Creating a Mosquito-Free Summer
Creating a Mosquito-Free Summer
Perhaps misinterpreting Daniel's bewildered silence, Peremilla cried out with even greater desperation and servility.
"If there is anything you desire from me, I shall give you anything! All the wealth I have accumulated so far... no! My wealth already belongs to Colonel Daniel! I apologize! I should never have dared to claim ownership of it...!"
While Peremilla rambled and begged for her life, Daniel sank into thought.
'...Who?'
He had no idea who could have captured Duke Belvar's family and sent them to the Central Security Office.
'Although....'
He had given orders when the military rebellion was wrapped up—to select the swiftest of the grenadiers and have them search for and track the escape route Duke Belvar's family had taken.
If they had been the ones to find them, a report would have arrived.
It would have said that Duke Belvar's family members had been secured and would be sent to the Central Security Office.
But Daniel had never received such a report.
Which meant that someone had acted independently to assist Daniel Steiner.
'Should I call it a sense of unease? I've felt something similar before, but....'
Since coincidences kept piling up, he could no longer think of it as anything but inevitability.
'But even if there is some kind of group helping me, why in the world?'
He could not fathom the reason, but there was no need to kick away a blessing that had rolled right up to him.
Daniel turned to look at the soldier guarding the Central Security Office.
"You there."
The soldier, who had been flustered by the scene unfolding before him, snapped to attention at Daniel's call.
"Yes! Chief of Public Security, sir!"
"Go inside and summon Lieutenant Frien. She's probably down in the underground detention cells."
"Understood!"
The soldier rendered a crisp salute, turned on his heel, and ran off.
Watching him go, Daniel slowly descended the steps and stood before Peremilla.
The rain falling from the sky soaked his uniform cap and shoulders, but he paid it no mind.
There was something he wanted to confirm from these people, simply and quickly.
"Lift your head."
At Daniel's words, Peremilla steadied her breathing and raised her head.
Seeing her disheveled hair and haggard face, it was hard to believe that this person had once been the head of a major corporation.
Clicking his tongue, Daniel let out a low breath and spoke.
"Who did this to you."
"Why, naturally, Colonel Daniel..."
"It was me, was it."
A laugh escaped him at the sheer absurdity of it.
The quiet laughter rippling out mingled with the pouring rain, creating a grim and eerie atmosphere.
Having reined in his laughter, Daniel opened his mouth again.
"I will ask once more. Who did this to you."
Daniel had asked the question purely out of curiosity, but all manner of thoughts swirled through Peremilla's mind.
After piecing those thoughts together, she arrived at the conclusion that 'Daniel does not wish for his private organization to be exposed to the world.'
Having misinterpreted Daniel's intent, Peremilla swallowed hard and answered.
"What made me this way was my own conscience. Yes. Colonel Daniel is not significantly involved in this matter. I merely came to confess. That is all."
Peremilla had done her level best at flattery, but from Daniel's standpoint it was not a satisfactory answer.
After a moment of silence, Daniel knelt on one knee to meet Peremilla's eyes.
"It seems my question was wrong. You must have met them—the group that seized you as you were trying to flee. Am I wrong?"
"That is..."
"Tell me in detail. How they looked. How they moved. What they said to you."
Peremilla, who had been frozen stiff, trembled for a moment before lowering her head.
"...I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Yes. Not only did they all operate in the dark, but they wore gas masks, so I could not discern their faces. And on top of that, their leader..."
Her breathing grew ragged.
Rolling her eyes about as if gripped by terror, Peremilla suddenly seized Daniel's hand.
"I truly know nothing! Please spare my life! Colonel Daniel Steiner! If you keep me alive, I am certain you will find me useful!"
Watching Peremilla's behavior, Daniel shook his head.
'No good.'
He did not know what had happened to her, but Peremilla was not in her right mind right now.
Judging that there was no more information to be gleaned, Daniel shook off Peremilla's hand and rose to his feet.
Just then, Frien walked out through the open door of the Central Security Office.
Spotting Daniel's back, Frien promptly beamed a radiant smile.
"Ah! Colonel Daniel, sir!"
Frien, who had dashed over in a bound, wore a bright, gorgeous smile.
"I heard you called for me. For what reason might you have summoned me? If, by chance, you wish to spend some time alone together, would you mind waiting just a little? I haven't finished my quota for the day yet, you see."
Frien had been speaking in an everyday manner, but Peremilla and Count Ophilo, who witnessed it nearby, could not help but be horrified.
This was because Frien was currently drenched in blood.
As if she had been conducting torture until moments ago, blood that had not yet dried was still streaming down Frien's uniform.
The stench of blood was so strong it cut through the scent of rain, to the point that Ophilo reflexively pinched his nose.
