Chapter 163 ·Alcatraz

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was something that most people overlooked.

Special-duty ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Officers.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the so-called superhumans were still human.

Humans ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍died if their heads were blown off.

They ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍died if their hearts were pierced.

Likewise, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they died if forced to endure pain beyond their limits.

Because of that, the moment they left the battlefield, Staff Sergeant Kim Min pulled out a portable emergency treatment kit to seal Ean Jung's wounds.

Then she took a syringe containing Pentacle from her pocket, stabbed it into the back of his neck, and adjusted it so the contents would be injected very slowly.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been insanity.

Injecting an awakening drug into someone on the verge of death instead of a painkiller was no different from finishing them off.

But Ean Jung was different.

The thing prolonging his life was the Psionic energy within him.

If the concentration of Pentacle in his body dropped, his condition would become even more dangerous.

‘He won't last long. Five minutes at most.’

After coldly assessing the situation, Kim Min hoisted him back over her shoulder and quickly began leaving the Pure Land.

Naturally, there were obstacles.

The scattered building debris was troublesome enough, but clashing with mercenaries and soldiers rushing toward the battlefield after finally realizing the seriousness of the situation would be an even greater burden.

Because of that, there had only ever been one route she could choose.

‘It was the escape route I planned from the beginning. There's no problem.’

Of course, the plan had changed somewhat.

Even she found it regrettable to abandon every member of the Setter Platoon, but it couldn't be helped.

‘They're all just samples anyway. The specimen, Ean Jung, has to survive.’

It would have been ideal if they could have brought back the completed product, Jin Crow.

But no one knew better than her that things didn't work out so conveniently.

Of course, if it had been her father, he would have tried kidnapping him first without a second thought.

But Kim Min wasn't some battle-crazed brute like him.

Rumble-.

She lifted the manhole cover at the corner of the alley, pushed Ean Jung inside, and climbed in herself.

But then—

“……Khk. Ah, my head.”

At the bend in the alley, an old man dressed in shabby clothes appeared and met her eyes.

Half of one fox ear had been cut away.

He wore a dark gray hat pulled low over his head, and dried alcohol and vomit clung around his mouth.

“Did a war break out or something...? Hm?”

Watching Kim Min descend into the sewer, he instinctively stepped backward, sensing something unsettling.

And the unease he felt became reality.

Slash. Thud.

He didn't even have time to scream.

Without the slightest hesitation, Kim Min drew out her whip and wrapped it around the back of the old man's neck.

His head separated cleanly from his body and rolled across the bleak, shadowy alley.

“……Tch.”

Kim Min clicked her tongue briefly.

But the emotion behind it wasn't guilt over having to eliminate a witness.

It was nothing more than irritation that her whip had become dirty.

“It got ruined because of that bitch Obia.”

She was a woman she never wanted to meet again.

To the point that Kim Min had momentarily wondered if Obia had also come from Hound because of that madness.

Thinking that, she disappeared into the sewer.

Carrying Ean Jung on her back, she hurried toward the outside of the Pure Land.

Filth seeped through the gaps in her combat boots.

At times, her crimson military uniform became stained brown, while flies, rats, and insects crawled across her skin.

She paid them no mind.

Clang!

Several minutes later.

At last reaching the end of the sewer, she smashed apart the iron bars connecting it to the outside of the Pure Land.

Her destination was a quiet forest clearing.

There, naturally concealed beneath camouflage netting, was a small Assault Ship.

She entered it without hesitation and immediately pushed Ean Jung into the life-support capsule prepared inside.

‘I was delayed a little, but fortunately he's still alive.’

His nearly depleted Psionic energy was desperately struggling to keep his ruined heart from stopping.

Kim Min's emergency treatment had only stopped the heart from bleeding.

The Psionic energy itself was recreating the heartbeat so that blood continued circulating.

Buzzz-.

With a brief vibration, a blue jelly-like liquid filled the capsule.

Covering not only his wounds but also flowing into his airway and esophagus, the gel would prolong the unconscious Ean Jung's life.

“Phew.”

The worst had passed.

Feeling that, Kim Min casually stripped off Ean Jung's blood-soaked outer clothing and tossed it aside before quickly operating the Assault Ship.

She knew the Church of Cosmic Truth.

