《HiGH - 366 days to live》
Chapter 1 – A Day to spare
A life without meaning is nothing but planting moonflowers in the sun. With no meaning to your existence, you¡¯ll die someday and cease to exist. Yet without life, someone¡¯s meaning will also diminish as you¡¯ll be swept away by the fox running through the snow of time. Soon, I will have neither of those as I¡¯m left with only a year to live.
A thing I have and the thing that ultimately sealed my fate is a hole in my heart. Both metaphorically and physically, there is an almost circular cut at the side of my heart. After consulting with a doctor that day, I¡¯ve met with the reality that I¡¯ll die from a defect that I didn¡¯t ask to have. ¡°Well, it was ought to happen someday, sooner or later¡± I thought to myself, calmly accepting my death with open arms and a finalizing a list of the things I wanted to do.
From the moment I realized I will just be a rabbit ¨C will be hunted down anytime fate desires, I always wanted to be the opposite, someone with significant feats as well as the power to do anything. Even though now that I¡¯m mortally wounded, I still want to be that guy. The first item on my list: Be someone.
¡°If I do something notable, I¡¯ll be someone, yes? So, it¡¯s simple then ¨C I¡¯ll just do the unthinkable¡±. As everyone here is trapped in their illusion of free will, the only exceptions being either the ones smart enough to understand how the entire world has kept its peace and prosperity or people like me who¡¯re at the brink of death and just realized what it all means. I¡¯m no moron, believe me. Reason for this supposed utopia becoming is that it¡¯s really complicated. Even though this world has progressed so far, there is still corruption. But it¡¯s different from, per se, 2024. Instead of corrupt government and its officials tricking people for their money, they are now plotting to racially eradicate the non-desirable.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
From the year 2036, the world has been brought into soft-eugenicist utopia. A certain someone brought an abrupt peace among men by a conquest that¡¯s now known as the ¡°Last Great Crusade¡±. By ensuring world peace and prosperity ¨C for the people to be happy all the way ¨C he got everyone under his tail and enforced the perfect law for a utopia: no-one is persecuted, no-one is discriminated and no-one ever will not be perfect. But everything that mankind make is flawed in some way or another, and in this case it¡¯s their utmost rule, ¡°no-one must not be perfect¡±; essentially meaning if they don¡¯t have potential of perfection, there is no interest in having them lying around. And that includes me, who am now mortally wounded.
This disease of mine could¡¯ve been fixed as the technology in healthcare has paced significantly since we all set aside our differences. Yet for some reason, they didn¡¯t want to treat it. It wasn¡¯t an expensive procedure and I even know someone who can operate on me but they deemed I wasn¡¯t worth the effort and they thawed my account on everything. But as I have no account, I wouldn¡¯t accumulate any debt and acquiring a loan doesn¡¯t necessarily need an ID. As everything is distributed automatically the one who has nothing to trace to will be the one who has everything.
Chapter 2 – The last farewell
I always wanted my last words and wish to be alike of my father¡¯s: ¡°If I die, I don¡¯t want to drag anyone behind. So, please forget about me as I¡¯ll be with the snow, pure and thoughtless, flying through time, forming and dissipating¡±. And this still holds up to date ¨C I want to die as a no-one.
The second item on the list: Don¡¯t drag anyone behind. For as long as I can remember, I was known to be insignificant. But the only reason I was a no-one was that I never thought life was worthy. To quote the man: ¡°If I die, I die. But someday, someone would continue and complete it¡±. Unfortunately, I¡¯ve just realized how important my life was. Now, the things that come to mind are the things I didn¡¯t do because of my misconception of the value of my life. For instance, I didn¡¯t confess my love for a certain someone; I haven¡¯t gotten to fully express and expand my potential to the fullest and also other things that are on the ¡°White list¡±.
Ever since I was in 9th grade, I had a feeling towards a girl in my class. As I was a year younger than my mates, I was somewhat ridiculed back in lower grades. Fortunately, I don¡¯t remember any and all the bad things that happened to me. But I vividly remember the time I sat next to her for a few months - the only memory I hold so dear to my heart. As the first action I want to take in the year, I want to at least say that I loved her ¨C that I loved Cassandra.
Living with a regret and dying without one is not one the same. As one will always kill someone and the other will only kill you. As for me, I don¡¯t want to leave something hanging for so long. Since that man¡¯s reign, technology advanced so far that the people, in even the slums, have life expectancy far beyond 100. As well as that, technology achieved harnessing 100% of the sun¡¯s energy output.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
My reputation when I was in class was, to put it simply, absolute rubbish. I always restrained my mental illnesses everywhere except home. But sometimes, it spills out just a little and when it does, I become either a psychopath or a sociopath, depending on when and where it happened. As of when I¡¯m at school, the psychopathy would come out. And as a result, I¡¯ve gotten the nickname, ¡°Angelic Devil¡± ¨C the one contrasting between god¡¯s creativity and the devil¡¯s destructive genius.
A common practice between me, San and every other people that shares our culture is to bring booze whenever you want to talk truly. As the person is the most vulnerable when they are under the influence of alcohol, it has been perceived of being honest. Yet, as a curse or a blessing, I can¡¯t get drunk as well as its hangovers. So, as I bring a bottle of whiskey to meet up with her, I¡¯ve spent 3 days off of my year.
She comes at the rendezvous and we both drink and spill out some obscenities.
¡°Did you know I loved you, San?¡± I asked without a thought in mind.
She answers, ¡°Yes ¨C from the very beginning. You seemed to underestimate me, Li. I¡¯ve always been then and there when you were all over the place. You and I are almost the same¡±
¡°To be truthful, I now have only a year to live. And as my days become numbered, I can¡¯t just die with this in my chest. So, please understand, mate, I¡¯ve loved you so much that I was scared to even talk to you. That¡¯s how cowardly and stupid I¡¯ve been. So, please, forget about me ever being with you and try to live your life as fully as possible¡±, I said, before turning my back one last time.
