Bad Born Blood Chapter 225

225
I left the handicraft factory site and returned to the Japa Company building.

The gazes of the Equsian mercenaries I occasionally encountered at the Japa Company headquarters changed. They were observing me as if I was an enemy.

‘Potential enemy.’

They perceived me that way too. I can’t fault the Equusian mercenaries for their attitude.

‘I’ve always thought of them as potential enemies.’

I approached the En and Equusian mercenaries with the thought that we might fight someday.

Wheeing.

The elevator rose quickly. I arrived at Jaffa’s office.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the real thing, Japa.”

Jafar turned his back. He looked out the window at Border City and slowly turned around.

“Hoyooooo, the troublemaking detective is back. Have a seat.”

Jafar spoke, bringing the tips of his hands together. His long nails made a crackling sound as they struck each other.

“If you tell me to sit comfortably, I should sit.”

I sat down on my chair and put my feet up on the desk in my office.

Jafar didn’t even blink at my rudeness. He opened his mouth with his back to the window.

“Let me tell you one thing. This time, you have crossed the line.”

“You speak as if you never crossed the line.”

“I didn’t want to get involved with the handicraft industry. I had no choice but to face it because of Mr. Luca.”

The reason Jafar was angry was because of the handicrafts. He was having a very hard time with the handicrafts.

“Why are you guys so reluctant to do handicrafts? You and Lapis both have a lot of courage.”

“The Handcraft Industry has a lot of power. They kidnap alien races as test subjects and use them for weapons testing… … They attack colonies of other races under the pretext of actual combat testing. You could almost call them an armed terrorist organization.”

I tilted my head and rested my chin on my hand.

“If that’s true, it’s strange that it’s still standing intact. Even though it’s Border City, the federal government just leaves it alone?”

“Because there is no evidence. Above all, the Handicraft Industry is a group of lunatics more than you might think. They are people whose evil and poisonous nature is so strong that you never know what they might do.”

But this alone is not enough to make us a group that everyone fears and dislikes.

If it were just a group of lunatics, they’d be no different from a gang. If necessary, just crush them and destroy them.

There must be something more to it.

‘There is something more to it than that, and that is what I want from Son Seok-jae.’

I tried to draw objective certainty about handicrafts from Japa’s mouth.

“……and?”

“Hoyoot, Mr. Son’s capabilities and connections are truly outstanding. He is an excellent engineer, but what’s scarier is that he is deeply involved with high-ranking officials in the federal government.”

“I kind of expected it. Son Seok-jae will be scratching the ticklish spots of the Bellato Federation.”

“The Bellato Federation promotes coexistence of various races based on the principle of diversity. However, when intertwined with various races, conflict and hatred inevitably arise. The Handcraft Industry is a group that feeds on that hatred. Those who cannot express xenophobia in the open are supporting the Handcraft Industry behind the scenes. They are the ones who receive protection from the darkness.”

I snickered. This was why Jafar was reluctant to do handicrafts.

“If there is a problem between Japa and Handcraft… … the Bellato government will most likely side with Handcraft. It won’t be an issue that can be overcome with your connections and bribes. There’s a saying that the arm bends inward.”

“That’s why I don’t want to get involved with them. I have to put up with their one-sided arguments.”

I kept smiling. I knew the negative aspects of handicrafts very well.

‘But it is only a hatred directed at alien races.’

It was none of my business.

“In other words, for someone of the human race like me, handicrafts can be a very solid background. Son Seok-jae really likes me. It would be hard to find a ‘human combat agent’ of my level among the civilians of Border City.”

Son Seok-jae wanted to build a close relationship with me. I could feel it clearly in his words, actions, and attitude.

“Hey, Luca. Are you serious about what you just said?”

Jafar narrowed his eyes. I let out a hollow laugh.

“Jafar, you still have things to hide from me. I appreciate your material support, but I can’t trust you blindly just because of that.”

I aroused my five senses. The five entangled senses became tentacles of the sixth sense, sifting through Japa.

‘Now I can see through even Tajirun to some extent.’

I’ve become familiar with the Tajirun race. Their roots are reptilian, not mammalian. That’s why their display of various emotional signals is different from that of humans or mammalian-based races.

‘But that difference is something you can get used to and adapt to.’

In the end, Tajirun is an intelligent race that lives together with humans. In terms of emotions of joy, sorrow, and pleasure, values, and moral concepts, they are not a race that is so different that they cannot understand each other at all.

… … So once you get used to it, you can read it.

“From now on, let’s try to gain Mr. Luca’s trust. Let’s move on to the next story. I didn’t know you would defeat Mushir Al-Kashra. Your abilities are limitless.”

Jafar tried to change the subject. He must have sensed that I was trying to read his mind.

“Like Kinuan?”

Jafar sighed at my words.

“… … Yes, just like Kinuan. The more I got to know Kinuan, the more I realized that he was a person whose depth was not apparent. Anyway, I also received reports from Lapis about Mushir Al-Kashra’s body. The fact that it was a full-body body was surprising.”

“In the Empire, a heavily armed combat body of that level is called a full-armored body. It is not modeled after a human, but rather deviates from a humanoid form. The same goes for Kashura. The sensory organs are different from normal bodies, and the facial features are not imitated by humans.”

I’ve explained up to here. I swallowed the next words.

‘Kashura’s armored body is obviously not suitable for permanent use. Its body is strictly for combat use, and its human functions have been emasculated… … so its humanity will be severely worn down.’

I was reminded of the Shadow Guard of the Empire. They were beings with brains that had lost their human functions and were focused solely on combat.

