By Zephyria “Did I summon you here to have a quarrel?”
The threat echoing in the darkness was not sharp, but it was enough to instill a sense of alertness.
Noel hardened his expression and returned to the at-ease position, lowering his head deeply. Meterion also looked up at the darkened ceiling and narrowed his brow, turning his gaze elsewhere.
Thanks to Venom, who had been rolling his eyes in the middle and wriggling to clear away the darkness in the conference room, a dim light spread and at least secured the field of vision.
Hugo, looking back at the battalion commanders, including the three in front of him, coldly laughed as he faced their current situation.
The sight of the commanders leading the Council’s legions was not good at all. They were slandering, suspecting, and blaming each other. It wasn’t that this had never happened before, but with Leonardo’s handcuff problem overlapping, this group felt particularly irresponsible today. Including himself, of course.
Hugo stroked his eyebrows with his palm and decided to calm down his excitement first. From leaving Fidele, shaking off the Imperial Royal Guard, and returning to headquarters to enter the conference room, everything felt like it was gripping his nerves and not letting go.
It had been several hours since he had returned, but the combat uniform that he had not yet changed was wrapped around his body, making his chest feel stuffy. Because of that, the temperature of his emotions seemed to have risen more easily than usual.
Was Leonardo, who was washing his face in the interrogation room in the past, feeling like this?
“…Yes, it was my fault for starting with the questioning without warning. It was an improper action as a Legion Commander.”
Hugo cooled his heated head, recalling Meterion’s words about not knowing where to find faith in his actions. Then, he gathered the chill that had spread in all directions, but the plummeted temperature did not rise again.
He pressed his eyes with his fingers, then slowly lifted his head.
“But what must be made clear here is that this incident is an absurd farce caused by our negligence.”
He met the eyes of the battalion commanders and conveyed in a stern voice.
“Leonardo Blaine’s honor and safety were threatened throughout the subjugation due to this matter. Because the control instability issue constantly held him back, he had to silently endure the looks of rejection and danger that he shouldn’t have had to experience.”
Hugo recalled the conflict between him and Leonardo regarding the control instability issue in the past. He slowly furrowed his brow, reflecting on the trust between them that had been shattered and barely pieced back together, and the emotional wounds Leonardo must have suffered during that time.
“He shouldered the responsibility with all the anxiety, not even knowing that he was the victim. And it is no exaggeration to say that the large and small accidents that occurred in the process threatened the lives of our members belonging to the subjugation party as well. This means that our Council Commanders, who are supposed to protect the citizens of the Empire, have failed to fulfill their individual duties. Therefore, whether this incident was someone’s mistake or intentional, I will definitely find the root cause and hold the person responsible accountable.”
In the darkened black background, blue light shone fiercely. Along with it, a firm will was felt in the frighteningly calm tone.
“From now on, the head of the armory and the equipment management office will be jointly managed by only me and the vice commander until the investigation of the incident is concluded. It may seem unreasonable, but it is just a temporary management system to prevent concealment of evidence. I and the 1st Battalion will independently grasp the facts and verify one by one when and where the gap occurred, focusing on these three people in front. Of course, the remaining personnel are no exception.”
That the 1st Battalion would conduct its own investigation meant that they regarded this issue as a major event for the organization itself and would root out the culprit. Shorendo opened his mouth to say something in the worsening situation.
At that moment, Meterion, who had been listening to Hugo’s statement, interjected with a displeased expression.
“Wait, haven’t I been saying this since earlier? When I accessed the workshop, there wasn’t even a hint of the Peninsula Expedition being planned. Just because there’s a record of my visit within the last three months and I participated in the Peninsula subjugation, I don’t see why I should be grouped with these two who tried to contact the person in charge at the time and the manager of the shackles production.”
“Meterion.”
Hugo briefly lifted his weary gaze, then lowered it coolly.
“Whether you participated in the Peninsula subjugation or not, that has nothing to do with the criteria for distinguishing major suspects. Even if you didn’t participate in the subjugation, you could still be the cause of this incident. There are many ways to enter the Peninsula even if you weren’t selected as part of the expedition.”
