Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 133 (Part 1):
‘Come to think of it, that mask.’
Why would he insist on wearing that clown mask? Helmut found himself curious about the face hidden beneath Fasho’s mask.
“What are you doing!”
He exclaimed in shock. Unexpectedly, it was the biggest reaction Fasho had shown so far. However, he was powerless to resist as Helmut used the tip of his sword to cut the string that held the mask in place. The mask came off easily.
‘Hmm?’
The face revealed beneath the mask was white and smooth, without a single scar or blemish. It wasn’t the hideous appearance one might cringe at; it was just… exceedingly bland and blurred. The eyes were as small as buttonholes, the nose low, and the lips thin and long. It was strangely featureless, too flat to be considered normal.
”What is this?”
Disconcerted, Helmut quickly covered Fasho’s face with the mask again, feeling somehow uncomfortable continuing to look at it. It was like staring at something slimy.
“Better keep it on.”
Fasho shuddered, the insult hitting harder coming from someone as handsome as Helmut. It was humiliating to be degraded by a mere kid, yet that kid held his life in his hands. Helmut, looking down at Fasho who was lying on the ground, continued his questioning.
“What about the group Hawk Eye? How large is it?”
“It’s a small group. I don’t know the exact number. Maybe a dozen or so.”
“How many among you have skills comparable to yours?”
“Counting me, there are five in Hawk Eye.”
‘Five, huh? That could be troublesome.’
Helmut frowned, not immediately planning to storm in, but contemplating something similar. Fasho continued, “That’s five I know of. I don’t know the exact number. We don’t contact each other outside of missions. We just follow orders from above.”
“Above?”
“The leader of Hawk Eye. I called him Talon.”
“So, you don’t know his real name.”
Helmut was hoping for more information, but Fasho’s answers were all vague. He didn’t seem to know much, probably why he was so loose-lipped in trying to save his own life. It didn’t give Helmut an opportunity to torture the information out of him.
“What’s the relationship between Black Hawk and Hawk Eye?”
“Hawk Eye are simply the eye of the hawk. They act as executioners even within Black Hawk.”
“Where’s the base of Black Hawk? Where do the leaders gather?”
“I don’t know that. I received separate orders and gathered information about you from a branch of Black Hawk.”
“And how do you contact them?”
“We have a designated place to make contact, and someone will come.”
“Do they have contact with your higher-ups?”
“They must, but they probably don’t know where they are either. They would use magical means.”
“Then you’re useless to me. You have nothing to tell.”
Helmut pressed his sword against Fasho’s neck, his expression icy. The information given was vague, and whether it was true or not was uncertain. Fasho might have been withholding more.
The situation necessitated Fasho’s death. Recognizing his fate, Fasho’s voice became desperate.
“If you let me live, I can terminate this mission with my authority!”
Helmut pointed out, “As I said, why should I believe you?”
Fasho’s bleeding had stopped, perhaps because of some quick action on his part. He wouldn’t die from blood loss right away.
“Yes, your friend. I’ll tell you about him! That guy is…”
“Not interested.”
What does Asuka have to do with anything? Helmut raised his sword, ready to end it, but then a voice stopped him.
“Wait.”
A profound resonance, too compelling to ignore, not shouted but spoken, and very close by, sent shivers down Helmut’s spine.
“Wait, boy. Stop for a moment.”
Tension rose, and a glint of murderous intent passed through Helmut’s eyes.
‘He’s less noticeable than this assassin.’
This meant the newcomer was more skilled than Fasho. Helmut turned around to see a figure standing about thirty paces away, closer than expected.
The mysterious figure, wearing a hood, was not very large. But the intense and threatening aura made Helmut instinctively prepare for defense.
“Talon… sir.”
Upon hearing Fasho’s words, Helmut’s eyes widened, a chill running down his spine.
“The leader of Hawk Eye?”
“I had a bad feeling and came myself. So.. it has come to this.”
The voice was polite and gentle, uncharacteristic of someone from a group like Hawk Eye.
‘He’s strong.’
Helmut acknowledged the strength radiating from the figure, with a posture that revealed no weaknesses. Just observing them indicated their strength was concealed. Having exhausted much of his energy chasing down and subduing Fasho, Helmut wasn’t in perfect condition for a fight.
Not that he couldn’t win, but he couldn’t guarantee victory either. The sense that the outcome would be uncertain was overpowering. Helmut realized this person was the strongest he had encountered since leaving the Forest of Roots.