al_squad
patreon
Bermuda Chapter 290
🕑 Added 2024-09-12 12:02:57 +0000 UTCChapter 290
The returning convoy of the Council's Central Branch, lined up in formation, safely arrived in front of the main building along the path created by the Imperial Knights. Although they had expected a sea of reporters crowding the main gate to confirm the rumors, just like the plaza, not a single outsider could be seen.
This level of control was not something that could be achieved by simply asking for cooperation. Only absolute power and pressure could make such near-perfect order possible.
Knowing this, Hugo and Leonardo kept the curtains firmly drawn on the car windows and stared only straight ahead until they entered the inner courtyard of the main building. Not even a conversation passed between the two, and although Hugo occasionally checked Leonardo's complexion, he judged it better not to speak to him.
After confirming the outside, his face had noticeably darkened. Hugo also felt as if Leonardo was subtly distancing himself from him.
"We've arrived."
As the escort vehicle slowed to a smooth stop, the driver who announced their arrival immediately got out of the driver's seat. She approached the back seat and, with a ceremonial knock, opened the car door about 2 seconds later.
Click–
Hugo briefly closed his eyes and then opened them as light streamed in from above. Fresh air circulated in the car for the first time in a long while, as the windows had been kept closed throughout the journey.
Soon after, as Hugo glanced to the side and stepped out first, a thunderous "Loyalty!" and cheers resounded throughout the inner courtyard of the main building.
The unified voice that sent chills down his spine renewed his emotions. He had heard similar cheers before leaving Fidele, but the sense of belonging given by the Central Branch was particularly unique.
Hugo placed his hand on the vehicle body and looked around. The majestic white buildings surrounding them on all sides and the Council's flags fluttering in the breeze. Familiar faces encircling the convoy in an arc. Things he hadn't paid much attention to before made him truly feel his return at this moment.
'I'm back.'
The sun in the imperial capital had been quite hot when they left, but now it felt pleasant even in the afternoon, which suggested that the time spent on the peninsula had not been short at all. Faces he had missed occasionally caught his eye. Although it would be nice to greet them right away, Hugo shifted his gaze and shook hands with the driver.
"The long-distance drive must have been tiring. Thank you for your hard work. We were able to arrive safely thanks to you."
"It was an honor to escort you personally."
While patting her shoulder as she bowed her head politely, Hugo lowered his voice and promised for later:
"I'll issue instructions in the near future, so until then, wait at the mansion."
The driver's eyes flashed sharply as she quietly nodded. After briefly exchanging eye greetings with other subordinates, Hugo poked his head into the back seat of the vehicle and casually called out to Leonardo.
"Leonardo, we've arrived. It's time to get out now."
Leonardo, who had been sitting with his head bowed and fingers interlocked, slowly turned at Hugo's voice. In that brief moment, his lips had turned red. When nervous, he would habitually chew on them until they were just short of bleeding.
Whatever change in mood it was, Hugo felt that the eyes looking at him seemed very anxious. They appeared to have a sharp edge to them, like on the day they first set out from this place. However, when he extended his hand, saying to hold it firmly, Leonardo soon placed his hand in it after a moment of staring.
"The car is high, so be careful."
"Okay."
Led by the large hand, Leonardo naturally stepped out of the car. However, perhaps because he hadn't walked for a long time, his legs gave way and he stumbled as soon as he got out.
"Ah–"
As Leonardo tightly gripped the hand he was holding with a surprised face, Hugo reflexively wrapped his arm around Leonardo's waist and made him lean against his chest.
"Careful–"
His whole body was so weak that Hugo's earlier caution seemed meaningless. His hand, usually dry and warm, was now drenched in cold sweat.
Leonardo, barely regaining his balance, placed his hand on Hugo's shoulder and stood on both feet. When he raised his head, their distance was quite close. However, perhaps conscious of the gazes around them, he quickly stepped back.
Although he clearly noticed that the atmosphere had changed strangely, Hugo had many things to focus on immediately. Seeing that Leonardo seemed to want to pull his hand away, fidgeting, Hugo let go for now.
