Chapter 156 ·The Hound That Returned

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was a saying:

Create ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a disturbance in the east, then strike in the west.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an age-old tactic that had endured since ancient times.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍truth, Baek Hui-young himself had employed it countless times in his previous life.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍assault on Planet Kering of the Kukenhauzen Family.

Operation ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Guillotine, which exterminated the Empire's noble faction.

However, every one of those operations had always been the result of careful planning by himself and the General Staff.

Never had he sought to profit from someone else's chaos like this.

I don't like this.

Especially when the targets were the Juins, who ought to become allies in the distant future.

Even so...

The first lesson he had learned throughout his previous life was that one could not always do only what one wanted.

The world simply did not work that beautifully.

Thus, as Baek Hui-young headed toward the Governor-General's Office that Regcom Ging had hurriedly left behind, he pulled up the black military cap and the neck gaiter covering the lower half of his face before vaulting over the wall without hesitation.

Tap.

Under normal circumstances, the Governor-General's Office would undoubtedly have detected him through its guard posts and surveillance sensors.

But with internal chaos having reached its peak, there was no way such systems could still be functioning properly.

Lowering himself into the nearby bushes, Baek Hui-young quickly reviewed his plan.

Security Division building basement. Evidence Storage.

Approximately fifty meters away in a straight line.

Most of the security personnel had already headed for the main Governor-General's Office building under Regcom Ging's orders.

Only two Military Police officers remained guarding the entrance at best.

Think quickly.

Act even faster.

Baek Hui-young immediately sprinted across the ground and rushed straight toward them.

The Military Police officers spotted him too late and hurriedly opened their mouths.

“Intru— Guh!”

With his left hand, Baek Hui-young grabbed one officer by the face and slammed him straight into the wall.

Then, before the other could trigger the alarm, he drove his knee into the man's solar plexus.

KWAAANG!

Though they were only Single Gear users, they were still superhumans.

Their lives were in no danger whatsoever.

Of course...

Considering he had assumed they were at least Dual Gear users when striking them, neither of them would likely be getting back up before the day was over.

After scanning his surroundings once, Baek Hui-young quickly searched their pockets, retrieved a security card, and headed inside.

Hell Screen is classified as a Level 1 Emergency in the Governor-General's Office manual. Therefore...

Beep.

The Security Division building was fairly spacious once he entered.

Yet there was surprisingly little sign of anyone inside.

Normally, there should have been numerous soldiers handling administrative work.

But this was hardly a normal situation.

A bomb had exploded inside the Governor-General's Office lobby.

Most personnel had undoubtedly been dispatched to the main building.

Of course...

Not everyone had left.

“Who are y— Ngh!”

After effortlessly subduing the employee standing in the corridor, Baek Hui-young retraced his memories and headed toward the Security Division basement.

“Halt! One more step and we will fire— Aagh!”

“Freeze! Freeze!”

After dealing with the security personnel he encountered along the way...

...he finally arrived at the underground area sealed behind a thick steel door.

Naturally, there had been minor nuisances such as CCTV cameras and automated anti-intruder turrets.

But for someone who already knew exactly how to bypass them...

They hardly posed any obstacle.

If necessary, he simply avoided their blind spots.

Or disabled them beforehand.

〔Please scan your access ID.〕

He scanned the ID card taken from one of the subdued employees with a sufficiently high security clearance.

After a brief silence...

The tightly sealed black steel door opened smoothly.

Sssss—

Perhaps because it was underground.

Or perhaps because the temperature had been carefully regulated to preserve the evidence stored within.

As the massive airtight door slowly opened, cool air brushed across Baek Hui-young's cheeks.

Feeling strands of ash-gray hair slip from beneath his cap and tickle his forehead...

...he slowly stepped inside.

“......Haa.”

Merely standing within the room sent a tingling sensation down his spine.

Yet he did not allow sentiment to distract him from what needed to be done.

Drawing his pistol with casual fingers...

He aimed not only toward every blind spot...

...but also every CCTV camera installed throughout the room.

Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

One bullet.

One lens.

After disabling all eight cameras...

He unconsciously removed the black cap pulled low over his face.

Then, fully accepting Assail's faint complaints vibrating against his skin, he quietly murmured,

“I'm sorry. I was too late this time.”

As though it understood his words...

The steel shelving trembled slightly.

Resting upon it was a steel spear roughly two meters long.

