Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit
Chapter 105 – A Way In

Chapter 105 - A Way In

I was drowning in thought, consumed by the whirlwind of realizations swirling in my mind. It was almost absurd—nearly every thread of misery in my life could be traced back to a single name: Neil Orbeus. He wasn't just my friend and classmate- he is a member of the Neo Terrestrial Reich, the architect of the Blackout Incident at the Archonlight Tower, and, ironically, the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Cosmic Tree.

Everything seemed to orbit him, like satellites locked in the gravity of a dying star. And in a twisted way, that should’ve made things easier. If the root of my troubles was standing right in front of me, then surely there was a path to resolution. But the thought brought no comfort. Because I knew deep down: to bring this to an end, I might have to cross lines I swore I'd never approach.

The room was growing colder, though no breeze passed. A chill crept over my skin as Neil stood there, trying to hold himself together. His smile was more of a grimace—forced, hollow—and his eyes trembled with the weight of remorse.

“I know,” he said, voice low and quivering. “I know what I did at Archonlight Tower was unforgivable. People died—killed by the Cosmic Beast I summoned. I regret it. I truly do.”

I folded my arms, my voice sharp with disdain. “That wasn’t just killing, Neil. That was a crime against humanity. You kinda violated every article in the Geneva Convention.”

“I know,” he whispered, averting his gaze. “Ismail Arondight said the fall of the Archonlight Tower was our best shot—cripple Xyraxis Metropolis and Exestia in one blow. We even planned to capture the Kaiserin. I just... I wanted answers. I wanted to understand my link to the Cosmic Tree and the truth behind the HUSBANDOs. That’s why I followed through with Ismail’s plan.”

“So you just rolled out of bed and thought, ‘Let’s cause chaos today?’” I asked, voice laced with mockery.

Neil's head dipped lower. “I was wrong. I thought striking first would give us control, but all it gave me was bitterness. I’ve hated the Cosmic Beasts all my life, and yet I used their power—became the very thing I loathed. My parents died because of those animals. That’s why I left the NTR after the Blackout. I couldn’t stomach what I’d become.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked, voice low, uncertain whether to brace for manipulation or confession.

Neil met my gaze, his voice surprisingly steady. “Because I know you’re someone I can trust. You’ve known about Fei’s secret for weeks now—and yet, you haven’t told a soul. Not even Myrrh.”

I scoffed. “That’s because Fei threatened me, Neil. She made it clear—if I slip up, people die. That bitch isn’t subtle about her leverage.” I took a sharp breath, my jaw tightening. “So tell me, are you here to threaten me too?”

Neil shook his head with a short, bitter laugh. “No. Not at all.” He paused, his eyes drifting toward the far wall, as if searching for something distant—something lost. “You remember the drawing, don’t you? That is my sigil of rebellion. I wanted to fuck NTR up. Back during the Blackout Incident, something clicked—I saw the truth. I saw how all of us HUSBANDOs had been manipulated, brainwashed by the Reich’s idealistic garbage. We were just weapons wrapped in ideology. What I did that day… it was a disaster. A tragedy. And I want—no, need—to make things right.”

I bit down hard on my lip and balled my fists at my sides. “And Fei?” I asked, almost not wanting to know the answer.

Neil’s expression softened, guilt settling over him like a winter fog. “I want to save her too. I really do. She’s not officially with the NTR, but being the Red Meteor? That makes her complicit. We’re both responsible for what happened at Archonlight Tower.” He looked down. “But the difference is, she’s not backing down. She’s still trying to pull you into this whole mess—trying to recruit you into the same terrorist machine I escaped from.”

“So that’s why you’ve been avoiding us—especially Fei,” I muttered, the pieces clicking together in my mind. “We all thought it was just a classic lover’s spat or something.”

Neil chuckled dryly, scratching his temple with a hint of embarrassment. “Yeah... I’ve told you time and again, it wasn’t like that. There was never any jealousy, no romantic drama. All that lovey-dovey nonsense we pulled at school—in the hallways, in front of teachers, classmates—it was a performance. Smoke and mirrors. Our relationship was never real. It was just a front to help us stay hidden in plain sight. Unlike your relationship with Myrrh, at least.”

I frowned and waved a dismissive hand. “Please. My thing with Myrrh is just as staged as yours. We’re both running plays, Neil.”

