[115]
“You must want to go back.”
Yuri asked. Chase knew this was a tempting bait, but he had no choice but to take it.
“Yes. Honestly, I couldn’t understand why the boss came all the way here.”
Chase scratched the back of his head regardless of Chris staring at him.
“The Winter continent is a closed-off place… and Thorns Order was targeting Northern Light rather than Baekyah.”
Esper unions and mafia organizations are fundamentally different.
Thorns Order targeting Northern Light would be perceived as a major threat to people. But if they fought against Baekyah?
It would just look like bad guys hurting each other.
Chase thought that the terror Thorns Order perpetrated in Orum City was a kind of warning.
A warning not to interfere in future matters.
It was annoying when worthless guys barked at your doorstep. But he didn’t think it would be bad if Northern Light’s momentum was dampened in the process.
Even though the enemy’s leader Rosenhauser had disappeared, the dissatisfaction toward Northern Light, where he had belonged, hadn’t completely dissipated.
The Espers of that Esper union would still consider the Winter continent a barbaric place. They would treat any Esper not officially “registered” as a criminal.
This was a matter of perception.
So Chase wasn’t displeased that Northern Light faced a moderate crisis.
After all, he was someone who enjoyed chaos more than order.
“That’s past tense.”
“Yes.”
Chase nodded readily at Yuri’s observation.
“Now I understand that after Northern Light, Baekyah is next.”
Thorns Order wasn’t simply trying to rise as a new organization of ability users.
“And… they don’t seem particularly interested in sustainability either.”
“Why do you think that?”
“They’re not capturing Guides, but trying to kill them.”
Chase keenly read this from the attack on Gwen.
“An interesting perspective.”
“It makes sense that they’re poking at Northern Light. It’s natural for beasts to fight and clash with each other.”
Though somewhat flippant, Chase’s eyes, which directly addressed the essence of Espers, were strangely devoid of warmth.
Chase knew well that he himself was a “beast.”
“But touching Guides is a different matter.”
“Why?”
“Let’s say there’s a small spring in the desert where water flows. There are constant conflicts over it. Typically, one would either subdue those who covet it and establish rules, or monopolize it alone… those kinds of choices.”
Yuri quietly listened to Chase’s words.
With this tacit permission, Chase continued his story.
“But they don’t deliberately block the spring. Because they need to drink from it too. This is…”
Chase seemed to search for the appropriate word.
“Self-destructive.”
“Suicidal.”
Yuri and Chase spoke simultaneously.
Chris thought both of their words were correct.
No matter how strong an Esper is, they suffer without a Guide. So it’s self-destructive.
At the same time, an Esper without a Guide will certainly die. So it’s suicidal.
“Thorns Order’s objective is quite strange.”
Chase slightly furrowed his brow, saying it left a bad aftertaste.
“I think so too.”
Yuri affirmed.
“Recently, Barrel Society’s locksmith brought information about Rosenhauser’s ‘adopted child.’ Likely the ‘Commander.'”
“Ah…”
Chase let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t know what kind of person the Commander is, but I can gradually solidify one suspicion.”
“Please speak.”
“He hates Espers.”
Yuri’s purple eyes shone sharply.
It had been difficult to read the Commander when there were terrorist attacks on the Esper union.
The continuous spread of guiding drugs, well, that was something Rosenhauser had originally done, so it seemed they had inherited it.
Drugs make money.
Additionally, he had speculated that creating fake Guides was due to losing the ability to procure “real” ones in Rosenhauser’s absence. The risk of Espers going berserk would increase due to false guiding… but they could still manage for now.
‘Until now, I thought the Commander was stupid.’
Northern Light wasn’t an organization fragile enough to collapse immediately after a few terrorist attempts.
But upon reaching the illegal arena where Espers were gathered, Yuri felt that the choices made by Thorns Order’s “Commander” weren’t entirely rational.
That’s when Peter brought information about Rosenhauser’s adopted child.
Yuri erased each assumption about the “Commander” that he had kept in his mind and wrote down new words.
“Calculated.”
“Impulsive.”
“Rational.”
“Consumed by hatred.”
“Destructive.”
“Suicidal.”
The speculation until now had been based on the process. But now he could think based on the Commander’s “purpose.”
Yuri could finally see the chess board before him that had been shrouded in darkness.
It was easier than before to guess who the opponent player was and what they might be thinking.
Yuri just needed to place a large mirror in the chair across from him.
