Operation Complete / Chapter 16: Turf War Pt*80 (4K)

Gerald pushed the door open and said to Toland, "Also, don't worry too much about your problem."

"Experts will be arriving soon to take over this place."

Chapter Fifteen: Operation Ends

The information wasn't completely hidden; it was simply sealed within layers of formalistic protection, albeit with a slightly excessive number of traps and heavy guard along the way.

The combination of Incantation and wind at this moment was like a universal key, silently unlocking all defenses: metal latches, surveillance cameras, and even mechanisms hidden behind walls and in corners were all dissected into silence by the wind—and people were taken along with them.

Compared to Gerald's forceful approach during his time in prison, his current method is clearly much gentler. He no longer needs to smash through walls and force his way in to essentially disable all the defense systems. For the guards, who have almost no means of countermeasures, the lack of oxygen caused by the deprivation of air is only a matter of a moment.

While doing all this, Gerald himself remained outside the clinic.

The two entered the clinic, which, unlike its rugged appearance, seemed quite... ordinary.

The clinic, which was closed for the day, was not accepting patients, so the entire facility was almost deserted. The front desk logbook was brand new, and the registration counter even had a list of emergency medications arranged chronologically.

Even the most astute infected person, upon seeing these places, would temporarily lower their guard, categorizing them as "temporarily trustworthy," and, influenced by the propaganda of other infected individuals, would believe that the hospital established by the Arbitration Council outside was the place they truly needed to be wary of.

But the wind doesn't lie.

It pieced together clues from all the "non-surface" things: from the cracks under the floorboards, from the bloodstains that hadn't been wiped clean in the corner, and from the faint, sudden sounds of breathing.

"This place certainly puts on a good show," Toland murmured, "But the more it does that, the more it shows it's not for infected people."

Gerald didn't reply, but simply nodded, signaling him to follow.

The medicine warehouse, logistics room, and testing area were all marked by Feng in advance, so the two of them made it almost unimpeded until they entered the deepest room.

In terms of results, the investigation of Zero District went much more smoothly than expected.

Before the people here could react, most of the security forces had already been neutralized, and the "doctor" was pinned to a chair, unable to move.

For an ordinary person with no combat experience, the sensation of the wind wrapping around their limbs is like having their time frozen, and no matter how much they struggle, they cannot break free.

The other person's mouth was gagged, but there was no pain on their face; instead, there was a habitual, almost indifferent submission. He was clearly not facing a similar situation for the first time, only this time the two visitors were more professional—and more dangerous—than those he had encountered before.

The two masked men seemed to be his executioners. They did not introduce themselves or engage in any unnecessary chatter. They simply flipped through the documents they had received one by one in front of him and quietly waited for time to pass.

Until the other person breaks down on their own.

Threats are never constructed with words.

With just a few simple words and actions, without any emotion or even a harsh tone, it was enough to make this person called "the doctor" pour out information like beans.

A moment later, the hidden door behind the staircase opened in a relatively peaceful manner.

The basement was extremely rudimentary, seemingly used only for storage. It contained a large amount of non-public testing data, drug batch lists, classification of infected individuals' physical signs and work assessment data, and even unactivated identity chips and batch registration forms, all neatly stacked and categorized.

As Toland watched the news that would cause an uproar throughout the entire Great Knight Territory if the infected were exposed, he couldn't help but sigh, "Even if I think they're not human, I have to say, these guys don't seem to see themselves as human beings at all... The whole process is so systematic it's chilling."

"But what I'm wondering now is, who do you plan to put in charge of this place?"

Toland gently closed the document in his hand, turned his head, and looked at Gerald standing to the side. "That doctor outside will definitely re-establish contact with the contact person after we leave. There's no way the two of us can completely clear this place out in a short time. Or are you going to use your Originium Arts to wipe this place out with one click?"

"It's not that complicated."

Gerald closed his eyes, sensing the direction of the wind. A faint airflow danced between his fingertips, as if bringing some kind of omen. "Zero District is in a good location, just outside the southwest corner of the Great Knight Territory, outside District Seventeen."

"In other words, to get here, you don't need to go through most of the city's registration and checks; you just need to enter through the dock and then pass through the port and industrial zone to reach your destination."

He paused, then slowly raised his gaze to the persistently gray sky above.

"... Or, we could simply climb over that outer wall from outside Kazimierz."

With that, he opened his eyes and walked outside.

Toland watched his retreating figure, shook his head regretfully, and spread his hands. "You plan to leave these documents here? Too bad. I think there are still quite a few things we can use, or burning them all would be a good option."

"Not for now." Gerald replied casually, without turning his head, "Our reinforcements have arrived."

"... reinforce?"

He quickly figured out who the other person was referring to.

When the two walked back through the clinic corridor and pushed open the old metal door to return outside, the wind had calmed down.

Standing at the street corner was a figure with her hood pulled low. She stood quietly, as if waiting for a long-awaited appointment.

