Reincarnated with a Country Creation System

Chapter 195 Going Insane



The frost-covered windows of the Tsar's study offered a view of the Winter Palace gardens blanketed in snow. Tsar Ivan III stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unyielding as he listened to the hurried report from Gregori Vasiliev, who stood rigidly at attention near the desk.

"Your Majesty," Vasiliev began, his voice steady but laced with tension, "the state police facility holding Johannes Krieg was attacked in the early hours of the morning. The prisoner has escaped."

Ivan turned slowly, his cold gaze fixed on Vasiliev. "Escaped?" His voice was low and measured, but the air in the room seemed to grow heavier with his words. "Explain."

"The facility was breached by a group of highly trained operatives," Vasiliev continued. "They neutralized the guards, bypassed security, and extracted Krieg with surgical precision. Our forces engaged them during the retreat, but they managed to evade capture."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ivan's fingers drummed against the polished wood of the desk. "Who were these operatives? Valorian?"

"All signs point to Valoria, Your Majesty," Vasiliev said carefully. "The timing, the tactics—they align too closely with their known methods. However, they left no definitive trace. It's a masterful operation."

The Tsar's lips pressed into a thin line. "And the response of our forces?"

Vasiliev straightened. "State police units have mobilized to track the escapees. We believe they are moving west, likely toward a prearranged extraction point. Our patrols are closing in on the primary route."

Ivan nodded slowly, his gaze turning back to the frost-covered windows. "Mobilize additional units. I want Krieg and his accomplices captured. Alive if possible. If not…" He let the sentence hang in the cold air.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Vasiliev bowed slightly and exited the room, his mind already racing through the logistics of the manhunt.

The Valorian truck sped through the snow-covered trail, its tires kicking up slush as the team made their escape. Viktor sat in the passenger seat, his weapon resting on his lap, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of pursuit. Andrei gripped the wheel tightly, navigating the treacherous path with practiced ease. In the back, Lena tended to Johannes Krieg, whose bruised and bloodied face betrayed the severity of his ordeal.

"How far to the extraction point?" Lena asked, her voice low but urgent.

"Ten kilometers," Viktor replied. "If we keep this pace, we'll make it before dawn."

Johannes coughed weakly, blood flecking his lips. "And what if we don't?"

Viktor glanced back at him, his expression hard. "Then we fight."

The truck's engine roared as it crested a hill, its headlights piercing the thick forest. But as they descended, the sound of distant engines grew louder. Lena stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "They're coming."

Viktor's jaw tightened. "Andrei, kill the lights. We'll lose them in the forest."

The truck plunged into darkness, the only illumination coming from the pale moonlight filtering through the trees. Andrei slowed the vehicle, guiding it off the main trail and into the dense undergrowth. The team held their breath as the sound of pursuing vehicles grew closer.

State police trucks barreled down the snowy road, their headlights sweeping through the forest. Commander Antonov, a grizzled officer with a keen eye for strategy, stood in the lead truck, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.

"They can't have gotten far," Antonov barked to his driver. "Fan out and sweep the area. They'll try to hide, but they won't get past us."

The convoy split into smaller groups, each taking a different route through the forest. The hunt had begun.

The Valorian operatives abandoned their truck, opting to move on foot through the thick underbrush. Viktor led the way, his pistol drawn, while Lena supported Johannes, whose injuries slowed their pace.

"They're too close," Lena hissed, glancing over her shoulder. The faint glow of searchlights danced through the trees, accompanied by the distant shouts of Ruthenian officers.

"We'll lose them," Viktor said, his voice steady. "Keep moving."

The group pressed on, their boots crunching through the snow. The cold bit at their exposed skin, but they ignored it, their focus singular. The sound of barking dogs joined the cacophony of pursuit, sending a chill down Lena's spine.

"They've got trackers," she said.

Viktor cursed under his breath. "Andrei, slow them down."

Andrei nodded, breaking off from the group. He doubled back, moving silently through the trees until he found a vantage point overlooking the approaching patrol. He planted a small explosive charge in the path and retreated, his breath visible in the frigid air.

Moments later, the charge detonated, the explosion shattering the stillness of the forest. The pursuing officers scattered, their shouts mingling with the panicked barking of the dogs.

"That won't stop them for long," Andrei said as he rejoined the group.

"It doesn't have to," Viktor replied. "We're almost there."

The team reached a frozen river, its surface shimmering under the moonlight. Viktor knelt at the edge, scanning the area. "We cross here. The extraction point is on the other side."

Lena hesitated. "The ice might not hold."

"We don't have a choice," Viktor said. He turned to Johannes. "Can you make it?"

Johannes nodded weakly, his resolve unbroken despite his battered state. "Let's go."

The group stepped onto the ice, their movements cautious. The surface groaned under their weight, but it held. They were halfway across when the first shots rang out.

"Contact!" Viktor shouted, spinning around to return fire. The Ruthenian patrol had caught up, their rifles flashing in the darkness.

Lena dropped to one knee, her pistol barking as she picked off an advancing officer. Andrei hurled a smoke grenade, the thick plume obscuring their movements as they pressed forward.

"Keep moving!" Viktor ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The ice cracked beneath them, spiderweb fractures spreading with each step. Lena reached the far bank and hauled Johannes to safety. Viktor and Andrei followed, firing over their shoulders as the Ruthenians closed in.

The team disappeared into the tree line, the sound of their pursuers fading as they put distance between themselves and the river. When they finally reached the extraction point—a waiting plane hidden in a clearing—Viktor allowed himself a rare moment of relief.

"Get him onboard," Viktor said, nodding to Johannes.

As the plane's engines roared to life, Viktor glanced back toward the forest. The Ruthenians were still out there, but they were too late. The mission was a success.

Vasiliev stood before the Tsar, his expression grim. "Your Majesty, they've escaped. We've lost them."

"Is there anything we can do?" Ivan asked.

"Unfortunately, there is none, Your Majesty."

"I can't let people like Johannes enter our country anymore. I will ban all foreign press, and since the revolutionaries want to have me deposed, then I will depose them first."

"Your Majesty…you are not thinking of waging war against the people?"

"Yes…"


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