Chapter 43
“Instructor Kinuan is provoking us.”
I deliberately used the word ‘us’ when speaking to the Commander of the Imperial Guard. I relayed Kinuan’s impure words to him exactly as they were spoken.
“……Luka, do you remember when I told you that Kinuan was assigned an unofficial mission in the past?”
I nodded in response. Unofficial missions left no records. Because of that, even the Commander of the Imperial Guard did not have a clear grasp of Kinuan’s true nature.
Even he was not someone who could access all information. Like me, he was merely following orders from those above.
“The same goes for the terrorist, Rick Silva Núñez. It seems Rick and Kinuan primarily carried out unofficial missions around the same time. There must be some connection between the two.”
“One is an instructor, the other a wanted fugitive.”
“By now, you must be wondering. If Kinuan is so suspicious, why have we left him alone all this time?”
It was true. I was incredibly curious. But survival took priority.
“If there is a reason I shouldn't know, I will shut my ears to it.”
The Commander of the Imperial Guard crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He leaned back against his chair in a relaxed manner before opening them again.
“I’ve decided to trust you, Luka. The investigation into Kinuan isn’t being handled by the Imperial Guard. The orders came from even higher up. The upper ranks believe Kinuan could be a key to getting closer to the terrorist group Nemesis. We could kill him at any moment… but we let him be. And Kinuan knows that well.”
There was no other choice. No form of torture would ever make Kinuan talk.
“And yet, you gave such an unstable man an important position as an instructor?”
I spoke in a bitter tone.
“He said he would leave if we didn’t. Well, not that he’d ever leave the Imperial Guard alive. Besides, he’s a competent instructor. Has that satisfied your curiosity?”
“I’ve spent quite some time by Kinuan’s side, but to be honest, I haven’t seen any gaps in his defenses. He is meticulous in self-discipline and never reveals his true thoughts.”
Kinuan was far more calculating than I was. A difficult man to read.
“Quit whining and do your best. You’re the only one fit for this job. Over the past decade, we’ve assigned multiple cadets to Kinuan. But none have gotten as close to him as you have. Kinuan likes you.”
I mulled over the Commander of the Imperial Guard’s words. There was no way for me to walk away from this.
“……Then, I’ll need authority beyond that of a cadet.”
I listed the authorizations I needed: unrestricted access between the lower and upper sectors, a personal weapon permit, higher-level database access than I currently had, and a reasonable investigation budget.
"This much isn't difficult. Anything else?"
The Commander of the Imperial Guard approved without hesitation.
"I know this isn't something a soldier should say, but I don't want to die over some grim business like this. Especially not for knowing too much."
"I'm not going to lie to you. Let’s be upfront. If orders come from above, I have to erase this incident like it never happened. That means tying up loose ends—yourself included. But at the very least, I'll do everything within my power. That much, I promise you. That’s why I incorporated you into our family. Your official identification should be ready within two or three days."
This was the best I could get. The Empire was ruthless. I knew that well.
"Just hearing that is enough for me."
It wasn’t enough. But I couldn't afford to ask for more. My life was entirely at the discretion of the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
* * *
Imperial Guard cadets used standardized military equipment. Their typical armament included a melee weapon, such as a monomolecular-coated spear or blade, and a handgun. Additional gear was issued as needed for specific missions.
...I had always been dissatisfied with monomolecular blades. At first, their cutting ability was exceptional. But after a few uses, the coating gradually wore off. It was a chronic issue. Once the coating was gone, all that remained was a sturdy but unremarkable blade.
I understood why, of course. The monomolecular coating itself was a product of advanced manufacturing, a high-performance weapon rarely seen on the market. Naturally, it was expensive, and it would be impractical to supply cadets with anything better.
The issued handgun, on the other hand, was nothing special. While it was well-made and had all the necessary conveniences, its firepower was average at best.
I visited the Empire’s armory. A workshop technician assigned to the Imperial Guard gave me a once-over.
"You got a personal weapon permit? That’s unusual for a cadet."
It was rare for cadets to come here. At most, they might show up running errands.
Inside the Empire’s armory, technicians and androids moved about busily. They were crafting equipment for senior officers who had received personal weapon permits. The air carried a faint metallic scent mixed with acrid fumes.
"It just turned out that way."
The technician didn’t ask any further. A wise decision.
"You need a catalog?"
The workshop technician had an additional auxiliary arm attached to his back. With it, extending from his shoulder blades, he handed me an electronic catalog.
I waved my hand over the screen, flipping through the pages quickly. I had already given this some thought before coming here.
"I want to use a high-compression heavyweight weapon. In the form of a sword."
I pointed to the section listing heavyweight weapons.
"Hmm. You know it's a difficult weapon to handle, right? As a professional, I wouldn’t recommend it. You still have a lot of biological parts."
"I'm aware."
The technician shrugged at my expression.
"Not my problem. If you order it, I just make it. You already know this, but your personal contribution will be deducted in installments from your salary."
