Bad Born Blood Chapter 264

264
Giselle is capable, but the dangers surrounding her are beyond her ability to overcome.

Empire, Gilda, Ilay.

To avoid all of this and carry out your work, you need a monster that has its feet immersed in the darkness.

‘Barbara the Witch.’

Here was a person who fit the bill perfectly.

Barbara was a talent that the Empire had painstakingly nurtured. She was a monster that far surpassed even the level of excellence.

‘Since the Storm, the Empire’s surveillance capabilities have deteriorated significantly. They no longer know how many spies they have planted or where they are.’

Unofficial mission agents have a weaker connection to their superiors. If middle managers like Heilas disappear, the reporting system that connects the Empire and its agents will also disappear.

‘Is Barbara still an Imperial spy? Or has she broken free from her bonds?’

With the information I had, even the guess was not certain. Even Barbara was essentially a double agent. Her actions that seemed to be out of the Empire’s control could be a disguise.

The Sword of the Empire, Barbara is at the top of it. It’s unclear whether she’s the leader or just a member, but it’s clear that she’s the backbone of the organization.

‘Is Barbara still connected to Nemesis? Is the Sword of the Empire an organization linked to Nemesis? Or a sub-organization? If so, did Nemesis organize the Sword of the Empire through Giselle?’

My thoughts are running wild and all sorts of pieces are floating around in my head.

If you examine my brain right now, the brain waves will be flashing red like sparks.

My thoughts wouldn’t stop. Once the water flowed, it went wild like a dam breaking.

Warm, warm.

Barbara came up to me.

Barbara and I stand in a pure white space. The virtual reality is a world where Barbara has the upper hand.

In real life, I could have twisted Barbara’s neck in a single breath, no matter what body she had.

But this is a virtual reality simulation. It’s really a shame.

“I get annoyed when I see you.”

Barbara circled me. She twirled the cleaver around and held it to the back of my neck.

It’s fake anyway. Even if you get stabbed, you won’t die. The cool sensation is just a fake signal. The depth of immersion is also low, so it won’t have much of an effect on me in reality.

I still use part of my senses to observe the ‘Lante of Reality’. The motionless Lante was visible through my auditory vision.

“Our hearts are connected telepathically. Whenever I see you, I get all excited.”

I said, pushing the knife against my neck with my finger.

Whoosh.

Barbara quickly grabbed the cleaver with her other hand and thrust the blade between my legs. Even though I knew it was virtual reality, it was still creepy.

“You raped Giselle with this dirty thing? Oh, it’s horrible! I want to cut it out and burn it right now. Luca, can I cut it once?”

Barbara pushed the blade of the cleaver closer between my legs. It was as if she was really going to cut my vital organs. Even though it was virtual reality, this was enough to make me sweat.

‘Barbara knows about my relationship with Giselle.’

Yet she didn’t attack me. Considering her obsession with Giselle, it wouldn’t be surprising if she tried to kill me out of irrational madness.

‘When Ilay tried to assassinate Gilda, it was Barbara who hacked the android and warned me.’

Barbara was aware of my presence for a long time, but she didn’t attack me.

“Barbara, what deal did you make with Giselle?”

“There’s no reason to tell you. You’re my rival. If I weren’t my rival, I would really like you. Ugh, it’s horrible. I hate you to death.”

Barbara took a step back, muttering a curse. The cleaver moved away as well.

Hmm, I feel relieved for no reason. Even in virtual reality, I don’t want to experience getting stabbed in a vital part.

“You will have to cooperate with me. Tell me what is happening now, for Giselle’s sake.”

I spoke without any emotion.

‘This is not the time to waste your emotions on Barbara.’

According to Rante, the communication time was short, 15 minutes. If it exceeded that time, the forces pursuing the Empire’s Sword would be intercepted or tailed.

“You still talk so well. You damn half-ass.”

I’ve heard a lot of swear words and nicknames in my life, but this is the first time I’ve heard something like “Banpuni.”

“So tell me so that even a fool can understand.”

I kept my composure and waited calmly for Barbara to speak.

“Giselle and I made a promise. That’s all, Luca. It’s a promise between me and Giselle that you don’t even know about. Do you think I’ll tell you about my treasure?”

Barbara’s cheeks flushed bright red. I didn’t even have time to ridicule her inappropriate desires.

“Was keeping Gilda part of the promise? I know you were the one who sent me a warning through Android.”

Barbara sighed and rolled her eyes at my mechanical tone. She didn’t seem to be having fun.

“It was one of Giselle’s requests. I would protect Gilda, to the extent of my ability.”

Giselle embezzled G&G Cybernetics’ funds. Protecting Gilda through Barbara was her way of atonement, I guess.

“Well, okay, enough of the rambling, Barbara. Where is Giselle now?”

Barbara looked me over from top to bottom, then moved her plump lips.

“You waking up… was not part of our plan. Where is Giselle? Even if I wanted to tell you, I don’t know. And you shouldn’t know either.”

I wanted to grab Barbara by the scruff of her neck and throw her against the wall. How thrilling it would be to torture her, tearing open her stomach and crushing her intestines with my own hands. Over and over and over and over and over again… … until she vomited out everything she knew.

I became aware of a sharp aggression and sadism awakening. Barbara was the one who particularly stimulated my sadism.

“You better not test my patience, Barbara. I’ve already caught your tail. It’s only a matter of time before I find you in real life.”

Barbara laughed bitterly as if my threats were nothing.

