two bodyguards can fall to the floor, he caught them and gently put them down to avoid having the noise and impact of their fall be felt by the people in the surrounding rooms.
"Sorry boys. This is the best act of mercy I can give right now to you two. Sleep for a while for me, will ya?"
After going back around the corner to lift Millie again, he opened the fire exit staircase and briskly made his way down to the ground floor where they're only a wall away from getting out of here.
"...!"
However, he noticed that even after the party has concluded, the density of the security guards patrolling around has not decreased but instead, increased. But that's not the end of it. He saw that some of the guards even had trained dogs walking beside them in their patrols.
"...What the f*ck? Why are they guarding this place like it's a damned prison?"
Renzo mumbled beneath his breath after being surprised with how much security is concentrated in this single penthouse property of the resort. However, after connecting the lines, he quickly realized that his words were true in a way.
"...So the women on the Vice Minister's room, and the fact that Millie mentioned that she is my "reward"... and the listening devices in my room that might also be in the other rooms..."
Performing his deductions, Renzo realized that the reason why the members were told to stay over was not because the leadership of the group cared, nor was it to protect the core of the group after they basically declared open rebellion against the state... it was all in order to collect blackmail material of their members to ensure their unquestioning obedience.
"...Then that means—"
"Code red! Code red! Feudal gray on the run! Feudal gray on the run!"
Before he can even finish his words, a guard from inside the penthouse ran outside, shouting a few words that Renzo deciphered to be about him and his sudden disappearance. Right after hearing that, the guards left their patrol routes and designated spots and spread out to look for them.
"F*ck!"
Renzo cursed as he looked up to the tall wall in front of him and immediately accepted that he cannot scale it while also carrying Millie. He tried to convince himself that he should just leave her, but his conscience is weighing heavily on him about it.
"...Seems like there's no other choice. Forgive me, Millie. This might get too loud and wild for your liking."
Recognizing the fact that he just can't avoid fighting at this point, he drew out the pistol that he stole from the guards earlier and held it tightly to familiarize himself with its functions and features that he has never tried before.
"The Marl Kahns sure make some advanced weapons. I haven't even seen a self-loading gun beyond the rifle caliber before."
When he saw that the guards at the front of the area has thinned out, he hid the gun on the inner pocket of his coat and hoisted Millie onto his back to calmly carry her with him.
"..."
"..."
The first couple of guards did not care about him as they crossed paths. To them, it just looked like someone who was carrying around one of the guests who passed out in the garden. However, as he walked further and further away from the penthouse, the guards began to throw confused expressions towards him until finally, one of the guards ordered him to stop and he turned around to comply.
"Hold on, stop right there. Who is that you're carrying and where are you bringing her?"
"...A woman. The orders came from Comrade Vice Minister Flores. She took too much drugs while she's with him and he told me to either bring her to a hospital or dump her somewhere discreet."
"Huh? That sounds suspicious. Let me check with the vice minister first before you—"
"Hey man, if you're going to hold me up any longer, I'll just hand her over to you."
"W-What? H-H-Hold on, why are you—"
"I don't like doing this thing and I'm more than happy to dump it on someone else's hands. Alrighty then, take her from me..."
"Wait! Stop! Stop!!! Alright! F*ck off!"
With pristine acting, Renzo managed to intimidate the guard with the task of potentially dumping a dead woman and keeping it all a secret. The guard, not wanting to take on such a troublesome and dirty job, annoyingly turned away as if trying to pretend that he didn't care in the first place as he walked away.
With that out of the way, Renzo managed to leave the interior of the penthouse property's security ring, but he knew that this is still not over. Because the penthouse was inside the resort property's larger grounds, that means that he still has another ring of security that he has to pass through.
"Just a bit more and we'll get out of this, Millie. Just sleep there and leave this to me."
