District 42-Chapter 243: Choosing
"I mean..." Rat continued, walking slowly back and forth. "I really need to go now and it wouldn’t be so bad to keep with our fun for some more time, but now you will need to choose between me and that young lady out there. I have a guess now about your decision, but it would be fun to see you reasoning about it, regardless."
Leonel finally managed to put his other hand on the edge to support him. He boosted his body upwards and threw himself inside the office again. His hand was more damaged than it seemed before. Probably the bones were affected by that little torture.
He was breathing heavily and his eyes were filled with exhaustion and pain. However, there was fury there as well.
The soldier was thinking deeply about that matter. In a way, there was nothing to decide there, since Vick was obviously a top priority. However, it was quite strange that the criminal would just propose something like this.
’Is he trying to fool us? Is this another idiotic prank? Or maybe...’ He couldn’t find anything there. It seemed that there was no meaning behind what Rat said.
Even if they let him go, they still harmed his subordinates. There were a lot of them who didn’t get killed by Leonel’s personnel. They would be a good information resource for the Sgails. Also, they weren’t going to just give up there. If the Rat escaped that day, there would be more time for them to chase him and do better next time...
’If... If we have a next time, right?’ Casper, then, realized something. The real gravity of that choice. What made it so important for Rat to use it against them.
They were dancing completely on his hand.
’It won’t have a next time. That’s our last chance. Whatever these people are planning right now, they are already done. The criminals will achieve their objectives once Rat arrives wherever he needs to go.’
The soldier was more confused than before, his mind couldn’t bring a solution for that situation. The group was in a position where they needed to balance the values of each thing, that is, what was more important: prevent a mission of unknown nature and danger or protect the person they ought their lives to, one of the leaders of the entire district.
’If the Princess die here, it’s not the same as a Ridire, Jarl or commoner dying. If this happens, a huge political and social mess will happen. People will mourn and be sad, others will be angry and frenetic, some even happy. The king will probably do something about it, the Queen as well, corruption will raise...’
Faced with so many possible problems, no one in that office could get to a different conclusion instead of letting Rat go and bear the consequences of that choice afterward.
However, something deep inside their hearts, maybe instinct or premonition, told them that the consequences would be too high.
"We are already without any weapons, Rat. You know you can do whatever you want here and no one will oppose." Ari spoke. His voice was filled with disgust and pain. He looked with a dejected expression to his friend that just got out of the hospital and was already spanked right away.
Susie nodded her head, seeming to be on the verge to go and help Leonel, but she followed Rat’s orders so he wouldn’t snap again.
"No, I am not talking about you all, but that man right there. He is one hell of a guy, and not just because of his strength, but because he is unpredictable." The criminal pointed to Ivar.
That wild Aesir continued quiet, crossing his arms and looking intently to Rat. A smile started to appear on his face again, his joyful eyes showed it clearly.
Leonel glanced at him, slowly denying with his head as if begging him to do nothing.
"And why would you be so focused on me, scumbag? If I can catch you, and you know this, wouldn’t you be the one in despair here? Since I can deal with you alone, then my friends could go save the Princess. Simple." The deep voice of Ivar echoed, followed by a brief chuckle.
"Hahaha, yeah, you are not just strong but know how to reason as well!" Rat applauded him, walking slowly towards the Aesir.
"I am focusing so much on you and letting the others aside because I know you are the only individual from this group that can save Vick before she dies! After I step out of his office, the race will begin!"
Due to the distance and Vick’s position, what the Rat said wasn’t a lie. All the others would have a hard time trying to reach her with the low level of potency that they could use in the exoskeletons.
Ivar was the only person who could use it entirely and with proficiency.
The rest would just break their bones and tear their muscles while trying to do so.
Rat, finally, walked towards Casper. Instead of saying something for everyone to hear, he talked to him whispering.
"It’s hard to keep playing like the villains, White warrior. But you will soon understand why we do it. Until then, clean your mind from this distorted perspective they implanted on you, try to see things with your own eyes. Don’t let yourself be alienated."
He crossed with the soldier tapping him slightly on the shoulder and then running away.
He jumped out of that building, landing on the street this time, and returning with his fast-paced running, but quite calm, just as though he was mocking them since they wouldn’t catch up with him.
In the next moment that Rat jumped, Ivar activated the exoskeleton again and rushed using all his speed towards the Princess.
He didn’t know where the enemies were, nor how they would inflict damage on her.
He didn’t see any criminals on the perimeter, he wasn’t even able to sense their presence with his sharp instincts. However, he knew that those guys were somewhere.
His burst lasted for less than one second before he reached her, hugging Vick while landing on the street and sliding several meters forward. The asphalt helped him to stop.
Vick was now lying on his arms, still immobile, her body stiff, and her eyes shut.
Ivar tried to shake her to make the Princess awake. He didn’t know how he needed to proceed in that situation. It wasn’t a common fainting. There was more behind it. That’s why it would be troublesome to treat her in such a state.
’She is cold. Her body has no flexibility at all and her pupils are dilatated.’ Ivar evaluated her state quickly, but he couldn’t get to a good diagnosis. He was not a healer.
The Aesir kept holding her while looking to all sides and seeing if there wasn’t anyone near that could threaten hers or his life.
The first person to appear there, surprisingly, was Eskil. He was limping with his left leg. The tablet that was his most valuated invention, with all his programmation and work inside there, was broken. To add to it, one of his arms wasn’t there anymore.
"Sorry for the delay... It’s hard to explain. Anyway, what did I lost?"
"It’s hard to explain as well, but we need a doctor. There is something wrong with Vick."
The man had his mind so dizzy that he couldn’t even notice Vick lying on Ivar’s arms.
He made an exasperated expression right when he assimilated what was happening and ran towards them.
Eva appeared as well. She also asked for a more detailed report of what happened inside that office and why everyone stopped to aim at Rat, letting him escape because of some minutes of persuasion.
Nevertheless, the problem showed up in front of her eyes once she noticed Vick’s state.
The others arrived after a while. Gathering around and looking at the Princess.
Ari was carrying Canute with him, who was conscient again, but his mind seemed to be working in slow motion.
Susie helped Leonel as she could, but he wasn’t so messed like Canute so he was able to walk properly.
The first one to notice what happened was Leonel. The guy, even in a state of mind like he was, could pay attention to every detail. In this matter, he resembled a bit about Thor, his leader, who shared the same ability, though sharper and more accurate.
He took Vick out of Ivar’s arms and looked at her body. He analyzed different points until he arrived in the thigh. There, a yellow thing was stuck.
"That’s a... tranquilizer dart or something?" Casper asked.
"No... That’s pure poison, believe in me. It’s a kind of artificial bacteria that can kill someone in a matter of minutes! We need to take her off from this floor as fast as possible. Her life is at stake!"
