BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Erik pushed open the door, stepping into a room that struck him with its stark contrast to the rest of the building.

With polished wood panels on the walls and a grand, elaborate table in the middle, the conference room exuded elegance. It was anything but crude.

Soft, ambient light filtered through a series of wall-mounted fixtures, casting a warm glow over the space.

However, what caught Erik's attention was not the furnishings, but the man seated on a sofa near the far end of the room.

The figure was unmistakable, even from a distance. Erik recognized the man from his long red hair tied back in a ponytail and the fact that, even while seated, he appeared to be a very tall man.

Becker had shown remarkable calmness and confidence when he met Erik last time. But now, he looked like a pale imitation of his past self.

His once meticulous appearance was now disheveled, his hair unkempt, and his posture slouched.

A heavy air of melancholy surrounded him, visible in the slump of his shoulders and the distant gaze that didn't seem to register Erik's presence.

As Erik walked towards him with determination, he could see Becker's state more clearly.

The man's eyes, which were once sharp and calculating, now clearly displayed the burden of deep sadness and preoccupation.

It was clear that the trials of recent times had taken their toll on him. Becker continued to sip from his glass, the liquid within likely offering some solace, albeit temporarily.

The room was quiet, save for the soft clinking of ice against the glass as Becker drank.

For a moment, Erik gazed at the ex-general sitting across from him. A silent exchange of feelings and thoughts filled the air.

Even though there were personal grievances and unresolved issues between them, Erik still felt a twinge of sympathy for the man.

Erik cleared his throat, an attempt to break the silence and command Becker's attention, but the response was delayed.

Erik's eyes met Becker's. Becker seemed to take a while to recognize him, as if Erik was the last person he thought he would see. But his expression did not betray any shock.

"Ah… Erik Romano…" the man turned to look at his glass once again.

"We need to talk."

Becker placed his glass on the table, moving slowly as if each movement demanded immense exertion. He nodded, the ghost of his former self flickering in his eyes. "I suppose we do."

…

…

…

Erik left the room in an uneasy mood. What Becker told him wasn't anything short of shocking for him.

It was true, in a sense, that Erik had misjudged him. Based on the former general's speech, it was a long time ago he started fighting the Blackguards indirectly in Frant.

The nation had long been a hotbed for criminal activity, something Becker initially saw as separate from the machinations of the sovereign institution.

As he pursued his investigations deeper, he uncovered a more intricate and unsettling picture.

He found out that the criminal organizations in Frant were financed by the Blackguards.

During their conversation, Becker asked Erik if he knew about the frequent kidnappings in New Alexandria.

After Erik confirmed his knowledge, Becker dropped a bombshell: the Blackguards were actually financing these criminal acts.

This revelation didn't come as a complete surprise to Erik, who had observed similar patterns of corruption and manipulation in both Testrovsc's Rest and Etrium.

He told Becker about his suspicion, showing that the Blackguards' influence was not limited to their home country but had spread worldwide, even reaching the faraway shores of the Mur Continent.

Erik was surprised by what Becker revealed next. Although Becker knew Erik's crystal power was only average, he still hoped Erik would join him in the fight against the Blackguards in Frant, just like his father did.

This proposition shocked Erik for two reasons: first, that Becker wanted his help, and second, that his father had once been one of Becker's allies. Not a mere pawn or a soldier, but his left-hand man.

The conversation then shifted toward Erik's father.

According to Becker, Lucius was the one who first put forward the concept of exploring the Mur continent, convinced that it harbored vital secrets.

Lucius was the one who planned the mission, with Becker offering the support, going as far as starting a war against Hin to ensure the success of the expedition.

Becker acknowledged their inability to confront the Blackguards directly, being forced to behave as if they were unaware of their involvement in inciting conflict among nations.

However, this restriction did not apply to Hin, whom they could openly confront, enabling Lucius to enter the country with no obstacles.

As Becker spoke, Erik paid close attention and pondered the implications of his words. He found it hard to grasp that his father had played a role in such intricate and consequential affairs.

Once their conversation was over, Erik aimlessly roamed around the building. He had a lot on his mind.

The most important thing to Erik was finding his father.

Lucius acquired the biological supercomputer and said he had found the origin of the Sinister Cold, the disease or pathogen that caused the Thaids menace and the emergence of brain crystals among humans.

But was it all? No. The Blackguards chasing him. The fact they captured him and that they were searching for something, most likely the biological supercomputer, made Erik think of one single thing.

Lucius, his father, may have not found out WHAT caused the Sinister cold, but rather WHO did it. Everything pointed to the men and women clad in black, the Blackguards.

<That's why they were so eager to grab dad and why they're trying so hard to get me. They're scared the truth will come out. The question is, would the world join in a crusade against them, or not? >