Chapter 3 – Smile to the unknown
I was the misfit from the start. When I was younger, I developed antisocial behaviours as well as a degree of schizophrenia called ¡°Controllable Schizophrenia¡± or ¡°Faith¡¯s Blessing¡±, named after the first person to discover it, William E. Faith. It might be a bit hard to find him as he is the one whose name was erased from the history. But I know that sap ¨C far better than everyone who has ever lived ¨C as he was my-
¡°Eh? Li! Where¡¯ve you been lately? I haven¡¯t seen you for a week now.¡±
¡°What goes around comes around¡±, eh? After the age of maximization, normal, 21st century jobs have become a rarity and a relic. But there are still uses for those set jobs, the highest paying ones at that. And I¡¯m one of the few that have ¡°normal¡± job ¨C a job of a designer and also an accountant. And that, that is my officemate ¨C Cecile E. Carnation ¨C the one with nothing and everything.
¡°Well then, I now have just under a year to live. Can¡¯t I catch some slack?¡±
A surprised but enthusiastic her says, ¡°Well? Are you going to just sit there and weep like you¡¯re dying tomorrow? How about this? I know you can¡¯t get drunk but let¡¯s just go to a bar and let your thoughts get out.¡±
I reluctantly agree with her as we go to a bar that both of us know is very ¡°fun¡±. The bar itself is ¡°13 Tailed Kitsune¡± of the 6th district that¡¯s notorious for having no rules and boundaries other than to respect the owner.
The history behind this place is not an ordinary one as it has been there since the millennium¡¯s turn. Founded by the pioneers of Corp. 51, it¡¯s believed to have been a base of operation for assassinations as well as terrorism. But the truth be told, it never was one. It¡¯s true that it was founded by the infamous Corp. 51 but it has never been used as their base of operation. It is, was and always will be just a bar. But a good bar nonetheless ¨C even though it¡¯s quite violent from time to time.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°So, why do you have only a year to live?¡± asks Cici.
¡°Do you remember my district¡¯s doctrine ¨C the one with not leaving anyone behind? Yep, that happened. It¡¯s not your district¡¯s doctrine but you won¡¯t leave me, right?¡± I answered reluctantly.
¡°Well... What would you do if I do?¡± she asked curiously.
And without a second thought, I shed a single tear and said, ¡°You will, won¡¯t you?¡± And maybe for the first time in a long while, the tension in my chest spiked with a sudden piercing sensation. ¡°F EAR¡±
¡°Eh? The one who has permanently engraved his mark as the Angelic Devil would cry in front of me? There is a tale about the one who died just because of him getting to see the devil¡¯s tears. I might die with you if your reputation still holds.¡± she says playfully and caringly.
With her being almost the same, but the opposite gender, as me, she can easily comfort me in the most indiscriminate and devastating moments. I knew that but, before I could act on my emotions, a voice spoke from my back saying, ¡°Your dream¡±.
¡°No, no, sorry, I¡¯m an idiot for thinking you¡¯d leave me. So, so, I know you won¡¯t leave me either way, yes? At least you know my dream, mate. So, you know not to weep when fate gets me¡±, I make clear of myself. And as an apology, I pay the tab with the infinite credit that I have with her ordering a couple more whiskey.
The Corp. 51 is a place with all the exceptional ¨C ill or not. As I wasn¡¯t the one who¡¯s the most suited to live, I was welcomed quite warmly. As the 51 is deemed to be a terrorist organization by the central government, it burrowed underground and became the management unit of there.
And somehow, I became one of the council members that manage the underground.
Unlike me whose info has just been erased, most of the members of the high council never had a history. As such, they are called the ¡°16 A-non¡± or ¡°Tailless Foxes¡±. They often receive assassination orders and other espionage missions as well as terrorist missions, but for the good. They are like me ¨C they are the anti-perfection.
Chapter 4 – Moonlit mirage
There are 8 administrative zones that are the only divisions of the perfectly united world. The zone I¡¯m in, the one that gave birth to the one who united us all ¨C Zone 4, the Far East ¨C has the least people compared to its landmass, consisting of past China, Mongolia, Russian Siberia, the Korean peninsula and Japan. After nuclear bombs were involved in the Crusade, the global population dropped significantly, leading to the eugenicist doctrine to take place. But in the Far East, most of the world doctrines don¡¯t apply as it¡¯s a wasteland that was forgotten about.
Several years ago, when I was tasked to sabotage a surveillance facility in Zone 2 ¨C the Euro Plain ¨C I went abroad for the first time. And in that mission, I spent 3 weeks there in Europe and in those 3 weeks, I took a trip all across Europe, ranging from the tip of Iberia to the south of the Caucasus. Since then, I¡¯ve always dreamed of going abroad once again, and as such, my 3rd item in the White list: Travel the world.
Since the reign of that man began in Finland in 2026, the world, especially Europe, began to thrive. He was an inventor, a great architect and a big dreamer that somehow made the world peaceful and cooperative. He enslaved the sun using a variation of the Dyson Sphere and started to harness the maximum amount of energy, he led the development in nano-transplant as well as artificial genetic modification and he even made teleportation possible. As that, Europe thrived and became the hub for world innovation and development but as a result, China as well as the USA became weak. So, he invaded them and integrated them into his ideal world.
But since China didn¡¯t want to get annexed, they fought teeth and nail, until USA yielded. Since then, China was defeated in less than a month by the hand of US hydrogen bombs stock. India soon followed as well as the Indian subcontinent and SEA. In less than 5 years, the rest of the world either got decimated or submitted to the man¡¯s reign. Unfortunately, in 2036, just after the Last Crusade, the man died from his health condition similar to mine.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Yet, it isn¡¯t all true ¨C he was my father.
During the last days of the Crusade, while diplomatically annexing Japan and Mongolia, he selected his 4 successors ¨C the 4 Horsemen of Creation ¨C whom they had immense potential and almost the same idea of an ideal world. And the day after he united the world under one government, he died. As he arrived in the operation room, he stood up and left the room without saying a word. A search party was dispatched but the man vanished without a trace.
In 2044, I was born ¨C a normal, healthy baby boy with brown hair and brown eyes. Yet there was one problem, I was a direct bloodline of the man.
