TYPnovel Chapter 156 : The Higher the Mountain, the Deeper the Valley (6)
Chapter 156 : The Higher the Mountain, the Deeper the Valley (6)
Chapter 156: The Higher the Mountain, the Deeper the Valley (6)
“Y-You lunatics! Do you even realize what you’ve just done?!”
The moment consciousness returned to him, Ernst began shrieking hysterically.
Leaving behind Francia, who had fallen speechless from shock, I dragged the bastard across the floor and threw him before Rick Vergel’s corpse.
“Uwaht!”
“You carried out these dangerous experiments on nobles too?”
While recoiling at the blood smeared everywhere, he answered under pressure.
“T-Then what else were we supposed to do?! We were severely lacking in numbers!”
“There’s no way nobles would’ve been persuaded for such a trivial reason alone. Talk properly. What exactly happened?”
Perhaps realizing there was no longer any point resisting, he finally began explaining the full story in greater detail.
“…Criminals, slaves, vagrants. We experimented on them for years, but the results were worthless. The costs only kept increasing, and losses piled up. We needed funding from somewhere else.”
At the time, the Bernhardts already possessed accumulated assets exceeding at least fifty million Riben.
Their solution had been simple.
Rather than expanding their current businesses or exploiting the citizens within their territories further—
They decided to use anti-Bernhardt noble factions instead.
“At first, they pressured allied noble families. They massively increased tribute payments. Then gradually, they started subtly encouraging them to crush nearby territories and absorb them through mergers.”
The Halenber Family in Levinel had become the focal point simply because it was the largest merger incident.
But in truth, similar incidents had occurred simultaneously all across the Empire.
“Of course, manpower shortages weren’t the only reason they attempted such dangerous experiments. There was another reason they specifically targeted nobles.”
Nobles were still nobles.
As future Imperial elites, they generally received far superior education compared to common citizens.
Naturally, the amount of mana they possessed and their mana control abilities vastly surpassed ordinary civilians.
“One possibility discovered through years of experimentation! The success rate of Beastification is directly proportional to the host’s mana manipulation capability! This was an extreme measure to verify that theory!”
Unfortunately—
The prediction had been perfectly correct.
The greater the mana reserves and the more skillful the mana control, the higher the Beastification success rate and the greater the resulting destructive power.
“If we could turn an elite with Academy Comprehensive Evaluation Rank A capabilities into a Demon Human, the conclusion was that they could contend against at least an S+ Rank Beast!”
“…….”
“At the moment, they’re too weak to even compare to the Bernhardts’ mercenary forces, but if we continue developing the technology using these experimental results, we’ll eventually mass-produce Demon Humans! This could completely revolutionize not only the Empire’s wars, but all of humanity’s warfare!”
After listening to his passionate speech with cold eyes, I answered briefly.
“…Assuming that’s actually possible.”
Humans and Beasts fundamentally used mana differently.
Humans were vastly inefficient.
Beasts were overwhelmingly efficient.
Transforming humans into creatures capable of functioning like Beasts and utilizing them in war against Beasts—
Viewed only from that perspective, Demon Humans really did seem like game changers.
If I weren’t someone who had witnessed this world collapse countless times, anyone would’ve been tempted by the idea.
But I alone could never agree with it.
As I said before—
This was the worst possible blunder humanity could commit.
Whether Ernst understood my position or not, he continued arguing with crazed eyes.
“The experiments that stagnated for ten years finally have a chance to bear fruit! We can’t just erase this enormous volume of research data! These are the resources that will propel humanity into the future!”
His gaze shifted toward the central pile of research materials and artifacts.
He had probably intended to relocate all the data to another laboratory once reinforcements arrived.
As for the test subjects—
Aside from the single successful Demon Human, they likely intended to dispose of them all.
“You think some mere war hero has the right to stop this magnificent progress?! Huh?!”
Staring at the bastard who was now brazenly shouting at me instead, I quietly asked,
“…Does this truly look like progress to you?”
“Of course it does! It’s magnificent progress and noble sacrifice! We have an obligation to succeed precisely because of those sacrifices!”
Looking at him endlessly nodding to his twisted convictions, I no longer sensed even the slightest trace of goodwill within him.
“…I understand your opinion perfectly.”
Now it was my turn to share mine.
“My opinion is this.”
I pulled out my Wand and activated Fire Magic.
Fwoooosh!
The instant the piles of paper ignited, the flames rapidly intensified and spread to the sacks containing artifacts as well.
“W-Wha, wha, what are you doing?!”
“Phew… now I finally feel a bit better.”
Unable to decide whether to rush toward the fire or stop me, Ernst panicked before charging at me directly, pointing with his mangled hand that could no longer even straighten properly.
“D-Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?! This is the Bernhardts’ greatest trigger point! Not a single person who interfered with this survived over the past several decades!”
“Not a single person survived for decades, huh… interesting. I wonder how my case will turn out.”
