🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19.
“My daughter said she heard it at school.”
“They say Captain Noah’s younger sister fought with Sir Delrat’s son, and at that time Sir Delrat’s heir…”
“But isn’t it strange?”
“Even if it’s an exchange program for a month, do families normally bring their whole household?”
Reto carefully recalled what Colonel Ice had said.
From the very beginning, their visit had been suspicious.
Of course it was obvious.
They had shown excessive interest in personal warships. The reason they had endured such brutal training was simply to gain access to them.
“The scenery is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Reto, driving with one hand on the wheel, pointed out the window.
“The sunset from here is lovely, though honestly the one from the Naval Academy in the Oceanus territory is even more breathtaking…”
He was driving Sir Delrat personally to the armory where the personal warships were stored.
And while doing so, he was even kindly pointing out landmarks along the way.
Sir Delrat memorized every turn in his head.
“…Is this really alright?”
Once he had remembered enough of the route, Sir Delrat cautiously asked.
“A personal warship is practically a national treasure. Surely the location of its storage is classified—should you really be showing the way so easily…?”
“What kind of treasure is that supposed to be?”
Reto cut in with a mocking tone.
“…But isn’t it the masterpiece that embodies all of the kingdom’s technology?”
Though insulted outright, Sir Delrat swallowed his irritation.
That arrogant brat would be punished severely for negligence once the warship disappeared anyway.
Imagining that moment, Sir Delrat forced himself to remain calm.
“Many nations covet it. Shouldn’t internal security be ironclad as well?”
“In most cases, you’d be right.”
The military vehicle came to a halt.
“But this one’s a little different.”
Reto killed the engine and stepped out, saying that Sir Delrat would understand once he saw it.
The destination was far from what Sir Delrat had imagined.
He had pictured a heavily fortified area under strict guard. A windowless, sterile facility at the very least.
“Here…?”
Instead, what stood before him was a small, shabby warehouse.
Calling it a warehouse was generous—it was practically a ruin.
Even the path leading up to it was so overgrown with weeds that they tangled around his ankles with each step.
“Charming little place, isn’t it?”
“Charming…?”
While Sir Delrat hesitated, Reto was already at the entrance.
“But don’t be fooled by appearances.”
He pulled a pitch-black card from his pocket.
“Now, this…”
When he pressed it against the rusted door latch, there was a metallic click.
At the same time, a protective barrier shimmered into view. A translucent blue wall rippled and buzzed strangely before vanishing again.
“…!”
Sir Delrat froze.
Reto gave his back a light, knowing pat.
The rickety-looking door slid into the wall with a heavy rumble—it was the automatic door he had only heard about in rumors.
“Unbelievable…!”
The interior was surprisingly cramped.
The armory itself was small, and inside was even smaller—barely half the size one would expect. Just enough for two people to squeeze in shoulder to shoulder.
Along both walls stood display cases wired with intricate cables. Inside were rows of black, square briefcases.
“These are the personal warships.”
“…!”
“The distilled essence of all Adlabor Kingdom’s technology. My comrade-in-arms, who brought me to where I am today—an object of love and hate.”
“This… this is…”
Sir Delrat’s eyes gleamed as he gazed at them.
“The personal warships…!”
He no longer even bothered to hide his greed. With these, his gambling debts would be nothing.
“I’m glad you like them.”
Reto spoke kindly from a step behind.
But his eyes were those of a predator staring at prey he found repulsive.
Engrossed in the sight of the warships, Sir Delrat failed to notice the crimson eyes in the shadows, waiting for dawn.
After Reto and Sir Delrat left the armory by car—
“Here it is, here!”
Colonel Ice and Sir Ferata emerged from the other side.
“This is the armory where the personal warships are stored.”
The second exhibition had begun.
That afternoon.
“Major General.”
Warrant Officer Fist placed a thick report on Reto’s desk.
It was a verification of the “information” they had received at the tavern Arkon, with additional findings.
Reto flipped through the pages rapidly, eyes darting.
Slouched lazily in his chair, chin in hand, he still radiated an oppressive aura impossible to describe.
So, he really was drowning in debt.
Why had Sir Delrat brought his entire family south?
Why would the son of such a prestigious noble house bother attending school?
Because he was broke.
Though not widely known, House Delrat’s finances were dire.
In fact, bankruptcy was imminent.
The reason traced back seven years, when a knight of their house had caused the harbor fire in the South.
