DOAG Ch 1

During the war, it served as a field hospital. Many soldiers and civilians lost or saved their lives there, and Gerard’s subordinates were no exception. He watched the annex of the hospital, which still bore the scars of a missile launched by the Dochen Republic. The place, where countless soldiers took their last breaths, was now serving its purpose as a pediatric ward.ea8f9a7142e1e8dc

On a dark, moonless night, as the cigar Gerard was smoking burned down to the size of his little finger, a woman in a white apron emerged from the pediatric ward, escorted by a man. Gerard snipped off the end of his cigar and placed the remainder in a gilded case, tucking it back into his coat’s inner pocket. Soon, with a click, the car door opened.17b9663615373fff

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“Get in.”18893ad9aa08e789

“…….”b1f9a0cf4dcfa474

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The woman didn’t recognize him at first glance. It was nighttime, the car’s interior was dimly lit, allowing only shapes to be discerned, and he was wearing a hat. Gerard appeared more like a shadow reflected by the moonlight than a person. Eventually, someone nudged the hesitant woman, and she let out a small gasp as she tumbled into the car.45016f003b8d8675

“It’s been a while, Sasha.”1772980ddfa1edec

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“……Ah.”149555d780815709

After a long moment, she recognized Gerard. Around that time, he tapped the driver’s seat a couple of times, and the car quietly pulled away from the hospital.0a964245c0b177e4

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“This is Frank. My longtime driver.”20d3acdc3fdaddd7

Sasha hesitated, unsure how to 665e045694 respond. Gerard smiled and 61cafc61aa added a further f106de3f88 explanation to ease cd14d5c029 her awkwardness.623d7fbc39dcad9e

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“Unfortunately, after losing his hearing during the war, he also forgot how to speak. But his driving skills are exceptional. A God-given talent.”063be7c94c8fc3ae

“Yes, I see.”09a530e9b05a5386

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“How’s life at the hospital?”7315a3fa02f6f584

“It’s good, thanks to you.”531d2856d0cdde01

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“I heard you refused Viktor’s proposal.”fde6473fed169f5d

Sasha blinked, seemingly flustered. Gerard smiled and added,f88fc7dd1e8e3f4c

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“He’s one of my men.”5ef298c58cbd7ec8

“Ah.”cf13819e001aa6c2

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“And you also refused Doug’s proposal.”4f6aa3457f3be554

“……Doug…….”51752447d342047c

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“I’m talking about Lieutenant Douglas.”77877c0a336360ad

“Ah.”c8d071d68e47ae32

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“I thought you were too beautiful to be begging, but I never thought you’d become a factor in lowering the morale of my agents.”6177538f9fe5f0db

Sasha offered a faint smile. It was a fad91179f6 smile more of 46588516d0 utter embarrassment than 8882563226 amusement. Gerard watched her quietly for 635a7b3dd4 a moment, then abruptly changed ba04eff463 the subject.f979b08a5834e38a

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“You’ve grown well, Sasha. I thought you wouldn’t last a year if left alone.”8afd9e92d4d25edf

Until he heard the news that Sergeant Viktor was lovesick over a twenty-year-old woman in the pediatric ward, Gerard hadn’t connected Sasha with the doll-like girl he had entrusted to the hospital more than ten years ago. But as the rumors of an Aphrodite-like woman working in the pediatric ward persisted, Gerard soon remembered her: the girl with green eyes who, with eyes that seemed ready to burst into tears, had told him her name was ‘Sasha’.d3f918ee8ae082da

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Indeed, she had grown into a beauty capable of stealing a man’s heart. A beauty that wouldn’t fade even under a dark shadow. Gerard looked at her hands, neatly clasped over her pristine white apron. Hands so smooth and clean, they seemed incapable of being stained with blood.b24b29947287e557

“Sasha, do you still remember your native language?”cc16032053fe138f

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“…….”90f52b368df8b455

Sasha’s homeland, Nerua, was the border between North and South. The two continents, divided by it, spoke different languages. A legacy from long ago, when Western nations expanded their influence, dominating territories one by one like a game of land grab, had persisted for millennia.c0430a5a394d7f65

