Free Web NovelChapter 163: Chapter 162 - In The Heart of Eden(Part 9)
Point-of-View: Luna Castillo/Astra
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"Okay...so, now what?" I inquired with a weary sigh, sitting on the sand, feeling worn out.
"Dunno. No one else has arrived yet. Maybe they couldn’t escape?" He responded with an inquiring tilt of his head.
Uh, wait, is he asking me? How am I supposed to know that?
"You think they all got caught or killed before they could escape?" I asked him, deciding to deflect it right back at him.
If you get a question you can’t answer, then answer the question with a question.
"Oh, you think so?" Came the reply.
...I give up, holding a conversation with this guy is impossible.
"If we’re the only ones who made it out, then what?" I inquired with a sigh.
"Hm...dunno, all the escape plans involved the higher ups successfully escaping. What should I do if they didn’t?" He asked in response, his tone as blank as ever.
What is with this guy, anyway? He’s so weird. I don’t think he can even function in society with the way he is, not even something simple like buying groceries or whatever.
Well, not that I would know, I haven’t ever bought groceries myself...growing up, there was a maid who did all the chores, and once I became a celebrity, I simply had my assistants buy me whatever I needed.
Oh, crap, I might not be able to function in society either...and since I’m so recognizable, being a super famous pop star and all, I’ll have to lay low to avoid being found.
Pretty sure Harmony knows who I am, so if anyone takes a picture of me and it goes viral, it probably won’t be long before they come for me.
And they might kill me...oh, but I’ll be able to fight back since my Condition only prevents me from attacking Eden members. But, then, if they, like, send several Category 0s after me, I’ll probably die.
I don’t like feeling pain myself, and I definitely don’t want to die. This guy is seriously strong, but I sincerely doubt that he can navigate things in the world.
"So, uh, I don’t suppose you have any money on you?" I asked him hopefully.
"I have money."
"Oh, yeah? Uh, how much are we talking, exactly?" I responded curiously.
He then took out his phone and tapped on the screen a couple of times, before showing it to me.
"This much."
"W-woah, holy crap...," I muttered wide-eyed...that’s more than ten million dollars, "Do you have a card?"
"No. It kept getting lost, so they got me this app that lets me pay with my phone," He replied, as he put the phone away.
Hm, so no ATMs then, huh? And to use that app, the user needs to use his fingerprint to unlock it. So I can’t just kill him...not that I can, even without the Condition restricting me, he’s way stronger than I am.
"Hey, do you think you could remove the Condition you placed on me?" I requested hopefully.
"Hm? But the higher ups told me not to."
"Sure, but they’re almost definitely dead or captured by Harmony at this point. In other words, Eden’s finished now. It’s just you and me," I replied in a tone that made it sound like I was stating the obvious.
"Oh, is that true?"
"Yup, totally! So we need to help each other out to survive, and lay low till we figure out what to do next. Unless you want to do things by yourself?" I inquired, taking a risk.
"No, I’ve been told that I shouldn’t do things alone."
Yeah, that’s for sure. Am I crazy, or is this actually working? This guy’s pretty easy to manipulate, wow...
"That’s exactly why you need to remove my Condition. Otherwise I’ll be limited in how I can help you. And don’t forget, the higher ups totally abandoned millions of Eden’s members, those members might come after us and try to kill us as revenge for being a part of the group that abandoned them.
And while all the other Category 0s were probably killed back there, there might not be any members left who are stronger than you, but if they outnumber you too heavily, you might be in trouble. And the Condition will prevent me from helping you," I reasoned in a friendly voice.
"Hm, really?" He responded...I can’t tell if he’s convinced or skeptical, it’s so hard to get a read on this guy.
"Yup, really. If you don’t, you could end up dead soon. Do you want that?" I inquired bluntly.
"Do I want to die? Hm...I don’t think so?" He responded with a tilt of his head.
