CHAPTER 48: “WHY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM?”

Le An’s composure and steadfastness throughout the interrogation, and the fact that he didn’t expose Taras even for a moment, had, in some way, managed to block the flood of anger Taras had been feeling toward him.

Calling Treasure stupid for letting such an opportunity slip away didn’t feel right, because the way he lied one after another proved that it wasn’t out of stupidity or fear, it was a deliberate choice.

When Le An had saved Taras’s life that night, calling him cowardly and foolish had initially been the easiest reaction for both Maxim and Taras. But after what this tight-lipped, timid Treasure had done this time -after going so far- calling him cowardly or foolish had completely fallen out of the equation for both of them.

Maybe that’s why Maxim had found the whole situation laughable, and even wondered, when they returned, whether Treasure was pretending to be on their side. Ha, Treasure... He was the last person who could possibly be on their side. As Taras massaged his temples, he glanced at the people entering the meeting room and merely acknowledged their bows with a look.

Taras hadn’t been able to visit Le An yet, especially due to the rising activity in the unit and the risk of a backfire effect from overusing his shadow form.

After last night’s incident, all the units in the outskirts -both those cooperating with the Awakenings and those who weren’t- had turned their eyes toward Taras’s unit. Rumors about Taras interfering with the Awakenings’ plans were spreading rapidly, gripping the people; even the children were talking about it now.

Without paying attention to the whispers around him, Taras waited for the room to fill completely. And then, just like the powerful waves hitting the shore from a faraway earthquake, the same effect seized and consumed his mind again. The image of Treasure, who had escaped death on the balcony, had now been replaced in Taras’s mind by the version of him after the interrogation.

Taras knew the figure that scared him, Mr. Qui. Who didn’t know that man? He was Mr. Qui, the right hand of the late former GAC president. A man more cunning and calculating in the games of power than even his own master. If the former president had been evil, then Mr. Qui could only be described as skilled at being evil.

The late president had been one of the people who gave the order during the time Taras’s father was slaughtered, and the man had been so lucky that he died a natural death before Taras could make him pay with his own hands.

Taras also knew that it had been Mr. Qui who had given Le An the name "Treasure." But after witnessing how that very Mr. Qui treated the Treasure, whom he so often praised- behind closed doors, Taras had once again been forced to face how tragic this poor omega’s life already was.

Even if subtle, it was clear upon closer look from Treasure’s fragile build, and the expression in his eyes, that killing someone in front of someone like him... was nothing short of tormenting the weak knowingly.

Treasure’s attempt to protect even that stupid alpha assigned to him miserably failed, with a destructive warning.

It seemed that that warning had clearly worked; Taras recalled how stiff Le An had become afterward, unable to even meet Mr. Qui’s eyes. The image in his mind overlapped with another from the past, Le An, under the heavy pressure of his oppression energy.

Treasure, bleeding from the nose and clearly in pain, hadn’t even dared to make a sound; he had immediately backed down in fear. Taras regretted remembering that image, because that desperate expression on Le An’s face, which had once pleased him, no longer evoked the same satisfaction. And yet... what was done, was done. That day, Treasure had indeed pushed Taras to the edge and learned his lesson.

Taras shook his head. Hadn’t Treasure become more obedient toward him after days passed and they started talking again?

Fear and kindness... Taras knew these worked on Le An, which was why he’d been sure Le An wouldn’t betray him during the interrogation. But this time, Le An had kept quiet not out of fear, but because he couldn’t ignore the kindness shown to him by someone who had brought him suppressants.

Taras’s fingers brushed across his lips, unconsciously. Treasure’s dry and cold lips had ignited into flames with just a few kisses that night.

That same fire had scorched Taras’s lips too; tormenting Treasure with gentleness had perhaps been a devilish idea, but Taras didn’t feel even the slightest bit guilty as he thought about it. Kissing him had been a way to torment him from up close, from within, in a way he couldn’t shield himself from, and Taras had enjoyed the expression on Treasure’s face precisely because of that.

Treasure clearly had a weakness for any kindness or gentleness shown to him.

But... if Treasure hadn’t given up his name even though he believed Taras was the one trying to kill him...

What could that mean?

Taras once again felt the urge to visit this tiny omega he couldn’t figure out. What was going through that little head of his now? Did he really believe the man who had saved him was the same one trying to kill him? Taras was filled with rage again. Just a few days ago, wasn’t he the one who had brought him suppressants?

"Can everyone shut their mouths for a minute?" Maxim called out to all the leading representatives of the unit in the large meeting room. His voice was impatient, but carried a tone ready to calm the heated air.

And the people... strangely enough, though they were in a panic, they looked excited?

As Maxim took the seat next to Taras, he mumbled in confusion. "What’s with everyone today?" There was a strange gleam in their eyes, as if they were all about to burst forth and shower Taras with question after question in eager frenzy.

"Looks like this’ll go better than I thought," Maxim whispered to Taras, finally feeling a bit of relief.

Maxim didn’t want the influence Taras had over these people to be born of fear alone. What gave the people faith and love for Taras was the fact that he always made decisions that prioritized their well-being, offering a transparent kind of leadership to everyone.

That’s why the fact that the leader had, without informing any of his subordinates, disrupted another unit’s plan had naturally created a shockwave.

Everyone took their seats and turned their attention to Taras at the head of the table. The main topic, of course, would be Taras’s reason for saving Treasure.

And last night, Taras and Maxim had already come up with a good reason and a plan to convince everyone of the necessity of that action. Just as Maxim was about to speak, one of the southern wing representatives stood up and spoke instead. "Taras, first of all, congratulations on fully evolving into your shadow form!"

