The Meeting Place
There's something warm against my body. It's even wriggling around. What on earth is this? Just as the strangeness begins to dawn on me, I remember where I am and my eyes snap open.
Don't tell me I fell asleep in Victory's cell?!
I lift my head and quickly scan the surroundings. Thankfully, nothing seems wrong with my body. "Ehehehehe..." Victory is fast asleep on top of me, wearing the happiest expression imaginable. The fact that a blanket has been draped over us tells me exactly how much trouble the bound girl went through at dawn.
Since it's still early morning, I carefully lay the deeply sleeping Victory back on the bed and quietly slip out of the containment cell.
Walking down the Danger Zone corridor, I fall into deep thought. Thanks to what just happened, I've realized Victory has opened up to me far more than I expected. In that case, shouldn't it be all right to start introducing her to the other children, just as I mentioned yesterday? Whether the Director will approve is another matter, but I need to see her today anyway.
While mulling over how to broach the subject with the Director, morning arrives quickly. I pull up the children's data and head to the Director's office. Min Chae-rin, the lie-detector secretary, is still with her, but the atmosphere feels lighter than yesterday.
Then the Director makes an unexpected proposal. "Maxwell, how about you just live with the young test subjects from now on?"
"Would that be acceptable?"
I had planned to show her the data and persuade her, but I never expected her to suggest it first. Her reason is brutally concise. "Those kids won't allow anyone but you, and it's an enormous waste of time."
"I can't help but agree."
Their rooms are far apart, and I have to visit each one individually. It eats up far too much of my time. The Director, who clearly wants to assign me to other tasks, must find this extremely inconvenient. Of course, after Gloria and Liberty fought the moment they met, she had given me plenty of time.
"You're giving me over a year?"
"In exchange, pay the most attention to Victory."
As always, the Director emphasizes Victory's importance. Her words stem from a very personal motive. What ability would a workaholic who never leaves the office most desire? Precisely the acceleration ability Victory possesses. Knowing her goal makes the Director's intentions painfully transparent.
**************
Not long after leaving the Director's office, I sit at my desk, lost in thought. How should I arrange the meetings...? The children are all in excellent moods today, probably because of the gifts. This seems like the perfect timing, yet moments like this require extra caution.
After much deliberation, I decide to have Liberty and Victory meet first—their pasts are somewhat similar. Of course, since I have no idea how it will go, I need to prepare multiple safety measures.
First, I request what I need from Black Cell. "Mr. Maxwell, are you planning to restrain the wolf mutant again?"
"You could say that. I'll need two sets, please."
"Two sets? Hmm... Understood."
The supply staff are clearly curious about my intentions, but ever since the internal whistleblower was publicly executed, everyone has been extremely cautious with their words.
Once I make the request, Black Cell installs specially made reinforced glass in an empty room, creating two separate chambers. A black cloth covers the glass so neither side can see the other. Finally, I have the powerful shackles Liberty wore placed on both walls. Once the safety inspection is complete, preparations are essentially finished.
I leave the final checks to the other staff and head to Liberty first. As usual, the wolf greets me enthusiastically and sinks its teeth into my neck, though the bite is gentler than before. It must be in a very good mood. I seize the opportunity and tell it about Victory.
"Liberty, you're going to meet a new friend. Is that all right?"
"Keng!! Pant, pant..."
Liberty still only makes animal sounds. But after spending so much time together like with Gloria, I can read its intentions to some degree. I receive permission to proceed.
Next is Victory. The problem is that she's a multiple-personality case, and the personalities don't seem to share memories well. Even if one agrees, the others might refuse, which could cause serious issues. Just in case, I spend a long time asking repeatedly, but—
"I-I'm fine with anything!!"
"Are you certain?"
"Of course!! If this meeting is a step toward staying with you, Maxwell... Ehehehehe..."
Combined with our earlier conversation and the fact that we slept together, every one of Victory's personalities has become a complete "YES girl." If even the timid, gloomy one agrees, then it's practically settled.
