“The sudden explosion in the dead of night awakened the sleeping city, instantly turning the once silent and tranquil place into a scene of chaos and noise.”
People were awakened by a loud roar and stuck their heads out of the windows. They were shocked to see flames burning halfway up the spire and the gaping hole that had opened, watching in horror.
Moreover, it wasn’t just one location. Explosions occurred at four different spires in various areas, all within minutes. The city defence forces quickly mobilized and placed the entire city under lockdown.
However, the entire city had already begun to descend into chaos. The distinguished guests attending the birthday banquet were particularly agitated, with many starting to voice their concerns, and some even threatening to leave the planet immediately. In the midst of this growing panic, a massive holographic screen appeared in the sky above the city. A man with dark brown curly hair appeared on the screen, his expression composed and serious.
“Everyone, there is no need to worry!”
The huge image of the heir to the ruler of this planet and even this star system appeared in the sky above the city, projecting a powerful voice.
“The situation is under my control. The terrorists who attempted to disrupt my father’s birthday banquet have all been captured. What happened tonight will not happen again.”
He said with a serious expression, his voice firm and resonant.
“I will never allow anyone to disrupt my father’s birthday banquet. Anyone who dares attempt such a thing should be prepared to face the Mia family’s wrath!”
After calming the citizens, countless holographic screens simultaneously appeared in the middle of each guest room.
“Honored guests, I extend my deepest apologies for the distress you have experienced.”
On the screen, Beiat spoke courteously, nodding slightly as he apologized to the guests in the room.
“I guarantee on the Mia family’s honor that this will never happen again. Please trust that we can ensure your safety. I urge you all to stay and join us for my father’s birthday banquet with peace of mind.”
***
After expending considerable effort to calm both the citizens and the guests, the entire city finally returned to a state of quiet.
The man with dark brown curly hair stood in his room. As the communication screen vanished before him, his once kind and gentle face quickly became shrouded in shadow, and his polite demeanour shifted to a cold, sinister expression.
The corners of his lips curled into a high arc as he let out a cold sneer. He gazed at the charred gaps in the towers outside, where the flames had been extinguished, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction from his chest throughout his entire body.
Unprecedented excellence?
Even better than him in his youth?
Father, it’s a pity that you’ve grown old. Your judgment is failing you.
The so-called most outstanding young man you’ve ever seen has already perished in the flames—and the one who killed him is none other than me, the one you consider to be barely half as good as him.
You’ve grown old, Father. The Mia family will soon be mine—
“Lord Beiat! An urgent communication request!”
A frantic voice suddenly interrupted, disrupting Beiat’s good mood. He frowned, suppressing his irritation.
“Patch it through,” he said, his tone sharp.
The holographic screen instantly appeared before him, its lines flickering briefly before revealing the anxious face of a soldier.
“Lord Beiat! Major General Taylor is still alive!”
The man’s eyes, which had been narrowed in displeasure, suddenly contracted. A surge of anger and humiliation welled up within him, causing his previously calm face to twist in an instant.
“What happened?!”
His upturned eyes glared menacingly at the figure on the screen, teeth clenched, as each word was forced out through gritted teeth.
The soldier’s image vanished, and another figure appeared on the screen.
It was an image of Taylor holding the teen in his arms and jumping out of the tower.
The scorching flames that burst from the shattered gap behind him clawed wildly at the air, but they couldn’t even reach the hem of his clothing.
The image on the screen was a bit blurry, flickering rapidly, but even through the distortion, it was clear to see the young man leaping from the tower and landing gracefully on the ground.
Immediately after, the young Major General, along with the teenager by his side, quickly vanished from the image.
Beiat stood there, motionless.
His face twisted, the usual calm and refined demeanour vanished without a trace, and his expression turned frighteningly ferocious in that moment.
The brief satisfaction he had enjoyed moments ago, along with his mockery of the Major General and his father, now felt like a series of slaps landing hard on his face, leaving him battered and bruised both physically and emotionally.
His fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably, overwhelmed by intense anger and hatred at that moment.
[“Beiat, if only you had half of his talent…” ]
That sentence echoed in his ears like a haunting nightmare.
It repeated over and over in his mind, replaying, filling his thoughts, almost to the point of making his head feel like it would burst—
The man braced his hands on the table, his breathing growing heavier with each passing moment.