On the other hand, Daniel, who knew what kind of woman Frien was, merely frowned slightly.
"I've said it before, but I wish you'd change clothes when you come out of the detention cells. It's not that I dislike seeing it; I'm saying it because I'm worried about you. Do you know what the police and soldiers at the Central Security Office call you when they look at you?"
"Do you mean calling me the Witch of Blood? It is a little upsetting. On the battlefield they called me an angel, and yet after just a bit of torture my reputation has completely changed. Still, being the recipient of Colonel Daniel's concern makes me a little happy."
Frien, grinning broadly, came off as slightly chilling, but he could not dislike her for it.
Unless one possessed peculiar proclivities, the act of torture inflicted mental fatigue upon the perpetrator as well.
That was why, even though they were torturing Duke Belvar, a high traitor, everyone still could not help but avoid the task.
And amidst all that, the one who volunteered without a shred of hesitation was none other than Frien.
The thinking was that if it could help Colonel Daniel Steiner, she would do anything.
In short, she had volunteered to be helpful, not volunteered to see blood.
So in truth, Frien was not the sort of person who enjoyed torture.
Of course, he wasn't certain.
'...She isn't, right?'
If it were true that she was enjoying it, that would be too terrifying, so he decided to assume she wasn't for now.
Clearing his throat, Daniel spoke.
"Let's leave the casual chat at that. Right now, taking care of this matter comes first."
"By 'this matter,' do you mean...?"
"Can you see Duke Belvar's family here in front of me?"
"Duke Belvar's family?"
Frien's focus, which had been fixed on Daniel, widened.
Having spotted Duke Belvar's family, Frien put on a somewhat surprised expression.
"It's true? Judging by their despairing faces, I'm not sure who it was, but it seems they've been given a good preliminary working-over. There won't be much for me to do."
Saying "preliminary" in front of people was a bit much.
It wasn't technically wrong in context, but didn't the nuance feel a little off?
"...Colonel? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Since Frien seemed to sense nothing odd about it at all, he decided not to point it out.
"It's nothing. Lieutenant Frien. Take these people and make Duke Belvar open his mouth. About how many collaborators have yet to be captured. Compile those names into a list and submit it to me. Can you do that?"
Frien nodded.
"It's an easy task. Those who clench their teeth and endure their own pain inevitably cannot endure the pain of their family. Though, of course, the best thing would be to obtain a confession before such an unfortunate incident occurs. At any rate, I may be able to complete the list as early as today, if I'm quick about it."
At the thought of being able to help Daniel, joy overtook her, and a smile crept onto her lips unbidden.
"Well then, members of Duke Belvar's family? Would you please follow me?"
Peremilla and the other family members shook their heads, but they had no choice.
Because the soldiers of the Central Security Office were approaching.
"Move it! Can't you hear what Lieutenant Frien said!"
"Hurry up! You, the children of collaborators—do you still think of yourselves as nobles!"
"Get up, you little bastards!"
As the soldiers barked at them, Peremilla and her family rose, terror-stricken.
Warily watching the soldiers with every step, Peremilla looked at Daniel.
"Colonel Daniel! Please! Not that woman! Please...!"
He wasn't sure whether news of Frien's notoriety had reached Peremilla's ears, but she was reacting not just with dislike but with something approaching convulsions.
It was pitiful, but what could be done?
Leaving it to Frien was the shortest route to obtaining Duke Belvar's confession, after all.
Having sent a token condolence in his heart, Daniel turned his body and climbed the steps.
As he stood under the eaves taking off his water-soaked officer's coat, Count Ophilo drew near.
"Ch-Chief of Public Security, sir? I believe I may have been mistaken about something. What would you say to the two of us having a private, serious conversation?"
Having confirmed that the tables had turned, Ophilo had belatedly stepped forward to inform on his colleagues.
However, Daniel no longer had any need for Ophilo's information.
Because it was clear that Duke Belvar would possess far more information than Ophilo did.
"I'm sorry, but that doesn't seem necessary."
Daniel, having removed his coat and draped it over his arm, straightened his attire.
"Count Ophilo. Did I not tell you? That mosquitoes are a stupid breed."
"The fact that they act with reckless bravado, even knowing that angering a human will ultimately get them killed—that point in particular holds true."
Daniel spoke as he adjusted the position of his necktie.
"There won't be a single mosquito in my house this summer. Because I will make it so."
Having removed his uniform cap, Daniel tapped and shook off the droplets of water that had gathered here and there.
A heavy silence hung between them.
By the time the rain, which had grown heavy, began to thin out, Daniel turned to look at Ophilo.
"Aren't you looking forward to it, Count Ophilo? In what manner I...."
Gazing at Ophilo, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, Daniel gave a chilly smile.
"...will pop the mosquitoes and kill them."