64 Chapter 60: Rachel and Eileen
On that chilly day, with winter looming ahead, Rachel, a scientist and engineer, embarked on a journey through the Siberian mountains for a well-deserved vacation. As she wandered, she stumbled upon something adrift in the serene waters of a river. Initially, she dismissed it as mere floating wood until she noticed a peculiar red hue trailing behind it.
"This child... Could he be as young as Eileen? But how?"
What she had mistaken for wood turned out to be a young boy wearing a mask. He appeared to be no older than ten, his frail form succumbing to the biting cold and bearing severe injuries.
The wounds seemed not from his plunge into the river, but rather from an encounter with a wild animal. A bear, perhaps? Or wolves? As Rachel tended to the boy, she realized the fresh claw marks etched across his skin were not from nature's handiwork.
The sight sent shivers down her spine, invoking a fear even a seasoned medic would find unnerving.
Suppressing her nausea, Rachel concluded that the boy's injuries were deliberately caused by people.
Eventually, the boy regained consciousness under Rachel's care. However, his reaction was far from what she anticipated.
"Kid! C-Calm down!"
Upon awakening, the boy, who seems concealed his identity behind a mask and black wig, lunged at a pencil wielded by a local doctor, almost inflicting harm, or worse, death.
"Where am I?"
His voice, chilling and devoid of innocence, a gaze far too intense for his tender age, hinted at a background of self-defense training. Rachel and the local doctor understood instinctively that one misstep could lead to dire consequences with the pencil in the boy's grasp.
Yet, realizing he was being rescued, the boy restrained himself.
"What's your name, son?"
Rachel interjected, offering a bowl of soup.
"I don't have... a name," the child replied.
"Uh..."
Rachel's bewildered reaction hung in the air as day morphed into night. She immersed herself in a book, yet her thoughts remained tethered to the boy's plight. Suddenly, he resolved to depart.
"W-Wait! You've just regained consciousness. Are you sure you want to leave in this condition and weather?"
Rachel regarded him with incredulity.
"I owe you this debt..."
"Kid! Forget repaying me; you'll endanger yourself with those wounds."
Rachel watched helplessly as the boy made for the door, her attempts to dissuade him futile.
"I'll try not to meet my end."
As the door creaked open, a gust of wind pierced the room, causing Rachel to shiver. Just before the boy could vanish into the night, he paused.
"Moriarty... James Moriarty is my name."
---
Over the passing years, Rachel often pondered the fate of the child she had rescued. Was he still alive? This contemplation coincided with the heartbreaking revelation that she couldn't conceive, leaving her deeply troubled.
"Alright... I need to get ready."
Today marked the day she tutored the royal princess, Eileen de Luxemburg. Rachel had taken up this responsibility ever since she heard Eileen's cries on the day of her birth. Just as she was about to prepare, the doorbell chimed.
"Eileen, I mentioned I'd be re-"
Her words caught in her throat as she swung open the door.
"Rachel..." Eileen greeted with a soft smile, "Today, I've brought someone along."
With that, Eileen took hold of a teenage boy's wrist, akin to rescuing a stray animal, and sought Rachel's approval as if asking to adopt a pet. The boy, clearly displeased freed himself from Eileen's grasp.
"Rachel, you seem startled," Eileen remarked, observing Rachel's reaction to the silver-haired youth before them.
"I've come to settle my debt."
---
After that, James would occasionally come to Luxemburg to visit Rachel's house. Rachel would prepare tea and cookies for her guests. At that time, Eileen had just turned 12, the age when the boy she had saved had lived.
But it was strange how these two had met. Perhaps it was fate? It seemed as though she was witnessing something akin to a princess with her childhood friend. However, Rachel couldn't help but sigh. These two didn't sound sweet and innocent at all; they were discussing heavy issues.
"You're interesting," Eileen smiled. "Your plans and everything about you, I like it. Hey, are you sure you don't want to be my pet?"
The teenage boy maintained his flat expression. "No."
"I'm serious, James. I'll build you a house and feed you every day."
