Chapter 168 ·The First Order

Chapter 167: The First Order

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍were many Special-duty Officer Academies within the Human Composite State.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍without question, the five most prominent academies under the Federal Army were the following.

「Central ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Special-duty Officer Academy」

「Eastern ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Special-duty Officer Academy」

「Western ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Special-duty Officer Academy」

「Southern ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Special-duty Officer Academy」

「Northern Special-duty Officer Academy」

Each was an elite institution located within one of the Human Composite State's core military administrative regions.

With that in mind, it wasn't particularly surprising that all of them were included in the Red Hand's operational plans.

Nevertheless, some instructors remained skeptical.

“Why would they target us? As everyone here knows, their military strength is limited.”

“Precisely because of that, they'll target us. Haven't they done it before?”

“You mean......”

“Planet Lemal.”

“But......”

The instructors' discussion continued for quite some time.

Eventually, Ideale spoke, bringing the matter to a conclusion.

“For the time being, we will request the cooperation of the 23rd Security Brigade to strengthen security. We will also coordinate with the Sirt Planetary Defense Force as well as the nearby Federal Army garrison to respond to any unforeseen incidents. Any objections?”

No one objected to Ideale's proposal.

It was a solution that struck an appropriate balance.

‘The Red Hand's declaration of war is certainly threatening. But at the same time, it's difficult to justify overreacting.’

There was pride to consider.

There were practical concerns as well.

What would it look like if the Central Special-duty Officer Academy, regarded as the foremost of all the Special-duty Officer Academies, shut its gates and barricaded itself inside out of fear?

It would be a disgrace in many ways.

Still, that was only a secondary issue.

‘From both a financial standpoint and considering the cadets' morale, overreacting would do more harm than good.’

The true terror of the Red Hand wasn't the size of the army displayed in their recorded declaration.

If only two large Planetary Defense Forces assembled, they would already outnumber the Red Hand's military.

The real reason they were terrifying...

Was their ability to wage guerrilla warfare with that army.

‘They've already proven it.’

It wasn't exactly a great secret that the majority of those who should have led the recapture of Planet Lemal had instead been kidnapped by the Red Hand, with no one knowing whether they were even alive.

Perhaps because of that...

The instructors didn't appear overly alarmed.

Most merely looked annoyed.

‘Like having a thorn stuck in your mouth.’

Jin Crow himself was no different.

If the cadets were injured or killed by the Red Hand, everything he had planned would fall apart.

He unconsciously bit his lip as he frowned.

‘......I'd rather die myself.’

It wasn't because the cadets were that precious to him.

Rather...

If anything happened to the Riders of the Stars, the most mentally healthy option would probably be to quietly commit suicide.

It was a depressing conclusion.

But also a highly plausible one.

‘What's wrong with Instructor Crow?’

‘......Fuck. Is that bastard always in a bad mood?’

Naturally...

Those who couldn't read his thoughts merely assumed he was in a foul mood.

‘The Red Hand.’

Ignoring the gazes and reactions around him, Jin Crow continued organizing his thoughts.

They were a terrorist organization.

Yet ironically...

That was exactly why they couldn't be ignored.

Did it even make sense for a mere terrorist organization to maintain an army of at least seven hundred thousand soldiers?

From the Human Composite State's perspective, they were dismissed as terrorists.

But the reality was different.

Both the Holy Galactic Empire and the Free Planet Alliance effectively recognized them as an independent power.

‘Some even consider them one of the major factions.’

Whichever perspective one took, one fact remained unchanged.

The Red Hand possessed power that couldn't be ignored.

At the very least, they were too troublesome to simply overlook.

That said, Ideale swept her gaze across each senior instructor and instructor before speaking again.

“Does anyone have any additional suggestions?”

At that moment, Jin Crow noticed something.

Most of the instructors wore expressions that clearly said,

‘This should be enough.’

Naturally.

All five Special-duty Officer Academies possessed overwhelming military strength.

Yet among them...

The Central Special-duty Officer Academy stood in a league of its own.

‘Ideale Kukenhauzen.’

Penta Gear.

‘The senior instructors of each faction, along with a handful of instructors, including myself.’

Quad Gear.

‘Most instructors and cadets.’

Every single one of them was Triple Gear.

Simply put...

The academy possessed thousands of Triple Gears, along with a Penta Gear powerful enough to be described as an army unto herself.

Of course, there was one concern.

Ideale Kukenhauzen.

She was only half complete, having lost the Supernatural Weapon that allowed her to unleash the full power of her Penta Gear.

However...

It wasn't exactly a secret anymore that she had recently reached some sort of agreement with the Kukenhauzen main family and had secured a replacement.

“I've heard the Southern Special-duty Officer Academy has been having all sorts of problems lately. It's rather worrying.”

“I heard there's been quite a bit of internal unrest.”

“A friend of mine says it's an absolute mess.”

In other words...

The academy they needed to worry about wasn't the Central Special-duty Officer Academy.

It was the others.

Ideale didn't particularly comment on their attitude.

Instead, she simply concluded.

“Although there is unrest outside, ensure there are no disruptions to final examination preparations. That concludes the meeting.”

With that, she took a sip of the tea that had nearly gone cold upon the table, apparently parched.

As the instructors gradually rose from their seats, Jin Crow also stood, a cigarette already between his lips, and walked toward Assistant Instructor Ginatio.

‘He said he wanted to discuss the teaching assistant position.’

Sure enough.

The moment Jin Crow approached, a trace of life returned to Ginatio's lifeless eyes.

Though...

