315 Meeting on the Terminal Rooftop, The Prelude to the Greedy Senators Fall (1/2)
Day 47 – 5:11 PM – Rooftop, Terminal 2, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Parañaque, Metro Manila
On the rooftop of the NAIA Terminal 2, Mark and Mei sat together with Miracle, Aephelia and the [Blood Children] with the exception of Crimson who was not here. While waiting for the others that were still not here to arrive, Mark and Mei who were separated for a long time started to tell the stories they experienced during their separation.
Learning about the [Blood Children], Aephelia and Freed's connection and about Freed's existence, Mei could not help but feel both shock and sympathy. Their stories sounded like fantasy, but with what was happening in the whole world right now and also experiencing many things, she could only believe it, especially since there were living evidences in front of her.
Right now, she was playing with Oracle while talking to Mark. Unlike Miracle who looked shy, the [Blood Children] were as usual who were curious about almost everything. When they all saw Mei after getting of their canisters, the first thing that they did was surround Mei in curiosity. If Mark did not inform her beforehand, she would surely think that she was being besieged or something along that line.
While they were talking, Mark could not help but bring out a pressing issue that was bothering him. It was about why Laelaps and Fein seemed to be not with them despite the fact that those two could help a lot in this mission.
The reason was both bothering and surprising.
Laelaps was injured in their previous mission apparently. They were gathering supplies from warehouses at the Pier 15 about three kilometers north of Bay City. While on the mission however, Laelaps accidentally stepped on a trap which wounded her left hind foot. It turned out that one of the warehouses seemed to be inhabited by survivors but left the area in hurry leaving the traps in the open. It was just unlucky that the golden dog activated one of the traps that had yet to be triggered.
As for Fein, the beetle was sick. Though, being sick was just the normal way to describe it, the real circumstances were stranger. The beetle seemed to be in a very slow and painful process of molting. In fact, its old exoskeleton already started to crack revealing brand new exoskeleton inside just the previous night.
Mark did not think that beetles of Fein's species molt after adulthood but it did not really matter. The world had already become a strange place. It would not be surprising if even people started to molt their skin like snakes.
While talking, Mark and Mei ate food and watched the infected nest in front of them. Other people might find it repulsive to eat while something as disgusting looking as the current state of the airfield but the two did not bother at all. They were even eating happily. The food Mark got from the airport terminal was still in good condition. Since the airport was untouched by survivors since the start of the outbreak, the properly stored food Mark saw inside the terminal was quite an amount. It seemed that the airport stocked properly before the outbreak since it was the holiday season when it started.
”Gege, what are you thinking about?”
Mei asked as she noticed him staring at the huge pod being guarded by the [Alpha Type].
”Well, I just noticed the resemblance of that pod. Right, Aephelia?”
”Yes.” Aephelia nodded. ”I may hate to admit it but that pod closely resembles the pods that we encountered back in our planet. It is also one of the reasons I feel unsettled around that pod.”
Mark looked at the largest pod with stern eyes. From the memories he inherited from Freed, that pod really looked like the ones that they encountered in Eriellis. From those pods, powerful psychic infected were born. The existence of this pod further bolstered the idea that Mutagen and PsyPathogen could have come from a single source.
TINK!
A sharp sound was heard as a new [Mental Crystal] was formed. While doing other things, Mark also chose this place to pass time to take advantage of the spiritual energy from the black clouds that were yet to scatter. Looking at how thick the clouds even after several hours, it were likely that these thick clouds would stay for a few more hours. Still, the creation of the new crystals was not as fast as when he was inside the storm created by the berserk whale. The concentration of the clouds was too scattered and most of the energy were directed to the infected causing a lot of them to mutate.
Fortunately, the infected already stopped mutating after the ritual was stopped. Otherwise, it would be terrifying to encounter a horde of millions of immortal infected. Of course, the number of those that already mutated was still in thousands. Most people that would encounter these infected would surely die without doubt.
A few more minutes passed, Mark turned his head towards the northeast.
”Finally… They were too slow.”
Mark sighed.
Mei also turned her head. Due to the black clouds, she could not see it immediately. She then zoomed in her sight and she finally saw the shadow under the dark clouds flying towards their direction.
Soon, the large creature landed in front of them. Even though Mark had already told her about this, Mei was still amazed. In her eyes, Chaflar looked strong and intimidating. Of course, she noticed that it looked strange when it was looking at Mark.
Then, a small figure flew towards Mark which he caught with care.
”Amihan, I already warned you about diving towards me like that.”
Mark could not help but reprimand the little sylph. It was always like this and if he did not carefully catch her, she would surely hurt herself.
”Boo, My Lord left me with them! Karlene is really bad at directions! We got lost!”
Amihan complained teary eyed.
Mark looked at Karlene who looked embarrassed as she hopped down from Chaflar's back.
”Sorry…”
Karlene apologized. At least, she did not try to glaze her wrong doing.
On the other hand, Edzel seemed to be tired mentally.
”Why are you all arrive too late? What happened?”
Mark asked sternly.
”Well…” Karlene smiled bitterly. ”We encountered a horde of infected along the way. They were all mutated so we tried to run away but they chased us. Oh, Chaflar flew us away but those infected were too persistent. They jumped and climbed up buildings just to chase us. Then…”
”Then?”
”We got lost.”
Mark sighed.
”You all could have just followed those thick black clouds you know that?”
”Hello?” What Mark said seemed to have struck a nerve on Karlene. ”Who in the right mind will charge forward such sinister looking clouds?”
”It is where the NAIA is though.”
”That's…”
Karlene was at a loss. Although Mark was right, she knew that she was not wrong either. Following common sense, it was better to avoid things that looked to dangerous or strange and these thick black clouds were far more than just sinister looking.
”Alright, I'll let it go this time.”
Mark decided to let Karlene off this time. Of course, next time, she would receive a good scolding.
After that, Mark was about to introduce Mei to Karlene and Edzel. That was when…
”No need to introduce me, we knew each other.”
”Huh?”
Mark was quite surprised about it. He never heard anything about this.
”Surprised?”
Karlene acted as if she succeeded in her prank.
At that moment, Mark turned to Mei.
”You know her?”
But then…
”… No?”
It was Karlene's turn to be dumbfounded.
”Wa-wait! We met before at one of your father's parties! I was together with my father and your cousin at that time!”