The catch of me being his child is that he isn¡¯t really there. He died in 2036 due to his heart but I was born 8 years after his death meaning he isn¡¯t technically my father. As that, I was put up for adoption as my mother was an exception but strangely, I wasn¡¯t one when I was born. Quickly after I was put up for adoption, he adopted me ¨C or stole me ¨C from the hospital. Sadly, my mother was executed on the spot before he could save her. 3 years after her, he also deceased, leaving me to the 51 for protection as well as education.
A story about my father that is quite popular among the corporation is how he betrayed the Corp. 51. It goes, ¡°In the year 2026, just before the start of the Last crusade, the man who conquered all was in this very corporation. And in between his leave and betrayal and the great symphony he orchestrated, he recited to a certain someone, ¡°Whether you accept it or not, I¡¯ll bring you the perfect world no matter what¡±. As he went and left us in awe, the certain someone smiled and said, ¡°Even if you won¡¯t, I¡¯ll always see you as my perfect and my world¡±. Like a bittersweet love story, the man gave up his all, his humanity and his humility to give her the world and she received his offer and also him with open arms without considering his sympathy and past¡±. And that certain someone was my mother.
They say his last words were, ¡°If I die, I die but someday, someone will continue and conclude it. Be safe, lads¡±, but Cecile always told me it was, ¡°Snow¡± ¨C the answer to her question of ¡°What would you want to be after you die?¡±
Chapter 5 – Delusional Symphony
¡°¡°Search and destroy the 4 horsemen of Apocalypse¡±. This is the order given to the elites of the Corporation, the 16 A-non and I¡¯m the 4th to receive the order.
The 4 horsemen of creation and apocalypse are the most protected people here and most of them have some sort of protection from attacks. The one that governs the Zone 4 and 8, Shiro Li Yuki, has the lightest protection ¨C maybe because she is under the protection of the Corp., so she doesn¡¯t go under the categorization of the 4 horsemen. My target is Luishiro Haru, labelled ¡°Symphonic Orchestrator¡± or ¡°Sympathy¡±, the one who oppose the 51 directly.
The only other one who got the ¡°Search and Destroy¡± mission, that¡¯s still ¡°alive¡±, is Cecile.
Several years ago, in 2060, Cici and another A-non went for an assassination. A crucial mistake they made was that they underestimated the horseman. The man they were after was Ilio Guillemin, the General Secretary of Security and Surveillance or as the Corp label him, ¡°Fox Ears¡± or ¡°Fear¡±.
Cici and the A-non infiltrated the central surveillance base in Zone 2 surprisingly without any hindrance and silently edged towards the office. As they reached the office and prepared a gas attack, they were caught by Ilio¡¯s troops. As the Corp.¡¯s elites, they swiftly handled the troops and carried on the gas attack. But unfortunately, they were again caught right before they activated the gas bomb.
After they have been caught, they were escorted inside the room they were about to bomb as they met the man in person for the first time. From Cici¡¯s description, he had a not-so-deep voice and a semi-British accent. The unsettling thing is that she didn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face because of a creepily smiling mask. As they were kneeled before him, he said, ¡°So these are the people who he betrayed. Arbitrary to his tales, these people are weak as butterflies ¨C they only suffer just to spread their wings shortly but die soon after ¨C such a shame, as they are foolish too,¡± as he inspects the gas canister they were carrying.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Fortunately, Cici and the A-non were not any ordinary people. As they were not bound or tied to anything, they quickly disarmed the troops and shot them without hesitation. After they were certain that there weren¡¯t anyone coming up again, they shot Ilio, only to realize it wasn¡¯t him as they pull the mask to reveal a fellow A-non who also got the ¡°Search and Destroy¡± order. ¡°Only the foolish and the unwise get betrayed by God and wrong him for his action¡± says the mask with Ilio¡¯s voice, before it explodes, detonating the gas bomb in the process.
As the room fills with neurotoxin, Cici and the A-non escape outside, only to find themselves in a bullet storm. With no easy escape, they go back inside to regroup. At that moment, the A-non gets shot through the wall as anti-material rifles set a volley. Behind a rigid cover, Cici thinks, ¡°3 minutes until the gas comes down. If I don¡¯t make a move now, I¡¯ll either die from the sure-kill neurotoxin or from an anti-material round from those who¡¯re outside. Well, it¡¯s worth a try at least¡± as she goes up a floor and sets up a nest. The plan she came up with was fooling the ground troops with a smoke grenade. With the neurotoxin being similar to regular White Phosphorus gas, it¡¯d trick the armed police to think that she died from the toxin. As they didn¡¯t have the estimate of the toxin¡¯s density, they¡¯d report she had died from her own gas. And they did just that.¡±
Chapter 6 – The Great Leap
¡°So how did she escape the building¡± asks my young prodigy.
I answer, ¡°Magic¡±.
Now that I¡¯m 3 weeks into my last year, I feel neither fear nor bliss but the feeling of hesitation. With the most demanding and the deadliest mission put onto my back, it¡¯s weird to be this relaxed and telling a story to my prodigy. But, as I¡¯ll die in 11 months, I don¡¯t want the due date to be sooner. And, Luishiro isn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon so why would I rush?
¡°Well, off you go, mate. I¡¯ll be here if you need any help. And remember, as long as you know who you are, you¡¯ll be just fine,¡± I say before his leave.
As I don¡¯t have any wish to continue my lineage through the next generation, I don¡¯t have to have a child. But still, I want someone to at least go cry to in times of desperation. The 4th item in the White List: Get a wife.
One day, I receive an order from the council, ¡°Do what you have to do¡±. The meaning of this is quite simple, I¡¯m now directly under the Corp.¡¯s protection ¨C that if I die without my consent, I¡¯ll be avenged. Another meaning of this might be I have to go for more dangerous missions in order to die peacefully. As the council sends another order with Cici to drag me along, she and I go to the Red Sea Area of Zone 5, previously known as the Arabian Peninsula.
Objective: Aid in the uprising of the religious groups and purge the ¡°Condensation¡± of Eugenicists.
