Ch 255: As Bloody Tears Fell, This Was The First Time He Broke A Promise

“It’s so dark. Do you have night vision?”

Bal softly said, holding Phia’s hand. Phia didn’t respond; she directly cast a Night Vision Magic on Bal.

“I can see now.”

After walking through a long, dark passage, Phia and Bal leaned against a gate.

“How many people?”

“Quite a few. So?”

“We’re here already; let’s go in and take a look.”

“Are you really not afraid of getting into trouble?”

“I have you with me.”

“Then wait a moment.”

Phia took out two lab coats and two masks. She handed one of each to Bal.

“Put them on. Give me your cloak.”

“OK.”

Bal changed his clothes and asked Phia.

“Why do you still have these clothes?”

“There are so many research institutes in the Kingdom. I figured I’d need to infiltrate when coming to the Kingdom, so I brought them.”

“As expected of you, Dora Phia.”

“Cut the crap.”

After changing their clothes, Phia used magic to unlock the door and opened it.

“Who’s there?”

The Sentry at the door stopped the two people. He sized up Bal and Phia.

“We are newly assigned researchers from above.”

“How come I didn’t know about this?”

Bal was already preparing to draw his short sword, Phia stepped forward slightly.

“This is our Appointment Document. Take a look.”

Phia handed him a document she had fabricated. The Sentry took it and glanced at it, then looked at Bal and Phia. He returned the document to Phia.

“I’ll go ask the Person in Charge. Don’t move.”

The Sentry left his Companion to watch the two, walked to the wall, picked up something resembling a telephone, and started speaking.

“Director, there are two people claiming to be new researchers. They are here with me. I’m checking if this is true.”

Bal didn’t know what the other person said. The Sentry stood at attention as if he received some order.

“Yes, I understand.”

He turned to his Companion.

“Let them in.”

“Is that alright?”

“The Director said it’s true. Don’t you believe him?”

The two Sentries let Phia and Bal pass. After entering the institute, Bal saw many busy researchers in lab coats walking around. He gasped.

“Why are there so many people?”

“Not only those walking around, there are others as well.”

Phia pulled Bal toward an elevator. They stepped onto the platform, and after Phia operated it, the elevator started moving. There was no one else around. Bal quickly asked Phia.

“What did you do at the entrance?”

“You’re quite clever.”

“Don’t beat around the bush. We don’t have much time.”

“Before entering, I used magic to draft a document. After seeing the Seal on the documents in the Sentry’s office, I added a Seal. I also interfered with the magical device used for communication. He didn’t connect to the Director; I intercepted it.”

“Amazing.”

“Save your praise for later.”

As the elevator stopped, Phia took Bal to the experimental area.

“How did you know they were here?”

“Only the magic reaction here is anomalous. Just follow me.”

Bal shut his mouth and followed Phia. After a while, an experimental area filled with incubation chambers appeared before Bal. A researcher and a guard were dragging a beast, preparing for an experiment. Bal looked around but didn’t find Vena.

“She’s not here.”

“Are you sure?”

“I checked everywhere. Vena’s not here.”

“…Come with me.”

Phia pulled Bal’s hand and led him to another area.

“Where is this?”

“Be prepared mentally.”

“What is it?”

“What you’ll see may be shocking or disturbing.”

“I’m ready.”

Phia opened the door. Bal saw many experimental subjects, tortured beyond recognition, locked in cages or glass jars.

“What is the Kingdom doing?!”

Although Bal had prepared himself for a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, the bizarre scene before him still stunned him.

“Look around, although it’s a bit difficult.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Bal and Phia split up, each holding a folder, pretending to take notes while checking the characteristics of each subject.

“I hope Vena isn’t here…”

Bal whispered a prayer. After searching for a while, they reunited.

“Did you find her?”

“No, did you?”

“No, neither did I.”

Bal breathed a sigh of relief. He had assumed Vena wasn’t here, but when he saw Phia’s expression change, he felt uneasy and a little anxious.

“What’s wrong?”

“Vena may already be dead.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Come with me.”

Phia pulled Bal out of the space. They took an even larger elevator to a lower level. As soon as the door opened, a stench hit Bal’s nose.

“Damn, it stinks.”

Phia remained impassive. She tapped Bal’s nose. Bal felt much better. He quickly asked Phia.

“I know this smell. It’s the stench of corpses. Do you mean Vena died here?!”

“Very likely…”

Phia opened the door, revealing a Flesh Melting Furnace.

