TCWGRF 30

From panting to ragged breaths. But nothing would change.

‘Well, I’ll be. I didn’t know it would be this difficult.’

Rebels, no. Walter had never put so much effort into finding a single person, not even for any criminal.

He reviewed various documents not only from the Security Department but also secretly obtained ones from other departments, and investigated whether he might have died during the process of entering from the outside by meeting directly with the gatekeepers and those in charge of transport to see if any unidentified bodies had been reported in the past three months.

In the process, the way other departments viewed the movements of the Security Department turned ominous, but an order had come down from the Superintendent General to gather as much information as possible without being mindful of others, so there was no need to be cautious.

‘This is tricky. Really.’

The task of finding a fictional friend was easier, in comparison. If only because there were many individuals who could be specified.

On the other hand, the information on the person named ‘Asher’ was far too scarce. There was no way to know what identity he used to infiltrate the city, which sector he entered, whether he had entered at all, or if he had died in a sewer or a garbage dump, and the only characteristic that had to be cross-referenced was the teardrop-shaped mole said to be on his ankle.

It was a good thing he had meticulously examined Vincent’s wife’s body before it decomposed; otherwise, he would not have even known what shape the mole was and would have had to look at everything from the corpses to the ankles of those on the list of suspects.

‘Should I say it’s a complete dead end… Ah. No, wait. There was something that young man told me.’

The prisoner who had tried to deceive him, that is, the young man held captive in the official residence, had clearly lost the will to dream of escape or to hatch schemes with lies, even to Walter’s casual eye.

Unlike at the beginning, his eyes held no glimmer of hope, like a death row inmate who had been given his execution date, and he barely ate, only forcing himself to stuff food down his throat when dusk fell, unable to postpone it any longer.

The silhouette revealed through his shirt had become much thinner, and it was obvious at a glance that he had lost quite a bit of weight. It was likely largely due to his superior attempting a new form of torture on the prisoner.

Before that, countless guests had frequented the official residence day after day, but since the prisoner had been placed there, no one could be brought over, so in a way, it was an expected outcome.

No matter how much he insisted he was not a rebel, he was not innocent either, having infiltrated the city by impersonating someone else. Normally, he would have suffered all sorts of torture in the basement before becoming a corpse, so this was a better path for the young man.

To have one’s death postponed and even have a friend looked for was a kindness one could rarely experience. Besides, wasn’t he still alive with all his limbs intact?

Observing the prisoner who grew weaker by the day, a slight sense of pity arose, but Walter was a citizen born in the city, a police officer, and the Superintendent General’s adjutant.

The paltry pity was momentary, and it was more important to think according to his position and role.

The prisoner, when Walter came to question him for the investigation, told him many things, unlike with ‘Luke’.

In a hoarse voice, he mumbled about how the shape of his hair when it fluttered in the wind resembled a cloud, how the corners of his eyes narrowed slowly when he laughed, how he often said ‘I forgot’ or ‘I’m sorry’ with a soft laugh.

Like a person in love, like someone longing for a lover, he mumbled so with a smile all over his face.

However, such descriptions, aside from giving the conviction that this time it was real, were overly subjective and not particularly helpful, except for a few clear details like hair color and height.

In fact, it had been better when he had asked him to find the fake friend. Laying out a long list of information that could change depending on the observer would only add confusion to the search.

‘He’s probably alive, right?’

Walter had first tried to scrape together any evidence that ‘Asher’ was dead, but nothing came back. Now, all that was left was to search under the assumption that he was alive.

With only a rough composite sketch, it would take quite some time to evade various eyes and search each sector and back alley.

But his superior’s patience was not that long, so he had to bring back results as soon as possible.

His heart was anxious and time was short. Walter decided to temporarily delegate the bothersome tasks he had originally been in charge of, like taking care of the prisoner, to others, and to devote himself entirely to this task.

---

“Guns, swords, knives, and other items that can be used as weapons must all be left here before entering.”

Though not as grand as the Capitol building, Samuel entered the heavily guarded building, which could be said to be its equal within the city, alone, without even an adjutant.

From the entrance to the interior, everyone except the guards was unarmed, yet the atmosphere was as sharp as a knife. Twice as many employees as the Security Department, no, three times as many, were coming and going in the corridors, but their footsteps fell in perfect unison, and no one was making small talk.

“…Welcome to the Ministry of Political Affairs. Superintendent General Samuel.”

Only after placing the pistol tucked into his waistband and a small self-defense knife on the prepared platform could Samuel receive a formal welcome and guidance from the Minister of Political Affairs’ secretary.

The Ministry of Political Affairs and the Security Department were no different in that they were organizations responsible for countless tasks within the city, but the grandeur of their buildings and the status of the departments were polar opposites.

A place that wielded raw power feared by all, hidden in the shadows, and a place that held tangible power distributing bread, medicine, oil, and coal, which all citizens looked up to and were endlessly grateful for, were bound to be different.