Meanwhile, Council members who had been waiting swarmed the long line of escort vehicles, quickly moving the injured to the infirmary. Not far away, the figures of Delua and Marlen, once again surrounded by a crowd, flashed by. Judging by the atmosphere in the plaza, it was fortunate that they had coincidentally joined with the 6th Battalion in front of the gate entering the imperial capital.
"Commander."
Just as he was about to confirm the return of the 3rd Battalion, a welcome title reached Hugo's ears, cutting through the commotion. Turning around, he saw Loren Opience, the 2nd Battalion Commander, approaching with the headquarters' medical team and her subordinates.
"Loren."
Hugo's face, which had been tense, immediately relaxed upon seeing his trusted friend.
"I'm glad you're safe."
Loren, who smiled on her otherwise cold face, gave Hugo a formal salute. Then, as she shook hands with Hugo, she patted the Commander's heavy shoulders a couple of times, as she always did. Although it was an inappropriate action for a subordinate to do to a superior, it felt natural, reflecting their close relationship.
Leonardo watched as the two exchanged greetings with familiar gestures.
Feeling the searching gaze, Loren turned her head in that direction. Following her, Hugo turned and wrapped his arm around Leonardo's back, pulling him to his side.
"Say hello. This is the main contributor to our subjugation team's victory."
At the embarrassing introduction, Leonardo awkwardly tried to push away the hand resting on his waist. But Hugo's hand wasn't one to let go so easily. Now seemingly used to it, he instead grabbed Hugo's forearm and rubbed it as if to show off.
"Leonardo, this is the 2nd Battalion Commander of the Council's Central Branch."
Loren alternately looked at the two, whose appearance seemed much different from before the expedition. Then, noticing whose loose combat uniform Leonardo was wearing, her expression gradually became strange from that point on.
"I heard the news a while ago, but..."
After her gaze fell on the handkerchief tied around his neck, she trailed off and blinked. Soon, Loren placed her hand on her left chest and nodded slightly, giving Leonardo a light bow.
As confusion spread across Leonardo's face upon receiving the greeting, Loren turned back to Hugo and spoke in an awkward tone:
"It was hard to believe since I hadn't seen it myself."
"Well, most people would think similarly if they weren't at the scene. But now everyone will know."
"...Shorendo was so frustrated. The battalion commanders barely stopped him from going to the peninsula to greet you himself."
Hugo chuckled softly at Loren's words, delivered with a serious face.
"It must have been quite an ordeal, given the Deputy Commander's personality. Was he adept at handling the duties?"
"It became an opportunity for everyone to feel your necessity. I think it's best not to think about resting for a while."
A bitter smile appeared on Hugo's lips at the statement that seemed to hint at future schedules. Just then, the escort vehicles parked in a line behind them began to file out of the crowded courtyard following instructions. Soon after, the stretchers lowered to the ground and the figures of the injured who had been hidden came into view all at once.
Loren, surveying the situation that couldn't be entirely joyful, changed the subject with a rather serious face:
"By the way, is the outside situation your doing?"
Hugo, who had been watching the escort vehicles leave, turned his head.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the complete blockade of the passage from the gate entrance to the front of the main building. There's been a lot of talk from the higher-ups about the Imperial Knights taking action without even a request for support coming to our side."
Hugo's brow furrowed slightly. He briefly lowered the arm that had been wrapped around Leonardo and answered, stepping about two paces away:
"What are they trying to find fault with now."
"They seem to think you petitioned unilaterally, but judging by your reaction, it seems you're not involved."
"I don't know the situation yet either. When I report later, regarding that point..."
Leonardo quietly listened to Hugo's voice, who had distanced himself as if watching his reaction. At that moment, a group cutting through the busy crowd in the inner courtyard gradually approached them.
The group, armed with protective gear from head to toe, stopped and saluted Hugo when the gazes of the Commander and the 2nd Battalion Commander fell on them.
"Loyalty. Commander, congratulations on your safe return and victory."
Hugo, while receiving the congratulatory greetings with a puzzled look, quickly scanned their appearance, which seemed thoroughly prepared for something.
"What's the matter?"
When he asked bluntly, the one at the front gestured behind him and received a heavy pair of mana-restraining handcuffs from a member who had come with them.
"To prevent Leonardo Blaine's appearance from being exposed to the outside, there were orders from above to transfer him to a detention facility immediately upon arrival."
