Free Web NovelChapter 449: Chapter 449: Mysterious Opponent_1
Silence enveloped the entire office, and as Aiden locked eyes with Heinz, he felt the chill in the other’s gaze.
After a while, he was the first to break the silence, "Buddy, staring at me like that without saying a word makes me wonder if you’re considering killing me to shut me up."
He wasn’t worried about Heinz lashing out unexpectedly; firstly, he knew there was no reason for the other to do so, and secondly, he was fully capable of handling Heinz now.
"Sorry, professional habit," Heinz averted his gaze to look at the desk, "I’m just surprised you know so much."
"Just because I need you to gather intelligence for me doesn’t mean I don’t have other networks of information," Aiden responded.
"Alright, there are things I’d prefer not to talk about, but since you already know, there’s nothing I can do," Heinz sighed slightly, "How much do you know?"
"I know there’s a military base on the outskirts of Gistas’s Sunset City, where they’re experimenting with breeding new varieties of demons, using refugees from the southern wars as experimental subjects. When you first mentioned the Empire’s project, I even thought you were trying to smear your own dirty laundry onto the Empire."
"It’s all true. Both the Empire’s army and the Gistas Kingdom’s forces have done the same thing," Heinz said somberly.
"Is Gistas’s experimental project modeled after the Empire?" Aiden asked. frёeωebɳovel.com
"It would be more accurate to say they stole it," Heinz explained, "After the Kingdom’s Central Intelligence Agency learned of the project’s existence, it took nearly two years to infiltrate, and then they planned an attack on that base. Our department handled some of the auxiliary work and didn’t get involved in the core part. I believe the Kingdom’s military must have obtained the key materials and research documents for the project in this affair."
"And then the Kingdom’s forces didn’t hesitate to replicate the dirty deeds of the Empire?" Aiden frowned.
"To spend so much time and cost to stop the Empire, of course it wouldn’t be for justice," Heinz replied unflinchingly.
"The Empire didn’t retaliate over this? They just swallowed the loss?" Aiden continued.
"There were actions taken, but they didn’t make a big splash. After all, it’s not something that can be disclosed publicly," Heinz answered, "Moreover, as far as I know, the Empire was not having much success advancing this project, so they didn’t care too much about the sabotage. On the contrary, our Intelligence Agency having done this, exposed a part of their well-established spy network, and even we were implicated to some extent. Strictly speaking, the Kingdom did not gain much advantage."
"Have you investigated Gistas’s project in depth?"
"No, it’s not appropriate for me to interfere in military affairs, and to handle a project of this scale, naturally those would be influential people within the military," Heinz paused then added, "Nor did I intend to get involved."
It was a clear refusal; Heinz did not plan to intervene in any projects within the Gistas military.
Aiden didn’t give him too much pointless reproach. Heinz, who led the Royal Secret Police, had done plenty of dirty work, and even knowing these secrets, he wouldn’t have the sense of justice to stop it all.
In fact, Aiden himself didn’t feel much righteous indignation. These matters were too far removed from him; just being a listener, it was hard to be deeply moved.
"Does the King know about this project?" Aiden asked.
If the ones moving the project forward were the King’s supporters, Heinz would have a reason to oppose the project—to undermine the current King and support Sera’s seizure of power.
"It’s a project that was approved by the former King and the current King is tacitly allowing it to continue," Heinz understood Aiden’s meaning, "But this doesn’t mean that the people operating the project are all from the King’s side. Different issues, different authorities involved; the project involves several people with power and varying political stances. I’m currently trying to secure a title for Sera and can’t afford to make enemies of all of them; even if I truly intended to do something, it would likely be difficult to shake this situation. Sorry." freēwēbnovel.com
An even clearer refusal, it seemed that trying to use Heinz to intervene in this project was a no-go.
However, the information Heinz provided was indeed meaningful; at least Aiden could almost be certain now that Professor Dodge had stayed in Sunset City, Gistas, precisely for this demon project.
"Then tell me everything you know about the Kingdom’s execution of this project," Aiden said, "That shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?"
This time Heinz didn’t hesitate much before nodding, "Alright. To my knowledge, five years ago the Kingdom’s Intelligence Agency successfully sabotaged the Empire’s project, then transferred the critical data and materials back to the country; the project was established at that time, codenamed ’Infection.’"
"Has the project been going on for this long? Or has the preparation work taken all this time?"
From Aiden’s understanding, one of the difficulties of the project was the living subjects needed for the experiments.
The turmoil outside Gistas’s southern border had occurred only recently, suggesting that it was after this event that the Gistas military had secured a steady supply of experimental subjects.
"After the project was established, it didn’t progress smoothly; the research bottlenecks encountered by the Empire were also met here, and the project was put on hold for a while. It seems there have only been breakthroughs in the past two years," Heinz said.
"Professor Dodge’s activities in Sunset City must be aiming at Gistas’s execution of this project, right?" Aiden said.
"Highly likely," Heinz replied.
"Such vital intelligence, you knew it from the beginning but didn’t tell me immediately," Aiden said, staring at Heinz.
"I am sorry," Heinz apologized, his expression unmoved.
Aiden exhaled sharply through his nose, but he didn’t pursue the matter further. After all, his current cooperation with Heinz was really just to ensure Sera’s safety—the very reason he couldn’t allow any mishaps to befall his prisoner in jail. From this perspective, he couldn’t expect Heinz to "loyally" hand over military secrets of his country to him; they were, after all, only collaborators.
"What does Professor Dodge plan to do with this project? Do you have any idea?" Aiden asked.
"I suppose he must be aiming to stop the project," Heinz concluded.
"Why do you think so?"
"Actually, when the Intelligence Agency and we were plotting to sabotage the project, we received mysterious assistance," Heinz said, "Someone periodically sent us anonymous intelligence that was crucial. It was with this intelligence that we discovered the existence of the project and managed to infiltrate and sabotage it."
"There were insiders leaking information to you...Do you think the opponent could have been Professor Dodge?" Aiden asked.
"We didn’t consider him at that time because we weren’t sure about his connection to the project. But now, piecing it all together, it seems very likely," Heinz answered.