He stared intently at the image of the young Major General, his bloodshot eyes filled with malice and hatred.
Kill him!
That guy must be killed!
That guy must die! No matter the cost!
Deep within him, it felt as if a ferocious beast was roaring savagely, baring its menacing fangs.
He braced his hands on the table and turned his head, glaring at the servant standing behind him with bloodshot eyes.
“Mobilize all the city defence forces! Track that guy down! Just say it’s my order and kill him!”
“But, Lord Beiat, such a large operation will cause a huge commotion. We’ve just managed to calm the citizens and the guests…”
His servant hesitated, clearly troubled.
“And once this order is given, your intention to hunt down Major General Taylor will be impossible to hide…”
“Do as I say!”
His face tightened with intense tension, twitching almost convulsively as he shouted at his servant.
“Find him! Find that guy! Kill him!
The terrifying expression on his master’s face, something the servant had never seen before, startled him into silence. He didn’t dare to argue further and immediately relayed the young master’s orders.
However, he didn’t dare to directly issue Beiat’s order to find and kill Major General Taylor. Instead, he conveyed a modified directive, instructing the city defense forces to capture the two terrorists responsible for the attack. If they encountered any suspicious individuals, they were to eliminate them on the spot.
The city, which had just quieted down, erupted into noise again as countless city defence troops flooded the streets, scanning every hidden corner with their detection devices as if hunting down any remaining fugitives. This sudden surge in activity caused the citizens, who had only just begun to relax, to panic once more. After all, as long as any suspects remained at large, the threat of another terrorist attack loomed.
After all, as long as any suspects remained at large, the threat of another terrorist attack loomed.
Adding to the unease, the soldiers searched relentlessly, even breaking into homes in their hunt. The entire city once again fell into a state of anxiety.
Beiat stood in his room, his expression blank.
Three holographic screens surrounded him, displaying flashing maps and streams of deep blue messages scrolling in the lower left corner. Yet every update only darkened his mood further. Despite deploying nearly the entire city’s defense forces, they had found no trace of the man.
These useless fools—
With a loud bang, the door was slammed open.
Already seething with frustration, Beiat spun around and let out a furious roar.
“Didn’t you understand no one is allowed in here?! Get out—”
The final word caught in his throat as his eyes suddenly widened. He stared at the tall figure walking through the doorway, his mind completely going blank in that moment.
The gray-haired old man approached him step by step, staring at him intently, his wrinkled face without any expression.
The elderly man with graying hair walked toward him step by step, his eyes fixed intently on him, his wrinkled face devoid of any expression. Despite his age, each deliberate step exuded an overwhelming aura, and the heavy, echoing sound of his footsteps on the floor sent a chill through the air.
The old man stopped in front of him. Though they were of equal height, the gaze that bore down on him felt as if it came from above, overwhelming him and nearly suffocating him. Staring blankly into his father’s stern eyes, Beiat’s mind went completely blank.
He tried to speak, but his lips barely moved, struggling to form words, and he couldn’t even manage a single breath. All he could do was stand there, dumbfounded.
So many times, he had believed he had long since stepped out of his father’s shadow.
But now he realized that no matter how much time had passed, he was still the same child, standing in place, fearfully watching his father’s back.
Pa!
A heavy slap struck Beiat, turning his face to the side.
He kept his face turned, motionless for a long while. The burning pain in his cheek seeped into his skin and bones, driving him nearly mad with agony.
“Are you satisfied?”
The searing pain finally allowed him to regain control of his voice.
The man lowered his head, letting out a hoarse, low laugh.
“You’re right… I’m nothing but a failure, a worthless fool who doesn’t measure up to even half of him!”
For the first time, he lifted his head and confronted his father directly, growling at him without hesitation.
“Everything you said is right—completely right!! I admit it!! Are you satisfied now?!
“You’d rather have him as your son instead of me—I’ve lost! I can’t compare to him! I can’t beat him! I admit it, I’m a failure—is that what you wanted to hear?! Are you satisfied now?!”
Beiat’s dark brown curls fell messily over his eyes, obscuring his vision. He couldn’t see his father’s expression, only the tightly pressed lips that mirrored his own. He avoided looking into his father’s eyes, knowing all too well that they would be filled with the same familiar disappointment he had grown accustomed to seeing.
