City of Burning Snow

Three 10 minutes ago.

"He's late again."

Shibusawa dragged the wine glass slowly, and the water marks entered Gogol's heart very glaringly in the sunlight.

"You seem familiar?" Gogol asked him.

"It's an old friend." Shibusawa said simply.

Gogol grumbled. "oh……"

The more active Dostoyevsky was in the public eye, the further he distanced himself from Gogol.It was getting farther and farther away from the short memory that only belonged to the two of them.The Sentinel clenched his fist, then loosened it loosely.He originally planned to stay here forever, but now he was disturbed by Shibusawa and couldn't sit still.A needle-like soreness stabbed into his heart.

"He's in the office, you just go to him directly."

He stood up and was about to leave, but the other party grabbed his wrist suddenly.

A sudden wind blew his hat off.A gust of wind came out of the arm, turned into a sharp blade, trying to tear Shibusawa's fingers.Shibusawa felt the pain, he withdrew his hand.Gogol, who turned around, was startled by the redness and swelling on the back of the opponent's hand.Feeling a little guilty, he shrunk himself into the white robe, and the effect of the isolation robe made the evil wind dissipate again. Gogol bent to pick up the hat.

"Uh... sorry."

He lowered his head, so he also missed the ecstasy that flashed in Shibusawa Ryuhiko's eyes.

Only then did Shibusawa take a serious look at the sentinel.

The pom-poms sway in the light with the long braids, forming a charming tension with Gogol's latent chill.This world of difference was outlined in Shibusawa's eyes, and he pulled out the stool beside him, blocking Gogol's way.

"What are you doing?" Gogol raised his head and saw Shibusawa Tatsuhiko snapping his fingers, calling the waiter back.There was a 180-degree change in Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's attitude, and his tone became better.

"I've changed my mind, you sit down. I'll pay the bill in full."

He looked at the other party inexplicably, and Shibusawa ordered a few drinks from the wine list handed over by the waiter. The expensive amount made the sentry's eyes straighten.

"Just order some good wine, you're welcome with me."

"It's so expensive? No need!"

All from the end of the menu to look at the wine, the order is either six figures or seven figures.Who the hell is this guy! ?Gogol tried to decline politely, but was sat back down by his shoulders.

"I'm also an old friend of Fyodor, what's the matter, can't I drink the wine I ordered?"

"This..." When he said this, Gogol really didn't want to drink the wine.But he changed his reason, "If you drink at noon, you will be fined if your colleagues see you!"

"I don't even give you face for a glass of wine. I guess Fyodor asked you to do this on purpose."

"..."

Gogol had to wait aggrievedly for the wine to be served.

The uncomfortable feeling was swept away after he tasted the unknown high-end French wine that he usually couldn't drink.The aroma prevented him from drinking too much, for fear of spoiling his tongue. He heard Shibusawa say the name of the wine again, but he didn't understand. It's all about worrying.

The life of the rich in capitalism...

"Speaking of which, if you have anything to do, you should talk directly to the senior guide himself." He slowed down as much as possible, but in the end he almost drank the wine in a few sips. He looked at the other party, "I haven't seen him for seven years gone."

"Hey, I think too, he doesn't have time to receive me now." Shibusawa shook the liquid of the wine, "The trouble he caused not long ago should be revealed soon."

Shibusawa stared at his palm through the jewel-like liquor.The white fingertips are delicately set off by the black sleeves, but the strange touch has not completely disappeared.The clothes on Gogol, if you guessed correctly, are the internal items of the British "Clock Tower Attendants".He had only heard of that thing, and it blocked most of his perception just now.

"I saw you on the first floor. It seems that you don't know what Fukuzawa Yukichi did here? I thought he would find a way to use your ability to escape. To be honest, I Quite a surprise."

Gogol took a sip of his wine, "Hiding away?"

Shibusawa glanced back, "Didn't he tell you?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Fukuzawa Yukichi is a representative sent by the Japanese side. He is a representative in name. In fact, he belongs to a new special operations team. Do you understand. Fukuzawa's team was established because of a certain case, although it also takes care of some other things. The trivial matters between the government and the mafia, in fact, can be clearly seen just by looking at the time of its establishment. This organization was established just two months ago."

"What's going on?" Gogol was at a loss. He really didn't pay much attention to foreign trends, and he didn't need to pay attention. "What does this Fuze do?"

Shibusawa glanced at him, deciding to ignore the man's half-open mouth.

