Arafura S1 - Darker Than Black
S1 | Chapter I 1 Covenant And Blast I | Carrots That Grow Above Ground

The room looks warm and bright. The electric lights are all turned off but the colorful barbed candles are lit freely on the round table. Only the small cluster of fire that makes the atmosphere look bright, whether it is Mr. Rom's habit to save electricity or indeed the thing he likes when he is gathered, no one knows very well about it. The fire from the firewood in the fireplace makes the room feel warm. The dense plume of smoke did not creep into the surroundings but flew away as if it was immediately hiding into the chimney. From the window looks the sky is drizzling, really does not change like being sad. The storm shakes the trees, anyone who sees it will be sure that the temperature is cold out there. A little lucky to be in this room despite the fact that Mr. Gen hates it.

This room is the power of Mr. Rom. He sat on a chair that looked luxurious just like a king— chair almost bathed in a golden luster—while the others were just ordinary wooden chairs. A very large round table brings everything together from a distance away. Special files were seen filling the table, especially the part near Mr. Rom, all kinds of paper filled with black ink graffiti and special red stamp scattered like ordinary garbage. Mr. Rom's eyes looked at all the writing on the paper one by one without exception, the look was very serious as really accustomed. Mr. Gen observes two of Mr. Rom's subordinates. A man named Anggo from the beginning continued to write in a small book with his pencil without a twist. Ziyo looked lethargic with a sour look not beautiful, whether it was bored or not, but most importantly she did not leave. His eyes always turned away from Mr. Gen's sight so that it made Mr. Gen's anger come and go.

Mr. Rom shifted a paper on the round table to the side, which was Mr. Gen. The paper was apparently very worn like it had been dyed brown ground color. When Mr. Gen touched it, the paper was indeed rough and smelled of earth. The various sides had already been torn, there were even small parts missing even though not with the contents.

Mr. Rom makes clear the confusion seen in Mr. Gen's countenance. "The paper was obtained from a girl who came here on a night of chaos. It was raining at the time. Riots that hit the wide places made the girl walk here through the bushes and trees. What a poor girl."

Mr. Gen is a little curious. "Did the girl survive? Isn't this place heavily guarded? I doubt it."

Mr. Rom shook his head. "Very unfortunate. The girl was just found dead. Three arrows were stuck in his chest and part of his body was immersed in mud. This is the paper that's left of him."

The messenger was killed—this didn't happen once. The girls were always desperate to send a direct message to the center of the enemy. Mr. Gen once received it, an obsolete letter barely legible, but he ignored it when part of it was lost. But this time it was different. Mr. Gen felt strange because the contents in the letter looked intact while his status had just been found— as Mr. Rom said, his body was found already in a state immersed in mud. The rain that night was indeed heavy, but one would not be immersed into the ground anytime soon, either, in addition, a weak paper is impossible to survive without a piece or most of its contents are lost. It was full of strange speculations that began to rage in Mr. Gen's mind. Ah really surprising. But Mr. Gen chose to be quiet first. It seems that if you ask directly in detail, he will not know what Mr. Rom is hiding.

"Why did you give it to me?" Ask Mr. Gen.

Mr. Rom's cheek was raised like he was smiling. "I told you, right? I want to discuss something with you. Now you better read it."

Mr. Gen nodded in agreement, his eyes then turning from looking at Mr. Rom towards the black writing on the worn-out paper. Instantly his eyes were shocked by the contents. In the old paper it was written a very hurtful content. Anyone who knows it would probably be very upset—at least that's what Mr. Gen had in mind. Captivity— is the first word that begins one large paragraph of the contents of his letter. Mr. Gen continued reading the contents. "We've captured some men from your side. When is the end for their existence, it all depends on what you do." Read Mr. Gen. Hands slowly shook with eyes wide in annoyance. "Bad. So they're threatening us?!" Upset Mr. Gen, "How many students have they taken prisoner?"

"30 students."

"30?!"

Mr. Rom just smiled. He then turned to glance at Ziyo who was still busy daydreaming to see a small fire burning on the candle. "Ziyo, the outline what do you think?" Ask Mr. Gen.

Ziyo turned from looking at the candle to Mr. Gen's gaze. "Isn't it clear, they're threatening us?" He answered with a flat face as if convinced.

"Sorry Mr. Rom—" Anggo concluded. His pencil, which had been dancing to the paper for a moment, stopped, "—where did you know the number of prisoners was 30 students?"