Only after Gerald walked out of the alley did the man slowly raise his hand and take off his hood.

Her long, golden hair cascaded down from beneath the fabric, much like sunlight cast on the edge of shadow, creating a soft yet undeniable halo. Her eyes matched her hair color perfectly, possessing a calm and sharp brilliance honed over the years—cold yet not chilling, bright yet not dazzling—a radiance unique to the Radiant Knight.

"Margaret Nearl has come to keep her appointment."

The arrival of the Radiant Knight was without any entourage or prior notice.

She simply stood there, as if she had stepped out of some distant memory, rightfully reclaiming everything that belonged to her when she left, including the one-handed sword hanging at her waist.

"Yes, I'll need you to handle the coordination here." Gerald handed the prepared list to Margaret. "Have you received authorization from the Kazimierz authorities? Or will Rhodes Island only be able to openly get involved once the Major Tournament begins?"

"The Doctor and his colleagues expressed their basic willingness to cooperate."

Margaret took the list and quickly glanced at it. "However, Rhodes Island still cannot directly intervene in surface affairs, including the treatment of infected individuals. Even now, it can only appear as an external assistant."

"But, after all, we're not entirely Rhodes Island people." She then added with a smile, "Shining and Liz are still on their way, and there are a few other operators in charge of field operations who will assist us. To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, I arrived before them."

"Leave this to us from now on."

The afternoon light dimmed behind the clouds, and the city's skeleton was silhouetted against the industrial gray and sunlight, appearing as a rusty color.

Gerald stood atop an old building, the wind dispelling the dust and heat, allowing him to quietly survey everything below.

The ground beneath their feet remained Zero District, and figures still moved about in the alleyways. Logistics vehicles slowly drove past narrow street corners, and the infected huddled like shadows against eaves and walls, letting the world spin above them.

His gaze swept over the numb faces—from patients, children, and the elderly to abandoned miners and Infected Knights; every pair of eyes seemed to hold a frozen moment in time.

The city keeps turning, but they are forgotten here.

Toland stood beside him, saying nothing, but lit a cigarette and silently exhaled a wisp of white smoke carrying a sense of unease. The smoke dissipated instantly in the wind, as if it were not even allowed to leave a trace in the high sky.

Seeing this, the Sarkaz took a swig of beer.

"Phew." He reluctantly pulled his mouth away from the bottle. "I didn't expect this, new friend. How long have you been preparing for this? You said you didn't need to care about the infected, so why did you send the eldest daughter of the Nearl family back here specifically to take charge of these infected?"

"Because someone cares."

Gerald shifted Pegasus's perspective to the distance, gazing at the walls of Kazimierz on the horizon. "Those who care are responsible for what they care about. As long as it solves the problem, then this arrangement is perfectly reasonable."

"Really? That's your idea?" Toland glanced to his side. "It's somewhat surprising, I must say."

"Because they're too selfish?" Gerald replied.

"Quite the opposite." Beside Toland lay an open pizza box, the cheese and sauce long since cooled and dried by the wind, but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm at all. "Using one's abilities wisely is a quality of a leader. If I were to put you in this position, I would gladly follow your orders."

"That's not my intention, and you don't need to be moved by it," Gerald replied calmly. "It's just a difference in perspective that led to your misunderstanding, but the word 'leader' is far removed from my own experience."

Toland didn't respond to that remark, nor did he look at Gerald. He simply lowered his head and tore off slice after slice of pizza, maintaining a leisurely pace as he chewed.

"Thanks." After a long while, he suddenly said this, his tone devoid of any sarcasm, only a rare sincerity.

"It's not because I owe you a favor," he flicked the tissue in his hand, wiping away the last bit of cheese, "It's just that too many of my compatriots have been thrown here. Living feels like committing a crime, being tossed around, unable to even find the strength to stand up."

"I'm not good at handling these things. If someone could really put us to good use, I would never refuse. It's just that no one else can do that, so we decided to start our own business—that old bastard Darksteel is one, and so am I."

He stood up, clapped his hands, and shook the breadcrumbs from between his fingers and cuffs. The dust and crumbs drifted in the wind, like scraps of paper swept into a corner after a show.

"I have to leave for a while." Toland said as if it were something perfectly ordinary, tugging at his cloak.

"Recently, one after another, bounty hunters near the Great Knight Territory have gone missing, which is a bit too abnormal, but it's definitely a good thing. I need to take this opportunity to win back my old friends who are still willing to listen to me."

Gerald remained silent for a moment.

It seems this situation occurred because of him.

It's best not to mention that.

"I will head west, exiting from the southwest gate of the Great Knight Territory, bypassing that cliff, and arriving at a small place called 'Grey Hibiscus Hill'."

As Toland spoke, he pulled a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket and lightly traced a few creases on it with his fingernail. "Near the edge of Kazimierz, that's where I'm stationed. If you're looking for me, follow this line. I'll have someone leave something as a marker."

