Chapter 70 – Father (2)

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Before going to meet Anton.

Since I had to know what Bones was thinking right now in order to touch on Lieutenant General Max’s matter, I headed to the commander’s residence first.

The reason I headed to the commander’s residence was because Bones and Lucas, who were important witnesses in this case, were made to stay at the commander’s residence for witness protection.

Witness protection was one thing, but because the atmosphere of the senior officers who were colleagues of the sacrificed Team 2 members was also grim, they might have been harmed if sent to the officers’ dormitory.

However, they say that it was Josef’s strong request that made these two stay at the commander’s residence.

Supposedly saying that there should be no more sacrifices of young officers.

‘What a sly human.’

Bones had requested to meet Lieutenant General Max and ask him about it long ago, but under the judgment that if Lieutenant General Max met Bones, he might exert pressure on him to prevent him from testifying, the two were said to be banned from meeting.

‘By the way, these guys…’

“Why are the protected witnesses not holed up in their room but training with my servant?”

As I crossed my arms and asked so, Lucas, drenched in sweat, answered while cold sweat broke out over him as well.

“T-That… since they said we could spend our time freely while staying at the commander’s residence… we proposed to spend the same schedule as you, Lord Haydam, and it turned out like this.”

“But do you really train every day with such a tight schedule?”

Why is this bastard Bones even stripped to the waist in someone else’s residence?

“Do you think Tae-jeong would train you just to roll you around?”

“Does Tae-jeong refer to that servant?”

“That kid named Tae-jeong, what on earth is he? He was better than most officers. Don’t tell me he is a secret weapon that you are raising, Lord Haydam?”

Seeing him talk nonsense, it seemed Bones has not yet escaped the shock of that time.

‘He’s pretending to be bright on purpose.’

I could understand to some extent why he was training with Tae-jeong instead of being holed up in his room.

He probably had to keep his body moving to prevent useless thoughts from creeping in.

Instead of pointing out that Bones was pretending to be bright on purpose, I replied:

“Tae-jeong will enter the military academy this time. Thanks to you guys supporting Plato’s graduation speech.”

“Now that I see, you incited Plato just to get that kid enrolled. And that guy called Darling Outsider too—”

“Let’s cut the small talk here.”

Sensing that he was deliberately trying to change the subject, knowing that I would bring up Lieutenant General Max, I cut off Bones mid-sentence and asked.

“Are you prepared?”

Bones wore a disgruntled expression at my question.

“Prepared for what?”

“Prepared for when it is revealed that your father really abandoned you.”

“……”

As I said so, Bones’s green eyes wavered violently.

Of course, I knew Lieutenant General Max would not have done that.

But considering what Anton and I would do afterward, it would be troublesome if Bones did not brace himself.

“…If I’m abandoned, I’m abandoned, what kind of preparation is needed. Fuck.”

He tried hard to act fine, but his temper ended up showing in the end.

“In your case, I think it is needed? According to what I heard from Lucas, you said that being recognized by your father is your whole life, and that if you were abandoned, you would just die.”

“You bastard Lucas…!”

Bones turned toward Lucas as if to grab him by the collar, but Lucas, who had already noticed what I was going to say, had already slipped away.

“Ah, that blabbermouth bastard, spreading it around already…!”

“Bones.”

I asked toward the back of Bones, who was flying into a rage.

“If you are really abandoned by your father, are you going to die?”

Bones hesitated for a moment, then answered in a low voice.

“…Not anymore.”

“Not anymore?”

“Because I realized that my father is not everything.”

As I narrowed my brows as if I didn’t understand what he meant, Bones turned slightly red at the tips of his ears and spat out in annoyance.

“Aw, damn… I know my life is precious now. The reason I am alive is because of those seniors who allowed me to escape, and because there was someone who ran all that way to slap me to snap out of it, and a guy who screamed to save me. Although he was a disloyal bastard who blabbed to Lord Haydam the words a person babbled in a state of mental and physical weakness.”

He holds a grudge.

“If only we could have found… the seniors’ corpses.”

Come to think of it, did they say a few senior officers from Team 2 blocked the way so Bones and Lucas could escape?

The only relief was that he did not seem to blame himself for the senior officers’ deaths.

His personality was really sharp, except when it came to his adoptive father.

“If it is really something Lieutenant General Max did… he must pay for his crime. No, I will make him pay.”

Bones seemed to have completely regained his mental composure.

With this much, I could carry out the subsequent work with peace of mind.

‘However, no matter how much I think about it, this bastard Josef is offensive.’

To drive officers, who could block the way of their juniors without hesitation for their own prosperity, to their deaths.

‘What is rank anyway.’

The reason Josef did such a thing was due to power.

Since Anton announced his retirement, Josef also had to step down from his position.

Because if a powerful figure like Anton vacated his seat, Josef’s influence would naturally grow.

Josef also knew it was time for him to step down, but he probably did not want to.

Since he was the commander’s closest associate no matter what anyone said and had no intention of rebelling against the commander, he probably felt it was unfair to have to lay down his power just to avoid raising suspicion with the commander.

Therefore, he framed Lieutenant General Max, who had a high possibility of being promoted to the next general.