At that time, the kingdom had been preparing to dispatch a naval unit to the Allied Empire.
They had even prepared a brand-new battleship for the occasion.
It was a colossal vessel, carrying over 200 crew and armed with guided missiles.
Everyone believed such an investment of money and technology would secure victory.
But the ship never deployed. Some drunken knights had set the harbor ablaze.
One battleship was completely destroyed, three others damaged beyond immediate repair, and five sailors were severely injured while fighting the fire.
The culprits were caught on the spot. Drunken, burned, and sobbing.
They were swiftly court-martialed. Pleas of “I was too drunk to remember” were meaningless in wartime.
They were executed, and their families fined exorbitantly.
Even so, House Delrat might have recovered.
If only they hadn’t chosen the wrong successor.
Despite everything, the house had survived even after the Mage Tower explosion.
With effort, they could have bounced back.
Instead, their new heir turned out to be a gambling addict.
By some cruel twist of fate, another Delrat knight was now attempting crimes in the South.
He sold the capital estate and dragged his wife and children here…
Currently, they were living in a villa provided by Director Flancy.
With no funds for tutors, his children had to attend school—and the “family lawyer” they met there was actually an illegal immigration broker.
What an amusing man.
Though his thoughts were laced with amusement, Reto’s narrowing crimson eyes were filled with nothing but boredom.
“Major General.”
As he closed the report, he looked up.
“…Captain Velo.”
Noah had appeared, staring at him with a sour expression.
Warrant Officer Fist quietly stepped aside to let them speak privately.
“Are you free tomorrow evening?”
“…Is this a date invitation?”
“Yes.”
Noah answered without hesitation.
“…Huh?”
Reto gaped in shock.
He had expected the usual retort—I’ll report you for harassment, or Pull yourself together.
Always the same.
“Would you go on a date with me tomorrow evening?”
But Noah pressed the question again, clearly.
“We’ll have a fine dinner, then stay the night at a hotel. I’ll even prepare the kind of lingerie you like.”
Pffffft!
Colonel Ice spat out his tea.
Lieutenant Selin Bor, standing nearby and soaked, froze like a statue.
“Shall we spend a long, satisfying night together?”
Now everyone in the command office was stunned.
“…Wow.”
Reto, genuinely astonished, raised a hand to stop Noah—while hastily wiping the stupid grin twitching at his lips.
“What’s with you today, Captain?”
He almost blurted out an acceptance.
“Think of it as a honey trap.”
“A very effective one… unsettlingly so.”
“So, what will it be?”
“Hm…”
After a long pause, Reto smiled awkwardly.
It was a refusal.
“I’m on duty tomorrow night. Unfortunately, you’ll have to save your honey trap for another time…”
“That’s enough then.”
Rejected, Noah returned to his desk without a flicker of emotion.
Even under everyone’s stares, he looked perfectly at ease. He didn’t look like someone spurned at all.
If anything, he seemed oddly relieved.
“Hey, Noah, don’t tell me…”
Ami asked seriously.
“…Have you, like, just awakened to… public exhibitionism or something?”
“Lieutenant Chitia, put your head down.”
“…Guess not.”
Ami, relieved, obeyed.
“Then I’ll be going.”
After causing such a stir, Noah was the first to leave for the day.
“…Colonel Ice.”
Still dazed, Reto asked gravely:
“If a single personal warship disappeared… would the kingdom really collapse?”
Colonel Ice found it tragic that such a man was the navy’s second-in-command.
Before the Mage Tower explosion, the night had been guarded by night itself.
The dark earth was lit by gentle moonlight and the delicate glow of stars.
Though far dimmer than the blazing sun, many praised the quiet radiance of the moon and stars even more.
For example—
“….”
“….”
Like Sir Ferata and his men, sneaking breathlessly toward the armory.
They relied only on moonlight to walk the overgrown path—though even that seemed too bright.
If the navy discovered them now, they’d be executed on the spot.
They crouched low, moving in silence.
“….”
Sir Ferata stopped.
“This is it.”
Remembering the route he’d taken earlier with Colonel Ice, he led them to the armory choked in weeds.
The knights behind him looked doubtful.
But Ferata, with a flourish, pressed the key to the latch.
In the darkness, the personal warship revealed itself, gleaming in heavy black.
“Move quickly.”
“….”
“….”
But the knights did not budge.
