Ch.200Chapter 21. The Art of Deceiving Each Other (12)

Inside the car heading to the heliport.

Virginia was fuming. It was so hot that even with the windows wide open and her front buttons undone, flapping in the breeze, the heat wouldn’t subside.

The aide-de-camp, stealing glances at Virginia through the rearview mirror, simultaneously thought, ‘She’s beautiful even when angry,’ and recalled the directive: ‘To save fuel, air conditioning is absolutely prohibited unless in active combat.’

The aide was grateful for that directive. Thanks to the uniform clinging tightly to her body, Virginia’s figure was clearly visible. Though a woman herself, the aide thought Virginia had a beautiful body she’d really like to touch.

Of course, Virginia remained completely oblivious to the aide’s lingering gaze.

‘Again.’

‘I’ve been outmaneuvered.’

Just the thought of ‘being outmaneuvered’ was enough to make her blood boil, but adding ‘again’ was unbearable. Virginia simply couldn’t accept it.

What does that man have? Does he have a cause as noble as Virginia’s? Is he preparing to fight for what’s right? Does he have the ability to envision a better future?

No. He’s just a mad dog driven by instinct. Yet that dog is stealing what belongs to Virginia, taking it away, and ruining everything.

‘Johan? Johan, is it? That must be an alias too! You! You always…! Where the hell did you come from?!’

Virginia wasn’t one to broadcast her actions. The more you hide your cards, the more effective they become.

‘Someone like him shouldn’t exist anywhere in this world!’

If he were a Römer agent, Virginia would have known.

Could he be from Minsk?

That possibility was infinitesimally small. After personally interrogating Minsk’s mercenaries, it was clear their situation wasn’t good either. It made no sense that they would have such a skilled agent and not utilize him.

The Elsa Restoration faction?

That possibility had also been eliminated recently, following an interview with a former Elsa intelligence officer who had voluntarily sought her out.

‘There was no one like him in intelligence, Your Excellency. If such a person had existed, Elsa would never have lost its country. Unless there was internal strife.’

So where did he come from? From across the ocean? Those people were clearly of a different race. That couldn’t be it. Besides, the lands across the ocean were Römer territory…

Beep. Beep. No caller ID. She ignored it. A short text message arrived.

– This will be the last contact.

Beep.

“This is Virginia.”

– You’ve chosen your husband well, Virginia.

Her father’s voice sounded quite cheerful—the fake brightness he used when about to reject someone. Virginia clenched her fist.

– Thanks to you, all marriage proposals have been withdrawn. And that’s not all! The other in-laws are in an uproar too. How could you have such a shameful daughter, they say!

– If you had married a handsome actor or singer, I wouldn’t be this angry. But of all people, that male prostitute-looking bastard…! During the war, I should have just left him to die in the bombing in Minsk!

Tick.

It was as if a clock hand moved inside Virginia’s head. Click. Click. The gears slowly rotated, and everything fell into place.

“Senator Helford of Römer!”

– What did you say?!

“Senator Helford of Römer! I am Virginia Helford, Acting President of Elsa!”

– Ah. Oh. No. Acting President, yes. But not Helford. I’m expelling you from the Helford family.

Virginia’s lips trembled. It looked like she was either suppressing laughter or holding back tears. The aide couldn’t hear the conversation but wondered if she should stop the car.

– The unofficial conversation ends now. You’re no longer my daughter, nor a member of the Helford family. You cunning snake, you probably anticipated even this.

– That’s why you dismissed all the close aides I assigned to you and dragged Minsk into war. So that Römer would start another war with Minsk! What you want is war! You’re like a calamity, riding a white horse and calling forth death!

Senator Helford pressed on, barely taking a breath. His tone suggested he had seen through all of Virginia’s cards.

“You knew.”

Virginia asked mockingly.

“You knew what I was going to do. You had countless opportunities to stop me, but you didn’t. You actually encouraged it. Because what Römer ultimately wants is unification. Isn’t that right, Father?”

– Don’t show your lack of education—use the proper title!