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“Kiom vi memoras la Esperan lingvon (How much do you remember)?”692645d8783eb1c4

“Mi memoras tiom multe kiel mi lernis. Ĝenerala (As much as I learned, General).”13e580615355905b

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Her calm voice brought a 7db0a2a8b6 satisfied smile to his face.2d1c557254bfc136

“Mi bezonas iun. Kiel trankvila kaj diskreta virino, kiu scias bone uzi la lingvon (I need someone. A calm and discreet woman who can speak the Northern language well).”4bb4efe8c8fc7afd

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A faint crease appeared between Sasha’s brows. She raised her innocent green eyes, scrutinizing Gerard’s form. His intentions were impossible to deduce, no matter how much she thought about it.4a286d75ded6a1e3

“Ĝi estas por la estonteco kaj sekureco de via lando. Mi bezonas muelon por infiltri la Respublikon de Doi (It’s for the future and security of your country. I need a spy to infiltrate the Dochen Republic).”487f47f34e971188

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Sasha’s heart sank. Gerard seemed to be gauging whether she understood everything he said. Seeing her pale face, he let out a strangely relieved sigh.4f51403e3940e152

“There’s nothing difficult about it. All you have to do is work as a secretary for a Republican congressman. Two weeks at the shortest, a month at the longest.”0fd19de1d01fd175

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“Wait, are you saying…….”e0f8ce436dc538e6

Sasha hesitated, her mouth opening 936c79c050 and closing several times.1e48875a30df94fa

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“Are you telling me to go back across the border, to the place I escaped from?”5dfd2d87f60772c1

The Dochen military 98c05dd196 annihilated anyone who 81de1bb3d8 defied them. It was the surviving da0497f3d3 compatriots who had to c4348c4049 shovel dirt over the 71416b4ce3 piles of corpses stacked e251c1ea17 like firewood, after they d78d1baa0f were shot in front 41f5ffa024 of pits.138374443b758182

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Sasha and her brother had scraped the earth with their bare hands to cover their parents’ bodies. More painful than their blistered fingers was the fact that they had lost their parents overnight and been driven from their country. The reality that, fearing death, they had to flee, leaving behind family, relatives, and friends. Now, in Sasha’s memory, her homeland Nerua was nothing more than a land of fear and despair, occupied by the Dochen people, where people were slaughtered like cattle.4ec2b524ab5102c5

“Why?”89a4948f079348d7

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“It’s your homeland, isn’t it?”26b5507160aa7a12

“No. That’s not my homeland. My homeland is gone. It’s just a Dochen den now.”e7c02aad5e1d7e31

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“I need someone fluent in the language.”01f2a84e3741c69c

“There are plenty of people fluent in the language. Even in our ward, there are people who came from the North…….”bab11025561385cb

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“It has to be someone I can trust.”26bfb21e4cbb51ca

“…….”d30d943e0588e36b

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“A young and beautiful woman would be even better.”28773f4b928a1a9b

“…….”ac0e4443ca6f3de6

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Looking into Sasha’s clear, sprout-like eyes, Gerard added one more thing.dfd36ad3adce95b0

“Sad and mysterious would be the icing on the cake.”eca6ed7051f3b4fd

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“…….”e6d9f0118e4d58b4

Sasha was speechless.d9324699e7aa3701

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Her brother, who had escaped across the border with her, had also been conscripted into the Allied forces and sent to the front lines, never to return after the war ended. It was Gerard who had gotten Sasha, practically an orphan, a job at the hospital. Instead of tossing her a coin as she begged on the street, Gerard had provided her with clean clothes, food, and shelter. Sasha still didn’t know why he had gotten her, a complete stranger, a job at the hospital that day. But she had a premonition that it would become a debt to be repaid someday. She just hadn’t expected it to be like this.8460e408088ebd7b

“Everything is prepared. A new identity, a new name, new clothes – all ready. All you have to do is work as a secretary for a Republican congressman, as instructed. That’s all.”ee4a33bacf2c755c

