Chapter 14: City Under Siege

Central Europe, Crystal Commandery, highestlaws' European continental headquarters.

The complex covered 1,285 square kilometers, its buildings all metallic in style, surrounded by towering iron walls, artificial canals, and plains. It had taken years to shape this terrain. Before the Empire was founded, this place had been one of the richest, most economically developed countries in the world, with one of the highest standards of living. Its flag bore a white cross on a red field. White symbolized peace, justice, and light, while red symbolized the people's victory, happiness, and passion. For most people on Earth, living here had been a cherished dream.

But now, the mention of the Crystal Commandery brought to mind a golden emblem—a diamond encircled by two stellar orbits—and a group of law enforcers who stood above the law themselves, because they bore that name.

Instructor Luca arrived at the conference room in a well-fitted black military uniform. As he entered, he saluted the generals seated there waiting for him.

“Sit down, Luca,” said the man in the center seat.

“Yes, sir.” Luca sat rigidly upright.

“Lieutenant Colonel Faru spoke with you privately by phone yesterday, correct?”

“Yes, sir,” Luca replied.

“Good. That saves us quite a bit of discussion. Then... based on the formal report submitted by Colonel Malone of the Crown Commandery's Second Branch, we are assigning you to Venice to apprehend the level-four wanted criminal code-named ‘Blood Owl.’ Proceed as quickly as possible.”

Luca acknowledged the order, rose, and said, “I'll take my leave.” Then he left the conference room.

Once Luca was gone, the men in the room resumed their discussion. “Four important people have died in Venice in the past twenty-four hours, including the governor's son. Even the resistance organizations wouldn't blindly carry out a string of assassinations like this. Is Blood Owl really acting on a whim? I think the credibility of Malone's report is open to question.”

“Even so, our first priority is to stop the killing. Otherwise, the local royals and nobles will put pressure on the higher-ups. If Tiandu starts assigning blame, our European division won't come out looking very good.”

The man in the center seat spoke again. “There's no need to worry about any of that. I already have a plan. First, we'll wait for Luca to deal with that Fierce-rank lunatic. Then I'll ask Tiandu to send an ‘expert’ to establish the full facts of the matter. Let him wade into the murky waters of Venice. When the time comes, he'll bear the responsibility too.”

“You mean...?” All the generals in the conference room knew whom he meant.

“Ah, yes. Him. I hear he's been lingering in Hokkaido since the end of last year, investigating some civilian murder cases. I don't know what the point of that is...”

...

Venice, seven p.m., the second day after Paper Hero's discharge from the hospital.

Luca's assigned aircraft would not land until the early hours of the morning at the soonest, and the murders of nobles and wealthy businessmen continued. The number of victims had now risen to twelve, not counting the family members killed along with them.

The small city was gripped by terror. The governor had imposed a curfew. All businesses were closed, residents were forbidden to go outside, and tourists were not allowed to leave their hotels. Every transport hub serving the city was under strict surveillance, with services suspended. Until the killer was caught, the police and army had the authority to arrest anyone found lingering in the streets. Anyone who resisted or fled could be shot on sight and would bear responsibility for the consequences.

Under Imperial rule, this was the highest level of security authority a governor could exercise, and it could be invoked only in an exceptionally serious emergency.

The local garrison, the police, HL's support troops—every force that could be mobilized had begun going door to door, checking the legal status of the city's civilians. Uniformed patrols filled the streets. Even the homeless were scarcely to be seen; who knew where they had hidden themselves.

The only person still wandering around outside in civilian clothes was Paper Hero. He had gone more than thirty hours without sleep, yet he continued to patrol from the air, because the succession of murders showed that Blood Owl had not rested either.

Looking out over the dead city, he murmured to himself, “Where on earth are you...”

...

Underground, Reflection City.

Blood Owl was amusing himself by dissolving bodies in hydrofluoric acid. This regulated chemical was rather hard to get hold of. If convenience stores sold the stuff, disposing of bodies would be so much easier.

Suddenly, a voice came from the passage. “As a guest, don't you think you've overstayed your welcome?” The voice seemed near one moment and far away the next. There was no telling where it came from; it seemed to dart through the maze of underground passages.

Blood Owl sneered and raised his voice to answer. “Steel Commandment... What piece of trash have they sent this time?”

“Mr. Blood Owl, our interests are not irreconcilably opposed. Judging by your actions, we even share a common enemy. You're wanted by the Empire too, aren't you?”

Blood Owl's expression grew even more scornful. “Oh... Here to negotiate this time, are you?”

The voice continued, “If you're willing to cooperate with Steel Commandment, you can take the place of someone like Bottrini whenever you wish. Your killing of the clerics can also be wiped from the slate. The grand master will forgive you.”

“Forgive me?” Blood Owl laughed heartily. “You know, hearing that suddenly makes me think the last person who discussed ‘cooperation’ with me was so well-mannered, so fucking clever.”

The man seemed to understand what Blood Owl meant, and his tone grew colder still. “Then what is your answer?”

Blood Owl said, “Come out here in front of me, and I'll tell you.”

Any idiot knew that if you showed yourself in front of him, he would probably leap at you and tear you apart. The voice replied, “Hmph... Since you don't know a good offer when you hear one, we have nothing more to discuss. Even if we can't regain control of Reflection City for the moment, do you think we'll let you keep hiding here in peace?” Before he had finished speaking, a series of explosions rang out throughout the passages.

Blood Owl knew perfectly well what was happening. He walked over to the computer and saved today's experimental data to his usual online storage as well. Then he punched through the computer case, ripped out the hard drive, and crushed it.

With considerable regret, he took one last look at the torture implements and experimental equipment. As for the great heaps of cash scattered across the floor, he did not so much as glance at them.

By now, seawater had risen to his knees. The place was flooding extremely fast. He had to hurry to a nearby exit.

As Blood Owl climbed a ladder, the voice rang out once more, seeming distant one moment and close the next. Where on earth was the speaker? Could he still be soaking in the flooded passages?

“Blood Owl, rejecting me was very foolish. Without the shelter of Reflection City, you have nowhere left to hide in Venice as it stands. I won't have to lift a finger. You'll die at the hands of those Imperial dogs. Farewell, heretic.”