Hearing cries of pain, while streams of blood flowed here and there, Dodoria could only recoil in fear, while his men dropped like flies.
Wanting to aim at the girls in front of them, they ended up feeling their feet leave the ground because of Wendy's attacks. Flying away like this, they were helpless against Seryu's shots who had no hesitation in shooting at them.
In just a few minutes, all of the guards were slaughtered by the two girls, to the point that only Dodoria was still standing.
Frightened by this, the man immediately turned around, to flee. But barely had he done so, when the tip of a dagger pierced his shoulder. Screaming in pain, he stared at Caruma in horror as the young girl was now right in front of him.
"You killed my friends! And you fed me with their flesh." She spat. "Know that I will never be able to forgive you."
Falling backwards, while holding his injured shoulder, the man began to crawl backwards on the ground. However, he was forced to stop when his back met an obstacle. Looking behind, he groaned in fear as he saw Wendy and Seryu mere inches away from him.
"We give you a choice." Seryu stated, her guns trained on him. "Caruma will pierce your chest or I will shoot you in the head."
Trembling in terror, the man tried to find an escape route. Yet, nothing could save him. All those men were now on the ground. And when his gaze fell on Wendy, he saw her lower her gaze, showing that she was not going to intervene. He had done too many evil things for her to do anything for him. And then, when she had shown pity for Kalgon, it had nearly killed her.
Now she knew that such people would not show any sign of regret for their actions.
"Pl… Please! Wait, I'll give you money! Lots of money! Let me leave this town and you won't see me again! I promise!"
As the only answer, Seryu began to aim at him more carefully to shoot him in the brain. Seeing that she was going to shoot, the man immediately screamed.
"Wait! If you spare me, I'll tell you everything I know."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I know who killed your father." The man said.
Instantly, time seemed to freeze in the room. Having completely forgotten who was standing at her feet, Seryu had lowered her weapon without realizing it, before asking him.
"My father? Do you know who killed him?"
Seeing that he had just managed to capture her attention, Dodoria affirmed.
"Yes, it's the truth! Let me go and I'll tell you everything."
"Don't listen to him." Caruma roared. "He's trying to manipulate you."
"No, I assure you I will tell you the truth." Dodoria assured.
But, immediately, Seryu's weapon touched her forehead, as she ordered.
" Speak! Who is the guy who killed my father? "
" It's Ogre. " Shouted Dodoria. " Capitaine Ogre ! "
New silence in the room. For once, while she wanted to tell Seryu not to listen to this man's words, Wendy decided to let him do it, not knowing at all if he was telling the truth or not.
"Captain... Ogre?"
"Yes! To explain everything to you, Ogre worked for me before he got killed! I sometimes had problems to solve and I called on him to protect me! However, I was afraid that he would end up betraying me, at some point! So, sometimes, I had him come to my house and I gave him alcohol with drugs in it! Once he was really drunk, I just had to ask him questions and he would answer me without fear! And one evening, when I wanted to know more about his past, he told me everything about what he had done."
Listening to him with the utmost attention, Seryu ordered him.
"Short! Why did he kill my father?"
"I don't know the whole story! But from what I know, the two of them had been in the army together! Back then, Ogre was a soldier with a stronger build than your father... better weapon skills... and even better reflexes! In short, he surpassed him in a fight! However, your father had something that Ogre didn't have: the knowledge of justice! Your father may not have been the strongest soldier in the army! However, he already had a strong sense of right and wrong and hated oppression! Compared to Ogre, he easily sympathized with his comrades and was honest with anyone! And it was thanks to this that he was promoted to captain while Ogre ended up with the position of vice-captain! And that, he couldn't stand."
"And that's why he killed him?"
" Huh … yeah. "
"Seryu, he could be lying about it." Caruma asserted. "He could very well have made that whole story up."
"No, I'm not lying! There were five of them in total! I don't know the names of the other four soldiers, but Ogre was one of the people who murdered your father."
