Chapter 294: Retribution

Chapter 294: Retribution

In the capital city of Edsilla, at a fine dining restaurant called Finchile,I sat across from Riley.

I heard a lot of homeless people have disappeared. Isn't that a good thing?

Riley had brought up the mysterious incidents occurring in Edsilla lately.

Is that so?

She nodded at my response.

Yes. Homeless people who are of no help to the continent might as well disappear sooner rather than later

Hmm.

Her statement was quite radical, but I understood. I knew why she was saying this, what she wanted from me.

Then, I should play along.

Right. They're no help to society. They dont contribute to any meaningful productive activities, just consuming like parasites

Riley hesitated for a moment but quickly smiled.

Thats right. Theres hardly a need to investigate these serial disappearances.

Exactly. No need for an investigation.

I smiled meaningfully. Suddenly, Riley's expression hardened, but she soon nodded in agreement and cut her steak with a knife.

No need for an investigation Well, thats true.

Yes. Really, theres no need. Trust me.

I smiled like a psychopath.

As if I knew something. As if I knew it very well.

Really? But what if these disappearances are kidnappings, maybe for organs?

Riley asked subtly.

I paused cutting my steak and looked at her, my eyes slightly suspicious.

Riley calmly explained.

Oh, its nothing. I just had this thought before. If dismantling one homeless person could save ten diligent ones

Well, isnt there something more i m porta nt?

More important than organs?

Ha. Yes. Even such trashy humans there might be a way to make them useful to society .

I smiled. Riley also lifted the corners of her mouth.

lm curious. What might that method be?

Clank

I sliced another piece of steak and replied.

Shall we end the work talk here?

Was this work talk?

Riley hit the nail on the head.

I pretended to be flustered and laughed brightly.

Ah~ Wasnt it work talk? Ha ha.

Well. Try this. Its delicious.

Riley placed a piece of meat on my plate. I gladly put it in my mouth.

Oh~ It's delicious.

Yes. Youre quite charming.

.

I deliberately stopped chewing.

Cough, cough. Ahem.

I coughed as if I was choked, and Riley came over, concerned, patting my back.

Oh my, are you alright?

It was a play we were both part of.

The difference was, I knew she was acting.

Yes, Im fine. Ha, haha.

At the Libra Stations research lab.

With the release of the new artificial intelligence not far off, everyone from the least staffed Al department had gathered. The head, Vito, had called the meeting himself.

The first reveal is scheduled for three weeks from now.

Vito announced. The other researchers listened quietly, showing no reaction.

Are you all excited?

They didnt answer but just nodded their heads.

What are they, plants?

I enthusiastically raised my hand.

lm excited!

Vito chuckled at that.

He secretly enjoyed such lively atmospheres. The other researchers hardly even talked, let alone muttered to themselves.

Alright. Let's continue with the final checks Dr. Killian, could you come see me for a moment?

Yes.

Vito called me into his office.

He sat down and said,

Dr. Killian.

I stood in front of him.

Yes. What is it?

I heard you had an interesting conversation with Ms. Riley yesterday?

Yes? Oh, were you at that restaurant too?

I was well aware of the surveillance. Grawl had been having a tough time monitoring both inside and outside Killians house.

Vito laughed.

Ha, yes. I was there too. You might not have noticed.

lf youre referring to the interesting conversation, are you talking about the homeless?

Yes. I think the same as you and Ms. Riley, but please don't talk about such things outside.

Ah, yes. I guess I got too excited with the project nearing completion. I apologize!

I responded energetically.

Thats alright. I didn't call you here to scold you. Compared to what Dr. Killian has done for us, its nothing. You can go back to your station.

Ah, Dr. Vito.

I called out to Vito as he was about to look at his monitor. Vito tilted his head slightly.

Yes?

About that doll you showed us last time.

I was curious about Akanes doll.

Of course, I could ask Akane herself, but I thought Vito might have more accurate information.

What collaboration did you have with Selfless Coffin

Vito chuckled lightly.

lndeed. Dr. Killian, you have a deep intellectual curiosity.