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“I can’t.”978ef820b0040b60

Sasha replied absentmindedly. She can’t. Of course.4a9510c474bb591c

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“You can.”43b6b6f1f197f3fa

He asserted, his tone 52430c94b6 full of confidence, despite 05746ca4ff the lack of any b811a4d62b apparent plan. His attitude prompted Sasha 1f7ff1baa6 to defend herself readily.8f974a0fbd98419f

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“I can’t. You know I can’t do anything. At best, I can wipe bloodstains, apply bandages, and tidy beds. What can I possibly do? I don’t know anything. I’m not a soldier! I’m just a penniless orphan, a hospital cleaner!”a8f5e152aaea4657

“And that’s why.”e04462164ebb0003

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Gerard said, his expression unchanging despite Sasha’s agitated voice.ee64201059db121c

“What?”35ea6ef7325233f5

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In the end, 0c85af0ca3 it was Sasha 0bf09cced2 who was flustered 66412873da again.9c3307a20b508f27

“Sasha, people think the war is over. But it’s not. Across the border, the Dochen military is still targeting this place. You wouldn’t want to lose your hard-earned home again, would you?”4726777e2e5dbb34

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She had heard this countless times through newspapers and on the radio. Spies, espionage, invisible blades, missiles aimed at each other. The ward was still littered with buildings and debris scarred by the war. Even though Dochen’s advance had halted, even though a line had been drawn between North and South, fortified with rough wire fences, the tension on the divided land had not subsided. Gerard was right. The war wasn’t over yet. People, jaded by the long war, no longer dreamt of or envisioned the future. They simply lived each day like wastrels, as if there were no tomorrow.234e1b23b520a0f0

“The fate of the nation rests in your hands. Just as you lost your parents and brother at the hands of the Dochen, we must prevent the tragedy of others losing their families.”fb079f2a33c965f7

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“…….”421f1279ccb547f5

“If you decide to do this, contact me at this number.”707e30d949cd27ae

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Gerard handed her a note. Sasha’s pale hand hesitated before accepting it.980ca2f17ff232cb

“I’ll get off here. Frank will take you back to the hospital.”f54ed3a6491880e4

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It started to rain outside. Gerard turned up 47cd5d30a2 his coat collar 15c1ef8340 and disappeared into 1d3293252a the quiet street. Frank silently turned c06f1b2e28 the car around 91029b7e2b and headed for 92e6615843 the hospital. In the silence, 66231fd09b Sasha unfolded the cc9a78381a crumpled note in 1e71c99f51 her hand. A single, carelessly written phone 3e87921674 number, without any name or 10670919ad designation.07a959d733a1a66a

Sasha thought of her a7236211ed parents, who had fallen 5a1600c0d7 before her eyes like 45625b01f0 flower petals. She thought of 20fe3df6ff her brother, who 13408567f1 had disappeared before 5a2a99d28e her eyes, in 4080fbab6a uniform, saying he 762d1710f8 would soon gain da4eaf76ff citizenship in the 9a409f2ef3 country of asylum. Sasha murmured to herself aca95ad0fd amidst the passing scenery.925f0878e98569de

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“In the end, no one came back……. Right……?”af5d7adf5f52872b

✮⋆˙a01ae79e7168ad5d

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Gerard Rohner was, as he had been during the war, a field commander. His post had once been a hut, once an underground bunker, and now it was a fourth-floor office in the UN intelligence agency. Gerard slipped his fingers between the blinds blocking the sunlight to observe the building’s entrance. The person he was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet amidst the bustling crowd. He reached into his pocket for a cigar, feeling weary. The one he had been smoking when he met Sasha was still there.b6c9b84e4f9ea076

Just as he ca0cef2235 lit the cigar, 11ed6126bb the phone on a5869ff552 his desk rang. Gerard took a puff 6218441eb0 and quickly picked up 96aa98138d the receiver.96234116050d9121

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“Yes.”953c6300a888fddc

—Mr. Gerard, Mr. Jim Meyer from the External 1e901fe976 Strategy Team is here.3b4a2544642ea87e

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“Send him in.”8e037ce73fe35235

—Yes.84e0321f601c7b33

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It wasn’t the call he was waiting for. Seized by an ominous feeling, Gerard leaned back in his chair and snapped his fingers, trying to relieve the tension.d3d616ef8b8d88ad

