ABO Cadets

Chapter 049, Locke Castle

The night had a light wind blowing by. The fragrance of the primroses that encompasses the tombstone lingered around his nose. Under the hazy moonlight, the father and son tightly held onto each other in front of the tombstone. The body temperature from the youth's body made Rosen's perpetual cold and detached gaze also unable to help but to become warmer.

Rosen's height is much taller than his son's height. This kind of hug makes Lin's face stick to his chest, strong arms, broad chest, and steady heartbeat, giving people an inexplicable desire to get close. A sense of security.

— This is a father, a strong as well as a deeply affectionate biological father.

As a child, Lin Yuan had grown up in a single-parent family and never experienced the slightest bit of care from a father. He simply never thought that one day he would unexpectedly come across a father. What's more, his own biological father is actually the Imperial Marshal Rosen whom he secretly worshipped.

Being held in a tight embrace by his father, Lin Yuan couldn't help but have a bit of warmth surge from the bottom of his heart.

Rosen held Lin Yuan for a little while longer and then let go of him. Looking at the youth's two black eyes that were just as clear and bright as his dad's, Rosen couldn't help but extend his hand and lightly stroked his son's head, softly saying: "Xiao Yuan, let's go back for now. I still have some more things I want to tell you."

"En." Lin Yuan nodded and turned to follow his father.

Rosen took Lin Yuan along with him to the villa's third floor, entered the study room and locked the door. He had Lin Yuan sit down on the sofa and then turned around and took out the crystal electronic photo album from his bookshelf and handed it over to him.

(TN: Imagine something like a clear slab of glass that works as a tablet king of thing?)

Lin Yuan curiously asked: "What is this?"

Rosen said: "Open it and see, the password is your Dad's name."

Lin Yuan inputs the password to open the album and right away sees a photograph appear on the first page —

It was Ling Yu back when he was a student, he was wearing a blue military uniform, his pair of jet-black eyes were coldly indifferent and his facial expression is somewhat unnaturally stiff when facing the camera lens.

The photo was taken someplace indoors, Lin Yuan recognized it right away at a glance — it was none other than the student dormitory of the St. Romia Military Academy.

Lin Yuan used his finger to lightly swipe across the screen, urgently moving on for the second photograph to appear

The second photo is a group photo with four people. Lin Yuan recognized Rosen and Ling Yu, but the faces of the other two were completely unfamiliar.

Rosen explained for him: "Your Dad and I were both students of the 570th Class of St. Romia Military Academy in the Command Department. I just happened to be in the same dormitory quarters as him. The four of us in this group photo all lived in the same dormitory. The one on the left is Drew Bayh, in those days he was the youngest son of the Bayh family. He is now the head of the Hydra Legion. The one to the right side is named Bernia, he is an Adjutant in the Rose Legion."

Lin Yuan nodded and inquisitively flipped through all the photos one by one until he finished.

All of the photos stored in the electronic photo album were of his Dad, Ling Yu.

When he was young and inexperienced and just entering the school, to when the hour of graduation rolled around and his ambitions were full and ready to burst. When he was first promoted to Major, the corner of his lips slightly raised in a smile. When he was attending a meeting in the Military Affairs Office with a calm and cool-headed expression, discussing tactics to people with an earnest gaze......

Hundreds of photographs completely record every important moment of Ling Yu's military career across a 10 year period, from entering school to his expulsion from the military registry. With each moment captured with the utmost care, it is simply like a personal documentary.

Lin Yuan clasps the electronic photo album in both of his hands, he feels a bit moved and turns his head back to look at Rosen, "Are these pictures all collected by you?"

Rosen nodded and said: "Your Dad, he really hates taking pictures. Every time he faces the camera lens, his expression gets very stiff. There are very few photos left behind. Only for the necessary occasions such as award ceremonies and so on. These photos are I've gathered these photos through various kinds of means...... they are put in here as a commemoration."

In the years when Ling Yu wasn't there, Rosen could only use this way to remember him.

Rosen doesn't even remember how many times he has flipped through this electronic photo album. Time and time again he has looked over it and pondered. He could even clearly and distinctly recall the order of those hundreds of photographs from front to back.

Lin Yuan bowed his head to look at the man in the photograph, and his heart felt as if it had been pulled in a slightly painful manner by a thread. Such an outstanding general was expelled from the military registry by the Military just because of his identity as an Omega...... When he heard the sentencing of the military tribunal in those days, he must have been very upset, right?

Seeing Lin Yuan hanging his head, Rosen reached out and tightly held his son's shoulder. In a soft voice, he said: "Xiao Yuan, I will give you these photos to keep. I want to let you know, your dad, he is a very outstanding person. He is also, in my heart...... The greatest general."

Lin Yuan nodded and said seriously: "I think so too, Dad as an Omega, led the Dark Night Legion to win victories over and over again, he really is very remarkable."