Because if Lieutenant General Max’s seat became vacant, a huge confusion would immediately fall upon the executives, and Josef would be the only one who could resolve it.

He chose to break the balance entirely and expand his influence to the point where he could not be dragged down from his position.

However, he wouldn’t have expected that either.

That the lives of the commander and me would also be endangered by the trap he set.

‘Well… it’s a good thing rather.’

If I had not been caught up in that incident, the commander would have turned a eye to Josef’s wrongdoing.

Because he was not a person who would punish Josef for the sake of Lieutenant General Max.

However, thanks to almost dying from that incident, I also obtained the qualification to participate in this matter.

Since the commander has not handed down separate sanctions even though Meursault must have delivered my words by now, it could be viewed as ‘permission’.

‘Then shall I go.’

Using an enemy to defeat an enemy.

To another sly snake, who would catch the sly snake named Josef.

* * *

“Haaaa…”

Anton’s sigh was long and heavy.

Seeing Anton, who looked ten years older since I last saw him, made me feel like I could understand why Meursault pitied him.

“My only child almost died as soon as he became an officer…”

“I was the one who saved him, though.”

Ignoring my words, Anton’s lament-like words continued.

“Now that my child returned safely, Lord Haydam, who took my child away, comes to probe me, asking if I knew that my friend Lieutenant General Max is a shameless bastard who contracted the murder of his own adopted son.”

“Anton. Have you decided to go wild now that you’ve retired?”

“It is rather you, Lord Haydam, who survived a near-death experience and decided to speak down to me entirely. Well, I prefer informal speech anyway.”

“Don’t change the subject, just answer.”

Anton let out another sigh, clasped his hands together, and locked fingers.

“Lieutenant General Max is… not that kind of person.”

“Not that kind of person? Then who is that kind of person?”

“……”

Instead of answering, Anton glared at me.

“Then would I answer that Lieutenant General Max is that kind of person? Why did you come find me in the first place?”

“I also know Lieutenant General Max is not that kind of person. Because I know, I came to find you, Anton.”

At those words, Anton looked at me with an even more suspicious gaze.

“What do you want to say?”

Toward an opponent who suspects me like this, it is better to be excessively honest.

I replied flatly.

“I suspect Josef.”

At that, Anton’s complexion changed.

Judging by his expression, this guy also thought the real culprit was Josef.

However, instead of readily agreeing with my words, Anton said:

“You must know that Josef is His Excellency’s closest associate.”

“I know. And also that Josef is still holding onto his position as general even though you stepped down, Anton.”

“Josef is not foolish enough to pull off such a thing, though.”

“Between Lieutenant General Max and General Josef, who do you think is more foolish, Anton?”

“……”

Anton furrowed his brows, fell silent for a moment, and said:

“You came to find me because there is something you want from me.”

“No, Anton.”

I crossed my legs, leaned back against the sofa, and said.

“I am trying to help with what you want.”

“Do you even know what I want?”

“You said Lieutenant General Max is your friend. You don’t want him to be executed by firing squad like this, do you?”

“What about Bartom.”

Anton stared at me with a subtle gaze.

“Bartom has already died like that.”

‘Bringing up the past?’

I understood the matter of Bartom had already been traded and settled with the commander.

It did not seem like he was suddenly trying to take issue with past events…

Was he asking why I came all the way to find him when Lieutenant General Max could just be handled like Bartom?

Since I had never once been favorable toward Anton, he had reason to doubt my intentions.

He probably thinks that if I speak like this and then defend Lieutenant General Max, I might be trying to stab him in the back.

However, even so, Anton had no choice but to move according to my intentions.

From the perspective of the retired Anton, Lieutenant General Max was an important figure who might become general after him.

With Lieutenant General Bartom already dead, if Lieutenant General Max were to die as well, the pro-Daphne faction would be shaken from its very foundation.

For Anton, who was trying to straddle between the pro-Daphne faction and me, such a situation would not be pleasant.

Also, he wouldn’t want to leave his friend in history as a shameless bastard who caused the deaths of seven soldiers.

“You said earlier that I took away your child.”

“Ahem…”

“Let’s say it is the price for taking away your child. My helping with Lieutenant General Max’s matter.”

“What are you saying…”

“Therefore, let’s consider Anton’s helping me this time as the price for saving that child.”

“…….”

Anton stared at me blankly for a moment, then lowered his voice and spoke.

“Do you know what you are saying right now?”

“I know. It means making Josef, father’s closest associate, the culprit instead of Lieutenant General Max.”

“Why on earth? Did His Excellency permit it?”

“He told me that handling it personally won’t do.”

Only then did Anton seem to realize the reason why I came to find him.

“Don’t tell me you are trying to handle it by borrowing my hands. I am not Meursault. I mean I don’t shoot people to death just because I’m told to.”

“…Is it only murder inside the heads of Meursault and Anton?”

“Then… what on earth are you trying to make me do?”

“What Anton must do is not killing. Rather, it should be called the opposite.”

“The opposite…?”

Looking at Anton, who tilted his head as if asking what on earth I meant, I said.

“From now on, you will have to bring a dead person back to life.”