Rachel just smiled at this. Maybe Eileen was joking around with her weird sense of humor.
"Here are some cookies," Rachel said, placing them on the table. "What are you both talking about?"
Eileen sipped her tea as she smiled. "James just told me how to conquer the world," she said, handing Rachel a document. "Take a look at these blueprints."
Rachel took it and glanced at the boy, who remained silent, unfazed. She decided to read it, and as time passed, she was shocked because, as an engineer, she knew this was something incredible.
"J-James... Is this your design? Don't tell me you stole this from someone?"
"I didn't," he replied.
Eileen smiled. "Rachel, you're aware that the US just imposed economic sanctions on us because Father didn't stop our nuclear program. As the future queen, I can't let this happen," she said, taking James Moriarty's blueprints. "And this is the future."
It took a moment for Rachel to process Eileen's smile. These two were serious. They weren't talking about fictional dreams like other kids their age. Once again, Rachel wondered why this boy and the girl were special.
And so, James and Eileen began to execute their plan: to make the world kneel at their feet. But before that, Eileen needed to become the next ruler of Luxemburg. She wasn't alone; James Moriarty had her back, and Rachel was by her side.
"My father has given his approval for me to manage the Luxemburg Bank."
Eileen had been instructed by James to take over her kingdom's bank, and she managed to convince the current King.
"Good," the silver-haired boy nodded. "Keep your eye on the future because soon, the US will face a monetary crisis."
Eileen smiled broadly. "So that's why..." she mused. "What will you buy when that happens?"
With curious gazes, Eileen and Rachel looked at James as he said, "Companies. Lots of companies."
In his previous life, significant events had occurred during that time, and he knew that a US monetary crisis was a significant opportunity to acquire major good companies in various sectors.
Eileen giggled. "So you want to bring them all here to Luxemburg. I agree..."
James nodded. "That's not enough. Tell your father to increase the budget for human resources and cut the military budget. You should forget about the Middle East."
"Hmm... that might be interesting, but my father won't listen to anything I say," Eileen frowned. "And my brother too. Can you deal with him?" She smiled at James.
"I can handle him in the near future, but if we rush, the US will be on guard because your brother has good connections with the White House."
"Hmm... why should we stop sending troops to the Middle East?"
"It would be a waste of money. The money you spend on this war is less profitable than starting a new era of industrialization."
"I agree... chips are more valuable than oil, but if this plan fails, I'll be executed..." Eileen said, smiling. "But I like it. This thrill... maybe it's something that can only be felt in near-death situations."
Seeing Eileen smile like that, Rachel knew that something big was about to happen. As James predicted, the monetary crisis occurred, and Eileen proceeded to buy all the major stocks of the companies James had listed before.
"James, why not live here with me? If you wanted to, how about becoming my son?"
Rachel's voice carried a mix of concern and genuine care. Despite the air of mystery that surrounded the boy, she couldn't shake off her worry for his safety. Each time she looked at him, she sensed an unspoken burden he carried.
"No. If you get involved with me, you'll end up getting yourself killed," James replied, his tone tinged with a solemn warning. "Put that aside for now, have you made your decision?"
His words hinted at a desire to repay the debt he felt towards Rachel for saving him in the past. But since the beginning, Rachel never expected anything from him in return. For her, knowing that he was alive and well was reward enough.
"I just want you to promise me that you'll keep living, no matter what. And if you ever need a home," Rachel's smile radiated warmth, "This is home."
Rachel understood the dangers that James faced. She knew he needed something to anchor him, to keep him going. Despite James's warnings, she couldn't bring herself to stay away from him when she was taking after Eileen.
---
Rachel continued to be Eileen's right hand, but this came with significant consequences. When Teresa had gone missing, Rachel found herself in the basement of a military base, uncertain of her whereabouts but keenly aware of the gravity of the situation.
"Can you tell us about Eileen de Luxemburg?" an investigator in a suit asked.
"No," Rachel replied curtly.
The investigator persisted, "Who's behind Eileen de Luxemburg?"