Hugo placed his hand on Meterion’s shoulder and gripped it tightly. At the same time, he lowered his head slightly and whispered softly in his ear.
“You know that best, don’t you?”
Instantly, Meterion’s lips hardened. He quickly rolled his eyes and stared intently at Hugo beside him.
Hugo also stared back at him with sharp eyes, without any particular expression. Then, he leaned back and created a suitable distance as if he hadn’t said anything.
Even though the other party had taken a step back, the pressure he had left behind still lingered in Meterion’s ears. It seemed to work quite well, as he became quiet afterward, as if he had never interrupted.
Hugo, who had been carefully observing Meterion’s expression, raised his chin again and preached to the battalion commanders.
“Not only these three in front, but everyone here, as honorable commanders of the Council, has a duty to ascertain the truth of the incident and diligently cooperate with the investigation. If, in the process, you become aware that this problem arose due to your own or your subordinates’ negligence, there is room to consider your treatment, provided you report it to me immediately. However, if intentionality is discovered by others, including myself―.”
Hugo’s eyes slowly closed. Suspecting a colleague, huh. It was a hypothesis he absolutely didn’t want to consider.
But as Meterion said, coincidences are not coincidences if they happen repeatedly. And even if external forces intervened to make Leonardo wear the old-fashioned shackles, it would be virtually impossible without the cooperation of a battalion commander-level officer.
So, right now, as a member of the Council and as Leonardo’s guardian, it was right to keep all possibilities open and uncover the truth. His thin eyelids slowly opened.
“If intentionality is discovered, be prepared for judgment.”
As a clear gaze flickered eerily, the battalion commanders swallowed hard. By having the Legion Commander gather everyone and talk about this fact, suspicion would arise among the commanders, and they would struggle to find evidence to clear themselves from the list of suspects.
Throwing a bomb into this relationship, which had been governed by harmony, was far from the Legion Commander’s usual way of handling things. But if someone among them had really manipulated the incident, harmony was already broken.
“Understood?”
An authoritative voice echoed in the heavy silence.
The tense voices of the battalion commanders answered in unison.
“Yes, understood―.”
An invisible hand stretched out its demon beast claws overnight. It made them suspect trusted colleagues, amplified anxiety, and fueled conflict.
The night of safe return, which should have been joyful, was heavier and more somber than ever. The dark faces of the battalion commanders who returned from the meeting room transferred the unsettling atmosphere to their subordinates as well.
However, that night, the most anxious person in the Council’s white building was undoubtedly Leonardo. He already felt that this place was unsafe, and now an incident had occurred that shook his entire mental state.
Flynn, who remained by his side, explained the existence of the old-fashioned shackles all night, but he didn’t bother to mention the possibility that someone had deliberately caused Leonardo’s control instability. This was because he had Hugo’s order to make him feel at ease.
“It seems that newly joined members accidentally mixed them in while trying to fill the shackle quota. This is the first time this has happened… Blaine, I’m sorry.”
Flynn told him that it was just a mistake on the Council’s part and apologized to Leonardo repeatedly on behalf of the entire organization. However, Leonardo didn’t get angry, sneer, or show any reaction even after hearing those words. He just remained silent, staring blankly at Flynn. His face looked very empty and anxious at the same time.
After that, he couldn’t fall asleep at all, his condition worsened noticeably, and the detailed examination was naturally postponed to the next day.
Flynn, who had been awake all night taking care of him, couldn’t overcome his fatigue at some point and collapsed on the sofa, falling into a deep sleep. Leonardo also hugged his knees and waited blankly for Hugo, and before he knew it, he was exhausted and fell asleep as if he had fainted.
He vaguely felt someone picking him up and moving him, but his heavy eyelids wouldn’t open easily.
When he finally came to his senses while floating in a dream surrounded by warmth, Leonardo realized that he was lying alone on the bed.