Bad Born Blood Chapter 265

265
I went to Japha’s hospital room. He is sleeping all the time as he is undergoing full body regeneration treatment.

But the world doesn’t stop when Jafar is unconscious. That’s why Jafar wakes up periodically to receive reports and decide on the company’s policies. It’s a world where even when a company’s managers are half dead, they can’t rest.

Anyway, today was the day when Jafar temporarily woke up.

-Why are you sticking your face in here?

In front of the hospital room, En was standing with his arms crossed. He too had suffered a serious injury with his internal organs ruptured, but he had recovered and returned.

‘En is a powerful enough fighter to destroy the Shadow Legion.’

It was a fact confirmed last time. Yen was a warrior of a level that he could be proud of.

“I have something to discuss with Japha.”

-I thought you were breaking up with us since you hadn’t come for a while and even ran away with that kitten.

Even though Yen’s speech was a mechanical interpreter’s voice, it was so cold that it felt cold.

“I saw your performance in the last battle. You were very skilled. However, even if the brain of the Legion or the battle body is destroyed, it still moves due to residual signals. If I had known, you wouldn’t have been attacked. Don’t fall for a useless attack next time.”

I said calmly. En tilted his head, wearing a combat helmet.

-… … Hey, did you suddenly get a fatal disease?

“I may be a cheapskate, but I’m not a psychopath who doesn’t know respect and gratitude.”

I was able to remain in Border City thanks to the dedicated Equsian mercenaries. If they had been emotional or unfaithful mercenaries, I would have been taken by the Empire by now.

Squeak.

En turned his head to the side as if embarrassed, then scratched his helmet.

-We’re in a meeting right now. It should be over in about 5 minutes.

Just as it is difficult to spit in a smiling face, it is also difficult to speak ill of someone after receiving a compliment.

I sat on a bench in the hallway and waited for Sergeant Japha’s meeting to end.

– Jafar is a great manipulator, and you are also quite capable. If Jafar and you are someone who cannot be found no matter how hard you try, then you must be quite a difficult person, right?

Yen broke the silence and said.

“No matter what anyone says, he is my teacher. He is not an ordinary person.”

-‘A boy must kill his father to become a man, and a disciple must kill his master to become a warrior.’ It’s an old adage.

“What a grim proverb.”

– It is said that in the past, there were many cases of killing. Anyway, whether it is a child or a disciple, it means that one has done one’s part only when one surpasses the person who raised and taught oneself. That way, the entire group will develop. In this sense, you are an immature warrior, since you have not surpassed your master.

It wasn’t meant to be mocking. It was meant as advice.

‘I can’t get out of Kinuan’s shadow.’

No matter how many times I tried to jump over it, the Kinuan inside me stopped me every time.

Even now, whenever I make a decision or take action, I think of Kinuan and Heilas alternately.

What would Kinuan do? What would Heilas do? Their very existence was like a guide to me.

And looking back, my actions were very similar to Kinuan and Heilas. I could see how they got to where they were.

Well, my actions were much closer to Kinuan than to Heilas, and that was to be expected.

‘Perhaps, if I had remained in the Empire, I would have followed a similar path to Heilas.’

I chewed on Yen’s words.

– Let me tell you another thing. ‘No individual is more capable than a group.’ There is a limit to being alone. It is foolish to go it alone. The end of an individual who does not belong to a group is always destruction. It doesn’t matter how great his ability is. There is no individual who has the ability to respond to all variables and situations. We always have to complement each other.

Equusians have a stronger instinct to value groups than humans, but humans also form groups.

Yen spat out words that clearly pointed at me. I was unable to escape the shadow of my master, and I was still moving on my own.

I know, there’s not much I can do alone.

‘I always need someone’s help too.’

It was the same during the storm. My own strength was not enough, so I had to borrow help from others several times.

“Make sure to keep that advice in mind.”

-Keep it in your heart, not your head. You know this well since you are a first-class person, but at the last minute, it is not your head but your heart that decides what to do.

