Chapter 276: The Train That Won’t Stop (3)
Trickle──
Red wine filled the glass.
When I took a sip, Yvette took one as well.
“By the way. What do they teach you at Empire Point?”
This woman was very interested in Empire Point.
“…….”
I looked down at my glass and closed my eyes for a moment.
“……Things I’d rather not remember.”
“But memories are precious, aren’t they?”
Her gaze settled on my fingertips.
I gave a bitter smile.
“……We learned the value of the Aran people and the Empire’s mission.”
I continued, pretending to reminisce about the not-so-distant past.
“We didn’t get much sleep during training.”
“So you like your sleep?”
“……Yes.”
A soft smile spread across Yvette’s lips.
She had completely misjudged what kind of person I was.
“You look like you do. What else?”
I told her a little more about life at Empire Point. Pre-dawn runs, Maximilian’s 「Under the Moonlight」, the other textbooks, and the hellish training.
I carefully laid out the life of a man named Paul.
“Did you really have to quit?”
She swirled her wineglass as she watched my reflection in the window.
“My classmates all had clear goals. But I was…… like a buoy drifting on the water.”
To some extent, I meant it. I was talking about myself before the Regression. These were things I had wanted to say to the Maximilian I had been back then.
“Not knowing what I wanted.”
I had always been swept along, and I had been afraid. I sat where someone else told me to sit and said only what someone else told me to say.
“Not knowing what I wanted to have.”
A life carried wherever the current pushed me, unable to anchor myself anywhere, without a single thing I had chosen for myself.
As Sebestian had put it, a weakling who was hardly worthy of being called his son.
“…….”
Her gaze moved from the window to my face.
I asked weakly.
“Don’t you think I’m pathetic?”
“……No.”
Yvette shook her head.
“Most people are like that. If anything, people who go through life with a clear purpose are far rarer.”
Her voice quietly softened.
“Most people lose their dreams at some point. Even knowing they’re the most precious thing they have, they give up on them or let them go themselves.”
Yvette gave a small smile.
“To be with someone they love. Because they run up against the realities of life. Because they’re too tired to keep pushing themselves…….”
She finished the rest of her wine.
“……It’s not because they’re weak or pathetic. If anything, it means they’ve grown stronger. Giving something up takes courage too. It means they now have a present they’re willing to give up their dream for.”
I mulled over her words before quietly asking.
“……What about you, Ms. Yvette? Do you have a dream?”
For a moment, her expression clouded. Resting her chin on one hand, she looked at me.
“Sergeant Paul. You suspect me, don’t you?”
I considered how to answer.
This was a battle of wits. I still had the advantage by far, but I couldn’t let my guard down. This woman was the kind of person who could make almost anything sound believable just because of how she looked.
“……Yes. How did you know?”
She smiled faintly and pointed at me.
“You’re not open. Not your shoulders. Not your chest. Not your posture. Everything about you is tightly closed off.”
Then she added.
“Then may I ask why you suspect me?”
“…….”
I toyed with my glass, then raised an eyebrow.
“The fact that someone like you asked someone like me to have a drink with you was suspicious from the start.”
“……Hm?”
She blinked.
She stared blankly, blinking as if she needed a long time to process what I had said, then burst out laughing rather loudly.
…….
The passage through the freight car of the North Express「Eisenhorn」. The rendezvous point.
“Hey, you bastard. Where the hell have you been?”
Gewin immediately laid into me for arriving a little late.
“I was investigating something for a bit.”
“It’s past midnight. What the hell were you investigating…… Hey, more importantly, we’re saying I caught this guy, got it? I’ll put your name in the report later, but…….”
Gewin pointed at the corpse covered with cloth.
“Sure. That’s fine.”
At that, Gewin looked slightly embarrassed.
“Try showing up on time from now on, punk.”
He seemed satisfied now that I had handed him the credit.
Thud── Thud──
Suddenly, footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.
Gewin flinched and ducked behind me, and I asked him.
“……Chief Inspector?”
“You said you went to Empire Point, didn’t you, punk?”
Gewin shoved me forward.
Before I knew it, I was standing in front, facing whoever was approaching.
Thud── Thud──
Two silhouettes drew nearer. The faint outlines of two men’s shoulders emerged from the gloom.
I called out the agreed challenge phrase first.
“Got a cigarette?”
Thud── Thud──
No answer.