She had also known from the very beginning that they had absolutely no chance of winning.

‘Without our support, they would've destroyed themselves during the civil war in the first place.’

Most followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth were addicts intoxicated by drugs they believed brought them closer to God.

Naturally, they had no sense of reality.

Unfortunately for them, however, the Red Hand had never regarded them as equal allies.

From the beginning, they had intended to use them as disposable bait.

And conveniently, use the byproducts for the coming revolution as well.

〔Activating automatic navigation system.〕

〔Destination coordinates confirmed.〕

〔Stealth function ON.〕

〔Please prepare for impact.〕

The Assault Ship pushed aside the camouflage net covering it, slowly rose into the sky, and accelerated toward its designated coordinates.

Only after overcoming the crisis did Kim Min finally remove the black mask covering her mouth.

Then she established a communication and spoke.

“The mission is complete. I'll be returning, Brigadier General.”

The man on the other end let out a low chuckle before replying quietly.

〔Well done, Staff Sergeant Kim Min.〕

“It's nothing.”

Kim Min placed a cigarette between her lips and quietly murmured.

“Father.”

〔It's nothing. Father.〕

“Kuhahahahaha!”

Brigadier General Kim Cheol burst into hearty laughter at the sound of his daughter's voice over the communicator as he looked down at the trembling man hanging from his rough grip.

“……Ghk.”

His once immaculate long white hair had become tangled with blood.

His handsome face had been hideously ruined, stained dark crimson.

With split lips and shattered teeth, the man trembled as he muttered.

His voice carried only confusion.

And an utterly feeble whisper.

“W-Why...? We... were allies......”

“You seem to be under a misunderstanding, Sa Hyeong-rang.”

The wrinkles around Kim Cheol's eyes twitched.

Grabbing the man hanging limply like dried squid by the back of the neck, he lifted him until their eyes met.

Then he spoke.

“Heh heh. Why would we ever join hands with vermin like you? Religion is merely the opium of the people.”

“……Cough! Without us... you could never... obtain Black Iron......”

Even as he trembled violently, Sa Hyeong-rang forced out words about the incomprehensible reality before him.

Behind him lay a gigantic white serpent comparable in size to Qiongqi.

Its body had been torn completely apart and scattered in pieces.

“Hahahaha! Kuhahahahaha!”

Kim Cheol could no longer contain himself after hearing Sa Hyeong-rang's words.

Bursting into manic laughter, he pulled the man's face until it was almost touching his own and spoke with his distinctive gleaming eyes.

“That's none of your concern.”

“W-Wait......!”

Crack-.

With a sickening sound, Sa Hyeong-rang's neck snapped.

His tongue lolled from his mouth as his body trembled violently before finally collapsing into nothing more than a lump of flesh that had once been human.

At that moment—

“……Baek... Hyeong-rang. Damn you.”

From behind Kim Cheol came Baekhong's urgent voice.

Turning around, he saw a woman staggering toward the entrance of the Church of Cosmic Truth's headquarters.

“……Huff, kh.”

Baek Hyeong-rang.

Or Sa Hyeong-rang.

His original name, and the name he bore as an Immortal-rank High Priest.

Even from Baekhong's muttered words alone, it was obvious how desperate she was.

Kim Cheol smiled unconsciously before signaling to the Red Hand soldiers beside him.

“Will you be alright, sir?”

“Are you asking me?”

“My apologies. Then we'll secure the target Black Iron and the Oparts. Most importantly, Hliðskjálf.”

“Yes. That's exactly what you should do.”

Perhaps Kim Cheol had sensed something strange.

Standing before the entrance to the Church of Cosmic Truth's headquarters, Baekhong had stopped moving and was staring silently at him.

In response, Kim Cheol smiled with boundless fighting spirit.

“If raising the Governor from Quad Gear to Penta Gear is possible, then we'll certainly find a use for it ourselves.”

With those words, Kim Cheol grabbed Sa Hyeong-rang by the hair.

Dragging the corpse across the ground, he casually threw it toward Baekhong standing at the entrance.

Then he stared at her as she dripped cold sweat and blood, clearly far from normal.

“No matter how many times I see it, the body of a High Priest is truly something to covet.”

Crack.

