Chapter 129

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍detailed circumstances and progression of this incident had yet to be revealed to the cadets and instructors.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one fact had become certain.

Instructor ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Jin Crow had been falsely accused.

Perhaps ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍because of that, the academy's greatest topic of interest had become where the recently released Jin Crow was headed...

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍whom he intended to see.

Everyone ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had their own predictions.

“Wouldn't he be going to see the Headmaster? I heard she worked herself to death trying to resolve this whole thing.”

“I don't know... Maybe that researcher who made the whistleblower post on Blind? Honestly, if it weren't for that person, he'd have been completely screwed.”

“You guys still don't know Instructor Jin Crow? Just pray for the souls of Head Instructor Günter and that woman... whatever her name was, Nelle.”

“True.”

“If it were me, I'd go after them first too.”

However, the prevailing opinion was that he was headed for Günter and Nelle Meyer.

Naturally.

Who was Instructor Jin Crow?

Even if his reputation had improved somewhat, there was no way he would quietly leave alone the people who had stabbed him in the back.

Most of the cadets and instructors still remembered it.

The moment he had cut down Bishop, the monster responsible for such catastrophic casualties, in a single strike.

‘Instructor Jin Crow smiling kindly and forgiving his enemies?’

One could say it with certainty.

Not even a one-dollar magazine would publish a novel that unrealistic.

Ideale and Obia Timist thought exactly the same.

The result was the Military Police and the 23rd Security Brigade now standing in formation directly before Jin Crow.

Gulp.

Whether they were the Military Police Special-duty Officers...

Or members of the Security Brigade wearing reinforced exoskeletons and carrying suppression shields designed specifically for anti-superhuman combat...

Every single one of them stared at Jin Crow with eyes filled with fear and tension.

“......”

His lowered gaze appeared endlessly calm.

He wasn't even properly wearing his uniform.

Nor did he carry a weapon.

He looked completely defenseless.

Yet everyone instinctively felt the same thing.

Right now...

He was deciding whether or not to cut down the people blocking his path.

‘Fucking idiots.’

Assistant Instructor Ginnatio, who had rushed over immediately after getting out of his hospital bed and hearing everything that had happened, swallowed hard before inwardly cursing the fools handcuffed behind the prison bars.

There were people you simply did not provoke.

And yet they had chosen that man.

Although the Kukenhauzen Family and its faction had publicly distanced themselves from the incident, not a single instructor believed that was the truth.

...If it were up to him, he wanted to throw every last one of those bastards straight at Jin Crow.

If it were him...

He would make them regret what they had done for the rest of their lives.

‘But I can't.’

Ginnatio bit down on his lip.

Even though the aftereffects of forcibly drawing out his Psionic Energy to its absolute limit had yet to disappear, he still had no choice but to stand here.

‘Instructor Jin Crow.’

He wasn't exactly the sort of person Ginnatio liked.

He was irritable.

Authoritarian.

Forceful.

And utterly unpredictable.

Even so...

There was one thing Ginnatio could not deny.

‘......At the very least, he doesn't deserve to be dragged into needless controversy because of the idiots locked up behind me.’

Jin Crow wasn't a good person.

Nor was he an instructor worthy of admiration.

Even calling him a respected colleague felt somewhat questionable.

Even so...

He acted as an instructor.

‘Perhaps...’

‘Perhaps the reason he's angry...’

‘...is because of the cadets and the victims from the 23rd Security Brigade who died after becoming collateral damage in the assassination attempt meant for him.’

Would that really be such an unreasonable assumption?

Just then.

Breaking the silence, Jin Crow rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt as though feeling stifled and spoke.

“......What exactly are all of you doing?”

Beneath his rolled-up sleeves were countless scars.

The kind of scars that almost no Special-duty Officer should ever possess.

Seeing them, the Military Police were reminded of Mercato.

‘What kind of battlefields did he survive for a superhuman to have scars like those?’

‘......H-His eyes have completely changed.’

‘All because of those damned bastards...’

It was unquestionably an act of intimidation.

Even so...

They couldn't simply step aside.

The people behind them were legitimate prisoners held by the Military Police.

No matter what crimes they had committed, they deserved to be punished through due process.

Yes.

There was no reason for him to stain his hands with blood.

