Chapter 313: Milky Way (7)

Chapter 313: Milky Way (7)

30 minutes earlier.

Riley was backstage at the Symposium, keeping an eye on Killian as she waited.

As planned, Theia had moved in and detained Derek, and during this distraction, [Vancheon] made their move, but something unexpected happened.

A third group had initiated sabotage.

“What the...”

An unidentified armed organization had entered Ortus. Riley was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly grasped the situation.

It was the doing of Vern, the CEO of Everett, Derek's most direct competitor.

According to [Vancheon]'s investigation, Vern was also using artificial intelligence similar to Derek's.

Of course, it wasn't as horrific a crime as Derek's. He didn't completely overwrite people whole.

However, the use of data derived from human souls was the same.

Thus, to keep his own crimes from being exposed and to check Derek, Vern was attacking.

The targets were key researchers, Killian and Vito.

Not to detain or kidnap, but to assassinate.

“This is insane!”

Fortunately, Killian seemed to quickly realize the situation and had escaped to the rooftop of the Hanja Hotel, with Riley following him.

Boom! Bang!

A series of explosions echoed as they climbed the emergency stairs of the hotel to the top floor.

Killian was standing at the edge of the rooftop.

“Dr. Killian!”

Riley called out to him. Killian turned to look at her.

“lts dangerous! Come this way!”

A fierce wind seemed to grab at their clothes.

Killian Leaned against the railing, and Riley slowly approached him.

“Doctor!”

To execute Plan B, it was crucial to secure Killian's safety. More important than any document, the real evidence was the 'person' himself.

“Hurry over!”

The air was turbulent. It was uncertain if her shouts were even being heard.

Yet, Riley took one step at a time towards Ki Ilian...

A Loud noise erupted from the sky as a gust swept through. Riley and Killian both Looked up.

It was a helicopter. Agents were lowering a line to rescue Killian from the trembling propeller above.

Riley was startled, but only for a moment.

Suddenly, a fireball surged from somewhere and struck the helicopter directly.

The helicopter, having Lost power, crashed onto the rooftop and exploded Like a firecracker. Pieces of machinery and human flesh scattered as flames spread. Black smoke enveloped the entire area.

“Dr. Killian!”

Riley seized the moment and rushed towards Killian.

“Stop.”

Suddenly, Killian stopped her. Riley froze in place. Killian was holding a cellphone in his hand.

“Stay there.”

“...Doctor?”

Could it be, perhaps.

Had he received some information?

“MS. Riley.”

Killian called her. Riley responded as usual.

“Yes, Doctor.”

“...I told you, you don't need to monitor me anymore.”

A small smile spread across his Lips.

“...”

It was a suspicious look.

No, it was certain.

Riley bit her lower lip.

He knew her role.

“Why did you follow me? It's dangerouS.”

Killian asked. Riley straightened her back. Her expression had suddenly turned cold.

Now was the time for persuasion.

“Listen carefully, Dr. Ki Ilian.”

Killian raised his eyebrows.

“Derek has been detained. Very important internal documents have been leaked.”

“...”

He remained silent. He just stood there calmly, looking at her with his usual eyes.

“But Derek won't take the fall. He'll claim he didn't know about it, that he was unaware of such matters.”

The wind stirred, causing Killian's coat to flutter.

“He will definitely betray you.”

Derek's history proves it. He has consistently cut off his own tail by claiming ignorance of all his deeds.

Riley extended her hand to him.

“lf you come with me—”

“No.”

Killian shook his head. Then he sat on the railing. Riley's eyes widened.

“Stop!”

“...Fortunately.”

Riley immediately knew what Killian was about to do.

Suicide, to destroy the 'evidence* that was himself.

“lf you fall, you'll die!”

It was a jumbled plea. Killian smiled faintly, as if he found her endearing.

“MS. Riley.”

“Come down from there, now!”

“You should be more worried about the evidence.”

“Come down...?”