As the rapid maximization and perfectionism spread through the world, the aired Arabian desert has been turned into a futuristic utopia with half a billion living there. As a result of enslaving the sun, energy has become almost free while the technology advanced far enough to convert sand into building material, known as wet sandstone, so even in a desert an artificial oasis can be build. But, while these oases could get built everywhere, the initial requirements can¡¯t so once the groundwork has been done as the first one gets built, the next generation would branch out from the root. And soon enough, the roots reach its limit as the oasis¡¯ walls get built. The walls mark the end of one ¡°Condensation¡± ¨C the humane version of a concentration camp.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The largest Condensation, the Walled Crescent, mostly consists of Arabs. As such, it has 50% of the world¡¯s Islamic believers. As they have been subjugated under a seemingly Atheist overlords, they were considered as ¡°Delusional Exceptions¡±. Cici¡¯s mission was infiltrating the communication unit and disconnecting the Condensation from the rest of the world while mine was rallying and leading the rebellion against the perfectionists. The problem was that I didn¡¯t have the charisma to lead a lot of people. But I had a plan in mind that¡¯s quite unorthodox.
While I prepare for my plan, Cici went on a stealth mission to isolate the Walled Crescent from the rest of the world. Her route was simple: go through the back, slit the throats of anyone who was unfortunate enough to see her and plant a C4 in the server room.
My plan of action was impersonating the ones that ruled the Condensation and killing a few people as I retreat into safety. Luckily, I came across a high-ranking officer on the way up top. All I had to do was wear his clothes, wear a mask, rack the slide and pull the trigger on some people.
The moment came and I made the necessary evil of killing a few to save millions. But a little girl came up to me and said, ¡°Mr. Son, I know you have a hard job of taking care of all of us but please take a break. We all appreciate what you did to us ¨C to this place, but if you keep this up, you¡¯ll be out quite soon. At least, eat this and refuel yourself¡± and gave me a box full of pastry, right before I pulled the trigger. At that moment, a voice spoke from my back saying, ¡°Kill with absolute certainty¡±, and I pulled the trigger, emptied the magazine and reloaded.
Chapter 7 – Echoes of the late
At somewhere, sometime in the past, I read an entry of a diary that read, ¡°The 2nd of March, 2030. Today, a major milestone was reached as China ¨C the largest industry ¨C has been integrated. There are also negotiations of India getting integrated as well. But I kind of feel bad for those getting forcefully integrated into my promised utopia. I feel like a fascist, but majorly successful. Soon enough, the death toll of this Crusade will rack up to hundreds of millions. Nonetheless, it¡¯s my promise to keep and it¡¯s my burden to bear. There is just one problem I¡¯m currently facing. A rather small problem, in fact, it¡¯s my controllable schizophrenia acting up strangely. It has now gained a consciousness of its own and he has been telling me the things that the Corp once taught me. I think I¡¯ll be alright if I keep my sanity.¡±
¡°Today, a riot has begun as the once beloved officer, Mr. Son, has killed 13 people in the middle of the city, one of which was a girl who always gave him a box of pastry. Nothing was heard from him since the shooting but we suspect he has fled out of this Condensation. The reason for his actions is not determined either but the people suspect him to only execute the order that was passed from the higher-ups¡± sounds a radio not far away; as a fox jumps to the radio and turns it off with its tail.
While Li was murdering the innocent, Cici was busy planting the bomb on the main cable line to the rest of the world. The stairs down to the chamber that holds the access to the central network is cluttered with bodies of the guards that were native to the Walled Crescent. ¡°Sad to see you work for your overlords that I wasn¡¯t left with a choice other than giving mercy to your soul. May your soul be sent to heaven as mine would too¡± prays Cici as she leaves the stairwell to the crowd who¡¯re running crazed.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
At a rendezvous atop a building, Li and Cici meet up. ¡°Reminds me of the time when Brother William took me for an assassination. When he first showed me how to kill efficiently, he said, ¡°Kill with absolute certainty¡±. A chill went down my spine as it was the first and the last time, he said such thing. Nonetheless, you¡¯re pretty good despite your specialty in single target assassination. And good work on killing the little girl, mate! That would surely rally the crowd¡± says Cici, quite cheerfully. But Li: ¡°Absolute... certainty. WHY? This is bullshit. Just so you know I¡¯m only doing this so that I¡¯m not dying without a use. If it wasn¡¯t for my father ¨C without his stupid dream and his promise, I wouldn¡¯t be doing this. I would be... I would have been, normal. Instead, I... I¡¯m... I¡¯m delusional. Yes, that¡¯s it, I¡¯m delusional. I have just started to hear his voice from time to time and all of this ¨C all of my sorrow, all my anxiety ¨C it¡¯s all my delusion.¡±
¡°Will you shut up? It¡¯s not yours to worry. It¡¯s mine as well but you don¡¯t see me have a mental breakdown, no?¡± As the C4 detonates and the crowd starts a rally, Cici drags Li down as they make their escape out of the Condensation. The mob, ¡°You treated us well and all but why now? Why at the time of peace? Are we really just sheep that you herd? Why?¡± asks. As there were no communication to the outside, they get no response as the control inside panics and takes immediate action ¨C complete oppression.
Stated in the doctrine W. E. Faith wrote, ¡°If it is certain necessity, complete oppression is the saviour¡±. But a few rows down, it states, ¡°Unless the people protest in arms, the action mustn¡¯t be as well¡±.
Chapter 8 – Two tails
The plot took 3 days to get to Arabia and a day to get out, totalling around a week with all the extracurricular entertainments we had on the way back. And on the way back, I came across a familiar face in, previously known as, Kyrgyzstan.
Back when I used to work as a simple accountant for the Corp., I frequently came to Kyrgyz to pick up cheap fruits. And when I came to Kyrgyz, a friend of mine named Anna always asked me to go hiking across mountains. Usually without any certain objective, we hiked the mountains for hours at a time. Not to mention I can¡¯t walk far; the usual length was a day. But on one occasion, she almost died due to her not knowing the route and its inhabitants. As there was the Corp. in the mountains, recuperating and making a checkpoint there, we came across them. And they didn¡¯t know who I was and immediately shot us with all their might. Thankfully she only suffered a neck bruise from shrapnel of a bullet hitting the rock behind us. We quickly fled the point soon after. And after half a decade or so, I meet her again but as a tourist.
