Chapter 34: Golden Rule

Fire MOTH is a huge organization spanning the entire world. Twenty years ago, there wasn't any organization united enough to fight against honkai. The second eruption at that time gave humanity a taste of what the honkai could bring them.

There weren't any clean nuclear bombs at that time. The area bombarded by nuclear bombs to kill the second Herscherr made significant damage to the Far West. The issue of cooperation and timing wasn't considered. As such, six nuclear bombs were dropped to the Far West at that time.

Fortunately, that decision by the world leaders turned out well. Had they given the second Herscherr enough time to master its powers regarding space, humanity might've been ended then and there.

The realization of that disaster put forth the "World Organization" that will pool together resources to fight against the honkai. That turned out to be the Fire MOTH most people know today.

Its establishment needed astronomical resources, something accessed by people at the level of world leaders. The division of power occurred at that time, giving birth to Thirty-Nine Fire MOTH councilors.

Over the years, the number of councilors did not change much. It was the result of intricate balancing of each councilor. At present, there are a total of Forty-Three councilors. Aside from the addition of four people, the rest were inherited by their chosen successors.

In the Far West, there was one name that was likened to the king of the underworld—Donnie Valdez, nicknamed Hades. 

'Sigh. What an unkillable bastard.'

He sighed as he enjoyed the scene in front of the infinity pool. Several women wearing bikinis accompanied him. Two of them lie in his arms while the others are playing at the pool. His wheat skin formed a combination to the beauties of varying ethnicities.

"It isn't just that girl now. Those damned bastards."

He was referring to the other councilors. As one of the addition to the original Fire MOTH councilors, he didn't have as much power as them. 

He thought he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them once he developed his influence to this extent. Unfortunately, the power of those deeply-rooted councilors are on another level—be they genetic modification, mecha, research and development, and the likes.

Thus, all four of the additions are under the command of several councilors. The mission given to them at that time was to test the individual named "Aleph". 

His power was likened to that of Elysia's several times. It was just that he was under the protective umbrella of the research institutes, hence they couldn't act openly. That was where they came to play.

'If I could finish that…'

A greedy look appeared in his eyes. 

'I will get ahead of them with one step!'

Just then, the sound of something tearing through the air appeared. 

Bam-!

"Something" landed straight to the rooftop. It went straight to the place where the elevator was located.

Bam-!

A dust cloud kicked up. It immediately prompted the attention of Donnie as well as the women and his trusted bodyguards.

"Ah?!"

"What is that?"

The bodyguards are quick to act. One of them contacted the "control center" responsible for monitoring Donnie's territory in the Far West.

"Control center, do you copy?"

Buzz-!

No one responded from the radio. A chill went down to his spine as he shouted:

"Boss! That might be—"

Sou-!

Sou-!

Sou-!

Before the bodyguard could finish his words, a bloody hole appeared on his head. It was not only him, but all of the active bodyguards present.

"...Huh?"

Everything occurred within five seconds. Donnie didn't have the time to react properly when he saw everyone around him collapse.

It was at this moment did he see the person responsible for it—a black streamlined suit. It doesn't have any clear facial features, only a white line where its eyes are located.

Click-!

The miniature launchers on his shoulders went back to their place. It was the thing used to kill a dozen people swiftly.

Hum-!

Hum-!

Each of its steps made a sound of metal screw moving.

"Who are you?!"

Donnie immediately stood up from his wide beach chair. The two women beside him were pushed off.

A pistol was present in his back. Its grip made him feel slightly more secure.

Unfortunately…

Bang-!

The metal suit's right pointy finger revealed a gun barrel. A swift action was all it took to kill the Fire MOTH councilor.

Thud-!

"A-ah?!"

Looking at the panicked women around him, the man donning the metal suit came to a decision.

"You… are close enough to him."

"Yes! Yes! I know his secrets!"

One of the bikini women, a girl with black hair, was the first one who came to hug his knees.

"I know a secret! The underground…"

"His secret stash…"

As if it was a trigger, all the women around him started spitting Donnie's secrets one by one. They are fragmented at best, though Aleph could still put two and two together.

'Everyone here… is guilty.'

Aleph thought of the seventy people who died escorting him. They were meaningless deaths in his eyes—one that could've been prevented had he killed the ambushers quickly.

To that, he will never forgive those who targeted him. It was such an uncomfortable feeling to bring disaster to those around him. Aleph loathed this kind of underhanded action the most.

Perhaps, this happened once in his past life.

'Creating a boundary to adhere to…'

At this moment, he realized the importance of 'bottom line'. Now, he needs to draw such a thing.

'Do unto others… what they do to you.'

The Golden Rule appeared from the depths of his mind. It was as if he regained something he had once lost.

Strangely enough, Aleph felt extremely light. The 'barrier' preventing him from recalling his past self was slowly being broken.

"...Alright."

His voice came out as mechanized to the ears of the women.

Although they are the scheming type, they didn't show any hostility to him. His [Deathly Intuition] didn't flare up even a bit.

Nevertheless, they are considered as Donnie's accomplices of sorts.

"The rest is up to you."

Buzz-!

Aleph flew to the sky using the suit, leaving the confused women on the rooftop. They all watched as he disappeared under the night sky—which was the work of his stealth system.

'A biochemical lab… I'll see to it.'

From the things he had heard, there was a laboratory on the tenth underground level of this high-rise building. 

'If it's really what I am thinking of…'

Hum-!

His sight changed into that of transparent blue. He could see all kinds of energies in his eyes.

As he had expected, a clump of purple light was seen on the basement floors.

'These bastards..!'