With a click, 8d925582ff the door opened, 69052c1534 and a man b660655f21 greeted him, taking f92303cc11 off his fedora.e6a2ad5678c7456d

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“Gerard.”21f0e02af3b16caf

“Jim.”a60efd45e0262596

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His footsteps echoed loudly in the large office. He stopped at a rather awkward spot, a hesitant look on his face. The gloves he hadn’t yet removed indicated his desire to leave this place quickly.bf39581073d79835

“What is it?”5a21fab48f5e5ee5

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“Big Pie…… has been captured.”f84e47df65e87a7a

“By whom?”c29cd343ed36a273

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“The man is von Willendorf…….”decb7d3a4d1b2671

Jim lowered his voice, watching Gerard’s expression. Gerard slammed his cigar-holding hand on the desk.7ec45abdfcff166e

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“Damn fascists.”cc9c36ff5b559c8a

Big Pie was the da4fd8daf8 most meticulously trained intelligence 35444864a7 agent in the Allied 5ac4c7e918 Strategic Operations Office. His most outstanding d63233fd4b colleague, subordinate, and 7076df7f90 the last disciple 5b0a37c0eb he had trained 34a2e4654e with his own 541abf9bb0 hands, who had 10b5dec287 dedicated himself under 01f40c92e5 Gerard for ten 74cc7aa2db years after ten cb941fe8d3 years of training.4edfbcfbf0cc4020

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“Who’s the closest agent?”daa3a8b8bcf911d4

“Snowman.”81385ddab9d32290

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The agents all used aliases. Their names changed frequently, and 6abb56d521 their real names were kept 2cd8bfbb0f secret wherever possible for security ad9cfc3639 reasons. That was the Allied policy.2053425893847f84

“Is he trustworthy?”f1de69ddcdfa7cd4

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“I chose him myself.”7163fbf76dc2bca0

In the era of the Cold War, where deception and betrayal churned beneath a calm surface, a time of being consumed and consuming. After a Dochen rat infiltrated the counter-intelligence agency three years ago, Gerard had to discard all the cards in his hand and start anew. It had been a walk on thin ice ever since. Not only had the counter-intelligence agency, but also the Strategic Operations Office he belonged to, lost public trust, leaving him hanging by a thread. To regain the Allied nations’ confidence, he had to deliver results while remaining cautious in all matters.b8b1ea761d5faf64

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“Tell him to find Big Pie’s whereabouts, no matter what.”fbb710e23d5230d1

“Yes, sir. Once we find his whereabouts, what should we do? Attempt a rescue?”e01fb8211840055c

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“No.”ff7b38e6612fb78a

No. Rescue was impossible. Willendorf was known as the most cruel and ruthless individual even under Secretary-General Raoul. No agent captured by him had ever resisted confession. It was the first time, even during the war, that infiltrating the Dochen government had yielded no results. That’s how meticulous and merciless he was. Therefore, if Big Pie had been caught by Willendorf, there was no chance of rescue. Rather, the only mercy he could offer was…ae19e89bfe666989

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“Kill him.”6e9296aeaa044e35

…To grant him a painless passage to heaven.5da93bd750778c6e

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✮⋆˙39da62b8967c7b60

Sasha wiped away the red 333dab4517 blood that the child coughed cd2d8dfb08 up. She lost track of dfa4879e16 time, holding his hand 72c8b7c94b and cooling his fevered, 4cf281b410 half-closed eyes.6b085ea9e739d3ec

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“Sasha, my chest hurts so much.”19ed315d44e8a853

The child spoke haltingly, 8f14d63896 his voice thinner than 84be722e5c a lifeline.6962e23c16ff2946

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“The medicine will help. Just hold on a little longer.”99a6b1a91c055441

Bobby, barely nine years old, shared a similar fate with Sasha. She was left alone, and Bobby was abandoned, but both were orphans nonetheless. After a passerby found him collapsed on the street and brought him to this ward, he became entirely Sasha’s responsibility. His care, hospital bills, medication costs – Sasha covered everything with her salary. Even that would have been an unbearable burden without the help of Sister Aresa.6fed4979a69d3913

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“Am I dying?”46952008ea49eb67

