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I'm Here to End This Fight. Chapter 24: Three Cuts (part 3)

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Chapter 24: Three Cuts (part 3)

The end of a sweltering summer.


A short autumn would pass, and then the long, long winter would arrive.


The entire continent bustled in preparation for the coming winter, but there was one place busier than all the rest.


The Dragon's Cradle, preparing to welcome a new batch of trainees for the approaching winter.


Each year, hundreds of prospective trainees entered the Cradle.


Of course, only a select few survived the five years and graduated, but once admitted, they were under the Cradle's strict supervision.


With hundreds of trainees to manage, scattered across the continent, it was only natural for the Cradle to be busy.


The Investigation Corps, tasked with gathering information on the new recruits, was particularly busy as the arrival date neared.


In the midst of this flurry, and in the middle of their busiest time of day, in the morning…


Harry Watson, the Investigation Corps' Deputy Chief, was sweating bullets after a sudden summons from higher-ups.


Standing stiffly, immobile on the crimson carpet, Harry's body felt like a board.


Before him, an old man with white hair and blue eyes sat behind a solid oak desk.


Seeing the stern expression on the old man's face, Harry swallowed hard.


‘G-Great… why me, a lowly…?’


He wasn't exactly a lowly soldier, being the Investigation Corps' Deputy Chief.


But to the old man before him, he was just another one of many, many subordinates.


That's why he didn't understand.


Why the Great Commander was summoning someone like him.


‘This is crazy. I-I’m so scared, I’m going to die.’


The highest-ranking official he had ever met was the Investigation Corps' Deputy Commander.


He had only seen Gordon, the Commander, from afar during commemorative events.


But now, a private meeting with the Commander!


Harry sensed something was wrong.


‘Think, think! What did I do wrong? What did I do…? What… what the hell…?!’


Completely clueless as to why he was called, Harry's mind raced with anxiety.


‘Aaargh! I have no idea!’


Just as he let out an inner scream...


"Hm, you."


Gordon's deep voice sent the already stiff Harry standing even straighter.


"Yes! Harry Watson, Deputy Chief of the Investigation Corps!"


"Right, Harry."


"Yes!"


"You submitted this report?"


Gordon placed a few documents on the desk.


Harry quickly turned his head and eyes, scanning the papers.


‘A report? One I submitted?’


He had submitted many reports in his time.


But there was only one significant recent one.


‘The investigation into the whereabouts of a Class 1 Management Subject!’


A report marked with the highest level of classified information.


Initially, he had questioned why it was classified at such a high level, but the nature of the investigation cleared up his confusion!


He had compiled the report, drawing on information from 10 Investigation Corps teams who worked for six months gathering intelligence to fulfill the order.


‘Ah! That's why the Commander ordered it!’


He quickly glanced at the documents on the desk and confirmed it was indeed that report.


"Yes, that's right!"


"Hm, I have a question for you. It would be best to ask the one who submitted the report."


"Y-Yes, I'll answer to the best of my ability!"


"Before that… what do you think the accuracy of this report is?"


Gordon's index finger tapped the report.


Suddenly, countless thoughts filled Harry's mind.


‘What? Is this a test? Of me, a lowly soldier? Testing me directly?’


His mind was a whirlwind of confusion.


He couldn't figure out the answer, so he simply blurted out his thoughts.


"Sixty percent!"


"Sixty… an ambiguous number."


Gordon stroked his chin and scanned the report he had read many times before.


Mission Report


Mission Objectives:


Investigate the past whereabouts of the Management Subject.


Determine if there is a connection with the Unbreakable, Johan Leonard.


Management Subject: Yuri Holland.


*Special characteristics of the Management Subject: Prospective Trainee 50th Generation, Tenth Black Dragon's Heir.


*As this subject is related to Johan Leonard, all information regarding the Management Subject is classified as Class 1 Confidential.


Mission Duration: Until the arrival of the 50th Prospective Trainee Generation.


Assignees: Chief Harry Watson, 10 Investigation Corps teams.


Report on the whereabouts of Management Subject Yuri Holland (hereinafter referred to as "Subject").


*This report recounts the Subject's activities in reverse chronological order, starting from when the Subject took the proving test.


The Subject took the proving test at Iron's Manor in Crotan Administrative District, recommended by the Unbreakable.


The Subject is estimated to have stayed at Iron's Manor for 192 days.


Before staying at Iron's Manor, the Subject…




The report began with Yuri's recent activities, gradually moving to the past.


However, while the recent activities were documented in detail, the past activities had many gaps.


Six years ago, the Subject appeared in Briwell Administrative District.


Seven years ago, the Subject's whereabouts for approximately one year are unknown.


The Subject was confirmed to have lived in a village belonging to the Paul Manor in Saint John Administrative District eight years ago.


The village where the Subject resided was destroyed in an attack by an unknown entity, and the Subject was the sole survivor.


