Vicious Darling

[51]

Peter looked up at Chris’s words.

“Even for the same problem, our approaches and solutions will inevitably differ.”

To cross a river, some might just wade right in.

Others might try to place stepping stones, while someone else might build a raft.

But does a different method make them my enemy?

‘Of course not.’

Chris had met various comrades and even more enemies.

In the end, those who joined hands always had diverse reasons.

People are bound together by all sorts of circumstances and motivations.

The world he knew was never divided into black and white.

There was only dark gray close to black, light gray close to white, and a range of other ashen hues in between.

“They’re probably not all traitors. At least not all of them.”

They might have chosen a moderate approach, hoping no one would get hurt.

“Let us handle the doubting. If there’s someone you want to believe in, just believe them.”

Chris smiled faintly.

Peter stared at him blankly.

‘He’s flaunting it again.’

Yuri looked at Chris with a slightly displeased expression.

Honestly, this wasn’t Yuri’s style.

He had intended to peek into Barrel Society’s internal affairs through the locksmith’s vulnerability.

How long could this emotional but immature young man hold out?

Peter noticeably regained his composure at Chris’s reassurance.

‘Yet I don’t feel like stopping Chris either.’

It was exasperating.

It’s not like they came all the way to the Spring Continent to do charity work.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

How would it have felt if someone had spoken to him and Chris like this during those difficult times when they were struggling to escape the hardships of the Winter Continent?

Yuri lowered his eyes.

Of the two, one became an adult who tried to exploit others in similar situations, while the other became a human who knew how to extend a hand to those in need.

“‘Chris Danil is Yuri Sobolev’s dog. He’s a merciless calamity who ruthlessly tears apart his master’s enemies.’ That’s what I heard.”

Peter murmured blankly. It sounded less like his own words and more like he was recalling someone else’s.

“Yet you’re quite a kind person.”

He wrinkled his reddened nose tip and composed his expression.

“I’ve shown you an awful side of me recently. Well, with all sorts of people gathering in Barrel Society, all sorts of opinions emerge. That’s been our tradition.”

Thinking about it now, he felt ashamed of himself for twisting in betrayal.

Differences of opinion can arise at any time.

Perhaps he had reacted so passionately because he was deeply immersed in the plight of the Spring Continent’s immigrants.

Peter lowered his eyes as he collected himself.

“You regain your balance quickly.”

“I’m trying to appear that way.”

Peter shrugged at Yuri’s words.

“I can’t be called ‘the kid who got to an executive position just because of his ability’ forever, so I need to step up from now on.”

Starting with holding back the tears that burst out when things don’t go his way.

Peter decided to focus on just that much effort.

“Among the executives, two support the Babel Mayor’s citizenship policy. The warehouse keeper and the baker.”

He’s just telling us this?

Yuri almost failed to maintain his expression for a moment.

But in his mind, he was punching numbers on a calculator.

Are both traitors? Or just one?

If so, why would they agree to an investigation?

‘Even if there are traitors, they seem to be mindful of internal appearances.’

Barrel Society was an organization with relatively weak leadership at the top.

Therefore, gaining the consent of the majority would be important when exercising a voice.

They would manage their image enough to agree to bring in White Night.

Even though a knife might end up in their chest.

‘Or perhaps they underestimated us because we don’t primarily operate in the Winter Continent.’

Rosenhauser’s consistent black propaganda simultaneously demonized and barbarized White Night.

Portraying them as beast-like, dangerous fellows.

Without explicitly saying they were stupid, he lowered White Night’s status by associating the Winter Continent with “uneducated” people.

This was probably to prevent people of this era from easily admiring those with power.

But thanks to that, they could now strike at the enemy’s weak point.

For Yuri, this was nothing but gain.

Although the man was already dead, it was always enjoyable to mock the enemy he had toppled.

“Is it really okay for you to reveal the opposing executives so easily?”

Chris spoke on behalf of his master.

Hadn’t he just said he absolutely couldn’t tell them this?

He did say a few words, but it was surprising how someone could flip their opinion like turning over a palm.

“They brought in outside forces, so I can bring them in too.”

Peter had completely let down his guard.

“That’s reckless.”

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“No. Actually, cooperation with White Night has received official approval. We were already aware that criminal organizations are operating in the Spring Continent. There have been several circumstances suggesting immigrants have died after getting caught up in it…”

Crime always targets people outside society’s boundaries first.