Ginnatio hardened his resolve despite his pale complexion.

Walking through the line of Military Police officers, he stood firmly before Jin Crow and shouted,

“Instructor, I understand how you feel, but please calm down first...!”

If he forced himself to use Psionic Energy in his current condition, there was a chance his Gear could be permanently damaged.

Even so...

Ginnatio had already made up his mind.

“Assistant Instructor Ginnatio, would you pass along a message for me?”

At that moment, however, Jin Crow spoke in a raspy voice, wearing an expression that suggested everyone was making a needless fuss.

“I have no interest in those idiots.”

“I came to see Cadet Martin Brown.”

“Pardon?”

At those words, not only Ginnatio but everyone else who had been bracing themselves for a violent clash instinctively blurted out the same question.

As it turned out...

He had been completely serious.

Although they had been caught off guard at first, Ginnatio and the Military Police followed behind him to prevent any possible bloodshed.

Watching Jin Crow ignore the underground detention cells where Günter and Nelle Meyer were imprisoned without so much as a glance, they could only exchange awkward looks.

“Instructor... don't tell me you already killed all the Military Police outside?”

“......Just what kind of person do you think I am, Obia?”

There had been a brief commotion when Obia, who had been draped over a chair like a worn-out rag after another overnight shift, jumped in surprise and immediately raised her Psionic Energy.

Fortunately...

The violent confrontation everyone had feared never occurred.

Even so, they couldn't simply trust Jin Crow's word and allow him to meet Martin alone.

After all...

Martin's crimes were far from minor.

For all they knew, Jin Crow might simply be suppressing his anger and putting on an act.

If he lost control inside Military Police Headquarters rather than outside...

The resulting damage would be overwhelming.

In the end, only after agreeing to wear handcuffs that suppressed his Psionic Energy was he finally allowed to meet Martin Brown.

Creak—

The interrogation room door opened.

Martin Brown, wearing handcuffs just like Jin Crow, hesitantly walked inside with a gaunt face.

“We didn't torture him or starve him.”

“But somehow he ended up looking like this.”

Perhaps worried Jin Crow might misunderstand, Obia explained before leaving the interrogation room.

Of course...

She didn't forget to switch off the mandatory recording and video systems first.

‘She's surprisingly obedient these days.’

‘...No, maybe it's more accurate to say she's simply developed a grudge against Günter and Nelle Meyer.’

Considering he'd already received reports that one entire wall of Head Instructor Günter's quarters had completely melted...

That conclusion seemed far more reasonable.

It was certainly more believable than the ridiculous fantasy that Obia Timist was cooperating because she had feelings for him.

He didn't pity Günter or Nelle Meyer in the slightest.

Neither Jin Crow's personality nor his own had ever been soft enough for that kind of humanitarian sympathy.

“Martin Brown.”

Perhaps because of that...

Even seeing the man lower his head and tremble at the sound of his name stirred neither sympathy nor pity within him.

Hiss—

Using his handcuffed hands, Jin Crow took out a cigarette, lit it, and silently looked at Martin.

“Do you smoke?”

“...Pardon?”

“If you do, go ahead.”

“They're strong.”

He casually slid the cigarette pack across the table.

Even that tiny gesture made Martin flinch.

Nevertheless, he cautiously took one, placed it between his lips, and lit it.

“Fuuu...”

“......”

Thick smoke gradually filled the interrogation room.

At the same time...

The room became saturated with an equally oppressive silence.

Jin Crow was the first to speak.

Looking at Martin through the wavering gray smoke, he said,

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“......”

“And everyone bears responsibility for those mistakes.”

He made no mention of the meaningless excuse that Martin was young because he was still a cadet.

These weren't Jin Crow's words.

They were entirely his own.

“Martin Brown.”

“...Yes, Instructor.”

“Expulsion.”

“Removal from the student registry.”

“Lawsuits from the bereaved families.”

“And perhaps even imprisonment in Alcatraz.”

“That is the responsibility you'll bear from this day forward.”

Even that was merely the 'opportunity' Martin had earned...

Because he had confessed and because the investigation proved he had not been the principal perpetrator.

Nelle Meyer and Günter were already destined for Alcatraz.

「Alcatraz」

The most infamous prison in the United Federation.