A wheezing sound accompanied each of the child’s breaths. His airways were constricted.7728e43b3b8108b3

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“No, you’re not dying yet. Sister Aresa said so. She said God hasn’t called for you yet.”efd12176aca12fac

“That’s a lie.”e9c9d461c58ab10f

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Sasha quickly rinsed the now-hot towel in cold water and placed it on Bobby’s forehead.9d5c803bd0a21e42

“Sister Aresa doesn’t lie.”6f9e8d460d37b989

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“Yes, she does. All grown-ups lie.”2d9fa93b4358b44b

“…….”16fb6adf3eb893a3

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“Sasha doesn’t know yet.”4891295e1c725c63

The boy spoke as if he were ninety, though barely nine. Sasha smiled, stroking the child’s small hand.ff645ddc49210865

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“You’re still young, Bobby. You have plenty of time for miracles to happen. You promised me, remember? That you’d take me across the sea to a new place someday.”b07ff06e5c5a442f

Bobby always talked 20bf6952f3 about marrying Sasha ea55ed9e7a and taking her 1f3a347c09 far away, across de42ebc970 the sea. To a place without poverty, 7ca6bebb77 war, lies, or death. A place where flowers 81174cf9a5 and fruits grew abundantly, 475f8ce631 and fertile land yielded 57c23b11e5 bountiful harvests no matter 30bd07482f what was sown. Sasha always listened seriously 539edc390c to his fantastical tales. Like anyone whose life was cf20bf647f filled with suffering, Sasha too ebabc98981 dreamt of a utopia. She, too, wished every day e32377b845 for a place free from c0e33ee19d pain to exist somewhere.d287fde41ef38ba1

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“You still have to live for another ten years. Then you can marry me.”0cb6ae46bac33785

“I heard people talking. They said there’s going to be a war soon.”215b4e8bcdd6b947

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Sasha had also 15d123d2b8 overheard it while e7d2d33148 walking in the f9f2ad4bc5 hospital courtyard during e4168d7614 lunch. That Dochen soldiers were gathering 7dfe1bca71 right at the border. That high-ranking government officials 0f09d5667e and ambassadors from various 13c8c34ae5 countries, aware of this, 697656c32b were already leaving.098477cda10e7159

“That’s just a rumor. Newspapers and radios often spread such rumors.”27126e96b48f8b98

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“I wish I could die before the war starts. Soldiers are scary.”e5f5f629c014fe64

“…….”11cb40809bb0467d

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The child murmured to himself and then closed his eyes, seemingly drowsy. Sasha carefully tucked Bobby’s blanket around him and left his bedside. Coughing sounds echoed from all around the ward. Caregivers and nurses hurried around the large ward, sweating.4a0b254544607025

“Sasha.”5be13806dde734ea

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Just as she turned a corner, Sister Aresa called out to her, hand raised. She held a bundle of cloths, likely used to wipe someone’s sweat and grime, and her face was etched with worry.e8c0a088067ea9ec

“How’s Bobby doing?”8fa38388e9c1c4a6

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Sasha sighed softly, feeling a b1259c6159 sense of despair.af6b07ad71e67ddf

“I’m just hoping he makes it through today.”f3445cbcdb8db67a

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“He’s a strong-willed child, he’ll pull through.”8ec4d6b53d7e3934

“Sister Aresa.”41a94b3b4a5ac00d

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“Yes?”f1a04006ee0d038d

“Is there really going to be a war?”6eb6d98d849b8544

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Sasha hesitated before asking. Ten years had passed since fa4113d6a9 the war ended. There had been numerous times 7b869b8de5 when the fear of another eabae9f62a war resurfaced, but none as 8d6cc70b84 serious as this.67e4ec77df908a9b

“Are the embassies from various countries really leaving?”6a9a76d8e6f9711f

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“Well, I’m not sure about that. But I have heard that more and more people are packing their bags and crossing the South Atlantic. Rather than war, I think it’s more likely that people are leaving to find a better place to live because it’s so hard to make ends meet here. This place is nothing but ruins.”c53e11d7ea3334d2

