Chapter 207

Abigail and InoRyder conversing to each other with their eyes.

–What should we do?

After a while, Abigail, sighed “Hah ……” she began to speak in a resigned tone, “Actually……..”

She decided that it was no longer a concern that she was investigating Nigel’s death at the end of the 89 defense, since it was now public knowledge at this point. However, She did not disclose that she was investigating the lieutenant general on behalf of the Rutherford side.

“The 89 Defense Battle……Nigel’s last moments facing off against an alien powerhouse……the skill that produced the explosion that deafened the heavens…… It is indeed Interesting. Can you tell me more about it? I can help you with this if you like. Perhaps it will give me an idea for my next weapon development!”

Sheridan said with a face full of curiosity. A twinkling star danced in his eyes. He was harmless. He seemed harmless enough.

Abigail let Sheridan listen to Garnier and Wakefield’s version of the story, while she also sorted through her own memories.

Nigel had likely come face to face with a human soldier before she died. She had either fought or co-operated with these individuals. Wakefield’s testimony strongly suggests this was the case. The mysterious monster’s corpse and the large amount of carcasses are also concerning.

Nigel was stabbed in the back. It is unclear who stabbed her. But one thing is certain, the knife that stabbed Nigel was not, at first glance, an ordinary one.

Perhaps this point is strongly related to the part where Gevaudan says he was betrayed.

It was a shame that we could not recover that knife. A more detailed inspection with equipment in this facility would surely have helped us to get closer to the truth.

“The remaining physical evidence is this revolver….”

The gun that had been in Nigel’s hands was placed on the table. But this alone would not lead to anything. Who should we talk to next? Abigail tried to picture the faces of people who might be able to give her clues. In any case, she would have to be even more careful from now on.

At that moment, the door of the conference room opened.

Benedict entered the room.

“Sheridan, what’s happening?”

“Grandpa! Actually, there’s a secret–“

After Sheridan told him about the situation, Benedict cleared his throat, hmmm …… and stood beside Abigail, touching her ass and picking up the revolver on the table.

“Nigel’s gun huh, aren’t that nostalgic……..um?”

Benedict looked at the revolver’s grip and opened his eye wide.

“Grandpa?”

Abigail looked at him as she pinched Benedict’s hand.

“Ow ow ow …….. But Miss Abigail, this is not Nigel’s gun.”

“What do you mean, old man?”

InoRyder snatched the gun from his hand and stared at it.

“Nigel’s Wolfsbane was my masterpiece, and the girl likes to name her things. It was specifically named . It’s supposed to have an upside-down cross on the grip.

“Upside-down Cross ……”

Abigail looked and saw nothing of the sort. After a delay, InoRyder grunted, “It’s true…”

After a pause, Benedict said, “Shall I show you the real thing?”

“Really!?”

Benedict gave InoRyder a thumbs up as he leaned forward.

“Really”

“You have it?”

Abigail asked in surprise, and Benedict replied, “Yes, I have it. I have a spare for future maintenance. Follow me.” he beckoned.

Benedict led Abigail and InoRyder into a back room.

The room had the ambiance of a factory workshop, with the smell of rusty steel and motor oil in the air.

“This is my private office and workshop.”

Benedict disappears into the inner room and soon returns with a large crate in both hands.

On top of the crate was a single revolver.

“–Here. This is Faithless.”

“Oh, this weight. This is indeed Senpai’s ♡”

Leaving the girl that mesmerized and nuzzling the revolver, Benedict turned to Abigail.

“And here.”

He placed the crate on the table and the table creaked with a heavy thud.

“–This is a present from me to Miss Abigail.”

*click* He opens the crate to reveal a disassembled gun stored neatly within.

“What’s this?”

“ Nigel’s sniper rifle.”

“–Waaaah!?, Wild Roar!!!!!??”

InoRyder jumped to her feet and eagerly peered into the crate.

“The real thing!?”

“Of course it’s real.”

Although it was disassembled, it was clearly thicker and larger than an ordinary rifle.

“You can take that one, along with the revolver.”

“…… Why…..all of a sudden?”

Abigail asked, puzzled, and Benedict simply said, “You’re the one who’s supposed to have it in the first place.”

“I’ve been preparing to give it to you the next time I see you. I guess you can say this is my ……parting gift to her.”

“–Thank you, old man………….”

Abigail hugged Benedict.

“Heh, heh, heh…… then in return, you can let me play with your soft titties.”

He yelped as Abigail’s pinched at the back of his hand. after a while Benedict said, “Don’t forget to wear earplugs if you’re going to try and shoot Wild Roar.”