He spoke bluntly, handing the piece of paper to Gerald without further explanation or asking about Gerald's next steps. He simply turned back and said before leaving:

See you later.

The wind swept across the metal rooftops, and his figure disappeared into the gradually darkening outline of the streetscape.

Chapter Sixteen: The Battle for Territory (Pt*80 (4K))

Time passed, on the other side.

"Ha!"

Maria woke up from her dream.

She sat on the bed, panting heavily, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead. Her chest heaved violently from a brief moment of distraction, as if she had just survived a difficult battle in a dream.

She then quickly looked around, confirming the room's layout and the fact that she was alone in the room, before slowly coming to her senses.

... Nightmare.

It's impossible for a childhood friend to have worked so hard for years, clinging to hope and dreams, only to be knocked down by reality with two brutal blows! Even compared to other chivalric romance novels, this scenario is far too tragic! It's the kind of story where once the reader discovers the real-life name, there's no escaping it!

That's right, that's right. In the end, having a child in just two years is completely impossible from a realistic point of view. She must have been having a nightmare to do that.

"Ah... my body hurts so much, and my eyes hurt too." Maria struggled to squeeze the blanket between her thighs to release some of the heat from her body. She groggily glanced at the incongruous mechanical clock on the bedside table. "Four o'clock... afternoon?!"

Just as she was still reeling from sleeping almost until evening, her bedroom door was flung open from the outside— Zofia, her face clearly displeased, entered the room and said, "Don't yell in the room, Maria, we can hear you screaming in the hallway."

"Oh no!" Maria scrambled out of bed and hurriedly told her aunt, "We're going to be late, Aunt! Why didn't you wake me? We have a match against the Rusted Copper Knight today! We'll be disqualified if we're late for the preliminary round!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Zofia tapped Maria on the head with the newspaper, making the pony yelp in pain, before opening it and handing it to her.

[First Battle a Success! Maria Nearl Crushes the "Rusted Copper Knight"!]

The headline was unremarkable, and the article itself was remarkably concise and efficient—it read like a report written by an intern.

Although the name "Nearl" itself implies high traffic, the content of the article is generally quite objective, without showing any particular preference or trend. It is probably because the current situation has caused an unusual wavering in the judgment of public opinion, and the author does not want to take responsibility, so this choice was made.

"You played very well. The newspapers are practically overflowing with news about you. The crowd waiting for you outside the manor could probably build several stories high." Maria smoothed a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder. "Just rest at the manor today. You've been working too hard these past few days."

"Huh?"

Maria picked up the newspaper, glanced at its contents cautiously out of the corner of her eye, and then quickly looked away.

Zofia watched her niece's behavior, a question mark appearing above her head, "... Why were you peeking? This must be a very satisfying moment, right? You can accept it without hesitation, can you?"

Hearing his aunt's words, the little pony glanced at it cautiously again, then quickly looked away, his eyes darting around as if nothing had happened. "I didn't see anything, I don't know anything... Ah! This crossword puzzle in the newspaper is so interesting!"

Seeing this, Zofia chose to deliver a simple vertical slash to her niece's head. "Face reality."

What do you mean?

"The fact that my beloved older brother is back." Seeing the other person's expression, Zofia knew she hadn't misjudged the situation.

To Zofia's surprise, the mere mention of a certain word caused Maria to writhe in agony on the bed, covering both her ears with her hands.

"Ugh!! No way! My brother got married and had a child at the same time, and my sister even saw him before I did! At least wait until I confess my feelings!!"

"Besides, I don't know how I spent the last two years in prison, so why am I seeing my sister so suddenly?! It's so strange! Why do I have to endure so much in Kazimierz and have to accept things I don't like, while my sister can be outside with my brother? It's so unfair!!"

Young Pegasus rarely acts spoiled and almost always only reveals his innocent and naive side to people he trusts implicitly.

It's just that if you keep your grievances bottled up inside for too long, there will eventually come a moment when they completely explode like this.

Maria rolled around in bed, burying her face in the blankets, peeking her ears out from between her fingers and then pulling them back in, her tail flicking irritably as if to shake off all the negative emotions in her mind.

"I've tried so, so hard!" Her voice was muffled and hoarse under the covers. "I've been training alone, forging iron, listening to my aunt, and enduring all the gossip... Now that I've finally made it this far, the first person my brother sees when he comes back is my sister, and the person standing next to him isn't me... I... I haven't even had a chance to hug him yet, and I already know he's not the same brother he used to be."

"Ah..."

Zofia was momentarily at a loss for how to react to this scene.

Frankness isn't a bad thing. From an emotional intelligence perspective, it might not be pleasing, but it's undoubtedly the fastest way to solve problems. And Gerald was remarkably adept at offering comfort afterward; he was perfectly capable of handling such situations.

But she can't handle it.

Zofia could only watch helplessly as her little pony, after escaping reality and breaking down, vented her frustrations until she gradually calmed down.