"Good afternoon, Ivan. Did you get some good rest?"
"I did. Thank you, Blood. Did you call me here so we could talk about those things?"
"Yes. I wanted a moment when there wouldn't be many people around so we could talk with a little more privacy. That's why I chose this time."
"To be honest, I'm surprised you managed to arrive on time. I noticed you were late for the selection. It might not seem like it, but I notice everything around me."
"Hey! You didn't have to mention that. I was late because it took me a long time to fall asleep, and because of that, I ended up oversleeping," Blood said, pouting.
"I'm just teasing you. You didn't have to get upset," I said with a slight laugh. "Anyway, let's get straight to the point. What do you want to know about me, Miss Blood? I'll answer your questions, and afterward, you'll answer mine. Deal?"
"Of course! I have a few questions about your goal. Why do you want so badly to defeat that soldier?"
"It's because I don't accept him being considered the best soldier in the world. So I have to be the one to take that title away from him."
"It doesn't seem to be just that. Sergeant Oleg noticed that when the race started, you had a vengeful look in your eyes. Did something happen that made you want revenge against him so badly?"
"Damn Oleg. He's much more observant than I thought. I need to come up with an answer quickly."
"Okay, Blood. Here's what happened. When I was only six years old, this war began. My father was only twenty-four at the time, and he ended up having to fight on the front lines. He was killed by that soldier, and my goal is to eliminate him someday."
"Huh? So it wasn't Zephyr after all. Back then, he and I were the same age. That's when we met."
"Any more questions, Miss Blood?"
"If what you're after is revenge, wouldn't it be easier to come up with a better plan than joining the army? You could end up dying before you even accomplish your goal."
"Even though that is a possibility, I don't intend to die so easily. I'll accomplish my goal at any cost."
"I understand... Well, those were my questions. You can ask yours now."
"You know, I'm quite interested in finding out what happened ten years ago, specifically what you said about Maksim."
"Ahh... Yes. I don't know all the details, but I know that Maksim still boasts about helping kill a particular soldier. If I remember correctly, the soldier's name was Adrian. He was one of the best soldiers there that day.
Maksim set a trap that caused the soldier to fall and break both of his legs. Unable to get back up, another one of our soldiers arrived and shot him in the head.
I don't know who actually killed him, but they carried out a very well-planned operation that ultimately took his life."
*"So Maksim isn't the killer, but he was directly involved in my father's death.
I already have enough information to begin my revenge against him.
All I need is to come up with a plan and put it into action."*
"I think that's all. I was curious about what you had said about him. Thank you for telling me, Miss Blood.
I'll return to my dormitory now. After all, tomorrow is the final test, and I'll finally become part of the army.
Good night, Miss Blood."
"Good night, Ivan. Good luck on the test tomorrow."
---
In my room, I began thinking about how I would get my revenge on Maksim.
Actually, I already had something in mind. I just needed to figure out how to put it into practice.
I would need a mask and a voice modulator. After all, I didn't want him to recognize me.
I would take advantage of the fact that everyone was in their dormitories and go out to buy both.
"...This store. The owner is the wife of one of my targets.
Maybe this store will close once I go after her husband.
For now, I'll just buy what I need."
"Good evening. I'd like to buy a mask and a voice modulator."
"Don't you think you're a little too old for children's stuff like this?"
"The mask is for me, but the voice modulator is for my son."
"Ahh, I see. These are the options. Is there a particular one you want?"
"No. That one will do."
"That'll be 100 rubles."
"Thank you."
*"Now I just need to take everything and find a way to lure him somewhere isolated.
I think I have an idea of how to do that."*
I'll write a letter and leave it at his door.
But what should I write?
I know.
*"Soldier Maksim,
I need to discuss something with you privately. It is of the utmost importance. I need you to meet me in front of the barracks at 9:00 p.m.
Signed: Commander Blood."*
Done.
The letter was written and placed in the gap beneath his door.
Now I just need to put on my mask, adjust the voice modulator, and wait.
---
I'm already on my way to the location.
I'll need to get my hands on a sleeping agent quickly. I'll need to put him to sleep so I can tie him up.
Luckily, I was already prepared for this, and I have some stored in my room. I hid it well so no one would find it.
There. I've got it.
Now I can head there without any problems.
It's 8:30 p.m. by now. He should have already seen the letter.
All I have to do is wait for him to arrive.
MEANWHILE, FROM MAKSIM'S PERSPECTIVE
*"That bastard passed the tests so easily.
I need to find some way to stop him from being accepted...
Huh? What's this?
A letter?
Let me read it...
Huh? Blood wants to talk to me about something important?
What could it be?
Could she finally be going to tell me how incredible I am?