¡°Oh! Who would this be? Long time no see, Li. It¡¯s been ages since you helped me out of that mess. Anyways, what brings you here? And who would be that?¡± asks Anna while eating raspberry.
¡°Yeah, so, this is Cecile, a relative from my late father¡¯s side and a co-worker of mine.¡± I answer her while taking one of her raspberries.
¡°Since when did foxes started eating raspberries?¡± asks her, cheerfully.
As long as I can remember, I was called a fox. Whether it is a ¡°Snow Fox¡± or a ¡°Lazy Fox¡±, I¡¯ve always been a fox. But I¡¯ve always eaten raspberries, even blueberries. It was the prime reason I came to Kyrgyz as often as I did.
After we laughed a bit, she takes us to a nearby inn. As strange as it is, the reason I bought fruit from here is that I used to make wine out of it. But the 13 Tailed Kitsune, or any other bar, had enough to go around. Yet I only drank the ones I made myself. Not to tell I can¡¯t get drunk; it was a weird thing to do.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
At the inn, Anna and Cici went out to talk a bit and get some souvenir. As I was left with the task of bundling our cargo, I could finally empty my pockets of the heavy equipment we carried. ¡°A disassembled anti-mat rifle, 2 SBR, attachments for the SBR, adaptive armour plates, 1 EDC kit, first aid pack, compact armour and a telecom kit¡± I count as the 20kg cargo was laid on the ground.
While I repacked the equipment, Anna and Cici were having a great time. From what Cici said, they shopped through the mall, encountered a mugger, dealt with him, disrupted anti-resurgence and burned down a brothel of some sorts.
When I asked her the specifics, Cici said, ¡°We first went to a mall to buy some food for the trip. But we were side-tracked and bought a lot of fruit. Here eat this. After we left the mall, some idiot came out of nowhere with only a knife to mug us. And to my surprise, Anna is really good at shooting. He ran when I disarmed him and I missed my knife throw but she pulled out a pistol and shot him twice, right in the spine. After we disposed of the body into the nearby river, a group of 14 or so people were under the bridge with some explosives. I asked them what they were doing and they must¡¯ve seen us throw the body into the river as they immediately asked us to join them and threatened us if we were to decline. But they were too incompetent ¨C I asked for Anna¡¯s pistol and shot them all. From what they were doing and with their IDs being intact, I assume they weren¡¯t from the Corp. On the way back here, we heard someone call for a help. Upon a closer look, some prick kicked out a girl with nothing but a light robe. She was a bit bruised and sleep deprived and she told us that the building she was kicked out of was a brothel of some sorts. So, we went in there; Anna distracted the receptionist and asked for a direction to the inn as I planted the explosives I got from the bridge people, and on the way out, I told the girls to run as fast as they can out of the building with as much valuables as they can carry. And the brothel exploded. Turns out the bridge people had a good supplier and their explosives almost matched ours. And here we are now.¡±
Quite the night and we departed the next day. And thanks to Anna, we went out of the country in a lightning train, straight back to the homeland.
Chapter 9 – Hysterically psychotic
Right as we get home, the council summons us and scolds us as we did something wrong.
¡°What was that all about, eh? Your mission was getting the people to protest ¡°peacefully¡±. Instead look at this mess, the condensation is now ablaze, hundreds of thousands dead and now the people are even more obedient to the central government. How did you mess it up so badly, honestly?¡± says Peter, the Missing Anomaly.
As we triggered an armed uprising, the police responded accordingly with arms as well. And as a result, the people saw how useless a national identity was and how pathetic were those who worshiped God. Essentially, we reversed our progress for the eugenicist doctrine¡¯s abolishment.
¡°Huh. That¡¯s easy for you to say, isn¡¯t it? You did what exactly?¡± asks Cici, the Playful Anomaly, who was a disciple of his.
¡°Well, enough is enough. You did your job well, too well in fact. But a job had done well nonetheless¡± chimes in Beatrice, the Patient Anomaly.
¡°And, we could use this opportunity to our advantage. Think about it. If we use this time to assassinate them Horsemen, it¡¯d be much easier than killing them in their own turf or smoking them out with the mass, no?¡± sounds Samuel, the Anonymous Anomaly.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°So, we kill them. When? They would give a speech or two, sure, but what if it¡¯s a closed announcement? They know we are coming to kill them; now what?¡± says Oliver, the Distant Anomaly.
¡°Eve, mate, I can find them. It¡¯s only a matter of who would kill them and how will they do it. Before anything happens, I¡¯m not responsible for any casualties that would come from this operation. I¡¯m only the messenger and if you get ambushed, it¡¯s not because of me¡± says Samuel.
As the horsemen know we are coming for them, it¡¯s highly unlikely that they¡¯d show their faces in the sunlight. But we could try to execute the plan Cecil was trying to do to kill Ilio ¨C we could gas them out. Once they expose their location as they broadcast it to the public, Sam could track its footprint and find them in their home.
¡°So, so, we¡¯re set on killing them now, yes? Let¡¯s first settle who kills who. I already have orders to kill Luishiro and Cecile has orders to kill Ilio. Tasi and Alex are left for the taking. We have 16 members so a group of 4 is the most optimal. Let¡¯s divide up into 4 groups of 4 with who likes to go to where. I¡¯ll be staying here; Cecil will go to Zone 1 and 2; Tasi will be in Zone 5 or 6 and Alex would most likely be in Zone 3. So, who likes to go where and sight see before you¡¯ll inevitably die?¡± says the Neutral Anomaly ¨C Liam San Epsilon Faith.
