Bad Born Blood Chapter 230

230
Ragnata Anima is an extraordinary woman. Although she has received bio-enhancement, she has once ascended to the realm of superhumans using only flesh and blood.

I’m guessing the bio-enhancement treatments she received were also not of a high standard. They were probably just neurochemical treatments, muscle strengthening, and metabolic boosting, which were all on a lower level than mine.

“Are you rehabilitating in preparation for resuming activities?”

I said as I entered Ragnata’s room.

Ragnata was holding his body upside down with one arm. The muscles clinging to his dry arm were prominent.

“I’m activating my nervous system. I think I’ll need some combat prowess to grant your ‘request’.”

I put down the box I had brought, biting only one lip.

Creak.

Inside the open box, a handcrafted, mechanical prosthetic limb gleamed, its crude exoskeleton fully exposed.

Unlike cybernetic prosthetics, mechanical prosthetics do not require precise coordination and combination of living organisms and machines. They are prosthetics that read and move bio-signals from the muscles of the extremities. As such, they are less delicate and responsive.

“I’ve never worn glass shoes in my life, but I’ve tried wearing metal boots that a man gave me as a gift. The world is a strange place.”

Ragnata placed the prosthetic leg on the amputated knee.

Clank, clank.

The prosthetic leg’s fixed fasteners engage and wrap around the knee and thigh.

OMG.

Ragnata stood up after finishing her equipment. She seemed to stumble, but quickly regained her balance.

I tried to support her but ended up failing.

‘As expected, this kind of person is different.’

Ragnata must be feeling a great sense of discomfort. Her prosthetic limbs are not custom-made and are mechanical, so they react quite slowly. Even someone with good motor skills would have to wait a day or two before she could walk.

However, Ragnata regained his balance in just a few seconds, and after a few minutes, he was able to move freely in place and even kick.

“It feels similar to wearing an exoskeleton. The principle is almost the same.”

Ragnatha said, keeping one foot raised high.

Ragnata adapted much faster than I expected. He was ready to move right away.

“… … I’ll be moving right away, so put the prosthetic leg in your bag until I leave for the office. I don’t want to catch Jafar’s eye.”

“Huh, are you ready to fight Japa and Chuck?”

Ragnata sat down obediently in the wheelchair and opened the locks on his prosthetic leg one by one.

“I’m not giving up. I’m just preparing for the eventuality.”

“Disturbing movements breed distrust.”

“It doesn’t make sense for a retired assassin to talk to me about trust with your employer. You couldn’t even keep your contract with your client.”

“That’s true. He’s not qualified, though.”

Ragnata leaned back in her wheelchair, convinced. I pushed her wheelchair out of the building.

We headed toward Gaya Hospital. I could see myself reflected in the glass wall of the building. It was funny to see Korakseoni pushing an old man’s wheelchair.

“You are such a funny kid.”

Ragnata said, sitting comfortably in his wheelchair.

“I don’t live for anyone’s fun.”

“That’s right. You’re an ordinary person who likes to come down from the stage rather than go up. You pretend to be a monster among monsters… … but you’re so ordinary.”

I squinted my eyes.

“This is the first time in my life that I’ve heard people say I’m ordinary.”

“Let me be more blunt. You are just a petty bourgeois with some power. Even if you have great violence, you are still just an individual. Power alone does not make you a hero.”

Ragnata shrugged her shoulders and chuckled softly. Her laughter rang in my ears.

“I don’t want to be a hero. I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”

“The hero I’m talking about isn’t an apostle of justice or anything like that. He’s someone who accomplishes feats that ordinary people can’t. Heroes are inevitably monsters. They devour everything around them for their own ambitions and desires. In order to shine as a hero, you need enough firewood. You start by burning down your own surroundings.”

Feeling a bit uneasy, I didn’t answer. I just walked towards Gaya’s hospital.

Rattling.

The wheelchair hit a bump and shook violently. Actually, it was intentional.

From that point on, Ragnata continued speaking.

“… … You can’t inflate your selfish desires to a great extent. Whether it’s justice, malice, or beliefs. You can’t eat others without hesitation for a single purpose and desire. It’s because you’re too weak-willed to become a monster. You may pretend to be a monster in words, but at the last moment, you always tried to save the people around you. Even now, you’re trying to sneak a friend named Gabriel out when something important is coming up.”

I couldn’t bear it any longer.

Ugh.

The wheelchair’s handles buckled around my wrists.

“You’d better bite it before I break that jaw, old lady. I hate it when other people try to take me down.”

Ragnata’s momentum did not die down.

“This is my last piece of advice, Luca. I probably won’t see you again. And no matter what you say here, you won’t touch me. It’s because of Gabriel.”

… … I’m annoyed.

Other people become my weaknesses. When I didn’t interact with others, I had no weaknesses. I could just run forward without looking back.

Now I have to look back and at the floor every time. I have to make sure that the person who is being crushed by my rough steps is not a friend or acquaintance.

‘My impurities… … .’

It’s people like Gabriel. They were my weakness and impurity. They didn’t help my life much… …but I couldn’t ignore people like Gabriel.

“I don’t need advice from a fallen assassin.”

“You kept me by your side because you needed the advice of that fallen assassin. Listen carefully, child. You have overcome hardships with your natural talent and violence. But there will come a time when that will be your limit. Give up the complacent idea that you can achieve all your goals with your meager abilities. You know very well that the world is not so kind. There will come a time when you have to choose. Decide what you will throw away.”

Bold advice comes from experience.

“Ragnata, what have you given up and what have you gained?”

At my question, Ragnata tilted his head back and looked at me.

