chapter_0176

175 – Creating a Summer Without Mosquitoes

175 – Creating a Summer Without Mosquitoes

Whether he misinterpreted Daniel’s silence, born of bewilderment, Peremilla cried out even more abjectly and desperately.

“If there is anything you desire, I will give you anything! Even the wealth I have accumulated… No! My wealth is already Colonel Daniel’s! I am sorry! I should not have dared to claim ownership…!”

As Peremilla babbled, begging for his life, Daniel was lost in thought.

‘…Who is it?’

He couldn’t figure out who had captured Duke Belvar’s family and sent them to the Central Security Agency.

‘Of course…’

At the point of settling the rebellion, he had indeed ordered the fastest of the Grenadiers to search and track the route Duke Belvar’s family had taken to escape.

If they had found them, a report would have come.

That they had secured the Belvar family and would send them to the Central Security Agency.

But Daniel had never received such a report.

That meant someone had acted arbitrarily to help Daniel Steiner.

‘I should call it a sense of unease. I’ve felt something similar before, but…’

With coincidences piling up, he couldn’t help but think it was inevitable.

‘But even if there is some kind of group helping me, why?’

He couldn’t figure out the reason, but there was no need to kick away the good fortune that had rolled in.

Daniel turned to look at the soldier guarding the Central Security Agency.

“You there.”

The soldier, who had been bewildered by the scene unfolding before him, quickly snapped to attention at Daniel’s call.

“Yes! Chief of Security!”

“Go inside and bring Frien. He’s probably spending time in the underground detention room.”

“Understood!”

The soldier gave a sharp salute, turned, and ran.

Watching him go, Daniel slowly descended the stairs and stood before Peremilla.

The rain falling from the sky was soaking his peaked cap and shoulders, but he didn’t mind.

There was something he wanted to quickly confirm with them.

“Raise your head.”

At Daniel’s words, Peremilla took a breath and raised his head.

With his hair disheveled and his face haggard, it was hard to believe that this man had been the head of a major corporation.

Clicking his tongue, Daniel let out a low breath and said, “Who made you like this?”

“Why, of course, Colonel Daniel…”

“Me?”

A laugh escaped him, incredulous.

The quiet laughter mingled with the heavy rain, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Ceasing his laughter, Daniel spoke again.

“I’ll ask again. Who made you like this?”

Daniel was genuinely asking, but all sorts of thoughts raced through Peremilla’s mind.

After piecing those thoughts together, he came to the conclusion that ‘Daniel doesn’t want his private organization to be exposed to the world.’

Misinterpreting Daniel’s intentions, Peremilla swallowed hard and answered, “My conscience made me like this. Yes. Colonel Daniel is not greatly involved in this matter. I simply came to confess. That’s all.”

Peremilla had tried his best to flatter him, but from Daniel’s perspective, it wasn’t a satisfactory answer.

After a moment of silence, Daniel knelt down on one knee to meet Peremilla’s eye level.

“I think my question was wrong. You must have met them. The organization that caught you trying to escape. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s…”

“Please tell me in detail. What they looked like. How they moved. What they said to you.”

Peremilla, who had been frozen, trembled once and then lowered his head.

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes. Not only were they operating in the dark, but they were also wearing gas masks, so I couldn’t recognize their faces. And their leader…”

His breathing became ragged.

Peremilla, his eyes darting around as if terrified, suddenly grabbed Daniel’s hand.

“I really don’t know anything! Please, spare me! Colonel Daniel Steiner! If you spare me, there will surely be a use for me!”

Watching Peremilla’s behavior, Daniel shook his head.

‘This is wrong.’

He didn’t know what had happened, but Peremilla was not in his right mind.

Judging that there was no more information to be gained, Daniel shook off Peremilla’s hand and stood up.

Just then, Frien walked out through the open door of the Central Security Agency.

Frien spotted Daniel’s back and soon wore a bright smile.

“Ah! Colonel Daniel!”

Frien, who had rushed over, wore a radiant smile.

“I heard you called for me. What did you summon me for? If you want to spend some time alone, could you wait a little? I haven’t finished today’s quota yet.”

Frien was talking casually, but Peremilla and Count Opilo, who saw the scene nearby, couldn’t help but be horrified.

Frien was currently covered in blood.

The blood, which hadn’t dried yet, was flowing clearly from Frien’s uniform, as if he had just finished torturing someone.

The stench of blood was so strong that it cut through the smell of rain, and Opilo reflexively covered his nose.

On the other hand, Daniel, who knew what kind of woman Frien was, merely frowned slightly.

“I’ve told you before, but I wish you would change your clothes when you come out of the detention room. It’s not that I don’t want to see it, but I’m worried about you. Do you know what the police and soldiers of the Central Security Agency are saying about you right now?”