After a careful debate we conclude the Symphonic Orchestrator will be killed by the Neutral, Anonymous, Fine and Merciful anomalies; the Fox Ears will be killed by the Playful, Hollow, Missing and Ferocious anomalies; the Calm Amity will be killed by the Distant, Spotless, Patient and Ominous anomalies and the Playful Guide will be killed by the rest of the Corp.
Chapter 10 – Chasing time
As the central government needs a few days to organize the speeches, Sam doesn¡¯t have to work for those set days. His only job is to locate the final location they¡¯ll be staying when they give the speeches so now, he¡¯s just chilling. And also, the rest of the Corp needs to get to their destination first; our team as a whole is chilling for the time being.
At the station, the team that¡¯d kill the Calamity is waiting for the morning train to Zone 5¡¯s Kabul station.
¡°Smile a little, mates. We¡¯re going to die only once. Besides, you¡¯ll die alongside your peers. What¡¯d be a greater death than that? I always wonder why we are only the 16 A-non. And almost all of us are from Zone 4. Except Li, Al and Sam but they are still the bloodline of ours. What do you think, Zoe?¡± says Clair, the Spotless Anomaly.
¡°Eh? Al is not from here? But there must be a reason why she is in this mess. When I first got to know the Corp, she was a well-known figure among the ranks. From her influence on the real-estate business to her beauty, she was quite the prominence. And she has psychopathy unlike any of us. She¡¯s cruel, calculated and merciless ¨C just like Cecile, Li and Bea here. That might be the reason she and the others are in this. We are the exceptions they deemed inadequate but our potential was too great to pass down to the trash. Yet only we 16 are the ones who prevailed and used our immense potential. The rest are the ones we need to protect and make equal. Well then, the train seems to be coming so we better get moving. Our party is 4 on paper but we¡¯re much more than that. My 4 elites, you and Bea¡¯s whole squadron and Eve¡¯s 2 bests are with us and if they weren¡¯t here, we¡¯d be killed by them when we arrive on site. So, shall we? Let¡¯s make this world a place for us all; equally viewed and treated ¨C let¡¯s make our own utopia¡± says Zoe, the Ominous Anomaly.
On the other side of the city, the team that¡¯ll kill the Plague is waiting for their flight to San Francisco.
¡°So, Cons, who won the drink off?¡± asks Thomas, the Dreaming Anomaly.
¡°I won, of course. That kid doesn¡¯t know to give up and went on for 38 rounds. Not to mention it was double distilled vodka, my head didn¡¯t come out of the bowl for the next day¡± says Constantine, the Grim Anomaly.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
¡°Stop bluffing before you make your name as of a liar. Li didn¡¯t give up on the 39th round ¨C you did. He even emptied the bottle after you passed out, a whole 4 rounds worth of alcohol¡± says Mathew, the Lithe Anomaly.
There are a lot of contention among the members of the corporation. For instance, the title of who¡¯s the best drinker, fastest runner and the best in hand-to-hand. Current holder of the best drinker is me with the record of 54 shots without buffer and the fastest runner is Eve with the record of 2 kilometres run in under 12 minutes. Most of the women don¡¯t participate in hand-to-hand combat but the current holder of the best in hand-to-hand is Cecile.
¡°*sneeze* It¡¯s really cold here, isn¡¯t it?¡± says Cecile in a train cart travelling through Siberia. Along with her are the most experienced personnel of the Corp: Peter the Chariot of Hell, Gabriel the Hollow Angel and Alex the Unforgiving.
¡°Want some tea?¡± asks Peter.
As the railway that was built by the Soviets is still in mainstream use, the trains that run on them also didn¡¯t change much. Most Russian trains have some sort of heating system and so they can boil water and cook meals.
¡°I¡¯d also like one. And also, I have this, want some?¡± says Alex as he reaches for his duffle bag. Inside the bag are cubes of sugar made from beetroot along with some dried mutton.
¡°I also have this. But you guys have to lighten my back. I¡¯m the only one carrying weapons and ammo. Those in Europe don¡¯t have calibre higher than .50 so it¡¯ll be hard to penetrate the alloy the horsemen use¡± says Gabi as she pulls her briefcase with various pastries.
*sip* ¡°3 days to St. Petersburg, yes? What are we going to do now?¡± asks Cecil.
¡°I don¡¯t know about you but I will shut my eyes for a bit. If I don¡¯t wake up on the next stop, buy me some piroshky¡± says Alex.
¡°I¡¯m going to just play some games. If you need me, I¡¯ll be on the top bunk¡± says Gabi, pulling out a laptop.
¡°Do you have anime on that?¡± Cici asks Pete.
¡°What kinds do you like, mate? I have almost every prominent movie on here¡± says Peter, smiling a little.
¡°Let¡¯s see. Do you have Spice and Wolf?¡±
¡°The 2024 remake or the 2006 original?¡±
¡°2024 remake. I know Brother William used to really like that series. I even saw in his room a poster with a note at the corner. ¡°San¡± was it was on the note. Man, I was young back then. Weren¡¯t you as well, Pete?¡± says Cici.
¡°Cassandra was it, the one who he loved and gave birth to a monster?¡± says Pete.
A bit confused, Cici: ¡°What? San didn¡¯t marry Brother William. It was someone from Finland. That¡¯s why Li isn¡¯t a pure blood¡±
Chapter 11 – Silent Grin
¡°Test. Test. Ska, can you hear me? It¡¯s Li¡± sounds a radio in a dimly lit room.
¡°Motherboard responding. I hear you loud and clear, Li. Everyone else?¡± says Samuel in front of the monitor inside the room.
¡°Motherboard, Mary responding. I¡¯m in position¡± says Mary atop a building.
¡°Ok, listen. We are going to wait for the rest of us. When they arrive at their destination, I¡¯ll sound off the start. Motherboard offline¡± says Samuel.
At the San Francisco airport of Zone 3, Thomas led team is in an armed standoff.
¡°How did this happen?¡± asks Oleg.
Three hours ago, the Sympathetic Luishiro gave information to the other horsemen.