Rachel remained steadfast. "You'll have to ask the god himself,"
Meeting the Rachel's gaze without flinching, he added with a faint smile, "Are you threatening the United States of America?"
The investigator didn't take kindly to her response, but he knew that harming her could jeopardize their chances of gathering more information about Eileen.
"The government has offered you clemency if you agree to cooperate and become a citizen—" he started, but Rachel interrupted.
"No," she said firmly, frowning. "Are we done here?"
Later, Rachel found herself among hostages in a room. She wasn't alone; her entire team, along with Japanese scientists, had been captured during a joint defense project with Eileen and Japan.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
"Yes, they've only interrogated me. Thank you for asking, Captain Aizawa," Rachel replied.
Rachel looked at the man. His name was Captain Aizawa Gorou, the bodyguard that the JSDF sent to protect their scientist.
"If this wasn't for my incompetence... I'm so sorry," he said with regret.
"Captain, this matter is no longer simple, so no one is to blame," Rachel replied, understanding the complexity of the situation.
As tensions between Eileen and the US escalated, Rachel anticipated further conflicts.
---
Days passed until a significant event shook the basement with tremors.
"An explosion?" Captain Aizawa questioned, his brow furrowing.
Rachel looked up at the ceiling, wondering if their rescuer had arrived. Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing the guard who had previously escorted them to interrogation.
"Got up! Hurry you piece of sh—"
Stabbed! The man's eyes rolled up as he crashed to the ground, his face meeting the floor. Rachel and everyone present gasped as they noticed a knife at the back of his head, simultaneously glancing at the person entering the hostage room.
"Rachel Wagner?"
From the outset, Rachel had never felt fear in this situation because the person she had been expecting to come for her was finally here. Her gaze fixed on the mask sculpted to resemble a face, leaving hollow spaces where the eyes should be. She could only see his violent crimson eyes. It's him.
"Yes."
"I'm here for a rescue mission. Let's go—"
"Wait!" Captain Gorou interjected. "Who sent you here?" With just a single glance at his appearance, there was no doubt that this man was a mercenary. However, how could he have breached a US base?
"I can't tell you. Instead of asking me nonsense, we should hurry. The attack from the US Marines should be on its way." The masked man said as he kicked a rifle on the ground towards Captain Gorou. "14 minutes. I'll escort you to hangar 2. Pilot the plane and get out of here."
Captain Gorou looked at the rifle as he took it.
"Captain! You're going to trust this guy?"
Gorou turned to the woman beside him. "Sergeant Watanabe..." He clenched the rifle tightly. "There's nothing we can do in this situation except follow this man. Get ready!"
After that, they proceeded to move with the masked man in the vanguard, Captain Gorou and Sergeant Watanabe behind him, with two others bringing up the rear, while the scientists were in between them.
As they walked down the narrow hallway, they gasped at the sight.
"H-How?" the Captain said, rendered speechless.
The hallway was filled with bodies, making it difficult for them to even take a step without stepping on the scattered corpses. Of course, they knew it was this man doing.
Rachel had never seen him in action before, but to think this was the situation he faced.
-Move! Move!
-Kill all the intruders!
The masked man gives them a gesture to stop when there's a sound of footsteps coming here.
[Take cover.]
The masked man gestured with his hand, signaling Captain Gorou to halt along with the others, as they watched him clasp his rifle.
"There is—" he began.
Before he could finish his sentence, he pulled the trigger and shot the man in the head. Two men halted, one of them preparing a grenade. However, the masked man pulled a string on the wall, activating a grenade placed beside them, causing an explosion.
"Clear," he said, gesturing for them to move forward as he took the lead.
"Did he set up a trap in such a short amount of time?" Captain Gorou wondered aloud.
Captain Gorou understood why this man insisted on leading them. With every step they took, he activated traps. Essentially, they were in enemy territory, but this man had effectively turned it into his own domain.
After that, they managed to escape the basement and were met with scorching heat and a blinding sun.
"Where are we?" Rachel asked, bewildered.
"100 kilometers from Baghdad," the masked man replied tersely. "There's no time to be shocked. Head to Hangar 2—get down!"