"Shin told me." Replied Mr. Rom, "he has sent a spy. I'm sure this isn't a bluff."

Anggo. "I agree with that opinion but—does no one know why? What is their real purpose?"

Mr. Rom is shaking his head. "Unfortunately, no one knows. But, this is still my possibility, maybe they just want to keep us quiet. Maybe there's something they want to do."

"Shut up?" Mr. Gen was astonished, "What have we done? Isn't that a ceasefire?"

Instantly the atmosphere became silent. Mouths no one spoke, even Anggo seemed to ignore the situation with the focus of writing things he liked. Mr. Rom just looked down. I don't know why his face looks suspicious. Both of his hands propped his forehead like he was intending to prevent Mr. Gen from looking at his eyes. The aura feels really bad. Either way, it's very upsetting to Mr. Gen's mind. "Roman, did you do anything?" Ask Mr. Gen with a frown. His eyes were squinting sharply full of suspicion.

Mr. Rom lowered his hand on the table. He smiled slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "My men are still fighting them."

Hearing that, Mr. Gen's countenance turned irritated. It was so savage!— that glance that seeped into his mind. The reflex of his hand hit hard the table before him while standing staring intently at Mr. Rom. "Don't you think your people are? They're desperate!" Shouted Mr. Gen very loudly.

Mr. Rom stood up. His face looks irritating. "Delighted? They do it out of their own will. Mr. Gen."

Mr. Gen is getting angry. "Omong empty! You ordered! Then in reality, it would be the same as involving me with your war! I don't want my people to die in vain!"

Mr. Rom sat back to ignore the talk. His breathing slowly began to tighten. Apparently his irritation almost overflowed over his soul but it could subside once he let out a long sigh. In addition, feeling very neglected, Mr. Gen ended up deciding to leave this room. Of course, not lift your legs like people in general. Mr. Gen wants to get out of this room and get out of a friendship alias to become a new enemy for Mr. Rom. This is not the time— was at first glance the word in Mr. Gen's mind. He had almost forgotten that he should know what Mr. Rom was hiding. This time Mr. Rom looked relaxed as if he did not feel guilty— quietly did not dwell in the slightest on the attitude of Mr. Gen. Without any invitation from anyone, Mr. Gen sat back down even though the aura did not change. "I know, you're not the kind of guy who gives orders easily if it doesn't benefit you at all. Well, then, what's your reason for doing that?" Ask Mr. Gen.

Mr. Rom's hand immediately picked up a cleaner piece of paper. The writing was neater with a red stamp on the bottom of the paper—it was apparently a special licensing letter. The letter was immediately shown to Mr. Gen.

"What else is this?" Mr. Gen was astonished. His eyes began to glance at the paper and read it straight away. "Honorary Mr. Rom. A lot of things have kept us out. Strength seemed to have become something more glorious—" the instant Mr. Rom stopped Mr. Gen.

Mr. Rom pointed to a single sentence that seemed to be in the very last ranks. "Upper kaliamat is just a sweetener. I want you to just read this part."

"All right." Mr. Gen assented. His eyes then began to read the sentence, "—we want Mr. Rom to allow our squad to fight them. Otherwise, we will fight our own friends as a form of our anger."

"They threatened me." Said Mr. Rom, "however, I cannot bear that loss if they attack my leadership. It's worse than suicide."

"Then you'll say yes?"

"There's no other choice. I have to say yes, Mr. Gen."

His eyes looked very serious. His voice was so, so convincing. Maybe if the person who was here was not Mr. Gen, that person would pity him. That person will be directly on his side. It's not that easy for Mr. Gen. This cold-blooded hitman is not easy to trust. Want others to beg with prostration though, Mr. Gen is not easy to believe when only shown information with drama. Mr. Rom does look more serious alias far from the attitude of dramatizing the situation, but if more focused on the details and vague, it sounded from his words like describing himself as helpless and as if dragging himself into the role of a victim. Ah this is what Mr. Gen hates. Then rather than responding to the reassuring expression of Mr. Rom, Mr. Gen's eyes glanced more towards the old letter that he had hated. I think there is something out of that letter. His hands began to pick up the paper and then heed it well. That's right, there's no special stamp at the very bottom just below the last paragraph. That part's gone, no sign at all. No, that's not what makes things even more awkward. Why is it easy for Mr Rom to trust such a letter when he was a former vice-chairman of the isis in the past? Doesn't he think the letter was faked?—Mister Gen's mind began to be very muddled with suspicion. He kept wondering, could this be a game?