¡°Mates, we need to cancel the speeches for today. Simply, we are cooked, especially you Ilio. So, here is how the Corp will move. They split into 4 groups of 4. Excluding me, most of you guys will suffer heavy casualty. I suggest ambush tactics, how about that? Alex, you have the easiest ambush, just camp the San Francisco airport. They can¡¯t cross the Bering Strait so they¡¯ll try to fly. Ilio, you are cooked. But if you make use of your Mirror tactics, you might escape unharmed. They have the one who you lost the tail so don¡¯t make the same mistake again. Overwhelm and you¡¯ll be alright, I think. Tasi, mate, you just have to camp the Kabul train station. If you lose them, pressure them without mercy. They just have the two best marksmen with them¡±
At the train station, Cons: ¡°No idea. But we are outnumbered. They¡¯re just keeping distance so they wouldn¡¯t gain unnecessary casualty. You know what? Let¡¯s blast this place. Let¡¯s show them why we haven¡¯t been smoked out of our foxhole.¡±
In the train cargo there is a 30kg worth of E51F ¨C the strongest explosive there is.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Thomas, ¡°If this doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯re going to stick with my orders. §¥§¡§£§°!¡±
*boom*
¡°That was one good Gambir. So, let¡¯s sound off our war cry¡± *static* ¡°Cons to Motherboard! We are in position. Overlooking the explosion, we are safe and sound.¡±
¡°Motherboard responding. Good to hear. Now wait for Cecile and Beatrice. You can do that, no?¡± says Sam, playing with a cat.
At Kabul, the station is filled with armed personnel of Tasi. ¡°Train incoming¡± sounds one of the radios.
¡°Well, that would¡¯ve been ugly. Good thing we boarded off back then, eh?¡± says Beatrice as they walk around the train station into the city.
¡°Motherboard, Eve responding. We¡¯re outside the Kabul train station¡± sounds Eve.
¡°Motherboard responding. Good to hear. All we need is Cecile¡¯s team to ground. You can hold out till then, no?¡± says Samuel, drinking Yesuntuki ¨C sparkling spring water.
At the St. Petersburg train station, Cecile and the elites are in a chokehold. They were shot on the spot but no-one was mortally wounded. The ones there all wore the same mask as that one that blew up the gas canister then, 22 years ago.
¡°Hello mate! Long time no see, eh? I really want to kill you right here and now but I have a better idea of what to do with you. And also, Luis asked me to capture you alive¡± says the masked men; the speaker periodically switching between wearers.
¡°But he didn¡¯t say you all have to live¡± says the one behind Alex. A shot rings out as the body of Alexander the Unforgiving falls to the ground.
¡°Aha... so you do die, eh? After 22 years later, you guys¡¯ number drop once again. And you see them fall, it¡¯s like some sort of prophesy, no? I kill and you witness¡± says the one that¡¯s the closest to Cecile.
*crack* ¡°Don¡¯t act so smug, punk. The more you talk, the less likely you¡¯ll kill us¡± says Cecile while kicking off the head of one of the wearers.
¡°Well then, I see you¡¯re pissed at me. So I¡¯ll just make you even angrier. I like seeing you struggle. What will you do about this?¡± as the wearers open fire on Pete and Gabi.
*ping* ¡°Idiots, your aim is trash. You only hit our armor¡± says Gabi.
¡°Huh, that¡¯s odd. Well, lucky you. I¡¯ll just have to integrate you into my idea. Oh, what¡¯s this, a radio?¡± *static* ¡°Hello, hello, come in. This is Ilio Guillemin, the one who captured your 3 people¡ Hello?¡±
¡°Connection terminated. Distress call sent. Welcome to hell, §ã§å§Ü§Ñ¡± sounds the radio before exploding.
¡°Motherboard responding. To all units, Ilio has captured Cecile and the others as well as he killed someone. From this moment on, the faster we kill off those who we have to kill, the sooner we¡¯re able to help Cecile and the others. So please, proceed with the operations. And good luck, mates¡± sounds Samuel, while he picks a headset up.
Chapter 12 – Laughing Fox
¡°Motherboard responding. Is everyone in position? Sound off.¡±
¡°Mary to Motherboard, Li and I are set¡± sounds the radio inside the ¡°Black Office¡±.
¡°Motherboard, Thomas responding. We¡¯re set.¡±
¡°Motherboard, Beatrice responding. We¡¯re set¡±
¡°Zone 3, District 7, previously Afghanistan, near Qalat-e Gilzay, Coordinates: 34.494797, 69.140916. Tasi is in a building west of the road. Take a nest atop a building in the north east of the intersection. Got that, Bea?¡± sounds the radio.
¡°Zone 5, District 12, previously the US, near Sacramento, Coordinates: 38.577825, -121.501473. Alex is on the 6th floor of the building south of the road. Set a nest atop of the building south west. Heard that, Tom?¡± sounds the radio.
¡°Li, come in. Luishiro is still in the building. Mary has set up a nest in the south. He might have counter surveillance in the building so connection to you is going to be cut. I can still see you through Mary¡¯s scope so don¡¯t worry. And remember, Luishiro is on the same level as you. Yuki permitted us to make as much destruction to the area so don¡¯t hold back, ok?¡± says Samuel before he cuts the connection.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
In the building, no person can be seen or heard as the only audible thing is my own footsteps. The whistles and the hum echo through the building as I reach the elevator and select the 13th floor.
*ping* Right in front of the elevator, on a sofa, a man sits with his legs crossed. ¡°Hello. We haven¡¯t properly greeted. I¡¯m Luishiro Haru. And now, you are dead¡± says the man, thrusting a dagger at me. Parrying his thrust, I quickly counter stab my blade into the side of his neck. Both in a hold, we both jump back.
¡°I¡¯m Li by the way. It might be useless for you who kill for a living. We aren¡¯t really different, eh?¡± I said while pulling out a pistol.
¡°Touch¨¦, but I brought a knife to gun fight¡± says Luishiro as he throws a couple of daggers at me.
*chalk* ¡°You really are a pussy ¨C relying on extra men. Too bad they can¡¯t hit shit¡± I say as the extra gunmen get shot down by Mary.