It was about time to start my shift as a Chaser.

In a secluded back alley, a quiet lakeside with no surveillance or tailing. I sat on a fishing chair, waiting for someone.

Soon, someone would come.

Rustle-

The sound of stepping on leaves echoed. I looked out over the lake and said,

Mr. Jeff.

Yes.

Jeff Garner approached and stood behind me.

Have you heard the news?

Yes, of course.

Bell Moores car exploded, but instead, I got caught up in it.

Thats why the atmosphere inside the Intelligence Agency has rapidly cooled.

I jiggled the fishing rod as I spoke.

lt seems an internal investigation team will be formed.

Jeff listened to my words quietly.

Team Leader Bell Moore doesnt want such an internal investigation. He has no intention of forgiving those who dared target him.

In fact, Bell Moore, far from forgiving, is conducting his own investigation, suspecting that it might be the work of external forces.

How foolish.

Yes, I expected as much.

Jeff Garners voice grew low.

He is an agent specialized in assassination. Even formidable opponents, if unprepared, are bound to die at his hands.

I turned to look at him.

Once it happens once, it will happen twice, and if it happens twice,it will happen a third time So, we need to nip it in the bud.

Yes.

lts an order.

I handed him a personnel file.

Four team leaders under Gedley, of the Intelligence Agency.

However, we won't kill the team leaders, but their right-hand men. After all, the justification is on our side, so well cut off all four right hands.

They are trash that deserve to die.

Kill them all.

This also serves to build Bell Moores image.

He must never tolerate. He must show a brutally cruel side to those who strike first.

But you must not be caught.

At the same time, he must be cold. Like a sharp ice pick, he must hide himself.

Everyone may suspect that its Bell Moores doing, but no evidence pointing to the fact should emerge.

Not even the smallest piece of evidence should remain.

Bell Moore must become such a terrifying and fearsome figure. He must appear as an extremely dark and meticulous predator, a mastermind that no one dares to easily approach.

All words directed at Bell Moore must come through me first.

Yes, I understand.

I nodded.

Before I knew it, Jeff had disappeared.

Bloop!

Just then, a fish bit the bait.

The next day, Bell Moore woke up on a sofa in a club room.

Ah, my head.

He had drunk heavily the night before.

These days, things have been so complicated and tangled up, its suffocating. That's why I went on a rampage for the first time in a while.

H aa h

He sighed as he got up. Staggering, he left the club.

The streets were bathed in dazzling sunlight.

Ah, its blinding. Hey! Taxi!

He was about to take a taxi to work when suddenly, Shions words came to mind.

The warning from his deputy that Gedley was targeting him.

Bell Moore thought it hard to believe and accept, but now that things had unfolded, there was no helping it.

Bell Moore shook his head with the taxi door still open.

No, no. Go ahead. I called you by mistake.

What the hell, bastard.

What? Bastard? Hey, did you just call me

The taxi sped off abruptly. Bell Moore glared at its retreating back, furrowing his brow.

That crazy son of a bitch

Anyway, he ended up choosing his own two legs.

He walked to work at the Intelligence Agency.

Good for some exercise.

Sweating is good for a hangover.

Bell Moore ran for an hour and arrived at the underground Intelligence Agency.

Ahem.

He straightened his expression and walked down the corridors of the Intelligence Agency.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

What the

But he kept catching peoples eyes. Many at the Intelligence Agency kept glancing at him as he walked.

Maybe it was because of the SUV explosion incident involving Shion.

It was embarrassingly unnecessary.

Bell Moore quickly walked to the team leaders office.

Wheres the secretary?

The secretary was not there.

Maybe they took a day off today. They should have told me in advance if they were going to take a break.

Damn it I was going to ask for some honey water.

Bell Moore sat down in his office chair and turned on the computer.

He immediately logged into the Intelligence Agencys internal server to check the progress of the explosion incident.

Whats this?

A fresh case had been uploaded just this morning.

Bell Moore blinked in confusion and clicked on the case file.

What Three Chasers are dead?

It was a highly suspicious assassination case involving Chasers.