In particular, the magnificent buildings built on the largest site among the departments, despite the Capitol being close by, the landscaping trimmed to extreme symmetry, and the splendid fountains seemed to reflect the glory of the city in its entirety.

The difference between it and the Security Department headquarters, which used a stiff, square building divided into small chicken-coop-like spaces and was barely situated on the outskirts of the city where dusty sand blew, was like heaven and earth.

The person who had invited Samuel today was a formidable being who, while residing on the top floor of this massive and intricately designed building, could control the city down to its very fringes as he pleased.

If there was one and only commonality with the Security Department, it was that the interior decoration of the floor where the Minister of Political Affairs resided was also very modest.

Such simplicity, like its owner who maintained frugality amidst the politicians adorned in layer upon layer of finery, not allowing for any empty space, seemed rather incongruous and conspicuous.

“He is waiting for you inside.”

When the door opened, a vast yet simple office unfolded before his eyes, containing only a desk placed alone in the wide space, like the domain the Ministry of Political Affairs could interfere in within the city, and two sofas for guests.

“Superintendent General Samuel.”

“Mr. Gideon.”

The old man with a small frame and sun-tanned bronze skin, unconcerned by his great status, rose to his feet to personally greet Samuel, who was an insignificant being compared to him.

“Please sit here.”

As soon as they sat facing each other on the guided sofas, Gideon, with a good-natured smile, got straight to the point.

“Lately, there have been many complaints from within that you and your adjutants have been poking around the Ministry of Political Affairs for unclear reasons. For my part, I have no choice but to make such a gesture at least once before the resentment grows louder. Heh heh.”

This much was expected. Currently, the Security Department, led by Sarah and Walter, was investigating everyone related to Asher and Vincent indiscriminately.

So there was no way it would not reach the ears of the Minister of Political Affairs, and he was not unaware that he would be summoned before long and asked for an explanation. So Samuel first responded with a relaxed smile.

“I was planning to visit you anyway. We recently received reliable intelligence about the rebels and needed the Ministry of Political Affairs’ cooperation.”

“……You boasted that you would root out the rebels within the city, but it seems it’s not as easy as you thought. Is that right?”

Gideon took a slurp of the tea in front of him and, after a slight pause, caught him off guard.

For him, a good-natured smile was a means to hide his true intentions. From his expression alone, it was difficult to tell how much he knew about the Security Department’s situation, or if he was simply probing with a meaningful remark. The corners of Samuel’s eyes were narrowing slightly to see through his opponent.

“Haha, relax. I have no doubt that you will keep your word. I also believe you will achieve accomplishments incomparable to past Superintendent Generals.”

“Is that so.”

“However, if you just go around poking your nose into everything while keeping it all a secret, you will inevitably make enemies. Don’t you think so?”

Samuel judged that the other man knew more than he thought. Gideon was always like that. It was better to admit the truth in front of him rather than hide anything.

“…A key figure of the rebels has entered the city.”

“I suppose so. You don’t have to tell me everything.”

At the sight of the other man waving his hand dismissively and lowering his gaze, Samuel closed his mouth and waited for him to speak his next words.

“I have been watching you for quite a long time. You are from the outside, but you are more like a citizen than those who were born and raised here. Because you instinctively hide anything that could become a weakness and wear multiple layers of masks to easily disguise yourself.”

“……”

“Others have already caught the scent. What the Security Department’s true intentions are, who they want to find. There are many who wish for the downfall of the current Superintendent General, so wouldn’t it be better to be careful?”

The meeting arranged by Gideon today was not simply to quell the complaints of the Ministry of Political Affairs’ staff. It was to give a stern warning to the Superintendent General, who was surrounded by enemies on all sides and was in danger of having his head fly off with the slightest carelessness.

“If you need my help, let me know. You have many enemies, but I am worried that you have few allies. You should at least hold onto one lifeline that will save you in the final moment. It will be troublesome if you live so recklessly, with no thought for tomorrow.”

“I am nothing but grateful that you would go so far as to say that.”

Looking at Gideon extending a helping hand with a benevolent expression, Samuel hid his suspicious look within his words of gratitude.

Even if he extended a hand before him and promised salvation, there were no true allies in the city. Everyone was an enemy competing to secure the limited resources and the positions allowed only to a few. Gideon, who only seemed benevolent, would be no different.

“As long as you understand. It’s not polite to hold onto the busiest person in the city and talk for too long.”

At the gentle suggestion to leave, Samuel rose from his seat, bowed his waist in a farewell, and was about to move away when Gideon clapped his hands as if he had suddenly remembered something important.

“Oh, my. Look at my memory.”

Samuel, who had almost reached the door, turned his body to look towards Gideon to hear the remaining words. The other man’s lips were twisted into a meaningful line.

“It would be best to deal with that secret taste you’re hiding in the official residence before it becomes a weakness.”

“……”

“Heh heh, the rumor is already widespread. That you’ve got someone you’re head over heels for.”