Chapter 396
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 396
Chapter Title: Is That All You Have to Say?
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"You want to recruit those sisters?"
[Yes, Teacher. The Elshar sisters are geniuses who could dominate the world's tech markets for decades to come.]
"If such talents lent a hand to our revolution, it would certainly be a great help..."
The man addressed as Teacher stroked his thick beard, pondering seriously.
Then another voice cut in.
[I'm against it. No matter how I think about it, it's too risky.]
[What's so risky? Recruiting new brothers and sisters is something we've always done.]
[That's during normal times. We just assaulted that dictator, and now these people show up? It's too suspicious.]
[Do you think they're her spies or something?]
[The Okhrana's eyes are everywhere.]
[What does the Okhrana lack that they'd use such talents as bait? They'd sooner hide and protect them.]
[They could be exploiting that very psychology.]
[I can guarantee the Elshar sisters are fools who only know research!]
[We can't risk the revolutionary army on your guarantees alone.]
[Fine, then. I'll push for recruitment on my own authority. If something goes wrong, only I'll get caught, right?]
[Just you getting compromised by the Okhrana would be a huge loss.]
[With that cowardly mindset, what revolution are you even talking about?!]
[Blind recklessness doesn't make a revolution.]
"Enough."
As the argument began to heat up, the man stepped in to stop them.
He spoke gravely.
"A revolution requires both boldness and caution. But above all, never forget that unity among brothers and sisters is most important."
[......Yes, Teacher.]
[We'll keep that in mind.]
The two voices quieted down like students scolded by their teacher.
Leaving them be, the man closed his eyes and sank into thought.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"Indeed, recruiting rashly in this climate is dangerous. It could put all our brothers in Moscow at risk."
[Then......]
"But we can't stand by and watch such talents work for the dictator."
The Russian military was the world's strongest.
Excluding the era of the Sword Flower Joan of Arc, it was the only force that could rival the U.S. military, perennial holder of the top spot.
And that power was supported by the flood of weapons pouring from state-run factories.
Special rounds that ignored defenses.
Missiles utilizing items.
Player-enhanced exoskeletons, and more.
Most cutting-edge weapons from the Iron Age had been developed by Bahamut Corp. or its affiliates.
Unlike other nations that had to buy them at exorbitant prices, Russia had unlimited access to countless advanced weapons.
That was why even top guilds and player factions couldn't hold their heads high in Russia.
......Of course, there were other reasons too.
In any case, from that perspective,
the revolutionaries couldn't afford to let a new genius like Elshar slip away.
Already outmatched in raw power, any further gap in tech and equipment would make revolution impossible.
[So, you'll proceed with recruitment after all.]
"Yes."
[Even if it risks exposure?]
"We must take that risk."
Revolutions come with dangers.
If they feared them and stayed put, they'd suffer under oppression forever.
The man spoke with conviction.
The revolutionary army's cell structure minimized risks while allowing bold moves when needed.
But the one who first suggested recruiting her didn't rejoice at his words.
Instead, he hesitated and asked,
[Teacher, just to be sure...... what if she refuses to join us?]
"I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, what choice would we have?"
As if truly regretting it,
letting out a deep sigh,
the man opened his mouth bitterly.
"We'd have no choice but to eliminate the revolution's enemy."
Having decided on recruitment, the revolutionaries moved quickly.
They attempted contact with the siblings.
And the result was this.
In a dim warehouse far from Moscow, two men and women sat back-to-back on chairs, tightly bound.
"Rino, I'm hungry."
"......Is that all you have to say?"
"Correction. I'm very hungry."
"Elshar, just shut up."
The white-haired girl muttered with an expressionless face, while the white-haired man sighed.
Watching the Rino and Elshar siblings, the revolutionaries wore subtle expressions.
It had been surprisingly easy to abduct them.
But even with guns pointed at them up close, the pair showed no tension whatsoever, leaving everyone uneasy.
And the most uneasy of all was the one who had "invited" them here.
"Ahem. Sorry for bringing you like this. Researcher Elshar, Supervisor Rino."
"If you're sorry, don't do it."
The white-haired man retorted, and Elshar nodded with an equally blank face.