Rosen was silent for a moment. "Even though both of us recognize his ability, unfortunately, the Military has continued its centuries-old tradition and never allowed Omegas to join the army. Your Dad used the identity of a Beta to sneak into the military. Because his ability was so outstanding, it attracted the attention of the higher-ups in the military. The ones in power of the military have always been the Alpha heirs from the 5 influential families, they will never allow anyone to threaten their status."

Rosen paused and looked back towards his son, "Lin Yuan, the military is a very complex place. Even though I am the Marshal, I still cannot hide the sky with one hand. If your matter came out, I would certainly use all of my power to save you from any damage, but the generals from other legions might not."

(TN: Hide the truth from the masses.)

Lin Yuan nodded and looked back at his father. He listened very closely.

Rosen met his eyes with his gaze, his tone could not help but become even gentler: "From now on, you must handle matters with extreme caution, not only should you hide your identity as an Omega, but also the matter of you being the son of Ling Yu and me. Do not speak of it to anyone...... Do you understand what I mean?"

Lin Yuan responded to his father's desire and hurriedly said: "I understand, I will not tell anyone. Once they know my circumstances, they will definitely not let me go. They especially wouldn't let Dad slip away, we can't reveal the secret that Dad is still alive."

Rosen graciously nodded his head, "You have come to an understanding very quickly. Although I don't know where your Dad is now, I will still think of a way to find him. Once I have the news, I will immediately let you know. First and foremost, you will attend school with peace of mind, leave your Dad to me."

Lin Yuan nodded and said: "Okay, I understand!"

Rosen paused and spoke in a low voice: "Black Dragon, you come out."

The space button ring worn on his right hand, as if it were a black gem, flashed an odd ray of light, then a black mech came out from the space button and completely shifted into a humanoid form and stationed itself in front of its master, Rosen. Its golden eyes also shone.

Lin Yuan looked up at the elegant black mech in front of him and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "Is this Black Dragon?!"

He had previously seen the shadow of Black Dragon in the memories of Suzaku. He did not expect that he would have the chance to see this S-Class mech with his own two eyes!

Lin Yuan looked at Black Dragon in front of him and couldn't help but excitedly shoot up on his feet and walk over in front of Black Dragon. Attempting to feel out its natural disposition, he tentatively extended his hand. Black Dragon very cooperatively extended its wide palm to hover in front of the little master, calmly letting Lin Yuan touch it.

Rosen couldn't help but smile.

As expected, the child was particularly interested in this mech. The moment he saw the mech, his eyes shone, no wonder he put so many mech models in his room.

Rosen asked in a soft voice: "Xiao Yuan, has Suzaku already come into your possession?"

Lin Yuan hurriedly said: "Yes!"

Rosen said: "You call out Suzaku too."

Although Lin Yuan is very confused, he nevertheless still cooperatively rouses Suzaku.

One black and one red, the two mechs stood in front of them. Just then Rosen stepped forward and ordered Black Dragon to modify a setting, then he had Lin Yuan place his hand on Black Dragon's palm and let Black Dragon scan his fingerprint.

After a moment, Black Dragon produced a calm voice: "Master, the highest authority has been successfully enabled."

Lin Yuan looked back at Rosen in shock, Rosen explained in a gentle voice: "When I am in the Glory Legion's command room, for each requested call, the signal must be intercepted by the Glory Legion's perimeter defense network and authenticated through a password. You can't contact me without a password. So, I enabled the highest authority of internal communication with Black Dragon for you. Later on, if you need to contact me for some reason, you can directly contact me through Suzaku's communicator."

Lin Yuan came to a sudden realization.

His father's action is equivalent to allowing himself to jump over the Legion's external defense network and directly connect to his personal mech, Black Dragon.

Who in the entire Empire can disregard the Glory Legion's defense network and directly connect to the Marshal himself, probably only His Majesty, right?

Lin Yuan was simultaneously both overwhelmed and unbearably happy.

— This is precisely how much importance his father places on him.

— The degree of importance is not even lost to his Glory Legion.

Putting Black Dragon and Suzaku back into their space buttons, Rosen opened his mouth and began speaking: "Xiao Yuan, you don't have to worry, I will bring your Dad back. This time, I will never again let him go."

Lin Yuan nodded and excitedly said: "Then I will conceal the secrets of my circumstances. After graduation, I will come to the Glory Legion!"

As soon as Lin Yuan finished talking, he reached out his hand, Rosen was stunned for a split second before he also cooperatively extended his hand.

"Clap", the sound in the peaceful study room rings sharp and clear as the father and son firmly bring their hands together.

Lin Yuan smiled and said: "Let's wait for Dad to return to have a reunion!"

Rosen smiled and said: "Okay, it's our promise."