He knew exactly what his father would say next—
[“You’ve disappointed me, Beiat.” ]
Yes, Father, I’ve disappointed you.
Again and again.
If only I weren’t your child, if only that brilliant young man you admire so much were your son instead—how perfect that would be.
For both you and me, it would have been better that way.
The old man lifted his strong arm and shoved him aside, stepping forward to the three surrounding holographic screens. He braced his hand on the platform, his sharp eyes scanning the images and the flashing messages on the screens.
“Withdraw all city defence forces at once!”
He issued the command in a deep, commanding voice.
Behind him, Beiat, who had been roughly shoved aside, stood there somewhat disheveled and humiliated.
He kept his head down, brown hair falling messily over the corners of his eyes, which twitched slightly. His hand, hanging at his side, clenched tightly, nails digging deep into his palm. He gritted his teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter. His eyes, filled with resentment and unwillingness, also showed a hint of pain.
How much his father valued that Major General, how deeply his father admired and favoured him—
He had known it all along, hadn’t he?
He had known all along what the consequences would be if his father discovered that he had taken action, hadn’t he?
“Mars, mobilize my personal guards—all of them. Have them conduct a covert search.”
The old man, who had ordered the withdrawal of all city defense forces, calmly issued the command through the communication channel to his trusted vice-general.
“Additionally, activate the Mia Star satellite system and the city defence system. Focus all efforts on locating Major General Taylor.”
He said, his tone was cold and firm.
“Once found, kill on sight!”
Beiat jerked his head up, staring wide-eyed at the old man’s back, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
He couldn’t believe what he had just heard, wondering if his anger had caused him to hallucinate. He stood there, stunned, watching as his father turned and walked back toward him.
The old man raised his right hand once more—
Another sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room.
The Marquis of Mia struck his son so hard that Beiat staggered back a step from the force.
“Don’t you dare say you’re worthless… Even if you were, you’re still my child!”
The old Marquis glared at him, speaking each word with force and conviction. His chest heaved with intense emotion, and his usually calm and composed face flushed red with anger as he shouted at Beiat.
“My child! I will protect you for a lifetime!”
After shouting, he walked back to the holographic screens, his eyes burning as he fixed his gaze on the images. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s, locked onto its prey. He knew how exceptional and dangerous that young Major General was. He knew how terrifyingly powerful the young man would become in the future. It was precisely because of this that he had wanted Beiat to form an alliance with him.
He knew Beiat was talented, but only in comparison to ordinary people. As the future heir of the Mia family and the leader of this star system, that level of ability was far from enough.
Though the universe seemed calm on the surface, the Marquis of Mia had already discerned with his sharp insight that within a decade, the entire galaxy would be plunged into turmoil.
The storm of war would begin at the heart of the Empire, sweeping across the entire universe. What awaited his child was an era of chaos and conflict, a perilous time where wolves circled, and it was kill or be killed. In that dangerous age of war, Beiat’s current achievements were insufficient—being merely “good” was far from enough!
That’s why he treated Beiat with the utmost severity and harshness, pushing him again and again to do better, to excel—so that Beiat could survive in that turbulent era and to ensure the Mia family’s legacy would endure throughout the universe!
By the time he realized that his severity and relentless pressure had driven his child to the opposite extreme, it was already too late.
…He was already old, and he didn’t have much time left.
But while he was still alive, he had to use every means at his disposal to protect his child and secure as many resources and contingencies as possible. He could see that with the young Major General’s abilities, he was destined to become a powerful leader in the future. That’s why he humbled himself to form an alliance with him, aiming to leave his child with valuable connections.
He never expected things to turn out this way…
…But it doesn’t matter. Now that things had reached this point, there was only one thing left for him to do: to completely eliminate this young man, who could threaten his child’s future, right here on this planet!
***
The man stood there in a daze, his face burning with pain as he stared blankly at the familiar back of the old man in front of him.
No matter how many years have passed, that back remained straight, without the slightest bend.
And no matter how much time went by, he still found himself looking up at that figure.
He lowered his head, clenched his teeth, and struggled to breathe, desperately trying to suppress the sudden sting of emotion that welled up in his nose.
Father…
***
Translation by NightOwll
***