Taras offered a proud, nearly bored smile to the man and the others joining in the congratulations. The man continued. "The evolution of shadow skills is accelerating in all our espers, but no one else has achieved what you have..." Admiration and pride dripped from his voice.

Finally, Taras took the floor and got to the point. "Each of you knows the true reason we’ve gathered here today. You may find it arrogant of me to ask your opinions now, after already taking action without consulting you."

Everyone shook their heads earnestly as if to say never, not at all, but no one dared to interrupt, and Taras continued. "In our recent meetings, I told you that when the time came to take revenge against the government and the capital, there would be no need for bloodshed. But the Awakening movement has activated a plan that goes against everything we stand for."

"But taking revenge by killing innocent citizens, children, and women -by tearing families apart- would only make us just like them," Maxim added, stepping in with his more eloquent speech, to clarify Taras’s point.

Taras’s unit had always aimed to look ahead and lead good lives right where they were, as a self-sufficient and independent unit in their homeland. Though they hadn’t abandoned the idea of revenge, every representative seated at that table was opposed to shedding blood for it. A female representative spoke. "Taras, we all know that’s why you refused to join the Awakening movement. You don’t have to explain it to us," she said with a smile.

As Taras nodded in gratitude, another man chimed in in support. "You told us that when we lacked confidence in your decisions, we could demand a majority vote. Look, we didn’t even ask for one," the man said, leaning back and spreading his arms as if to embrace everyone at the table. "We never wanted you to become part of those bastards’ plan anyway."

"They need us, but we don’t need them," Taras said. This was obvious, since Taras’s unit was large and capable of sustaining itself without relying on other units. "However," he added, scratching his chin, "it seems these Awakening leaders have indeed formed alliances with powerful figures within the government, just as we suspected. With the intelligence and resources provided by the opposition, they managed to infiltrate the event."

Maxim picked up from there. "But attacks like these only alert the government to the growing threat in the outskirts," he said. "Our plan was to strike with a single, fatal blow when they least expected it, and-"

"They were about to get ahead of our plan." Taras slowly stood, placing his hands on the table and leaning toward the others. "Treasure’s death would’ve damaged the people’s trust in the administration, yes—but when a society is ruled by fear, change becomes difficult. People cling tightly to the authority they already have. But by saving Treasure, the image presented was the exact opposite."

Taras smiled, and as his upright posture cast a dominating shadow over the long table, he revealed their true plan. "With Treasure coming back from the brink of death, people now see a government that failed to protect him, a government they cannot trust. This mistrust... that’s what we need to shake them loose from their seats."

A thin smile spread across everyone’s faces; the way Taras turned events to their advantage wasn’t a petty revenge plan born of childish spite—it carried the calculated patience of a hunter who had stalked his prey for years in the dark, making it both chilling and exhilarating.

As Taras gazed at his comrades, excited yet instinctively cautious in his presence, he recalled something Le An had once said, and for a moment, lost his train of thought. "..."

I don’t... I don’t know how I’m supposed to act!

...

You’re too cruel... No one... would ever want to... ha, be your enemy. I- I never wanted any of this. If I knew, if I’d known...

As Le An’s words from that night, spoken while crying silently because of him, echoed in his mind, Taras frowned, surprised at how he could recall everything about him, word for word. In fact, for a brief moment, a small, angry smile tugged at his lips. Maxim and the others, seeing his inexplicable smile, assumed it was because he was enjoying the success of his strategy against the government, and shuddered even more.

Unaware of their thoughts, Taras lifted his head and continued. "There’s a much better way to bring down every seat-hugging politician in one blow," he said with a smile. "And once the information I’ve gathered becomes valuable enough, I’ll share it with you. We’ll strike when the time is right."

As everyone nodded with ambition and fervor, the panic in the room completely dissipated, aided by Taras’s composed demeanor. Maxim, with the tension finally lifting from his shoulders, took a deep breath of relief.

One of the representatives carefully dropped an ice cube into a glass from the serving cart and offered it to Taras with a smile. "Tar... those Awakening bastards had started crossing the line by roughing up our people at the borders. They deserved to have their plan ruined!" the man said, leaving the bottle on the table to pass around.

Taras nodded while watching the amber liquid swirl around the ice and gave the man his assurance. "I’m aware of what’s been happening near the borders. And now that they’ve gotten bolder, we’ll teach them their limits," he said, taking his first sip.

The man nodded in thanks and returned to his seat. As all the glasses began to fill, the man seated right next to Taras leaned in with a grin and spoke enthusiastically.

"Tar, and you did all that even if it means to save that filthy Treasure!"

Filthy?

Taras’s eyes slowly rose from his glass and met the man’s gaze with a dangerous glint, but the man, unaware of Taras’s stiffening posture, continued.

"It was his lucky day," the man said, twirling his drink. "Or maybe unlucky, huh? When we finally get our revenge, he’ll wish he had died that night on that balcony!"

While a few people at the table laughed, Maxim, uneasy from the way Taras kept staring at the man, stood up and quickly urged everyone to raise their glasses. Not long after, Taras rose from his seat to leave the room.

Maxim sighed; now, only he knew the real reason why Taras had saved Treasure.

"Damn it..." Maxim muttered, watching Taras’s back as he exited the room.

No one had seen Taras’s long-buried, dormant emotions for years; no one had ever witnessed him overreact, make an emotional decision, or be so confused he didn’t know what he was doing. He had always been a closed box. No one had ever unlocked the doors of his heart, nor had he ever felt the need to open them.

"Why? Why did you choose him?" Maxim whispered. He watched the ice in Taras’s glass melt slowly, dripping down the corners and settling at the bottom. As it melted, the amber liquor turned lighter, more diluted, and took on a gentler hue.

"Why, after all these years... why did you choose the one person who’s the most impossible?"