It becomes troublesome when those within the social safety net are touched.

“Let’s say it was a principle of using someone else’s hands to cut out the rotten parts.”

“You seem to have become excessively honest…”

Yuri glanced at Chris, who had induced this situation.

He was quietly listening to Peter’s statements, as if saying, ‘Say whatever you want to say.’

“You didn’t seem to know we’d dig into the mayor’s side.”

“Don’t even mention it. We’ve gathered tons of large and small pieces of information about the back alleys of the Spring Continent and the forces moving within them. I think I used about three terminals.”

Peter grumbled.

“Hand those over too. They might be useful.”

Chris’s eyes brightened at Yuri’s kindness.

Perhaps because of that look, Yuri added an explanation in a slightly disgruntled voice.

“…Crime requires a lot of money. We need to cut off their funding to tie their ankles. That’s why we’re trying to pull down the mayor first. Only then can we confine the fight within the Spring Continent. After that, conflicts will arise over hegemony within the Spring Continent. Because predators who were eyeing external prey have turned their heads inward.”

“Yes, yes.”

Peter nodded repeatedly. His face said, ‘I’m sure you know what you’re doing.’

“Will you rescue the immigrants in our factory now?”

His eyes shone.

He seemed to believe without a doubt that Yuri and Chris must have some brilliant strategy.

“According to Chris, there are 28 immigrants in Factory 4 alone. If we assume by simple calculation that there are also 28 people in Factory 8, do you have a place to accommodate around 60 people? What about resources until they can return to normal life?”

“I think I could obtain them if I insisted at a meeting… but not right away.”

“There were six guards at Factory 4. Assuming there are six at Factory 8 as well, that’s a minimum of two Espers and ten armed guards, or a maximum of twelve Espers. Can you bring in personnel who can fight while protecting sixty civilians?”

“No.”

Peter’s face darkened.

Chris asked, “Would it be the same if we focused on opening the doors and evacuating people?”

“Hmm. I can’t open two doors simultaneously. So if we evacuate one factory, the other would be left unattended. Plus, we’d need to guard while those people cross through the doors.”

He scratched the back of his head.

“Speaking of abilities… is it impossible for you, Chris, to subdue both factories completely? Like blowing them all away?”

Peter’s words were flippant, but his eyes held desperation.

Yuri calmly asked, “Are you on good terms with the local authorities?”

Rather, they’re in conflict with the authorities.

“…No.”

Yuri gave Chris a look.

“If I deploy my ability at maximum, I could include two factories within range. However… since we don’t know what kind of Espers they have, attempting recklessly could threaten the hostages.”

As if asking, “Did you hear that?” with his gaze, Peter dropped his head.

“Defensive battles are difficult.”

Peter’s shoulders flinched at Yuri’s casually delivered words.

“Let’s think about this more carefully… For now, Chris should go on a few more reconnaissance missions to the factories.”

“Is there anything else you want me to do?”

Yuri gave a slightly dark look at the unhesitating response.

“Since you said the old structural diagrams differ from the actual factory, we need to grasp that precisely. It would be good to know the way to the underground… but we can figure that out later, so don’t push yourself too hard.”

Yuri cautioned Chris.

If necessary, he would have no problem escaping alone.

Because his dog was capable.

But if discovered, would he try to leave alone?

‘…He’ll come since I’m waiting.’

It was a somewhat pitiful certainty.

A being who would come to his side even with a torn body and a torn heart.

There wasn’t a hint of wavering in Chris’s blue eyes as he looked at Yuri.

“Understood.”

“Good.”

That unwavering gaze contained an irreversible trust.

It was ridiculous to assume otherwise with such a person before him.

Yuri unknowingly relaxed his shoulders.

“And capture as many faces of people as possible. Videos would be better than photos, but since that’s not feasible, it can’t be helped.”

“Yes.”

Since animal and human bodies differ, separate equipment would need to be prepared for recording.

But this too wasn’t particularly difficult.

‘We can just squeeze Northern Light.’

The finished product wouldn’t need to go through customs; they could just have Peter pick it up.

In this respect, it was certain that Barrel Society had provided a truly useful talent.

“What do you plan to do, Yuri?”

In response to Peter’s question, the man raised one corner of his mouth.

“Me? I… need to create a miracle.”