The blunt black shaft emitted a low hum every time Baek Hui-young took another step.

Finally, the moment he completely approached and gently grasped it—

Crack.

Fragments scattered as though an egg had hatched.

A brilliant radiance burst forth.

Craaack—

To anyone else, the light would have appeared eerie.

But to Baek Hui-young...

It was nothing but warmth.

When the light finally subsided...

What rested in his hand was no longer a two-meter spear.

It had become nothing more than a brass-colored bracelet.

-Vmmmm.

Assail's grumbling echoed through his mind.

To others...

It might have been nothing more than the vibrations of a weapon incapable of speech, possessing no more intelligence than necessary.

But to Baek Hui-young...

It was the whisper of the only comrade who remembered him through every cycle of regression.

Click.

The bracelet settled against his wrist.

It should have felt endlessly cold.

It was, after all, nothing more than metal.

So why...

Why did that cold, reassuring weight ease the pressure that had been choking him all the way up to his throat?

“......Yeah. This time...”

His quiet murmur faded.

An unconscious smile formed beneath the black neck gaiter.

Pulling his black cap low once more...

He calmly departed the Governor-General's Office.

His foremost objective had been achieved.

It'll be fine even if I leave Planet Ju now.

But...

There was still one thing left.

Ean Yung.

At that moment...

The only emotion reflected in Baek Hui-young's ash-gray eyes...

...was unwavering hostility.

“It's been a while, Sergeant.”

Hiss—

An unsettling breath escaped through the gas mask-like filter covering the speaker's lower face.

Jin Crow slowly surveyed the group that had appeared before him.

Red uniforms trimmed with black.

Every one of them wore an iron gas mask connected to some sort of nozzle.

Every one of them appeared to be a Special-duty Officer, each carrying a different Special-duty Weapon.

More than that...

Though they seemed to be standing in irregular positions...

Every route had been meticulously arranged to cut off any avenue of escape for both Obia and Jin Crow.

A checkmate formation.

Biting his lip, Jin Crow drew his sword without hesitation.

He did not even need to look directly at the red-haired man standing at the front of the platoon.

His affiliation was obvious enough.

Red Hand.

He did not know why they had joined forces with the Church of the Dawn.

But one thing was certain.

Their hostility was genuine.

Just then—

Blinking at the sudden ambush, Obia Timist looked toward the red-haired man staring at them with an incomprehensible expression before speaking to Jin Crow.

“Instructor, do you know that man?”

“......I don't think that's what's important right now.”

I'd really appreciate it if she'd take situations like this a little more seriously. Seriously.

After replying with a frown, Jin Crow assessed the situation while slipping a hand into his coat.

He retrieved his hip flask and took a drink.

The heavy scent of alcohol brushed past his nose.

Wiping the droplets trailing down his chin with his leather-gloved hand...

He looked back at the red-haired man, who had not taken his eyes off him, and asked,

“Red Hand?”

“Is that what matters, Sergeant?”

Dark circles trembled beneath his eyes.

The red-haired man...

Ean Yung.

Staring directly at Jin Crow, he asked in return.

Then—

“Have you forgotten us?”

The corners of his eyes twisted grotesquely.

Ean Yung looked at Jin Crow.

His long bangs reached his cheekbones, hanging messily to either side and exposing his eyes.

His face had become even more gaunt than Ean remembered.

Deathly pale.

Moreover...

The unit insignia he had always worn on his shoulder had been replaced by the emblem of the Central Special-duty Officer Academy.

And judging by the drink he had just taken...

It was not difficult to guess that it contained stimulants.

Naturally.

Unable to obtain Pentacle, Hound's standard awakening drug...

...his body had gradually deteriorated.

If you were only going to end up like this...

Why...

Why had you not stood with us that day?

Feeling his fury boil over, Ean Yung swallowed the Pentacle flowing through his breath.

Hiss—

His rough exhalation carried rage and confusion so tangled together that they were almost indistinguishable.

...He could understand.

Perhaps, from Jin Crow's perspective...

Their decision had simply seemed reckless.

But the one thing Ean Yung could not endure...

...was the silent question reflected in Jin Crow's eyes.

You don't remember me?

For an instant...

He denied it.

For an instant...

He convinced himself it was Rosen's scheme.

For another instant...

He even considered the possibility that it was one of Jin Crow's pathetic tricks.

“Instructor, do you know that man?”

However...

After hearing the exchange between Jin Crow and Obia Timist...

