C215: Order Synod (2)

Rather than branding me as suspicious, Nikolai steered the situation. His words were both natural and sly, proving that he was not acting as an agitator for no reason.

He says he had valid doubts, but at the base of that lies his feelings toward John Doe.

Thats why hes been secretly conscious of Rudger since he first came here.

But his point is not far-fetched.

Im an executive of the Black Dawn Society on the surface, but I wasnt the real John Doe. The steps I have shown as a teacher so far are things I shouldve never done.

Building a reputation for myself when I was a spy was an unacceptable act and it was natural in a way for Nikolai to point that out.

He was probably quite dissatisfied with John Doe, but he must have found an excuse this time.

All Nikolai wants is to prove his superiority by making a dent in John Doe credibility and since his reason is personal I also hit back without mercy.

Zero Order adopted a wait and see attitude.

The same goes for other First Orders. Someone said they enjoyed my fight with Nikolai, and someone else said it had nothing to do with them.

They didnt feel the need or the thought of stopping it. As a result, the situation led to a match between me and Nikolai.

Nikolai laughed.

John Doe, your words and actions are very fierce. Or do you feel guilty about something?

I just dont want to listen to words that arent worth listening to.

Ha. Are you confident? So whats the point of making that incredible move? Are you saying that you have an objective?

Yes.

When I answered shamelessly, Nikolai sighed.

I think youve become more brazen than before John Doe.

Brazen? If you feel that way, it means that your information is lacking.

Nikolai had considerable pride in knowing a lot. From the time he came here, he was impatient to tell other executives what he knew.

I was convinced by his strange pretentious words and actions. The same was true when he opened his mouth to attack me.

From the information he received, he said that I moved too suspiciously.

He knows so much. And everything he knows is true. Its probably because hes convinced that his premise cant be wrong.

He is confident that he will not be inferior to anyone in his field, but on the contrary, his sources were a weakness that was too obvious.

Thats why I openly stabbed Nikolais pride.

So what if you know a lot? Your hair is too short to think based on that. (Rudger tells him hes stupid)

Do you want to fight?

Did it sound like that? I didnt mean to say it directly, but judging from your reaction, it seems that you have a sense of entitlement deep down inside.

Nikolais point to me was valid, however I snorted and showed a snobbish attitude telling him not to point out such trivial things.

It was an illogical response to a reasonable opinion and he was hit by a backlash but if I insist ignorantly, Ill be right.

The more people pretend there is something, the more confusing it is so its better to act confidently and brazenly.

Other executives who had doubts about me due to my forced attitude were looking at Nikolai.

Nikolai said impatiently.

Dont change the subject. You havent answered my question yet.

As the situation went badly, Nikolai refuted his argument. It was the most correct judgment Nikolai could make but he doesnt know that the right action is sometimes wrong.

I replied with a snort.

Didnt I tell you? I dont feel its worth answering.

Youre not avoiding the answer on purpose, right? Come to think of it, its weird. What youre saying now is deliberately distracting the conversation.

Hes a quick-witted fellow so I guess he noticed I was doing this on purpose.

Well, theres no way a First Order of the Black Dawn Society would let this go without getting an answer.

I didnt act thoughtlessly either, I had a goal.

Nicolai, the reason why I dont feel worth contradicting your words is because your premise is wrong.

What? What are you talking about?

You think you know everything and stand on other peoples heads. Thats not the case at all.

Are you ignoring my intelligence?

Its commendable that he obviously knows a lot of things, but he doesnt know everything.

Then do you know who blew up the Leathervelk branch?

How am I supposed to know a person who is hiding?

You didnt even know that, but you pretended to know everything until now?

Ha. So, John Doe, do you know who the culprit is?

Yes.

Nikolai gasped at my confident answer and the other executives responded similarly.

Youre bluffing. Theres nothing more ridiculous than pretending to know without knowing.

Why do you think I dont know?

Of course.

Since you dont know, its natural that I dont know either. Do you really think so?

.

Nicolai, thats why you cant.

What?

The initiative returned to me and I was able to end my fight with Nikolai since Zero Order never intervened.

It would be better to break the habit of acting as if you know a lot of things with only superficial truths.

Ha. Then tell me the truth that you know if youre that good.

What? Theres nothing I cant say.

I slowly told the truth.

Im the one who got rid of the Leathervelk laboratory.

!

At my words, silent astonishment spread over the round table but only Zero Order moved his shoulders with interest.

Although Nikolais face couldnt be seen he couldnt hide his dumbfounded voice.

Now, what.

The laboratory in Leathervelk. I said I got rid of it.

Mr. John Doe! What do you mean by that?!

Victor, who was watching still, shouted in amazement. He must have been surprised.

Mr. John Doe! I used to believe in you!

Shut up, Victor. Why are you blaming me?

