Perhaps it’s too great to Bear on my Hands

[Ha-!]

Neito woke up in his hard bed, drenched in cold sweat.

[A dream of that moment again … I thought those dreams were over.]

This time, He dreamt of the time they were briefed in and started heading out. It really was an excruciating night.

[Oh s.h.i.+t. I’m going to be late]

Neito wasn’t going be depressed over that dream. He went on to work at the office as usual.

[Good Morning…]

After a few months in, He was already getting used to having a social life, to the point that he could greet his coworkers with ease.

[Oh, Good Morning…]

[…Yeah]

[Let’s put in our best effort today!]

Each of his coworkers replied to him differently.

[Aa! There you are Nate! Good Morning! Intelligence department is having a briefing today at 11 AM.]

Among all things, He was grateful for his a.s.sistant. He was grateful, but the situation he was in was still messed up as h.e.l.l.

He’s a little happy. No, He is VERY happy for being able to meet such a girl. Her bright cheerful tone always greets him every morning… If only she was a girl he accidentally met in the bustling city, with a normal father, things could’ve been better.

[Good Morning…Thanks as usual.]

[Hehehe—. You’re welcome. Fufufu—.]

For some reason, she was in a good mood today. He wanted to ask her why, but his s.h.i.+ft was starting. Neito immediately went on to work.

Work in the Sales Department was mostly paperwork as expected. To sum it all up, it was just reading reports and articles, making and planning appropriate decisions, then sending and informing other departments. They weren’t required to go out and fight on the front lines.

Neito wasn’t used to paperwork, so at first he struggled to get the work done. It’s not like he wasn’t struggling now, but the amount of paperwork to be done was too d.a.m.n high.

Seeing the work ahead of him, he strengthened his resolve, eager to finish it as fast as possible. No sooner than later, Izumi called him into his office.

He entered the room and immediately sat down on the sofa.

[Did something happen?]

[Yes… I have a few questions for you]

[Yes…?]

[About that plan you drew up the other day… What does this plan mean? The orders were to eliminate the Guardian Squadron situated on the fort at map coordinate C22, but your plan involves attacking an area away from the designated coordinates… Do you mind explaining?]

Izumi pointed at the plans he drew.

What if he won’t forgive me for drawing up such a plan?

[Yes. In regards with that… C22 is a formidable position, attacking it head on would be futile. But the order still stands…]

[Then why?]

[C22 is as I said, a formidable position. Attacking it would prove to be our disadvantage… unless we draw them out. I propose that we sabotage a nearby area, destroying multiple buildings and causing a panic among the citizens. It might be small scale, but it would draw out the Guardians in C22 hoping to help the people and control the situation. Once they are out, it is when we can attack them.]

[What if… They won’t come out to aid the citizens?]

[They WILL come out. I know, that there is no Guardian heartless enough to cast away those who are in need. If we can’t draw them out, we might as well broadcast the screams of the people to the Guardians…]

[I understand… But, for this plan to work, it would involve us attacking an unrelated area, does it not?]

Neito understood at that moment, that it was Izumi’s way of checking if He was willing to take the responsibility for the plan He drew up.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Metallica would definitely get a bad reputation over this…but what about it? Metallica is an Evil Organization. What could they expect? Metallica is prepared to do what ever it takes to achieve their goal, even if the actions to be done are inhumane.

[Yes, we need to sabotage a different area.]

Neito answered in a calm and controlled voice.

[That’s a cruel way of executing a plan…

Well, and order is an order. I’m sure that such measures taken would be forgiven.

That’s all. You can go now.]

[Thank you…]

Izumi is wrong. I know that my plan could not be forgiven by the company. What is bad is bad. And what is destroyed is destroyed. There’s now way they could forgive me for drawing up such a messed up plan.

Neito couldn’t put it out into words. He went out Izumi’s office silently.

After Neito went out his office, Izumi thought to himself for a while.

His decision making skills… are different from the others. He doesn’t hesitate to make plans that violate basic human morality.

I doubt I could’ve thought of such plan… Even if I did have the idea, I doubt it would be as cruel and complex as Neito’s…

He is fast and efficient in his work, and he is cruel enough to be promoted to the Operations and Planning Department.

Call it what you may, but He has this evil aura surrounding him. Calling it potential would be too much…He really is a person to look out for…

I doubt that this talent would be recognized… We’re in Metallica after all.

Perhaps it’s too great to bear on my hands… I might lose to Him easily

Izumi gave a sigh and took a sip at his coffee.

: Hey, did the Air Around you just Change?