The eyewitness was a merchant who had supplied goods to the village. According to his testimony, the Subject lived with a woman named Moara.


The relationship between the Subject and Moara is unknown.


Eight years ago, the records of the region's residents were kept by the Pauli family, the previous Lords of Paul Manor, but the records were destroyed when the Pauli family was exterminated for unknown reasons.


Since then, the clues to follow the Subject's further activities have completely disappeared, so the investigation into the Subject is concluded.


Conclusion:


According to the comparative analysis of the Subject's movements and Johan Leonard's movements, there is a 99% probability that the two met for the first time at Iron's Manor.


It was truly remarkable that they had uncovered so much about a single person's past, covering such a vast continent, in just six months.


It proved that the Investigation Corps' intelligence capabilities were indeed among the top two in the world.


Of course, Gordon hadn't summoned Harry simply to praise him for that.


He gazed at Harry and spoke.


"You said the accuracy of this report is 60%."


"Yes!"


"Then, do you also believe the accuracy of the information written here is around that level?"


Gordon pointed at the very last paragraph of the report.


Other Notable Points:


During the investigation, a peculiar point was discovered regarding a woman named Moara (estimated to be 64 years old at the time of her death).


Traces suspected of belonging to one of the Class 1 Confidential classification lists were discovered in the ruins of the residence where Moara and the Subject lived.


Therefore, it is believed that further investigation into the woman named Moara should be conducted. Depending on the situation, investigation into the relationship between the Subject and Moara may also be necessary.


Harry finally grasped why Gordon had summoned him.


‘It was because of the Class 1 Confidential classification list!’


Secrets among secrets, with access privileges divided into High, Medium, Low, and Lowest.


Only the Commander, with his High access privilege, knew the true nature of this classified information.


He was able to include information related to Class 1 Confidential in his report because his Deputy Chief position gave him Lowest access privileges for information classification.


‘Hmm… have there been any reports of information related to Class 1 Confidential submitted to the higher-ups in recent years?’


When he first became Deputy Chief, filled with youthful enthusiasm, he had looked through ten years' worth of information within his access privileges.


Based on his memory from that time, there had been no information classified as Class 1 Confidential in the last ten years.


‘Then, I'm the one who found this Class 1 Confidential list in ten years! No, no! If the Commander called me directly… It means there has been no information related to Class 1 Confidential submitted in more than ten years!’


And he was the one who included it in his report. And that meant…


‘Opportunity!’


A perfect opportunity to catch the Commander's eye!


Having calculated how to turn this opportunity to his advantage, Harry answered cautiously.


"No, the accuracy of that section is less than 60%!"


"Then what do you think it is?"


"Around 20%."


"Even lower."


"My Class 1 Confidential access privileges are the Lowest. Therefore, I lack the necessary data to make a definitive judgment!"


"Are you saying that if your privileges were higher, the accuracy of the information would improve?"


"Yes, that's right!"


Harry's bold statement made Gordon's eyes flash with sharpness.


Harry felt a shiver run down his spine under those eyes that seemed to penetrate his thoughts.


Silence descended upon the Commander's office for a brief moment.


As the uncomfortable silence lingered, Gordon smirked and spoke.


"I issue a command. As of this moment, Harry Watson of the Investigation Corps is relieved of all frontline duties. Instead, focus your efforts on investigating the relationship between Yuri Holland and Moara, as well as the Class 1 Confidential classification list! Additionally, for this matter, Harry Watson's Class 1 Confidential access privileges are upgraded to Medium."


Finally getting the answer he desired, Harry clenched his fist.


With a heart full of joy, he declared.


"I shall obey!"


"I expect a 100% report next time."


"I will surely meet your expectations!"


"Go."


"Yes!"


Given the order to leave, Harry walked out of the Commander's office with a confident stride.


Click-.


The door closed, and Harry clenched his fist again.


‘Medium access privileges!’


That was the same access level as a Deputy Commander.


He had expected to be given Low privileges, but the Commander had granted him one level higher.


It meant the Commander had high expectations for him.


‘A hard-earned opportunity! I will succeed, no matter what!’


Succeeding in this mission would provide him with a firm stepping stone to rise higher.


‘In two or three years, I should have a decent understanding of the information the Commander seeks.’


With that thought, Harry confidently left the Commander's office.


However, he didn't know that what he thought would be a two- or three-year endeavor would take much longer than expected.


Meanwhile, Gordon, alone in the room, stared at the spot where Harry had stood and murmured softly.


"He's a good one."


He was quite perceptive and clever.


In just a few words, he had grasped the situation and turned it into an opportunity, which explained how he had become Deputy Chief at such a young age.


And he had a healthy dose of ambition.


"Someone like him can get things done."


And easy to use.


Gordon muttered the last part to himself and rose from his chair.


Swoosh-.


He slowly walked towards the window.


Gordon stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing outside.