En touched her temple with her fingertips and then pointed to her chest.

As Japha’s sickroom opened, executives from the Japha building began to come out.

“It was a pleasure talking to you, Equusian N.”

I stood up from my seat and went into Jafar’s room. Jafar, who was still awake, saw me and opened his pupils slightly.

“Hello.”

Well, surprisingly, I found that laughter to be welcome, as if I had missed it.

“When can we talk?”

Jafar licked his tongue and answered. He was still in his regeneration capsule, with only his head sticking out.

“… … About 15 minutes.”

Here too, it’s 15 minutes.

“That’s enough.”

“Go ahead. I’ve heard reports about Mr. Luca’s actions so far. Now, even if you leave me, there’s no way to control or stop you.”

“Gabriel and Ragnata have also left, and Boyan and I have become the subjects of Vice Minister Ishmael. You may consider me a vile traitor.”

“It’s mean, really. You just took my sweetheart and left me there. Hoyooo, it might be a little heartbreaking.”

“So I came here to be honest with you. I might as well stop looking for Kinuan.”

“Is it because of Giselle Custoria?”

Jafar said calmly. He knows about me and Giselle. He mentioned it subtly last time.

“Yes, that’s more important to me than finding Kinuan. If I can just find Giselle, it doesn’t matter to me where Kinuan is or what he does… … .”

Jafar’s face was delicate. He could be angry at the same time, but he could also understand. Jafar was a considerate Tajirun.

I continued speaking before Jafar’s face distorted.

“… … Act in a way that makes people around you think I’ve given up on chasing Kinuan. Kinuan wants me to keep chasing him. If it looks like I’ve given up on chasing him, he’ll react in a certain way and show up.”

I said sharply. Jafar’s mouth and eyes narrowed.

“Hoyo clothes.”

Jafar and I talked for a short while and made a plan.

* * *

Time is passing.

I contacted Barbara again, in the same manner as last time.

Lanté stood behind me like last time, and I entered the virtual reality through a simulation device that was no different from other times.

OMG.

My senses became blurred.

A white space appeared, and orange hair appeared. Arms and legs began to grow around the tangled hair, taking the shape of a human.

Crackle, crackle.

Barbara was holding a nutcracker shaped like a pair of tongs. She took walnuts out of her pocket and started cracking them open one by one and eating them.

I frowned deeply. I already felt like my lower body was shrinking.

“Are you ready to leave Border City?”

Barbara asked. I tried to look away from the nutcracker.

“There’s something I need to sort out before you leave, Barbara. Cooperate with me.”

“Cooperation? Do you think the world is a joke? If you frown so earnestly, everything in the world will go your way.”

Barbara took out another nut and put it between the nutcracker tongs, saying:

Dismissed!

The walnuts were crushed cruelly, and the broken shells clattered to the floor.

“Aren’t you the one who has lost your sense of reality because you’ve only lived in networks and simulations? It’s none other than the Emperor and Kinuan who are making moves. The Federation is also on edge. Do you think your plan will go smoothly if I disappear in this situation?”

Barbara frowned, her eyebrows furrowing.

“Giselle and I have a lovely plan. You just shut up and do as I say! You love Giselle, don’t you? My words are Giselle’s words. I’m Giselle’s agent!”

Barbara screamed. Her back rippled, and a piece of data in the shape of Giselle appeared and hugged Barbara from behind.

“It was Kinuan who woke me up using Jafar. You don’t know where Kinuan is and how far he moves. If you knew, I wouldn’t have woken up. If you don’t catch Kinuan, your and Giselle’s plan will eventually fall apart.”

“Kinuan isn’t that great. Giselle and I just beat him.”

“That may be so. But you don’t know where Giselle is. Even though you say that it’s Giselle’s plan… … I can’t feel safe without eliminating Kinuan. You probably think the same way as I do. I don’t know what Kinuan’s purpose is either. However, he’ll use Giselle or anything else to draw me out. If I disappear like this, he’ll do whatever it takes to find Giselle. If you’re really sure that you can protect Giselle, whose whereabouts are unknown, from Kinuan’s hands, then answer me, Barbara. At least I believe that your feelings for Giselle are real.”

