Free Web NovelChapter 82: Chapter 81 - A Cruel Choice
Point-of-View: X
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"How interesting, so the Space Meta-Orb was touched by two people simultaneously and the power was evenly split between them?" I remarked in fascination.
"Yes, that’s right, at least, it’s the most likely explanation. Our informant came through again, members of Harmony were there too, just as they said there would be. Unfortunately, it’s seemed like they managed to arrive before us, so we only managed to capture one of the two that gained the orb’s power, but at least it’s better than letting Harmony capture both of them," Sighed Trevor in response.
"Suppose so...by the way, who captured the Outlier?" I asked him.
"Wrest Seizel...again. I really don’t like him, but I have to admit, he’s done an excellent job with this, this makes the third Outlier that he’s captured."
"Ugh, yeah, that guy’s a total douche."
"I have to agree. But thanks to him, we’ve now got another Outlier in our clutches."
Sheesh, he definitely makes Eden sound like the bad guys when he puts it like that.
"Cool. So that just leaves one Meta-Orb unaccounted for, yeah?" I surmised, as I stretched my arms up lazily.
"Correct, and we need to be the ones to capture the next Outlier, in order to maintain the balance between the two sides...if Harmony gets the last one, the scales will tip in their favor," He stated grimly, before changing the subject, "But enough about that. Is the domination mission going as planned?"
"Why are you asking me? I mean, sure, except for the one where we came across that Vampire, all the assignments I’ve been a part of have succeeded, but I don’t know anything about the ones I haven’t been a part of," I shrugged in response, before pointing out, "By the way, why am I even a part of these assignments at all? I mean, we’re up against regular humans, so my Nullification is kinda useless."
"Don’t look at me, I’m not the one assigning personnel to these missions."
Yeah, so, Eden’s plan to brainwash and control the leaders of various countries was going pretty well, but it was only going to get tougher. We had all but taken over the countries that weren’t occupied by Harmony, along with a few in which their presence was relatively miniscule.
It’s going to get much harder once we have to target countries where they’ve got hidden bases set up in. Huh, that makes me wonder...
"Hey, this informant, why haven’t they just, I don’t know, revealed the specific locations of a whole bunch of Harmony hideouts to us? I mean, couldn’t we deal a significant blow to them if we had that info?" I pointed out objectively.
"Yes, well, the informant is quite shrewd, they won’t divulge all the information they’ve got until they secure their position with Eden and can be guaranteed their safety," He answered with a sigh.
"Guess that makes sense...huh, but that probably means that they’re not that strong, right? Maybe a Category 2 or lower end Category 1?" I guessed as I mulled it over.
"It doesn’t concern you, so forget about it. I’ve got a task for you," He remarked, ending the discussion.
Aw, man, just when it was getting good...I can often get some info out of his, but at some point he always cuts it off before I’m satisfied. Have to say though, Eden seems to be starting to let their guard down where I’m concerned.
I seem to be getting a lot more freedom ever since they put me in charge of the Outliers...I should do my best to continue to stay in their good books. It could be a factor in accomplishing Miraliz’s goal of escaping Eden.
"Come on, man, I just got back from my last mission less than a day ago, give me a break," I groaned in dismay...I shouldn’t be too agreeable though, I should just act like I always do, otherwise he might get suspicious.
"Quit your complaining, I’m just the messenger. You can take your complaints to the higher ups. Anyway, I want you to get that kid used to killing people...that fat pig and the psycho celeb definitely don’t have a problem in that regard, but the other one’s still a kid, so we’d better get her used to killing before we start using her and the other Outliers properly."
"Didn’t she kill that guy who offed her mom pretty easily?" I pointed out in response.
"Maybe so, but killing someone you despise and killing a random stranger are two completely different things. And don’t forget, she seized up a bit and had a panic attack after she killed him," He reminded me.
"Alright, fine, I guess I don’t really have a choice. So, I’m guessing you’ve prepared some warm bodies for us to use for this?" I inquired with a raised eyebrow. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"Of course. We managed to capture some Harmony Meta-Humans that were living in regular society...they’ve been kept out of the loop since they’re effectively non-combatants, so there’s no worthwhile information to extract from them. Our only option is to dispose of them, so we might as well make full use of them. They were brought to this hideout this morning."
"Alright, then, I’ll go tell Adelmira what’s up. How many of them are there?" I asked him.
"A family of six, two adults and four children. Have her kill at least four of them. Give the rest to the psycho, she’s been pestering us to give her some people to ’burn and play with’ for days now," He sighed in exasperation.
Yeah, I’ve definitely heard her making those requests...she’s crazy for sure, she always seem unhinged whenever I watch her train. I usually try to avoid interacting with her, if I can help it.
Trevor then left after informing me where the captives were being held, and told me to get Miraliz on it as soon as possible. It’ll probably be pretty rough on her, to kill an innocent family for no good reason.
I let out a sigh as I got up and headed for her cell, unlocking it and stepping inside as I got to the door, reluctantly entering the room. Stuff like this doesn’t really bother me, but telling her is probably gonna be a bit tough.
"Oh, hey, X. Thought you’d be lazing around all day since you just got back from your mission," She greeted me in surprise, seated on her bed with a book in her hands.
"Man, you really get me, Miraliz, you’re such a good kid!" I sighed dramatically as I flopped onto her bed, planting my head facedown onto her lap, "Mmm, hah, you smell nice."
