Chapter 84 -The Government
Despite the dark sky, a commotion was happening in Wolves' Den Shelter upon seeing Rangers gathering around and looking at the majestic horse that just appeared in the shelter. Some of them were actually asleep but woke up after being called while some were already awake since the sun would be up soon.
Just like Zach said, they really arrived at the shelter before sunrise as Diablo's speed was very outstanding. Though there are a few problems on the way like getting lost, they still find their way back and are glad to see that everything's fine.
While Diablo is being stared at by the Rangers of the shelter, Diablo could be found having a staring contest with Adam and Eve upon knowing and feeling that the three of them are all Zach's pets and that all that matters to him as he treats all the humans in the surroundings as trash.
On the other hand, Zach was now drinking coffee at Ethan's house and at the same time having a conversation with him wanting to know what happened while he was away as he really had taken more than half a month before coming back.
"I'm really glad that you came back, Chief. Actually, there's something important that you need to hear and it's about Eden." Ethan smiled after seeing that Zach was alive and had come back however it immediately turned serious as he had something of great importance to report to him.
"Go on." Zach said while starting to get curious as to what it was as he could see that Ethan had suddenly become serious.
"One week ago, the American Government finally reached Eden and they want all of us to immediately surrender and give all the rights to the portals. They even sent military personnel, all of whom are level 20 and they were led by a level 25." Ethan said with great certainty.
"Hmm. The government, huh. So, they have finally taken a move. Well, where are they now?" Zach was quite surprised upon hearing about it, but he had already anticipated such things to happen sooner or later knowing that every nation in the world must have already adapted to the current world.
"I have arranged them to the Misty Jungle Shelter and told them that we will never yield until you come back." Ethan replied while remembering that such a meeting since the tension at that time was something hard to forget as a fight was really on the verge of happening.
"Hmm. So, what's your take on this matter?" Zach processed everything and then asked Ethan a question again. Ethan was part of the military before the calamities happened, so he wanted to hear his opinion on this predicament.
"If I may be blunt, Chief. The world has changed now. I don't know the current situation of the government but one thing I know for sure is that Eden can stand on its own as long as you continue being our leader." Ethan answered with great seriousness. He thought that this was no longer about who he was in the past, this is now what he wanted to become in the future.
Ethan knew that going back to the government might also be a good choice, but he couldn't see his future on them like he could foresee while staying in Eden and working on Zach. He doesn't know much about him but he knows that he was something special and that he doesn't want to regret it later on if he would somehow make the wrong decision right now.
"That's right. Well. Arrange a meeting with them this afternoon. But before that, take these." Zach then just decided to talk to them later before taking out five items on his inventory and giving them to Ethan. These items were the ones that were dropped from the Phantom Wolf that he killed and he never once looked at them carefully as promised that he would give them to whoever discovered a silver-class monster or beast.
"T-This." Ethan's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing five items presented on the table as he could tell from his Appraisal skills that they were all high-class items after only seeing question marks. He then just looked at Zach wanting to see if he really intended on giving them just like he promised since he knew that all of which came from a silver-class beast.
"I told you that I would give all the dropped items to whoever discovered a silver-class beast. That's the dropped items of the Phantom Wolf. Take it." Zach said with a smile. Though those items were also good, he got something more from this hunt not only for the two epic items he got but also important information from Diablo.
"Thank you, Chief." Hearing Zach, Ethan then immediately skimmed through the items, and not before long, he took one of them and gave it back to Zach. He kind of feels embarrassed taking all the items that he never once took part in the killing so at the very least, he wanted to return something.
Zach looked at the item that Ethan gave back to him and he immediately looked at him wanting to make sure if he really didn't want it since the item he gave back was probably the most valuable item among the five items on the table.
"Chief. I feel like this item is more suited for you." Ethan said as the one he gave back was none other than a Skill Book. He knew that it was a skill but he felt like it didn't suit him so he might as well give it to Zach thinking that it must be of use to him.
"Are you sure?" Zach asked while looking at Ethan.
"Yes, Chief," Ethan replied with a smile.
"Well. Thank you. I should go back and see my family now. Don't forget to call those military men and have all the shelter owners come also to the meeting." Zach then said before taking the Skill Book back to his inventory. He then just stood up ready to leave as he could no longer wait to head back.
