Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 318



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 318

Usurpation (4)

Tick, tick.

In the director’s office, where only the sound of the second hand resonates clearly, Gedler sits in silence for a long time.

Although I try to act calm, the wrinkles on the face looking at me are already filled with tension and trembling.

“… … Are you talking about that place?”

Soon, Geedler pointed to the director’s chair and forced a smile. I could see the forced smile.

“yes.”

Of course, Belmore himself would have no idea. He is the kind of person who would refuse the position of director even if offered. He is a person who lacks nothing but ambition.

but.

“Team Leader Bell is very patient.”

I won’t let that happen.

“… … Are you aware of it?”

Gedler asked back, as if he was amazed.

“Yes. The bomb targeting Team Leader Bell right now.”

I will force Belmore into the position of director.

“Even the secret meetings between team leaders that take place every night.”

I will pass on all the achievements, abilities, and ambitions to him, stuff them into his mouth until his stomach bursts, even if he doesn’t want to eat them, and eventually make him a director.

“You know it, but you endure it.”

I looked at Gedler. His wiggling eyebrows looked like insects.

“But sooner or later, your patience will run out.”

“……under.”

Gedler twisted his lips.

“I want to become a director in front of the director. Did you and your boss turn around as a group?”

His forced smile had now become so hideous that it was hard to even call it a smile.

“… … I don’t know the details.”

“I know. You look like a puppet. You don’t have anything in your head.”

Gedler suddenly became angry at me.

“A lucky guy named Bellmore who managed to get on board. He’ll probably be stuck with your proud Miss Zia.”

He keeps spitting out words and making accusations, but I don’t really think much about it.

Because Gedler is already a loser.

I answered with a faint smile.

“Team Leader Belmore added that he would give us a chance until the deadline.”

“……opportunity?”

The gedler stopped.

“Yes. Until the setup of Teia Isil is finished.”

Then he burst into a fit of laughter.

“… … Do you really think you can beat Teia? She’s a bitch who doesn’t even have a speck of dust left. Even your great boss can’t do it.”

Of course. There is no one whose back is as clean as Teia’s.

I looked at Gedler.

“It seems like you are very lacking in dust-clearing skills.”

“……what?”

I smiled brightly at Gedler, who had frozen stiff for a moment.

“That’s what Team Leader Belmore said.”

* * *

Team Leader Belmore’s office.

Tick-tock- there, where only the sound of the second hand flows peacefully, Belmore blankly opens, closes, opens, closes, opens… …

“… … I’m so sleepy”

I’m desperately trying to kill the boring time.

“Ah… … .”

My whole body feels sore.

It’s usually time to sleep at home now.

It’s not even time to go to work yet.

“Hwaaaaam… … When will it end?”

These days, there’s nothing we can do because of the Jedrick incident. Jedrick was locked up in a detention center by an AI or something, so the intelligence agency is on high alert.

“……hmm.”

Belmore placed his clasped hands on the back of his head.

Well, I don’t have anything to keep me busy anyway. I don’t have any intention of keeping myself busy.

Anyway, Zion Ascal will handle all the work.

“… … But I think that kid will have a hard time with Teia Isil.”

However, there are still some concerns.

I happened to receive an order to soak ‘Teia Ishil’.

Belmore is afraid of her. It’s not that she isn’t, he’s seen her fight firsthand. She’s a one-man army that can handle one hundred against one. She’s no joke.

Tiring─

The document was uploaded to the information agency intranet.

[Zion Ascal: List of incidents and accidents other than dating rumors to be reported to the press]

This is a report from Sion Askar, who will be releasing all sorts of scandalous articles and rumors to the media in order to bury the Zedrick case.

He glanced at it, gave it a quick nod, and sent it down. That was all he did as team leader all week.

But.”

However, there are still some concerns.

I happened to receive an order to soak ‘Teia Ishil’.

Belmore is afraid of her. It’s not that she isn’t, he’s seen her fight firsthand. She’s a one-man army that can handle one hundred against one. She’s no joke.

Tiring─

The document was uploaded to the information agency intranet.

[Zion Ascal: List of incidents and accidents other than dating rumors to be reported to the press]

This is a report from Sion Askar, who will be releasing all sorts of scandalous articles and rumors to the media in order to bury the Zedrick case.

He glanced at it, gave it a quick nod, and sent it down. That was all he did as team leader all week.

Stamp the payment.

“… … Ah, I’m sleepy.”

Of course, he is also secretly concerned about the political structure within the intelligence agency.

Zion Ascal is like, “The Director is going to kill me,” but honestly, he doesn’t think about it that seriously.

Isn’t this just some extreme tackling?

In the first place, what I’m saying is, why are you holding me back when I’m not doing anything myself?

So, if we continue to stay still like this, the director and team leaders will naturally calm down.

In other words, it means that they will blatantly do nothing.

“Haaaaaam… … I need to sleep a little.”

Belmore has no intention of moving up. He is very satisfied with his position as team leader, and if he can make a decent amount of money and live comfortably for the rest of his life, that is enough for him…

* * *

After the Gedler interview was over.

As I came down to the information bureau parking lot, I received a call from an unknown person.