Killian's strange words, somehow odd.

Riley hugged it to her chest. With trembling eyes, she looked inside.

All the evidence was there. All the internal documents of Libra, Derek, and Vito.

Additionally, there was a single Letter, probably left for her by Killian...

Crash—

There was a noise from behind. Riley quickly grabbed the letter.

“Who's there!”

They were the subordinates of the Holy Knight, Theia. They were the knights involved in the investigation.

All the evidence they collected would have legal effect.

“...”

Riley silently sat on the ground. The knights rushed to her side. Riley muttered very quietly.

“...seize.”

“Excuse me? seize?”

The knights asked confusedly. Riley bit her Lip as if she was about to curse.

“Damn it. Seize me. Take me away.”

While glancing at the bag in her hand.

“Ah, yes! Seize her!”

Realizing what she meant, they pressed Riley's face to the ground.

Thump! It hurt terribly. It felt Like her cheekbone was splitting.

It didn't matter, the knights secured Killian's bag as evidence.

“...Huh, senior! Look at this!”

The information in the bag was shocking enough. Its a wonder they didn't faint from the surprise.

“Uh, pass it on quickly. Call the professor first...”

“Ah, yes.”

The knights were flustered, their faces flushed, and the sound of explosions echoed from all around.

However, Riley was somewhat dazed.

She turned her head, which was pressed against the ground, to Look at the railing.

The railing from which Killian had just fallen.

He was no longer there.

He had fallen down below and already met his death.

He chose to die... to "destroy the evidence/

“Ah...”

Riley's vision blurred.

I thought he was just human trash, a doctor I considered using just to get close.

Tears clung to her eyes. They were so uncomfortable that she just closed her eyes.

Instead, her mouth moved on its own. A childlike sob burst out.

“What's the? Is she crying?”

The knights* confused voices were irritating, but the crying didn't stop for a while.

“Here it is!”

Derek interrogation barrier set up in Ortus.

Theia received Killian's bag from the subordinate knight.

“...”

Everything was inside.

From information about the formula used by Dr. Vito, to the method of extracting souls, names of some people who had been overwritten, and even recordings of conversations between Derek and Vito.

Theia asked,

“What's the source?”

“We acquired it after the core researcher, Dr. Killian, died.”

“...Died?”

“Yes. It was an accident, but it seems these guys didn't trust each other either.”

Theia quietly scanned through the evidence left by Killian.

It was meticulous. Abnormally meticulous, as if he had anticipated this situation.

“T0 engage in the act of overwriting souls into spirits, there's no way they could truly trust each other.

The subordinates say so, but is that really the case?

Did Killian really not trust Derek and Vito, creating this just as a precaution?

Theia was still skeptical, but she would need to hear the details from Riley to know for sure.

“Good work.”

Regardless— the evidence was now sufficient.

Theia looked at Derek in the interrogation room.

He was oblivious to the situation outside, not anxious but rather smug.

Drring——

Just then, a call came through. It was Yusef, the vice-captain of the Edsilla Knights.

—Theia.

“Yes.”

—...lt's the Limit now. Release Derek.

Yusefs voice was steeped in deep fatigue and hardship. It seemed he had been tremendously tormented in just half a day.

—There's chaos in Ortus too. The operation has failed, it seems.

“No.”

Theia smiled satisfactorily.

“lts alright. There's no need to release him now.”

—No need? The council is in uproar. If you^e detained Derek without evidence-

“Eviden ce.”

Theia cut him off. She sighed in relief and looked at Derek in the interrogation room.

“lts sufficient.”

At that moment, Derek also Looked at Theia with a relaxed gaze. Their eyes met.

“Quite sufficient.”

Theia smiled deeply. Derek chuckled in ridicule, but soon his expression slowly hardened. He had caught a sense of dissonance in Theia's smile.

It was correct.

“Derek will now be imprisoned.”

Theia asserted and hung up the phone.