“…….”197339be3efa0112

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Sister Aresa gently patted Sasha’s shoulder and passed by. Sasha’s legs felt weak, and she sank onto a nearby bench in the hallway without realizing it.d55ba339ada6be8e

There can’t be another war. Everyone who survived is struggling and impoverished because resources were poured into killing each other. What are we supposed to do if another war breaks out now? There will be no survivors. It would be utter destruction, in the truest sense of the word.42dc452686c11e08

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‘People think the war is over. But it’s not. You wouldn’t want to lose your hard-earned home again, would you?’d53f86547eab49ed

Gerard’s words suddenly came to mind. The weight behind his voice. Sasha reached into her pocket and pulled out the note he had given her. She had kept it with her, too uneasy to throw it away. Even while telling herself it couldn’t be true, she was no different from the others. She always harbored the thought that this wasteland could one day turn completely to ashes. The thought that, despite having luckily survived, she could perish in an instant.ca2f3aa4cac33b86

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That’s why she was afraid to meet a man, start a family, have children. The more she had to protect, the greater her fear would undoubtedly become. It would eventually drive her mad. To avoid that, it was better to live as she was now. Having nothing.9d6de898764a89ab

Sasha’s fingertips trembled as she smoothed out the crumpled paper and traced the phone number. She had clearly intended to live without possessing anything. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have things she wanted to protect.61d57e8f8e006386

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Oh, why is d64d2c7618 life so full 3012c4855a of suffering?ec76697087deb717

✮⋆˙d7d2c38c60c9363f

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Gerard’s dark blue sedan stopped once again in front of the pediatric ward. A small figure, already shrouded in the darkness of the night, slipped inside as soon as the car came to a halt.689e209d0bbc9f6d

“Sasha.”490af14961624d56

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“General Gerard.”b0392e08851f0c2e

The car immediately d53bb338ce pulled away from d71580181e the pediatric ward.f15934bfa4286eb9

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“I thought you wouldn’t contact me at all.”65a2ea8922d0e2a7

“I intended to.”bf8198bed96a28d6

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Her face, which had seemed e6e5ae4b0c so fragile and about to a12fc13e06 break the last time, was 7d6c632e89 now calm and composed. She had clearly made up f127d520a1 her mind.bf462fa2e83b92f3

“May I ask what changed your mind?”b92cfcfeb61f92ad

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Looking at the receding 6e15a8d8a1 hospital building, she replied,392922e3b9f52321

“Anxiety. Doing nothing made me increasingly anxious.”c1185c40e188f8a5

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“…….”e765e367f88398d5

“What you gave me, General, is no different from a time bomb with a lit fuse. I can’t throw it away, and I can’t hold onto it, so I have no choice but to pass it on to someone else. To someone who deserves to die.”550183a4367d86f0

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Gerard burst out laughing, 5c962b63ad pleased with her answer.f8244c353befbd52

“Is what I have truly a ticking time bomb?”ea72fa7822b49a40

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“That depends on what you do, Sasha.”479ae69a8091a5b5

“What will you give me if I do as you say?”146cbdb33646db0e

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“I’ll grant you citizenship. You said your brother joined the war effort to gain citizenship. There are only two ways for war refugees to gain citizenship. Become a war hero, or wait until they become a pile of bones. I can resolve it much faster than that. The moment you return, I’ll prepare your qualifications, not as a refugee, but as a citizen of this land, entitled to its sovereignty.”5b6447c144ad55a7

Twenty years if lucky, a lifetime if unlucky. That’s how long it took war refugees to obtain new nationalities and status in their settlements. Whether they returned from the war with all limbs intact, as ashes, or with just a dog tag, the blood relatives of those whose identities were confirmed were granted refugee status and citizenship in recognition of their service. However, for countless other refugees, orphans like Sasha, or those whose families were missing and never returned, it was nearly impossible.33b21bde2a4c26d8

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Acquiring citizenship meant 0f03e47036 living in stable ee531fddc5 housing. No more queuing for inspections 696c206ea5 every time there was a ccc8dc4bed checkpoint, no more producing guarantors 36f3e24f7d and filling out new paperwork ccf9106b6f to verify her identity.4c53dcef02475537