Since he studied the resort grounds before they even came here by reading their brochure, and later in greater detail using the resort's very own guest guidebook when they arrived, Renzo deduced that at this late in the night, there was only one gate with relatively little security and even more so, guests passing by that would scrutinize someone like him who is carrying a person wrapped in a blanket.
A few minutes of walking later, he arrived at the secluded parking lot where the resort's valet service parks the cars and carriages of the wealthy guests. There, he found a hat and a coat of a sleeping valet attendant and wore them before knocking on the glass panel of the parking lot's guardhouse where the guard on duty is sleeping.
"Hey buddy, wake up!"
"Gah! Huh...? Ahh sh*t, I dozed off. Are you a valet—"
"I am. Give me the key to that blue car, the owner is fuming already after losing so much at the poker tables. He wants his car to get the hell out of here."
"Alright. Give me the claim stub."
At the mention of an unfamiliar item, Renzo froze for a moment before he made up an excuse.
"That's the thing. He didn't give it to me. Just told me to run and get his car. I'll get the stub once I bring the vehicle to him, okay?"
"Alright, alright... just don't tell anyone that I slept on duty and I'll call it quits... Here's the key. Just come by later to give back the claim stub, yeah?"
"Sure. Just leave it to me."
Once Renzo got the keys, he opened the locked car and loaded Millie at the rear seats before getting into the driver seat.
"Man... I wish I practiced more when Jonathan-sama was still here..."
Making sure to remember the instructions about driving the vehicle from a book he read and watching Jonathan drive a car before, he slowly began to move the car forward and turned it right out of the parking lot. In a few moments, he grasped how much it moves when he steps on the pedals and how much it turns using the driving wheel.
"Okay... just like driving a big boat. Just a bit more in-control with the throttle. Steady now..."
By the time they left the premises of the resort, Renzo managed to drive the car adeptly and following the route that the train they rode on followed earlier, he managed to leave the entertainment district and return to the capital's downtown area.
"Now, what to do...?"
Renzo knew that the moment he left the bugged room and the guards from inside the penthouse shouted a code word that very likely is about him, he can't return to his previous identity and cover work. It also means that wherever he goes, he has to bring Millie because she is now involved as well... unless she wakes up and decides to leave him by her own accord.
"The university is enemy ground now... that means the dormitory is off-limits too. A hotel might be a good place to stay at right now, but that would mean having to use my fake identity which would alert the group of our whereabouts."
While he's pondering all of this, Renzo reached a traffic jam and stopped the car right behind the carriage in front of him. He knew Lakan's infamy for traffic jams and the fact that it is known as a "city that never sleeps", but he knew that there shouldn't be any traffic jams this late at night.
"..."
As he began to feel tense with what's happening around him, coupled with the slowly moving traffic that he is in, Renzo began to check his surroundings using the rear-view and side mirrors on the car.
By the time that he was nearly at the intersection of the road where the traffic jam seems to clear up, he saw a couple of men dressed in blue uniforms with the print of the Marl Kahn Royal Police, and carrying handguns and short swords, stopping each vehicle and talking with their drivers and passengers.
He deduced whether it would be good to comply or to speed away from the checkpoint, and after weighing his options, especially the fact that he only has a pistol right now, Renzo chose the former choice.
"Good evening, sir! Are you alone in the vehicle?" the police officer greeted him and raised a bright, magic stone lantern near the car window.
"No. I'm a private driver for the lady behind me. She drank too much alcohol and I'm taking her back home now."
Renzo replied and pointed to Millie who was sleeping on the rear passenger seat with a blanket around her. The officer shone the light towards her and nodded to confirm his claim. He then asked Renzo a routine question based on his situation.
"Have you drank alcohol tonight too, sir?"
"No. Not a drop. Although I do plan to have a shot of brandy later once I'm off-duty. My lady is a pain in the ass to bring back home once she's that drunk." Renzo replied with a lighthearted joke to ease the tension and distract the police which worked.
"Oh? Ahahaha! I see, I see. You're good to go then, sir!"
