Adolf's Conviction
Freigel stared deep into Adolf and Kelun's eyes as he waited for their answers. No matter how free of malice they seemed, they were still far too young. With the preferential treatment from the management bureau and their positions as proxies, they might harbor dangerously naive ideas. The reality they faced wasn't something their innocence could easily withstand.
A safe choice within the barrier. Adolf's words lingered in Freigel's mind.
"What? You mean you came here without a single thought?"
Freigel fixed them with a cold gaze and asked. There was a hint of disappointment in his tone. He wanted them to show him just how seriously they viewed the situation—whether they'd truly given it deep thought.
Adolf replied calmly. "While escorting you, Master Shtafenberk, we'll uncover everything—the ethnic conflicts brewing here, the church's suspicious protest slogans. All of it."
"Ah, I see. So you've at least noticed this conflict isn't natural. The protest slogans... you mean the ones saying not to 'regress'?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Why's that suspicious?" Freigel smirked.
Kelun chimed in, building on Adolf's words. "The Rain Code Management Bureau hasn't made any move to intervene or defuse the current situation. And with the ethnic tensions... the bureau's practically a third party, so directing 'don't regress' at them feels contradictory. We think there's some other intent behind it."
Adolf nodded in agreement with Kelun.
Freigel listened, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly regained his composure. He started to think these two had sharper minds than expected.
'The ones that Red Eye hangs around with. If her subordinates are this capable, she must be something else.'
Freigel vaguely recalled his own days syncing up with Cheisi. For some reason, he saw echoes of that shining ambition—the drive to move forward—in these two.
He kicked a drone aside with his foot, sending it skittering into the corner. "Not bad reasoning. So, you suspect the church is the problem?"
At Freigel's question, Adolf and Kelun exchanged a brief glance before Adolf answered. "We're at the suspicion stage."
"Right, suspicion. And seeing you two together, that means the little lady and Lucia headed to the church."
Freigel rolled his eyes, figuring it was natural to suspect the church. At least, with Red Eye and Lucia moving together, Lucia's personality meant no major issues would arise.
Kelun's eyes flashed as he caught that. "You know Lucia, then."
"Hm?"
Freigel turned back to Kelun, who stared right through him. He'd called Tiny Bell "that little girl," but Lucia by name. Kelun wondered why Freigel addressed Lucia so casually.
"I asked because you referred to her that way."
"Ha—nosy or sharp? Take your pick."
Freigel chuckled wryly before saying, "Let's move. There's an abandoned building just ahead."
Freigel led the way. They passed through an alley into a small building where footsteps grew scarce, revealing a basement staircase. Broken hologram panels littered the entrance—likely an old gambling den, judging by the small coins beside them.
Adolf eyed the coins. Makes sense; when the management bureau took over and obliterated the old currency, places like this went under. Unless they were new operations.
As Freigel casually descended the stairs, Adolf halted abruptly at the door. "We've already destroyed the drone, and no one's tailing us. Let's talk here."
Freigel paused, glanced back, and sighed. Sometimes this kid seemed his age, but other times he was eerily businesslike—like reciting a well-rehearsed script. And his thinking was unexpectedly cold and logical.
"You're an interesting one. Lieutenant Mandel, right? Feels like walking into enemy territory unarmed?"
Adolf's expression hit the mark, and Freigel stifled a laugh at the sight. What rhythm was he supposed to dance to with this guy? A real headache.
Freigel climbed back up and leaned against the door. "Fine, we'll talk here. Feel better now?"
Adolf looked a bit embarrassed. "Thank you for your consideration."
"Your boss is a real worrywart."
Freigel was on the verge of laughing now. Kelun gave an awkward smile. "As our senior said, we're unarmed right now. No intent to belittle you, Master Shtafenberk. We're just following our training as management bureau soldiers."
"Basic training's solid. I'll give you credit for that much."
Adolf smiled faintly. "Then, if I may ask you a few things, Master Shtafenberk."
"Ha—guess you're not really planning to drag me back by force."
"Of course not. I've never lied."
"Alright, shoot. What's on your mind?"
Adolf bowed his head slightly in thanks. "First, how do you know Lucia?"
Kelun glanced sharply at Freigel as Adolf voiced his own curiosity.
"I knew her father, Pedric Beloche."
"Ah."
Adolf swallowed his words. Lucia's father. It felt like he'd pried into something he shouldn't have.
"Why the fluster? You know the requirements to become a proxy."
"Yes, of course. Then, Master Shtafenberk, what are your plans regarding the current situation?"
Freigel leaned crookedly against the building entrance at Adolf's question. "I don't know what you're fretting over, but I won't be stepping out front."
"Even if the ethnic groups clash?" Kelun asked.
Freigel met Kelun's gaze. "No. As long as I'm here, they won't clash. Not unless someone deliberately pushes one side. The two groups won't collide naturally."
"So you're the deterrent," Kelun said, nodding. It made sense.
Freigel Shtafenberk was a famous proxy everyone knew. He'd racked up insane feats in total war, and rumors made him even more fearsome among the Bonyak. The Bonyak held back, fearing he'd step in. The Harken held back, hoping he wouldn't. He empowered neither side, staying strictly neutral.
Adolf and Kelun quickly reached the same conclusion. Amid tensions that could erupt any moment, his presence was mediating it all.
"Ah."
Adolf let out a short sigh. Such an existence. What gain was there in staying here?
Suddenly, questions from his talk with Kelun bubbled up in Adolf's mind. "Then why are you here, Master Shtafenberk, playing at pointless mediation?"
Freigel's face went blank for a moment. Kelun, used to it, stood unfazed. Adolf added innocently, "Is it because your loved one is here?"
"This guy's a bit off," Freigel grumbled, feeling exposed as he scowled.
Adolf snapped back. "Ah, sorry. That was personal."
"Um, our senior means no harm, generally speaking."
Kelun smoothly covered for Adolf, and Freigel instantly realized this wasn't the first time. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. What kind of guy was this? Impossible to pin down, full of surprises. And those sparkling eyes when he asked about a loved one—Freigel couldn't hold back.
"Haha—unbelievable. So ridiculous, I actually like you two."
Freigel grinned. "Fine, a hint: the church is being used. By the management bureau. It's not as idealistic as you think. The ringleader's not clear yet, though."
His face turned serious again. Adolf flinched. "The management bureau sent us here for stability within the barrier."
"Lumen Guard's will, sure. The barriers aren't as connected as you think. And even if they are, it's through that monster AI, Aria."
"But the systems controlled by Lumen Guard, the central authority, have worked fine so far."
Freigel tilted his head at Adolf. "Why do you trust the military and the bureau so blindly?"
Adolf felt like he'd been slapped. Trust the bureau? He'd never thought about it. Were his actions born from that trust?
Suddenly, Roland's words resurfaced. 'You're the only one who'd find that amusing every time.'
'The intel network's full of fun records.'
His own reply flashed like a needle prick. In the intel network, the bureau controlled, allocated, and handled everything ideally. Adolf frowned.