The commander sat like that for a while.
Silence ruled the room.
Neither he nor the governor said anything.
Only their rugged breaths.
The commander's thoughts were a mess, his heart in turmoil.
Everything he stood for collapsed.
His righteousness, his morals, his patriotism, everything,
'Is there any point in my struggling?'
His heart tightened.
Tears involuntarily welled in his eyes.
'My holding back? Following morals? Is it fair!!'
Rage burned behind his eyes.
'IS IT FAIR THAT THEY GET TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT!!'
His breathing quickened.
'Who gave them the right to disregard human life? To conduct such inhuman experiments?! To not follow the moral laws?!! WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT!'
The governor keenly observed the commander.
He sucked in cold air. Sweat drenched his back. He was on guard.
The commander's emotions fluctuated.
Murderous intent erupted and subsided. The red in his eyes continuously increased.
He was unstable.
The governor dared not move.
'Then what will happen if everyone acted as they willed?! In this rotting and already lawless world, it is becoming reality!'
The commander's brows furrowed.
'No!'
A flash of determination flashed across his face.
'Survivors cannot be allowed to act as they please. Since I already have this base, I might as well make them know this is not a lawless place. The laws must be upheld. And if someone outside is breaking them, punish them as well.'
This was, in his mind, a fit course of action.
He would do everything in his power to maintain some law.
No, he would do everything in his power to prevent the city from turning into a slaughterhouse.
'Triumvirate' Echoed in his mind.
Hatred flashed in his heart.
'I see,'
But a smile spread on his face.
Enlightenment befell him.
'Abiding by the morals of my heart is my nature. Succumbing to the wickedness of their heart, that is theirs. I won't be affected by you.'
The commander leaned forward, intertwining his fingers.
He supported his chin.
'But don't they dare think they'll pass without consequences,'
His murderous intent resurfaced.
His sharp eyes locked on the governor.
The governor shivered.
"Orson, follow me."
The commander stood up, taking his sabre.
"W-Where?"
The governor stood up, his voice cracking.
He was still recovering his emotions.
But the commander walked out slowly, careful of his injuries.
The governor had no choice. He followed quietly.
They walked through the corridors.
A dreadful, heavy atmosphere hung in the corridor.
No survivor in sight. No voice. Just the ringing of the heavy military boots of the patrolling soldiers.
Soldiers deep in thought, their expressions dark and hopeless.
"Commander,"
They saluted as the governor and commander walked past, but their hopeless faces remained unchanging.
The commander could only sigh in his heart.
He understood their suffering. Their pain. But couldn't help them.
This was simply the new reality.
He continued walking.
The commander and governor reached a dead end.
But with a press of the concrete in the corner, a secret elevator revealed itself.
The elevator took them even deeper down.
Ding!
The door opened.
A spacious, brightly lit room revealed.
Two soldiers stood guard at the door, tightly clenching their rifles.
"Commander,"
They saluted.
But no one noticed their arrival except for them.
Dozens of soldiers ran around the spacious room, carrying equipment.
Several men wearing long white coats guided them. Scientist.
A three-meter-high tube stood at the center of the room, trapping a young child.
The child floated within a thick, luminous liquid. Tubes sprouted from the helmet, connected to the outside for oxygen tanks.
Subject Beta.
The governor's body trembled, his gaze froze on the child.
Memories resurfaced, birthing strong emotions. But as soon as the feelings appeared, the governor suppressed them.
In his cold heart, emotions were a weakness.
"Commander,"
Vivian walked from the other end of the room.
A man followed her, his expression dead serious, in deep thought. Heavy bags hung beneath his eyes, his messy, oily hair parted to the sides.
Right now, he looked nothing like a dignified scientist.
"Commander, can you fill me in on everything that happened in detail?"
The scientists wasted no time. He cut to the case, not even giving Vivian a chance to speak.
His voice carried eagerness, barely able to contain himself.
Vivian could only suppress her worry.
The commander nodded.
"That's why I came here,"
The commander's eyes flashed red.
"But before that, would you mind telling me about the experiments in detail?"
He still wasn't clear on why those experiments were conducted. And he didn't ask the governor. After all, how could the governor know more about the experiments than the very scientist who worked there?
"QUIT JOKING!"
The scientist exploded.
It startled everyone.
Vivian, the governor, the commander, the entire room, they all looked at him
For a second, everyone froze.
Silence fell.
Anger flashed in Vivian's eyes.
"How dare yo..."
"You think this is a joke?!"
The scientist pointed his finger at the commander.
His eyes trembled with eagerness for answers, and his voice carried a hint of fear.
"You do not realize the danger. You have no clue!"
The scientist shook his head.
Swoosh!
He swung his hand back, pointing at the child in the tube.
"Tell me, how is it alive?"
His chest moved up and down. The scientist couldn't calm down.
The commander observed him, his brows raised. This was beyond his expectations. He never expected a reaction like this.
"Tell me everything you witnessed."
The scientist demanded.
"YOU!"
Vivian's anger exploded.
But the commander raised his palm, stopping her.
"Alright."
He agreed.
Regret formed on his face as he remembered Alpha's loss, but the commander still started explaining.
The state of the laboratory, the dead scientist with the nametag Scientist Delta, and then the third broken tube. The empty tube.
As the commander explained, the scientist's face grew increasingly darker.
Fear emerged on his face - fear from the bottom of his heart.
Thud!
And as the commander said the loss of Alpha during transport, the scientist collapsed to his knees.
He supported his body from falling with his palms on the ground. His entire body trembled.
The commander's heart grew heavy. Even the governor and Vivian didn't know how to react. As for the people around, they just stared in shock, unable to make sense of the situation.
"How are they alive? How are they alive?"
The scientist shook his head in denial.
"How is it possible?"
His mind raced; thoughts clashed.
He refused to believe it.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
"No..."
His voice shattered.
"Don't tell me...what was missing was...mana?"
Thud!
The scientist pushed himself back, sitting on his butt.
His eyes darted around, staring at the ceiling. Hopeless.
SLAP!
A slap tore the air.
A red palm imprint remained on the scientist's cheek.
Vivian's palm trembled.
"Speak properly,"
She warned, her voice deadly and gaze murderous.
She had enough.