"Certainly came to investigate your friend Fyodor."

"Two months ago, there was a theft case in Japan that shocked Yokohama. You must have heard of it. Some genetic samples of the Japanese Sentinel Section disappeared, which directly led to the early discharge of more than 500 soldiers. "

Shibusawa was drinking and talking in a leisurely tone.

"The genetic samples of soldiers are unique, and they are subject to unified management just like a person's identity certificate. However, it is not the same. Yokohama has spent a lot of effort to solve the problems of these soldiers. Their samples were Pirates, it is very likely that the enemy will master all the thinking structures. Do you understand? These soldiers can only be discarded."

He put the wine glass down.

He was not very satisfied with the taste of this glass of wine. The wine was not stored properly, and the temperature of the thermal insulation cellar must have not been strictly controlled, so the aroma became astringent prematurely.

"New Russia doesn't want its only senior guide to be splashed with dirty water, but it's a pity."

Seeing that Gogol hadn't followed his train of thought, he asked a straightforward question. "Do you know who stole the sample?"

Gogol felt the cloak on his body become heavy immediately.He remembered the letter.

"...Fei, Mr. Dostoevsky? This is impossible..."

"I'm just telling you a fact. As for whether you believe it or not, that's a matter for you to deal with. I invited him to help steal it, because in this world, only senior guides can avoid all tracking."

Shibusawa Tatsuhiko was playing with the paper mat next to the cup.Fiddled with the edge of the paper, and there was a light "pop" under the hand, and the square piece of paper was snapped back on the table and folded in half.

He really wanted to break the shallow bond between the two with a few words.

It's as simple as breaking this piece of paper.Such a low-level sentinel with no information and no worries, fortunately, he can be appreciated by that Fyodor——

Dostoevsky hadn't told Nikolai Gogol so much, Shibusawa thought, and since Gogol was startled when he heard about the theft, he probably didn't tell any of it at all. The truth was told to this shoddy Sentinel.

If he talked about the details of the theft at this time, for example, when Dostoevsky was working with Yokohama, he and them killed several civilians and children who witnessed the scene.

Or, to be more practical: if he told the other party directly now, Dostoevsky had only temporarily called Gogol out for his own safety.He was using him--

Will this person still make a disappointing surprised face like just now?

Or would it be a little more funny, with a very different angry look?

The trust between people is so fragile, if the timing is handled properly, the relationship will be broken in the blink of an eye.

Shibusawa flicked the coaster, but he didn't follow his own interest to say anything.

While waiting for Gogol to digest the information, he just casually tore apart the paper in his hand.If he breaks a certain trust between the sentinel and the senior guide now like destroying this piece of paper, Dostoevsky will know later that he will not only deliberately delay his original plan, but may also return to the original plan. his trouble.

Forget it...

He replaced a complete coaster next to it and folded it again.The loss outweighs the gain.

When the expectation in Gogol's eyes finally outweighed the surprise, he continued.

"It's like fingerprints or facial photos registered by ordinary people, which can prove his legal identity for a period of time. Every soldier with special abilities needs to leave a little blood sample and store it in the tower before enlisting. You know this—"

"It's the kind of thing that is properly destroyed after retirement. Every country handles the details a little differently, but the essence is the same. I heard them say that it's just to keep it as a bottom line."

Shibusawa glanced at him.

"—So, you really didn't leave your identity card in the Russian Tower?"

"I don't have it! You saw my physique just now, no one can get close to me." Gogol said carelessly, "I can't just send me back to my hometown, and all groups with special abilities must be quarantined! This is international law. The higher-ups are often worried about me."

"I know, because Fyodor told me."

Gogol's expression that had just cleared up a little bit sank again.

Shibusawa looked at his serious demeanor, he raised his chin, this person is much easier to control than Dostoevsky.He put the coasters on the table together with the two pieces that had just been broken, and tapped the three pieces of paper one by one with his thin fingertips:

New Russia, British Tower, Japanese Sentinel Branch.He said that in addition to these three institutions, Nordic also has projects that study the structure of thinking.

"However, it is only at the research stage. There are three countries in the world that have turned their research into actual combat applications. Britain has gone the farthest in this regard. After all, it is the country where the sentinel tower started. Your new Russia has a short history. The speed of development is astounding.”

Gogol listened.Although he doesn't pay attention to the news often, he knows this--

"But what does that have to do with burglary?"