Why’d he say that like a question? He’s not even sure of that? Like, what gives? Has he been brainwashed or something? This is way beyond just being spacey...oh, well, whatever, I don’t really care.
Assuming he is brainwashed or something, that’d explain why he’s so easy to manipulate. So, for now, I’m not gonna question or worry about it.
"Good! So, what do you say?" I prompted him.
He was silent for a moment, a blank stare on his face...is he mulling it over or has he completely zoned out right now? I’d love to read his mind and find out how his thought process works, I bet it’s fascinating. He then finally responded...
"Okay," He replied as he placed his palm on my chest, a black mist flowing out of my body.
Oh, wow, he’s actually doing it...I can’t believe that I really managed to convince him!
"Awesome, thanks a l-...hm? I feel like it’s not gone...," I frowned, as he pulled his hand away.
"No, it’s gone. But I put a new Condition to prevent you from betraying or killing me," He replied in an absent-minded tone.
Huh? Seriously? Guess he’s a bit sharper than I thought. Still, that’s fine, I wasn’t planning on killing him anytime soon, anyway. He may be as dense as they come, but he is very strong, and it’s better than me going it alone.
I should probably dye my hair, and maybe wear colored contacts to hide my heterochromia. His hair is better off being dyed too, that silver hair really stands out.
"Alright, then, shall we get going? We need to find a place to stay," I remarked, as I stood up with a sigh.
"Oh, okay."
So, this is gonna be my life for the foreseeable future, huh? Just great...I miss the luxury I enjoyed back when I was a celebrity.
Hm, but this guy’s absolutely loaded, so maybe I can hope for some level of comfort. I’ve got a ton of money saved up, but I don’t have access to my account right now...and even if I did, since everyone thinks I’m missing, using it would probably be considered suspicious activity or something. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Damn, this sucks!
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Point-of-View: Maeve Murphy
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"So, do you want to handle this, or should I?" I inquired, as we’d cornered a couple of Eden’s members.
One of them is a Category 0, while I’m fairly certain that the other is one of the Outliers. I remember the footage from Wales, I’m sure it’s the same guy...he was killing people without remorse, and after he was captured by Eden, several young women’s bodies were discovered and reported, brutally raped and murdered.
In short, he’s the worst kind of person, absolutely vile and despicable. Actually, that’s understating it, especially looking at him right now. He was hungrily ogling me, and not even trying to hide his erection. He’s making my skin crawl, ugh.
"Heh, looks like this might be it for me...taking on two Category 0s is a tough ask," Smirked the Eden Category 0 wryly.
If I remember right, his name is Sien Ress, a talented Light Skill user, along with the Pyro, Electro and Terra Skills.
"I’ll take him on, you deal with the Outlier, agreed?" I suggested to Osiris, whom I was paired with.
"Disagreed. I do not want to touch that swine, he looks so unclean and disgusting," He frowned with a shudder.
Yeah, that’s exactly why I don’t want to go anywhere near him. Damn it, I forgot that this guy’s an insane clean freak.
"Uh...rock-paper-scissors for it?" I responded sheepishly.
"Hm...fine, I suppose that’s fair," He grumbled, before turning his fist towards me as I raised mine.
"Don’t think I’m going to let you turn your backs to me, take this!" Exclaimed Sien, as he formed a Light Blast and fired it at us.
I swiftly raised my other hand and formed a wind wall in front of us, the Light Blast deflecting off it and hitting the ground, kicking up a puff of dust.
"This place is absolutely filthy," Grumbled Osiris in disgust, as he threw out scissors, while I went with rock.
"Yes! I win!" I grinned triumphantly.
"...no. Best of three," He responded, looking like he was unable to accept the result.
"Hell, no. Don’t be a sore loser!" I smirked, as I shot towards Sien, who sprang back and shot out a fireball at me in alarm.
I swiftly countered with a fireball of my own, canceling his out, before I chased after him...alright, let’s do this!
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