"So, you're of no use to me." Seryu understood, starting to squeeze the trigger.
"Huh… I… yes, I know! Ogre had a nickname for one of them! He sometimes told me about a guy he called 'tadpole'."
"Tadpole?" Wendy wondered, as the nickname rang a bell.
"What makes me think you're telling the truth?" Seryu wanted to know.
"He told me something else! Lots of stuff about you! In truth, he didn't like you! Or rather, you constantly disappointed him."
"What? I... I disappointed him?"
"When he brought you into his team, he thought he would make you someone who could replace him later! Someone who could save his business, which consisted of settling the dark affairs of nobles in exchange for money! However, as time went by, he quickly understood that this would be impossible because of your obsession with what you call justice! You don't know the difference between good and evil! And Ogre knew that no one could ever buy you with money and that's why he ended up stopping wanting to keep you with him! Finally, to be able to get rid of you, he thought he had found a good way: entrust you with a teigu!
" Now ? " Seryu wondered.
"Indeed! Before you, this teigu had killed a good ten soldiers who had wanted to possess him, without any success! Ogre had even tried, and it ended with the loss of his eye! In order to kill you, he advised you to have Koro so that this teigu would kill you! However, he would never have thought that this indomitable weapon would end up letting itself be cuddled in your arms! This teigu is known to follow a person with a powerful desire! An unparalleled desire to achieve something! In the end, without wanting to, your desire to uphold justice saved your life."
Hearing all this, Seryu began to tremble, while Caruma and Wendy could see her start to sob. In the end, Seryu was beginning to understand that everything Wendy had told her was true.
"The one who killed my father, wasn't he a revolutionary? Was he a member of the army? But then... But then... who is the villain of the empire?"
Then turning to Wendy, Seryu wanted to know.
"Wendy… Night Raid is actually… good?"
"Seryu, I always told you! Night Raid kills anyone who commits murder! And that guy would have been killed as well as soon as they found out about his crimes."
"Too late." Caruma stated, approaching Dodoria. "Sorry Night Raid, but I plan on taking this guy on!"
"No." Wendy stopped her, stepping forward toward Dodoria. "He knows too much to let him die."
" What ? "
Crouching down in front of Dodoria, Wendy questioned him.
"You say you know a lot about Ogre's past! Is it the same for his clients?"
"Yes… yes! I wrote down every name he gave me and the reason why he helped them."
"Then you're going to tell us everything," Wendy assured him. "And then we'll take care of arresting all those bastards."
"I don't agree." Caruma roared. "I refuse to let that guy live."
"Caruma! It's not just that scumbag who is at fault in this affair! Don't worry! I'll make sure he also gives the names of the nobles who paid him to commit all these crimes! Not a single one will escape us! They'll all end up in prison, I guarantee it."
Hearing this, the young woman turned her head to the side, while gritting her teeth, showing that she was having a hard time holding on to her rage. Yet, eventually, she affirmed.
"Yeah, you're right! If I kill him right now, all those filthy nobles will hire other people to continue exterminating us! I've lost a lot of friends, but there's no way I'm losing the ones that are still alive."
Realizing that she understood her words, Wendy then turned to Seryu, to see her standing there, her gaze lost.
" Seryu, I … "
"How many…?" Seryu wanted to know. "How many people did I kill thinking I was avenging my father?"
Falling to her knees, she clasped her hands over her eyes as she burst into tears.
"I betrayed my father! I am a monster."
Yet, she eventually fell silent, feeling Wendy's arms wrap around her shoulders.
"You're not a monster! Just a lost child who has been constantly manipulated by real monsters! Seryu, now that you know the truth, it's time for you to change! I want you to help me... Help me change the empire! With the names that guy is going to give us, we'll stop enough people to change things and that will only be the beginning! Give up on the idea of wanting to hunt down Night Raid and help me."
Stepping back from Seryu a little, she eventually reached out to her, before asking.
"Seryu, will you help me, even though I am your enemy?"
