Don Quixote’s eyes widened in disbelief at Osian's words. His lips trembled as if he couldn't believe it.
No. It can't be. But that man is clearly saying it.
Osian's words gave Don Quixote a very clear answer. The reality he had deliberately been avoiding. One possibility he hadn't even considered.
"From the beginning, you knew who I was...?"
"Neo told me. He said if he ever disappeared from your side, he wanted me to protect you."
There's no way he would make such a personal request for an old man he had just met. Not unless Neo cared for and cherished Don Quixote that much.
"That's impossible. He couldn't have recognized me. How could he identify me when I've become so old and shabby? He must have been mistaken."
Besides, Don Quixote had deliberately hidden his face in case of unexpected situations. Even when he was with Neo, he thoroughly covered his face with a helmet.
"It's impossible..."
Don Quixote's voice was almost sobbing."No matter how old you get. No matter how your voice changes or your appearance transforms. No matter how much you try to hide it. Despite all that, one can't help but know. That's what being a parent means."
"..."
Don Quixote couldn't answer. Tears were flowing endlessly from his downcast eyes.
Neo had known everything. That the old knight claiming to be Don Quixote was his own child who had left long ago. That the child he had been waiting for had finally returned to meet him.
Yet Neo had pretended not to know because he sensed that Don Quixote didn't want him to.
So he waited for the day when this child would find the courage to tell him directly.
What truly resided behind that mask of foolish innocence was clearly... Love for the child he had raised.
Realizing this only now, Don Quixote wanted to hate himself for his foolishness.
"Then what should I do now? When the one I need to deliver this message to is no longer here."
"So you must deliver it."
"What if it's too late?"
"It's never too late. Especially when it comes to conveying feelings that have been hidden."
Yes. It's not too late. He still had time.
"But...you said you would stop me from taking risks..."
"The request I received was for your safety. The best option was to prevent you from doing anything dangerous in the first place. But since I can't stop you now, I have no choice but to take the second-best option."
This meant that Osian would move together with Don Quixote to protect him. He would once again join hands with his comrade from District 49.
"Sir Don Quixote. I will certainly accompany you as well."
David also volunteered to help. Since this was related to Neo, he couldn't stay out of it either.
"And my colleagues will join us too."
David asserted that the knights led by Osian would also participate. Their opinion? No need to ask. After hearing the full story, they would treat it as their own matter. That's what knights were about.
"Will you go?"
At Osian's question, light returned to Don Quixote's eyes.
"Gladly."
Even if that place were the end of hell. He would definitely go. In Don Quixote's heart, starlight blazed.
"But we can't just barge in recklessly."
Osian's voice instantly cooled the emotions of the two men that had begun to ignite. He knew he was breaking the mood, but this needed to be clarified.
"We're dealing with a major corporation. They have countless research facilities under them. We need to confirm where Neo was taken."
"Information about a major corporation would be hard to obtain, I imagine."
David's opinion was valid.
Even if knights are breakthrough specialists, fighting with information is clearly different from fighting without it.
But the opponent is a major corporation. Their information is always kept top secret. Someone like Neo would truly be classified as confidential.
A major corporation is a giant that observes from outside the boundary. They freely see through others' situations but, conversely, cunningly hide their own information thoroughly. No matter how much we struggle, there's a limit to uncovering a corporation's information, just as an ant cannot fully capture a human body in its sight.
"Yes. That's why we need to get information from those who would know enough."
"Who could that be?"
Osian said with a smile that he had a way.
"Those who know how to defeat a giant have always been other giants."
[Experiment 87 terminated.]
With this monotonous announcement, Neo opened his eyes. He was in a room where everything was pure white. Of course, the room was filled with various wires, some of which were connected to his body.
Behind a glass window on one side of the room, researchers were probably observing him from a space that wasn't visible from here.
-Pshhhh!
As the door opened with steam, researchers in protective suits approached him and disconnected the wires.
[Any anomalies, Automaton?]
"Apart from feeling a bit dizzy and nauseous, I'm the same as usual. Even if I vomit oil, please don't worry too much."
[Good then.]
Despite what he thought was a clever joke, the response was cold beyond dry.
[The next experiment begins in 10 minutes. Get maintenance done by then. Automaton.]
"My name is Neo."
The researchers left the lab without even acknowledging him. Neo awkwardly scratched his head and left the lab.
Guards who had been waiting at the entrance flanked his sides. These men in steam suits were similar to the Alpha-One he had seen in District 49.
Though their skills were inferior to Alpha-One's, they were sufficiently proven experts for coming and going in this secret laboratory. Moreover, improved versions and prototypes of the [Soldier] he had seen in District 49 were standing guard at this lab.
This indicated how important this experimental facility was. It would never allow external enemies to invade, and simultaneously made it impossible for internal entities to escape.
Yes. This place was essentially a prison made of steam and brass.
Even this 10-minute break wasn't simply for Neo's benefit. It was due to anxiety about what would happen if he broke down from excessive experimentation.
Even those 10 minutes weren't freedom. The gaze of [Improved Soldier] automatons and the special forces controlling them followed him.