Saying that, I grabbed him by the collar and walked toward the flames.
“W-Wait! What are you trying to do?!”
“What else? Destroying evidence.”
“Y-You clearly said you’d spare me earlier…!”
“When did I say that?”
“Wait! Just wait! You think I’ve already told you everything? Not even close! I still have mountains of information left!”
Watching him desperately struggle to survive, I asked coldly,
“…Really?”
“You want to destroy the Bernhardts, don’t you?! Fine! Use me as a witness, Eugene Carter! I’ll completely shatter their reputation! With the information I have, it’s possible!”
“Sorry, but there’s no need for that.”
I already had everything necessary to destroy them.
“You insane bastard! Stop! Don’t do this! I-I don’t want to die! I don’t want to di— UWAAAAAH?!”
I threw him directly into the flames and barely managed to suppress the fury boiling within me.
His screams pierced my ears from behind, but my footsteps never once stopped.
The moment I returned to the other four, I signaled with my eyes.
“We’ve collected enough, right?”
Ernest Kael answered on behalf of the others with a nod.
Still apparently unable to let go completely, Francia alternated her gaze between Rick Vergel’s corpse and the burning pile containing the researcher.
I gently persuaded her until she finally turned away.
Dust clouds gradually rose and began obscuring the softly glowing Light Stones one by one.
It was time to step back once—
In order to move forward twice.
---
Four hours after Eugene’s group completed the operation and departed the scene.
Crackle, crackle!
“…….”
Silently staring at the research materials burned so thoroughly that not even traces remained, Robert Bernhardt was overcome with indescribable emotions.
“You fucking bastards…!”
Confusion and fury unlike anything he had ever experienced surged through him simultaneously.
Eugene Carter.
What exactly are you?
What are you that you interfere with us to this extent?
Do you really think this can stop us?
The important documents were copied long ago. Losing all the samples is regrettable, but there are still plenty of test subjects left. We can create a second Demon Human soon enough.
Your goal is public exposure, right?
But you can’t prove anything.
Jeff Halenber will be killed soon, and the identities of everyone involved with this facility were erased long ago.
At best, you’ll only have suspicions.
Meanwhile, we’ll make sure to drag all of you down properly.
Legally.
Then why do you struggle so desperately?
Your endings were decided long ago.
No matter what you do, there’s no escape.
As Robert vented his rage by trampling the nearby corpses senselessly—
The summoned mercenary members gradually began arriving one by one.
“Damn, these bastards really did a number on this place.”
“Never thought they’d dig this deep in such a short time….”
“So what now, Captain?”
“…….”
At his subordinates’ words, Robert forcefully restrained his emotions and answered shortly.
“We’re shutting down the institute. Move.”
I can’t report mission failure on top of this.
The son Father treasures most cannot fail such an important mission.
As the mercenaries busily moved around, Vice Captain Braham quietly asked,
“We updated the documents a few weeks ago, so we can probably smooth that over… but how are you planning to explain all the dead test subjects? Looks like Ernst died in the process too.”
“I’ll handle that. Just do what you’re told properly.”
“…Seriously, you’re always such a pain.”
After grumbling casually, even the vice captain left to help the others.
Robert silently glared down at the corpse before him.
The faint smile remaining on its face somehow felt mocking.
His anger surged once more.
Crunch! Crunch!
He repeatedly stomped on Test Subject 1966’s face until it caved inward—
Then spat on it.
Without another glance backward, he disappeared into the distance.
At that same time, while the mercenaries were still busy cleaning up the laboratory—
There were others watching the scene from atop the dense spruce trees nearby.
Though the flames had died down, faint smoke still drifted upward.
Jack Brown, the assassin who once fought Eugene at Karbenna, stood with folded arms and nodded.
“Looks like Eugene Carter succeeded after all.”
“Mm.”
Likewise, Abattoir Evelin—the former executive of the criminal organization who had also fought Eugene before—snorted mockingly.
“Told you. There was no way he’d fail.”
“We came just in case. And at least we got a good grasp of the situation.”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway, it looks like they secured enough justification on their side too… we should proceed with the operation as planned.”
“…….”
“Leader?”
The neatly dressed man called Leader pondered silently for a moment before slowly blinking.
“…We should. I’ll contact Michel personally, so leave the rest to me.”
“Okay.”
“Now we can finally move properly. This’ll be fun.”
The three exchanged glances once before simultaneously leaping down from the trees.
Then they sprinted rapidly toward their temporary hideout.
Scheduled contact date—
Sunday, April 10th.
Twenty-seven days before Revolution Day.
On that day, a new history would begin.
The man strengthened his resolve while recalling the face of the person who had once been his master.
“Our Greenwhistle members all know it well. That you did absolutely nothing wrong.”
If you possess any sin at all—
It is merely being a Bernhardt.
And so from this point onward, we will destroy that sin.
Because in the new Empire about to begin—
That name will no longer be necessary.
“…Everything for the future of the Empire.”