He sensed the subtle atmosphere hidden within it.

Only then did he realize the truth.

No one knew the man called Jin Crow better than Ean Yung.

All his life...

He had lost.

Continued losing.

Continued having everything taken away.

Nor was he alone.

Every Hound had lived the same way.

Even after being used as hunting dogs...

Even after crossing the line between life and death hundreds of times...

Even when the only thing they received in return was fearful stares instead of gratitude...

Even while living on only because they could not die, their bodies ruined by drugs, neither fully human nor fully superhuman...

No.

Precisely because of that...

They had no one to rely upon except each other.

......But after that day.

The handful of Hounds who survived scattered throughout the galaxy.

Some, like him, joined the Red Hand to seek revenge against the Composite State.

Some abandoned the secular world entirely and returned home.

Others disappeared after leaving behind incomprehensible final words.

Yet...

They all shared one thing.

Though they had spilled one another's blood that day...

They believed no one else could ever take the place beside them.

A foolish.

Perhaps selfish belief.

It was not love.

Nor romantic affection.

It was comradeship.

Brotherhood.

Something akin to the bonds of family itself.

“......I don't think that's what's important right now.”

But after hearing that answer...

He finally understood.

The feelings Jin Crow had once directed toward them...

...were now directed at that woman instead.

Perhaps because of that...

The fingertips wrapped in reddish-brown leather gloves trembled.

Beneath them lay flesh marred by countless scars—scars almost never seen upon Special-duty Officers.

His entire body shook.

Staring at Jin Crow with eyes twisted beyond even his own understanding...

He asked,

“Have you forgotten us?”

Hiss...

Vaporized Pentacle mixed into his ragged breathing.

“......”

He stared for a long moment at Jin Crow...

Who did not answer.

Or rather...

Could not answer.

Then he quietly whispered to Sergeant Kim Min, deputy platoon leader of Setter Platoon, standing beside him.

“Get that fucking bitch beside him out of my sight. Better yet, kill her.”

“......Yes, Corporal.”

Even someone completely oblivious could not possibly fail to notice the murderous aura sliding across the ground.

Thus, Kim Min answered without hesitation.

Then signaled to the members of Setter Platoon surrounding them.

“Instructor, but—”

Obia Timist looked at Jin Crow with her usual bright smile and began to speak.

But at that very instant—

“Obia!”

“Huh?”

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

A single strike folded her body in half and launched her in a perfectly straight line into a nearby building.

Immediately afterward...

Watching the long object whip back through the air to its owner...

Jin Crow finally realized what it was.

“A whip?”

“Not an ordinary whip. It is a Special-duty Weapon forged by melting an entire mass of Black Iron into wire.”

She answered in a hoarse voice.

Then, looking at Jin Crow—her unmistakable enemy—with icy eyes, she added,

“Let that conversation serve as your farewell. Now then.”

Swinging the retrieved whip high through the air...

She wrapped it precisely around a utility pole near the building where Obia Timist had crashed.

Then she launched herself through the air toward it.

Half of the platoon followed behind her.

......Should I follow? No. Now isn't the time to worry about Obia Timist.

With a heavy gaze, Jin Crow looked toward the red-haired man standing before him.

Ean Yung.

What was he so furious about?

Though his gaze was eerily still...

The hostility within it prickled against Jin Crow's skin.

At minimum...

Quad Gear.

...Possibly even Penta Gear.

Jin Crow lowered the tip of his black blade diagonally toward the ground.

Then he asked the question that seemed most likely.

“......Hound.”

It was an exceedingly flimsy deduction.

Yet paradoxically...

It was the most realistic answer.

Sure enough...

At those words, Ean Yung's pupils trembled violently.

Soon afterward...

Unable to contain himself any longer, he let out a low laugh.

“Heh... heh.”

Running a hand through his shaggy red hair...

He answered.

“Yes, Sergeant.”

Then...

Looking upon the former superior...

His close friend.

His comrade.

His rival.

The man who now asked his identity—

“The ones all 'disposed of' by your own hands.”

And furthermore...

“Deserter Sergeant Ean Yung of the Anti-Knight Warfare Special Forces, commonly known as the Hound Battalion.”

He looked upon his sworn enemy.

“The failure has returned, Sergeant.”

A ghost of the past that still remembered Black Thursday, Ean Yung offered an utterly malicious salute while tears mixed with blood streamed down his face.

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