Renzo nodded as a gesture of thanks and turned left at the intersection where he knew a place where he and Millie can lay low for a while.
"I wish Lady Leonor would understand... These are dire straits and I can depend on no one else but her."
Renzo sped through the road leading to Casa Valencia, keeping tabs on his surroundings using the car's mirrors while fishing out his passport and a letter written and signed by Jonathan that gives him passage to lady Leonor's mansion.
"Halt! Who are you and why are—"
"Let me through. I need to go to Lady Alfonzo-Salonga's residence as soon as possible."
The Civil Guard officer standing at the gates of Casa Valencia stopped him and before he can even finish his words, Renzo showed his passport and the letter from Jonathan. The Civil Guard checked it for a moment before shouting towards his fellow guards.
"Open the gate! Let them through!"
Renzo sped into the district, passing through the other mansions and estates within the private neighborhood. He never met Leonor face to face, but his desperate situation forced him to call in a favor from a person that he barely knows. Normally, this would bring shame to his master, but Renzo has little to no alternative choices right now.
"What the...?"
Once he stopped in front of the gate of the mansion, Renzo felt his skin tingle and his guts tell him that something wrong is going on.
"...!"
It was only after he went out of the car to check the guard post inside that he saw a proof of what his instincts were telling him earlier. Inside the guard post was the gate guard with his throat slit and his blood pooling on the ground while he's slumping against the wall.
"What the f**k..?"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaa—!!!"
Just then, he heard a scream from inside the mansion that was muffled by the walls and the distance from him. He snapped back to full attention and took the guard's handgun and kept it on his belt while taking out the other pistol from his coat pocket.
"Stay right there for now, Millie. I'll be back soon."
He locked the doors of the car and carefully jogged towards the mansion, making sure to take cover on the hedges and statues in the garden to make sure that no one can see him.
"GYAAAAAHHHH—!!!"
Inside the mansion, a shout from a woman kept coming, followed by the sound of something shattering and silence afterwards.
From that and the fact that the guard was killed by slash on the neck, Renzo deduced that whoever is killing people are using a blade or something of the sort.
"Spica-dono told me that the assassins sent to kill Jonathan-sama that they caught in the capital and they killed were from Marl Kah... So this one is probably one of them too."
Renzo entered the mansion from the kitchen, opening the heavy door carefully to not create any noise that may attract the assassin. In the kitchen, he found several of the mansion's male servants dead with knives and pistols on their hands. From their wounds, it seems like they managed to ambush the assassin but still ended up losing to it.
"...I'm sorry. I can't save you."
As he passed by the bloodstained corridors, the distant screams of a woman echoed across the halls. Renzo looked at the few dying servants sprawled on the floor and leaning on walls, looking at him and raising their hands as if begging for help, but with a heavy hearted apology, he held their hands until they drew their last breaths and light disappeared from their eyes. Renzo closed their eyelids and crossed their hands over their chest as a final sign of respect before leaving them.
"...Damn this animal...!" Renzo cursed beneath his breath as he followed behind the trail of carnage that the assassin left behind. Carefully making his way upwards, Renzo eventually arrived at what he deduced to be the master's bedroom where Leonor is likely to be in.
"!!!"
"KA-BYAAAAAGH!!!"
Right when he was about to turn the corner towards the bedroom, an explosion blew up everything in front of him and made part of the second level of the mansion to collapse and bury him in rubble.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Thirty minutes before Renzo arrived in the mansion, the massacre within the Alfonzo-Salonga estate has reached its mistress.
"...Of all the people that could be sent here, it really ended up to be you, isn't it... boy?" Leonor spat those words towards the young man wearing a brown suit, white undershirt and red tie.
"Hehehe... No need to be so dramatic, you hag. Unlike you fossils, I can hear pretty clearly."
"Yeah... but instead, you're blinded by the indoctrination put into you by that parasite Armando. Tell me, boy... how many times did he call you into his room late at night so that he can "pamper" you—"
Before she can finish her words, Miguel sank his fist into her face with a punch that made her fall from her seat.
