Deception: A Tactician's Card

Initiate Operation: Cloning Facility Destruction

"Uh, mister?"

"Yes?"

"Wouldn't it be better if we waited for the chairperson to arrive so that we could tell them directly?"

"Nah, it's fine. She'll understand. There's Liz to tell them that we're on the move. Also..."

I looked at Cory's clone.

Letting her stay and allowed Snow to see her will make a huge mess in her mind. I'll have Michaela do the talking. They should have sincere siblings discussion to help Snow prepare her heart, or what happened to her after seeing her sister's body would happen again.

"Yukti?"

"Ah, sorry. Nevermind that. Agony", I said as I diverted my attention to Agony who gave me a lift since she can use [Flight]. "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry about me. The uniform is nice and cozy, I couldn't feel the cold even though it's snowing."

That's true. The Crimson Academy uniforms were imbued with [Temperature Regulation]. I'm not wearing mine, but I wore something more of a long-sleeved jacket and has similar effects as the uniform.

"We're nearing the end of the border. The security would appear to be tight, but we'll go to an alternative route. That's where I always pass through whenever I need to traverse through the borderline."

"We'll follow your lead."

The snow is getting stronger by the minute.

However, the only disadvantage we have here is the lessening of our visibility. Thankfully, there are no sentries scattered about, and only the border itself was heavily guarded.

Agony could fly faster than this, but we can not afford to leave our other companion behind. She's only running, and I'm amazed at how her stamina keeps up.

She did say that she's been trained since a child. An astonishing feat, I'd say.

"This way Agony, Yukti."

"Sure thing. Agony, you can put me down now, we can't afford to be spotted."

Agony nodded and gently landed me. The snow on the ground could reach my knees, more reason to be amazed at Cory's clone.

We reached a gap between two cliffs a few meters from the gates. It's spacious enough to fit two people in, shoulder to shoulder. As our guide, the clone entered first, Agony came in second, and I'm the last.

I wonder why they didn't include this in their security perimeter?

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"What should I call you? I can't just infer you as 'you, you know?"

"I didn't give much thought about it. If I were to choose", she paused for a moment before she could continue. "I think you can call me 'Eight'."

"'Eight' from the canister number of your progenitor?"

She responded with a yes.

"Sorry for butting in, but", Agony intervened in our conversation with her hand raising like some diligent student wanting to answer a question. "Does Eight don't have any lingering attachments to that facility we're about to pounce on?"

"I can not say that I don't, but I'm sick and tired of being a lapdog of villainy."

"Oh my. If that's the case, we'll not hold back. Right, Yukti?"

"Yeah."

•••

We've finally reached our destination. Just near the end of the gap, we're traversing through is a facility. The facility looks shabby, to be honest. The lights were off, at least on the outside, but Eight said that it's all but a farce to cover the truth that this place is using illegal cloning technology. The place was rendered as an abandoned one, and the authorities of this country never ventured here and patrol as per ordered (I don't care the name, for now, the objective comes first).

"We'll stop here for a moment", said I as I leaned my back on the wall.

"Huh? For what?" Eight asked, dumbfounded.

"Trust me on this for now. Agony, could you detect any activated rune cards applied to her body?"

"Wait a moment. Hey Eight, could I at least hold your hand to see if there's indeed a rune card effect or perhaps even two imbued within you. It might be something negative, and we need to pull it out immediately."

"You can Miss Agony."

Eight lifted her arm and Agony received it as if they're shaking their hands. Agony's eyes started to gleam, and not just one, not just two, but three rune cards, glowing red, slowly ascended from her body and dropped to the ground.

I usurped the three rune cards and saw just how terrible she and the other clones were treated.

One of them is [Slave Card]. It's a rune card that forcibly removed the freedom to whoever it is cast to and the person could never act against the caster's will. It's under a rune card of the Taboo rune card set, [s*****y]. This rune card is more or less the controller of this despising rune card we've got.

The second one is a disturbing card -- more disturbing than the first one I saw actually -- it's a rune card named [Insanity Lock Count: N-100]. This could've changed her into a madman if the effect of this stupid rune card takes effect. [Insanity Lock Count: N-10] is a rune card that would make someone insane permanently if the said person couldn't kill at least ten people per day. This rune card is also under a rune card from the Taboo rune card series, the [Hypnosis]. In short, [Insanity Lock Count: N-10], is a powerful form of hypnotism that could activate even if the caster of the said rune card is not around.

The third one is just my younger sister's rune card so I provided her with a new one. Don't ask me why I have some in my [Receptacle], ask my sister why she forced me to put twenty of each of her Customs inside.

Isn't this the second time around that my sister helped me out by accident?

"Thanks, Yukti."

"Don't sweat it. It's Agony who did the trick, not me."

"Ah, yeah... Thank you too, Miss Agony."

"It's fine. Helping someone with similar circumstances as mine brings happiness to me as well."

They sure are.