Thud── Thud──
The two men approached with their hands behind their backs, exuding an air of authority.
I rested my hand on my holster.
“If you don’t-”
“I do have whiskey, though.”
One of the men gave the countersign as he stepped into view.
Once we had confirmed they were allies, Gewin stepped forward as if he had never hidden in the first place.
“……Why are there so many faces I don’t recognize? Chief Inspector Gewin, Georgen Central.”
Gewin held out his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you. Sergeant Elmer of the Northern Branch.”
“Likewise, Chief Inspector Borch of the Northern Branch.”
I looked at them.
Two Georgen agents from the Northern Branch introduced themselves.
Thump──
One of them was an Ezenheim.
“I see you’ve heard about Master.”
Chief Inspector Borch smiled. I quietly repeated his name to myself.
“First of all. It’s certain that Master is aboard this train.”
Borch stated it with certainty.
Gewin asked.
“Really?”
“Yes. We still don’t know Master’s objective, though.”
Chief Inspector Borch scratched at his neck as he spoke.
“We do have to catch Master before this train stops, don’t we?”
I quietly studied him.
***
“Clever bastard~”
In the passenger-car restroom, Yvette adjusted her eyelashes and chuckled to herself.
“Yeah~ like I’d ever hang around with a bastard like you~”
‘Sergeant Paul. At least the bastard knows his place. He’s not bad-looking, but that’s about all he has going for him. There’s something a little off about his jaw. Basically, he’s just an ordinary guy who’d count himself lucky to meet a goddess like me even once in his life.’
“Ha~ But maybe he’s just fucking stupid…….”
‘Still, he could at least play along when I’m willing to give him the time of day. I’ve never met a guy who couldn’t even bring himself to touch me.’
Swipe, swipe.
After applying her lipstick, she left the restroom.
As she walked down the passage.
──Bump.
She lightly brushed against someone. ‘He’ quickly passed by her, and after casting a sidelong glance at his back, Yvette returned to her compartment in the Salon Car as if nothing had happened.
The compartment Halbert Goering had booked separately for her.
There, she took out the note that had just been slipped into her inner pocket.
[ At 3 a.m. Plant a bomb at the connection to the first-class car, and detonate it when the train enters the fourth tunnel. ]
[ The rendezvous point afterward is the inn「White Wolf」in downtown Lacorta in the north. ]
It was a Directive.
Clack— Clack—
As the train swayed, the light flashed in her eyes.
…….
Clack— Clack—
Master sat alone, deep in thought.
Of the comrades, ‘Lilac’ was dead. Killed all too easily by Chief Inspector Gewin.
That left four.
Master had sent each of them a different Directive and rendezvous point.
‘Lily’s’ rendezvous point:「White Wolf Inn」
‘Thistle’s’ rendezvous point:「Downtown Winter Park」
‘Mistletoe’s’ rendezvous point:「Northern 3rd Port」
‘Daffodil’s’ rendezvous point:「Ked University Old Building」
If one of them was a Mole, the Directive would leak and eventually make its way back to Master.
Which Directive leaked, and how, would reveal which one of them was Georgen’s Mole.
“…….”
Master waited in silence.
Clack— Clack—
The goal was to dispose of the Spy selling information about the revolution to the Empire, and to rescue ‘him’ who was being detained in the north.
…….
Clack— Clack—
Lily, Yvette, lay awake staring at the ceiling.
“…….”
She quietly sank into thought.
A beauty that transcended both class and era. And with it, charm at the absolute pinnacle—according to herself. The reason she had joined the Revolutionary forces was…….
Because things like status, noble birth, low birth, and all the rest were boring.
Because stealing people’s souls was boring too.
She had effectively been born into slavery. The daughter of a tenant farmer and a maid. For someone of such low birth, beauty had been a sin and a burden.
A potbellied nobleman had taken notice of her, and her mother and father had risked their lives fleeing to save her, but unfortunately, both had died.
……Even that life story was boring now.
Maybe the Empire would have to be turned halfway upside down before anything became interesting again.
“Hmm…….”
Lily rose from her seat and prepared to carry out the Directive.
Clack— Clack—
The train was arranged in the following order: [Engine Room]─[Fuel Car]─[Freight Car]─[Third-Class Car]─[Second-Class Car]─ [Dining Car]─[First-Class Car]─[Salon Car].