The cost of production at the Empire’s armory was as high as its quality. Ordering decent equipment would normally require a cadet to sink two or three years' worth of salary into it. However, with imperial support, my personal cost was only ten percent. Manageable.
"Even with compression, it’ll be a bit bigger than the sword you’ve been using."
"I expected that."
"Oh, and a single-edged design should be fine, right? It distributes weight more efficiently and is easier to handle. You’re not planning to thrust with a heavyweight weapon anyway."
I nodded. As expected of a master craftsman from the imperial armory, he understood my intent perfectly.
Heavyweight weapons were, as the name suggested, designed with increased mass to enhance destructive power. High compression was a process that refined such a weapon to match my physique and needs, condensing the weight while maintaining its density.
A high-compression heavyweight weapon.
It might not sound like much, but outside the imperial armory, it would be impossible to manufacture. To maintain the tensile strength of compressed metal, atomic-level restructuring was required—something about reprocessing at the molecular bonding scale… If I was curious, I could just read the catalog’s explanation.
I placed an order for a high-compression heavyweight sword. Simply put, its outward appearance would be no different from the sword I had been using, except that it would be absurdly heavy.
Without high-performance prosthetics, one wouldn’t even be able to lift it, let alone wield it properly. However, in exchange, it didn’t need monomolecular coating to maintain lethal sharpness and cutting power.
"And I’d like to order a handgun as well. I need something with high single-shot power. I don’t need any shooting assistance or cybernetic integration, so keep the electronic components to a minimum."
I waited for the technician’s recommendation. While I could choose a sword myself, firearms were another matter. The master craftsman would find the best weapon to suit my needs.
After just a few conversations, I already trusted the craftsman before me.
"Wait a sec. A high-power, single-shot weapon… but still in handgun form…"
The technician’s irises glowed faintly—he was searching for something.
"It’s for close-range shooting rather than long-distance. I don’t mind a low ammo capacity," I added. Expecting a high-powered handgun to perform well at long range was unrealistic. If that was what I wanted, I should just use a rifle.
"A shock pistol would be a good fit. Have you used one before?"
"I know how it works."
It required a brief preheat before the first shot, but its firepower was overwhelming. It was already one of the options I had considered.
"You’ll need both energy cartridges and conventional rounds. I’ll set the power output at the highest level for a personal firearm. The bullets should have cryogenic casings—otherwise, the gun will overheat and break after just two consecutive shots."
A bit of a hassle to maintain. But I had no complaints—I was the one making demanding requests, after all.
"When should I come pick it up?"
"A week."
Fast, considering how difficult the order was. This was the Empire’s armory, after all.
* * *
Less than a year remained in my cadet training. After that, I would become a full-fledged Imperial Guard. In the meantime, I was freed from trivial assignments.
‘Ilay still hasn’t returned.’
Ilay, who had gone back to his family’s estate, hadn’t returned to the training center yet. I didn’t bother reaching out to him first. I had no reason to, and I wasn’t about to send some awkward, sentimental message just to check in.
"Luka… Custoria? How the hell did you pull this off? Sure, the Commander favored you, but becoming a Custoria heir?"
A fellow cadet confronted me in the lounge. The rumors had spread like wildfire.
Luka Custoria.
I had been officially adopted by the Commander of the Imperial Guard. The paperwork was completed, and my registration was finalized.
Not just cadets, but even instructors and some full-fledged Imperial Guards who occasionally crossed my path had started talking to me. They were all curious.
They wanted to know how I had risen to this position.
I wasn’t born a noble. I came from a double-digit orphanage—a lower-tier institution. My rise in status was nothing short of a miracle.
But I couldn't feel at ease. In exchange for joining the family, I had to carry out a perilous mission.
I brushed off the curiosity of those who asked, telling them it was because I had saved Giselle Custoria at the academy. Since the Commander had always shown me favor, it wasn’t an unbelievable story.
However, only the cadets bought my explanation. The instructors and full-fledged Imperial Guards likely assumed there was more to it. And they were right.
"On paper, we’re father and son, but don’t go calling me ‘father’ just yet. That’d be embarrassing."
The Commander of the Imperial Guard stood at the airfield, waiting for me.
"You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not exactly the affectionate type either… ‘Father.’"
The Commander let out a dry chuckle. As I approached the aerial vehicle he had prepared, the door swung open.
Step. Step.
I boarded the Custoria family’s aerial transport. Sitting across from me was the Commander himself.
"Nervous?"
"I’d be lying if I said no. A little, yes."
I was on my way to the Custoria estate, about to be formally introduced. Other than Giselle and the Commander, I had never met anyone from the Custoria family before.
"I don’t care for all these formalities and ceremonies either," the Commander said. "But since you’re family now, introductions are necessary."
"If you tell me how I should conduct myself in front of the other family members, I’ll follow your lead."
The Commander smirked, as if amused. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before replying.
"Just act as you normally would. It’ll be a refreshing experience—for my children, too."
He laughed, not as a commander, but like a mischievous man.