Chapter 22: A Well-Intentioned Lie and a Fateful Encounter

The young girl felt a pang of fear, wondering why the boy before her had suddenly turned so cold. Only moments ago, he had seemed so dependent on her.

‘Was he… was he angry with her?’

After much deliberation, Yuli concluded this was the most logical reason. She lowered her head in embarrassment, thinking that perhaps she ought to make it up to Fran.

“Fran, I… I’m sorry. Something truly held me up today. It wasn’t that I forgot you or wanted to stand you up; I just…”

Yuli frantically waved her hands, explaining, “I really was delayed by some matters. Please, believe me, okay?”

A wave of shame washed over her, for she had lied to Fran.

But what else could she do? Was she to tell him the truth—that her subordinates suspected he had ill intentions in approaching her, and that she had spent hours monitoring him?

No, absolutely not. If she told him that, Fran would undoubtedly be furious. Perhaps… he would never want to see her again.

She could only mend the subtle rift between them with such a “well-intentioned” lie.

Fran listened, then slowly nodded, still half-believing her. Yet, he seemed to have no intention of changing his mind about escorting Yuli home; after all, curfew was approaching.

“I still have to take you back, Yuli…”

“Hmm… well…” Yuli’s mind raced, desperately searching for a solution. Having delayed Fran for an entire evening, she felt she absolutely had to compensate him somehow; otherwise, her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

“How about this, Fran? Why don’t you come with me? I’ll take you to my residence to rest for the night, and tomorrow, we can go out and have fun together, alright?”

Yuli asked for Fran’s opinion. Hearing her words, Fran blinked.

Fran: “Hmm… is that allowed?”

Yuli: “Of course it is!”

Yuli took Fran’s hand, offering a slightly apologetic smile. She then turned, pulling him out of the tavern and towards her own residence.

“Come on, let’s go to my place!”

Lyon and the intelligence agents, who had been waiting outside for quite some time, watched as Yuli emerged, pulling Fran by the hand.

For a moment, Lyon hesitated. This…

Should they follow, or not?

He shot Yuli a questioning glance, seeking her instruction. Yuli responded with a clearly threatening look that conveyed, ‘Don’t meddle.’ Lyon and his team had no choice but to stop.

“Let’s walk back, shall we? I want to hold Fran’s hand and walk home together~”

Yuli’s words were spoken with unusual loudness, seemingly a signal meant for Lyon and his team. Lyon grimaced, a wry twist to his lips. This…

She truly hadn’t heeded any of his advice.

However, Yuli had already lost her temper today, and Lyon had no desire to push his luck further. The group reluctantly got into their car, slowly following behind Yuli and Fran to ensure her safety.

****

Night had fallen.

The young Francis, moving through a dark alley, cautiously secured the pistol in his hand. He periodically scanned for soldiers passing outside the alley, carefully regulating his breathing.

Concealed in the shadows, the boy once again looked at the pistol in his hand. Just days prior, their home had been ransacked by Teuton soldiers, and his father had met a tragic end…

He had to exact revenge—for his deceased father, for his mother who wept endlessly, and for his country and his compatriots.

But…

Killing one or two Teuton soldiers would be futile. While it wouldn’t be entirely without contribution, the boy was proud and ambitious; for revenge, he needed a significant target.

Curfew was fast approaching, yet he still hadn’t identified a target. Indeed… what important figure would travel without a carriage?

He had already inquired about nearly all the Teuton officers stationed in Purburg, but not a single one had appeared on this road, until—

A silver-haired girl, holding the hand of a golden-haired “girl,” passed by the alley entrance, chatting and laughing.

The person in the alley didn’t react at first, assuming it was just a pair of naive Francis girls playing. But… soon, he noticed something unusual.

That silver-haired girl was wearing a Teuton military uniform…

A silver-haired girl, a Teuton soldier?

A sharp intake of breath—

The boy instantly recalled someone from his memory: the top figure in Purburg from the Army Intelligence Department, one of Teuton’s two major secret service agencies…

General Gustav’s daughter, from Teuton?

His spirit surged with exhilaration.

A sewer rat, crawling out from its putrid environment, sniffed the foul stench rising from the drains. It bared its bald tail and, aiming for the hindquarters of a stray cat that held one of its kin in its jaws, bit down fiercely.

“Oh, right, Fran, I can actually also…”

Yuli chattered excitedly about various things, while Fran quietly listened beside her, taking the opportunity to sober up a bit.

‘Whew… Having acted for so long, and actually drunk a fair bit of wine, I truly am dedicated,’ Fran mused.

Fran pondered his next move. In any case… his relationship with Yuli was warming up, but her prolonged absence today… this…

As both he and Yuli were lost in their own thoughts, a figure suddenly darted out from the alley. The speed was so astonishing that before Yuli could even discern who it was, the person already stood before her.

“Go… go to hell—!”

The assailant raised a pistol, its dark muzzle aimed directly at Yuli, and shouted as he unleashed a fiery vengeance.

The moment she heard the gunshot, Yuli felt a chill run down her spine. The bullet hurtled directly towards her. Yet, in that incredibly brief instant, she suddenly felt a shove on her shoulder.

“Bang—!”

“Yuli—!”

Lyon, who had been following in the car, and the patrolling military police nearby were all startled by the sudden appearance of the gunman and the sound of the shot.

Lyon inwardly cursed, realizing his premonition had been correct. He immediately shouted:

“Stop the car, stop!”

The car screeched to a halt. Lyon and his team kicked open the doors and swiftly charged forward, weapons drawn.

Fran instantly tackled Yuli to the ground, shielding her from the fatal bullet. He then lay over her, protecting her. Without a moment’s hesitation, the young assailant fired another shot at Fran, and then, another gunshot rang out.

The gunman’s right arm, holding the pistol, suddenly seized with pain. He watched, wide-eyed, as his gun-wielding arm was shot away, blood splattering across the ground. His vision blurred, and the world turned a dizzying red.

Then, the bullets from the Teuton patrol soldiers riddled him like a sieve.

He collapsed to the ground, a bitter smile on his face. Lyon, who had rushed over, kicked him aside. His vision grew dimmer and dimmer, until—

Death arrived.

“Yuli—!”

Lyon, terrified, pulled Fran off Yuli and, trembling all over, shook Yuli’s body. Yuli opened her eyes, clearly still shaken and disoriented.

“Lyon, Fran, he… Fran, he…” Yuli said, her voice weak with exhaustion, as she pointed a finger at Fran.

“Fran? Oh, right, Fran!” Lyon immediately ordered those beside him, “Arrest this Fran, and that gunman over there. Search him for any other weapons.”

“No…” Yuli was on the verge of tears. She scrambled up, struggling to embrace Fran. He had taken several bullets, was bleeding profusely, and had fallen unconscious.

He had taken the bullets for her, Fran…

“Quick, save him…”