"And you’re being kinda creepy...I just had a shower a while back, you’re smelling the soap," She responded wryly, as she lightly smacked the back of my head with her book, "So, what’s up?"
"Oh, well, uh...buckle down, cuz this is gonna be a lot to take in. I’ll get straight to the point. You see, Eden wants to get you used to killing people, and to do so...," I began, before explaining the situation and what they wanted her to do.
As I finished informing her, she was silent for a few moments, an unreadable look on her face as she clenched her fists, trembling slightly.
"What...what happens if I refuse?" She finally responded, in a quiet, somber tone.
"Well, let’s see...they’ll probably use the Condition placed on you to force you to do so. And believe me, that’s an incredibly unpleasant experience. What’s more, they’ll probably put you under stricter surveillance," I remarked, after mulling it over.
"I...I see. S-so, then, I don’t...I don’t have a choice but to do it?" She inquired shakily.
"I’m sorry, but...yeah, I’d say so. I’m afraid this is just how Eden operates."
"O-okay, then, I-I’ll...I’ll do it," She replied, as her breathing started to get sharper and more ragged, before standing up with a slight wobble, her legs shaking, "L-let’s go now, I’ll only end up agonizing over it if I put it off for too long."
"Alright, if you’re sure. Come on, follow me."
I then led her out of her cell and out of the basement, before heading up to the second floor, where the captives were being held.
She had a conflicted look on her face the whole time, her entire body trembling the whole time as we made our way there. Poor kid, this is gonna really fuck her up. But there’s nothing I can do to stop it...after all, I’m in the same boat that she’s in, the only difference is that I’ve been on this boat for much longer.
"Okay, I think this is it-...oh, just great," I groaned, as I spotted someone standing by the door to the room where the captives were being held in.
This is the worst...it’s Wrest, of all people...
"Hi, there! I’m here to see how this goes and then report back to the higher ups," He smirked, as he gave us a wave.
Huh, he’s wearing a shirt...normally, he almost exclusively wears loose-fitting or oversized outfits, he looks weird...
"First time I’m seeing you in a shirt, and I gotta say, that’s an awful look for you," I responded dryly, "If you’re here, I guess that means the new Outlier is too."
He’s got his phone in his breast pocket, with the camera poking out from the top...is he recording or streaming this for the higher ups? How annoying...
"Yup, she’s currently restrained in that room over there. You’ll be called on for your Nullification after Ash arrives," He informed me, before adding, "Now, then, shall we go in? There’s a family waiting to be killed in cold blood, it’d be rude to keep them too long."
"Hey, you okay? Sure you’re up for this?" I asked Miraliz, as Wrest unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"N-no, of course I’m not...but...I don’t have a choice, right?" She replied with a shaky smile, before following in after him.
I let out a sigh before heading in myself, shutting the door as we all entered. At the back of the room, there were six people, a man and a woman, plus four children, three girls and a boy, all looking like they were between the ages of five to fifteen or so.
"Alright, you can kill any four of them that you want, totally your choice!" Smirked Wrest with a wicked gleam in his eyes, "Now, who will you pick first!? Maybe one of the kids? Or one of the parents? Ohh, it’ll be interesting to see what happens if you kill all four kids, just imagine the parents’ reactions! Woah, wait a sec, I just got the best idea! What if, and hear me out here, you ask them? Hey, maybe ask them to put it a vote, and then kill whoever gets the most votes! Yeahh, let’s have this family fall apart before killing them!"
Yikes...
"Y-you’re a monster!" Cried the mother, tears of despair running down her face, as the kids began crying too.
"You Eden scum, you’re nothing but a group of savages!" Snapped the father, desperately trying to free himself of his shackles.
"Music to my ears, just keep screaming out in vain. Hey, what’s the hold up? Take your pick already," Wrest urged Miraliz impatiently, giving her a nudge.
"I-I...," She gasped with an overwhelmed look on her face, trembling as she raised her hand, forming a water funnel over it as she shakily took aim.
"Please, just don’t kill the children!"
"Yes, do whatever the hell you want with us, just spare them!"
"M-mommy, I’m scared!"
"I w-wanna go home!"
Their screams and pleads were only making things worse for Miraliz, tears forming in her eyes as her breathing turned ragged and strained.
"Sh-shut up, p-please...," She whispered in a desperate tone, a bead of sweat running down the side of her face as she trembled...she looked like she was on the verge of snapping, this might be too much for her to bear...
"Hey, come on, already! If you’re not gonna do it, I’m more than happy to get the ball rolling," Frowned Wrest, forming a lightning bolt and pointing it at the youngest child.
"Don’t you dare, you son of a bitch!" Yelled the father in despair, the chains clanging as he strained to try and break free, but to no avail.
"Daddy, wh-why is this happening to us!?"
"N-no, please, I don’t wanna die!"
"Just kill me, damn it, leave my children alone!" The father screamed at Miraliz, meeting her gaze...which finally caused her to snap and break...
"I-I said, shut up!" She exclaimed in a hoarse, agonized voice, as tears formed in her eyes...and then fired her water beam, piercing right through the spot between his eyes, killing him instantly.
"Yeah, nice!" Grinned Wrest in amusement.
A brief, stunned silence ensued as the man’s body slumped lifelessly, before cries and wails of anguish burst out and echoed around the room, as Miraliz collapsed onto her knees, tears silently running down her face as she covered her ears with her hands, desperately trying to block it all out, as she repeatedly began whispering in a despaired tone, her voice breaking...
"I-I’m sorry...I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."
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