“Hm?”
Gunfire was audible although the battle was supposedly over. Shots were followed by more shots.
“Hey, what’re you doing?!” Blitzdonner shouted.
The special combat soldiers led by Toolman were still firing at the defeated fighters from the Security Department.
“The fight is over! Why kill soldiers no longer able to resist?!”
Toolman responded quietly to Blitzdonner’s shouts.
“Major, this is not war.”
“What?!”
“These are violent criminals defying the law. They are not prisoners covered by the conventions of war.”
“What are you talking about?!”
Massacring defenseless soldiers was strictly forbidden on the battlefield. They were to be captured as prisoners, disarmed, and treated according to military rules. Even if this standard wasn’t always followed faithfully, it was the rule.
“They are traitors to the nation. We must thoroughly break their rebellious spirit. If they die as a result of that, it is not my concern.”
“Do you really think that’s a sufficient excuse?!”
Blitzdonner—the man known as the Crimson Hawk—felt a chill at how lifeless and cold Toolman was. He was less human than a mannequin.
“I have received complete authority for this operation from the marshal, so I need explain no further.”
Toolman’s message was, “If you’ve got a problem, take it up with Marshal Elvin.”
“Furthermore, by what chain of command have you come here, Major?”
“Urgh!”
The captain asked as if he already knew. Blitzdonner’s party was not acting under any orders. They were acting on their own initiative.
“My apologies, but until the completion of this operation, I must take you into custody.”
As Toolman spoke, two soldiers stepped behind Blitzdonner without being signaled.
“Tch! I guess there’s no choice, huh?”
Blitzdonner pretended to be at a loss and prepared to go along quietly, but then he released a kick at Toolman. With the strength of a mechanical soldier, he could kill a human being in one blow if he made contact. He held back, of course, but it would have immobilized his target.
“What?!”
However, he kicked only air.
“I thought you might try that.”
Faster than Blitzdonner could move, Toolman bent and grabbed the hilt of the sword at his side.
Uh-oh!
Toolman had dodged, leaving Blitzdonner wide open and unprotected. It happened so fast even Blitzdonner couldn’t evade the attack.
“Major!”
However, someone sprang between them. It was Rebecca, the girl who considered herself his faithful servant. The high-pitched clank of metal on metal rang out.
“—!!”
Something flew through the air. It was an arm. Toolman had sliced off the arm that Rebecca had extended to defend Blitzdonner.
Impossible!!
Rebecca let out a silent cry of surprise. She was a humanoid Hunter Unit, so she didn’t feel a human’s pain. On the contrary, she was shocked a human being was able to damage her body.
“That girl is also a mechanical soldier? No, that felt like...”
There was no blood or flesh on the katana Toolman had used to sever Rebecca’s arm. Of course not. She was made of neither blood nor flesh.
“I see. She is the Sorcerer’s invention.”
The corners of the Bulletproof Baron’s mouth twitched.
How much does this guy know?!
Even the most skilled, well-trained soldier would be startled and confused to encounter someone who wasn’t human. Toolman, however, seemed unsurprised. He had already known there were humanoid Hunter Units.
“You resisted. Both of you. That’s unfortunate. I will dismember you and then... Well, I’ll decide that later.”
His blade rattled. Blitzdonner and Rebecca possessed superhuman prowess, but they shuddered before this blade forged by people of the East and able to slice through iron.
“Oh, you guys look like you’re having fun!” An unexpectedly cheerful voice cut in.
“Ugh...” Seeing the owner of the voice, Blitzdonner released a moan of despair. “What are you doing here?!”
“What a thing to say! That’s what I’d like to ask!”
It was the Saint. Blitzdonner had encountered her a few days ago in Haradin, but now here she was in Penmunde.
“Argh! What a day!” He couldn’t help but feel cursed by fate.
“Oh... Why are you here?” Toolman did not sound alarmed at the sight of the Saint.
Of course not. She looked like a young woman, but more beautiful than any other. But this woman had once appeared before Blitzdonner and cut off his arms and legs.
“Captain Toolman! Be careful! She isn’t an opponent you can beat!” Blitzdonner shouted a warning.
A warning to be careful because this woman was not what she seemed. A warning that, although Toolman had no way of knowing, she was more insane than he could imagine. However...
“Why in the world are you here?” Toolman spoke without alarm and returned the sword in his hand to its scabbard at his side. “I thought you were leaving everything to me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry but circumstances have changed. Am I troubling you?”
“Not at all.”
The two exchanged words casually.
“What is...” Blitzdonner stared in confusion.
“Hm?” The Saint looked as though they were having a friendly chat at a party.
“Oh dear, oh dear... Of course. You didn’t know.” The Saint spoke as if introducing an acquaintance to another friend. “Toolman is my devotee.”
“...............!” Blitzdonner was a veteran soldier who had survived many scenes of carnage, but he was now speechless.
The Saint had awakened 150 years ago. Since then, she had quietly controlled the world from behind the scenes. Some individuals discovered her existence. They were startled, scared and some were even awestruck and eventually developed faith in her.
The Saint made full use of that. She commanded her faithful to collect children. Many, many... countless children. Some parents willingly sold their children, and some even paid her money to take their children. She gathered these castoffs and put them through harsh training. The training was physical and mental, but she also gave the children enlightenment. By the time they were ten years old, they would gladly cut off their own heads for the Saint. Furthermore...
“I’ve sent them all over the world, placed them in businesses and the underworld, regardless of nation or ethnicity. They’re all excellent specimens, and they always find success and burrow into the center of their organizations.” The Saint spoke as if showing off a prized collection. “Don’t misunderstand. They commit themselves to their employers and work hard for them. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t get very far.”
However, every last one of these men and women would always put the Saint above all else.
“They diligently carry out their duties, earn the recognition of Captain Toolman and other superiors, and the confidence of their subordinates. Some get married and have beloved families.”
They blend into society and carry out their normal lives. No one noticed them. They appeared to be sensible and conscientious citizens.
“But when I give an order, they’ll obey instantly. Right, Toolman?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” Toolman responded like a machine.
“That man is your subordinate, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Ma’am!”
“Kill him.”
“Yes, Ma’am!”