“If Vena is here, we won’t be able to take her back.”

Bal endured the discomfort. Although he had been on the battlefield, the battlefield was far less brutal than this Flesh Melting Furnace.

“Is there a chance she’s working here as a researcher?”

“…I don’t know.”

Hearing Phia’s uncertainty, Bal felt a glimmer of hope.

“If Vena is a researcher, we have a chance to take her back. Let’s try.”

“Okay, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“How will we know unless we try?”

Bal pulled Phia toward the elevator. They returned to the top floor of the institute. When the opportunity arose, Bal took Phia to the Archives.

“Vena disappeared yesterday. We only need to check yesterday’s records.”

“Okay.”

They split up. Bal looked through personnel files starting from yesterday, while Phia checked the experiment records. After ten minutes, Phia called Bal over.

“Did you find it?”

Bal excitedly approached Phia, who shook her head and handed him an experiment record.

————

October 31st, Weather: Cloudy

Subject ID: D1—3957

Subject Name: Vena Kreis

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Experiment Content: Human experimentation with New Military Magic

Experiment Record: At a distance of one hundred meters, the subject’s abdomen and chest were pierced, resulting in instant death. However, the excessively long chanting time may lead to errors. It is recommended to revise the magical formula to shorten the chanting time.

Recorder: Orechi Regridaya

————

Bal’s face turned ashen. He tore the record and put it in his pocket.

“Give me the long sword.”

“What are you going to do?”

Phia retrieved the long sword from the extradimensional space and handed it to Bal. Bal returned the scabbard to Phia and walked towards the gate of the Archives.

“Cleaning up the threat. Block all escape routes and secret passages except the gate. If necessary, use force without hesitation.”

Bal kicked open the door. Those nearby initially paid no attention to the grim-faced Bal until they saw the black long sword—the last thing they would ever see.

Bal’s massacre began. Blood spurted from the armored guards, then the researchers in white coats, and finally the suffering subjects. Blood splattered on Bal’s lab coat and shoes. Blood flowed down Bal’s emotionless cheeks, as if he were shedding tears for Vena.

After killing almost every creature in the institute, Bal returned to the researcher’s hall, where a group of people had previously gathered. Phia grabbed a fat, middle-aged man and threw him beside Bal.

“He’s the Director of this institute.”

Bal coldly stared at the Director, his eyes icy.

“What are you researching here?”

Bal handed the long sword to Phia, who cleaned it with Water Magic, sheathed it, and returned it to the extradimensional space.

“Oh! Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!”

The Director, terrified by Bal’s ruthlessness, begged for mercy. His pleas grated on Bal’s ears. Bal stabbed the Director’s thigh with his short sword.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

A scream filled the hall, but Bal ignored it and continued questioning.

“Who are you researching for? What is it for?”

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! It’s the Chancellor! The Chancellor ordered me to develop magic and magic items to fight against God’s Country. I’ve told you everything; don’t kill me!”

Bal glanced at Phia, who nodded. The Director thought he had been granted permission to live, but he was met with a black short sword.

“…Let’s go.”

Bal stood up, ignoring the blood-soaked lab coat, withdrew the short sword from the Director’s head, wiped it clean, sheathed it, and walked towards the passage they had entered.

“Wait for me.”

Phia followed, removing their lab coats and cleaning the bloodstains off Bal with magic. As they left the cave entrance, a torrential rain began to fall from the gloomy sky.

Bal walked silently back to the Orphanage, Phia putting his cloak around him.

“Wait.”

Phia stopped Bal before he left the forest.

“Take this, and gather some herbs.”

Phia gave Bal a ring. A flicker of emotion crossed Bal’s vacant eyes.

“What…is this?”

“This is Vena’s keepsake. I found it in the Archives.”

“Really?”

“In this situation, why would I lie to you?”

“Thank you. I can account to Madam Winidel now.”

Bal clenched his fist, raising it high.

“I will end this war!”

After some time, Bal and Phia returned to the Orphanage.

“Huh? They’re strangers.”

A child mopping the floor saw Bal and Phia enter and quickly reported to Winidel. Bal knelt before Madam Winidel.

“I’m sorry…I failed…I couldn’t save Vena. This is Vena’s…keepsake.”

Bal held up the ring. Madam Winidel was silent for a moment, then took the ring with a trembling hand.

“Mr. Barn, you’re tired. Please rest here if you don’t mind.”

“…Thank you.”