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Bermuda Chapter 311
🕑 Added 2024-10-08 13:04:31 +0000 UTCChapter 311
Hugo passed through the empty corridor with slow steps. Usually, with his wide stride, he would have reached the Commander's office in about 10 minutes without having to walk particularly fast.
But now, he was walking the long stretched corridor with a stiff expression for a much longer time. As he was about to descend the last staircase leading to his office, he rubbed his furrowed brow.
'Unnecessary words...'
Hadn't someone said he couldn't shake off his lowly origins and thus felt sympathy for similar types? It was what the Grand Madam had told him when he first entered the mansion holding Flynn's hand, whom he had brought from the orphanage.
She had said that one shouldn't carelessly take in people, and that one should be prepared to take full responsibility for the life they've taken in. He remembered being reprimanded in front of the servants, asking how someone who couldn't even manage his own place dared to try to take responsibility for others.
Of course, much had changed between then and now, but his fear, beyond obsession, of 'responsibility' had worsened since that incident. So regardless of Leonardo's will, if he had intended to bring up the topic of the mansion in front of him, he should have deliberated much more carefully than he had.
Instead of acting impulsively without considering the consequences, as he had when bringing in young Flynn.
"Hah..."
Hugo let out a deep sigh with his complicated feelings as he descended the stairs and stepped into the corridor. Leaving the room earlier than planned was also to give Leonardo some time alone. Aside from what he had said, Leonardo must be just as confused as he was, having suddenly received his comrade's artifact.
The story about Flynn finding it in the luggage was a lie he had made up. He had been the first to discover the artifact in Leonardo's clothes pocket, or more precisely, in the pocket of his own combat uniform that he had put on Leonardo.
Of course, it was true that he couldn't check the contents. At first, he wondered what nerve it took to leave traces in someone else's clothes, but seeing that it wouldn't open no matter what method he tried, it seemed Leonardo had confidence that others couldn't steal a look.
'Even so, what if I had been blinded by success?'
If he had taken this to the military headquarters, even if not immediately, they could have narrowed down the investigation to the two having been in contact and he could have received a reward. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that guy had many gaps in his actions and poor judgment. If that had happened, not only his own life but also the lives of the comrades he cherished so much would have been in danger.
It was laughable that he had once mistaken that thunderbolt for Leonardo's lover. While he might have a bit of bad luck with comrades, the clever Leonardo wouldn't lack the eye to judge people.
Anyway, regardless of how the other would take it, handing over the artifact pretending not to know was on a moral level. Hadn't he said he had finally met 'comrades who didn't die' but had to part with them? Although it was just an object, he hoped the token left by his comrade would comfort the lonely Leonardo.
Lost in various thoughts, Hugo passed through the central door and turned right around the curve. The members standing at regular intervals in the corridor saluted silently. After lightly acknowledging with his eyes, he headed straight for the work space where his adjutants would be.
Thinking that Gabe would surely have piled up new documents, he felt it would be better to collect them himself. The Commander's office and the adjutants' work space were adjacent, sharing a wall, with a door in the middle allowing movement between each space without going through the corridor.
Hugo stood in front of the antique wooden door with a sign saying 'Please knock' and knocked a couple of times.
Knock knock, click–
"Commander–"
"Commander, you've arrived."
As he opened the door without waiting and entered, Flynn and Gabe's voices immediately broke the silence. Gabe seemed to have been in the middle of work, sitting at his desk flipping through documents, while Flynn had just risen from the reception sofa.
Their reactions were quite quick, as if they had known he was coming. As he was wondering about this, a figure opposite Flynn bowed at a 90-degree angle.
"C-Commander. Hello, sir."
"I see we have a guest."
Hugo responded formally while scanning the other's appearance up and down. The silhouette and voice were strangely familiar.
It was a member who had been deeply imprinted in his mind due to the recent peninsula subjugation.
"Kenis Weber?"
Kenis, who seemed to have had no time to change, raised his head, still wearing his funeral attire.
On the table in front of the sofa where he and Flynn had been sitting was a cup of cold tea. It seemed he had been here for quite a while.
"This friend said he had something to tell you, Commander. I offered to relay the message for him, but he insisted it would be better to speak to you directly."
"To me?"
As it was very rare for an ordinary member to seek him out without a prior appointment, Hugo turned to look at Kenis with his eyebrows tensed. Kenis visibly flinched when their eyes met. For someone who had said he would speak directly, he looked very nervous.
"I'm sorry for coming suddenly. I didn't know if I should have scheduled an appointment in advance..."
He was holding a cream-colored envelope in his hand. The bottom was bulging, suggesting something was inside.
"Does Russell know?"
"...The platoon leader doesn't know, sir."
It meant he had completely ignored procedures and come directly. Although he wasn't sure of the exact intention, Hugo had some idea and glanced at Flynn. Flynn's expression, as their eyes met, suggested he was thinking the same thing. Hugo gestured with his chin towards the heavy door visible behind the two.
"Let's talk inside."
"Ah, yes!"
