Mutagen

Day 359 - 1:32 PM - Kudus Military Outpost, Kudus, Kudus Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

The assessment and transaction were done, and the next thing left was to claim the items later. There was no need to hang around in the outpost any longer.

After the head of the [Fog Crawler] was painstakingly loaded onto the cargo of a military truck, it was time for the different parties to depart to their destinations.

The crazy scientist tried several times to escape and speak to Mark. However, General Wijaya made sure his soldiers would stop the guy.

General Wijaya gave one last glance at this group of people who brought back the [Fog Crawler's] head. Compared to the larger groups who were drowning in their high egos, these groups were the only hope of humanity in his eyes. He could only sigh.

Indonesia was in the top fifty countries in terms of corruption worldwide before the apocalypse began. Now that the government had mostly fallen, all that was left was corruption and a power struggle. There were barely any people who could be called honorable left in position, even among the military.

And those greedy pigs wanted to wipe out those who remained human in their hearts.

Influence and connections. These factors were what made the current system of Mount Muria Fortress. Those who did not have these connections and did not want to be under this system became isolated.

Among those people was the 38th Settlement of the Moon Chasers, led by Luna, and the 41st Settlement of the Fire Fighters, led by Farel.

Captain Timur had already reported the summary of what happened to the Fire Fighters. Their main group faced a dilemma and got killed. Even the members present clearly had injuries. It would be a big blow to these honorable people.

General Wijaya prayed that the Fire Fighters could keep on despite this sad setback.

There was also the mysterious group. General Wijaya picked up on the hints of Mark in the few words they exchanged. Mark had knowledge that everyone here did not know. And by his words, he would likely share the information with General Wijaya. However, only General Wijaya and no one else.

By the looks of it, Mark was not only mysterious. He seemed to have some ability to discern people and their personalities.

It might sound like bragging or narcissism, but General Wijaya knew he might be the only remaining General in the Fortress not bought up by the pigs. He was the most decent and responsible among them.

Yes, General Wijaya was the most responsible. The fact could be seen since he was the only General who came to see the situation about the [Fog Crawler].

How many Generals were currently managing the military and security of the fortress? There were seven. Yet, the other six thought that it was nothing but fraud. After all, the military could not do anything against the [Fog Crawler]. What could a flimsy group without backing do?

The other six Generals took the news as a joke and did not even bother coming. Yet, General Wijaya came even for just a little bit of possibility.

The mysterious Mark could have picked up on that fact and decided he could trust the General.

General Wijaya was looking forward to the time he would talk with Mark privately.

With those thoughts in mind, General Wijaya boarded the military truck, and the convoy left with the [Fog Crawler's] head in tow.

The Moon Chasers and the Fire Fighters finished their preparations. Since the wagon being pulled by Chaflar was not empty, Mark told the most injured members of Farel's group to ride on it. It would not be the best ride due to the rough road, but it was way better than enduring all the pain in their wounds as they walked.

Farel thanked Mark for the consideration even though there was no need to. The groups would be going in the same direction, after all. And before reaching the 38th Settlement, they would pass by the 41st Settlement first.

The large group followed the cleared trail outside the wall surrounding the mountain. The outside was mostly cleared of trees. It was not only to be used as a path but also to reveal any dangers closing in. Without any obstacles, any attacker had nothing to hide behind.

From time to time, the group would pass by some entrances with guards. However, it was not a place they could not pass through easily or even just enter.

These highly guarded entrances were the outer gates of the Satelite Settlements. Each gate meant a single settlement ruled by a group. But to enter, one must be a member of that group or living in their settlement. If not, they needed to pay a toll to pass through. The toll varied from settlement to settlement, and it was not low at all. 

That was why it was better to just skirt along the wall and enter through their own settlements' outer gates.

On the other hand, the group caused a commotion at each gate they passed by. Why? Who would not be alerted to see a large group of people with beasts along their side? The two largest were even ferocious-looking lizards. And those two were pulling wagons.

The guards at the gates could not believe what they were seeing. They could only report to their superiors in a hurry.

Soon enough, this rumor would spread across the entire fortress. After all, there were various witnesses, from the many passersby at the outpost to the military they had transactions with.

There were many attempts at domesticating [Evolved Animals] in the fortress. However, aside from a few livestock animals that got some minor changes, all other efforts faced failure. That was why it was a huge thing to see a group of humans actually commanding these ferocious animals.

Soon, knocks and inquiries would be flooding the groups involved about these animals.

At four in the afternoon, the group reached the 41st Settlement. Seeing Farel and his group, the guards by the gates became excited. The fog happened while they were out, after all. However, the guards also noticed the decreased number of members and their current state.

Although the beasts with the group were eye-catching, the guards paid attention more to Farel and the other members of the Fire Fighters. All of them valued each of their members.

"Sir Farel, what happened?"

One of the guards asked Farel. His eyes even fell on the only corpse the group managed to bring back, which was closely guarded by Yulia. There was no need to ask whose corpse it was.

"I'll tell everyone later," Farel patted the guard's shoulder. "For now, let all of us enter. And call some people to help move the stuff loaded on the wagon behind the [Ground Hunter]."

As the guard's attention finally fell on the large lizards, he asked Farel.