"...What?"
"If you hand him over, Commander, we will take charge of the transfer from here."
Hugo's expression hardened in an instant. Similarly furrowing his brow, Leonardo scanned the gathering with a noticeably tense gaze.
'Surely not.'
Although the wariness towards him was lessened due to the many urgent injuries, this place hadn't been particularly friendly to him up until the expedition. He had anticipated that he might face different hostility if the place and people surrounding him changed.
But beyond that, the outside situation was not good at all. Even if he had to wear those damn handcuffs and be confined somewhere again, he'd rather be stuck in the Council's underground prison at this point.
'But if they say they're sending me somewhere else...'
As he was considering the ominous situation, he unconsciously showed a reflexive rejection and took a step back. In response, the armed members flinched and surrounded him warily.
Two of them cautiously approached Leonardo to put the handcuffs on him first. At that moment, Hugo suddenly intervened, pulling Leonardo behind him as if to hide him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
He snatched the handcuffs the members were holding, abruptly cutting off the situation that was about to flow strangely. The member whose hands were suddenly empty stammered in confusion:
"Ah, for safety, first we..."
"All dispositions regarding Leonardo Blaine are solely under my jurisdiction. Who dared to try to put handcuffs on him without my permission?"
"Hugo."
As cold anger surged around him, Loren placed her hand on his forearm as if to tell him to restrain himself. Then she calmly asked the visibly tense armed members on his behalf:
"As far as I know, there were no separate instructions. Has an additional order been issued from above?"
The hesitating members looked at each other's faces, and then the one at the front carefully reported:
"Ah, yes. Council Upper Member Gladias Agrizendro..."
"...Ha."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold sneer escaped Hugo's lips as soon as he heard that name. Sudden silence fell, and everyone present watched the Commander's reaction.
'Gladias, Agrizendro?'
Leonardo, who was behind Hugo, raised his eyebrows and mulled over that name. At that moment, Hugo firmly grasped Leonardo's wrist and pulled him right next to him, issuing a threat to the gathering:
"Leonardo Blaine is a meritorious person who contributed to the peninsula subjugation, and at the same time, a patient who needs stability and recovery. Until he receives appropriate treatment and a formal judgment is made, he cannot be handcuffed within the Council. If any problems arise, I will take responsibility. Tell the Council Upper Member that if there are any separate instructions, they must consult with me through a staff member or be delegated decision-making authority to execute orders."
With pressure coming in as soon as they arrived, without even a moment to relax, Hugo had no choice but to respond coldly even to the members who were just carrying out orders.
Because of this, the atmosphere froze in an instant. Regardless, Hugo put more strength into the hand holding Leonardo and clearly conveyed to the members:
"And, let me say this once again. All dispositions given to Leonardo Blaine are only valid under my orders, except for the trial. Keep this in mind."
Waving the confiscated handcuffs in front of the members' eyes once, Hugo emphasized again in a solemn voice. After leaving words not to follow, he turned and strode somewhere with large steps.
"Let's go, Leonardo."
Led by his strong will, Leonardo also hurriedly matched his pace without a chance to reply.
Following along in a daze, he glanced back to see the 2nd Battalion Commander looking very perplexed and everyone else unable to move readily in the depressed air.
Leonardo, with a confused expression, then looked up at Hugo beside him.
His profile, which had just relaxed, had become as cold as ice. He could fully feel through their clasped hands that the Commander was very angry.
Comments
Jesse Gibson
Is it the emperor though? The emperor merely has to make an edict and everyone has to listen. I believe this is factions within each organization that plan to enslave Leo to their side. Call him a criminal and keep him locked up and use him for whatever they want with promises of freedom only to charge him as a criminal again and lock him up. Seems to work well for them so far so why not keep doing it. Most people believe he deserves it so who would protest? Small numbers? Easy to suppress and make disappear like what happened with Cordelia’s appeal long ago. Yea… council is trying to keep Leo and the army wants him again.. these pieces of garbage
Katsura Kureha
Judging from what happed on the peninsula, Leo could be a descendant of the first emperor, so he's probably feeling threatened.
Bodacious
It seems the emperor really has it out for Leo. Hugo has to put in so much effort to protect our hero.