‘But Kashura still had humanity left in him. His words and actions were full of emotion.’

Kashura had many secrets. I wondered how many brains there were in the metal box. If there was only one, that would be surprising in its own way.

“We missed the most important part of our brain.”

“Are you blaming me? I faced the bastard in the worst possible situation. It’s a miracle that I was able to survive and even defeat him.”

“I know. I’m just speaking objectively. We’ve lost track of where Kinuan could be found. Please keep in mind that there’s only one reason I’m giving so much support to Mr. Luca.”

“Things would have been easier if you hadn’t kept that information from me.”

“What I’m not telling you is information unrelated to the Kinuan tracking.”

“It’s up to me to listen and decide what’s relevant and what’s irrelevant. Don’t judge arbitrarily, Jaffa. Paolo Kwan wasn’t just a cook. There are a few empty notebooks in that house. Did you take them?”

I paused for a moment. I felt Japa’s agitation.

‘Jappa took Paolo’s notes.’

I must question Jafar before he denies it. I spat out the words right away.

“I know everything. Stop making excuses. I’m telling you in advance, if you want to take my acquaintance hostage, go ahead and do it. It’s none of my business whether Ragnata dies or not. Boyan? It’ll be a little heartbreaking if the cat you picked up dies, but that’s all. Gabriel? He’s an old acquaintance. If he dies, I’ll be pretty angry. That anger will be enough to blow up the Jafar Corporation building.”

“Mr. Luca… … .”

Jafar looked at me as if he was sad. Don’t be fooled by those emotional signals, Tajirun is clever.

“If you want to try, then try. I’m not a naked monkey who just woke up in Border City anymore. I’m truly an equal now that I can coexist with you.”

Jafar’s fingertips trembled slightly. Soon, he stared at me, still holding back his trembling.

“You’re pushing me into a corner, but I welcome it. If this is sorted out, we can catch Kinuan. There’s no way a man under my control can chase that monster.”

Jafar chuckled as if he had never felt sad before.

“Don’t keep any secrets from me, Jafar. Spit out all the poison you’ve been hiding.”

“It takes time for the poison to be expelled. Come back in four days. I will prepare Paolo’s legacy then.”

I felt Jafar’s eyes were sinister for the first time. His face, with his back to the window, was backlit. His reddish yellow pupils seemed to shine vertically.

I stood up from my seat.

“Don’t expect it.”

* * *

I finished talking to Jafar. I woke up after a long, comfortable sleep in my office.

‘I’ve been here for a long time, so I feel like this is home.’

If nothing else came up, I wanted to meet Ragnata. I also had something else to ask of her.

Before that, I checked the messages that had piled up on my terminal for my schedule.

-Everything you want.

-Beastly crawlers and Fredos, serene Equusians, green-skinned Babadders, adorable Tarpas, Sauras with hard skin and tough places… … .

-If hell exists in this world, heaven must be here too.

-The paradise of pleasure awaits you.

A melting voice flowed from the phone next to my ear. It was a common random advertisement.

I checked out the other ads. This time it was drugs, and the next one will probably be a side job.

I made sure the industry order of the advertisements was perfect.

‘This is a direct message from Illei.’

It was a signal that had been decided in advance with Illai.

You can wander around outside and stop by the meeting place around evening time.

‘You must know that Ilaydo Mushir Al-Kashra has appeared before me.’

I visited Ragnata’s room before going out.

Squeak.

The door opened.

Ragnata, sitting in a wheelchair, was reading a book while wearing glasses.

“glasses?”

“Because I have presbyopia.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Ragnata laughed at my words. She put the glasses she had taken off on her shirt.

“It looks like you’re feeling uncomfortable here and there. It looks like you had quite a fight?”

Ragnatha noticed my delicate condition. Even though my body was repaired, the physical damage and nervous system fatigue remained. There was also an injury to my abdominal muscles, so my balance was not as usual.

“Well, so-so. The training we did together was quite helpful. I fought a guy who mainly used guns.”

“That’s good to hear. By the way, Equusian mercenaries have been coming and going in front of my room often these past few days. Did they come into conflict with Jafar?”

Ragnata dug in sharply.

I brought up the issue without denying or confirming it.

“I’ll prepare an exoskeleton prosthesis so you can move freely. Then I’ll let you go.”

“Why is that?”

“There’s a guy named Gabriel. He’s originally from Nomad. You take him out of Border City. Gabriel’s condition is a bit bad and he needs rehabilitation, but I want you to protect him or put him in a trustworthy place until he becomes independent.”

Ragnata only maintained a meaningful smile and answered a beat later.

“Is this a favor?”

“… … It’s a deal. Have you forgotten? You owe me your life.”

I answered briefly.

Ragnata stared at me intently. She had a strange majesty to her.

“Luka, make a good decision. If this is a deal, I will stop caring about the guy named Gabriel as soon as I decide that I have paid my debt. Do I owe you my life? If I tried to protect that guy even to the point of dying, then that is the end of the debt. However, if it is a ‘request’, then it is a different story.”

I grimaced.

Knock, knock.

Ragnata tapped his temples and chest alternately with his fingers and continued speaking.

“… … As you well know, our own lives are not of great value to us. However, if this is a request, I will do my best to continue the bond with you. Even if it means sacrificing something more valuable than my own life.”

Ragnata waited for my answer. Her eyes shone beautifully even under her wrinkles.

I know the answer. I have past experience.

“Please take care of Gabriel, Ragnata Anima.”

I said, bowing my head slightly.