Therefore, if the connection between the Dining Car and the First-Class Car was severed, Goering and all the VIPs would be left behind on the tracks at once.
‘While everyone’s attention is drawn to them, we’ll escape with the agreed-upon cargo and head north.’
“Shall I get going~”
She left the Salon Car and strolled down the corridor.
She wore shoes that made no sound, though she made no particular effort to conceal herself.
Click—
She installed a Mana Stone Bomb on the coupling between the [First-Class Car] and [Dining Car], connected it to the Detonator, and had just turned away when a voice called out.
“Who’s there?”
A flashlight suddenly shone on her.
“…….”
Lily calmly turned toward it.
A man.
Men were manageable.
“What are you doing out here at this hour?”
“……Just taking a walk. I was feeling too cooped up.”
Lily looked toward him with a smile.
Even so, the man opposite her remained perfectly calm.
──Thud. Thud.
He strode closer and spoke to her.
“Your ticket and Genealogy Certificate, please.”
“……Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first? Are you really railway staff?”
“Ah. Of course. Here.”
He handed over his identification. Georgen Northern Branch Chief Inspector ‘Borch’.
He was quite a big shot, one even Lily knew by name.
“……Yes. Here.”
When she handed over her Genealogy Certificate, Borch quickly scanned it.
“Would you mind if I searched you?”
‘……This fucking son of a bitch. This fucking bastard. Should I just stab him to death?’
Yvette forced herself to smile.
“Search me?”
“Yes.”
A body search.
There was a bomb attached to the ceiling of the passage, and Lily had the Detonator inside her clothes.
Clack— Clack—
Just then, they passed through the first tunnel.
She gave a small smile.
“Isn’t a clean Genealogy Certificate enough?”
“Just in case. It’ll be quick.”
“Sorry, but-”
“I’m more sorry.”
Thud. Borch shoved her.
“What do you think you’re-”
“It’ll be quick.”
He pressed her against the wall and was about to reach for her when a voice rang out nearby.
“──That’s enough.”
Yvette looked toward it. So did Borch.
“I’ve already inspected her.”
──Thud.
Another Georgen agent strode down the corridor as if he meant to crush the floor beneath his feet.
Paul Berg.
“Let her go. Even Georgen doesn’t have the right to search a civilian whose identity has already been confirmed whenever it pleases.”
“…….”
Chief Inspector Borch looked Paul up and down. His mouth twisted in disbelief.
“Sergeant Paul. There’s a considerable difference between our ranks-”
“You should make it to Central before you start talking like that.”
Chief Inspector and Sergeant. Borch was far higher in rank.
But what about the difference between the Northern Branch and Central?
On top of that, Paul was from Empire Point.
“…….”
“…….”
Borch glared silently at Paul, and Paul did not look away. Yvette quietly watched the two men’s battle of wills.
‘Go, Paul. Go, Paul.’
“……Sergeant Paul. Are you sure about this? I heard today was the first time you’d even met Chief Inspector Gewin.”
What Borch meant was, ‘You’ve got no one backing you.’
Instead of answering, Paul pointed toward Yvette.
“This lady is an acquaintance of Sir Halbert Goering.”
Borch’s expression grew more serious.
“If this is how you treat Sir Goering’s acquaintances, there could be trouble later.”
Only then did Borch seem to think it over, drawing a deep breath.
“……I see.”
He released Yvette and smiled.
“If her identity has already been confirmed, and she’s a guest in the Salon Car…… perhaps there’s no need for another inspection.”
Thud, thud.
Borch walked over to Paul and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Still, it’s best not to get too cocky. The Northern Branch isn’t like Central.”
“……”
The words were whispered. Paul met Borch’s smiling eyes.
“Carry on, then.”
Before long, Borch walked away, and Yvette approached in his place.
She lightly brushed off Paul’s stiff shoulder.
“I guess you knew I was with Sir Goering.”
“Yes. It was written right there when I checked your ticket in the first place.”
“Oh my.”
Yvette covered her mouth with one hand. Paul smiled faintly and glanced toward the other end of the corridor.
“Go get some rest now.”
“……Will you be all right? That Borch is notorious in the north.”
“He’s from the Northern Branch anyway. Central and the Northern Branch are different.”
He was brimming with confidence when it came to things like this. Then again, just thinking about the value of his family’s land had to be staggering.
A rich kid from an affluent neighborhood who had attended Empire Point. He was starting to look more impressive than she had expected.