As she had told us, Agony came from the rotten flesh of those individuals on the third floor. As for Eight, she was created from Cory's limbs. The only difference their origins have is how they came to be. It's clear that in Eight's case that she's artificially made. Agony, on the other hand, is still unclear whether she's an artificial existence or not. Heck, she's even a rune card.

"...ti."

Ah, here goes my bad habit again.

"Yukti!"

"I'm listening."

"Geez, you always do this whenever there's a serious pep talk!" exclaimed Agony with her hands on her hips.

"Now, when did a pep talk became 'serious'?"

"Hmph! Just listen!"

"Okay, okay... I get it. Just lower your voice, or we'll get spotted!"

"Uhmm, you don't need to worry about that Yukti."

"Why is that?"

"They already spotted us."

"Oh."

"Ah."

We've been surrounded. What a cliche.

It's a bit blurry thanks to the weather, but I could see them wearing the same outfit Eight had.

"Hey, Eight. Let me ask you something."

"Huh? That's not something you should do in this situation!"

"Come on, just answer it."

"Then what is it?"

"Do you trust me?"

"I couldn't say I sure do. But if I had to choose between becoming your companion and staying as a lapdog of villainy, I choose the former."

"What a way to answer it", I said with a chuckle as I slightly tapped Agony's left arm and Eight's right shoulder.

"Don't utter a single word and trust me, you hear?"

•••

"Boss, reporting in!"

An underling wearing the same outfit as Eight and the others (as always) lifted the barricade of the main entrance by removing his gloves and pressing his hand on a scanner. The barricade made a muffled rumbling sound as we walked in.

We were handcuffed with Rune Suppressing Cuffs.

As the name implies, it's something that could limit anyone their rune essence output, making it impossible to use a rune card.

That only applies to rune cards with average to excessive rune essence consumption. In other words, destructive rune cards or those with great firepower are definitely out of the picture.

Being handcuffed by something I made is quite refreshing for some reason. I don't know... I'm happy to have experienced a new situation, maybe?

At the eastern part of the facility is a wide-open area. The snow fell on our bodies as we were dragged to the center of it.

Yes, we're dragged with the rope that was attached to the handcuffs.

"You two dared to defile the sacred grounds!?"

A man appeared, wearing something similar to priestly garments (is he immune to cold or something?) from the door in front of us. I assume he's an official here or something.

I recognized that crest engraved on his forehead. He's bald, so I could spot it easily.

No wonder this place gave the same vibes I felt during that one mission I had.

It's a circular one with an inverted triangle as its center, with some kind of scribbles around it. There's no mistaking it.

It's the same ol' Nova of the Holy Cult.

And here I thought they're done.

The name of their cult -- as well as their advocacy -- and their way of doing their principles have the astronomical difference.

I managed to wreck their main base before. I guess some high officials were spreading it once more to boost their numbers.

My past surely loves to haunt my present life.

"Heh, so this place is 'sacred'? May I ask what part of it is 'sacred'?"

"Silence, you sinner! For you to defy the laws of our country is punishable by death! Now, taste our wrath, the children of the land of the holy—"

"There's nothing in this place that any country would be proud of, and that twisted mindset of yours, can't you get rid of it, Nova Cult mister?"

And what's that? What law?

I'm not a law student, that's for sure, but I don't recall any country would resort to this kind of uh, how should I describe this except 'a piece of crap'?

I'd better ask Eight about this.

"Why you-!? My beloved followers, purify our sacred home and eradicate these fools who tried to disrupt the peace we wanted! And for you, oh the last lamb... I'm afraid I don't have any use for you anymore. You'll be a sacrifice for a greater good—"

"Blah blah yada yada. I already heard that same kind of speech from your accomplices before, so spare me the speech, okay?"

"Tch. Then suit yourself. Children, freeze these evil beings with your sacred powers!"

Man, I would love to have this guy apologize to all religious people around the world. I mean, I had mine, and what these guys were doing defies the teachings of every religion known by everyone.

And then in that exact moment, the three of us were barraged by a lot of rune cards with the ice elemental attribute. It's weaker than Liz's rune cards, though they could cope up against her with their numbers, probably.

They ended their small-scale attacks and combined their rune essence to cast a giant [Ice Meteor] and crushed us.

If those three were the real us, we're dead.

Now then, I'll go and tail that baldie.

•••

A loud thud could be heard from a distance.

Eight and I went to the area of this facility where the cloning machine is installed. Thanks to Yukti's rune card, we could traverse through the hallways incognito.

"Where to?"

"It's just around the corner. We can't miss it. Say, Miss Agony—"

"Please drop the honorifics or whatever you call that. Just call me by my name."

We didn't converse verbally. Doing so would deactivate Yukti's rune card effect that was applied to us.

We're using my [Telepathy]. It's my new Custom rune card that I received from Yukti just before we split into two teams (well, he's a one-man army of sorts, so he'll be fine). The only problem is that I need to be the first one to initiate it before Eight could converse with me telepathically.

"Uh, sorry. Say, Agony..."

