Bad Born Blood

Chapter 231

I watched the MAU test unit in motion beside Son Seok-jae.  

The development of military MAUs involved many companies besides Sonsu Industries. According to Son Seok-jae, if they succeeded in securing the contract and handling mass production, they could quickly become a core defense company for the Federation.  

‘They could receive massive financial support from the Bellato Federation government.’  

That "massive financial support" seemed to be on a scale beyond my imagination.  

"The unit selected from this project will become a symbol of the Federation’s military. The economic feasibility required for mass production can be somewhat overlooked."  

Son Seok-jae muttered beside me.  

The same applied to the Legion. In terms of pure performance, the Legion was an inefficient weapon. The cost of mass-producing Imperial Guards was astronomical, and objectively, producing full-body prosthetics like Myrmidons would be a more effective way to enhance overall combat power.  

However, war and combat were influenced by unseen forces. And it was symbols like the Legion that created and led those forces.  

"As soon as the pilot changed, the unit's movements became completely different. You could almost believe it’s an entirely different machine."  

I observed the test unit closely.  

Wooong! Kiiik!  

The accelerating test unit braced against the ground, skidding to a stop before quickly changing direction.  

‘The test unit’s pilot is Yanaka, Boyan’s friend.’  

I looked at the screen Son Seok-jae was monitoring. Her name was Yanaka Bondred.  

"Since this unit is designed to meet the Federation government’s strict requirements, it’s optimized for the official pilot. No one else can move it like that."  

Yanaka's test unit moved behind buildings for cover like a human. Compared to a Legion, its movements were sluggish, but considering the sheer size of an MAU, it moved with impressive fluidity.  

Click, clack.  

The test unit drew its firearm and fired. The target exploded. Calling it a "gun" was an understatement—it was practically a cannon.  

Kwa-ang!  

An explosion erupted. Thick, acrid smoke billowed from the shattered target.  

‘If they can get this right…’  

I thought it might truly become the defining weapon of the Federation.  

Kirik, kirik!  

A strange noise came from the test unit. The pilot's controls weren’t translating smoothly to the machine. It was attempting a maneuver—lowering its stance while rotating in place—but the movement was rough.  

"This part still needs improvement, haha."  

Son Seok-jae approached the Deputy Minister of the Research Department, laughing amicably. The deputy minister’s expression wasn’t bad.  

"Out of all the companies so far, you’re leading the pack. This is the first time a unit has passed the third mobility test. So that report was true after all."

The deputy minister spoke as he observed the test unit in motion. The atmosphere between him and Son Seok-jae seemed quite favorable.  

From a distance, I discreetly read their lips and picked up faint traces of their conversation.  

"That man… he's the one who…?"  

"Yes, he’s the one who defeated Mushir al-Kashura. He’s from the Empire."  

The deputy minister and Son Seok-jae whispered while glancing at me.  

"His name… Lu, Lu…?"  

"Luka. That’s all I know about his personal information. He’s currently working under Jafa, the master sergeant."  

"Ah, Jafa… the one from Jafa Burger. There’s a branch in Bellato City too. It’s quite good."  

Son Seok-jae was introducing me to the deputy minister.  

Meanwhile, the test unit continued performing maneuvers. Researchers from the Strategic Weapons Research Department observed the situation with keen interest.  

"Sonsu Industries was already ranked among the top, but… for now, they’re overwhelmingly ahead."  

The researchers’ assessments were favorable.  

The data accumulated from Mushir al-Kashura’s prosthetic had proven highly valuable. It had cut down on years of trial and error in an instant.  

‘This means Sonsu Industries is years ahead of its competitors.’  

Of course, that was assuming there were no leaks.  

‘Even with superior technology, an incompetent executive would only end up having their core technology stolen and their company left in ruins.’  

Even the Strategic Weapons Research Department, operating under the Federation, was no different from a band of vultures. The moment Sonsu Industries showed any weakness, they would strip the company of its technology and discard it.  

‘A corporate leader needs a mind as cunning as it is ruthless.’  

Every successful entrepreneur I had seen possessed that trait. Jafa and Son Seok-jae both had flashes of it.  

‘Gilda and Giselle must have been the same. You can’t remain just an idealistic engineer if you want to become a successful entrepreneur.’  

