105
The Time of Interrogation Approaches
Just money.
A motive so simple yet powerful.
“Schnieke, are you listening?”
I snapped back to attention at the sudden call. Everyone sitting around the round table was looking at me.
“I’m sorry.”
As I apologized, the department head clicked her tongue. With a face that suggested she wanted to curse but was holding back, she explained once more.
“Let’s focus. According to Dagoba, Canaris’s headquarters is in Maderke. The Maderke unrest was originally meant to facilitate the withdrawal of Canaris funds. During the unrest, two Riegel banks were robbed with similar methods. A significant number of private safes were emptied, and it’s presumed Canaris funds were among them. In other words, Canaris instigated the Maderke unrest to withdraw their funds while avoiding government surveillance.”
Are they insane?
I can’t believe they caused enough unrest to place an entire city under lockdown just to withdraw their money. The atmosphere in the conference room became unstable. Everyone wore expressions of disbelief at the information before them.
Well, unbelievable things had been happening continuously. Who would have thought Mesmer was Canaris? He was a legend. Who could have imagined our hero had been corrupted for so long?
Though, since my hero is a handsome blonde with blue eyes, Mesmer’s corruption doesn’t affect me at all.
“Team 9 has conducted operations in Maderke before, right?”
What disasters happened after that operation… Images flashed through my mind. But work is work. I answered expressionlessly.
“Yes.”
“Then it will be easier to conduct operations in Maderke. Dagoba said Yudorov went to the Maderke headquarters. We have no time to waste. Team 9 will prepare and depart immediately.”
Right now?
Of course, our team members are in the office constantly wailing, “Hate paperwork, hate keyboards, give me guns.” So taking them out isn’t a problem, but with almost no operational plan, you want me to take them to face Canaris?
I slowly rose from my seat and looked at the department head.
“I haven’t heard the operational overview.”
“There is no operation. Maderke’s lockdown has been lifted, but it’s still a dangerous area. The military went in and suppressed it, so outwardly it seems like public order has been restored, but inside it’s completely rotten. Getting information is impossible. And it’s presumed that Yudorov has recovered most of Canaris’s funds. He’ll leave the country soon. So we need to secure him before that.”
Volkari’s hairstyle was perfect as always. Probably carefully styled with a blow dryer and curling iron. Her green eyes gleamed with tenacious light. Her artificially tanned skin had a sheen to it. As always, Volkari was a flawless beauty. However, in her tight-fitting suit, she resembled Joan of Arc more than a goddess. She had the spirit of someone who might point a greatsword at enemies and shout, “All troops, advance!”
“I order you, Team Leader Schnieke. Secure Yudorov.”
“Alive, you mean?”
“If possible, bringing him to court would be best, but securing him is the top priority.”
Meaning if I can’t bring him in alive, bring his corpse.
Wow, she really is shouting “Advance!” Everyone was looking at me with piercing gazes. My mouth is burning. I thought about what Canaris had done. And that one of their victims was my Sebastian.
Sebastian, who called himself a “vengeance demon.”
Finally, I’m going to capture the bastard who made him that way—that kind, good, and upright person. My heart pounded, but I asked without showing it.
“If there’s no operational overview, please give me full authority.”
People who haven’t even drafted an operation and won’t be at the scene shouldn’t be telling us through earpieces to go right or left. I’m not going to lose the precious lives of my team members listening to that nonsense.
Volkari, our department head, looked straight at me. I didn’t avoid her gaze. I couldn’t lose this staring contest. The department head would want to control me, and even if not, she would want to avoid saying “I won’t.” She might have her own orders for me, but more likely, people above her would be pressuring her.
But I can’t move without this guarantee. How can they control anything without providing an operational plan? They admit they know nothing about the situation on the ground.
“…Keep the line open.”
The department head took a step back.
“I understand you have full authority. Thank you for agreeing to prioritize the situation on the ground.”
At my words, the department head bit her lip—nearly crushed it.
“Yudorov?!”