I poured out my words.

At first, Barbara’s face was distorted and her lips quivered. But gradually her contortions subsided. A cold light of reason appeared in her pupils.

“… … Certainly, it is better to remove unstable elements.”

Amazingly quickly, Barbara changed her attitude.

“I’m already awake and running around Border City. Your and Giselle’s plans are basically in shambles. I’m more capable than you at responding to the variables of reality.”

“Well, then… … .”

I cut Barbara off.

“Let’s talk about the rest when we meet. You’re in Border City, too, right? No matter how great a hacker you are, it’s impossible to infiltrate a physically separate network. I know for sure that you’re somewhere in Border City.”

“You want me to face you in reality? Ha, ha, ha. That’s funny, Luca. You want to kill me.”

“You hate me too and want to kill me. Listen carefully, Barbara. We need trust. You risk your life and face me. I won’t kill you in reality. That will be proof that you and I can work together. If you don’t agree, we’ll just go our separate ways. Let’s find Giselle on our own.”

“You seem to have forgotten that Lantega is behind you?”

I made a gesture of putting my hands on my waist. My real hands would move slowly as well.

Shudder.

The real Lante reacted to my movements.

“Lante is an excellent senior guard. But honestly, I can subdue him. If you’re curious, you can try it.”

It was thrilling to be provoked. It felt like the cold air was clinging to me from underneath my feet.

Will I be able to respond to Lant’s attacks as I emerge from the virtual reality?

My battle thoughts raced and I came to a conclusion.

‘……possible.’

Barbara wouldn’t be able to give the order to kill me.

‘Even if Barbara gives the order to kill, Rante will refuse. No matter what anyone says, I am an important person to the Empire’s sword. They will try to end it with just subduing me.’

Lanthe is a man who can think and make decisions for himself. If he were a dog who blindly followed orders, he would have stayed in the Empire, not Border City.

“After I subdue Rante, I will tell him about your existence. Then, will Rante listen to you? Or will he listen to me?”

Barbara repeatedly folded and unfolded the nutcracker. She paced back and forth, then finally looked at me.

“I’m warning you. Don’t fool me, Luca.”

“That’s what I have to say.”

“then…….”

Barbara moved her lips and whispered the location. The place was quite unexpected, so I opened my eyes slightly. It was so bold.

Okay, let’s get out of this fu*king simulation.

Kiiiiit!

As soon as I heard the location, I forcibly pulled my consciousness back to reality and woke up. A rough metallic sound came from my ears.

I was feeling dizzy from the aftereffects of the forced awakening. But it was better than having my body parts crushed by a nutcracker.

“hmm.”

I opened my eyes with a groan.

‘Lante has already left.’

Lanté had already left his seat after hearing Barbara’s instructions. In many ways, he was like a former guard. He was thorough and moved quickly. He was a man without any frills.

Swish.

I stood up, covering my throbbing forehead.

The chair I was sitting in had the number 46 written on it. I leaned forward, resting my arms on the dividing wall connecting it to seat 45.

‘The 15-minute communication time was also a plausible lie.’

Barbara was facing me as an independent line, free from outside interference.

In seat number 45, there was an old man with a beggar-like appearance, and next to him was a man with a soggy appearance who had seen an adult film.

I sighed and tapped the dividing wall with the back of my hand.

“Get up, Barbara.”

The old man slowly raised his goggles. A dull voice leaked out from between his yellow teeth.

“You’re a coward, Luca. You’re going to run away the moment I finish speaking.”

Barbara, who looked like an old beggar, clenched her fists and pretended to crush something.

“I don’t intend to be a fool twice. Not to you or to Kinuan.”

“Kiki, hehe.”

The old man laughed. The smile was truly bizarre, the movements of his facial muscles unnatural.