Soon, I would face Gilda, who had survived as a businesswoman for twelve years. The thought of how much she had changed honestly unsettled me—more so than facing an opponent in a battle I had little chance of winning.  

Step, step.  

The deputy minister walked toward me alongside Son Seok-jae. Though the test unit’s demonstration hadn’t concluded, they must have decided there was nothing more worth seeing. For now, Sonsu Industries held the upper hand in technological advancement.  

"I am Ismael La from the newly established Strategic Weapons Research Department. Though I may be lacking, I hold the position of deputy minister."  

He was a polite bureaucrat. Wearing glasses, he followed the old-fashioned custom of offering me his business card.  

His name wasn’t just Ismael La—it was longer, a string of syllables running together.  

A strange sense of déjà vu struck me as I looked at him.  

‘Nikolaos Custoria.’  

Something about Ismael reminded me of my long-deceased stepbrother.

Ismael also had a lean frame and an intellectual appearance. The faint wrinkles on his lips, on the verge of middle age, carried both experience and youth.  

"Luka."  

I received his business card and shook his hand with a neutral demeanor. I neither sneered nor acted self-important.  

I didn’t behave like a deranged madman with everyone I met. It was just that most of the people who encountered me in Border City weren’t in ordinary circumstances.  

"On behalf of the Federation government, I thank you for stopping Al-Kashura’s rampage. He was quite the headache on our end as well. It seems he won’t be causing trouble for some time."  

It was a customary remark. I got straight to the point.  

"You must have heard that I requested a private meeting."  

"Private, meaning even Representative Son Seok-jae is to be excluded?"  

I nodded.  

Son Seok-jae, who had been listening to our conversation, read the mood and withdrew without hesitation.  

Ismael and I walked a little farther away, putting some distance between ourselves and the open testing ground where the MAU was still in motion.  

"I don’t know what level of high-ranking Federation official you’re looking for… but at Son Seok-jae’s level, I should be among the top five."  

This was the condition I had set for Son Seok-jae—to connect me with a high-ranking official in the Federation.  

‘Jafa would never do this for me.’  

Jafa didn’t want me to become independent. She only wanted me to operate under her support.  

But relying solely on Jafa’s backing and resources wouldn’t be enough to secure my future.  

I felt my mind racing—spinning so fast it was almost dizzying.  

I needed to answer well. Luka, get it together.  

I steadied myself. I had to gather every fragment of information and knowledge I had accumulated and assemble the best possible picture.  

"There must be a few former Imperial Guards who defected to the Federation."  

I recalled Ilay’s words, trying to construct the right narrative.  

After the Storm Era, there had been desertions and defections among the Imperial Guards. Some had gone into quiet seclusion, while others had aligned themselves with foreign nations.  

The Federation’s extended government likely harbored former Imperial Guards—bluntly speaking, traitors. There had to be at least a few.  

"I’m afraid I can’t confirm that for you."  

A list of former Imperial Guards who defected would certainly be classified.  

"If some of my ‘seniors’ are there… they would know my name."  

I deliberately let my words hang in the air. My heart pounded uncomfortably. A deep sense of guilt festered inside me, blackening my conscience.  

My throat felt dry and rough. Even before I spoke, a shiver ran down my spine, leaving me with an unsettling feeling.

No matter what, I was an Imperial citizen. The words I was about to say would be a complete denial of my background.  

I had to do it. It was necessary.  

I steadied myself. My Imperial pride and identity clamped down on my throat, choking me.  

But it was nothing more than useless stubbornness, a wedge of Imperial indoctrination driven deep into me. Right now, I needed to pull that wedge out and think freely.  

Ismael waited patiently for me to speak. I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat, and continued.  

"…Lukaus Custoria formally requests asylum from the Bellato Federation government."  

At first, Ismael hadn’t known who I was. He activated his terminal, syncing it with his glasses as if trying to access more detailed information.  

Then, before long, his pupils widened.  

*         *         *  

The test unit’s operation had ended. And so had my conversation with Ismael.  

"…Understood, Luka. Once the review is complete, I will contact you immediately."  

Ismael couldn’t give me an immediate answer. That was to be expected. He needed to verify more about me.  

‘If there are former Imperial Guards who defected to the Federation… they’re likely to speak favorably about me.’  

Ismael and I shook hands before parting ways.  

‘I’ve done everything I can here.’  

