The other soldiers were barely able to restrain Semira inside the vehicle. After nearly three hours of travel, they finally arrived at the United Nations Neutral Military Base. One of the soldiers grabbed Semira by the arm and began dragging her toward the prison sector of the base.
"LET GO OF ME, YOU BASTARD! WHY DON'T YOU JUST KILL ME TOO?! IS THIS TORTURE?! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO SOMEONE WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO THEIR PEOPLE?! TRAITOROUS SCUM!!!..."
Thiven simply closed his eyes and let out a sigh as he watched the girl being taken away. Then, without a word, he turned and walked toward the high-command meeting room. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. He hadn't known about this girl. Long ago, he had served under Marek in the army. He had learned many things from him—like how a soldier should never build a family, or how one must be ready to sacrifice everything for honor and country. Yet Marek had not only broken the rules but also failed to keep his own words.
Lost in thought, Thiven found himself at the doors of the strategy chamber. Taking a moment to gather himself, he stepped inside.
"So you've finally arrived, Supreme Commander Thiven Cier of A-8. We've been waiting for you."
"I received the news, General Ian Lee of Y-4. I came as fast as I could."
"Judging by your expression, Commander, I assume General Marek Zen's location was confirmed. Am I right?" said Commander Farsis Adam of Z-3.
"As usual, you're correct."
Clearly uncomfortable with the conversation, General Sabrina S. Kennad of L-7 stood up silently, placing her hand on the table as she pointed at the western region of A-8 on the map.
"Call me harsh, but I'd say failing to find a single man in a half-destroyed country after five months is a complete fiasco. Still, at least Marek Zen is in our custody now, isn't he, Commander Thiven?"
Thiven shifted uneasily and lowered his gaze to the map.
"Actually... no. He's not in our custody."
General Scott Pavlis of G-1 stood abruptly, leaning over the table toward Thiven with a sharp but controlled tone.
"What do you mean, Commander Thiven? Don't tell me you let that war criminal escape. That would be a disgrace—not just for you, but for all the united nations."
"No, he didn't escape... but he resisted. He pointed his weapon at me, and my sniper had no choice but to shoot him."
Ian Lee surged forward in fury, grabbing Thiven by the collar.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you?! You had him killed on purpose! What kind of fool thinks a general would be unarmed? Are you a rookie—or did you plan to join him in damnation as a fellow war criminal? Doesn't only he know the contents of that cursed, radioactive material, Thiven?! My men can't even enter that region. Do you know how many of them I've watched melt behind the fog, their flesh stripped from their bones?! DO YOU, DAMN IT?! Do you have any idea we'll all be dead from this cursed substance before a hundred years pass?!"
Thiven bowed his head and murmured quietly.
"Isn't death the end for all of us anyway?"
"YOU— Oh? Then let me help you meet yours early, you son of a—!"Farsis Adam stood up, his age lending natural authority that instantly drew the room's attention.
"Thiven, I assume you're aware that what you've done can be considered aiding a universally recognized war criminal. I will file a motion to have you tried in national court. But for now, let's focus on the issue at hand. Let's review what we know."
Scott Pavlis calmly slid several files across the table, placing them in the center where everyone could see.
"According to our intelligence, Marek Zen began researching this substance between three to seven years before the war. Why he started, what the substance is made of, where the scientists are who worked on it, or why he chose to use it during the war in his own country—none of that is known. He kept the research extremely classified, so we have very limited information."
Thiven interrupted Scott and picked up one of the intelligence files.
"He had a daughter. A daughter he kept hidden, even from the military. After his death, I had her sent to the base prison."
"Doesn't she have a mother or anything?"
"As I said, General Sabrina, even the army didn't know about her. She doesn't exist in any record. We know nothing about the girl."
Ian Lee rolled his eyes in frustration, folding his arms. Thiven's calm demeanor was driving him mad.
"Great. So now we're stuck with another hopeless case."
"Maybe she knows something," Farsis offered. "Marek must have had a reason to hide her from everyone, right?"
"You're right, Farsis," Ian admitted reluctantly. "We need to exhaust every lead. Maybe this little brat will atone for her father's sins. Enough time wasted—let's go interrogate her."
Scott stood and began heading toward the prison. The others followed closely behind. The greatest military minds of five nations, marching one after another... just to interrogate a single girl.
Ah, the cruel irony of the unknown.