As expected, Chelsea, who was mobilized for the operation this time, had a gloomy complexion the whole time she was moving. Kim Lee-hyun, who had pretended to be sorry at first, showed his true colors after a few days.
"Are you starting to feel better? I gave you a long vacation, didn't I?"
"It's not a matter of mood."
"Then what's the problem?"
"And again, you're saying you put him on that damn suicide device?"
Chelsea grimaced as she recalled the long, long flight. She was able to speak now that she was in the car, but back then, she could only hug her knees and tremble.
"Is it something to be so scared of?"
Ainoa was puzzled by the sight of her suffering from aviophobia.
"I personally had fun. I'm looking forward to the way back."
"It's not that I'm scared, it's that you guys are insensitive to safety. Haven't you seen the dramas? If a helicopter breaks down even a little, it will crash and explode."
"Wouldn't it be better to distinguish between reality and fiction?"
"Ha. That's the stupidest thing to say. Even in creative works, there is always some verification. You're telling me that the events that could happen in real life are the ones that make up the story. A meteorite doesn't suddenly hit an airplane."
It wasn't just a stupid idea. Even when airplanes were in regular use, there were accidents and incidents. In modern times, flying monsters are even flying around in the sky.
"Hmm. Now that I hear it, it sounds like you're right…."
"It's not safe, but it's true that he's being pushy."
Kim Yi-hyun looked at Chelsea's squinted eyes and clicked his tongue. It seemed like he still needed time to get used to flying. If he rode a few more times, he would probably get used to it even if he didn't like it.
"And Inma, you said you were just watching dramas and picking your nose the whole time you were resting?"
"When did I say that? Who told you?"
"Who could it be?"
There is only Asterique. The two have become close friends and know each other's lifestyles well. Although Asterique is sometimes lazy, he is better than Chelsea.
'No, why is that guy saying that again and causing a fuss…!'
I couldn't help but scream inwardly.
"Don't get me wrong, I didn't pick my nose."
"Anyway, if you do this, your body will rot. You have to come out like this."
Chelsea closed her mouth with a groan. She didn't mind being called. She didn't really want to spend her free time with Kim Yi-hyun like anyone else… but she didn't think so.
It felt really good to be recognized as someone who was needed for the operation. If I had really only had negative thoughts, I would have run away long ago or hit Kim I-Hyeon.
"Okay, I'll stop here."
She scratched the back of her head and looked away.
"But why did you bring that old guy again?"
Turkam flinched at the word "discharge." This was the third time in a row that the agent had been called to duty. By now, he was getting used to receiving unexpected calls.
"What a relief! You did a great job. You did a great job last time too."
"Well, I heard that was the case. Come to think of it, he was the best of the three at first."
"That's right. And you drive well too."
Turkam didn't know how to react. Even though he wasn't treated like a chauffeur, he was being given an opportunity by Kim Ihyeon. To the point where other reserve agents were openly jealous.
"That's right. How's Ismail these days? I heard you're taking care of him."
"To say I took care of him is an exaggeration. I helped him little by little so he could adapt."
"That's it. It's what I have to do. I'm sorry."
"No. The team leader is busy in his own way."
Turkam has matured in the eyes of others. He has been putting in the effort in training, and although he has not made rapid progress, his skills are definitely improving.
It was safe to say that the Gaenodap Trio had graduated.
"Ismail is doing well. I heard he is undergoing his training as an operational agent without any problems. I don't know what he talked about with the commander, but I think he has shaken off his obsession a bit."
"Well, that's good. You'll have to work like a dog until I get back to Atlanta."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear it."
So the three agents headed to Bastetira.
It was a primary dispatch for the purpose of gathering information. Since it was such a big issue, the lab plans to respond differently depending on the situation.
This time, Ainoa was sitting in her seat, completely unharmed. The treatment was completely different from when she was locked in a box and carried around like a piece of luggage. It wasn't because she was being considerate, but because there was another calculation.
"Everyone, get off. I'll check your luggage."