Being sent there alone meant that both Günter's and Nelle Meyer's lives were effectively over.

Jin Crow looked directly at him.

Martin's sunken cheeks clearly showed the suffering he had endured.

Even so...

No sympathy arose.

“It will follow you for the rest of your life.”

Whether Martin Brown changed his name.

Changed his face through plastic surgery.

Or even if the entire world forgot...

The guilt and sins already stained upon him would continue following him forever, tightening around his throat.

“I have no intention of forgiving you.”

“Nor do I have the right.”

At worst, he himself had only faced several days of detention and the possibility of a dishonorable discharge.

But the price of the lives lost...

Would pursue Martin forever.

“Endure all of it.”

The screams and fury of the bereaved families.

The mockery and contempt of the cadets.

The disappointment and rejection of his family.

The criticism and humiliation of the public.

“......”

Tears streamed down Martin's cheeks.

Jin Crow rose from his chair.

Looking down at the man who had buried his head and covered his mouth, he quietly added,

“That is the atonement you'll make...”

“In place of that idiot who escaped through death.”

Jin Crow left the interrogation room.

He had no intention of offering any more words.

Nor any salvation.

Soon...

The only sound echoing through the cold, empty interrogation room was—

“......Hic... sob... ngh...”

Martin's tearful sobbing as his shoulders shook.

“......Kukenhauzen...”

Meanwhile, at that very moment, Head Instructor Günter sat wearing an expression filled with emptiness and despair.

Then, as though reaching a decision, he bit down hard on his lip.

‘Rosen.’

Sitting on the cold floor of the detention cell somehow cleared his mind.

Everything had undoubtedly been orchestrated by the Rosen Faction.

They were the ones who manipulated public opinion on Blind.

They were the ones who made Kukenhauzen abandon him.

If that were true...

Wouldn't Rosen now be the faction willing to pay the highest price for him?

‘If it's them...’

A Head Instructor.

A Quad Gear Special-duty Officer.

No faction would overlook talent like that.

Believing that wholeheartedly, Günter felt the cold handcuffs around his wrists as hope filled his eyes.

“Huh?”

At that very moment, however...

He instinctively looked at his own raised hands and let out a shrill cry.

Crunch!

His hands moved against his will.

In an instant, they wrapped around his throat and began squeezing.

His breathing stopped.

“Ghk! Ngh! Ghhhk!”

Günter desperately struggled, twisting his body as he tried to collapse toward the prison bars and call for the Military Police.

But then—

A shadow fell over him.

Looking up, he saw someone standing above him.

“A message from the Family Head.”

A Military Police lieutenant with such an ordinary face that Günter couldn't even remember seeing him before.

Watching Günter slowly suffocate with completely emotionless eyes, the lieutenant quietly whispered,

“Praise be to your service.”

“Until the day we meet again.”

“N-No... gghrrk...”

Günter pitifully blinked.

Without Psionic Energy...

A superhuman's body was little different from that of an ordinary person who happened to be somewhat stronger.

Had even five minutes passed?

Looking down at Günter's limp corpse, the Military Police officer calmly confirmed his death.

Then he headed toward the neighboring cell where Nelle Meyer was trembling.

“P-Please... s-spare me!”

“Glory to the bloodline of Ironblood!”

“Glory!”

“Fuck!”

Despite her cries, her face covered in tears and snot...

The Military Police officer's eyes merely flashed.

Moments later...

Nelle Meyer writhed across the floor like the ignorant apes she had always despised.

Then...

She stopped breathing.

In an instant...

The two most important suspects were dead.

Taking in the scene before him, the Military Police officer calmly pulled out a portable receiver and sent a brief signal.

At that exact moment—

“W-What the...?! Werner!”

The remaining Military Police officers rushed into the detention block after hearing the disturbance.

The sight before them left them frozen in shock.

Every Military Police officer except the lowest-ranking one, Werner, had been rendered unconscious.

And the two most important suspects had strangled themselves to death with their own hands.

Click.

Seeing the others enter, Werner calmly drew his revolver without hesitation.

The other Military Police officers immediately began releasing their Psionic Energy to respond.

Just then—

“Death is not the end.”

Werner slowly closed his eyes.

He pressed the cold barrel against his own temple...

And pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Only a single gunshot echoed through the detention block.