Chapter 358: Priorities and Science
Stephen observed the women sleeping soundly in the bedroom after their overwhelming exhaustion, then looked back at Alexander, crossing his arms.
"Aren’t you taking them?" said Stephen, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it’s just that..." said Alexander, hesitating for a second on how to explain it.
"You were thinking of the worst-case scenario, right?" said Stephen, interrupting him with a grin. "You thought I’d pack you up and deliver you to the TMC leader the moment I found out the truth about your skill."
Alexander remained silent for a moment. It was exactly what had crossed his mind.
"Yes," said Alexander with candor, meeting his gaze.
"Hahaha, paranoid kids," said Stephen, letting out a chuckle as he shook his head. "I’m a scientist before I’m part of the TMC, my boy. My curiosity to see how strong you can become easily outweighs anything else. Handing a specimen like you over to the organization would only mean locking you in a sterile lab to dissect you. That would be an waste of potential."
"So you prefer to be my front-row spectator," said Alexander, letting out a faint smile.
"I’d prefer the term ’scientific collaborator,’" said Stephen, winking at him. "Now, wake them up and let’s move. There’s no reason to leave them behind if I’m going to be covering your back anyway."
Alexander didn’t think twice. He walked over to the bed and gently woke the girls up one by one. Though they were still somewhat disoriented and their legs felt exhausted from the intense session earlier, they quickly snapped to attention upon hearing that they would all be traveling together.
"There’s no direct portal from here," said Alexander, turning back to the group. "My bunker is near the central containment zone. Elena, I need you to guide us there."
"That’s a waste of time," said Stephen, cutting him off abruptly. "Do you have the exact coordinates for that place?"
"Yes, I have them memorized," said Elena, stepping forward.
"Perfect, give them to me," said Stephen.
Elena recited the series of numbers and location data. Stephen pressed a couple of buttons on an imposing tactical watch strapped to his left wrist; the device emitted a beep, and immediately, the air in front of them tore open revealing the entrance to the central containment zone.
"Pocket portal, very useful," said Stephen with a proud grin, adjusting his sleeve. "Saves quite a few unnecessary walks."
"Alright, everyone cross over," said Alexander, surprised by the technology but keeping his composure.
One by one, the group stepped through the threshold. When only Alexander and Stephen remained at the back of the line, the old scientist turned to him with a look full of anticipation.
"Lead the way, my boy," said Stephen. "Let me see how far this experiment can go."
Crossing through the pocket portal, the group popped out inside the outpost. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The guards and security personnel patrolling the area froze in their tracks upon seeing Stephen. Immediately, every one of them stood at attention and saluted with almost religious respect.
Seconds later, the old man in charge of the outpost—the old ghost who controlled the access points—rushed out of his office. The moment he laid eyes on Stephen, he bowed in a deep reverence.
"Major Stephen! It is a tremendous honor to have you here..." said the old ghost, his voice trembling slightly.
However, as he raised his head and noticed Alexander walking beside Stephen as his personal companion, the old man’s face turned pale. Panic seized his mind in a split second: Why was the kid traveling with the most dangerous man in the TMC? Had he treated him poorly in the past? Was he back for revenge? Cold sweat trickled down his spine, thinking that a single word from Alexander could cost him his life.
Luckily for him, Alexander didn’t even bother looking at him with hostility.
"Open the portal to Sandoria, city of Plyaro," said Alexander in a calm yet commanding voice.
The old ghost let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he scrambled to activate the heavy machinery.
"Right away! Opening coordinates to the city of Plyaro!" said the old man, manipulating the controls at top speed.
The flash of the portal dissipated and the group appeared directly inside the tavern in Plyaro. The atmosphere of the place was quiet; the real Brianna was there, still guarding the establishment firmly alongside Kayla.
Seeing that the area was entirely safe, Vanya stepped forward and deactivated her disguise. In an instant, Brianna’s features vanished and she returned to her original appearance, revealing her characteristic, striking green hair.
Stephen, who had been observing everything in silence, froze for a second upon witnessing the transformation. His analytical eyes locked onto Vanya and then slowly turned toward Alexander.
"Can you do that?" said Stephen, raising an eyebrow in clear fascination.
Without saying a word, Alexander activated his [Mimic] skill. In a couple of seconds, his height adjusted, his features shifted and he transformed into an identical copy of Stephen himself.
"Something like this?" said Alexander with a sly grin, using the old scientist’s exact same voice.
Stephen stared at his own clone for exactly three seconds before letting out a raspy laugh that made the tavern walls echo.
"Holy shit, looking at yourself from the outside is quite an ugly experience," said Stephen, shaking his head as he adjusted his glasses. "Your voice, the posture, the breathing... At first glance, the copy is identical."
"Only at first glance?" said Alexander, reverting the transformation in a second back to his original form.
"Unless you can copy my exact blood composition or the energy running through my body, any advanced TMC scanner would know you’re a fake in three seconds," said Stephen, taking a step toward the center of the tavern and looking around. "But to fool anyone in this world... it’s more than enough. It’s a damn useful skill."
Meanwhile, the real Brianna and Kayla watched the scene with their heads bowed and their bodies tense. Both kept their hands folded in front of them, trembling slightly under the presence of the imposing old man who emanated an invisible yet suffocating danger.
"M... Master Alexander..." said Brianna with a trembling voice, stepping forward without daring to raise her gaze. "Forgive our boldness... Who is this gentleman? The air surrounding him terrifies us."
"A business partner," said Alexander calmly, making a hand gesture for them to ease up. "Or rather, the best security guarantee we could have ever gotten for this place."
Stephen scanned Brianna and Kayla from top to bottom, observing them with scientific curiosity before letting out a low whistle.
"So these are the beastwomen of Sandoria," said Stephen, flashing an intrigued grin. "They have quite an interesting muscular density. Kid, you were right... This place is going to be an entertaining testing ground."