It's already 8:30 p.m. I'll head over there and wait for her."*
"Hey, Blood! Are you there?!"
...
No answer.
*"She probably hasn't arrived yet.
I'll wait for her, then."*
At that moment, Zephyr appeared behind Maksim and covered his nose with a cloth soaked in a sleeping agent, causing him to lose consciousness.
Zephyr then took Maksim to an abandoned warehouse far from the barracks and chained him up.
When Maksim woke up, he found himself with no way to escape.
When he looked ahead, he saw a figure sitting there, staring down at the floor.
"Who are you?! What the hell did you do to me?! Help!!"
"Ah, so you've finally woken up.
There's no point in screaming for help. No one will hear you.
But I think you already know who I am.
In case you don't, my name is Zephyr.
I want you to answer a few questions."
"Zephyr?
Wait... You're that soldier from the AAE?!
How did you get into Veldorgrad without anyone noticing?"
"I'm not considered the best soldier in the world for no reason.
But now that I've answered your questions, it's time for you to answer mine."
"Hahaha... You think I'm going to answer some idiot like you? Hahaha, you're seriously mistaken."
"Oh, really?
Let's see, then.
You care a lot about your appearance, don't you?"
Zephyr walked toward a piece of metal lying on the floor.
"It would be a shame if that appearance of yours ended up completely ruined, wouldn't it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll give you two choices.
You answer my questions and walk out of here..."
"Never!"
"You didn't even let me finish. Fine, then."
Zephyr walked toward a bonfire that illuminated the room and placed the tip of his weapon into the flames.
"What are you planning to do?!"
"Isn't it obvious?
I'll make you talk by force."
Suddenly, Zephyr approached Maksim with the heated weapon.
"What are you doi— AAAAAHHHH!"
Maksim screamed as the heated weapon burned part of his face.
"Are you going to answer my questions or not?!"
"I will!!! Please stop! I beg you!"
"If you lie about anything, know that you'll suffer through this again."
"Okay, okay," Maksim said, breathing heavily.
"My first question is: why did you become a soldier?
Soldiers exist to protect civilians, and that's clearly not the case with you, since you don't care about anything other than your appearance."
"I joined the army to build my reputation as 'The Best Soldier in the World.'
I was achieving that until you showed up!"
"Were you involved in the incident ten years ago that resulted in the death of Adrian Wolfe?"
"Yes, I was.
After all, he was considered one of the best soldiers at the time. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to eliminate him."
"And how did you do it?"
"Why do you care so much about this incident?
Wait...
That soldier had a son, didn't he?
Don't tell me you're his son!
Hahahahaha!"
Zephyr then picked up the heated weapon and pressed it against the other side of Maksim's face, burning it just as badly as the first side.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
"Just answer my questions, you bastard!"
"I set a trap on the ground that caused the floor beneath him to collapse, making him fall and break his legs.
But I swear I wasn't the one who fired the final shot," Maksim said in terror.
"Do you know who did?"
"No!
But everyone in that barracks was involved.
It was all part of a coordinated plan.
They only explained my part of the plan to me. I don't know what the others were supposed to do.
Now let me go!"
"Who said I was going to let you go after these questions?
Get some sleep."
Zephyr approached him with more of the sleeping agent.
---
"I'm leaving now.
I've already gotten enough information from him.
I'll leave him here for a while."
Zephyr removed part of the chains and then blocked several of the exits.
*"Did he really think I wouldn't ruin his appearance even after he answered my questions?
He was wrong.
Once he wakes up, he'll have to escape if he doesn't want to burn to death."*
Zephyr dropped a small lighter onto the floor, where he had previously poured several liters of gasoline.
---
Maksim eventually woke up to the smell of smoke.
He desperately tried to escape the burning warehouse.
He spotted a small window that had not yet been reached by the flames.
He had to use his own body to break the glass, but he managed to escape the fire alive.
However, his appearance had become grotesque as a result of the torture he had endured and the only escape route available to him.
After the incident, Maksim no longer wanted to leave his own home and abandoned the army.
It came as a surprise to everyone that he had given up on the title of the best soldier in the world, considering how much he had desired it.
Afterward, Zephyr returned to operating under the identity of Ivan Petrov, and no one suspected him.
Now, with better information, he knew that everyone he had suspected had been involved in his father's death.
And none of them would escape his revenge.
They would all fall into his hands.
Including Friedrich—the most difficult target to reach.
After being accepted as a soldier, he would need to earn everyone's trust to make it easier to get close to his targets.
To accomplish that, he would have to become especially close to Blood.
If he could gain her trust, he would be able to get close to any of his targets.
Now was the time for the real revenge to begin.