‘Have I become somewhat sentimental?’
Yuri pressed his temple after collecting his thoughts.
Chris looked with concern at the fatigue apparent on Yuri’s face.
But when the purple eyes reappeared beneath the eyelids, that gaze looked at Chase with utmost clarity.
“Thank you for speaking honestly.”
Chase’s intuition was quite useful.
“Being honest is my strong point.”
Chris was dumbfounded by Chase’s statement, which he concluded with a satisfied face.
‘While happily deceiving Gwen, who he claims is the most precious person in the world, with that slick tongue…’
And now what? Honesty is his strong point?
It would be more credible to believe that scrubbing lies would turn them white.
“Stop the nonsense. You said you came as Fortuna’s escort, so where is she?”
“Resting. She scanned too many people’s minds in a short time. Plus, they were all addicts, so the information in their heads was too mixed up.”
It’s like saying she fell ill after trying to pick out needles from a beach.
“Since Fortuna rushed things for us, we should present what she wants. Right, Chase?”
“Yes, boss. Since we received help with my sister’s matter, we should put in the effort.”
Once Gwen was mentioned, Chase was sincere.
“Reassuring. Good. Since that’s your determination, I’ll put you to good use in future matters.”
Chase, who glanced at Chris, grinned, showing his teeth.
“I’ll work like a dog.”
He was clearly trying to provoke Chris, despite not being particularly interested in the boss’s favor.
Chris snorted with a disdainful expression.
***
People playing cards. People lighting cigarettes.
Some were seen pouring alcohol into stacked glasses and clapping.
There were those dressed in suits or dresses, but generally their movements were awkward. Like children who had stolen adults’ clothes.
If there was a commonality among them, it was that they all carried scars, large and small.
Chris strode through their midst.
Thanks to a brief “outing,” his face was shinier than usual.
“Look over there, Mr. Wolf.”
“Despite looking frail, he’s been quite successful.”
“So what?”
A player giggled.
“The bear does the tricks, but the manager takes the money.”
Chris let their words go in one ear and out the other.
However, the accumulation of basic fatigue was inevitable no matter how much he tried not to react.
It wasn’t the first time he had seen arrogant Espers in his life. But those gathered here had a particular quality that made people uncomfortable.
Was it the gaze that sized up opponents before even fighting? Or was it due to this vague yet sweet smell floating in the air?
‘So much for socializing.’
Since the space was filled with many Espers, some had likely read Chris’s aversion.
As he was gauging how to handle it if someone picked a fight with him for keeping to himself, one player approached him.
“Hey. I heard you defeated Tasha.”
Malicious eyes sparkled.
“Somehow…”
Chris observed the other person.
A rather handsome face with a chilling gaze gave off a dangerous atmosphere.
“Don’t be too modest. See this?”
He suddenly pulled open his chest. A rather large scar could be seen extending from his shoulder to his right breast.
“This was inflicted by that woman. And now she’s trembling after losing to a mere rookie. It was an amusing sight after a long time. Thanks.”
The Esper clinked his glass against Chris’s, though Chris had no intention of making a toast, and drained its contents in one go.
“Who are you?”
“Me?”
After pondering with a “hmm,” the man rolled the empty glass between his fingers and answered.
“Gold. Call me Gold.”
“Gold?”
“Because my rank is Gold. And it’s been that way for quite a while.”
“So it wasn’t just Platinum and above who were invited.”
Gold laughed, “Ha.”
“Of course not. Considering the number of deaths, if only Platinum were invited… let’s see.”
He scanned the surroundings.
“Half the people here wouldn’t be present.”
Gold added that drinking isn’t enjoyable with too many empty seats, and snatched a new glass from a passing server.
“By the way, Wolfie, you fight quite conservatively.”
“It’s Wolf.”
When Chris corrected him, he waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah. It was a nickname.”
It was a light tone without a trace of friendliness.
“We don’t seem to be on nickname terms.”
“So stiff. Alright, Wolf.”
He lowered his voice slightly and whispered.
“Why do you only engage in fair fights? There are plenty of interesting things to do… like hunting rookies.”
“I have no interest in opponents who are excessively weak.”
Gold looked pleased at this rather provocative statement.
“Ha. So you enjoy thrills more than I thought.”
He didn’t seem to expect an answer.
He examined Chris carefully and asked.
“Since you enjoy challenges, I’m wondering. Aren’t you curious about a type of match you’ve never tried?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
