Neo woke up to restraints all over his body. His wrists were strapped to an iron chair, so were his arms, trunk, and legs.
Neo resisted the urge to roll his eyes when he realized that the straps were made of leather.
Amateur work.
If they really wanted to keep him bound, they should have used stronger material. Neo couldn't decide if the other party underestimated him or if they wanted to express good will.
Both options didn't sit well with Neo.
Observing the space he was in, he realized it was an interrogation room.
The walls were made of dark concrete and there was a one-way window/mirror by the left wall. A steel table anchored to the floor. The smell of rust swirled in the room.
The setting was too familiar.
A short time passed before the only door in the room was opened by an average-looking law enforcer.
His eyes did not leave Neo as he walked into the room, looking like he was in the presence of a ghost legend.
"I'm Officer Ranger, Star City Security Department, A-Class Division." The man introduced himself as he dragged a chair and sat on it.
"A shame our first meeting is here. I've looked up to you half my life," he continued, speaking with pink cheeks.
Neo didn't react.
The awkward silence that followed made Ranger clear his throat and speak formally.
"Assaulting the VP of Ouroboros was… unsettling to the citizens of the city and the guild members who bore witness. But the Association demands your release and has already settled your bail." Ranger explained helplessly.
"The Association…?"
"Yes, The Hunter Association Board." Ranger didn't dive further. "You're free to go now."
The straps immediately came loose, and Neo took control of his limbs once again smoothly. He was still in a state of confusion.
After everything that happened, he expected more. Yet the situation was oddly calm.
Neo was led out of the interrogation room and directed to another room to meet with 'The Association' who demanded his release.
Ranger stopped Neo in front of a higher officer's office.
He knocked on the door and said to Neo, "He's waiting for you."
For some reason, all the hairs in Neo's body stood up as he twisted the doorknob and stepped into the office.
There were two people inside. At the right corner was Bryce who was dressed in a different white outfit than before while the other person was someone Neo didn't know.
He was at the center of the office wearing a black suit and tie.
The most striking aspect of his appearance was the deep green color of his eyes and a small scar above his left eye, piercing his brows down to the top of his lid.
"You…" His voice was deep and hoarse.
There was an indescribable tension Neo felt just after that word was uttered.
"Senior!" Bryce's cheerful voice cut through the tense atmosphere and he moved to stick to Neo.
"I was so worried when I saw you being attacked by those bullies in Ouroboros. I had no choice but to call him. Don't get mad at me, okay?" Bryce held onto Neo's hand firmly like they were super close.
Neo didn't push him away.
He was in a complete state of confusion as he looked at 'The Association' and said, "Who are you?"
The man's green eyes thinned in scrutiny. Nonetheless, he cleared his throat and said, "I'm one of your sync partners, Armin Wayne. Vice President of the Hunter Association Board. President of Veritas."
He introduced himself with an air of accomplishment surrounding him.
Neo didn't understand half the things he said.
And the other half he understood, he refused to digest them.
He had spent the last few hours dealing with one odd sync partner (Bryce), now another one was standing right in front of him.
One that was way larger and slightly taller than Bryce. Not to talk of the authoritative presence he had which made Neo feel competitively oppressed.
"Ah President," Bryce said lightly, slipping his arm around Neo's shoulder and steering him aside. "Your aura is too intimidating. You'll scare my Senior."
Armin's gaze flickered to Bryce in silent warning before resting on Neo.
"It's fortunate you woke up. Most had already lost hope." He stepped back. "Regardless of the history you have with Alex, attacking him publicly was very reckless."
"Alex was a traitor. I punished him." Neo said coldly.
"I had to do a lot of things I wouldn't normally do just so the Federation wouldn't categorize you as a threat to society. I don't plan on cleaning up your messes so soon."
Almost a minute after Armin finished speaking did Neo realize he was being lectured. He didn't realize it earlier because of Armin's monotonous voice.
Usually, he was obedient to higher authorities, but right now, there was no evidence of Armin being his superior so he spoke to him without reserve and according respect.
"The Federation would categorize me as a threat to society for punishing that lowlife traitor? Did the people of Mars really lose their mental progression in the ten years I've been absent??" Neo spat.
Bryce quietly sniggered.
Armin's sharp jawline flexed, depicting slight frustration.
"You don't understand the current laws of the world, I understand." Armin said. "But do not insult them."
In the next second, Neo felt an overbearing weight on his shoulders. A strong agarwood scent wrapped around him and sought to suffocate him to death.
His vision blurred, and the command that came with the scent made Neo totter on the spot and almost brought him to his knees.
The hand that was lazily resting on his shoulders slipped down to his waist, then gripped it firmly.
"President, I told you not to scare my Senior." Bryce's voice was no longer cheerful.
Though Neo could hear the voice, the sound was so distant. The scent had already transported him to a place far from this one and trapped him in an unreachable prison.
The urge to submit and yield pressed down on Neo. His knees trembled. He had never ever felt like this before.
So weak…
"As long as he speaks reasonably." Neo heard Armin's voice clearly, almost like the man was standing right next to him and speaking into his ears.
"Senior can speak however he wants to." Bryce snapped loudly.
But in Neo's ears, it sounded like Bryce was a million miles away from him.
"Not to me." Armin countered and the pressure Neo felt skyrocketed.
But in the snap of a finger's time, he was transported back to the present and reality. The submissive urge disappeared.
He returned with a deep gasp and grabbed his throat, trying to suck in as much air as possible to redeem himself from the suffocation.
The strong scent disappeared without a trace and the peace of the office was restored. It was only Neo who still felt like he was in immediate danger.
Reminding him of that was Bryce's arm around his waist which tightened before he said to him, "The president is a very sensitive big bad alpha who likes to suppress others with his pheromones. Very unfair."
Neo breathing slowed with great understanding.
Alpha.
Pheromones.
Suppression.
In his entire life, Neo had never been dominated by an alpha's scent. Not once.
Until today.