The tacit understanding that is shared between their smiles to each other comes from nature's "blood is thicker than water" familial love of a father and son. At that moment, a thought from the two people emerged at the same time of that person they both missed— Ling Yu.

***

It was already very late into the night, Rosen let Lin Yuan stay in his apartment overnight without a second thought.

He took the room closest to his bedroom as Lin Yuan's room and Rosen had the butler quickly make some proper arrangements and even personally gave Lin Yuan a set of blue bed sheets and quilts and as well a personally-selected bed. On his writing desk, he even attentively put a lot of the mech models that Lin Yuan liked on it.

In just half an hour, the originally vacant guestroom looked completely new and became Lin Yuan's bedroom.

From then on, even if Lin Yuan is not here, this room will always remain for him.

— Here will forever be his home.

As a father, his child has already grown so much. There had been nothing but radio silence for an entire eighteen years. He didn't feed him a mouthful of food. He didn't teach him how to say a single word. He didn't give him a helping hand as he stumbled as he learned to walk when he was a child. He celebrated his birthday as he grew up and he never once bought a single gift for him. When he got first place in his exams, he never gave him a single line of praise.

The kind of father who never fulfilled his obligations, Lin Yuan surprisingly didn't mind it in the slightest, instead, he nonchalantly recognized the existence of this father......

Looking at the boy sleeping soundly in bed, Rosen's heart felt both a twinge of guilt and an especially warm feeling at the same time.

Lin Yuan not only did not reproach his father but instead comforted him and said: It is not your fault, you are already trying your best, aren't you? I thought that Dad had died. You have also been very upset these years in these past years......

That's right, these past years have had a lot of sadness, it was simply impossible to put it into words.

At that moment when Ling Yu left, it was as if someone had just forcibly dug out his heart in one chunk of flesh. Inside that completely deserted hole was so penetratingly ice-cold that even the passing of so many years was unable to fill the gap.

But now, Lin Yuan, this optimistic and kindhearted youth. His own flesh and blood who inherited the combination of his and Ling Yu's genes finally fills in the ice-cold cavity in Rosen's heart with bits of warm sunshine.

Suddenly having an 18-year-old son, Rosen was actually very much excited about it, however, he wasn't sure how he should pamper him.

He is already sensible...... He has no need for his father to dote on him.

Rosen gently extended his hand and tidied up his son's soft black hair. Lin Yuan, who was sound asleep, seemed to perceive a scent that made him feel safe. He slightly inclined his head over and lightly rubbed against Rosen's palm.

......Rosen's tender heart was immediately thrown into complete shambles.

This son can truly cure his 18 years of loneliness and despair in an instant.

Rosen even felt that the existence of Lin Yuan, that child, was Heaven's greatest gift to him.

Lin Yuan, who was soundly asleep, was completely unaware that being a dad for the first time, Marshal Rosen was in both nervous as well as a complex mood. He sat at his son's bedside through the middle of the night and didn't turn around to leave until the light of day threatened to shine.

***

This night is a very warm and smooth night for Lin Yuan.

But for Snow, it is an extremely thrilling night.

When Snow departed from Po Military Star to Cepheus, a week ago, he had booked an ordinary hotel online in advance. The hotel is very far away from the city center and the Empire's Imperial Palace. It is a safe and inconspicuous place.

Snow was just in the hotel surfing on the Internet during the day and until the time when the evening rolled around, he would then change into the black clothes and pilot Night Snow to move out and about. However, he was annoyed with the approach of the Empire's celebration of its 600th Anniversary. The capital star's recent public security is very strict. Great streets and small alleyways alike are full of infrared surveillance camera monitoring equipment, there are also a large number of electronic defense nets in the air, and even on the streets, there is armed public security supervision patrolling units moving to and fro.

Snow had to stop midway through for several days in a row just because he had encountered an armed patrol force and had no other option but to turn back.

Today is already the 7th. He has to hurry up and go.

In the wee hours at two in the morning, Snow once again put on that set of black clothes, tightened the leather belt around his waist, opened the window then suspended the metal hook on the window sill, bounded up, and with his lithe and graceful body, he climbed out of the window, sliding directly along the metal wire and onto the floor

His black leather boots made a quiet sound as they contacted the ground and produced a slight "bang" sound. Snow stood firmly and he immediately retracted the wire back into his hand, turned and put on a big hat, summoned Night Snow, and went over to his destination the fastest possible speed.

Although this healer-type mech made by Brian does not have a powerful attack system, its operating speed is nevertheless not lost to an A-Class mech, which is still several times faster than the average suspension car. Snow sat in the cockpit and designated the target point for Night Snow. Night Snow flew forward carrying him and quickly arrived near Locke Castle.

There are thousands of castles on the capital star and the reason why Locke Castle has become so well-known does not lie in its prosperity, but it's terror.

