Chapter 7: Face-to-Face
"Listen, Revy. You need to be patient, okay. Only do the thing you need to do if you have the right opportunity," Eda said. They were inside Eda's pickup on the road to the mansion. It's seven forty-nine in the evening.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. You don't have to worry."
"Okay. I just want to make myself clear."
…
"What do you think Balalaika wants to tell us?" Benny asked. He and Dutch were walking down the hallway to Balalaika's office.
"I don't know."
"You think it's about another job?"
"No. I don't think so."
They reached her office. Dutch knocked.
"Come in," Balalaika said. Dutch and Benny approached her. "Where's Revy?"
"She's with Eda for a delivery," Benny answered.
"Why did you call for us?" Dutch asked.
Balalaika smiled at his impatience. "So, you do have a feeling that what I'm going to tell you about isn't an ordinary matter."
"Sort of."
Her smile broadened. "You'll be surprised."
…
The gate of Wonderland opened to let Eda's pickup in. In that darkness, the courtyard was so bright with lights. The fountain set at the very center just before the large house was absolutely enchanting.
Revy couldn't help whistling in awe. "Wow! Now, I understand why this place is called Wonderland."
"The design of this place was made by Leonardo da Vinci. I heard that it cost twenty billion US dollars. Bernardo Faust won it in an auction twelve years ago."
"Leonardo what? Oh, well. With that amount of money for his design, he must be very famous."
Eda chuckled. "That design was made in 1518, just before Leonardo died. It was dug up from a ruin in 1933 and was considered a national treasure until they had decided to have an auction for it. However, there was a superstitious belief that Leonardo had made the design in spite. Some folks in the place of the ruin where it was found said that the plan had a curse. The building once erected will be destroyed by someone with pureness greater than the spite Leonardo had used to make the design."
"Who would believe that? Besides, if it were true, I doubt someone could destroy the building. No one here in the world is pure."
"Very well said."
They got out of the pickup.
…
Balalaika showed the picture of the young Kukri to Dutch and Benny. "Can you recognize who this is?"
The two men looked at it, intently.
"What a frightening pair of eyes," Benny muttered.
"He is the young Rock," Dutch said.
Benny looked at him, unbelievingly. "What did you say?"
"Tell us, Balalaika. What do you know about him?"
"Hey, Dutch, you said that it was Rock. What did you mean?"
"Benny, that boy is Rock," Dutch said, pointing at Kukri's picture. "Can't you see the resemblance?"
Benny became quiet. He took the picture from the table and looked at it, closely. "Yeah. You're right. It really is Rock," he almost whispered. "Damn it! I'm really surprised."
"Let's start with the basic, his name," Balalaika said. "I researched about the name Rokuro Okajima in Japan. Okajima is not a rare name in that country, but the name Rokuro Okajima doesn't exist in any statistical lists there. In Tokyo, there was a murder case one and a half years ago—the Rui Okajima murder case. It is still unsolved. The police said that a day after the murder, this Rokuro Okajima just appeared out of nowhere. He claimed to be the victim's brother, saying that they had the same father, and he had been born and raised in Germany. The police made him a suspect since some time before the murder he had been always with the victim. But, he was acquitted because of lack of evidence. Later, this Rokuro Okajima applied for the job the victim had left in Asahi Industries. He was hired and worked there for fourteen months. When I interviewed some of his co-employees in the company, they said the same thing. This Rokuro Okajima was a mirror image of the victim, from the way he talked to the way he smiled. They said that it was like the victim hadn't died at all."
"Now, that's weird," Benny said. "Are you suspecting that Rock killed this Rui Okajima and robbed him of his identity?"
"Yes. Read this briefing." Balalaika showed them a piece of paper where a detailed information on Rock was written.
Dutch and Benny read the information written on the paper. It took Dutch five minutes to finish.
Rock is an assassin, Dutch thought. Apparently, he couldn't make himself believe. "Could you explain what you've learned about this Kutzmann project?"
"It was a secret project in Germany to apply the Principle of the Perfect Soldier or the Kutzmann Principle."
"Kutzmann Principle?"