Staring at her then, Seryu tried to stop crying, as she stated.
"You… You… You're not my enemy! You never were! In the end, I'm the one who's been blind all this time! Wendy, … I'm sorry! Sorry I didn't believe you."
"That's forgotten." The child assured her. "We will continue to work as Jaegers! We will destroy the evil from within and show Wave and the others who the miscreants are! With that, Night Raid will be able to win."
Half an hour later, after handing Dodoria over to the authorities, Caruma saw Wendy and Seryu discussing among themselves about their way of doing things, seeing them do it, she could only realize that she was too much.
Ever since Wendy had come back, Seryu seemed to only have eyes for her. So, forcing herself to smile, she declared.
"Thanks to you, we will be able to live without the fear of being killed! Once again, thank you! I will immediately announce the news to the others! So, until next time."
Yet, barely having time to turn around, she ended up feeling Seryu grab her arm, while retorting.
"Hey! Not so fast! Caruma, when was the last time you had a proper meal? And when was the last time you had a proper bath?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Come with me! With what you just learned, I think you need something to cheer you up! Come to the palace."
"What? In the palace? Me? But are you crazy? Haven't you seen my face and my clothes? I can smell poverty from miles away."
"You're an ally of the Jaegers and that will be enough to get you back in." Seryu assured her, pulling her along to force her to follow.
Yet, stopping immediately, she saw Wendy remain motionless.
" Tu viens Wendy. "
"I have an errand to run," the child told her. "I'll be back in a moment."
Not having forgotten his recent departure, Seryu remained skeptical.
"Are you really coming back?"
"Yes," she assured. "And I will stay with the Jaegers until I become a general! I swear to you."
Seeing only sincerity in her gaze, Seryu nodded, before running with Caruma. And once the duo left, Wendy turned in another direction to go to the Imperial Army barracks. For her, it was time to visit the ''tadpole'' that Dodoria was talking about.
" Teru! " She murmured.
Having finished filling out several forms, Vice Captain Teru was filling a glass of whiskey which he then drank in one go.
"Ha ha! I don't know who the idiot is who said that alcohol was evil, but in any case, he has never tasted anything as exquisite as this."
As he was about to pour himself another drink, he suddenly jumped in fear as he saw Wendy's silhouette pass through the window. Screaming in fear, he tipped his chair to the side, falling to the ground.
"Vice Captain." Wendy said, approaching his desk.
"What's this mania you have for going through the window?" roared the man, getting back to his feet. "What are doors for?"
Eventually sitting back down, he then asked.
"Okay... what's the purpose of your visit? Did you manage to get back into the army?"
" Oui. "
"That's good news! In that case, let's celebrate with a glass of whiskey."
"I didn't come to talk to you about that, and even less to drink! I came to talk about Seryu's father."
Preparing to refill his glass, Teru froze before spilling the liquid all around his glass.
"The… The… Who?"
"I know everything! Someone just told us that Ogre killed that man to get his position as captain! Is that true?"
"Huh..., coming from that bastard, I'm not surprised! But what do I have to do with it? I didn't even know about that."
"Tadpole... does that ring a bell? That's the nickname Ogre gave you, right? Apparently, when he murdered Seryu's father, Ogre called one of his accomplices that."
"I… I… I have nothing to do with this! Ogre must have called another guy that in order to insult him! I'm not the only soldier he's looked down on during his career."
"Don't take me for an idiot! The more I think about it, the more it makes sense! Back then, Ogre was vice-captain and you were his right-hand man, right? To sum up, if Ogre became captain, you were sure to be promoted to vice-captain! Am I right? "
Seeing that he looked away, Wendy assisted.
"Admit it! You helped Ogre kill Seryu's father to get a higher position, didn't you?"
"I… I didn't kill anyone." Teru retorted. "Not even my target."
"Your target?"
"Yes, I didn't kill the child I was supposed to murder! The proof... Seryu is still alive."
