Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 87 (Part 2):
Anton called his subordinates as soon as they left.
“Chromo!”
“Yes, sir!”
“What’s the investigation report on that guy named Helmut? Report everything you’ve found.”
The video was too blurry to discern swordsmanship. However, through follow-up investigations, they would likely find the answers they were looking for.
The Black Hawk had expertise in these matters.
“According to the investigation, this guy named Helmut is a rank 3 mercenary first registered with the Pace Mercenary Corps.”
“Only a rank 3 mercenary?”
“Yes, he didn’t take an official mercenary guild exam, but he was arbitrarily issued a rank 3 mercenary certificate by the Pace Mercenary Corps.
Helmut took on a high-profile escort mission for the Tariq Mercenary Corps while he was with the Pace Mercenary Corps, and Max and Paul were also part of that mission.”
“So, they ran away during that mission and then requested to join our Black Hawk?”
“Yes, that’s correct. They faced an attack by powerful monsters, nearly failed the mission, and the client almost died. The Tariq Mercenary Corps suffered heavy losses, and the Pace Mercenary Corps claimed the lion’s share.”
Anton quickly deduced the situation. If there had been someone with such skills, the success rate of the high-difficulty mission would have increased significantly.
However, Paul and Max had fled. Judging from the fact that he was a rank 3 mercenary, they had undoubtedly underestimated Helmut’s abilities.
So, when Anton sent him to be eliminated, he had probably complied willingly.
“Where did the Pace Mercenary Corps get that guy from?”
“We haven’t been able to obtain that information yet. As you know, mercenaries are watching us closely.”
“Alright, try to gather as much information as possible. Go.”
“Yes!”
Chromo nodded and left. Anton furrowed his brow in deep thought.
A formidable opponent linked by bad luck. They probably knew they were dealing with the Black Hawk.
But even if he had skills, a fifteen-year-old boy wouldn’t be able to take on the Black Hawk right away.
There were two options: either establish a friendly relationship now or eliminate him. But neither option was guaranteed to work.
‘It might be best to cut the bud while he’s still young.’
However, the opponent had wisely enrolled in the Grete Academy.
The academy located in Baden was outside his jurisdiction. He had lost the only spy he had there, and it would take time to infiltrate a new one.
“If the opponent is someone who holds a grudge, they might become a headache later.”
It was hard to imagine what kind of skill the boy who had killed two 2nd-rank mercenaries at the age of fifteen would have by the time he graduated from the academy.
In his mind, the organization known as the Black Hawk was probably already imprinted in a very hostile way.
‘While investigating the background… I’ll have to think of a way.’
Anton firmly made up his mind.
The Black Hawk was not a chivalric order. Assassination was one of their methods. They had many options for taking lives without discrimination.
‘I should report to the higher-ups.’
As it had already been reported once, this issue was significant enough to warrant consideration from the Black Hawk’s top leadership. They would determine the fate of this enigmatic young man named Helmut.
***
“What time is it, and why are you already up?”
Helmut’s rustling woke Alea, who pulled back the curtain and rubbed her eyes, asking.
Entering the room in the early hours of the morning and waking up twice because of him had left Alea feeling tired.
“I’m going out, so get some more sleep.”
Helmut, who had barely slept for a few hours, was already dressed in the uniform of the Grete Academy’s Swordsmanship Department. He held a wooden sword and added, “I couldn’t train because I had to write a reflection essay, so I’m going early.”
Upon seeing Helmut, who flawlessly wore the prestigious uniform of the Grete Academy’s Swordsmanship Department, a uniform known for its striking appearance, Alea’s irritated expression softened somehow. She was fully awake now.
Alea replied in a slow, thoughtful tone, “Well, training diligently… is a good thing.”
She occasionally realized that Helmut was quite handsome. His straight nose and the intensity hidden in his calm eyes.
Somewhere between the explanation of him being ‘skilled’ and ‘handsome,’ the latter seemed to take precedence.
Alea wasn’t someone who paid much attention to other people’s appearances, even though she occasionally glanced in the mirror.
But sometimes, when she looked at Helmut, she felt as if she had become an ordinary girl.
“By the way, my textbook got stolen. Is there a place to buy it within the academy?”
Helmut didn’t have any friends to share textbooks with during class. Well, he didn’t have friends at all.
So, to attend class without the book, he would have to go buy it, but he didn’t have time because he had to write his reflection essay.
He knew there was a bookstore within the academy, but he had heard that it often sold out. Nevertheless, he had to try.
“There’s a bookstore in the Magic Department building. But why don’t you go see instructor Ethan? He probably has spare Swordsmanship Department textbooks.”
“Oh, right. Thanks.”
As expected, Alea had the right answer. A slight smile appeared on Helmut’s face.
After dealing with the troublesome Sabbat, he felt much better.
Leaving Alea behind, Helmut left the room. Alea muttered belatedly, “What’s up with this guy?”
A subtle, rosy blush tinged her otherwise snowy white cheeks.
***
Helmut furrowed his brow when he attempted to enter instructor Ethan’s training grounds, but the entrance didn’t open.
“Why is this happening?”
Even though he presented the access pass he received from instructor Ethan, the door remained locked.
Was it malfunctioning? Perhaps Ethan, who had heard about what happened yesterday, had revoked it.
When Helmut approached one of the academy staff members on duty and explained that the door wouldn’t open, the staff member responded.
“Oh, you’re a student. You want to use instructor Ethan’s training ground, right? The instructor-exclusive training ground is currently undergoing a comprehensive cleaning this morning, so it can’t be used right now. Maybe you didn’t see the notice about cleaning every two weeks in the morning? You can use the second-year common training grounds.”
“Common training grounds…”
Helmut hesitated briefly but then nodded his head.
Even though he had already written his reflection essay, he thought that avoiding any confrontation was the best course of action. What did it matter if there was a confrontation? He could handle it.
Helmut had already let go of his reins to some extent.