"Indeed. Inviting us for a meal and kidnapping us instead—it's a heinous crime. My empty stomach condemns you."
"Stop talking about food. Anyone would think I starved you."
"I'm still growing. I need to eat properly. That way I can grow tall and curvy, and Rino will be happy."
"Forget your so-called growth potential at your age—what does your growing have to do with me?"
"No need to hide it. Tata says men like busty girls."
"......Tell that Tata that next time we meet, she'll get a smack from me."
Vachmenski, suddenly ignored, could only look even more awkward than before.
He knew Aynsha had some quirks, but he hadn't expected her to stay this relaxed even now.
Including Rimon, who he'd thought was relatively normal.
But they couldn't stay like this forever.
Vachmenski forced his way into the conversation.
"Ahem! To be frank, I'm with the revolutionary army."
"Oh, really?"
"......You're not surprised?"
"Why would I be? This isn't some backwater village. In Moscow, only revolutionaries or government agencies pull stunts like this."
"You didn't think I was government?"
"Would government agents sneak us away like this if they were scared? They'd arrest us in broad daylight."
"Fair point."
Vachmenski gave a wry smile.
In this Russia, the Okhrana and KGB held unchecked power.
They could seize and interrogate anyone on suspicion alone, evidence be damned.
"Now that you know who we are, you must have guessed. My goal was to invite you both to join the revolutionary army."
"This is rough treatment for an invitation."
"I sincerely regret that."
Vachmenski's face grew complicated.
True, the organization had its share of hotheads.
But even so, they wouldn't outright kidnap promising recruits—especially researchers from Moscow's state munitions factories.
Originally, he'd planned to build rapport over the dinner invitation, gather intel, then make the pitch.
Yet he'd abruptly changed plans and resorted to this.
For a reason.
"Truth be told, I didn't want to use force, but......"
"Ah, got it."
Rino smirked, catching the fear in Vachmenski's gaze toward Aynsha.
He finished the man's unspoken words.
"You saw my sister's face, panicked, and kidnapped us on impulse, right?"
"......Yes."
Snow-white skin.
Doll-like beauty.
A small, fragile frame light enough for one arm.
Only minor differences: white eyes and hair, blank expression, slightly slimmer chest.
Seeing the girl who looked exactly like the dictator they knew so well, Vachmenski swallowed hard.
This was better, though.
The first time he'd seen Aynsha's bare face—sunglasses and mask off for dinner—he'd nearly had a heart attack.
No wonder he'd kidnapped them first and thought later.
"On that note, Supervisor Rino...... any chance your sister's real name is Yekaterina or similar?"
"If it was, you'd be dead already."
"True enough."
Vachmenski, half anxious and half tense, relaxed at Rino's reply.
Of course, he couldn't take it at face value, but it beat hearing, "Now that you know, time to die."
"So, no relation at all? Just an uncanny resemblance?"
"No need to overthink. The world has doppelgangers. Unfortunately, my sister's one of them."
"......Statistically, it's possible."
"Yeah. She's suffered for it. Hence the mask and shades even now."
"That explains the hardship."
Vachmenski couldn't hide his distress.
Suspicious points abounded,
yet Rino's brazen confidence left him at a loss.
That was why,
after much deliberation, he spoke.
"Sorry to say this, but we'd like you both under our brothers' protection for a while."
"In other words, keep us locked up?"
"We'll grant full freedom once your identities are verified."
"Meaning even then, no release?"
"Please understand."
His face full of apology, yet unyielding, Vachmenski met Rino's steady gaze for a moment.
Rino chuckled and nodded.
"Do whatever. You weren't planning to let us go anyway."
Spot on, Vachmenski averted his eyes.
But he didn't know.
Unlike his sarcastic tone, Rino's eyes were calmly settled.
Submitting to capture had been a way to infiltrate the revolutionaries from the start.
The deeper they burrowed—even under confinement—the more they stood to gain.
Gurgle.
"So, uh, when do we eat?"
"......"
"......"
......Whether Aynsha had thought that far ahead was anyone's guess.
But she was really hungry, judging by the gurgle from her blank face.
Rino sighed and had no choice but to ask for food first.