Section Nine: The Little Velvet Bear (Part One)

When the black-robed mage barged into Hegel’s home, Hegel and Lady Seraphine were locked in a tense standoff. Upon seeing the mage intrude, Hegel immediately ended his dispute with his wife, leapt to her side, and drew a revolver from his coat.

“Oh, Mr. Hegel, don’t misunderstand—I come at the Leader’s command. You must leave Valencia at once. Just now, there were secret agents from the Inspectorate watching you at the door. One of our comrades died heroically to protect you…” the mage said gravely.

“Hey, Layard, who do you say sacrificed themselves?” A new figure entered the room—a man clad in black, a long sword strapped to his back. He was the one who’d been ambushed by the red-haired woman in the street earlier, then pursued by the monk and the woman.

This black-clad man bore a monkey-like face, his appearance far from distinguished, though the black-robed mage, despite his sinister air, was at least a little more agreeable in looks.

Layard, the black-robed mage, quickly corrected himself. “It’s good you’re unharmed. Mr. Hegel, this is my comrade Gamio, who has come with me at the Leader’s command to help you leave for the base. He is a half-beastman of the Monk tribe, but you can trust him without reservation. He is the most loyal Commineson warrior; his devotion to the Leader surpasses race and nation. You are in extreme danger—though I killed the secret agent, there are two members of the secret forces still pursuing us. They have noticed your abnormal activity. Please come with us. If you’ve decided, take half an hour to prepare; Gamio will go out and continue to distract the secret forces. I will arrange a carriage for you and your family. Since it is midnight, your arsenal pass has not yet been revoked; now is the best time to leave.”

Gamio, for once, did not contradict Layard. “Yes, Mr. Hegel, the Leader eagerly anticipates seeing you again. Come with us to the base, where Commineson warriors from across the continent gather, boundless in their loyalty—loyal to Commineson, loyal to the Leader, ever ready to sacrifice their lives to free all races, to liberate the enslaved peoples. Commineson’s tide shall wash away all evil old powers; its banners will cover the continent, burying the tyranny of gods and kings.”

“You intend to live with these madmen? And take me and Cecily with you?” Lady Seraphine raised her hands, confronting her husband.

Hegel replied coldly, “Yes, I intend to. They are not madmen—they merely struggle for their ideal. You will never understand.”

“Mr. Hegel, you truly are the Leader’s favored one,” Layard praised, then shifted to a more serious tone. “Gamio, as deputy commander of this operation, I order you to go out now and keep those two men occupied. Don’t let them discover I am inside. Lead them away and rejoin us later; I will take the opportunity to escort Mr. Hegel and his family out of this wicked city.”

“Are you mad? Or am I mad? We’re living well here. You’ve risen from a junior technician to chief engineer. Your inventions are admired by the Minister of Defense, and I’ve heard even the Prime Minister plans to summon you. But now, for these lunatics, you want to abandon everything hard-won, and even drag me and Cecily with you. My God, it must be a dream—let me wake up,” Lady Seraphine covered her face in despair.

Layard, awkward, said, “Mr. Hegel, perhaps I should give you ten minutes to persuade your wife, but time is short and danger is imminent. Please convince her quickly.”

The black-robed mage backed out of the room. Hegel, in an uncompromising tone, said, “We must stop arguing. You heard—we are in danger, time is tight. If you don’t want to wake up tomorrow as a prisoner, you’d best pack your things.”

“No, never. What demon has clouded your mind? I refuse to leave, and Cecily won’t either. I’ve already decided to marry her to that young man who came today—you know him, your former colleague’s son, Amango. He’s just returned from the Far East, made his fortune, and brought me a blue pearl as a gift,” Lady Seraphine said.

Hegel, upon hearing Lady Seraphine intended to marry their daughter to Amango, lost all composure and roared, “Don’t even think about it! My daughter will not marry without my consent. That fish-smelling boy wants to marry Cecily? On what grounds? Because his father once worked with me?”

Lady Seraphine screamed, preparing to continue the quarrel, but Hegel decisively struck her unconscious with the butt of his revolver. He lifted her limp body, then suddenly froze, gazing toward the doorway of another room, wh