"Tch! Put her on the chair again and tie her up properly."
"Y-Yes!"
Miguel ordered a pair of his men who pulled up Leonor back to her chair and tied her up using chains. Once seated and chained, Miguel chuckled maniacally as he ran a bloodied knife on Leonor's neck, barely putting any pressure to avoid cutting her and killing her.
"The princess of one of the most preeminent countries in the face of Ostadonia... marrying into a family barely relevant within the political elite, because it's the only place where she can feel a semblance of security... and even then, she will still die for the sake of her family who barely cares about her."
"...I don't want to be lectured by a brat who threw away the prestige of his family's noble name of heroism, just because the only way he can express his teenage rebellion is to burn down everything that doesn't agree with him."
"YOU—!"
"Did I hit a nerve... Miguel Agapito?"
""What—?""
With the mention of that name, his two underlings looked at Miguel as if they saw a ghost. Right when they looked at each other to agree to leave, Miguel dashed towards them and slashed their throats with the knife he was holding.
"Gak!"
"Kaah!"
"...Hmph. Blame the demented hag for this. None of you are meant to know my true name. Take this memory with you to the afterlife."
In a few seconds, the two men bled out and died right then and there. Without batting an eye to killing his own "comrades", Miguel flicked his knife to remove the blood on its blade before facing Leonor again.
"You sure prove my point without fail, boy... Once the "New People's Union of Marl Kah" that you dream of somehow becomes reality, I can already see you dragging in dissenters and "failed comrades" into the National Arena to execute them with your own hands..."
"..."
"After all, you've used that excuse your entire life to get away with every little f*ckup that you do, haven't you? ...The fact that Andreo Agapito, the revolutionary leader nicknamed by his followers as "Supremo", was wrongfully executed by Emilio Agoncillo to stop him from rising higher in the ranks of the revolutionary army."
Miguel's eyebrows continued to be knit tight as Leonor unwrapped the layers of excuses that he wrapped to protect his fragile ego and identity.
"My ancestor was innocent! Marl Kah and its people owe us their entire liberty and comfort! If not for him and his burning desire to revolt, our men would still be paying their exorbitant taxes using forced labor and offering up their wives and daughters to those filthy Cattleyan captains and friars!"
"Your ancestor is one hero among many other heroes. We all owe our freedom to them, not just one of them."
"He was killed by his own countrymen!"
"And you are doing the same!"
Miguel was taken aback by Leonor's sudden and sharp retort. Those six words completely rendered his excuse useless.
"Have you left your brain at the butcher's table where you took that knife...? Do you really think that anything will change once you follow the words of that senile old man who believes that an actual government can form out of the sheer goodness of everyone's heart? Answer me, boy!"
"Y-You know nothing about our plans! We will unite Marl Kah under our ideals! There will no longer be any bourgeoisie or aristocracy! There will only be the eternal fraternity of the free Marl Kahns!"
After shouting those words, Miguel proceeded to torture the woman chained on the chair. He cut the skin of her arms and legs, spacing each wound mere centimeters from each other to maximize how many cuts he can give her.
The muffled screams of Leonor bellied her force of will. Even when presented with a death from a thousand cuts, she defyingly glared towards Miguel whose hatred against her resistance grew from bad to worse.
Once there was not a spot left on her body to be wounded and bled off, he pulled her fingernails and toenails, which finally broke her pain tolerance and made her scream as one by one, she lost them.
"Why you...! You f*ckin' stubborn b*tch!!!"
However, even as she screamed in pain, she never begged for her life or gave Miguel what he was here for all this time.
"I will... never tell you... jacksh*t... you f*cking brat!"
Miguel and his two men that he murdered wasn't here simply to massacre Leonor's servants or torture her, they were sent here on an important objective that is critical to the fulfillment of the Front's agendas.