¡°Who knew you¡¯d be so smart. But you are too slow. Look down, you¡¯ll see a floor, look up, you¡¯ll see a ceiling. But wherever you look, you¡¯ll see borders. Do you want to know why that¡¯s relevant?¡± I asked.
¡°What, gas? You¡¯ll try to smoke me out? How familiar are you with the term ¡°Gas mask¡±? Once we deploy our gas masks, it¡¯s a game of who can pull the other¡¯s mask. Do you know why I chose this location? It¡¯s because I can trick you into going up 13 floors. You can survive anything but surviving 13 story fall is just impossible¡± says Luishiro.
¡°And that¡¯s why I came up here; I want to kill you with my own hands. Since you can¡¯t leave this place even if you tried, I will kill you with my own hands¡±, I say to him. ¡°Now die.¡± *laughter*
Chapter 13 – Silent moon
*gunshots* *ching* ¡°Li San Hue ¨C that¡¯s you right? Why forsake your name for another of a fraud? Son of San Hue, a very capable woman whose life got limited by someone¡¯s curse, you have every reason to despise the Corp. Tell me, who was your mother?¡± says Luishiro.
My mother died before I gained consciousness, there¡¯s nothing more to it. But for some reason, the Corp never mentions my mother in contexts outside of praising my father. And when I ask Cecile about my mother, she always says, ¡°The messiah¡¯s identity isn¡¯t important, the outcome of their influence is.¡±
¡°Who are you to talk about my mother, brat. I know who gave birth to me and who my father sought to give everything to. Aside from those two, I couldn¡¯t care less about my mother. If you only see the past, you¡¯ll never accept the future and move on¡±. *exhale* ¡°Pioneer¡¯s Check¡±
¡°Strings, eh? Why immobilize me when you can just kill me?¡± asks Luishiro.
¡°Ask if my back hurt, it¡¯ll be the same answer ¨C I¡¯m the Commanding Officer of District 3, leader of the special unit and the only one that¡¯s capable of saving Cecile.¡±
¡°Oh, you know that vixen? Do you know her surname?¡±
¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s Carnation, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Cecile Elizabeth Beta Haru, that¡¯s her full name. She is my sister, mate. Her ID never existed so you or anyone else wouldn¡¯t know.¡±
Right at that moment a soft voice says, ¡°Vow to me ¨C to do any and everything I say.¡±
¡°Gladly¡±
¡°Li, don¡¯t!¡±
*smile* ¡°Gotcha, cub.¡±
¡°Sam, are you good? What did you say about counter surveillance?¡±
¡°Ah, shut up, Li! If it weren¡¯t for you trying to kill Luishiro, I wouldn¡¯t have interrupted. Welp, it¡¯s these scenarios that there is a protocol like Silence. Rendezvous at the location and regroup. If I don¡¯t show up, presume me as dead and you¡¯ll be in charge, Li. Motherboard, signing off.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
¡°What is your blood type?¡±
¡°What are you going to do with that? AB.¡±
¡°You needy fuck. Fortunately, your kneecaps are safe for now. Alright, stand up and get on my shoulders. If I remember correctly, you¡¯re not that heavy for your stature. If you try to escape our custody, you¡¯ll either be shot or kneecapped. Understand that we don¡¯t have an abundance of type 4 blood.¡±
¡°You made yourself clear¡±
Outside the building the fight took place, Mary and I meet as we go to get the company vehicle. As we walk to the taxi park with Luishiro on my shoulder, he talks to us for a bit.
¡°Say, Mary is your name, yes? How well do you know about Li?¡±
¡°Shut, trap. Like you¡¯re the one to talk. Even if I didn¡¯t know much about him, I¡¯d still trust him and his abilities.¡±
¡°Pretty bold statement, mate. Despite the fact, Li isn¡¯t a friend of yours. Let me tell you something. Do you know his name ¨C his real name?¡±
¡°What do you mean? Liam San Epsilon Faith, is it not?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not half wrong. He is the son of San, but he isn¡¯t a son of William Faith, the one who gave his all and built world anew. He is the son of San Hue: Li San Hue.¡±
¡°Hah, bullshit. If he wasn¡¯t the son of Brother William, how had he got recruited into the Corp. And even if he wasn¡¯t the son of His, Li still is the only one who can save Cecile.¡±
¡°Speaking of, do you know her full name, Mary Elde Mu Frei?¡±
¡°Where did you get that name from? And why are you so fixated on everyone¡¯s name? Cecile Elizabeth Beta Carnation, daughter of Sister Elizabeth ¨C the mentor and a good friend of Brother William.¡±
¡°Cecile Elizabeth Beta Haru is her full name.¡±
¡°Strange but who am I to trust you? Now shut up and cooperate with us. Or else, I¡¯ll shoot those knees of yours to silence you for a bit.¡±
¡°Eh, eh, don¡¯t be so harsh to our lovely prisoner, Mary. Let¡¯s savor his despair until he¡¯s put into a room with Al.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t spoil it for him. He¡¯ll be amazed how many injuries a human body can take before being bestowed the gift of death. It¡¯ll be fun, won¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Ah the great Symphonic Orchestrator, the only symphony you¡¯ll be orchestrating soon enough will be your screams in agony as you¡¯re put through the Fine Sociopath¡¯s trial.¡±
¡°Cheers to that, I guess.¡±
Us three reach the taxi park previously owned by Peterson as the sky darkens and starts to rain. Even after most of the personnel transferred to Zone 1, some technicians stayed in Zone 4, not leaving the previous District 1.
¡°Oye, Cecile¡¯s kid! What brings you here?¡±
¡°Give me a vehicle. We¡¯re going to Zone 1 so prepare some supplies for us, would you?¡±
¡°We can supply only 2 of you with warm blankets and rations. For that weight of yours, we can only give some dried food.¡±
¡°Oh, he isn¡¯t going with us. Instead, he¡¯ll be dropped off before we get to Zone 1. You know Al, right. She¡¯ll be taking care of this corpse.¡±
¡°How unfortunate. So, this 69 is all we got for such long distances. You can operate it, no?¡±
¡°Yeah, sure, how hard would it be, right?¡±