Gunmage-Chapter 45: Worse than animals

Lugh had had enough. Riley moved, breaking free from his escorts.

"What the hell are you bastards doing?!"

He barked in Heiro.

The others, not registering his language, saw his uniform and immediately aimed their weapons, shouting.

"On the ground now!"

"Don't shoot!"

The soldiers who had accompanied him from the gates yelled as they rushed over.

There was confusion in the crowd. Lugh planned to take advantage of this to attack. He did not have any weapon except a small knife, and this body lacked mana circuits, making magic impossible.

But, he had extraordinary strength and could not feel pain. That alone was enough.

A calm voice suddenly pierced through the cacophony.

"What's going on here?"

"Major!"

All the men saluted in unison.

A man with a frowning face and lanky build appeared.

His uniform was far more refined than the others, indicating his higher rank. Although the body known as Riley was tall, Lugh still had to tilt his head to meet the man's gaze.

An explanation of the events unfolded, and Lugh's identity as the spy Fisherman was revealed to all present. The major gave a single command.

"Let the girl go."

The grip on her hair was reluctantly released, and she scrambled to her father's lifeless body, struggling unsuccessfully to suppress her tears.

This sight fanned the flames of Lugh's anger.

The major turned to her.

"Little girl, what's your name?"

"G-Gloria"

She responded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Gloria"

The major repeated.

"I permit you to get lost. Take the corpse with you."

She paused. A deep-seated flame of hatred ignited in her eyes. But she didn't act on it, she was too smart for that. She simply nodded and began to drag her father's body away, struggling with its weight.

She had only moved a few meters when the major's voice rang out again.

"Stupid wench, I grant you a favor, and you can't even show some gratitude? Where's my thank you, huh?!"

Gloria froze. Her lips trembled as she bit down so hard, blood trickled down her chin.

Then, in a small, shaking voice, she spoke.

"Thank you."

"I can't hear you!"

The major bellowed, his deep baritone reverberating through the street.

"Thank you, sir!"

She yelled back, her tears returning in full force.

Lugh felt his stomach churn. So these were the soldiers of Heieg.

The major turned back to him.

"Mr. Osneil, worry not, I'll personally deliver you to our Bureau of Military Intelligence."

The soldiers that had escorted him were relieved of their duties and returned to their guard stations.

The major, his entourage, and Lugh made their way to an armored transport vehicle stationed nearby. It had a machine gun mounted on top but lacked additional armaments.

Lugh climbed inside, and the journey began.

The capital city was vast, allowing him a long and unobstructed view of the destruction left in the wake of the invaders.

Oppressed citizens, burned homes, shattered statues—the soldiers of Heieg had come to create chaos, and they had fulfilled that role splendidly.

Lugh also noted the use of armored vehicles for casual transport rather than horses and carriages. It spoke volumes about their logistical prowess. This army wasn't just powerful, it had an excess of supplies.

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The wind grew cooler as they reached a massive stone bridge. The Roch River snaked through Drakensmar from north to south, splitting the iconic stone city into two distinct halves.

A series of large bridges connected both sides, and the armored vehicle Lugh was in sped across one of them, uncaring of potential pedestrians.

The atmosphere in the vehicle was silent and grim. Lugh remained tight-lipped, his face twisted into a scowl. The major, seated across from him, eventually broke the silence.

His gaze flicked down to Lugh's hands, where crescent-shaped cuts marred his palms, wounds inflicted when his nails dug in earlier. Then, the major studied the scowl on his face.

"I know you might have some... sentiments after living among them for so long"

He mused.

"Sentiments? Who, me?"

Lugh let out a dry chuckle, devoid of any real humor.

"You don't have to hide it."

The major leaned back.

"It's only natural to develop attachments once you've lived amidst them."

Then, after a brief sigh, he added

"But you must never forget, those from Ophris aren't humans."

Lugh's ears perked up.

"Aren't humans?"

"Yes"

The major affirmed.

"They're all animals. No, worse than animals. There's no need to feel any pity for them."

For a fleeting moment, something flickered in Lugh's eyes. But it was swiftly snuffed out.

"Worse than animals"

He muttered ominously.

The vehicle finally came to a stop. Lugh was led into a building that had clearly been seized from its previous residents.

As he walked through the halls, he noted tables stacked with files and a multitude of soldiers—mostly female—diligently organizing documents.

It seemed this place had become an extension of Heieg's Department of Espionage and Intelligence.

He was escorted through a corridor until they stopped at a door. The woman leading them maintained a neutral expression. She knocked in a rhythmic pattern.

A voice called from inside.

"Who is it?"

"You have guests, sir."

"Tell them I'm not around."

The major scowled

"Open the door, you fool, it's me"

"You? Who the hell are you? Drop a name!"

"It's me, Major Eid."

"Eid?"

The voice questioned, clear confusion laced in his tone.

"What could you possibly want from—wait, do I still owe you money?"

"I brought you a spy."

"You caught a spy?!"

"No!"

Lugh watched their antics with an unreadable expression. There was some grumbling from inside, then the sound of approaching footsteps.

Locks clicked open, and the door swung wide.

A gloomy man with unkempt hair stood before them. He wasn't in uniform, he wore black pants, a white shirt, and a black vest.

A cigarette dangled loosely from his lips. His sharp eyes scanned them all.

"Come in."

They stepped inside.

"Not you"

He pointed at the woman.

"Get back to work."

"Y-yes, sir"

She stammered, flustered, before quickly scurrying away.

Once inside, the man turned to Lugh.

"What's your name?"

"Riley Osneil"

Lugh responded smoothly.

"Where have I heard that name before?"

The man muttered, skeptical.

The major, who had to duck his head at the doorway to enter, immediately found a chair and plopped down.

"I think he called himself a Fisherman or something."

The man's eyes widened.

"The Fisherman?!"

His cigarette slipped from his lips, falling to the floor.