[Unconfirmed]

Sender unknown.

─Can you hear me?

However, the voice coming from the receiver is familiar.

“Who are you?”

I asked back politely.

─This is Dr. Vito.

Vito took the bait. I hid my smile and got into the parked car.

“Are you a doctor?”

─Yes. I am contacting you after seeing Dr. Killian’s diary.

“Kili’s, no, Dr. Killian’s diary, you mean?”

I pretended not to know and acted like I was really close with Killian, and called him by his nickname, ‘Kili’.

─I heard you have a close relationship with Dr. Killian.

Jesco Gundo is the same, and this method works quite well. Even if the content is the same, if it is contained in a diary, its credibility increases dramatically.

“… … .”

I agreed in silence.

─Do you have anything else to say to me?

Vito smiled faintly.

“… … Dr. Vito. Lord Jedrick is suspicious of you.”

I said it as if I was worried about his safety.

Then Vito let out a small sigh,

─Shall we meet and talk?

I said what I wanted.

… … .

I arrived at a bleak office-like space, but instead of Vito himself, there was a ‘hologram’ there.

─Nice to meet you.

As expected, he’s a very cautious guy. He’s not easy.

“It’s new technology.”

─It’s not really a new technology. It’s dangerous outside.

Vito laughed, playing with the grass.

─More than that, is Jedrick suspicious of me?

“Yes. I heard that the doctor called a meeting of the industry’s board of directors.”

─Well… …Of course. Industry is like a company I worked for. All the patents there are fruits of my labor.

Vito crossed his arms in discontent.

─Jedrick will surely blame me for the failure of his business and try to get me kicked out. How can I accept that? Industry is a company that has been around for 20 years.

“Miss Zia will attend the board meeting on your behalf.”

─That’s what they say.

Vito frowned.

─Well, Jedrick is Jedrick. That’s not really why I called you.

It was a bit unexpected.

What if it wasn’t Jedric but something else?

─There is a group that is stirring up Libra.

“A group… you mean?”

─Yes. A man and a woman who call each other ‘Candy’ and ‘Jelly’.

It was Soliet and my double identity.

I tried my best to keep my composure.

“What are they stirring up and how?”

─I’m digging through Industry’s past research labs. I killed one of the balancers. Despite their childish names, Candy and Jelly, they’re actually quite capable.

“… … This is a serious matter.”

─That’s right.

I stared at Vito’s hologram.

“But why are they digging into the lab? Is it because of the artificial intelligence? Or… … is it because of the homunculi?”

I asked Vito as directly as possible.

If I go around and around here, it seems like it’ll take too long to reach my destination.

─Hmm?

The holographic Vito glanced at me. His eyes suddenly widened.

─You seem to know a lot.

“Because I am a person who supports Libra.”

Vito narrowed his eyes and chuckled.

─Yes. I also know about Mr. Zion’s status. But I don’t know why those man and woman are bothering us… … By the way. You follow Zia, right?

“Yes, that’s right.”

─Then, about the homunculus… …

He paused for a moment and then chuckled.

─Please catch Teia Isil first. After all, my relationship with Jedrick was ruined because of that woman.

It was a kind of quest.

─Well then, I’ll tell you. What you need to protect yourself from. Is that possible?

Vito asked suspiciously, but I nodded immediately.

“It’s a matter of time.”

It was something I was going to do anyway.

Also, it was something that would end quickly.

* * *

I know the names of the so-called ‘comrades’ who belong to [Bancheon]. I know the ones who betrayed them especially well.

They betray the future, the past, and the present. From the beginning, they are the ones who think of ‘ideology’ as a means of making money.

The method to recruit such people is simple.

Carrots and sticks are enough.

“… … .”

Now, I am in the mansion of the Bancheon cadre. The interior is quite spacious and neat.

For someone who advocates radical parliamentary abolition and absolute equality, he’s very modern, up-to-date and fancy.

There are even some artworks visible, probably loot stolen during terrorist attacks.

Squeak──

I think I waited for about 6 hours.

When the sun had set the door opened.

“ha.”

He must have had a tough day, because he came into the living room sighing and found me.

“What kind of guy is this!”

“hello.”

The startled man pulled out the sword from his waist, but I smiled kindly.

“Mr. Berghon.”

A tall prosecutor in his mid-30s with hair styled dandy. He stands at about 190 cm tall.

“… …Who are you? How do you know my name-”

“Or should I call you ‘Guts’?”

His eyes grew wide.

By the way, ‘Baejjangi’ is the guy’s [Bancheon] code name.

“I am Zion Ascal of Libra.”

“… … .”

“You guys, you’ve done something big in Ortu this time.”

I smiled and nodded at the sofa.

“Would you like to sit down? I hope you don’t choose the difficult path.”

Berhon didn’t say anything. He observed my expression and slowly put his sword away.

“… … What do you wish for?”

Then he sits on the sofa.

I nodded with satisfaction.

“I thought you were someone who could communicate well.”

Berghon chuckled.

“If I know your name.”

“thank god.”

“But Ortu, I was against it. If you make a fuss so directly, it will draw aggro… …like it is now.”