“Also, Miss Abigail can’t shoot Wild Roar, Even with a bipod for support. She’s not ready for it.”

“Is the caliber too big?”

Abigail asked, and Benedict shook his head.

“It’s the gunpowder”

“The gunpowder?”

“Wild Roar bullets are made with a special formula that contains Octaazacubane. That’s theoretically the most powerful explosive known to man. Once the gun fires, it generates a shockwave that can kill a man standing nearby just by the shockwave sound of it, which is why it is called the wild roar. The head is also specially made with a heavy metal alloy. If an untrained civilian were to fire it, their shoulder bones will shatter.”

“Such a powerful weapon, yet this is the only one?”

“Yes. Because of the bullets.”

“Bullets?”

“The gun is ridiculously large and ridiculously heavy. It requires a certain amount of strength and skill to handle, but above all, Wild Roar bullets are more expensive than pure gold bullets with the same mass. Only a handful of soldiers can be trusted with them. It is by far the most special and unique gun I have ever made.”

Benedict put his hand on Wild Roar and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. Abigail saw a profound sense of fondness in his movements and expression.

“–Keep this one on display and just use Faithless. Still, hold it steady with both hands and shoot. If you shoot with one hand like in the movies, you’ll get your wrist shattered. It has several times more energy than a standard magnum.”

“Can InoRyder use this sniper rifle?”

“Yes……. she can shoot it, but she won’t be able to aim it accurately over a long distance. This thing is almost like a cannon. I think Whisley is the only one capable of handling it properly among them.”

“Also, maybe …… Garnier can shoot it too….”

Then suddenly, Abigail says something that comes to mind.

“–Wait a minute. Then who owned that revolver that Wake had?”

“It’s …….”

Benedict answered on behalf of InoRyde.

“Wolfsbane basically distributes it to the Fox team. Not exclusively, though. There are a lot of soldiers who use it in other teams as well.”

“—- Well, under the circumstances, that gun might belong to ex-captain Garnier too.”

With a loud sigh, InoRyder continues.

“Can’t we find out whose gun it was from the serial number?”

“I’ll look into it.”

With that, Benedict took the gun that was in Nigel’s hand.

Abigail’s face flushed slightly with excitement at this unexpected turn of events.

She had to ask Garnier himself why Nigel was holding Garnier’s gun at her last moment.

“sorry InoRyder, but can we please have another meeting with Garnier? I’d like to hear his story again, and told him Wakefield’s version.”

InoRyder made a circle with her fingers and answered with an OK sign.

“Also, Old man, I wonder if you know anything about the black knife.”

“…… black, knife?”

Benedict stopped moving.

“Yes. Wake was holding the knife that he thought stabbed Nigel, and it had a very strange shape, the blade was black. It looked like an alien weapon, but there was something strange about it.—- Yes, the tip was very round.”

A knife’s edge is sharp. But the tip of that black blade had an arc. Like a shoehorn. That was the strange uncanny feeling Abigail felt. It was not suitable for stabbing which is the basic function of a knife.

“Hmmm… “

Benedict shook his head.

“I cannot tell from that much…… If I had the actual thing, I might be able to figure it out.”

“Miss Abigail, what are you going to do after you find out about the 89 Defense. What are you going to do with it?”

“That’s …… I plan to reveal the truth and make it public if I have to.”

Abigail answered Benedict’s question with some implications.

Benedict said, “I see.” and lowered his gaze to the floor.

“…… Hey, Old man. I heard a rumor that 88 was trying to do something with 89. And you have been here for a long time, I wonder if you know anything about it…”

At that moment, the intercom rang.

“Abby, are you there?”

Natsuki was waiting outside the room, accompanied by Rudra.

“Ummm…….Sheridan-san has offered us a place in the building where we can spend some time. He’ll show us around and he wants everyone to come.”

“A room?”

“A room? It looks like a car.”

“What? a car? Which one?”

“Oh.” Then Benedict says.

“It’s a prototype of an armored auto-camper. In short, it’s a camper for the commander, so they won’t complain if they stay out for a while. We could disguise it by saying we were in charge of testing or something. But it’s a little cramped for that many people.”

“That would be great.”

“Was that you talking? I think it’s time for Yakumo to sleep…..”

Natsuki’s concern was understandable. It must have been a tough night for the child. Abigail decided to go ahead and move to a place where she could calm down for a moment.

“Sure. let’s have him show us where we’ll be staying tonight.”

“Please come again, Miss Abigail….”

Benedict saw her off, and Abigail and InoRyder left the room.