"Your own family left you behind... You were practically sold off to your husband's family just so you would have a place while they retook the throne! Why are you still so loyal to them?! Why won't you tell us where the royal family's safe houses are?!!!"
During the fall of the previous royal government, the Salonga royal family had no other choice than to escape from their country and seek the aid of the Bougainvillea Barony to shelter them until the revolution died out.
One of the reasons why the revolution against King Fernando Salonga II failed, save for the lack of coordination between each faction of the movement, alongside the massive withdrawal of public support after the first, second and third People's Presidium failed to actually raise the country out of poverty and chaos, was the fact that the royal family still lived. In many cases where a monarchical government was overthrown by a popular revolution, the execution of royals, aristocrats, socialites and other people connected with the government is not only a tentative display of brutality, but a necessary step to both placate the populace and ensure to them that "there is no going back to the Old Order".
The fact that the royal family managed to escape that fate contributed to the fall of the revolution's progress and approval among the public. In not even a few months since they raised in rebellion against the failure of the royal government, most people not only withdrew their support towards the revolutionary government, some of them even went as far as petitioning the four other members of the Ostadonian alliance to restore House Salonga back to the throne.
When the Salongas were indeed restored to power, the family that sheltered them, the Bougainvilleas, were punished for interfering with the affairs of other countries. While the Salongas tried to argue that they were to ones who asked for their help, even insinuating that they pressured them to let them stay in their territory, the Imperial government still handed down the demotion of the family from a Barony to a Baronetcy, citing that the family is also failing in its other responsibilities.
Because of that, it was rumored that in order to avoid having to depend and harming whoever would shelter them during a possible period of exile, the royal family has set up several safe houses in remote locations so they can evacuate and stay there without dragging their benefactors into their country's precarious affairs.
In order to ensure that this time, their revolution will be a success, the Front sent Miguel to torture Leonor and bring back information about where those safe houses are, so they can ambush the royal family and present their executions at the height of their revolution.
"You're too naive... you brat..."
However, despite her injuries and the excessive blood loss that was incurred on her, Leonor's will was unshaken. She may have screamed in pain, but she never begged for mercy or for her life to be spared in exchange for giving up the locations of the safe houses.
"Despite basically throwing me by the wayside... I will never give up the locations of those places... I love my country... I love my people... I love my family."
"You—"
"That is something... I will never give up, nor can you ever take that away from me."
As she gritted her teeth, Leonor mustered what little strength and life she has left to tip over the chair she was chained in and crawled towards the table beside her bed.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Miguel shouted as he ran towards Leonor who was struggling to reach something beneath the table with her teeth.
When he pulled her away by dragging the chair by one of its legs, he heard a metallic clank beneath the floor boards and on Leonor's lips was a large, rusted iron pin.
"I'll see you in the afterlife, brat... Say hi to the devil for me."
"PYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII—!!!"
In the last moments of their life, before the explosion took it away, there was a satisfied smile on Leonor's face, and Miguel bore an expression of utter horror.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"K— Kid...!"
What on earth...? Why is everything so blurry?
"KID!!!"
"—!!! "
After I heard that shout, I forcefully shot my eyes wide open and raised my body even as a dull sense of pain told me not to.
"Wake up already, kid! I need you to fight! COME ON!!!"
I looked around and I saw General Josefino Lunato firing his revolver pistol towards a group of men hiding behind trees and metal debris around us. In this war, it's not uncommon for even us leading in the rear line to get into a situation where we ourselves have to fight.
"What the f*ck...?"
However, the sight in front of me earned my confusion and shock. In this battle, we should be fighting against the socialist rebels of Marl Kah... and yet, the men that the elderly general was shooting at were wearing Royal Army uniforms and firing standard issue rifles towards us.
After I realized that, my recent memories came back to me.
"They're on their heels! Move the ship nearer to the frontlines and provide direct air support!"
"Surrender or we will blow this fossil's head! We're taking over this airship!"