Clack──!
The train gave a violent jolt.
Yvette kept count as she looked out the window. They had just entered the second tunnel.
“By the way, Mr. Paul. Aren’t you going to do it?”
“……Do what?”
Yvette pressed herself right up against him and slightly opened her coat.
“The body search.”
Paul’s cheeks instantly turned red.
“Uh…… well…… I…….”
She watched him turn as red as a tomato and stumble over his words.
“Too late now~”
She closed her coat again and scampered away.
As expected, he still couldn’t make a move. All he could do was stare longingly at her retreating back, and Yvette found it hilarious.
***
After finishing my inquiries, I returned to the freight car. Gewin was sitting there reading some sort of notebook.
“……Hey, Paul. I hear you’ve gotten yourself bewitched by a woman.”
“Mm…… It was part of the investigation.”
“Part of the investigation, my ass. I saw it myself, you know?”
Gewin cleared his throat and rose from his seat.
“She was pretty, I’ll give you that. But you’d better not mess with her. You know Halbert Goering, right? Looks like he’s the one who brought her.”
“……I know.”
“If you know, then leave her alone. More importantly.”
Snap. Gewin closed the notebook. At that moment, a man appeared from behind him.
Gewin said.
“……This guy is our spy inside the Revolutionary forces.”
“Pardon?”
“A Spy inside the Revolutionary forces.”
I looked at him. An ordinary-looking man dressed as a railway employee. The same face I had seen patrolling the train and checking tickets.
“……Nice to meet you. Codename Thistle. My real name is ‘Peter’.”
Thistle removed his hat and held it in his hands.
“First, let me make this clear. I don’t know all their faces.”
Gewin frowned slightly.
“You don’t?”
“No. The Revolutionary forces operate as a Cell Network. Of the six people taking part in this operation, I only know the faces of two.”
I looked at him and asked.
“Are you selling them out to us because you’ve defected?”
At the word defected, Thistle gave a bitter smile.
“……The Revolutionary forces do the same things as the Empire they curse. Even if I carry out every mission they give me, I get jack shit for it.”
By contrast, the hometown he had secretly visited sometime the previous week was full of life now, despite once having had nothing to eat. Radios played, everyone gathered at the theater, and children ate buns filled with sweet red bean paste…….
“Even the Revolutionary forces discriminate against us by blood. Just as the Empire doesn’t trust Subspecies, the Revolutionary forces say they can’t entrust important duties to Pure Aran…….”
At that, Gewin snorted. I probably wore a similar expression.
“Ha. That’s right. It’s ridiculous. I don’t even know what the revolution is for anymore. Even the bastards who call themselves comrades only talk about things that feel impossibly far removed from our lives.”
The ideology of the Revolutionary forces. No one should be discriminated against because of race. The things one was born with could never be a crime. Whether Aran, Mer, or Ezenheim, everyone possessed rights granted by heaven.
Natural Rights of Man.
It was an obvious truth, but at that very moment, most members of the Revolutionary forces were going hungry and might be caught and killed by the Empire the very next day.
Obvious truths did not fill empty stomachs.
“So I figured that if I handed over Master, I could get what I wanted.”
“So.”
I asked him.
“What do you want?”
After all, I was the one who could give him what he wanted.
Thistle swallowed hard.
“A new identity and money. Enough to live on for the rest of my life…… or at least half a lifetime.”
“Master’s bounty is three million Imperial Dollars. That’s plenty. Hand over the Directive note first.”
“……Here.”
At Gewin’s words, Thistle handed over the note.
The Directive he had received read:
Set fire to the Third-Class Car. Afterward, rendezvous at「Downtown Winter Park」.
“Money is one thing, but about my safety-”
“Wait.”
I cut him off.
There was something more important.
“Did you give Chief Inspector Borch the same Directive you gave us?”
Thistle thought for a moment before answering.
“……Yes.”
“…….”
I looked down at the note containing his Directive.
“……You can trust Borch, punk. That man’s put away hundreds of subversives. Even in the north, people call him a devil and an asshole.”
Gewin seemed to have caught my implication, but his judgment was wrong.
Chief Inspector Borch of Georgen’s Northern Branch.
He was an Ezenheim.
Rumble──!
At that moment, the train shook violently.
The North Express「Eisenhorn」had emerged from the long tunnel.
~~~
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