"Yes. The principle states that, 'Any child subjected to continuous confusion doesn't develop any emotions as he grows, not that he actually loses them, but he becomes doubtful of how to react on things. Because of that, he tends to depend more to what others would say to him, thinking that others know the absolute truth that he should follow.' This principle supports the description of an ideal soldier: he obeys every order."
"That's crazy!" Benny blurted out. "And to imagine a young Rock being with those crazy people…"
"Yes, it really is crazy. That's why the application of it is illegal."
"Where did they get their subjects?" Dutch asked.
"Generally, from orphanages, but, sometimes, from desperate parents."
Benny gritted his teeth. "Damn them!"
"The project successfully produced two perfect soldiers—Kukri and Leopold," Balalaika went on. "The doctor said in his diary that they were the only subjects who perfectly performed whatever he told them to do. They never talked back or asked anything. They just obeyed."
Benny sighed. "I'm sorry. I feel sick whenever I hear something about toying with children. Excuse me. Maybe I'll just wait outside." He left the room.
Balalaika giggled. "Your partner seems upset."
"I am, too. I'm just wondering how Rock has hidden his true self from us for almost a year, now."
"The art of mimicry. Since they lack in emotions, they mimic others' manners of behaving in different situations. A good example was when Rock copied Rui Okajima's personality. Many people could mimic other people, but not on the level that Rock or Leopold could, because, besides their training, the doctor also wrote that they had an I.Q. above 200. Because of that, they can easily detect which action should be done or not in a situation, leaving nothing behind to invite suspicion. That means that they can have the most perfect disguise. So, it's not impossible for Rock to deceive us, perfectly."
"I'm beginning to understand why they were called perfect soldiers. Do you know why would Rock need to acquire an identity?"
"I think the answer for that connects with his departure from your company. You see, that's what I learned in Germany. Securing an identity is one of the objectives of his last mission, something that is needed if ever Rock decides to accept his freedom Dr. Kutzmann is giving him after his last mission. I watched the video the doctor left for him. His last mission is the complete dissolution of the Kutzmann Project."
"What? That means…"
"Rock is planning to dissolve himself with the project. Actually, Dr. Kutzmann has given him the choice to either die with the project or continue living as a free individual. However, the last time I talked with Rock, he said that he'd be dead in two weeks. He just did his first objective for it was needed. He is servile to the doctor."
Silence came between them. Dutch stared at the picture of Kukri on the table. He was caught by the child's dangerous glare that could make anyone think that death was just near and ready to strike.
"Dutch, this is the second week since I last talked with Rock," Balalaika said, finally. "Maybe now, he's somewhere, dealing with this Red Blade. He shall be no more by tomorrow."
"Do you have anything about this Red Blade?" Dutch asked.
"Just a few things. Red Blade's real name is Leopold Faust. He's working for his father, Bernardo Faust—"
"Bernardo Faust? The car smuggler?" Dutch asked, anxiously.
Balalaika noticed his anxiety. "What's wrong?"
"Revy…"
"Yes. B-but, but, I'm planning to apologize to him and ask him to come back," Revy had told Dutch the night he had confronted her about Rock's departure.
"And how are you going to do that? You can't even go in the mansion." Dutch said.
"See, on February 23, there will be a transaction between the Church of Violence and this Bernardo Faust. Eda is the Church's representative. She offered me to be her personal bodyguard."
"And how sure you are that you can convince Rock to come back?"
"Very sure," Revy said.
"The delivery Benny was talking about earlier involves this Bernardo Faust," Dutch said to Balalaika, "which means it's not just coincidence Rock is currently working under this smuggling tycoon. He knew all this time that his target is this guy's son."
Balalaika suddenly stood up. "You mean Bernardo Faust and his son is coming over here to have the transaction, and that's what Rock has been waiting all this time?"
"Yes."
"We're going there."
…
"Wait here," said the escort to Eda and Revy. "I will tell the Master." The escort left them.
Revy rolled her eyes around the large living room. "It's so big," she said. "It makes me think that the only other mansion with a living room this big is sis Balalaika's."