“Giselle has a plan. If you really love Giselle… … You should stop all your nonsense right now and disappear from this universe as if you were dead. I could lure you into a trap and kill you, but I’m holding back for Giselle. After all, if you die, Giselle will die with you.”

Many clues and information flowed from Barbara’s words. This alone gave an outline of Giselle’s actions.

‘My disappearance was a farce, and my return was not part of Giselle’s plans.’

And to maintain confidentiality, even Barbara didn’t know Giselle’s location and situation.

‘Or, worst case scenario… … Barbara could be lying and imprisoning Giselle.’

But this worst-case scenario is unrealistic. If I had imprisoned and possessed Giselle, Barbara would have tried to kill me.

‘Ivan and Barbara, me and Giselle.’

Ivan and Barbara’s obsession is similar. I was reminded of my secret meeting with Ivan.

‘Ivan said he wanted to keep me by his side as I am, without restricting my free will.’

Barbara would be similar. She would like to have Giselle by her side, who has not only the looks but also the personality and the ego, that is, the ‘soul’.

If Barbara only wanted Giselle’s appearance, she didn’t have to cooperate with me unwillingly.

And one of Barbara’s words penetrated deep into my psychological defenses.

‘If you die, I think Giselle will die too.’

Others may not know how much comfort these words bring me.

What I’ve done so far has not been in vain or meaningless.

No matter how Giselle changed, I felt like I could accept her.

‘But if Giselle staged the play, what about Kinuan and Balek’s involvement when she went missing?’

Gabriel’s life was ruined by Kinuan and Balek’s intervention.

‘Did Kinuan figure out Giselle’s plan and interfere? Or did Giselle… …make a deal with Kinuan as well?’

That’s not right. Dealing with Barbara is fine. But Kinuan is a monster that you should never join hands with. Anyone who collaborated with Kinuan was doomed.

‘If we had collaborated with Kinuan, whatever plan Giselle had made might not have come to fruition.’

My mind was spinning more and more violently. It felt like even my hair was burning.

‘Giselle’s plans were ruined when I woke up. My return was also Kinuan’s scheme.’

It’s the most horrible situation.

‘Giselle is in Kinouan’s hands.’

What if Kinuan caught Giselle in the middle of her own drama?

I don’t want to think about it. Please, I hope not.

“Barbara, ‘Kinuan’ intercepted Giselle… … .”

Before Barbara could finish listening to me, she was laughing so hard her shoulders were shaking. She seemed to enjoy being ahead of me in terms of information.

“That’s not true. I also know Kinuan. He is a very dangerous being. But I prevented his interception. This is certain. Kinuan did not get his hands on Giselle.”

Barbara spoke with a tone of conviction. I wanted to believe her. But the shadow of Kinuan that had grown so large inside me did not disappear so easily.

“how?”

“I called Mushir Al-Kashra and stopped him. Mushir Al-Kashra’s power is not limited to what you faced. There is a reason he is called a legend. If only for Mushir Al-Kashra’s sake, you should go into hiding. If he returns to his main battlefield, you will not be able to handle him with your abilities.”

I think I can be a little surprised this time.

The legendary mercenary, Mushir Al-Kashra. I never expected that name to come up here.

‘How many plots and schemes were carried out while I was sleeping?’

It was difficult to keep up in a short period of time. Barbara had also had a confrontation with Kinuan.

Just as I went through countless incidents and accidents in the Stormy Arkbaran and Border City… …Giselle and Barbara have been fighting through the darkness and fog for years.

“Luka, if you really care about Giselle, listen to me. I will work with you. It’s all for Giselle.”

Barbara opened her eyes slightly. She seemed to be checking the time. The fifteen minutes were running out.

“Our story isn’t over yet, Barbara.”

Barbara ignored me and continued talking.

“I will tell Lante that I have given you a mission as a condition for joining the Sword of the Empire. I will contact you through Lante for now. But before that, cut ties with everyone and prepare to leave Border City. If Giselle had planned it, you would have been asleep for another ten years.”

Barbara’s figure was fading away. I resisted the vain urge to grab her.

Crackle, crackle.

With the harsh noise, my consciousness and senses were being pulled out of the simulation. Rante’s appearance was coming into my senses more clearly.

‘Lante didn’t move an inch until I woke up.’

This alone was enough to gauge Lante’s skill. His body control was perfect, to the point where he could even control his physiological reflexes. Despite his shabby appearance, he was still active.

My consciousness was on the verge of breaking out of the simulation.

Tch!

With a loud beep, Barbara’s ghostly form appeared on my retina. She was holding a kitchen knife and glaring with a vicious look in her eyes.

– Of course, I can’t just let you go. How dare you pierce my Giselle with that disgusting lump of flesh?

… … Virtual reality is Barbara’s stage. There’s no way to win.

I accepted my fate, damn it.

Sigh.

A searing pain spread between my legs.

Damn it, calm down, Luca. This is a fake experience.

I know it in my head. But it’s a terrible experience. If you’re not trained to separate simulation from reality, it can cause trauma and lead to erectile dysfunction. No, maybe even I, who was trained…

“Ugh, ugh.”

I opened my eyes with a short groan. I saw an old ceiling.

“You’re awake. I just got a message from ‘Head’ too… … .”

I let Rante’s words go in one ear and out the other as I hurriedly fumbled around in my lower body. A cold sweat was running down my body.

… … Of course, the lower part was still attached safely. However, it was shrunken as if it had been immersed in cold water.

Hopefully, the features that can’t be tested right now will work well when the time comes.