— This castle is known as "The City of the Dead".

— Those who enter are lifeless. There was death everywhere in the city, the humans who remained were the ghastly bones of the dead.

The castle was originally a very lively and prosperous place. There were many residents in the castle, and their lives were joyous and harmonious. However, more than 50 years ago, as a result of a virus outbreak, almost all the residents in Locke Castle feel ill and died here, and the virus spread quickly. It was several times more terrible than the Plague of the ancient earth era.

Since the migration of humanity from the Earth to other galaxies in the universe, all kinds of new viruses have brought about enormous threats to the human race. At the same time, human medical technology was also advancing by leaps and bounds. Most of the vaccines for viruses have already been successfully developed, but more than 50 years ago the SAV-II virus broke out and swept out the entire castle in just one short week. None of its residents was spared. It is considered to be the most severe infectious disease since the establishment of the Empire.

The Empire had previously sent out several medical experts to come here to study the virus. Unfortunately, those several experts also became infected with the virus and lost their lives. Since then, Locke Castle had built a reputation and became "The City of the Dead". The military completely sealed off the castle, cutting off all groundwater sources and electricity in the castle, closed the gates, built high walls, and no longer allowed anyone to enter.

These days, because the military's stringent patrolling of the capital star, they just happened to patrol the area where Locke Castle was located. Snow had several times reached the outer perimeter of the castle only to find traces of the air patrol troops, and had to turn back midway through.

Fortunately for today, those annoying guys are all finally leaving.

Snow arrived near the castle and immediately came out of the inside of Night Snow's cockpit, having Night Snow enter the space button in his necklace. Straightening out his clothes, he then turned and walked over to the gate of the castle.

The gates of the castle have already been sealed shut and it is impossible to honorably and justly enter. Snow frowned slightly, falling back a step, he went to an inconspicuous corner and positioned himself there and looked up at the high city walls to find the right position. He forcibly threw the metal hook to the top of the city wall!

The hooks "Bang" sounded, it accurately struck the apex of the city wall and Snow took a deep breath, firmly clasped the metal wire in his hand, and rapidly scaled up the city wall.

The City of the Dead, which had long since been abandoned, has been desolate and uninhabited for the past many years. There was no laser defense network around to intercept. Snow smoothly turned over the city wall, smoothly sliding to the ground, and turned his body towards the end of the street.

It was already three o'clock in the middle of the night at this point. The surroundings were dreadfully silent and the gentle moonlight cascaded down, it looked like a layer of pale silver light muslin was draped over the castle. Occasionally, the wind blew across and the surrounding tree leaves made a rustling sound, the swaying tree leaves cast a mottled shadow on the ground. The fragmented and scattered bones of the dead on both sides of the street added a trace of terror to the silent atmosphere during the odd hours of the night.

Snow kept a fast pace in the deserted street, leaving only the sounds of the wind and his own footsteps in his ear.

Relying on memory, he quickly passed through three streets and finally came in front of the door to Locke Castle, No. B17 3rd St. Villa.

Snow bites his finger as hard as he could and dripped his scarlet blood into the smart sensor area in front of the door at the villa. The sensory area emitted a feeble light. After a moment, the thick metal door in front of him made creaking and groaning sounds as it slowly opened.

After being uninhabited for so many years, this door made of metal had long ago already oxidized and rusted. The sound of it opening is particularly ear-piercing in the darkness of the silent night. A large expanse of weeds grows between the small cracks in the marble floor of the villa. In his memory as a child, the branches were thick and thin. Now the trees already look very thick and solid and the dense branches even extend out of the walls of the villa.

Snow frowned as he crossed the weeds and entered the villa.

The furniture in the living room was covered in dust and the original spotless white walls had even been covered entirely with spider webs.

"......"

Recalling the scenes of when he used to live here when he was a child, the rim of Snow's eyes suddenly became bitter.

Taking a deep breath and no longer minding these details, Snow went AWOL and moved towards the direction of the bathroom.

The surface area of the bathroom is very large, no one would have thought that there was an amazing secret hidden underneath this bathroom.

— The mysterious scientific organization "Undercurrent" consisting entirely of Omega, has its laboratory and general headquarters hidden beneath the Locke Castle in a place called "The City of the Dead".

The author has something to say: Snow and Bubu have not shown their faces for a good several days. Did everyone think they died? In the near future, these two will make great progress~~

Caesar compares soy sauce, for now, every one be at ease, Caesar and Xiao Yuan still have a long time to cultivate feelings, en en ah ah scene~~

(TN: If there's a lot of typos or things just sound wonky I'll just apologize in advance lol. Very tired~ But hey, it's done! And off to chapter 50~ Finally getting deeper into the plot~ PS: Yes the author changed it from colons to commas in the chapter titles. Props if you noticed.)