As soon as we reached the border, the security checks began. The staff questioned us in detail about our identity, purpose of visit, and schedule of stay. They searched not only the cargo area but also the driver's seat.
"It seems like the security checks are tighter than last time. Have there been any incidents?"
"Don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with outsiders."
The staff paid special attention to Ainoa. Even though they had dyed her hair a murky color to disguise her, she still remained tense. Her eyes were sharp and persistent in their search.
"There doesn't seem to be a problem."
As a result, I was able to obtain permission. I overcame the first hurdle. I had anticipated that Ainoa would reveal her identity and denounce the kidnapper, but fortunately, there was no trouble.
"You may go. But I have one warning. It would be better not to do any pointless searching inside. Even if that woman is like that, you guys should behave properly. Right now, there is no nation that would be laughing and talking to Minos who came from nowhere."
"I guess there was something."
"I'm telling you to stop it. If you don't want to see a bad sight."
His attitude was extremely sharp. The Bastetans tended to ignore the hornless Minos, but his wariness went beyond that.
'It looks like Kushan's spy did a good job. It was worth spreading the rumor.'
It was hard to feel the reality from the expression in the report, 'uneasy atmosphere'. As always, the fastest way to grasp the detailed situation was to go out and do it yourself. Just like in Atlanta.
After safely passing through the checkpoint, I resumed driving on the road I had just traveled back and forth on.
Ainoa stared out the car window without saying a word. Despite the speed of the car, the scenery hadn't changed much. A gloomy forest, a rusty sign, and weeds growing haphazardly.
Things that had remained the same for a long time. Nothing had changed, but Ainoa felt unfamiliar. At least, it was a feeling far removed from the excitement of returning home.
"Noah, don't be so dumb and listen."
I woke up from my reverie as if I was suddenly pulled out of the water.
For a while, her name was 'Noah'. To be exact, it was written on her fake ID as 'Lalanoah', but in order to save time getting used to it, she decided to use an abbreviated form of her real name.
"Uh, hmm. Hmm."
"what?"
"It's nothing."
I felt like it was a nickname. Of course, I only thought it to myself. If I said it out loud, I knew that people would look at me with pity, saying, "Your head is like a flower garden."
"...Well, that's fine. Anyway, we're not going straight to the capital. We're going to stay in the cities along the way for a few days to see what's going on. We're not in a hurry."
Since you have the Ainoa card in your hand, you can take it easy. To put it in an extreme way, it is not too late to deal with it after the civil war starts.
The immediate goal is to induce the 'traitors' to take action.
"If they start to move in large numbers, then you will be convinced. Of course, it won't end everything just because you step forward. There are plenty of actions they can take. To put it bluntly, if the numbers are wrong, they might lead a unit and launch an air strike."
"It was called Legion."
Kim Yi-hyeon was not stingy with providing information. He didn't tell you everything from the beginning because it would give you a headache, but now that some time has passed, he has finished explaining most of it.
The traitors have joined forces with the Legion for some reason. They want to start a civil war by killing the princess. That was the final conclusion that Ainoa understood.
"I've heard it, but I'm not sure if it's true. What on earth does the Legion want?"
"Well."
Kim Yi-hyeon was careful with his words. Of course, he was not unaware of the Legion's ideology. The construction of a society where spellcasters should reign over those without spellcasters. That was the basic stance.
There are some new settings that are revealed later, but there is no need to explain them.
"Just think of them as kids. The ones above them think they're better than others so they deserve to be treated well, and the ones below them have shitty lives so they want to make sure everyone else is treated the same way."
They just indiscriminately tear the world apart. No matter what noble cause the Legion may have, the fact remains that they are a vicious terrorist group.
"This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Kim Yi-hyeon muttered to himself. If he succeeds in stopping the Pecatum civil war, the Legion will be put on the defensive. He will be able to quickly take the next step toward the end.
Failure is not tolerated.
* * *
Rumors about Princess Ainoa spread even to the border towns. Various groundless speculations were rampant and circulated through the streets.
