Chapter 469: Those Who Once Were Great (Part 2)

When the agents were blown away by the gusts, Kela furrowed her brow, looked at Alfred's face, and asked him: "Aren't you curious who that person is?"

Alfred shook his head and said: "I'm just an old, aging butler. The great events about to unfold in this world have nothing to do with me."

"What exactly did you mean by that earlier statement?"

Kela walked beside Alfred and looked at him; after saying those words, Alfred appeared exhausted.

If he were an ordinary elderly man, Kela might have thought he was simply tired—after all, thinking and speaking drain energy—but Alfred remained robust; though no longer young, Kela had no doubt she couldn't defeat this old butler.

"Valeria, in your previous letter you asked me what I thought of your future plans. In my reply, I didn't mention this—not because I had no opinion, but because I fear you wouldn't want to hear it…"

Kela tilted her head, not understanding what Alfred meant. After a moment's thought, she said:

"Are you worried I won't take your advice? It's fine—I believe listening to all sides leads to clarity. Even if some advice contradicts my expectations, I'm happy to treat it as reference and thank the person who gave it…"

"That's precisely why you've progressed so quickly. But it's also why you won't want to hear this advice."

Kela thought Alfred still feared she'd reject his counsel. She stepped before him, looked into his eyes, and said: "Oh, Mr. Pennyworth, you truly don't need to worry—I've always regarded you as my teacher and godfather…"

"... My advice is this: bring your family to America as soon as possible, find another job, and live out the rest of your life in peace. Never mention your former identity—to anyone, ever."

Kela's brow slowly tightened. Her breathing quickened; it was clear she was growing angry, yet she asked as patiently as she could: "Why?"

Before Alfred could answer, Kela couldn't hold back. She said: "How can I betray my career? How can I betray my ideals? Lake Baikal is my homeland—I will return there, one day."

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. Thinking of her homeland made her emotional. Her voice trembled as she said:

"Yes, I know most people have a poor impression of Siberia—they think it's a land of eternal frost…"

"But it is also a child cradled in the arms of a great mother. Lake Baikal is the pearl on her brow, the tear in her eye. That is my homeland. I was born there, and I will die there."

"Calm down, Valeria. I haven't denied any of that. That's precisely why I said you might not want to hear my advice."

"You have to give me a reason. Alfred—otherwise, how am I supposed to accept this absurd suggestion?"

Alfred sighed and said:

"Decades ago, I was just like you—full of passion, full of ideals…"

"Even when I carried out the mission of delivering the list, I was still enchanted by the vision of a glorious cause being fulfilled…"

"But all of it ended with one decision of mine."

"What was it?"

"I mentioned before: after hiding the list, I didn't return directly to Britain to meet my superiors and contacts. I went to Moscow instead."

Kela frowned. "I wanted to ask this before—going straight to Moscow was a violation, wasn't it? Even as a Soviet citizen, I couldn't do that lightly."

"Correct. But I had no choice. I knew only Moscow's scientists might be able to solve the monster's egg."

"Obtaining that egg from the Owl was extraordinarily dangerous. Along the way, we witnessed things no ordinary person ever sees. I realized some dark force might be threatening this world—and we had to find a way to stop it."

"At the time, I felt the crisis was imminent. Rules seemed less important. So I found a way to get to Moscow."

"And then?"

"I was arrested… Of course, that wasn't surprising—I broke the rules. But then…"

Alfred sighed and said:

"At that time, Philby had already returned to Moscow. He vouched for me. The Moscow authorities decided not to pursue my violation."

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"But when I told them everything, their first reaction wasn't how to deal with the monster's egg or the mysterious dark force, or to protect the people of the world. They interpreted it as a newly developed American weapon…"

"They asked me for detailed specifications, hoping to obtain more precise intelligence. I repeatedly stressed the danger of the thing, and how we must eliminate it to remove the threat to all humanity."

"But the answer I received left me deeply disappointed."

"The official I spoke with told me that, to confirm this new weapon wouldn't be used by the U. S. against them, they'd send other agents to investigate."

"And if it was merely an uncontrollable, unusable monster, then the U. S. would be the first to suffer—and they'd be glad to see it."

Kela fell silent. These stories came from Alfred's lips as if trivial, yet she felt his disappointment and fury as if her own.

"At the time, I tried to convince myself: perhaps the Soviet Union's finances were too strained to invest heavily in a vague project. Perhaps I hadn't gathered enough concrete evidence to prove its danger…"

"Or maybe… I thought… ultimately, no one has an obligation to save all of humanity."

Kela heard Alfred's voice grow choked, especially when he uttered the last sentence. In that aged, hoarse tone, something shattered—crisp and clear—and it made her feel suffocated.

"But what truly disappointed me was that, on my way out of Moscow after being granted leave, I was assassinated."

"I thought it must have been American spies hiding in Moscow trying to kill me. They nearly succeeded. The attacker was skilled—two bullets struck my calf and chest cavity."

"I barely survived. But when I recovered and tried to investigate, I discovered the attacker wasn't an American spy—it was… one of our own."

Kela's eyes widened. "How is that possible?? Why would they…"

"Because the information about the monster's egg and the dark force—if it spread—could severely shake military morale. They didn't want me spreading panic."

Alfred closed his eyes and said:

"Once, we walked a path where we never feared. When we moved forward, mountains didn't block us—they retreated in fear."

"All of it ended the moment we began to hesitate."

"Perhaps no one in this world truly has an obligation to save all of humanity. Perhaps it was all just an unrealistic fantasy. But when we abandon that fantasy, we abandon everything."

Kela saw the deep creases on Alfred's face trembling. She suddenly realized his age wasn't from physical decay—it was the weariness of a spirit that had collapsed and been rebuilt.

Kela suddenly understood: Alfred hadn't abandoned his career because of his bond with Bruce. Rather, after abandoning his own beliefs, Bruce became his only spiritual anchor.

Thinking this, Kela suddenly grew anxious. "Wait, Alfred—Benjamin got your files. They recorded your past service history…"

"If what you say is true—that you never recruited young Wayne as an operative, and he doesn't even know your past—you must destroy those files immediately!"

"Come with me—I'll take you to that room!"

Alfred looked at Kela, surprise in his eyes. "I thought you'd scold me for making up stories—or be angry that I deliberately slandered her…"

"You're not that kind of person."

Kela stopped walking. She turned, hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Alfred and said:

"In those desperate times, you and Philby bore pressures we can't imagine—and you tried to turn the tide. You succeeded."

"At the moment of your deaths, you could say: 'My entire life and all my energy have been devoted to the noblest cause—the struggle for human liberation.'"

Kela paused, her voice trembling as she said:

"Perhaps all of humanity won't be liberated…"

"Alfred…" Kela looked into his eyes. "... but do you regret what you once fought for?"

Alfred looked into Kela's eyes. He was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

Kela turned her back to him, paused, then stepped forward again.

Her voice echoed through the room, like an actor who, even as the curtain falls early, still strives to speak the final line.

"I don't regret it either."