"It's very important. Let's put it this way, he came to you because of this." Shibusawa patiently explained, "Your sample cannot be extracted, which means that you have not been grasped by New Russia. You are a person Where it is now and where it wants to go next, the tower cannot observe it at any time, let alone predict it.”

"...Forecasting is unpredictable, but I am also serving."

"The other soldiers are not like this. They have been completely puppets of the army since they first entered the tower. But you are not. You are not a puppet soldier. Not only can the country not inject you with a chip, but even the most basic blood sample research No. Can’t study the thinking structure hidden in your blood, can’t deduce your behavior pattern... Do you understand, they can’t control you at all.”

A hint of greed suddenly flashed in Shibusawa Ryuhiko's eyes.When he talked about freedom, he turned his head and brushed away the broken hair on the left side of his neck.There was a faint scar on his pale neck.

"You are just like me now, no chip, no sample, a completely free person."

The sunlight falling into Shibusawa's red eyes was as touching as Satan's bewitchment.Gogol's mouth is half open.

"Freedom... you say, I am a completely free person?"

That's why the organization has never allowed him to officially go to the battlefield... The stumbling service life is becoming more and more clear, becoming clear and logical in his mind.He thought of the incidents of accidental injury that had caused him heartache in the past few years.It didn't have to be so hard, he smiled wryly with Dostoevsky in the basement.Why didn't the organization get rid of him directly?

In order to obtain his basic information, Ta spent too much effort, even he himself found it too troublesome, and they must have wanted to deal with him a long time ago.

So... so.

Gogol understood.

Therefore, the reason why he has not been disposed of by the organization all these years, has not been officially registered, and is able to serve in the Novorussian tower with nothing to do is because Dostoevsky, who is in a high position, is secretly protecting him. —He gave him “good luck” again.

In Gogol's lost thoughts, Shibusawa continued speaking without emotion.

"Fyodor helped me steal the blood sample back. It took a little effort, but we all agreed that it was necessary in the long run."

"The first step has already been taken two months ago. I originally wanted to wait for him to lurk for another half a year, until the international issue of the theft was attributed to the recent spying error of the 'Clock Tower Attendant'. Who knew this blessing Ze was sent out by Japan. It is obvious—Japan has already set its sights on Dostoevsky."

"I've tried to persuade him several times. But he is a man who is decisive in other matters, but he is sloppy with you. Of course, I understand a little bit from the contact just now. For people like us, There are too many things that can be predicted, but few things that are beyond control. For that person, your crazy physique is probably a rare object of entertainment."

Speaking of this, the white-haired young man revealed a certain imperceptible look of loneliness.A strand of hair fell desolately from his shoulders, and he thought of the letters piled up in a corner that could never be mailed, and his entertainment object was gone.

"Forget it, I would also like to see how capable the sentinel is for delaying him for another two months. Why," Shibusawa raised his eyes slightly, "the topic was just a little interesting at the beginning, so you are leaving in a hurry?"

He saw the Ukrainian's hat pressed tightly to his chest, his biting lips forming a thin slit.

Dostoevsky didn't keep him just now, not because he didn't want to keep him anymore.Nor is he a pastime object as Shibusawa thought.

Dostoyevsky was very interested in this world, not someone like Shibusawa who would just sit on the sidelines and not interfere.The reason why he participated in the theft is still unclear, but now is not the time to continue to discuss major international issues without any sense of tension...

He should go back to that person now, right now, right now.Shibusawa said that Dostoevsky had always hoped that Gogol would protect him——

Such an important matter, why didn't Dostoevsky tell him directly! ?Let the world do what it loves first!

"Sorry! Let's talk again when we have a chance!"

Shibusawa watched the man rush out of the cafe with cold eyes, he estimated that Dostoevsky's business had not been finished yet at this time.But he was too lazy to continue to help the other party clean up the mess, and he didn't have this obligation.He has been coveting blood samples from New Russia for a long time, and he can hardly wait any longer.

He closed his eyes, and listened to the old piano music playing in the coffee shop for a while. Igor Krutoy's tune was not to his taste, the rattan chair was rough, and the wine made him even more disappointed.He finally thought, only the way the sentry rushed out reminded him a bit of how stupid Mishima was back then.He leaned sleepily on the white wicker chair.

Let the Sentinel figure it out on his own.

When the song "Angel of Sorrow" ended, the sound of Ukrainian footsteps was interrupted inside the soundproof wall.Shibusawa Tatsuhiko paid the payment and quietly left the top floor of the tower.

tbc.