Under the Veil of Night

(Special mention for web novel [without space between the two words] reader Piku1309)

…

Months and years passed. The war with Country M lasted for some time before the country emerged victoriously and resulted in several treaties that were favourable to them . Meritorious soldiers received a reward and brought glory back with them as they returned to their cities.

"Don't you have a family with you?" Ferdinand asked Aria, who had tagged along with him.

Aria shook his head slightly. "I was born out of wedlock and entered the military after my mother's death. I don't even know who my father is, so I don't have much hope to find him."

"You can come with me."

"Yes, Sir!"

Ferdinand looked out of the car's window. He was promoted to be a major general, one of the youngest major general ever in history as he was still in his mid-twenties. However, his heart was always thinking about the deaths of his former team members.

They had been together ever since he enlisted into the military.

On the back, Aria sat down quietly. His eyes were looking around as he paid close attention to the people around them. It was already his habit to keep his guard up to make sure that there was no threat. Thinking that he had returned to the City of Crime, Aria sighed in his heart.

He hated this city, however this was also the birthplace of Ferdinand. No matter where Ferdinand wished to go, he would follow him.

'It should be here.'

Ferdinand received news that his wife had moved to a new place. She was trying to move on after hearing the news of his death. In truth, he was actually still alive, and that piece of news was only released to make sure that no one ever knew that he was part of the secret soldiers.

Ferdinand looked at the house with a frown. From what he knew, even though his wife's life was good, she was far from being wealthy. Did she take a new job or something like that?

Knock! Knock!

"Yes?"

The sound of a young boy caused Ferdinand's heart to skip a beat. He had never seen his son because he left when his wife was pregnant. He had indeed left home for a long time.

As the door opened, a young boy peeked out of the door. He looked towards Ferdinand's direction as his eyes scrutinized the man that appeared in front of his residence curiously. The young boy, Cain, felt oddly familiar to this man even though he had never met him before.

"Hello," Ferdinand greeted, thinking of a way to introduce himself to his son.

Cain blinked his eyes. "Sir, who are you?"

"I'm... your mother's friend."

"Cain, who is it?"

"It's your friend, Mom."

"Who?" As the door was opened wider, the face of a woman in the middle of twenties appeared. Her eyes locked into Ferdinand as traces of disbelief painted her face. "Fer…Ferdinand?"

"It's me. I'm home," Ferdinand replied with a smile.

Tears streamed out from the corner of the woman's eyes. Few years ago, she was told that he had died, leaving her alone with no one else. Everyone told her that she was stupid to marry a soldier, but she loved her son dearly. However, she needed to move on…

"Why… why do you only return now?" Ferdinand's wife asked.

Ferdinand gave out an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I was out for missions for so long, but I have returned."

"I…"

Ring! Ring!

Cain returned back into the house and picked up the phone. Upon hearing the voice from the other side of the call, he called out, "Father, you're coming home late today?"

Father?

Ferdinand's eyes grew cold as he looked at his wife. Looking at the woman's guilty expression, he came to understand that not only his wife thought he had died but she also had even married someone else.

Simply because he was no longer there.

"Ferdinand, please listen to me… I…"

"Why should I listen to you?" Ferdinand's eyes grew cold. He had visited his comrades' families before he came here. They had all moved on, but those who had already married didn't remarry again.

On the other hand he, the one who returned alive, was the only one who had lost his wife because of his 'death' status.

Why did the military not tell him this?

What followed afterwards was shouts and screams inside the house. The entire residence was chaotic and after that, brutal deaths occurred within the house. Inside the car, Aria was watching everything unfolded without any trace of expression on his face.

As someone who was born in slums with his mother having an illicit relationship, Aria never believed in feelings. Those who did would only end up hurting themselves in the end. The only one whom he could trust was his comrades whom he had suffered with through life and death experience together.

…

Time passed by as Ferdinand settled in the City of Crime. Due to his past achievement in the military, the government wanted him to take up a position. However, Ferdinand didn't have much interest in taking care of those administrative and tedious matters. He would rather leave it to someone else who would like it.

Cain lived with him, and Aria could see the boy grew silent as time passed by. There was no trace of remorse or even anger in his eyes when he looked at Ferdinand. All that was left was acceptance and also guilt. Probably, the boy thought that it was because of him that his mother decided to remarry, thus resulting in her death along with her new husband and their family members.

Even though the man came from a rich family, Ferdinand could kill them all without receiving any punishment as the country gave him protection and also the freedom to do according to his wishes.

Ferdinand was doing his inspection at the research base in City of Crime along with Aria when he heard the sound of the banging on door and screams. It seemed that someone was quite unlucky to have incurred the wrath of his fellow scientist.

"How many times have I told you that you're not allowed to propose that kind of method? Do you think that the medicine truly has any value if it's used that way? Don't be silly!"

"But I have investigated and found that it's indeed increasing the strength. I believe that if it's applied to the lineage of the 12 founders…."

"Scram! Forget about those insane methods!"

Ferdinand looked at the figure slumped on the floor. If he remembered correctly, he had seen that man's face some time ago in the newspaper about the scientist that loved to create controversial theories. Many disagreed with him, yet some actually thought that he was brilliant.

"Aria, I want you to give me all information regarding that man."

"Yes, Sir!"

In the evening, Ferdinand received a report from Aria about Professor Taren. He made a theory regarding the secret of the government about those awakened people. Reading those reports, Ferdinand's interest was piqued up. The real reason why he and Aria were sent to the military was because they were both lineage of those 12 people and the government wanted to give them a chance to awaken their ability.

Ferdinand had realized his ability after the death of his comrades. Thinking about his past, he could still remember how his father disowned him the moment they received his test result when he was around 12 years old. Only his mother, Shie Yam, who still cared for him but she died after he finished his school due to sickness.

Because of the chance to awaken his talent, Ferdinand had grown up with people from the military keeping a close watch on him. He had gotten used to them, but those from better lineages were able to live peacefully in the city without the need to serve in the military like him. On the other hand, some other b*stard sons and daughters were forced to join.

Many died because they didn't manage to awaken their abilities.

'From the theory that Professor Taren made, he should be able to find a method to let them awaken their talent with the help of the medicine . This way, I'll be able to produce many strong soldiers.'

A light gleamed from Ferdinand's eyes. If his comrades had been stronger back then, no one would have died in the mission. No, if only he had managed to awaken his talent earlier, he would have the ability to protect them. However, he understood that he would need to sacrifice a lot of people in order to test the medicine and so on.

'I need strength and soldiers, powerful ones at that.'

'Just a few lives… it should be fine.'

Ferdinand stood up from his chair and walked to the bookshelves before he picked up his military communication device. He made a call to Richard, asking for permission to conduct his research.

What he didn't predict was, he would kill numerous lives in his attempt to create the perfect medicine and soldiers. The bloody path was created due to his decision.

…

'I want to be stronger and even stronger so that I can become the ruler of the world. In that world, no one would be able to hurt me anymore. For that dream, I don't care how much blood I have to spill in order to achieve my goal.'

- Major General Ferdinand Mowlem

…

(End of Side Story 1)