"These monsters won't attack, right? They are not ours, right?"

"No, they won't as long as we don't attack first," Farel answered. "And they are not ours. They are pets of our benefactors."

The guard was stunned by Farel's words. However, he was not stupid. He understood the situation and felt nervous. It meant that Farel's group faced a deadly situation and were saved in time. If not, he could not imagine the situation.

As the realization hit, the guard looked at the Moon Chasers and the unfamiliar people with eyes filled with gratitude. After all, they brought their leader back alive. Farel was the foundation of this Settlement. Without him, it would fall.

The entire group entered the 41st Settlement. It was not the most pleasant place. While each structure inside was strong, it did not look any better than a squatter's compound. The houses built with scraps were crammed together, and the smell of rust was in the air. Nonetheless, the people living in it were in a good state.

When the news of the Fire Fighter's return reached their ears, every person in the settlement came out to welcome them home. However, seeing the current state of the members that came out, the joy did not last long.

Some people came out to look at the members. Others realized some were missing.

One woman approached Farel.

"Farel, where's Irma?"

The woman asked Farel.

However, Farel only looked at the ground in dismay as he replied.

"I'm sorry."

The woman fell to her knees as the realization hit. Irma, one of the founding members of the Fire Fighters, her beloved daughter, did not make it.

Soon, the families of some of the missing members also came and received the unfortunate news. They could only cry as the sorrow overwhelmed their hearts.

However, no one blamed Farel or the other members. Their community was tightly knit, and everyone knew each other. All of them knew the members of the Fire Fighters would do their best to keep each other alive. If someone perished among them, it meant that it was inevitable.

Unfortunately, no matter how inevitable it was, the sorrow of losing a loved one was not something they could just put aside.

The atmosphere in the 41st Settlement turned sour immediately. The Fire Fighter's return should have been a joyous occasion. But now, it has become a funeral.

In this situation, the worst part was meeting Wahyu's wife and two children. After all, the perpetrator that caused this event was Wahyu. No, it was the impostor of Wahyu.

Farel turned to Mark. He wanted to tell the truth to Wahyu's family. They had the right to know. However, Mark told Farel and the rest to hide it for the time being. After all, there should be other people who fell victim to the impersonating creatures. Wahyu could only be one of them. In that case, it was better not to alarm them before getting to the root of it.

Mark had already sent Crimson to chase after the fake Wahyu. It was just a matter of time to find where they came from.

But as Farel looked at Mark, the latter could only sigh.

Fortunately, all the residents of the 41st Settlement were present.

With a shrug, Mark's figure suddenly blurred out of existence.

Everyone was surprised to see Mark suddenly vanish before their eyes. What happened? Where did he go?

What happened next shocked everyone. One after another, residents of the 41st Settlement were thrown in the middle of the plaza in front of everyone. The people complained in pain, and their family members shouted in shock and horror.

But as Mark's figure appeared while holding a struggling child, only then they realized that it was Mark who did the atrocious thing.

Six people were thrown in the middle of the road. Mark did not hold back and even mercilessly threw the child to the ground.

"What the f*ck are you doing to my wife?!"

A man shouted in anger. His wife was among the six people.

Similar complaints echoed. They wanted to charge at Mark and beat him to a pulp. The man who complained just now even grabbed a machete and ran at Mark.

However, Mark did not show any change in expression. His eyes glowed red, and he spoke.

"Shut up."

Those two words vibrated within the hearts and minds of the disturbed people. They all swallowed their complaints and anger as they realized they could not move their bodies in fear. The six people on the ground were the same.

Farel and Luna were stunned at the situation. It was the same for their members. None of them were as affected by Mark's words, but his words felt like they carried a power that resonated with their emotions. It was even more incredulous to see people freeze on their feet.

"Farel."

Mark called Farel.

"Don't tell me..."

Farel realized what Mark had done. It was the same for the members of Fire Fighters and Moon Chasers.

Mark looked at the guy with the machete and then grabbed his wife, who was kneeling on the ground, by his neck.

"Is this your wife?"

Mark asked as he peeled off the skin mask from the woman's face.

Everyone looked in horror as the woman's face came off easily. The woman was most scared as her true charcoal-colored face was revealed. Then, as if the light suddenly distorted, the body of the woman changed into a woman with charcoal skin and tribal-looking clothing.

"I'll ask again," Mark spoke. "Is this your wife?"

The man looked in horror.

"Who? Who the f*ck? Where is my wife?"

"Sir Mark," Farel stepped forward. "Are these six really..."

"Yes," Mark nodded. "Even this kid."

The kid's mother looked in horror as Mark lowered his body and peeled off the young boy's face. And just like the woman, the boy's body blurred before turning into a child with charcoal skin and tribal clothing.

It was clear that they were busted. The impostors did not even glance at each other as they opened their mouths. Their mouths opened in a way and size impossible for humans.

There was no doubt what the impostors were trying to do.

However, the six impostors froze in shock.

Mark sneered.

"Don't bother. I let one escape on purpose before. I only need one to escape."

Those words carried many meanings.

The six impostors tried hard. However, no smoke came out of their mouths. They seemed to try other means. Unfortunately, they could only drown in shock to learn that none of their powers were working.