“I gave up my world and got nothing. It was the price of indecision. You’re right. I’m a fallen failure. I just hope you don’t go down the same path as me.”

Ragnata’s eyes were filled with emotions mixed with regret. She didn’t bother to hide her feelings, but showed them all. She probably thought it would be more convincing.

“Advice is gratefully accepted.”

I took a deep breath and then answered.

* * *

“Gaya, don’t tell Jafar about Gabriel’s discharge. I know you’re connected to Jafar, but I trust you to put your conscience as a doctor first.”

I told Gaya.

Gaya came out and faced Ragnata, wearing a white robe of religious colors.

“Do you think it would be in Mr. Gabriel’s best interest to follow this person? That way I can be convinced as well.”

Gaya stared at Ragnata, who was wearing a prosthetic leg.

“It’ll be better than Border City. Gabriel is originally from Nomad. If we do well, we’ll even be able to find out the whereabouts of our family from whom we were separated as children.”

I explained. Gaya stroked her chin and smiled faintly.

“I remember when you tried to take Mr. Gabriel out by force.”

“I was a bit impatient back then. Think of it as a side effect of someone who had their nervous system irritated.”

“Anyway, I have no power to stop you and this lady. If you want to take Mr. Gabriel, then I can’t help it. And I don’t do things like reporting to Sergeant Jafar every single time. If you had asked me to do that, I wouldn’t have accepted patients through you.”

I opened my eyes slightly and tried to observe and understand Gaya carefully, but I ended up just believing Gaya’s words.

At least, the Gaya I’ve seen so far has been a conscientious person.

“Then… … I’ll go and see. Ragnata, take Gabriel and leave Border City when the time is right. This is security.”

I threw a bag of gold coins and jewels to Ragnata. These were the goods I had received from Boyan’s father, Legor. They were useful everywhere, so they were better than credit chips when traveling.

‘First of all, the credit chip I have is a guarantee from Company Japa. It’s easy to track.’

I blinked and checked the schedule on my retina.

In the afternoon, I had to visit a handicraft workshop. This was an important matter.

“Can I not say goodbye to Mr. Gabriel?”

Gaya said this while looking at my back as I was about to leave.

“Enough with the tedious goodbyes. Ragnata will explain everything.”

Above all, there was a lot of time left until the next schedule. It wasn’t that I came here because I had time to spare. It was just that Ragnata’s prosthetic limbs adapted faster than expected, so I had to rush Gabriel’s schedule. The faster we move here, the better.

‘The test schedule for the handicraft industry has also been brought forward and is scheduled for today.’

And Jafar’s Paolo Kwan legacy reveal and Gilda’s visit to Border City were just around the corner. I had to finish up the handicraft work before anything else came up.

I stared at Ragnata’s face before leaving. Ragnata, wearing a prosthetic leg, nodded as he stood up.

‘I hope my judgment on Gabriel wasn’t wrong.’

* * *

The handicraft industry was more bustling than usual.

Son Seok-jae walked diligently, not caring about the injuries he had sustained. His walking aid made a loud motor noise.

Thud, thud.

The MAU test machine of the handcraft industry was walking out of the warehouse. It was a robot that looked like a rough piece of heavy equipment. It had no head, and only had arms and legs on its body. It still looked more like a work robot than a war machine.

“The schedule was set faster than I thought.”

I stood next to Son Seok-jae and said.

“Oh, you’re here. That’s good timing. We’ve modified our tester based on the data we got from Mushir Al-Kashra. It’s a race for speed now. We need to actively demonstrate that our technology is ahead of the competition. Above all, the reactivity figures are visible even to ordinary pilots… .”

“Enough with the numbers and explanations. When will the Federation arrive?”

“He will be here shortly. The person in charge is the deputy director of the Strategic Weapons Research Division.”

“Is it tall?”

At my words, Seokjae Son opened his eyes wide and laughed loudly.

“It’s high enough. It’s high enough to allow for multiple negotiation options.”

“Okay, then what about Agent Oh’s whereabouts?”

“I would like to tell you that I am looking for it, but in fact, I have been putting all my efforts into the testing period. I have even hired a few people unofficially… … .”

Son Seok-jae didn’t seem to care about the whereabouts of Mr. Oh. He was so focused on his own long-cherished project that he couldn’t focus on that.

“… …Is Miss Lapis okay?”

This was a polite question.

“I’m still alive.”

“That’s fortunate.”

We stopped talking after that.

‘Is this the Federation’s new weapon?’

I saw the MAU moving around the vacant lot. It was slow-moving for a weapon. Even though it had thick armor, it was still a walking target. An armored car or tank would have been better.

Woohoo.

Soon, three six-seater aerial vehicles appeared over the handicraft industry. The sleek silver aerial vehicles landed in an empty lot.

Thud, thud.

Well-dressed officials came down one by one. The power structure was so clear in their actions that it was possible to tell who was the ‘vice minister’ from afar.

But what caught my eye was not the research vice minister, but a girl.

‘The girl who was with Boyan. The leader of a group of delinquents.’

Her name was Yanaka. She was a girl I remembered because she had good movements.

Yanaka stood next to the vice minister, wearing a stiff pilot’s uniform.

As my gaze turned to Yanaka, Son Seok-jae added his explanation from the side.

“Oh, that girl is an official pilot for the Federation-designated combat MAU. She’s trained to the standards required by the Federation, just like the MAU we’re developing.”

Yanaka’s gaze also turned to me. As soon as she recognized me, she squinted her eyes. Then, she opened her lips as if she had something to say, but then closed them tightly after looking around.