"What?"
I toyed with the handle of the coffee cup in my hand.
I was simply enjoying my coffee at an outdoor table in a café when suddenly a strange woman approached me and started talking.
However, the words she spoke to me were all nonsensical.
The polite tone of addressing me with respect and mentioning members.
Am I going crazy? No. It seemed genuine.
So, did she mistake me for someone else? No. She came straight to me.
—It wasn't me; it was someone named Rudgar Celish.
The moment I assessed the situation, my mouth moved as if it had been lubricated naturally.
"There were things I needed to verify."
"Is it related to the terrorist incident? It was merely an accident. No one could have known that the rebels would attack the train the First Order was on."
"Everything else. Basic information about Ceorn."
"Didn't you have the information you received beforehand?"
"That alone is not sufficient. There is a significant difference between hearing it in words and actually witnessing it."
"Yeah, that's true."
The woman nodded as if she grasped something.
Oh, I don't know.
I continued with the feeling of being what I was meant to be.
"Did you handle the job assigned to you?"
"Yes, of course. I completed all the assigned assassinations of the academy staff before coming here. Most of them were servants."
What? Assassinate the academy servents?
For a brief moment, I almost flinched, but I managed to keep myself composed.
"And in the meantime, we also dealt with a traitor within the organization."
What? A traitor? The process?
At the mention of a traitor, I involuntarily swallowed, feeling a dryness in my throat.
Without showing any signs of embarrassment, I asked, "How was it handled?"
"The limbs were severed and shredded, then forced into his mouth. The rest of the body was said to have been fed to wild dogs. I haven't witnessed it myself, but I heard about it from other members. It can be said that it's a fitting end for a traitor."
"... ..."
They were even more deranged than I had anticipated.
However, the more I found myself in this situation, the calmer my mind became.
As the atmosphere around me grew heavier, I could sense the woman sitting next to me trembling.
"Sorry, sorry. I should have listened and reported...!"
"It's done. But why did you suddenly come to see me?"
"Well, um... The First Order came here, but there hasn't been any news for the past 15 days..."
"So, at this critical moment, you took matters into your own hands?"
I analyzed the situation as we conversed.
They referred to me as the First Order, not Rudgar.
Given that they used "First" before the name, it's highly likely that I hold a significant position within the organization.
Believing that, I decided to play along a bit and it seemed to be the right move.
"I'm sorry!"
In a cold tone, I responded to the woman who immediately seemed to bow her head.
"Stay quiet. Do you want to arouse suspicion from those around us?"
"Ugh, sorry, sorry..."
"Don't apologize."
"... ..."
"Alright. It's time to assess the situation. How many members have gathered here?"
"Yes, yes?"
"I'm asking about the total number of members here."
"Ah!"
She glanced around as discreetly as she could and spoke in a low voice.
"Currently, 31 members of the Third Order and 7 members of the Second Order have successfully infiltrated. And the other First Order member arrived earlier and settled down as planned."
"Hmm. That sounds appropriate."
Nodding formally, I tried to piece together the information I had gathered.
From my rough understanding, there is another First Order member besides me, and the total number of members is close to 40.
The scale may not be large, but to have this many operatives planted in Seorn indicates a remarkable capability.
Fortunately, the person in front of me doesn't seem to question my identity at all.
Instead, they send simultaneous gazes of fear and respect.
"As expected of the First Order!" Well, it's a bit too obvious to think that way.
Looking at it from that perspective, it seems I can utilize this to my advantage in some way.
"Alright, I understand. The assessment is over, so I'll be getting up now."
"Ah! After that, if you need to make contact, you can come to the designated location."
A meeting place? Wasn't there such a place?
But now, I can't possibly ask the same question and give away my lack of knowledge.
As I pondered how to handle this, a good idea came to mind.
"Oh? Are people like you trying to approach me? Is that why you're here?"
When I deliberately lowered my voice and gave her a cold gaze, I could see her complexion turn pale.
Perhaps my bluff had worked, and she desperately tried to come up with an excuse, trembling like a baby squirrel.
"No, that's not... I-I just..."
"I don't want to hear excuses. If there's a need for contact in the future, it will be initiated by someone like me from the First Order or someone higher."
"Or even higher, like Zero Order?"
So there are Zero Orders.
I wanted to ask, but it wasn't the right time.
"Alright. Don't bother me with trivial matters unless it's on behalf of the higher-ups. Understand? Consider this a warning."
I said that and stood up from my seat.
I was about to leave without looking back, but the person called out to me from behind, saying "over there."
I paused, remaining in my seat, and turned my head slightly to look at her.
"Yes, what is it?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The person I believed to be Rudger Celish was not who he claimed to be. The letters, the identity, everything was a sham. I had unknowingly become part of a secret society, wearing the mask of this Rudger character.
My mind raced with questions. Why didn't I suspect anything? How did I fall for this elaborate deception? The sense of betrayal and confusion overwhelmed me.
I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. The letter I had just received contained a password, a key to unlocking the secrets hidden within. I carefully studied the special characters, the patterns that held the key to the truth. It was a code, a way for the members of the society to communicate without being detected.
The pieces started to fall into place. The fake identity, the hidden agenda, the secrecy surrounding Rudger Celish. It all made sense now. I had unwittingly become entangled in a dangerous game, a world far removed from the ordinary life I had hoped for.
As I discarded the letters, I looked at the documents that proved my new identity as Rudger Celish. The person I thought I was, the person I had come to believe in, was nothing more than a facade. The real Rudger Celish was a member of a secret society, an executive of the First Order.
The weight of the truth pressed down on me, and I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly exhausted. The life I had envisioned, the fresh start I had hoped for, had turned into a nightmare. I felt a mix of anger, fear, and sadness coursing through me.
But amidst my turmoil, a flicker of determination ignited within me. I couldn't change the past, but I could decide how to move forward. I would gather my strength, confront the secrets that surrounded me, and find a way to reclaim my own identity.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I slowly got up from the bed. The journey ahead would be treacherous and filled with uncertainty, but I was determined to face it head-on. I would uncover the truth, expose the lies, and reclaim my life from the clutches of this secret society.
Taking a deep breath, I closed the suitcase and tucked it away in the closet. It was time to gather my wits, make a plan, and navigate the dangerous path that lay ahead. I couldn't afford to be naive or complacent anymore. The world had revealed its darker side, and I had to be prepared to confront it.