Yes?

It was obviously your management mistake that led us to escape the werewolves from the lab in the first place. Then you even asked me for help to catch the werewolves who ran away.

Victor shut his mouth when I growled.

I tried to help you with your issue, but what was the result? Your poor management led to the escape of the experimental subjects and almost made me expose my identity. How do you think I felt when a werewolf broke into Theon and the traces were placed right in front of the presidents nose?

Oh, well, thats.

So I got rid of it with my own hands. Is there anything you want to refute?

Well, but the management there is not entirely under my jurisdiction.

Yeah. Its the fault of the black wizards and Shamsus school guys who worked there. But wasnt it purely your will to join hands with those guys Victor?

I glared at Victor.

I wouldve liked to get rid of you as well but since were both First Orders I decided to be generous but not to the lower ones.

Dont tell me you got rid of the Leathervelk laboratory.

Yes, I finished with my own hands. No matter how many useless guys there are, theyll hold on to our ankles. In that case, it would have been easier to completely destroy even the evidence.

The other executives were silent at my words and were wondering why I did that since it was betrayal.

No one would do that except John Doe who kills his men if he doesnt like them. A guy who only follows orders from Zero Order and doesnt get along with other executives.

Since his mission was disturbed and he felt his life threatened it seemed natural for John Doe to kill all the people involved.

His dirty personality was helping Rudger now.

I dont need useless people, no matter how many of them there are. Id rather kill him than allow mistakes. Am I wrong?

John Doe, are you kidding me? Your behavior was too much.

Nikolai stepped up in protest but I responded to his remark with a snort.

Why? Shouldnt you be grateful? Thanks to me, the werewolf lab disappeared and no secret was leaked.

Are you saying that now? Even if they are low level theyre our Black Dawn strength!

If I hadnt gotten rid of it then, the Nightcrawler Knights would have discovered everything. Its not like you dont know that Nikolai.

.

When the name of the Nightcrawler Knights came out, Nikolai, who was trying to argue, shut up.

That response suggests that he knew how dangerous Nightcrawler Knights of the Intelligence Service are.

Or did you not know?

No way. I also knew that the Nightcrawler Knights and even Trina Ryanhowl, their leader, went to Leathervelk.

Then Ill ask. If I had left the laboratory unturned, would the lion you spoke of not find the existence of the laboratory?

.

Nikolai could answer that he didnt know but he couldnt say that because he was Nikolai, who knew a lot.

There was no way that a person like Trina Ryanhowl wouldnt know about the escaped experiment and the existence of the laboratory.

Then she would rather have a chance to attack with the fool who did not even know the enemys strength. In fact, she is a person who has extended her pursuit to me, who has almost erased his traces.

If you know her, youll never look down on her.

Nikolai knows that, so he cannot refute it.

I had to remove the Leathervelk branch for the cause of the Black Dawn Society and to complete my mission.

I said to Nikolai who was glaring at me.

Without knowing that, you said that an unidentified person attacked the branch. Why are you talking so much?

.

You dont even know what I did, but youre talking about what I did in my disguise as a teacher. Youre making too much noise. Its suspicious.

Every time I spoke, Nikolais black flame trembled with shame and anger.

Nicolai, there is only one reason why I did not contradict you. Its because its funny to see you believe your supposition was true when you have so little information.

!

Oh, come to think of it, thats what you said a while ago. Theres nothing more ridiculous than pretending to know without knowing. I also deeply agree. Nikolai, thats a very nice saying.

Nikolais opinion was at first sight justified and reasonable. In fact, his suspicions were even sharp but his act was one of hostility against John Doe, rather than actual doubt but he lost in the end because he wasnt sure of the truth behind the scenes.

Nikolais intelligence power has not reached that far.

Of course, in the process, it was revealed that I had eliminated the Leathervelk branch, and in a way, from the perspective of the Black Dawn Society, I did something close to betrayal so Nikolai decided to continue brazenly.

No, not yet.

Nikolai, who had remained silent, clenched his teeth and said.

John Doe. If what youre saying is true, you can at least take responsibility for getting rid of the Leathervelk branch.

Thats enough.

It was Leslie who stepped into the conversation.

Leslie what are you doing?

Nikolai, isnt that enough?

Who are you to judge it on your own?

Its your fault that you got into a fight first and didnt even get your money back. The issue is already over. Or are you going to do more?

Leslie pretended to intervene and berated Nikolai. They hadnt been on good terms before, so she must have seized the opportunity now that Nikolai had made a mistake.

It was all Nikolais fault. He shouldnt have lost if he was upset.

I agree with that. I hate to lose time by arguing.

When even Bentmin stepped forward and said that, Nikolai backed down but he glared at me with a strong gaze so I said with a smirk.

Nikolai, try harder next time.

!

Nikolai roared inside.