‘Interesting.’


He had tried to uncover the identity of the child Johan was interested in, but unexpectedly, something entirely different had come up.


‘To think that the trace discovered after 36 years would be connected to that child Johan is interested in….’


He wasn't sure if the discovered trace was genuine.


Even if it was genuine, he couldn't be certain if it was related to Yuri, the child.


But…


‘Still, the situation is unfolding quite intriguingly.’


Smiling, Gordon's gaze drifted to the northern sky.


"Storm clouds."


Recent reports mentioned that they were still in Ralph Schnell's territory.


As he thought about them, somewhere in the north…


Thud- thud-.


Thud-.


The rain, carried by the storm clouds, began to batter the windowpanes.


Thud-.


The raindrops, gradually growing heavier, flowed down the silver blades.


Yuri's sword still pressed against Much's neck.


Seeing no movement from Much, Yuri smiled faintly and sheathed his sword.


"You agree that I won? Well, even if you don't, the outcome speaks for itself."


"…"


Much remained silent.


Yuri didn't mind and continued speaking.


"You said you didn't want to hurt your opponent, right?"


His smile became slightly chilly.


"Now, it's ended just as you wished, with no one getting hurt, right? So, how do you feel? No one got hurt…."


"…"


"…Are you truly happy?"


Click-.


Sheathing his sword, Yuri walked past Much without waiting for an answer.


Much stared blankly at Yuri's retreating figure.


"Ah…"


He recalled their sparring session.


It had started with Yuri's surprise attack, but he had used Madness in the middle and fought with all his might.


‘But if Yuri-hyung had used that move he showed at the end… The sparring would have ended right from the start.’


That lightning-fast move that pierced through Madness.


If he had used it from the beginning, the sparring would have ended long ago.


But Yuri hadn't.


That meant, even though it started with a surprise attack, Yuri had actually been holding back in the middle.


‘Yuri-hyung….’


In just half a year.


Yuri had become a completely different person.


Yuri was no longer someone he looked up to, but someone who met his gaze on equal footing.


‘No, maybe… he’s even above me.’


It was the first time.


The first time he felt someone his age was superior to him.


At that moment, Yuri's words echoed in his mind.


[So, how do you feel? No one got hurt… Are you truly happy?]


Much bit his lip.


‘Why….’


Despite being a real sword fight, no one was hurt, and it ended safely.


Just as he wanted.


He should have been happy about that.


But Much couldn't be.


‘Why am I so frustrated?’


An inexplicable frustration welled up inside him.


‘Why is this happening?’


Much analyzed his feelings.


He might seem a little clumsy, but Much wasn't stupid.


If he were, he wouldn't have reached this level of mastery in Body Arts.


He was actually much more intelligent than his peers, and his way of thinking was no less mature than any adult's.


It's just that he looked incompetent in Yuri's eyes.


Much pondered his emotions for a long time.


‘Ah, I'm….’


Finally, he could objectively define this frustrating feeling.


‘…I'm angry?’


What was he angry about?


He quickly found the answer.


‘I'm… angry that I lost to Yuri-hyung.’


As Much sought his own answer…


Yuri approached Johan and extended his right hand.


Johan also reached out his hand.


Clap-.


Their hands met, creating a crisp sound.


"Old man, I won!"


"Of course, you had to win! If you used Windbolt and Brain Thrust and lost to Ralph's Body Arts, you wouldn't be human."


The two laughed in front of the concerned party, and Ralph's face contorted with displeasure.


But he had no words to say.


Because the outcome of the sparring was Yuri's undeniable victory.


‘This makes it 1-1.’


It was a best-of-three spar, after all.


He was a little annoyed that the outcome of the sparring he thought he'd easily win turned out like this.


‘Tsk, I shouldn't have given him any extra time….’


But what could he do? It was his fault for underestimating Yuri and giving him extra time.


He couldn't deny Yuri's hard work and talent, which had led to a 1-1 draw with Much after only six months.


Sighing lightly, Ralph asked.


"So, when will the last sparring be? How much longer do I have to wait this time?"


"What's that? Like you're the one who waited and let us win?"


"Am I wrong?"


"It was your fault for not setting a specific time for the sparring!"


"But is it normal to take months for just one sparring session?"


"Hmph! What's wrong with that? It took me ten years to fight Swordmaster again! And I'm still doing it, 15 years later."


"Th-That's not the same thing!"


As the two, being masters, engaged in childish bickering…


"Do we need to do that?"


Yuri suddenly intervened.


He smiled and said.


"Let's do it now."


“…Now?"


"Right now, you mean?"


At the suggestion of a final sparring right away, Ralph and Johan's eyes widened.


Yuri smiled and pointed his thumb over his shoulder.


"Seems like they're getting impatient over there."


Following Yuri's finger, Ralph and Johan saw Much standing there, his eyes blazing with intensity.

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