"Gunther-dono! Protect the baron and the general! We'll hold the traitors off your tail!"
"We have no other choice! They're going to blow up the airship! We need to jump right here and now, my lord!"
"Incoming fire from 7 o'clock! JONATHAN-SAMA!!!"
It felt like those memories happened in a flash... and in one way, it was. Just this morning, I was sipping coffee with the general in the strategy office of my airship and by noontime when we broke through the rebels' defense lines and victory was within grasp, we were struck by a betrayal that we never expected.
Colonel Avelino, alongside more than half of the commanding officers of the 4th Division, mounted a mutiny within my airship, holding their fellow soldiers and my own men under their custody and rushed to take General Lunato hostage.
At first, we all thought that they were only doing this as a display of discontent against their commanding general, but it soon became apparent that this goes way deeper than that. Because as soon as they were sure that they have taken over the ship and command over the battle, they contacted the rebels and told them to slaughter the rest of the soldiers who aren't on their side. Upon hearing that, it was clear that they were on the side of the rebels.
For the next few minutes, General Lunato and the commanders who were loyal to him was forced to listen to the men on the ground, pleading for their lives or giving out their death throes through the ManaComs' speakers. Some of the officers cried after hearing their men die from this treachery while others, consumed with rage, stood up to charge Avelino and his fellow traitorous commanders, only to be immediately shot through their heads.
It seven minutes since we surrendered control to the traitors, Gunther and my Wizards finally caught on to what was happening inside the airship and with the combination of hostage rescue and vessel infiltration tactics that we trained together, they managed to blow a hole through the ship bridge's door and snatch me, the general and a handful of loyalist Marl Kahn commanders out to the deployment bay where we were told that some of the Wizards they left would fly us out of this place.
However, by the time we arrived at the deployment bay, the Wizards were killed by overwhelming numbers and firepower, and in a desperate bet to save General Lunato and I, we dove to the sea while our rescuers stayed behind to hold them off.
And that brings us to the present...
"Don't—! SPARE ME—!!!" the traitor soldier screamed but was cut short by me plunging a rifle's bayonet to his throat and slicing it open to let the blade loose.
"Clear! No one's left!"
"Aye..." My report was met by General Lunato before he squeezed the trigger of his gun to fire on one of the dying traitors near his feet.
I looked around and I was actually quite relieved. Around us are twenty or so men equipped with Marl Kahn army clothes and weapons, the only difference was that they had a red armband on their left arm with the letters "H.K.L.M" either embroidered or imprinted on it.
"H.K.L.M...? Is this an acronym of something?"
"Hukbong Komunista Laban sa Monarkiya, that's the Marl Kahn meaning of it. In Common Ostadonian, it's "Communist Forces Against the Monarchy". They were a group that came during the later years of the Cattleyan colonial period where they played a major role of rising up against the colonial government. They're infamous for kidnapping Cattleyan soldiers, government officers and friars, executing them and placing their bodies in town squares and other public places where the corpses can be easily seen."
"Sounds like they're the kind that would be urban heroes." I spoke which the general nodded to.
"They could've been one if not for the fact that they're also the kind to exploit the poor and force people to either fight with them or shelter and feed them. My ancestor, Antonio Lunato, once said that they believe on the "eternal fraternity of all Marl Kahns... and they will implement it even if they have to kill everyone who will not obey them."
"Heh... Least insane routine commie behavior, it seems like." I joked, chuckling to myself.
"Aye, aye to that... Khh..." the general replied before taking a cigarette from one of the dead soldiers and lighting it between his lips. "Now then, I guess it's time for you to do your magic or some "open sesame" sh*t that you Wizards are supposed to be able to do. Can you contact your men or someone using magic?"
"...I've tried that before but to no avail. It seems like we're too low on the ground, making our surroundings to interfere with my communication spell... or we got swept far away by the waves from the airship. And I don't think it's wise to talk with the royal army right now, isn't it?"