Of course, he seemed quite dissatisfied with the current [Bancheon].

“I know. Mr. Bergon is a man who is open to negotiation. That’s why I came to see you.”

“… … Room for negotiation? No, how can I be a half-heaven-”

“This is what matters.”

I thudded down my suitcase.

“Dear Mr. Bergon, I would like to ask you a favor.”

It’s full of cash. Probably around 5 million renminbi.

“Please bring me the Teia Ishil document inside [Bancheon].”

Then Berghon frowned.

“What is Teia Isil? That woman is not Bancheon.”

I opened my eyes wide. He chuckled.

“Did I get the wrong idea?”

“No. If you don’t know, I see, that woman is Bancheon.”

“What… … Ah.”

Bergon seemed to understand what I meant belatedly.

I took out a few photos from my bosom.

“Riley, that guy was Bancheon. He was an insider of Libra. I, too, was fooled for a moment.”

A photo of Riley and Theia Ishil in one frame. This photo was taken by Growl himself, taking advantage of the moment when the two interacted with each other.

Bergon glared at it and replied.

“It could be a photo taken by chance.”

“That’s why I’m asking you. If you can just link this photo with internal evidence, it can be used as evidence.”

“… … .”

Bergon looked at me. I continued speaking with a smile on my face.

“Neither this photo nor the internal document that Mr. Bergon gave me would have any meaning on their own, but together they become meaningful.”

“… … I guess that’s true.”

“Yes, Mr. Bergon, just create the document and hand it over to us.”

“What if I don’t do it?”

“You will become our enemy. Right now.”

I pointed at Bergon with my finger.

If you don’t consent, it means you will be killed immediately.

Berhon licked his lips as if he was thinking about it, but it was a very short thought.

“… … I don’t have much of a choice. The fact that you know me means that someone has already reported me.”

“Well, you can think that way.”

He shrugged. Then I took out the picture I had hidden behind my back.

It was a painting by a famous artist, brought directly from Libra Art School.

“Please consider this a gift.”

For a moment, Bergon’s eyes sparkled like stars.

As always, he was a disgustingly honest guy, then and now.

* * *

──Jedrick, locked in a detention center, waits for certain days while withering away day by day. He even marks the days on his calendar in an unexpected manner, looking forward to the regular ‘delicacy’.

“Your Majesty, Jedric.”

Finally, today.

A guard appeared from beyond the detention center.

“This is an interview.”

A smile appeared on Jedrick’s lips without him knowing it.

He came out and walked down the hallway.

Now, there are no handcuffs. Even the solitary confinement cells are equipped with TVs, internet, and even luxury beds.

It’s a completely different scene from right after he was imprisoned, and this is the power of ‘time’ and ‘power’.

While Jedrick was locked up in the detention center, numerous celebrity dating rumors, drug and assault articles, etc. broke out. It was a plan that Zion Ascal had personally explained to himself.

He got hold of a lot of very provocative news from somewhere and passed it on to the press, and thanks to that, the outside attention on Jedrick gradually decreased.

Very clever way, what a capable guy.

“It’s him.”

“okay…….”

Jedrick arrived at the interview room and smiled with satisfaction,

“… … Nice to meet you, older brother?”

Oman-sang’s face distorted at the sight of an unexpected opponent.

“Why are you here?”

Jahanna. She smiled at Jedrick, roughly brushing back her dried hair.

“What? I came to visit you as your younger sibling.”

Then he looked Jedrick up and down in his uniform. Jedrick had a dog-like expression on his face, as if he was dying of joy.

“I won’t accept it.”

Jedrick turned around, but the guard stopped him.

“… … Ah, Lord Jedric. There is one more person. The meeting with Lord Jahanna was suddenly arranged… … ”

“One more?”

“yes.”

That was when.

The door to the interview room opened.

Jedrick swallowed reflexively, and Jahanna waved her hand without even looking in his direction.

“Okay. Hey, guard. Tell everyone else to go back.”

Yet another interviewer, who had been trudging towards her, suddenly stood next to her.

“… … Princess Jahanna?”

I called Jahanna.

“!”

“I won’t accept it.”

Jedrick turned around, but the guard stopped him.

“… … Ah, Lord Jedric. There is one more person. The meeting with Lord Jahanna was suddenly arranged… … ”

“One more?”

“yes.”

That was when.

The door to the interview room opened.

Jedrick swallowed reflexively, and Jahanna waved her hand without even looking in his direction.

“Okay. Hey, guard. Tell everyone else to go back.”

Yet another interviewer, who had been trudging towards her, suddenly stood next to her.

“… … Princess Jahanna?”

I called Jahanna.

“!”

At that voice, Jahanna’s eyes opened wide, and Jedrick smacked his lips.

“… … .”

Jahanna turned her head away without saying a word, as if trembling.

There he was. The man she had been consciously avoiding. It had been so long since she had seen his face. Their eyes met. Her heart pounded and her cheeks flushed.

On the other hand, Jedrick looked at the lunchbox he was holding in his two hands. Likewise, his heart pounded, his cheeks flinched, and his lips became moist and flushed.

Both were very unconscious physical reactions.