I was someone who held critical information. The Bellato Federation wouldn’t send me back to the Empire.  

‘And as a bonus, they’ll try to protect me from Ivan Accretia’s grasp.’  

But that also meant I couldn’t return to the Empire. I was voluntarily stepping into another prison—one named Bellato.  

‘Before my asylum request is officially accepted, I need to finish what I started.’  

From a distance, Son Seok-jae was waiting for me, leisurely smoking a cigar.  

"Did the conversation go well?"  

"Thanks to you."  

I kept my answer short, minimizing the exposure of information.  

"If I asked what you discussed, you wouldn’t answer, would you?"  

"You know me well. But you already have an idea, don’t you? If you’re curious, don’t fish for it—just ask."  

I stared at Son Seok-jae.  

"You requested asylum, didn’t you? You’re probably—"  

"Alright, that’s enough."  

I cut him off. I had already expected this.  

Son Seok-jae had been excessively accommodating toward me. But it wasn’t just because of the sheer weight of my individual combat ability.  

‘At some point… Son Seok-jae already knew who I was.’

Twelve years ago, I had made a brief name for myself in the Empire. Anyone who did their research would find that I was connected not only to various noble families but also to the Imperial Household itself.  

‘Businessmen and politicians don’t care about individual combat strength. No matter how skilled a person is, they can’t defeat an army alone. What truly matters is influence.’  

I didn’t even know if I still held any sway over Imperial citizens. But I wasn’t someone they could easily disregard.  

My true value wasn’t in “violence.”  

To Jafa, my value lay in my intuition and deductive abilities—my ability to track down Kinuan. To people like Son Seok-jae and Ismael, I was valuable as someone who had gained fame and influence within the Empire.  

Let them all try to use me. I would simply observe the scales of power in silence, waiting. The moment to step in would come at the very end.  

I wasn’t a faction or an organization. I was just one person.  

‘The only thing I can do… is wait until the delicate balance between these forces stabilizes, then tip the scale by placing my weight where it benefits me most.’  

For now, I had to wait for the balance to tighten. In moments like these, I always thought of Kinuan.  

I had learned a lot from Kinuan—truly.  

Creak.  

I stepped into the bathroom, partly to ease my tension. But in truth, I felt like I was about to get a nosebleed.  

Shaaah.  

I turned on the sink and pressed down on my nose, trying to squeeze the blood out. A red streak trickled down my philtrum.  

‘My eyes are a little bloodshot, too. Anyone with a keen eye would notice I’m not in good shape.’  

I was falling apart. Whether it was because of the events I had faced in Border City or because Lazarus’s treatment hadn’t been perfect, I couldn’t say.  

Creeeak.  

The bathroom door opened. Watching through the mirror, I spoke.  

"This is the men’s restroom."  

"I haven’t stepped in yet."  

Yanaka stood at the entrance. She looked exhausted from piloting the test unit. Her hair was completely soaked with sweat.  

"What do you want?"  

"Boyan’s acting strange. He hasn’t been showing up to our gatherings lately. You’re his so-called guardian, so you should know something, right?"  

She had come because of Boyan.  

"Of course. He’s been getting his medication from the hospital like he’s supposed to."

"If getting some meds from the hospital could fix everything, do you think the Crawler issue would still exist? If it were that simple, interspecies conflicts would’ve disappeared ages ago."  

I was exhausted. I just wanted to rest for the day. But I let Yanaka continue.  

"If you’re so worried, go check on him yourself. He still goes to school, doesn’t he?"  

"As you can see, I’ve been busy with my pilot duties. I barely even have time to attend school anymore. So keep an eye on Boyan, will you, Tall Uncle?"  

Yanaka kept the door open, waiting for my answer.  

"If you’re done talking, get lo— I mean, go now, kid."  

I exercised patience, softening my last words.  

Yanaka was one of the few people who genuinely cared about Boyan. There was no reason to turn her into an enemy.  

'Boyan.'  

To be honest, keeping an eye on Boyan with everything else going on felt almost impossible.  

Ragnata’s words surfaced in my mind. I had to make choices, focus my efforts. And if someone had to be left behind…  

I closed my eyes. Too many thoughts flooded in.  

Crack.  

The sink I was gripping shattered under the strength of my prosthetic hand.  

Damn it.