# Chapter 27
Fortunately, Fenil seemed to have no intention of saying more and silently followed the Boss’s instructions.
“I’m sure you’ve all received reports that Peace is conducting human experiments. And that Alice is there as well.”
Everyone nodded in affirmation at the Boss’s words.
I had already sent information about the laboratory in advance. Though not detailed, it should be enough for them to grasp the situation.
“Those bastards give me the creeps.”
Zenon’s face filled with contempt, as if the mere thought disgusted him. A dangerous aura circled around him, making it seem like he might storm Peace at any moment.
I expected him to be angry since it wasn’t right, but I didn’t think he’d be this furious. I wonder if he has a past related to experiments.
Zenon was the latest addition among the executives. Perhaps that’s why much of his past remained unknown.
Judging by his reaction, it seems he’s not unrelated to this…
Since it was a principle not to ask about personal matters until the person spoke of it themselves, I kept my mouth shut. If it was necessary for the mission, Zenon would tell me.
“It’s impressive they’ve kept this hidden all this time.”
Zenon, who had been frowning, continued with a sneer. Though his words were clearly sarcastic, no one cautioned him.
Everyone probably knew how cruel Peace’s actions were, even if they hadn’t spoken about it. They likely sympathized with Zenon’s emotions to some extent.
After all, these experiments were designed to create people with superpowers. For us, who already possessed such powers, this was an even more serious matter.
In the silence that settled over the room, Alex exhaled words that sounded almost like a sigh.
“Who would have thought Peace would do something like this.”
“Those bastards always pretend to be so righteous, but they always have something going on.”
“They must have something to hide. Honestly, their constant ‘for the citizens’ act always seemed strange. Anyone would think they were volunteers.”
Fenil grimaced as if she had known this all along, and Zenon added his comments behind her.
What they were doing was no different from painting rotten apples red. They were deceiving people by pretending that an apple that was already inedible was normal.
But just as the red paint eventually wears off to reveal the rotten apple underneath, the same would happen with Peace.
They might have managed until now, but Peace would have been exposed eventually. Even the rumors circulating now showed that.
While we couldn’t be certain about the bribery allegations, the kidnappings had been confirmed. The screen had been full of people who had become test subjects.
Not all of these people would have volunteered. Some must have been forced to become test subjects through illegal methods.
And kidnapping was one of the most typical illegal methods. With Peace’s level of power, kidnapping would be easy. I had my suspicions when Ben mentioned it, but there was indeed truth to those rumors.
Eventually, rumors would become facts that everyone would know. We just hastened it under the name of Alice.
“Alice, we’ll have to confront them to save her.”
Melia, who had been quietly observing the situation, softly spoke up. Though her voice was faint, it carried strong conviction.
When she asked if they could face this challenge, Fenil nodded lightly.
“That’s right. We’re exposing Peace’s shame.”
If it became known that Peace was conducting human experiments, Peace would sink in an instant. They would sink into a deep, deep abyss, never to resurface again, choking on their own breath.
As such, rescuing Alice would require taking risks.
And now I couldn’t even use my regeneration ability. In a mission where injury was unavoidable, was it even possible for me to return alive?
I couldn’t easily come up with an answer. My body had been conditioned to fight using regeneration from the start.
Rather than dodging, I would offer my body to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses. Rather than hesitating due to pain, I would focus on killing the enemy before me.
My body would react before my mind could process it, but with this method, death would be instantaneous.
Even if I dodged, I couldn’t rescue Alice with an intact body. This mission was that dangerous.
There was a possibility that I had less than a month left. No, it would be accurate to say it would be less than a month. The chances of sustaining a fatal injury during the mission were high.
“Don’t forget that our only task is to rescue Alice.”
“Understood.”
The voices exchanged during my contemplation reached me faintly. I was already confused just knowing I had a month left.
And now it might not even be a month.
“The mission is set for two weeks from now…”
Two weeks from now. I might die that day. I could die on a mission, just like any other day.
To know death is coming and yet be unable to do anything—am I really okay with that?
Could I face death without regrets? This was a mission to rescue the Boss’s sister. Dying there should feel like an honorable death.