But then one of Gorou's men was shot. The masked man retaliated with a countershot as shouts echoed around them.
"G.O.B! Do you think you can run from this?!"
Everyone heard it, a voice filled with rage from somewhere behind them. The masked man spotted a blonde-haired man glaring at him.
"Go, I'll handle the clean-up," he instructed, disappearing back inside, leaving Rachel wide-eyed.
"What?! NO! You should come with us!"
"Ma'am! He's right! This is our chance to escape."
"Are you crazy?! There's no way I'll leave him here!"
"He's a mercenary, Ma'am! You don't have to pity him."
With a heavy heart, Rachel complied. The base now felt like a ghost town, with not just soldiers' bodies strewn about.
"They're militia? I see… so, that's what happened."
The masked man wasn't alone. Perhaps he had also enlisted militia to attack the base together. It was a wicked yet ingenious plan. Then, they managed to board a C-130 plane.
Gorou sat in the pilot's seat and started the engine.
"Captain! I've never flown a plane before!" said Sergent Watanabe.
"Ma'am! Do you have any experience?"
As Rachel pondered her answer, her thoughts still drifted to the boy. Eventually, she nodded to him.
"Alright, I'll be your co-pilot."
"Thank you, ma'am. Sigh... But who's that man from before?"
Gorou contemplated as they maneuvered the airplane for takeoff. The idea of someone capable of orchestrating such a plan surprised him. Rachel remained silent.
"G.O.B.," Sergeant Watanabe interjected, "I think I've heard of this name before, sir."
"G.O.B.?"
"It means 'god of battlefields.' There are rumors surrounding a man who has never failed in war. It's said he's a local who became one of the best mercenaries."
"I see—"
Suddenly, a beep interrupted their conversation.
"Sir, bogey on our tail!"
"Shit!"
An F-22 fighter jet was in pursuit of their stolen C-130. The pilot locked onto their targeting system and launched a missile.
"Sergeant! Flares, now!"
As Watanabe pressed the button, flares erupted from every corner of the plane, causing the missile to miss its target. However, they then heard a booming sound, just as the masked man had warned.
"No..." Rachel murmured, her eyes shifting to the destruction below as Marine attacked the airbase.
"The bogey's back!"
Sergeant Watanabe shouted, prompting Gorou to tilt the aircraft and make evasive maneuvers. The F-22 persisted, maneuvering back towards them. Then, Watanabe noticed the radar detecting another aircraft. Suddenly, the F-22 in front of them veered to the side, deploying flares as a missile struck it.
"Who?" Watanabe wonder aloud.
Another fighter jet passed them, tilting and turning ahead. However, what caught everyone's attention most was the pilot inside it.
"It's him!"
The masked man was piloting a stolen fighter jet, now hunting back the F-22.
"But how? Who is this man exactly?"
A formidable fighter and capable pilot? It seemed absurd, but this was their reality. After that, they watched in disbelief as the masked man, whom they had thought dead in the Marine's attack, now stared back at them from a stolen fighter jet. Naturally, they were terrified, except for Rachel. Despite the madness of it all, they managed to safely escape the war zone and land in a safe country. But for Rachel, it was a nightmare. She couldn't bear to see such a young boy amid a battle like that.
---
September, 2013.
Several years after the incident, Rachel witnessed Luxemburg plunged into civil war for two weeks due to a throne battle between the First Prince and the First Princess.
The outcome was Eileen emerging as the victor. It was an obvious result, given her ability to win over the hearts of the people and excel in every aspect compared to the First Prince. Later, the world learned that the First Prince had been shot at the US embassy by a mysterious assailant further adding to US frustrations. Yet, this incident only solidified Eileen's victory.
"Sister! You look beautiful!" Teresa exclaimed upon seeing Eileen.
"Thank you," Eileen responded with a sweet smile. "How do I look, Rachel?"
Rachel nodded with a smile. "Majestic. Though, those clothes look heavy."
Eileen giggled. "It's alright. Uh, Teresa... could you give me some space? I want to talk with Rachel."