“While Minsk and Elsa are at war, Römer won’t deploy troops. Only when the Elsa capital is defiled and they reach the Römer border will you advance, claiming to be on a restoration mission. You know I want to kill you. You know I’ll do anything to achieve that!”

– To think I called someone like you my child!

“You raised me this way. No, you didn’t raise me at all. You dumped me in Minsk and made me rain bombs on the heads of my friends and neighbors! Child? I was a soldier!”

Thanks to the soundproof barrier, the aide could only roll her eyes anxiously. She could see Virginia trembling violently.

‘Should I administer a sedative? But do I have sedatives in the emergency kit? I think I had pills…’

– A child who doesn’t listen gets cast out from the pack. I’m cutting all ties with you now. Officially, I’ll announce that you’re not my daughter. Let’s see if you can keep playing Acting President without the Helford and Römer noble names!

The call ended.

This was the moment Virginia had been waiting for. Everything she had built up until now was for this very moment.

But the timing was wrong.

‘Too early.’

She had anticipated everything. She had considered everything. And that one man had ruined it all.

Virginia would never, ever, ever forgive him.

* * * * *

They arrived at the aviation unit’s heliport. Two helicopter battalions were ready and waiting. An officer ran up and saluted. It was Commander Conlon of Aviation Unit 1.

“At ease. The battalions are all prepared, I assume?”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“Good. I’ll be boarding helicopter number one myself. You’ve been informed of this in advance, so you must know.”

“I do. However, Your Excellency, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Virginia frowned. Conlon was visibly tense. Being “isolated” in any way was never a good thing.

But it had to be said.

“It will only take a moment.”

* * * * *

“Well, good job everyone.”

The video shooting must have finished, so I gave a small round of applause. People outside the camera frame were busily throwing food to the zombies. The fact that every dish contained Kybele Company’s seafood mixed sauce must be a coincidence.

“Thank you, Johan.”

A very healthy male believer stood before me. He said he was the leader of the “faithful” here before I arrived. He’s been infected with my Chro virus for quite some time, but this is his first time seeing me in person.

“I should be thanking you. But I think you should leave this place quickly. It might be dangerous. They’ll soon realize this isn’t Orkon City.”

It’s true. We shot the video in ‘Ria,’ a small city 100km south of Orkon. Famous for its carbonated water and hot springs, as if there’s magma flowing underneath.

“We’ll gladly do so. Thanks to the Baptist coming here, we now have cars, plenty of food, and many medicines to take with us. So, Baptist, won’t you come with us or take us in? I beg you.”

I’d like to, but after provoking Virginia so much, it seems difficult right now. I need to lay low for a while.

“Um, no. I’m sorry. The Baptist…”

If I tell these people my life is in danger and they should stay away, they won’t listen, right?

“This cup of suffering is mine to drink. Instead, you will gain life.”

That sounds more convincing. Seeing the men and women all shedding tears at my words, I must have answered correctly.

“I understand. It can’t be helped. But before you go, please bestow one more blessing. We’ve prepared a warm bath. If you immerse yourself in it, the water will become holy enough… We will drink that water and wash ourselves with it.”

This was much better. I don’t particularly enjoy sleeping around indiscriminately, and while enjoying myself is one thing, it gets confusing when four or five people crowd around. Above all, sometimes men try to join in, which is troublesome to prevent.

That’s why I came up with the group bath idea. I can infect them through water just fine, and being in warm water naturally makes bodies heat up, while wet, moist bodies have plenty of appeal. Perfect conditions for sharing love.

“Let’s do that.”

* * * * *

“It wasn’t Orkon City?”

Virginia’s eyes widened. Commander Conlon showed her satellite maps while explaining earnestly.

“An officer who has lived in Orkon since childhood confirmed, ‘This isn’t Orkon. There’s no place like this in Orkon.'”

“Then where was it filmed?”

“There’s a city called ‘Ria’ about 100km away. It’s a resort famous for its hot springs, and it seems to be somewhere around there. Look at these tourist photos. The building layout and streetlight positions are almost identical. Moreover, the video seems to have been filmed quite some time ago. Based on this, we can estimate that the current location of this Johan is…”