Occasionally when commanders came to request an interview, it was about resignation about 80% of the time, but it was the first time a low-ranking member had come, so for now, only one thing came to mind about what he wanted to say.
"This way, please."
"Yes, yes!"
"Don't be too nervous."
Following Hugo into the Commander's office, Flynn deliberately showed Kenis a kind smile. But internally, he had been closely observing every detail, down to Kenis's eye movements, ever since he had arrived.
The reason was simple. Hadn't he strongly pointed out Kenis Weber as the informant leaking information to the 3rd Battalion Commander in the peninsula with his own mouth?
Whether he had come to turn himself in, or if he had come to find out something else under Meterion Clinder's orders. Although neither was certain, the fact that he had come on his own feet meant he was clearly no ordinary person.
Gabe, who had been watching the three heading inside, also hurriedly organized the documents in his hand. The papers he inserted into the leather document holder were Kenis's personal information sheet and unit assignment preference form submitted when he joined. He had prepared them just in case. After closing the leather cover, Gabe quietly rose from his seat and followed them to the Commander's office.
"We'll talk here. Sit down wherever you like."
"Understood!"
As soon as they entered, Hugo, who had turned on the lamps and lights, gestured towards the sofa visible on the left as he spoke. Since private conversations or one-on-one meetings were often conducted inside the Commander's office, there was also a reception area prepared here.
Kenis, being in this space for the first time and overwhelmed by the strong scent of adult male, felt his neck and waist stiffen. He approached the sofa creakily and sat down with a posture of utmost military discipline. Hugo also slowly sat down opposite him.
Flynn found a notepad and pen from the work desk and placed them on the table, while Gabe, who had followed, quietly placed the leather document holder in front of Hugo and gave a light bow.
"Shall I prepare a cup of tea for both of you?"
At Flynn's question, Hugo gestured to Kenis. It meant to speak up if he needed anything.
"I-I'm fine, I just had some! Thank you!"
Kenis politely declined with an awkward smile. Flynn nodded and withdrew along with Gabe, closing the door after saying they should talk.
Click–
The air in the Commander's office, now with just the two of them, was suffocatingly silent. Hugo silently opened the document holder Gabe had left, skimming through it in a way that wasn't visible from across.
'Was this guy really the informant...'
After closing the cover again, he put down the document holder and raised the internal temperature with his mana, then naturally opened his mouth while pretending to create a comfortable atmosphere.
"You must have been busy since this morning. It must be tough with all sorts of things happening when you haven't been with us for long."
"...Pardon? Ah, no. It was a good experi... no, not good... it was a new experience."
Kenis stammered, tapping his lips before lowering his hand as if embarrassed. Given the situation, even this now looked like an act to Hugo.
"That's good then. Did you eat properly? I heard there were many visitors and you even took shifts controlling the entrance."
"Yes, it was a bit busy... but the seniors took good care of me, so I ate first. Um... did you enjoy your meal too, Commander?"
"Hmm, well. I did."
In fact, he had skipped it due to various circumstances, but he didn't bother to mention it. After exchanging a few more words of small talk about the weather, the two fell silent at some point.
Hugo decided to gradually bring up the main point once Kenis seemed to have loosened up a bit.
"So, what did you want to say?"
Kenis's eyelids trembled. He lowered his eyes like a guilty person and chewed on his lips.
Soon after, he looked around needlessly and then, with hands damp with sweat, held out the crumpled envelope and carefully placed it on the table. Instead of asking again what it was, Hugo just glanced down at it with his hands clasped.
What Kenis then took out from rummaging inside the envelope was a black device about half the size of a palm, an artifact, and several sheets of paper.
As the suspicious objects were laid out in order, Hugo leaned his upper body slightly forward. Just as he was about to look at the papers filled with something, Kenis stood up from his seat, came to the side, and abruptly knelt on the floor.
"Commander, I'm sorry."
With his fists clenched tightly on his legs, his face was already red and tears were welling up in his eyes. He seemed terribly afraid thinking about the future that awaited him. His upper body and voice were trembling. And this was before anything had even started.
Hugo just looked at him with indifferent eyes, not particularly surprised. Although his head felt numb as the situation he had worried about actually unfolded, he was fortunate to have been able to prepare in advance thanks to Flynn's earlier hint.
However, the stack of papers on the table was far from what he had expected. Brief notes were scrawled on the papers in cursive. The writing was squiggly like worms, as if written in a hurry.
But the content was a little, no, very strange.
Jun/22/999
B left the base camp without permission at dawn. A went to look for him.
A told B to refrain from individual actions, the two argued.
Heard the word voyeurism. A asked if B was coming in.
Some loud noise, B seemed to be in pain and groaned. Got irritated.
A said come out now/ Heard water sound. Seems A used magic.
To the cave entrance~ B grabbed cigarettes. A and B went out of the cave together.
B's cigarettes are a mix of Lambus leaves and Brukneel cigars, not certain. But matches previous information.
Seems he's still smoking the same thing.
Comments
Katsura Kureha
I see Kenis is still as sus as ever. Not buying this teary eyed confession act.
