Chapter 680 - Information Gatherer: Val Flora, A Business Deal in the Darkness of the Forest (1/2)
Day 150 - 12:31 AM - Vehicle Parking Area, Military Outpost, Santo Domingo Elementary School, Barangay Santo Domingo, Municipality of Virac, Catanduanes
The atmosphere was gloomy after they dug up the reason for the Sergeant's outburst.
On the other hand, Mark did not care. Since Mark finished telling the soldiers about the girl and the existence of Demons in Bato, he began to cover the plastic dresser once more.
”Wait.” General Padilla stepped forward after seeing what Mark was doing. ”That girl, what are you going to do with her?”
”This?” Mark pointed at the girl struggling in her restraints. ”I'm bringer her to my base for study.”
”What?” A soldier voiced out his confusion. ”Don't you have any conscience? She's still a former human.”
”Don't look at me like that.” Mark snickered. ”You guys capturing infected specimens for study and experiments are not any different. Remember, the infected are former humans too.”
The soldier froze, unable to retort.
”Is there no possible way of turning back these... the Feral Demons you spoke about?”
Lieutenant Macapagal asked.
”So far as I know, there's none,” Mark replied, covering the dresser. ”You can consider them similar to infected, just not contagious with their bites.”
General Padilla was in deep thought about the conversation. It was when his eyes fell unto the other two dressers on the back of Chaflar.
”Does those two dressers contain Feral Demons too?”
The General asked.
”Yeah,” Mark replied and turned to the General. ”But I'll answer what you have in mind. It's a no.”
”Is it obvious?”
The General turned to Vanessa.
”Yes, General.”
Vanessa replied, making the General shrug.
General Padilla thought of asking Mark for at least one of the three Feral Demons he had. Unfortunately, Mark already declined before he could ask.
But then, Mark threw a bomb.
”You can catch one on your own. Just find a muddy rice paddy near a river at midnight outside of Bato. You guys will probably find hundreds of them.”
Mark smirked and then added.
”But I'll warn you all. Catching one can cost you a few dozen lives.”
The soldiers frowned, hearing Mark's warning.
”Are these children that dangerous?”
One soldier asked, looking at the dresser that Mark already covered.
”She might look harmless since she's restrained.” Mark turned to that soldier. ”But if I remove her restraints, believe me, she can slaughter you all here even if you all have guns.”
The soldiers could not help but step back at Mark's threat. Who would have thought that Mark was showing them such a dangerous creature without them knowing? This girl was much worse than the infected!
Mark smirked, seeing the reactions of the soldiers. He was not lying, though. The speed of these Feral Demons was too fast for regular humans. Unless they were close combat experts or [Speed Type Mutators], they would have great difficulties just to deal with the girl inside the dresser. It would be much worse if the soldiers tried to fight these Feral Demons on their home ground.
There was nothing else to question, and Mark already told all the things he wanted the soldiers to know. It did not take long for the meeting to end, and Mark left the soldiers to their business.
Returning to their tent, Mark shrugged. Mei was awake, waiting for him.
It was the usual and was not surprising anymore.
Still, Mark could not help but smile at her gestures.
Soon, he joined Mei and the girls inside the tent once more.
Unfortunately, an hour after he laid down, Mark opened his eyes once more.
”Hah... Seriously...”
Mark murmured as he turned to Mei.
Mei was, again, hugging Mark in her sleep. This time, her grip was a bit tighter than before. Mark could not help but feel a bit of pity to peel her off his body. However, there was no helping it this time.
For the second time in this night, Mark walked out of the tent.
***
Day 150 - 2:13 AM - Forest Area, Military Outpost, Santo Domingo Elementary School, Barangay Santo Domingo, Municipality of Virac, Catanduanes
Behind the Santo Domingo Military Outpost was a small mountain covered in flora. It served as a natural defense on the south side of the outpost. However, since it was quite forested, it could also serve as a good place to stealthily move around.
At this time, Mark entered the forest after sneaking out of the outpost. He walked for a bit and stood in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by trees.
”So, what do you want from me?”
Mark suddenly spoke, even though no one could be seen in the surroundings.
That was when a silhouette of a person jumped down from one of the trees. Since the surroundings were dark, it would be hard to make out the appearance of the person.
Mark, of course, knew who this person was.
”You really are something else.” The person spoke. ”You led me here on purpose, huh.”
”Did you follow me here just to give meaningless compliments Ms. Vanessa?”
Mark turned to the silhouette.
That was right. It was the General's secretary, Vanessa.
”I just want to talk with you for a bit.”