In the past, I would have certainly thought so. That if I were to die, I’d want it to be a death that helped him.
But now—
“…”
I didn’t want that.
A sprout that should have withered under foot began to coil upward. That sprout continued to climb until it finally touched my emotions.
The touched area spread instantly, making me realize the name of this emotion I was feeling.
This emotion was called rebellion. I wanted to break free from the ingrained instinct that I should live for the Boss.
And finally, I was able to escape that thought. I could face my true feelings.
The honest feelings I had been deliberately ignoring, stuffed away in a corner where light couldn’t reach, raised their head.
I didn’t want to die like this.
I didn’t want to disappear either.
I wanted to make choices for myself.
In the face of my own death, I wanted to think only of myself, not anyone else.
The true feelings I had just realized whirled inside me like a tornado. As I quietly faced the emotions approaching like a storm, Tade’s words subtly came to mind.
His words that I should think of myself before others.
Now I could understand those words.
It was only at this point, with a month left to live, that I could finally accept what I hadn’t realized or known for the past 23 years.
I wanted the Boss to remember me. I didn’t want to remain just a subordinate who merely passed by his side.
I knew it. I knew how ugly this selfishness was. I also knew that it was choosing myself over serving the Boss.
But I couldn’t accept the fact that my death would mean nothing to him.
I didn’t want the Boss to accept my death and live as usual.
At least in his memories, I wanted to live on. I wanted to be remembered by him.
This was selfishness. The selfishness Tade had spoken to me about.
The emotion I had wanted to deny, I ultimately had to accept in the face of death.
I knew this emotion would end in ruin. And thus, I knew that this desire should be erased.
But I couldn’t do it. It was already too late to erase it. All I could do was be swayed by my true feelings.
As I shook off the mist-like thoughts that clouded my vision, I saw people rising from their seats, suggesting the meeting was over.
I slowly shifted my gaze, watching them. The Boss seemed to find it strange that I had been sitting silently, as he was staring at me.
As soon as our eyes met, my body reacted automatically. My mouth opened, and my feet twitched as if wanting to approach him.
It felt like my body was screaming that I wanted to tell him everything as soon as possible.
“Do you have something else to report?”
I closed my mouth, which I had slightly opened, and shook my head. I had nothing to report. But there was something I wanted to say. I couldn’t tell him everything like my true feelings, but there was something I absolutely had to convey to him.
After giving me a dispassionate once-over, he rose from his seat. He must have determined that he had no business with me.
The Boss approached me and then proceeded to walk past. Without time to think, I hurriedly grabbed him.
“I have something to say.”
What I had unconsciously grabbed was the hem of the Boss’s clothes. Afraid that he might leave, I gripped it even harder.
Feeling the force applied to his back, the Boss turned his head. He looked at me strangely as I refused to let go of his clothes, as if they were a lifeline.
The Boss, who had only turned his head, now fully turned his body. The hem of his clothes that I had been holding moved away with him and slipped out of my hand.
Only then could I come to my senses. What have I done? I could feel my face burning. No matter how urgent it was, I had acted like a child.
I couldn’t look at the Boss’s face. I averted my gaze and stared at the carpet on the floor. At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to say what I wanted to.
Maybe I should withdraw for today. That’s what I was thinking at that moment.
“…go ahead.”
The Boss finally gave his answer. For a moment, I almost asked him stupidly to repeat himself. I quickly raised my head to look at him. Contrary to what I thought would be displeasure, the Boss seemed composed.
To him, who was staring at me with an unreadable gaze, I opened and closed my mouth repeatedly. Could I really say it? I had received permission, but I was scared to speak.
But this could be my last chance. I didn’t know when I would die. Thinking that way made the fear subside a little.
I took a deep breath calmly and formed sentences. Expressing the feelings I had suppressed for 10 years in words wasn’t as easy as I thought.
It kept getting endlessly long. I wanted to just shout and blurt out the emotions I had built up for 10 years. I also wanted to cry out as I spoke.
The suppressed and worn-out emotions surged up like a flood, reaching the tip of my throat.