"Good evening, Mademoiselles," Bernardo Faust greeted. Revy and Eda looked at the direction of the voice. They saw a mustached guy on a wheelchair, and a handsome, impassive-faced young man behind him, pushing his wheelchair. "I'm sorry to make you wait."
"No. It's nothing," Eda said.
"Is he Bernardo Faust?" Revy whispered.
"Yes. Be quiet." Eda and Revy stood up from the sofa. "I'm Carmel Armstrong, the representative of the Church of Violence. This is my personal bodyguard, Rebecca Yu."
"I'm Bernardo Faust, and this is my bodyguard Leopold," Bernardo Faust said. "Nice to meet you."
"His bodyguard has a really close resemblance to that Faust guy," Revy muttered.
"Yeah, I know. Be quiet," Eda hissed. "Well, let's start, Mr. Faust."
"I rather require to do the trade between the two of us, alone, Ms. Armstrong."
"As you wish," Eda said. She went behind the wheelchair. "Please, show me the way." She turned on Revy. "You stay here, Revy."
"I understand," Revy replied.
"No, no, Ms. Armstrong. That won't do. Ms. Rebecca is a guest as well," Mr. Faust said. "Leopold, please take care of Ms. Rebecca."
"I'll be pleased to do that." With that, the expressionless face of Leopold suddenly changed to an amiable one. He smiled at Revy, offering his right hand, "Would you allow me, Ms. Yu?"
Revy just stared at him, warily. She could smell blood reeking from the man in front of her. Then, she remembered Rock. This was her chance. "I would love to," she said.
…
"This is unusual of you, Balalaika," Dutch said. They were inside her limousine on the way to Wonderland.
"What's unusual?"
"Involving yourself in someone's affair."
"I just don't want to lose someone like Revy. She's an asset worthy of my protection."
…
Leopold escorted Revy outside as what she had requested. The sky was filled with stars that night, and there was a crescent moon. The breeze gently blew, caressing the lawn, which was yellow green under the artificial light coming from the lampposts. However, there was something unusual. There were no insects or animals that were making sounds even the place was in the middle of a forest.
Leopold halted in front of a big tree in the yard. He stared at it for a moment, while waiting for Revy to catch up. When Revy caught up, he said, "It looks like you're quite enjoying the scenery."
"Yeah," Revy replied, still busy in searching for Rock.
"You can't fool me, Ms. Yu," he said.
Revy was surprised at that. She looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Stop playing dumb. What are you looking for?"
Revy felt wary, suddenly. She put her hands over her pistols. "It's none of your business."
Just a few paces from them, Rock, with a dagger in each hand, lurked in the shadows. He was waiting for the right timing to attack his target.
"Can you kill me with those toys?" Leopold turned on Revy. His eyes were inhuman.
Revy suddenly stepped back, fishing out her pistols. She was shocked at seeing his eyes.
"Oh." Leopold smiled treacherously. "So, you're planning to use those toys, after all."
"Who are you?" Revy asked.
"The one who's going to kill you!" Leopold suddenly kicked the ground. The soil flew to Revy's face, and, before she knew it, he attacked.
"This is my chance," Rock muttered. He dashed towards Leopold.
Before Leopold could even touch Revy with the tip of his fingers, Rock caught up with him. Leopold was very surprised at the sudden appearance of Rock from the shadows that he lost his footing. He was sent rolling on the ground.
Rock continued his assault, but, when he was about to deliver his strike, a bullet pierced his right arm. He didn't hear it coming. The gun had a silencer. He staggered away from the felled body of Leopold.
Seeing this, Leopold got up, immediately. He pulled out the dagger from the sheath on his left leg and started coming after Rock. He made a slash that Rock barely blocked.
"So, you came to kill me, Kukri," he said. "I have been waiting for this for a long time. Now, let us see who's the best."
Rock head butted him. Leopold staggered away. Grasping his knife more tightly, now, he went after the staggering Leopold. However, when he was near enough to really kill his opponent, another bullet pierced his right arm, and, following it, he saw five guards running towards him. He immediately decided to run, pulling Revy along. In an instant, they were gone in the shadows.
To be continued…