He gave a short nod, then continued, his voice dipping into a more serious tone. “After the Blackout Incident, we began observing you two more closely. You and Myrrh—and those strange weapons you accessed through your WEEB system. We compiled everything about you and forwarded it to Ismail.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. My silence said enough.

“We spied on you during the Licensure Examination Tournament,” Neil went on. “That’s when we confirmed it. You, not Myrrh, were the true source of the so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction. Once that was clear, Ismail gave us the directive—recruit you. At any cost.”

“But instead,” I said, narrowing my eyes, “you bailed. You walked away from the NTR.”

“That’s right,” Neil said with a resolute nod. “I couldn’t keep playing along with something that cost innocent lives. But Fei... she didn’t have the same choice. She’s bound by a contract—one forged between the Neo Terrestrial Reich and her clan. She’s not doing this because she wants to. She’s doing it because she has to. That’s why she keeps pressing you. That’s why she won’t let go.”

“You’re making it sound like Fei’s being forced to do all this,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

Neil sighed, the weight of it dragging his shoulders lower. “That’s exactly how it feels. I begged her to run away with me, to leave this twisted game behind. Because no matter how we spin it, there are only two endings waiting for us—either we get arrested by the Xyraxis government… or we end up causing even more destruction, more civilian blood on our hands. But she wouldn’t listen. She’s still pushing forward.”

“So… she’s trapped,” I murmured, the words hanging heavy in the air like a verdict.

He gave a silent nod, his expression tightening. “More than anyone, I think she needs help. Maybe even more than I do. And that’s why I’m asking—no, begging—you. Please… help us. Help us escape all this.”

I folded my arms, letting a beat of silence linger before replying with biting sarcasm. “What, do I look like your personal maid? You think I’m just going to sweep up the wreckage from your little terrorist phase?”

Neil suddenly clapped his hands together in mock prayer. “I’m sorry! But you’re smart—I know you are. If anyone can find a way out of this impossible mess for all three of us… it’s you.”

“You’re giving me way too much credit,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “I’m book-smart, sure. But last I checked, there’s no chapter in any textbook on ‘How to Escape a War Crime.’ If you want a way out, you’d better start by finding a damn good lawyer.”

He didn’t flinch. “Maybe I should face the consequences. Maybe prison is where I belong. But Fei…” His voice faltered, rough around the edges. “She doesn’t deserve that fate. She was dragged into this because of her bloodline, because of a contract she didn’t choose. I can handle my punishment. But her… I’m scared for her.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Didn’t the Red Meteor—your oh-so-innocent Fei—kill a bunch of WAIFUs during the Blackout Incident?”

“That report was fake,” Neil said firmly, his voice edged with urgency. “The Red Meteor—Fei—only fought off the WAIFUs who got too close to the Cosmic Tree. She didn’t kill them. It was Ismail. When the Vanguards were unable to fight, Ismail shot them one by one. I saw it happen with my own eyes.”

I stared at him, speechless. My breath caught in my throat.

If what Neil was saying was true… then Fei wasn’t a killer—at least, not in the way the media painted her. She was a pawn. A weapon used, blamed, and cornered. With the world believing she was the butcher of the Blackout Incident, she had nowhere else to go. No choice but to cling to the Neo Terrestrial Reich.

I looked away, trying to steady my thoughts, when my gaze landed—almost magnetically—on something sitting on my desk: the KAWAII ring. Agent Feena’s voice echoed faintly in my memory: Use this if you ever come face-to-face with Ismail Arondight—or any of them.

And just like that, the room lit up in my mind. A spark. A plan—wild, reckless, borderline suicidal—but a plan nonetheless. If it worked, it wouldn’t just save Neil and Fei. It might be the key to unraveling everything: the Reich, the Cosmic Tree, the lies.

I turned back to Neil with a faint smirk playing on my lips. “Disable the jammer,” I said, voice calm but certain. “I know what we have to do.”

Neil’s face brightened. “I knew you’d come through! That brain of yours always pulls miracles.” He raised his hand, expecting a high five.

I didn’t return it. Instead, I said coldly, “No. This isn’t a way out.”

He blinked.

“It’s a way in,” I finished. “I’m going to join the Neo Terrestrial Reich.”