"Seryu? What are you talking about?"
Keeping silent, Teru eventually put his head in his hands before sighing.
"Better confess before I get executed! Remember when I told you about the old captain who got himself and his family killed because of investigating shady business involving nobles?"
"Yes, so what?"
"That man was Seryu's father."
"What? But she told me that..."
"That he died on the battlefield? That's not true! He didn't even participate in any war! He died just two weeks after being promoted! He had just graduated from military school."
"But then why did Seryu tell me that?"
"Because she really believes it." The man said, opening a drawer in his desk.
Taking out a camera-like device, he confessed.
"It's Memorix, my teigu."
" Memorix ? "
"Yes! If I take a picture of a person's face with this device, it brings up various films showing that person's memories! With it, I can see anyone's memories and even change them."
"So, you...?"
"Yes! There were five of us in total! With Ogre, each of us had to kill a member of Captain Netomeru's family, Seryu's father! For my part, I was in charge of killing his eldest daughter! But, I was not capable of it! Of course, I would have done anything to have a high-ranking position... but killing a five-year-old girl was impossible for me! Instead, I knocked him out and persuaded Ogre to spare him! In the end, he devised a twisted plan: to dishonor Captain Netomeru's memory by transforming Seryu into a real monster devoid of human feelings! And I modified her memory so that she would forget everything about that evening! As a result, she no longer even remembered her mother's face, but that of her brother and sister."
Listening to him, Wendy remained motionless with her face lowered. She knew she had a lot of trouble containing the anger she felt inside her. Then, she finally nodded, before leaving the office.
"That's all I wanted to know."
"Wait, are you… are you going to tell anyone all this?"
Stopping before thinking, Wendy finally said.
"No! Compared to Ogre, you haven't killed anyone and, what's more, you helped me the other day! From now on, we're even! However, …"
Turning around to glare at Teru, she stated.
"You should be ashamed of what you tried to do."
"Shame of what? Of doing like everyone else? Of getting out of this quagmire that is the empire in one way or another? Rising in the hierarchy is the only way out! The proof, your old comrade... Bols... he was like me, wasn't he? To survive, he didn't hesitate to kill people."
Hardening her gaze further, Wendy had suddenly jumped onto Teru's desk and grabbed the man by his collar.
"Never compare yourself to Bols! Yes, he killed people, but only to protect his family! You... you tried to kill someone for a lowly vice-captain position! Your reasons are not equal at all."
"Murder is still murder! And compared to him, I can boast that I haven't covered my hands with the blood of an innocent."
"You may not have killed anyone directly, but by becoming Ogre's accomplice, you are responsible for the execution of I don't know how many innocent people! Your hands may not be covered in blood, but your soul has long since been corrupted! Shame on you!
Having said what was on her conscience, Wendy finally left for good, leaving Teru stunned.
Finally, suddenly entering the office, a man affirmed.
"Do you understand that she is right?"
"Furrick!" Teru muttered as he began to pretend to pour himself another drink. "What are you doing here?"
"I've known your story for years," The lieutenant assured. "And I've always thought like that little girl! Compared to us, she's got guts and she's right! We finally have to get moving to change the empire! But if we follow the fashion of accepting bribes to survive one more day, we'll end up getting executed, one way or another. "
"Get out of my office." Teru ordered him.
Looking at him, Furrick finally whistled in displeasure, before walking out. Nevertheless, he added.
"The revolutionary army is becoming more and more important! I shouldn't say this, but there are days where I want to leave everything to join them and give real meaning to my life."
Hearing him then close the door behind him, Teru tried to fill his glass with alcohol. Yes, alcohol was the only way for him to forget everything. Forget all the horrible things he had done. Forget the pleading look of all the innocent people Ogre had sent to prison and who had begged him to save them.
Yet this time, he was unable to drink any more. It was as if his brain refused to let him forget this conversation and paralyzed his hand. Finally, he let out a cry of rage and threw his bottle and smashed it against a wall.