"Hmm. I guess I'll never be able to go outside again for the rest of my life."
Neo muttered quietly to himself. He had known since the moment he arrived here.
That from now on, he would be confined to this experimental wing for the rest of his life.
He knew he was unusual. Being an automaton that could feel emotions and think.
He didn't know why he had become this way. It just happened somehow.
That's why they were determinedly trying to find out how, by any means necessary. In that process, he might be disassembled many times.
Disassembled and reassembled. Could the Neo who returns after such a process still be considered the same Neo?
"Hmm. A difficult question."
Even thinking about it himself, he couldn't find an answer. He had similar thoughts before. Neo had endured 50 years alone.
Even an automaton built for durability would struggle to last 50 years. Regular maintenance wouldn't change that fact. Naturally, Neo periodically replaced parts of his body. There were plenty of parts around.
As a result, none of the parts he was using now were the same as when he first opened his eyes 50 years ago. Yet, he still defined himself as Neo and introduced himself as such to others.
Why was that? Neo carefully caressed his chest.
The only thing that hadn't changed was his core, which could be considered the automaton's power source. Perhaps the answer lay there.
Just then, the door to his rest room opened. There should still be about 5 minutes of rest time left. Surprisingly, the person entering wasn't a researcher.
It was a smiling man wearing a stiff suit.
"Mr. Jerey?"
The man who had approached him when he was with Don Quixote and made a proposal. And that statement which made him have no choice but to follow.
"Hmm. How do you like your new home?"
"It's stifling. Desolate, and the people are boring. No one even laughs at my jokes."
"Haha. Can't be helped. People working in companies are all dreary."
Jerey spoke with a smile as if he were different. But does he know? That his smiling face is far more emotionless than the expressionless researchers.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. That's the kind of person he was.
"But don't worry. I keep my promises."
Neo's body flinched at the mention of the promise. The reason Neo had no choice but to follow Jerey.
-You seem to have a very special relationship with Don Quixote. No, should I call him Alonso? That's funny too. Because even Alonso is just an alias.
During their private meeting of just 3 minutes, Jerey's first words shook Neo.
-Surprising. Who would have thought someone from District 49 would become so successful? Who could have predicted such an outstanding talent would emerge from that garbage dump?
Jerey knew. That Alonso was from District 49. That he knew Neo. And even that Neo cherished him deeply.
The attack on District 49 wasn't simply to kidnap Neo. Everything had complex, multifaceted reasons.
And the information network of the corporation encompassing all this was even more extensive than the abundant rumors suggested.
-I wonder how much that aged man can protect you. Will he be able to spend the rest of his life well under our control?
In his memory, Jerey gestured dismissively.
-Oh, of course, I'm not threatening you. Just that there are many aggressive people in our Battle Trench who commit such acts. Like those who touched Neo in District 49. But if Neo pays a little attention, I'll try to prevent it with my authority. I promise not to touch a hair on Sir Don Quixote's head.
Jerey immediately mentioned a location. There was no need to make it complicated. It was this park where they were having their conversation.
-In 4 days. After midnight. I'll be waiting here.
Though his words were polite, it was essentially a threat. To Neo, who cherished Alonso, it was essentially saying, "If you don't comply, I'll destroy your child."
That's why Neo had to leave Alonso's mansion.
He wasn't unaware of what would happen next.
Probably for the rest of his life, Neo would never see the scenery he had read about in books. He wouldn't even see the starlight that was visible even from District 49. Perhaps excessive experimentation would cause his functions to cease.
But it didn't matter as long as he could protect that child because all his wishes had been fulfilled.
He had seen the grown-up form of the child who had achieved his dream of becoming a knight. So it's fine. Whatever happens to him, as long as that child is safe.
[Automaton. It's time.]
Researchers enter through the open door. They notice Jerey, and Jerey acknowledges them with a slight nod.
"Well then, have a pleasant day."
Jerey bid farewell to Neo as he was forcibly dragged away by the researchers.
"We came to get information about the major corporation, so why are we back at Violet Fox?"
David and Don Quixote couldn't understand why Osian had led them back to this tavern.
Osian had said that to counter Battle Trench, they needed to borrow the power of those who could match them.
That meant borrowing the power of another major corporation. No matter how outstanding Osian was as an individual, it was unlikely he had connections with such major corporations.
"Because the person who knows that information is here."
"Really? Are you talking about broker Ronan Roland?"
"No. You'll see. By now, he should be inside."
Osian immediately opened the door roughly and went inside. He didn't think the person wouldn't be there because the smell of blood was wafting through from beyond the door.
"Oh. Osian. You've come. I heard that you successfully completed the request from District 49."
Basilio, who was at Violet Fox, greeted Osian warmly.
"Well, it wasn't that difficult."
"Hahaha! As expected of a bold young man! I knew this would happen when I recommended you!"
"However, regarding follow-up processing, I have one request for you."
"Huh? Follow-up processing?"
"The people from Antique Gear who placed the request. I'd like to talk with them, so please arrange a meeting."
A person with connections to major corporations.
The key to that was Basilio.