It was a rather unsettling sight.

Like electricity being run through the spine of a corpse, forcing its eyes open.

“Instructor.”

“Yes. About the teaching assistant—”

He lit the cigarette in his mouth, drew in a breath of smoke, and spoke.

Or rather...

He was about to.

“Instructor Jin Crow.”

At that very moment.

Someone called his name.

The instructors who had been leaving the conference room all stopped simultaneously.

Every gaze turned toward the two men.

Jin Crow slowly turned toward the owner of the voice.

Soon, he found himself looking at a man with light blue hair and slightly darker blue eyes.

‘Senior Instructor Ryucheon.’

Rank...

Colonel.

Faction...

‘Rosen.’

Jin Crow's deep, dark eyes met Ryucheon's murky blue ones.

Then Ryucheon spoke in a voice carrying a faint metallic rasp.

“Let's talk for a moment.”

“Understood, Senior Instructor.”

Jin Crow extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray before walking past the frozen Assistant Instructor Ginatio, who seemed too stunned to even process what was happening.

Naturally...

Everyone in the conference room watched Jin Crow quietly follow Ryucheon out without the slightest hesitation.

“......”

Ginatio slowly turned his stiff neck toward Ideale.

“......”

Naturally...

Even Ideale couldn't understand what exactly was happening.

The instructors' reactions were understandable.

When Jin Crow had first possessed this body a year ago, there had been no doubt whatsoever that he belonged to the Rosen faction.

Now, however...

Academic consensus within the academy was that Rosen had practically abandoned him.

‘Most of them probably think I've sided with Ideale.’

The current factional landscape within the academy was rather complicated.

Rosen.

Kukenhauzen.

The Alliance of Minor Factions.

Like the Three Kingdoms, they constantly kept one another in check.

At the same time, the pro-Ideale camp wasn't insignificant either.

It wasn't strong enough to overturn the balance of power.

But it was influential enough to affect the overall political landscape.

‘Yet Ryucheon openly called me over. Almost as if he wanted everyone to see it. Is this a gesture of reconciliation? Or does it serve some political purpose?’

Watching Ryucheon's back as he walked ahead, Jin Crow quietly thought.

They eventually arrived at the far end of the instructors' building's most secluded hallway.

Upon reaching it, Ryucheon turned around, slipped a hand into his coat, and pulled out a cigarette with a blue filter.

He placed it between his lips before speaking.

“You may smoke, Jin Crow.”

“Yes.”

If he was being told to smoke...

Then he'd smoke.

Once Jin Crow lit his own cigarette, thick smoke drifted through the hallway, wrapping around both men like shimmering heat haze.

During that brief silence, Jin Crow quietly observed Ryucheon.

‘Younger than I expected. Rather thin.’

Ryucheon appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

Slightly shorter than Jin Crow.

Overall, quite lean.

Yet instinct warned him that this man was dangerous.

There wasn't the slightest chance of underestimating him.

‘He's Rosen's senior instructor. There's no way he'd be weak.’

Suddenly...

Aton came to mind.

As Jin Crow studied Ryucheon's sharp features, a thought surfaced.

...Aside from him, who else could have killed Aton?

Whether aware of those thoughts or not, Ryucheon finished his cigarette, crushed it into the ashtray beside the window, and finally spoke.

“I heard you failed to eliminate him. Have you grown attached to that failed specimen?”

“......”

The curse that nearly escaped Jin Crow's lips was swallowed back down.

Maintaining as expressionless a face as possible, he met Ryucheon's gaze directly.

Ryucheon frowned.

Then, glaring at Jin Crow, who showed not the slightest sign of backing down, he ground out his words.

“I don't care whether you've developed pity or affection for those monsters.”

“But one thing remains.”

“This is an order from the First Order.”

Looking as though speaking to Jin Crow itself disgusted him, Ryucheon lit another cigarette.

Then he stepped closer, narrowed his eyes, and whispered.

“You will kill Ean Jung.”

With that, he walked past Jin Crow, leaving a long trail of cigarette smoke behind him.

Jin Crow remained standing exactly where he was.

Just as Ryucheon had nearly disappeared halfway down the hallway—

“Ryucheon.”

Jin Crow finally spoke.

Ryucheon stopped, cigarette still between his lips, and turned around.

Had this man really dared call a senior instructor by name?

Displeasure filled Ryucheon's face.

Yet at that very moment—

The instant he saw Jin Crow slowly turn toward him...

Ryucheon instinctively felt killing intent.

He unconsciously swallowed.

“I have one question.”

Jin Crow's expression remained perfectly calm.

Yet Ryucheon couldn't help but feel it.

Behind Jin Crow...

Beyond the black shadow stretching across the floor...

Another terrifying pair of eyes seemed to be staring at him.

‘Has his damaged Gear already recovered? I was told it would take much longer......’

He was confident he would win if they fought.

Yet regardless of victory or defeat...

The killing intent emanating from Jin Crow awakened something deeply primal.

For the first time, Ryucheon found himself unable to rebuke Jin Crow's insolent attitude despite their difference in rank and status.

Instead...

He simply listened.

“What is Rosen's objective?”

The instant he heard the question...

Ryucheon let out an involuntary chuckle.

The tension that had briefly stiffened him disappeared.

Naturally.

After all...

This was Jin Crow.

“And you're asking me that?”

“How amusing.”

With those words, Ryucheon turned away, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

Left standing alone...

Jin Crow merely watched his departing figure with an incomprehensibly complicated expression.

‘......What kind of bullshit was that?’

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