“Are you talking about calling me the Witch of Blood? It’s a little sad. They called me an angel on the battlefield, but how can my reputation change so drastically just because I did a little torturing? Still, I’m a little happy to receive Colonel Daniel’s concern.”

Frien, grinning, felt a little eerie, but he couldn’t hate him.

Unless they had unusual tendencies, the act of torture inflicted mental fatigue on the perpetrator as well.

So, no matter how much of a heinous criminal Duke Belvar was, everyone tended to avoid it.

In the midst of all this, it was Frien who volunteered without a moment’s hesitation.

The purpose was to be of help to Colonel Daniel Steiner.

In short, he volunteered to be helpful, not to see blood.

So, in fact, Frien didn’t enjoy torture as a personality trait.

Of course, he wasn’t sure.

‘…Probably not?’

If he was enjoying it, it would be too scary, so let’s just assume he wasn’t.

Daniel cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Let’s stop with the small talk. Dealing with this matter comes first.”

“If you’re talking about work?”

“Do you see the family of Duke Belvar in front of me?”

“Duke Belvar’s family?”

Frien’s gaze, which had been directed at Daniel, widened.

Frien, who had found Duke Belvar’s family, wore a somewhat surprised expression.

“Is that right? Looking at their faces of despair, I don’t know who they are, but it looks like you’ve done a good job of priming them. It doesn’t look like I’ll have to use my strength.”

To call people ‘primed’ in front of them was a bit much.

It wasn’t grammatically incorrect in context, but the nuance was a bit off, wasn’t it?

“…Colonel? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Frien didn’t seem to notice anything strange, so he decided not to point it out.

“It’s nothing. Frien, take them and make Duke Belvar open his mouth. About how many accomplices are still at large. Make a list of those names and submit it to me. Can you do that?”

Frien nodded.

“It’s an easy task. Even those who grit their teeth and endure their own pain can’t endure the pain of their families. Of course, it would be best to get a confession before such an unfortunate event occurs. Anyway, I might be able to make a list as early as today?”

He smiled involuntarily, happy at the thought of being able to help Daniel.

“Then, everyone in Duke Belvar’s family? Will you follow me?”

Peremilla and his family shook their heads, but they had no choice.

Central Security Agency soldiers were approaching.

“Move! Can’t you hear Frien!”

“Hurry! You’re still acting like nobles, even though you’re the children of traitors!”

“Get up, you bastards!”

As the soldiers yelled, Peremilla and his family rose in fear.

Peremilla glanced at the soldiers as he moved, but also looked at Daniel.

“Colonel Daniel? Please! Not that woman! Please…!”

He didn’t know if Frien’s infamy had reached Peremilla’s ears, but he was beyond disliking her and was almost having a fit.

It was unfortunate, but what could he do?

Entrusting it to Frien was the shortest route to getting a confession from Duke Belvar.

Sending heartfelt condolences in his mind, Daniel turned and climbed the stairs.

As he was taking off his wet Officer’s coat under the eaves, Count Opilo approached.

“C-Chief of Security? I think I might have been mistaken about something. How about the two of you have a serious talk?”

Opilo, having confirmed that the situation had been reversed, was belatedly trying to betray his comrades.

But Daniel no longer needed Opilo’s information.

Duke Belvar would surely have more information than Opilo.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”

Daniel, who had taken off his coat and hung it over his arm, straightened his clothes.

“Count Opilo. Didn’t I tell you? Mosquitoes are stupid creatures.”

The hand that had been checking his sleeves slowly rose and grabbed his tie.

“Especially in that they insist on being stubborn even though they know that angering humans will eventually lead to their death.”

Daniel said, adjusting the position of his tie.

“There won’t be a single mosquito in my house this summer. Because I’m going to make it that way.”

Daniel, who had taken off his peaked cap, shook off the water droplets that had formed here and there.

A heavy silence hung between them.

Just as the heavy rain began to thin, Daniel turned to look at Opilo.

“Aren’t you looking forward to it? Count Opilo. How I’m going to…”

Daniel, staring at Opilo, who was sweating profusely, gave a chilling smile.

“Kill the mosquitoes by squashing them.”

Author’s Note

Thank you for the 10 coin donation, 4444woo! Thank you for the 100th chapter congratulations… 100th chapter congratulations? It’s chapter 175 now!? How long have you been saving it, sir…! Please catch up to the latest chapter, sob sob… I’m kidding. I hope you read it whenever you want to read it! Anyway, thank you so much for the donation!

Thank you always to all the readers who read it!

I hope you have a happy, joyful, and energetic day today!

Even if you have a hard time, don’t worry because a better tomorrow awaits you!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow!