Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Lingering Shadows
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Returning to Rakesh didn't mean I could rest.
If anything, the next few days were busier than usual.
Most of what I handled was the aftermath of the Utah underground city incident—specifically, deciding on the management of the chief researcher and policies toward Mutant Medical Corporation, the suspected mastermind behind it all.
"You're just going to let it slide like that?"
I couldn't help but ask when Tana relayed Darmosa's decision to me.
"It's not certain, so we have no choice."
"Even though we've secured the chief researcher on our side?"
"That's just his claim. We did a thorough search, but no additional evidence turned up linking the lab to Mutant Medical's ownership."
Tana explained as if there were no other option.
No matter how many times I asked, the answer stayed the same.
'So it ends like this after all?'
I thought the evidence was a bit thin, sure.
But a behemoth like Mutant Medical Corporation wasn't something even the Human Alliance could touch lightly.
Still, I figured we'd get something out of an incident this big, but apparently not.
"I'm a bit disappointed."
"I get it. But I hope you understand this is the best we can do right now."
"Yeah, I suppose."
What power did I have anyway?
I was just a provisional squad member—I had to follow when the captain and senior told me to.
At any rate, saving 700,000 lives meant we'd more or less achieved the early objective.
My internal evaluation score came back high too.
However, since we couldn't pinpoint the culprit, the Utah City incident got brushed off as more or less a fluke.
It didn't even make waves amid the ongoing orbital strikes, so my name didn't spread far.
"The researcher—as promised, I can handle him, right?"
"Yeah. The captain approved it."
Dealing with the chief researcher fell under my purview.
He'd be secretly transported to the Salmon Lab, where he'd work for the rest of his life.
Our background check showed he was a loner anyway—without a single relative or friend.
By nature a researcher, he wouldn't chase other ambitions as long as his basic needs were met.
Of course, since he'd conducted unethical experiments against his will, I planned to fit him with a new leash.
The chief researcher, knowing he'd face something worse than death if he wandered and got caught, obediently followed my lead.
'Too valuable a talent to waste away.'
According to Fontana's vetting, he possessed deeper knowledge in his field than her.
No wonder they hadn't hesitated to implant a chip and keep him as chief researcher.
That's why we'd decided to assign him to the bio-armor suit division, which was facing all sorts of setbacks.
Fontana had been thrilled when I made the call.
Her face lit up like she'd been waiting for it—nagging me that she'd finish it within a month.
"How's the security holding up?"
"Don't worry. Darmosa's personally making sure it all goes smoothly."
"Thanks."
"No problem. After everything you've done for us. Seriously, why not join as my official junior?"
"...Haha, I'll pass."
Lately, Tana had been making offers like that more often.
Not just as a senior superhuman guiding a junior, but an invitation to formally learn the work she handled—totally at odds with my plans, so I had to shake my head.
Tana looked disappointed when I did.
"Think it over some more."
"I'm swamped as it is. I've got my own personal stuff piling up too. That's why I loaned you my assistant, right?"
"...Fair enough. She's good at her job. If it weren't for your entourage, I'd have snatched her up ages ago."
Sia's current duties boiled down to three main things.
On top of her original role assisting me as entourage, she managed the colony while also helping soothe public sentiment on Rakesh at the Alliance's request.
"Feel free to take her."
"I tried recruiting her, but she wouldn't budge."
"...You already did?"
"Of course. We're always short-staffed. It's standard procedure."
How was she so shameless?
I half-hoped she'd snag her, but hearing it still felt weird.
Just then, footsteps approached.
Sia was no slouch either.
She came in with two cups of tea, carefully setting them down in front of us.
"You don't have to do this. Get the servants for stuff like that."
"I wanted to take care of it myself. Here you go, Tana. It's Earl Grey—hope that's okay?"
"I drink anything. Thanks, looks good."
Tana took a sip first and her eyes went wide.
"Whoa, this is really good."
"Right? My father sent it. Said to use it when entertaining you, Leonard, but you never have time for tea."
"...Haha."
"I know. You're busy."
I'd been deliberately avoiding one-on-one time with Sia.
Most things went through comms, and even when we met, it was quick business only.
Tea? No way.
I could only mask my awkwardness with a laugh.
"Still, make a little time for tea now and then."
"Got it."
I'd relied on her a lot lately.
Especially with protecting the researcher's safety amid the Utah mess—she'd helped immensely, so I couldn't flat-out refuse and nodded.
"Great tea. I gotta head out."
"Already?"
Tana stood up right then.
She'd called it good and somehow downed that scalding tea in seconds.
"Still got work to handle. The orbital strikes have everything backed up."
"...Take care."
"Oh, and he said to be careful."
"Me?"
"Darmosa asked me to pass it on. Said you'd know what it means. Anyway, I'm really going now."
I nodded at the mention of Darmosa's message.
It tied back to our last comm call.
