Lord Of Beasts

Ethan got to create his own unit, recruit whoever he wanted, and gain access to practically unlimited government funding and support. In return, he had to spend his days hunting down rogue Titled and chasing this new drug instead of sitting around waiting for something to happen.

How exactly was he supposed to complain about that?

If anything, it sounded dangerously close to being his dream job.

The side dealings with Greg, who had his own motives, were natural in any field, and if anything, made things easier.

’I have this dude in my pocket, and by extension, all the black suits.’

There was just one final request he wanted granted before making everything official.

Kaela folded her arms with interest, while Greg waited patiently.

His first two requests had been surprisingly reasonable and well thought-out. He only sought things he was sure the man before him could offer, and also didn’t push his limits despite being in the position to do so.

They both found themselves reassessing the young man standing beside them.

’I didn’t think he was that smart,’ was the main thing that the Riot Valkyrie was caught off guard by. ’And his skills are impressive, and he’s fun to be around... the perfect leader for me.’

Greg’s thoughts were deeper than that.

’He’s far more composed than the reports suggested. His deduction was on point, and aside from my father, I can’t remember the last time I was so easily seen through. But more than that, he’s sharp, confident, and charismatic.’

He couldn’t help but think highly of him after the conversation they had just had.

’But along with his unusual Titled and the effect he has on Gates, that just makes him all the more dangerous.’

Greg clasped his hands behind his back as he locked eyes with Ethan.

"Who is it you would like me to find?"

The response definitely wasn’t what he was expecting.

"Some big, ugly, bald white dude with tattoos that I was locked up with."

Kaela blinked.

"What?!"

Greg’s expression didn’t change, but internally he wondered whether he’d heard correctly.

"Is that all you have to go off?"

"Pretty much."

"Not even a name?"

Ethan scratched the side of his head.

"I don’t remember his name."

Kaela burst into laughter. She had expected it to be a long-lost lover or maybe a relative, but instead it was someone he didn’t even know the name of.

"You’re kidding, right?"

Ethan shook his head, a sheepish smile on his face.

Looking back, he’d never actually asked his name, or maybe the man had told him once and Ethan had simply forgotten. Either way, that rough description was honestly everything he had.

After reliving those endless years inside the illusory prison created by the Golden Flutterer, he couldn’t stop thinking about the closest thing he’d had to a friend during his real prison sentence. The friendly giant who’d somehow managed to make prison life a little less miserable.

It was the same man who’d spent countless hours teaching Ethan sign language simply because they were both bored. Neither of them could’ve imagined it would one day allow Ethan to communicate with someone who would become as important to him as Elara.

Thinking back on it...

’I owe that ugly bastard one.’

He also simply wanted to know how the man was doing and maybe pay him a visit inside.

’Call it a little side quest.’

Greg pinched the bridge of his nose again.

"Do you have any idea how many people that description fits? That’s probably half of our criminal database."

Ethan shrugged.

"You’re the head of the Black Suits, aren’t you?"

Greg sighed.

"He served time with you?"

Ethan nodded.

"I guess that narrows it down to a prison and a time."

That was all Greg needed.

He stepped aside and made a short phone call. The conversation lasted barely two minutes before he returned.

"Fifty-seven individuals matched the description you provided."

Ethan whistled.

"I knew you could do it."

Greg ignored the sarcastic comment.

"Cross-referencing inmates housed alongside you narrowed that to nine likely candidates."

A holographic display materialised in front of them straight from a gadget in his palm. Nine faces appeared in neat rows alongside names, ages, criminal histories, incarceration records and release dates.

Ethan scanned them casually.

"Not him."

"Um... not him either."

"Now that dude is too ugly."

"Nope."

Eventually, he smiled.

"There."

He pointed towards the second-to-last profile.

"That’s him."

As soon as he identified him, Greg expanded his profile to reveal more details about him.

"Wait... He’s been released?"

The release date showed only a few weeks earlier.

Greg nodded.

"The penitentiary, famously dubbed the Monster Manor, was permanently shut down recently."

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

"Seriously?!"

"Yes, it was on the news, though it was likely overshadowed by Gates and Titled. An investigation uncovered widespread corruption, abuse, negligence, and many human rights violations."

Greg paused, noticing a subtle shift in the blue-eyed man’s expression.

"The warden was arrested alongside most of the senior correctional officers, who are all now in the process of being charged."

’Took them long enough.’

Greg continued, "During the closure, inmates with short remaining sentences and consistently good behaviour were released on strict parole. The remainder were transferred to other correctional facilities."

He paused.

"As you can imagine, the Association’s priority has shifted towards securing dangerous Titled offenders. Compared to them, ordinary criminals simply aren’t considered an immediate threat anymore."

Ethan laughed.

’So that’s why it closed. The authorities and government don’t actually care about corruption; it’s only because they had more prisoners than they knew what to do with. To them, we were just a name on a page who had already been written off after making a mistake.’

Most of the people in there deserved to remain locked up for multiple lifetimes, but they were still human after all.

’Maybe I’m just thinking that because I was locked up.’

Why would the average person care about the conditions that some of the country’s worst criminals were living in? If anything, they would probably want whatever torment they were experiencing to be even worse.

’In their position, I would too.’

Ethan smiled, having already come to terms with that part of his life.

"I guess most of them can’t get away with nearly as much in a world dominated by monsters and superhuman abilities," he eventually said.

"Exactly, and if they do re-offend, tracking them is easier than ever as they are all electronically tagged and subject to strict parole conditions."

Greg tapped the hologram.

"The individual you’re looking for was among those released."

It switched to a map of the country with a red dot.

"He is currently in Harrison, Arkansas."

Ethan looked at the location.

"What’s he doing all the way out there?"

Greg glanced down at the file.

"That’s listed as his hometown, where his mother currently resides."

Ethan slowly nodded.

"Okay, thanks. I’ll pay him a visit at some point."

Greg closed the hologram, watching as Ethan then turned to Kaela, "You got any personal requests?"

She shook her head.

"I got everything I need as long as I got the three B’s: booze, bikes, and bitches."

"Wait, you’re a-?!"

Ethan was lost for words.

"Are you disappointed? Did you want a piece of this?" she asked jokingly, rubbing a hand across her body.

"Ahem!" Greg cleared his throat to get their attention and change the subject.

He seemed to need to leave and was understandably busy.

"Thank you for this introductory meeting. We will meet again very soon to handle official paperwork and operational structure. All your requests will also be arranged over the coming days."

He paused, bringing back up the hologram.

"In the meantime, I have a request for the new Enforcers..."