Our team was simply excited. They immediately threw aside their reports and happily gathered their weapons. I could see the joy of leaving their unsuitable office work crossing with the elation of finally catching that crazy bastard. I said I was going to the bathroom briefly and sent a message to Sebastian. Jay was clearly stuck in the booth next to me, undoubtedly contacting his fiancée.
Heading to Maderke to catch Yudorov. Don’t know when I’ll be back
Don’t catch any stray bullets, always be careful
I was a bit touched. Sebastian must have wanted to ask about Yudorov, but he didn’t ask anything. Who leaked information about Yudorov, how much the Security Bureau knows now. None of that—just a simple request to be careful.
Ah, this must be why people fall in love. My heart feels warm.
BANG— Some bastard outside kicked the door.
“Come on, let’s go already! Both of you!”
Walter, that fucking bastard.
Communication will be impossible, but don’t worry. I’ll drag that son of a bitch back by a leash. Eat well and stay healthy. I’ll contact you as soon as I can
I sent the message quickly and immediately turned off my phone. After finishing my business, I came out to find Walter looking at me with a face full of complaints, then glaring at the still-closed booth next to mine.
“Let’s hurry. We need to catch that fucker, what the hell is everyone doing?”
“You’re single, so you don’t understand our feelings.”
“Team Leader, you don’t understand my feelings as a single person either, so it’s fine.”
Walter snorted, then brought a bucket from the supplies area and banged it loudly.
“Are you coming out before I pour water on you?!”
Eventually, Jay came out with a long face. Of course, Jay was happy to go catch the Canaris leader. But doesn’t he have his beloved girlfriend? He wanted to talk a little more, but this inconsiderate bastard was pressuring him, so he seemed upset.
“Wash your hands quickly, they’re dirty.”
After I, who had already washed my hands, reprimanded him, Jay washed his hands. It was funny how thoroughly he washed them—perhaps something his fiancée taught him.
As we started walking out of the bathroom, suddenly someone in the hallway shouted.
“Good luck!”
It seemed everyone already knew what we were going to do. Then people rushed out of their offices. Employees standing in front of the office doors hit our shoulders as we passed through the corridor and shouted, “Kill them!”
Canaris was the group that had set off a bomb in our company. Actually, “group” isn’t quite right—it was Mesmer who detonated it, but he was a member of Canaris anyway. We had suffered a bombing, and we were going to catch the terrorist group. Everyone shouted for us to do well. Their voices were filled with anger.
Doesn’t anyone remember that I’m a patient with full-body contusions from being caught in that explosion? Shouldn’t at least one person say something like, “Are you okay with your injuries?”
I grumbled inwardly, but Walter and Jay were clearly pumped up. They walked down the corridor majestically, like astronauts departing for the moon. I compared the faces of the guys on either side of me, and there was no question—they were both out of their minds.
We continued our meeting in the car on the way to Maderke. Canaris’s headquarters was in the city, and fortunately, we knew Maderke city inside out. The problem is that Maderke has always been a somewhat unique provincial city. Since it was a thriving city during the Blaiberg era, there were plenty of people who fondly remembered communism, and there was a distinctive insularity that couldn’t shake off old habits. People would often open something like a black market and exchange goods among themselves. Of course, this was partly because the city had been thoroughly neglected by the Rotman government due to its symbolism and had grown poor, but the regional characteristics were not to be ignored.
And we have Walter. An unstoppable sadist. But as a reaction to his sadism, he’s infinitely gentle with women—except in bed. Walter often showed outstanding skills in finding female informants wherever we went.
The female informants Walter had secured would still be living in Maderke, so if we approach them, we should be able to find an opening soon.
Matthias Yudorov.
I’ll finally see that dog’s face in person. I hope I can maintain my sanity then. I’d like to just grind him into concrete. Ah, I plan to break all his limbs first. Much more painfully than what he did to Sebastian. According to the records, Sebastian had once been told he might suffer permanent damage. Fortunately, he recovered well, but Yudorov won’t be so lucky. I’m going to pulverize the bones in his arms and legs.
Our lovely Sebastian should only see good things.
So, you bastard, let’s have a little chat.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