Because of it, Roze would stick with me full-time for a while.
Still, problems always cropped up unexpectedly, so I planned to stay vigilant myself as prevention.
But while I took it in stride, an unexpected person freaked out.
"What did Tana mean? Be careful?"
As soon as Tana left, Sia sat across from me with a grave look and asked.
"Is it a warning not to stand out too much? Since you're still just provisional..."
"Nah, nothing like that."
"Then what?"
She looked dead set on getting an answer.
I waved it off.
"Really, it's nothing."
"...But it was a message from Darmosa, right? The Central Superhuman Unit captain wouldn't relay something trivial like that."
"True, but..."
What to say?
The person in question was Sia.
Quick on the uptake, raised as an heir to her family.
No way she'd buy a vague excuse like she would Roze.
"As your entourage, anything involving your safety is my top priority. Please, just tell me what's going on."
"...Utah City was pretty dicey, right? Nearly died. Probably just telling me to watch myself."
"Tana's tone wasn't like that. And dangerous situations happen on every mission. I doubt the captain would pass on a message like that for something routine to a superhuman."
Guess it didn't fly.
Dealing with smart people was convenient yet inconvenient.
'But do I really need to hide it from Sia?'
I mulled it over.
If I'd told Roze the truth, it'd be a problem.
She'd fidget so much everyone would notice.
That's why I'd framed it as adaptation issues to pair her as my partner naturally.
But Sia was different.
Even if I spilled everything, she wouldn't cause trouble.
"...That's why."
In the end, I gave Sia a brief rundown of the retaliation and threats I expected from Mutant Medical.
"Could be I'm just overthinking it."
Sia shook her head, countering.
"No. Mutant Medical Corporation's notoriety is infamous. Everyone knows they never let enemies who cross them off the hook—they always retaliate."
Was that so?
I didn't know details like that.
I racked my brain for original story details, but drew a blank.
"Word is they run a paramilitary group called the 'Punishment Squad.' If they're targeting you, Leonard, that's who'd move."
"Punishment Squad?"
"Yes. Never heard of them?"
"Hmm..."
First time.
Originally, Mutant Medical's main muscle wasn't anything like a Punishment Squad.
Later in the story timeline, sure, but their flagship was the 'Nexter.'
Nexter—a neologism for "people of the next era"—consisted entirely of mutants, each with special powers.
'Those guys...'
It reminded me of that orangutan-like test subject from the Utah lab.
Nexter was its evolved form.
More humanoid in appearance, higher intelligence.
The key was they could now breed and pass on their genetic traits—though the ability diluted over generations, a "flaw" that led some to call them failures internally.
Anyway, Nexter stole the spotlight so much that other groups went unmentioned.
No wonder I'd never heard of any Punishment Squad.
"It's fine if you haven't. Point is, while you're on Rakesh, no one—whatever their affiliation—can easily plot against you."
Sia clenched her fists, her voice firm.
"Thanks for looking out."
"No, just doing my job."
I picked up my tea.
The rich aroma soothed my mind.
I reconsidered Sia's intentions once more.
The reason I hadn't placed deep trust in her was my judgment that she clearly wanted something from me.
The evidence was solid.
'Sia is a purist.'
She was the woman who'd chosen death over accepting mostly artificial body replacements, despite treatments existing.
Me? A member of the Monarch family, who'd altered our genetic traits across generations.
So even if Sia felt fondness for me, it could never evolve into anything romantic.
Stripping away man-woman dynamics, her motive for approaching me narrowed down quick.
Her line about devoting everything since I saved her life? Way too simplistic for someone of her upbringing.
No choice but to suspect.
I set down my cup and cut straight to it.
"So what do you really want, Sia? Skip the clichéd 'you saved my life' stuff."
"..."
"Isn't it about time you answered?"
Sia gave a wry smile.
She looked almost wistful.
I hid the pang of guilt and stared at her impassively.
No matter how devoted she seemed, until this doubt cleared, I couldn't keep her around forever.
After a long hesitation, she finally spoke.
"...I never even told my father, but I actually have an ability."
I'd always seen her as a regular human until then, so I was stunned.
'She's never let it slip...?'
People with abilities usually use them naturally.
That's human nature.
Why hide a special power of your own?
If it never showed, it was either undetectable to others or too weak to manifest.
But Sia's seemed the former.
"...What kind?"
"Like an eye that peers into someone's inner self? If I just look at them quietly, I see some visualized form based on their personality or tendencies."
"That's all?"
"No. With ability users, it's clearer—and the more I interact, the vaguer sense I get of their power type."
"...So."
My face stiffened on its own.
Sia proceeded cautiously, watching me.
"I'm sorry. You've been the one I've observed most closely lately, Leonard."
"How much do you know?"
"...That the ability you used to heal me is just a tiny fraction of your true power. And that your left arm is special."
I drew in a sharp breath.