"The atmosphere in the capital is tense. Many people are believing the ridiculous rumor that he was assassinated by a foreign spy. It is flowing in an unnaturally sinister direction."
"In the royal family?"
"There has been no announcement. While the royal family remains silent, some nobles are clamoring for revenge on the princess. Of course, these are private conversations... but even that is reaching the public's ears. It's artificial."
A pub in a border town.
The man sitting across from me relayed the information in a small voice. This Pecatum, who had completely melted into the atmosphere of Bastitera, was a spy for Kushan.
"I haven't figured out the truth. Judging from the circumstances, it seems that the princess's disappearance is true, but other than that, there's virtually no credible information. I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help."
"It's helpful enough. It's hard for Minos to stir things up anyway."
The spy had no idea that the agent in front of him was the kidnapper who had taken the princess. His role was to convey information. Even if he didn't know the inside story, it didn't affect his work at all.
When the conversation was over, Kim Lee-hyun got up from his chair.
"Then I'll ask you again next time."
"Be careful not to stand out as much as possible. The suspicion of a foreign spy means that Minos' position is getting weaker and weaker. I recommend that you return to the lab as soon as possible."
"Once I'm done with my business."
As I left the pub, I felt the stares sticking out of me.
"Damn, my luck is bad today. The alcohol has lost its flavor."
"I haven't seen that face around here before…."
The sound of tongue-clicking and mumbled curses reached my ears.
'At this rate, I guess I'll have to go all the way to the capital.'
I am being blatantly ostracized simply because I don't have horns. It's been five days since I entered the country, but the glares are getting harsher day by day. It wouldn't be strange if I was lynched while walking.
widely.
He got into the waiting vehicle and closed the door. Only then was Kim Yi-hyeon able to let out a sigh. The feeling of being watched by countless citizens was exhausting both his body and mind.
"It's time to slowly get out of here."
"Huh? Already?"
"The risk is too great. First, we need to go to the safe house and time our intervention. We'll also need to call in our elite agents who have spare hands."
Turkam swallowed dryly.
It was like the calm before a storm. I couldn't tell what and how far Kim Yi-hyun had planned, but I could vaguely sense that he was more nervous than ever.
"Noah, you must have read the times. Not only the royal family, but also the traitors will be looking for you with bloodshot eyes. Do you feel some weight on your neck now?"
"I, I...."
Ainoa hugged my arm and trembled. If things continued this way, even if it wasn't a civil war, there was a high possibility of bloodshed. At the very least, Minos, who lived in Bastitera, would be oppressed.
"It's something new to me. Pecatum, Minos. You've been fighting each other like that, so it's impossible not to be dissatisfied. You're a bomb that could explode at any moment if given the chance."
There was no better opponent for the Legion to use. Isn't it? The Pecatum is a race that was persecuted and cast into the wasteland despite having superior physical condition.
Nowadays, Pecatum despises continentals as inferior species in their own land. The structure is surprisingly similar to that of the Legion.
"Now you have to keep your promise. You have time to gather your thoughts—"
"What the heck!"
Squeak!
The screeching sound of tires erupted. The car body shook violently due to the sudden stop. Kim Yi-hyun covered the back of his head with his hand as the shock shook his skull.
"…Ugh, Turkam, what's going on?"
"Look. Suddenly, some crazy guy pops out…!"
Kim Lee-hyeon leaned out and checked the windshield.
Under the blinking streetlights, on a deserted hillside. A Pecatum man in a coat has been blocking my path for some time now.
His appearance and clothing were extremely ordinary. He was a black-skinned Tabes man you could see anywhere. Among them, there was one part that caught the eye.
Horns. The horn on the right was abnormally short.
"Hello?"
With a featureless face, he grinned.
Kwajik!
The fist shattered the glass as easily as Styrofoam. Ainoa screamed. As the glass shards rained down on Turkam, Kim Ihyeon was silently shocked.
'How is this kid?'
Nigrum. He is the one who murdered Ainoa in the story.