"Indeed... F*cking traitors, those lot! Especially that damned Avelino! I treated him as my own son and protege and this is how he pays me back!? The betrayal! The sheer, utter betrayal!"
While the elderly general was prattling along to himself, cursing everyone of his subordinates who ended up being turncoats, I looked at the brooch on my neck and saw that it was damaged. It seems like when I activated it earlier to cushion our fall, I overloaded it and damaged it enough that it cannot perform in peak condition.
Still, it has some basic functionality, and if I manage to get ahold of a good enough tool kit, I might be able to repair it to some extent that I can fly the general with me towards the neighboring islands. With Marl Kah as a technological powerhouse and home of more than half of Promethea's LogiCal factories, I believe such a tool kit can be found wherever there is a Wizard.
While that is still improbable, I decided to use a search spell, enhancing my sense of hearing to listen in to everything within the 100 meter diameter around me.
"—!"
Right when I extended the search spell's area to its limits, I heard a group of rushed steps rapidly approaching us, so I grabbed the general by his sleeve and pulled him behind a large boulder.
"What's wrong, kid? Is there—"
"There is... Twelve— No, sixteen soldiers. It seems like they're scouts sent out to investigate the exchange of gunfire from earlier. We have to get the hell out of here soon!"
"Alright. You're the one with the powers, lead the way safely."
We had this exchange, thinking that we were washed up on some place unimportant...
Little did we know that we are right at the heart of the enemy's island headquarters.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
While his master became trapped in a precarious situation, Renzo was stuck in one that currently hangs his life and an important person on a very unsteady tightrope.
"Arghhh... What the f*ck...?" Gritting his teeth through the pain that is assaulting every part of his body, Renzo woke up to see an unfamiliar concrete ceiling. A few moments after regaining his consciousness, he noticed that he only had his right eye open with the other closed off by a wad of gauze and bandages wrapping around his forehead.
"Awake now, aren't we?"
"—!!!"
As soon as he heard that voice within his left-size blind spot, he jumped out of his bed and faced against the unfamiliar person.
"...Who—"
"The one who saved your pathetic little ass, of course. I don't know if you're a f*cking idiot or if you have a death wish, but if the sight of a dead man guarding a gate isn't enough for you to just walk out of there, at least have mercy on the poor lady you kept inside your car."
Once that mysterious man mentioned that, Renzo remembered about Millie and tightened his resolve. He may not know the man in front of him, nor where he took the two of them, but it was obvious that whoever he is, he doesn't mean well for the two of them. As such, he looked for the quickest and cleanest way to eliminate him.
"...You insolent, impotent, little prick... I saved you and the girl and you're directing your murderous intent towards me? So you do have a death wish, don't you?"
"...How did you—"
"Come on, make this fun. Take a guess who I am and why I somehow sensed that you were actively looking for a way to kill me."
Renzo racked his brain for an adequate answer. Despite his mind still being clouded by his injuries and fatigue, he managed to squeeze out an answer that makes the most sense right now.
"You are... a member of "Dakong Paroroon". The dark underbelly of Marl Kah's criminal world."
(T/N: Editor ZERO here! The italicized word over there was requested to be left as is by Author Rai to preserve its meaning. When translated, it means "Underworld" or literally the "wrong side" of the afterlife.)
"Bingo! And I'm not just any member, mind you. I'm the head honcho of this entire place..."
Hearing that, Renzo was shocked to learn that the one who saved them was none other than the leader of Marl Kah's crime world. A legendary figure that supposedly no one knows who or what kind of person they are.
"Why... did you save us...?" Renzo, still in shock, inadvertedly blurted out that question, earning the man's amused grin.
"Let's star at the very beginning, shall we? My name is... you don't really need to know. If you want to refer to me, do it like how everybody else does. Call me "boss" or "sir"... or if we somehow become close, I'd let you call me by my nickname."
"And that is...?"
"...Asiong."