Chapter 40: A Desperate Rescue

A sigh escaped the manager’s lips as he barely managed to compose himself. He immediately instructed a staff member to watch the front before turning and heading backstage.

He quickly arrived at Alina’s darkroom door and knocked.

“‘Alina, it’s me!'”

The manager waited anxiously by the door. After a moment, the door was pulled open from within, revealing Alina, who scanned him with a puzzled expression.

“‘What are you…?'”

Noticing his agitated demeanor, Alina immediately sensed something was amiss. The manager glanced left and right, and after confirming they were alone, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

Once inside, the manager wasted no time. He spoke directly.

“‘Alina, your old student, Fran, has been arrested.'”

“‘What?'”

Alina’s eyes widened, momentarily stunned.

‘Arrested?’

‘How could that be?’

A jolt of alarm went through her. How could Fran have been arrested?

He had only just been here to receive a mission. Today… today he was arrested?

‘What… what exactly happened?’

She quickly leaned in, pressing him for details. The sudden, abrupt news was utterly terrifying.

The manager found a seat. He believed there was no need for immediate haste; since the person was already arrested, panicking now would serve no purpose.

He collected his thoughts, reflecting on the day’s events, then began to recount them slowly to Alina.

“‘Just a while ago, the Teutonic soldiers raided the tavern again. They’ve been coming back repeatedly these past few days. I suspect the tavern is being watched.'”

“‘And then? What does that have to do with Fran?'”

Alina switched on the room’s light. The oppressive darkness had unsettled her, making her heart pound. Once the light was on, she immediately turned back, urging the manager to get to the point. She could barely contain her impatience.

Manager: “‘Right… suspecting we were being watched, I overheard the Teutonic soldiers and their leader. The leader said Fran was arrested, and that they were checking our tavern because he used to work here.'”

Manager: “‘The other two Teutonic soldiers were slacking off, whispering that Fran was a spy sent by the underground resistance to Yuli’s residence in Purburg. They said he was exposed and arrested for some unknown reason, subjected to severe torture, but confessed nothing. He’s currently detained at a Teutonic Army Garrison location, on the verge of death.'”

Alina: “‘He’s… on the verge… of death?'”

Her legs felt weak, threatening to give out completely. The manager quickly stepped forward to steady her.

Yet, even seated, Alina didn’t recover. On the contrary, her head spun even more, her mind almost blank. Only the devastating news of Fran’s arrest pierced her heart with a sharp ache.

‘What am I going to do…?’

‘Fran, is he truly arrested?’

She urgently grabbed the manager’s arm, shaking him frantically. “‘Is what you heard true? Are you certain you didn’t mishear?'” she pleaded.

The manager was startled by Alina’s distraught state. He tried to calm her, then stood up, took a couple of steps back, and spoke with his back to her.

“‘That’s right. Although they were speaking Teutonic, I’m confident I caught the gist of it; there should be no mistake about the content. In fact, I should be asking you, Alina, is Fran truly a resistance spy? Did you send him?'”

“‘I…'” Alina was caught off guard by the question. She didn’t answer immediately. After a long pause, she mumbled, “‘I don’t know. I didn’t send him. I haven’t been in much contact with him lately.'”

She had to say this to protect Fran’s safety, even though the manager was one of their own.

Despite receiving a negative answer, the manager had already gleaned much from Alina’s earlier reaction.

Alina remained slumped in her chair, consumed by endless regret and self-reproach. It seemed the manager’s news was indeed accurate.

‘If it’s true, then…’

‘I’m entirely to blame for Fran’s downfall.’

‘That child… subjected to torture?’

‘Whips lashing, searing hot irons, or perhaps fingers crushed, blood drained by a knife?’

Alina couldn’t bear to think further. She couldn’t imagine Fran’s body marred by wounds. No, this couldn’t be. Fran, he…

She couldn’t accept such a fate for Fran. Even his quiet sobs in front of her would tear at her heart, let alone this horrific situation.

‘I have to do something, I have to do something. Fran…’

Ordinarily, news of a comrade’s arrest wouldn’t have rattled Alina to this extent. But Fran was different; she regarded him almost as her own child. She sat anxiously in her chair, strategizing.

Standing a short distance away, the manager pondered. After a moment, he offered an idea.

“‘I have channels through which I can likely discover where Fran is being held. Moreover, I overheard the Teutonic soldiers whispering that the security at that location is quite lax. Perhaps we could consider rescuing him. Regardless of whether he is one of ours, he is an anti-Teutonic patriotic comrade, and, more importantly, he was once your student.'”

Alina listened to his words, then lowered her head, lost in deep thought. ‘Should I save him? If I don’t, I won’t be able to bear the torment in my heart. But it means taking an enormous risk, potentially sacrificing the lives of many comrades, just to rescue an agent who has already been compromised, and all for my personal feelings…’

Alina didn’t know what to do. Logically, they should make every effort to rescue an arrested comrade, but…

She pondered endlessly but found no clear answer. After a long silence, just as she was about to speak, suddenly—

A long, dark shadow stretched across the darkroom door. The manager immediately walked to the entrance and demanded loudly,

“‘Who’s there?!'”

“‘Huh? Manager…'” came the embarrassed voice of a young female employee from outside the door. She quickly replied, “‘I… a lot more people just came into the tavern. I came to ask you where the wine stock is kept.'”

“‘Haven’t I told you? Don’t just wander into the back room! The wine is all in the storeroom, now hurry up and go! Learn to remember! Honestly—'”

The manager shook his head in exasperation. The figure outside the door scurried away apologetically. Alina, meanwhile, frowned, deep in thought.

“‘So, what’s it going to be? Are we rescuing him or not? If we are, we need to find Fran’s detention location now, or else he’ll likely be tortured to death by the Teutonic soldiers sooner or later.'”

After sending the employee away, the manager turned back to Alina, posing the question once more.

“‘I know…'” Alina rubbed her head in frustration, then considered for another moment. She looked up at him. “‘First, let’s try to find out where he’s being held, and then…'”

She stood up, speaking slowly. “‘As for the rescue, await my word!'”

“‘Understood, I’ll await your word. Also, the tavern might not be safe anymore. And Fran… it’s hard to say if he can hold out,'” the tavern owner added, his voice laden with meaning.

Alina understood his implication. Few could withstand such horrific interrogation and torture. If Fran couldn’t endure it and eventually confessed everything…

“‘I believe in him, but… let’s still make thorough preparations. Don’t mention this to anyone else for now.'”

Having spoken, Alina involuntarily clenched her fists.

‘Fran…’

‘Your teacher will surely save you, rest assured…’

‘We will definitely meet again…’

Unconsciously, tears traced paths down her cheeks, falling onto her pale wrist where they shimmered like crystal in the light.