Rolling his joints, Kim Cheol spoke cheerfully.

“After all, tiger pelts always fetch a high price.”

“……I said from the beginning this would happen. Though... I suppose there wasn't any other choice.”

Baekhong let out a bitter laugh as she looked down at her trembling hand.

Then, without hesitation, she summoned Qiongqi...

“Kuhahahahahahaha!”

Brigadier General Kim Cheol's booming laughter became the final melody Baekhong ever heard in this world.

Regcom Ging immediately began restoring order.

Although Governor Olga Tristina had finally revealed herself after nearly a year, she disappeared once again.

...The Governor's prolonged absence.

Surprisingly, it caused no confusion.

Both the Governor-General's Office and even the Defense Force had already grown accustomed to her absence.

Rather, the rumors that had spread over the past year—that the Governor had died, or that Vice Governor Regcom Ging had staged a coup—were completely erased after she publicly displayed her overwhelming power.

“So the Governor was Penta Gear.”

“Wasn't she originally Quad?”

“She must've been training. That would explain why she disappeared for an entire year.”

Regcom Ging's publicly known strength lay somewhere between Triple Gear and Quad Gear.

Whether in terms of strength or legitimacy, he had no reason to stage a coup.

...No.

Was it even possible?

Even the Defense Force, which had quietly harbored dissatisfaction unlike the Federal Army completely under Regcom Ging's control, accepted that explanation.

Naturally, Special-duty Officers and those familiar with them questioned Olga's astonishing growth.

However, they also knew that such a realm could never be reached through shortcuts.

Thus, the doubts never spread far before quietly dying away.

“Why did she hide herself? Well, because the Vice Governor does the job better?”

Those who knew Olga Tristina's true personality simply sighed and accepted it with, “I knew it.”

She had never been someone suited to dignity or authority.

It was easier to think of her as a tomboy.

Thus, after Governor Olga disappeared from public view once again, the Pure Land steadily returned to order under Regcom Ging's capable leadership.

“……You have ten minutes, Captain.”

And part of restoring order included punishing the collaborators who had aided the enemy.

“……”

Leaving the Military Police officer's bitter voice behind her, Myo Seol-ah stood before Myo Seol-rin.

The latter wore a restraining suit and handcuffs that suppressed Psionic energy.

Lifting her noticeably thinner face, Myo Seol-rin smiled with her familiar playful grin before opening her cracked lips.

“Hi, Sis.”

What was she supposed to say?

Myo Seol-ah couldn't bring herself to speak.

Knowing her gentle older sister's personality better than anyone, Myo Seol-rin spoke casually instead.

“For the Juin people's right to survive, the Governor-General's Office has to disappear. Then it's only natural for the Church of Cosmic Truth, the native religion and the Juin people's parent, to take its place.”

“……You.”

“Heh. That's what you wanted to hear, wasn't it?”

Myo Seol-ah answered in a trembling voice as though Myo Seol-rin had been brainwashed.

But the words that followed shattered her completely.

“Don't worry. It wasn't brainwashing or threats. It was all my own choice, Sis. I never liked the Myo Clan pretending to be so proud. I never liked those humans always preaching about civilization either......”

Myo Seol-rin's black ears slowly stood upright.

Her tail swayed gently.

Then, wearing an incomparably peaceful expression, she smiled, revealing the fangs at the corners of her lips.

“There wasn't any grand conviction. No great resolve. No motive filled with murderous intent.”

“……”

“I just suddenly wanted to kill everyone.”

Only then did Myo Seol-ah finally realize it.

Myo Seol-rin had already crossed a river from which there was no return.

Her thoughts would never change.

No.

Even if they somehow did now, it no longer mattered.

The damage caused by this incident was far too great to warrant leniency.

Her punishment had already been decided.

“……Give my regards to your husband. And to Saun as well.”

Myo Seol-rin continued smiling until the very end.

“Don't trust humans, Sis.”

She whispered to her kind-hearted older sister, who turned away unable to hide her tears.

Area-39.

All Special-duty Officers and Non-Commissioned Special-duty Officers who collaborated with the Church of Cosmic Truth, including Master Sergeant Myo Seol-rin (猫雪璘) of the Governor-General's Office Defense Force.

Confirmed destination: Alcatraz.

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