Instantly Ziyo became annoyed. His hateful face was clearly engraved while hitting the table before him. "What do you mean to denigrate Mr. Rom?" His eyes stared intently at Mr. Gen with an oppressive gaze.

"Degrading?" Mr. Gen dodged the accusation. "I'm not condescending! I just laughed at all the fuss in this discussion. Ah, what a shame! You're a former vice-chairman of the isis. The man who is very well known and believed to be very good at leading, but now—" Mr. Gen took the old paper and showed it right before Mr. Rom's eyes, "—see below this letter, there is no stamp! If I were you, I would throw this letter away, dear Lord Rom!"

Ziyo was already very upset. "Fuck up with your charge—" Mr. Rom immediately stopped him from moving against himself. His attitude seemed to be implied saying to Ziyo that he did not want to be disturbed. He wants to face it himself. What a brave leader—at least this is what Mr. Gen has in mind. Of course not to the true meaning.

Mr. Rom was only half-smiling to respond to him. "Just because of that, are you laughing at me? So from the beginning, you weren't sure about me?" Mr. Rom laughed, "then aren't you? Just believing in your view alone, it was even worse. Your accusation does not refer to the right thing at all."

Mr. Gen counteracts that. "Oh really? Dear Lord Rom! There are other things that still hold my mind. You said the girl who sent the message had just been found with part of her body submerged in mud, the relic of this letter. Is that really Mr Rom?"

"of course! There's no point in me lying to you!"

"really? Then it's a pity. I can't believe it! It took a long time for the human body to be immersed in the soft mud of the ground in the academy forest though. I suspect, it's just your way of overestimating information to trick me. But wait, if that information is indeed true, you can see—" Mr. Gen again refers to the state of the paper, "—paper like this will not survive under such a heavy storm, let alone there is mud! If it can survive, there are certainly missing parts and illegible writing. The missing parts in this paper like unnatural—like structured. I doubt it! I doubted you! Is it possible that your real goal is just for me to attack and make this information an excuse?"

Mr. Rom was back to relaxing. He instead smiled at Mr. Gen's lengthy explanation. No, it's not a regular smile. His eyes were filled with hateful eyes. Both of his hands were clapping as if making his explanation as a show. "So that's your response. All right, it's okay. There's nothing to lose if you don't join me."

Mr. Gen was surprised by the response. "Your answer—do you admit that?"

"Listen Mr. Gen. I was just thinking, maybe it's better if your troops join."

Hearing that Mr. Gen made a blackboard. "Have you talked?!" Mr. Gen clutching the collar on his shirt and tie.

Mr. Rom was smiling again. "You're saying I'm a tough guy? Well, then add, I'm an ingenious man, unlike you, Gen the former reserve sausage."

"What?!"

Mr. Gen immediately pushed Mr. Rom's body down. It directly makes Mr. Gen an enemy that can be attacked. Ziyo who was upset from the beginning was indeed taking advantage of the situation, she nimbly moved towards Mr. Gen then without a second thought directly hit him with her bare hands like a lightning strike. Mr. Gen managed to fend him off and hit him back until Ziyo was pushed back to the wall of the room. Ziyo began to form the position of the horses without turning away from staring at where Lord Gen was. Now Mr. Gen is also seen preparing with his fighting style—style fighting with his bare hands. Next to his hand protruded forward with a clench, while the next to him was ready to stand at the waist. The aura is not kidding. Mr. Gen is serious about this because his annoyance has been played with. The horses were no less alert than Ziyo.

"Now your opponent is me, Mr. Gen!" Ziyo picked up a sword that was stored near the wall beside her. He then glanced at Mr. Rom, "Master Rom, can I kill him?"

Mr. Rom just laughed. "If he gets killed, it means he doesn't deserve to be the leader. His status is on par with me anyway." He said so arrogantly. Mr. Rom also chose to leave this room, "well Ziyo, I leave it to you. I'll take care of some of the more important things."

"All right, Mr. Rom. With pleasure."

Mr. Rom and Anggo then walked out of this room as if they did not feel guilty at all. The door was closed again, but it turned out that this time Mr. Rom locked it very tightly as if making this room as an isolated arena. Mr. Gen was greatly enraged, but this time it did not spiral out of control. Mr. Gen's anger began to be diverted into a force of its own. He needed to focus because his opponent might not be an ordinary person.

But Mr. Gen enjoys this. He smiled and welcomed the duel.

"All right, let's get started!" Said Mr. Gen.

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