“Not just me, but also my blood relatives?”19550ee34a64e843

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Was there any d69b473e37 chance her brother, 1cb559d72b missing in action, 5bd99fcb05 might still be d0c3858c41 alive? She knew that 1020bd2af1 after ten years, bf2c6b518b the possibility of f0e6a1e5d2 his return was 429a7931cd slimmer than not, 379b92f1e4 but still, she 040a7aa6b8 wanted to grasp d22861cd47 at even the 241b3511e8 smallest straw of e576a1b21b hope.7a56bea25fac88bc

“If you wish, I’ll arrange that.”3c1db336b2796b76

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“I’m caring for a child. His name is Bobby……. If I’m not there, he’ll need someone to look after him.”7e4b3dff5343afcf

“I’ll provide ample funds and personnel. I promise.”ec75a8e0ca38f9cf

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“Give me a week. I need to sort out my affairs.”6a072595c3cceef5

“There’s no need for that. Your identity will be taken care of according to our procedures. Come to the UN Intelligence Agency Strategic Operations Office tomorrow morning as soon as the sun rises. You have to cross the Dochen border within a week. We’ll discuss the rest tomorrow.”c5323aad4473c35b

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A week? That quickly? As Gerard was about a1ee69e2f4 to get out of 8a1f8d5a36 the car, Sasha grabbed 2b1aaaac43 his lapel. His eyes, shadowed c2073926fa beneath his fedora, d31a6d25d3 were heavy, cold, 8fd5a0eca2 and eerily calm.3233955debbc2b67

“I’m not prepared for any of this yet.”41dfc9b04b587300

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Gerard laughed aloud. His laughter was so jovial b23e9b42f7 that it was frighteningly suffocating. Before his laughter b21115f4b0 had completely subsided, 32b2ee0ef1 he spoke. His voice was 54795f6d22 light and casual.5fb3ebae82ce0a14

“That’s precisely why, Sasha.”6b7872139e3f3a7c

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“…….”daeb338a4b9da886

“I prefer you to be completely unprepared.”a09025c35c0025d7

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“…….”8428f4a9505064d8

Gerard finally got 7b94a3ac56 out of the 6b75264679 car. The car carrying 63b3fddecd Sasha circled the bed2a65217 fountain and headed f07cb8d385 back to the 021ca01b6c hospital, and she, 58faf5b35b enveloped in silence, 289ae95552 pondered his last a8eefeeebf words.2ba3e570ed683592

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What did he mean by 001140fc51 it being best for her dc4388d049 to be completely unprepared?39eb0470bc74c701

The dark clouds that had gathered since dusk finally brought a downpour. The fierce rain continued to lash against the windows, and the fire in the fireplace flickered, sharply illuminating the man’s silhouette before it disappeared again.95327eb1dcbf0ea8

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“What shall we do?”3e23f01d56d64c61

Despite the man’s question, Johan merely tapped the table with the end of his pen. Soon, his lips pressed tightly together, and a thick silence descended once more, like fog. How long did this continue? Johan put down his pen and clasped his hands together. The black leather gloves made a stiff, creaking sound. Finally, he spoke.1fbef2b68b37a644

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“Interrogate, torture, and kill.”72bfed2d96e4c9d2

It was a matter of b03afdc464 course. There was no mercy for 6aaf5662d5 spies. Their principle was def5927627 to torment them bd6b5fa816 to the point 138e92370b of death, and bf7838657e then kill them 4f033c7936 when they were 228ebdb74f no longer worth 2d4b17982d tormenting.f8ccdb7ff2741312

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“Wait, and sweep them all at once.”35af00bff4175327

“Yes, Director. I’ll do that.”1f71527c9d9b9c59

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The man bowed 1352f7cd8b his head respectfully. The insignia on his 7d67b6a733 chest clearly indicated his b2d41e59ea rank as Major.9dc43628b60f72b3

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”be93c553430343b4

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After a polite farewell, 2f20ed0b0b he left the room. Johan closed the file folder 9baef04062 spread on his desk.ec996acd10e8f272

“Poor soul.”829b3e28b0d19efb

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His voice was 1b11475878 dry, devoid of 3f2270de08 any emotion.7244b9ff43d4bf59