"Yes? Just who is Yukti?"

"He's my mentor."

"No, I didn't mean that—"

"He's someone who saves anyone despite knowing the fact that he could be betrayed by anyone, including me. Is that what you wanted to know?"

She nodded.

"I could see that you're puzzled by his way of thinking. He's an oddball, that's for sure. But he told me before that he prefers to put his trust and get betrayed than to doubt and regret it later...or something that goes with that line."

We reached the cloning room as I told her what I knew about Yukti, and Eight is deep in thought as to why he's like that.

I know how it feels, Eight. I just met him weeks before, you know?

"Now then, let's blast this place. Hey, Eight, do you have any kind of whatchamacallit boom thingies?"

"'Boom thingies'? Are you talking about explosives?"

"Yes, those things."

"I had those but it's in my room. It's not that far from here though."

Huh? Who would store an explosive in their room?

"Okay...? I'll stay here then. In the meantime, go to your room and carry those explosives, as well as your stuff. Don't worry about how many you carry, just use that rune card Yukti gave you earlier."

"Yes! Right away."

And she went on her way.

I'm alone now. That part is obvious though. Hmm? What's this feeling? It felt like someone's memory has been shoved into my mind.

"Aghhhhhhhhh!!!"

"Don't resist, you dipshit! You could no longer fight against me. You already lost an arm and a leg. Surrender already and I'll kill you without pain."

"I would love to do so, but it's my responsibility to protect my sisters from your hands! You can kill me if you want, but you'll never learn about their whereabouts!"

"Hah! Is that so? Then, perish. [Fiery Strike]."

A blazing projectile shaped in a fist pierced through the abdomen of the owner of the memory. She spewed a lot of blood from her mouth, and some of her blood was gushing out from the hole of her abdomen.

"I'd never go down that easily, you bastard of a father. I, Cory Lore, will fight you 'til my last breath! [Mirror Scythe] Sub-Card, [Counter Reflection]!"

In the blink of an eye, a hole appeared on the same spot where the owner of the memory got hers, though the one on that supposed father is much smaller.

"Guhack! What's this rune card!? Where did you get that!?"

"Tch. It's too small. Is it because I already used a lot of rune essence? What a bummer. I'm afraid I can't live on any longer. Guh... My sisters... Michaela, Snow...and my partner Yukti... I'm sorry."

That's... Cory's memories.

Does that mean that this place is where Cory died? The interior of this place matches the one I saw in Cory's memories.

But that's not possible.

Yukti said that she was killed on an island. Was it just some false information? I still need to confirm this. But first, I need to tell him everything, starting from the fact that I could see Cory's memories when I saw her in my birthplace, the extracting facility's fourth floor.

Eight came back with the explosives, and we started setting it all up.

This place better is gone than being used.

But now that I got that part of her memories, I'm starting to doubt if it's really fine to destroy this place.

"Wait."

"Yes, Agony?"

"Let's stop setting these explosives."

"Eh? Why? Is something wrong?"

"There is. Don't fret about the details, let's go to where Yukti is."

"I don't know what's in your mind, but I won't pry further. Let's go then."

•••

"Well, that was easy."

"Easy what?"

Now, a part of my past included how I loved spy flick movies. It's one of the reasons why I am mastering the art of tactics. It's not about just killing enemies in style, an agent racks his or her brain to search for clues and evidence... Ah, why am I thinking about it?

I used his dagger that is resting on his side and stabbed his neck.

"Huh? Who's the— You!? You're still alive!?"

"Hmm? Why not?"

He succumbed to the ground, flinching with each moment his blood squirts from his neck.

Wait, that's it?

—or not. The cult members I knew gave me the headache. Since, well, they ought to have an extra life or two.

"You will never defeat me! As long as I have my puppets, I'll forever be invincible you fool!"

He stood up as if the wound I inflicted on him earlier is nothing.

"But still, you did say 'puppets', am I right?"

"Hmph! What of it?"

"Nothing. You and your fellow cultist leaders are pretty much the same."

"Why you— Tch. Children! Come and save me from this evil incarnate!"

Bah, not again with that.

"Your demise is near! Kukukukukuhahahahahahahaha... KUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Shut up."

The air around me changes as my mood switches. I hate these guys to a T.

"Ghaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! What is happening!?"

And just like that, the cult guy fell on the ground, forming bubbles on his mouth and blood was oozing from his tear glands and ears. I just cast [Nightmare Requiem] on him.

These guys know nothing about my rune card. They said the same "I will not die!" trope over and over. It's sickening. Too bad for them, [Nightmare Requiem] bypasses every norm of this world.

"Now, where should it be... Yep, there it is."

I've searched for his hidden pockets located behind those garments of his and found his cell card.

Now, with this, I could trace the whereabouts of the other cult leaders and their bases.

Why didn't I thought about it in the past? It's simply because of my naivety. I'm still green and was also blinded with revenge for Cory during my hunt.

I could only sigh, disappointed with my past self.