Once I receive word that the custom-made room is ready, the long-awaited moment arrives. With a tense heart, I lead Liberty into the room first and secure the shackles. Even though the situation must be unpleasant, Liberty shows no complaints, trusting me completely.
"Liberty, I'll say it again—are you sure you're all right?"
"Pant, pant...! Keng!!"
"Good. Thank you. The friend on the other side will also be restrained, so don't attack first."
With Liberty settled, it's Victory's turn. Because of her acceleration ability, her legs must be fully restrained. Once again, I carry her in a princess carry, wrapped up like a cocoon. Victory is so delighted she doesn't resist the shackles at all. Still, she seems curious about the scent coming from the other side.
"One of the owners of that smell..."
"Her name is Liberty. If you—"
"Hehehehe... It's fine. If she stays still, I'll stay still too."
Victory's unusually mild personality actually reassures me. With both sides having given their consent and a highly secure meeting space prepared, I step outside for a moment to let them adjust.
I wonder if all this preparation is really necessary, but from Black Cell's perspective, this is the first time its youngest and most dangerous test subjects are facing each other. The room is designed like the other labs: those inside cannot see out, but those outside can see in. In short, safety on this side is reasonably assured.
Other staff members quickly gather, drawn by curiosity. Even other researchers come to watch.
"Wow... Those are the test subjects Senior Maxwell is taking care of?"
"That's right, Ms. Amano."
"They both seem much calmer than I expected."
The moment Amano says this, the other researchers look horrified.
"Ms. Amano, you must never underestimate those kids."
"That wolf mutant even enjoys cannibalism."
"It's safer to think of them as monsters that only look like children."
"R-really? But Senior Maxwell..."
All eyes turn to me at once. Then a senior researcher speaks, and everyone nods in understanding.
"Considering Mr. Maxwell even jokes around with Director Eileen, this outcome makes sense in a way."
"""Ah..."""
The surroundings grow noisy for a moment, but the meeting time is approaching. As everyone watches in silence, I speak into the microphone installed outside.
[Both of you seem to have adjusted, so I'll remove the black cloth now.]
The moment I press the button on the small remote, the black cloth between Liberty and Victory slowly rises toward the ceiling. Reinforced glass still separates them, but holes allow them to smell each other. Finally, they can see each other's faces directly.
Just as I'm praying they won't fight the moment they see each other—
"Uh... Senior Maxwell? They don't seem interested in each other at all."
Liberty and Victory are staring at each other as if the other is nothing more than a cow or a chicken.
**************
Maxwell has finally managed to arrange the first meeting between Liberty and Victory. Contrary to expectations, once they caught each other's scent, both showed strong dislike—yet they display zero interest in one another. Maxwell breathes a sigh of relief that the worst-case scenario hasn't occurred, while the surrounding researchers watch with great interest.
"This is... quite unexpected."
"Given how violent those kids are, I thought they'd start growling the moment they saw each other..."
"Maybe it's because they're both mutants?"
"A rather intriguing development."
Everyone, being scientists, is busy analyzing the situation when Amano Yume approaches her senior.
"Senior Maxwell, what will you do now?"
"For now, this meeting can be considered a great success. If we continue having them face each other, we should be able to improve their relationship somehow."
Once Maxwell judges that they've had enough time to adjust, he enters the room to hear their thoughts. As he approaches Liberty, the wolf mutant climbs onto him as usual—
Clank! Twang!!!
Suddenly, the sound of shackles being yanked taut comes from the other side. Maxwell looks at Victory in disbelief. Sure enough—
Grind, grind! Creak, creak!
Victory is glaring at Liberty with a face full of jealousy. Because Maxwell's attention is focused on the other side, he doesn't see the smile Liberty wears while being held.
Smirk.
The other researchers shake their heads at the sight of Liberty's victorious smile.
"Their possessiveness is stronger than I thought."
"So that's why the Danger Zone got completely wrecked..."
"Then just how bad is that crazy kid...?"
Maxwell's future suddenly looks very dark.