"Sure, sister. I'll wait with Alec in the other room."
"Alright."
Rachel watched Teresa walk away.
"Rachel... what should I do? He doesn't seem interested in my coronation. I thought... I would see him when I put my crown on my own," Eileen said with a calm expression.
"Are you sure this is a good decision? Maybe you should keep it traditional," Rachel suggested.
Eileen burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHA! Rachel... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. But, I just find it disgusting when a random man lounges around and does nothing while we work so hard for 7 years to build this kingdom under pressure from the US and others. Ha... thinks he has the right to put the crown on my head as if it's his gift to give..."
Rachel didn't answer, still taken aback by Eileen's laughter and the coronation began as Eileen had promised, with her placing the crown on her own head.
It was a shocking sight, but the people didn't find it odd. Eileen had earned the right to be arrogant, as the people knew that Luxemburg had become the leading country in Europe and even the world, soon.
The world knew that the kingdom was on the brink of rivaling the US within just a few years. And so it came to be. Later on, Eileen decided to leave NATO and establish a new alliance called the West European Alliance.
But Eileen never stopped moving forward.
---
Currently, in Tokyo, Rachel had had ENOUGH of them, so she decided to go and meet him. At this moment, Rachel finds herself alone with Minoru in his safe house.
"I expected that I would have a conversation with you after so long in a nice restaurant. To think I'd end up in the basement of your safe house, stitching new wounds on your body again. You must have had a hard time sitting down with a bullet wound in your... well, you know," Rachel paused, inhaling deeply before sighing. "So, what kind of enemies did you face off against to end up with such a wound? Is it that CIA girl from your university days?"
As Rachel adjusted her glasses, she continued stitching his wound with care, while James leaned back as if he were in a spa, allowing her to tend to his injury.
"No, it's not her. It's Twilight and his fifty men chasing after me before they all died," Minoru explained. "Seems, Eileen might have forgotten to tell her employees that... they were supposed to be 'acting' when pursuing me, and yet she took it too seriously," Minoru remarked flatly.
"This is a rare occurrence, showing... mercy, to your opponent. Are you somehow becoming more merciful, or are you getting weaker? Since you've probably seen his face already. A week ago, I met Mr. Twilight, and he mentioned retiring once Teresa finishes her schooling. Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?"
"Sounds like a happy ending."
"Ah, I miss that sarcasm, and son... that's called life. Probably, you should try that sometimes..." Rachel paused for a moment before continuing. "Hm... I always wondered what went wrong between you and Eileen. I remember those days when you both sat together in my backyard, playing chess while discussing plans... of conquering the world." She took a deep breath before sighing. "To think you'd manage to do that, but I hope you'll stop plotting against each other."
"You're setting your hopes too high, Rachel. Our relationship has been business from the beginning."
"Poor Eileen. But she always had feelings for you. She just got confused sometimes. Alright... how is your butt feeling now?"
Rachel said as she finished stitching and cut the thread.
"It's better now, thank you."
Rachel removed her glasses as she cleaned her hands, then said, "Haha. What would you do without me? You should thank this old lady more often, son... it might increase your survival chances." She said with a little smile as she poured wine into the glass.
"I've always been thankful for your kindness since you saved me back then," he said and sat on the bed.
Rachel turned around with her mouth agape when the only light in that basement shone upon his back. Rachel always shivered when she saw the scars on his body and wondered when he'd stop adding new ones.
But deep down, she respected him as an individual. Rachel knew that behind Eileen's back, there was him, the King hiding in the shadows. The boy she met with nothing had now swallowed the world without anyone knowing it. Despite all of that, Rachel thought of him as her son and worried about his well-being.
"Son... know your limits," Rachel said with a meek smile.
"Are you referring to the other guy? But, that guy was also me..." He said as he put his expensive shirt back on. His wounded back was now out of her sight. "001 has no limits."
Rachel hummed, knowing he was stubborn. Now, how could she convince him to marry and have kids before he might die somewhere?
---
A/N: 4k words, hope you enjoy it.