"Yes, Chief." Ethan answered immediately before the both of them headed outside of the house.
Right now, the sun is already up but everyone still doesn't have the move to go out and explore as they keep on looking at the majestic horse who is resting on the shelter. Everyone knew that it was Zach's pet, so all they wanted was to know what kind of beast it was since it was the first time they saw such a beast and it kind of looked so cool.
"Diablo. What do you think of Adam and Eve?" Suddenly, Zach's voice echoed which made all the Rangers make way as they looked at Zach coming towards the horse.
"These two are dumb, Master. The same with these humans around me." Diablo replied while looking at Adam and Eve who were staring curiously at him which made him wonder if it was really the right decision to become his contracted pet back then.
"Eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh!!!!" Every Ranger in the surroundings was dumbstruck after hearing the horse suddenly talk. Their eyes and mouths were all wide open upon seeing Zach and the horse start a conversation in front of them as they just couldn't understand what was happening.
"C-Chief, w-what is happening? H-How can this horse able to talk?" Ethan interrupted as he looked at Zach and the horse. And just like everyone else, he also couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing right now as it was just too unbelievable.
"Right. I forget to tell you and remember this well. Unlike bronze and silver classes, gold-class monsters or beasts are able to talk. So, if you somehow encounter one out in the wild, immediately run for your lives and hope that it will not chase you." Zach said before recalling Diablo, Adam, and Eve back to his consciousness as he left towards the portal and disappeared.
"G-G-Gold Class?!!!!"
"Ooohhh Shit!!! The Chief had a gold class pet.!!!!"
"How awesome!!!"
"I can't believe that they were able to talk!!!"
"How did the Chief got himself a gold-class pet?!!!!"
"The Chief is so strong!!!"
Seeing Zach disappear, everyone was engaging in different conversations as their surprise and excitement were all over the place after learning something awesome. Some of them have even also left the place probably wanting to spread the news of Zach's arrival and his acquisition of a gold-class pet.
Meanwhile, Zach was already at his house back in Undead Enclave Shelter and was surrounded by his lovers seeing him getting kissed alternately by everyone as they were just worried and too happy at the same time after finally seeing him back.
"Hmph. What took you so long, Zach?" Zoey was the first to ask as she just couldn't believe that he hadn't come back for Christmas and New Year.
"I'm sorry as something came up on my end." Zach replied with a wry smile.
"That doesn't matter now. What's important is you are here now alive and well." Shiela said with a smile.
"Hehe. As expected for all of you. Is breakfast ready? I'm very hungry right now. By the way, where's Angel?" Zach then just as he was grateful to have understanding lovers. He then just changed the topic as he didn't want to be bombarded with questions as he just got home and felt tired.
With that, Zach and his family then have breakfast and spend the whole morning making out with each other as everyone is just in the mood. Zach, however, didn't back out as he satisfied them all and only stopped as they had lunch happily together all the while talking about what happened on his exploration.
After lunch, Zach excused himself as he headed back to Earth to finally meet the military of the American Government. He wanted to see what they got after boldly stating that they wanted them to surrender and strip all their rights to the portals.
Not before long, the atmosphere of the meeting room in the headquarters building was quite heavy seeing Zach staring at the middle-aged man who was sitting opposite in his direction. All the other shelter owners were also there looking at the man as if they wanted to devour him alive.
"You said you wanted us to surrender especially our right to the portals, correct?" Zach said seriously while looking at the leader of the military men. Upon observing, he can really see in his eyes the arrogance, but he could understand him upon seeing that he really had a high level.
On the other hand, the middle-aged man was completely overwhelmed by the pressure of Zach and the people around the room. He was sure last time that the survivors living in this place were only low-level ones and that the only one he saw that was quite something was Ethan who had a high level above but as he was presenting the government, he wasn't scared about him at all especially since he had fifty men under him however right now, everything has changed.
"Are you deaf or what?" Zach said once again.
"Y-Yo—" The middle-aged man actually wanted to retaliate and give Zach a lesson as he also has pride since he was an outstanding and respected person even on their base and yet he was being treated this way in this place however, he immediately stopped himself as among the people here, he was sacred with Zach the most after seeing his level that has already passed the level 30 as he even did not see something on that caliber back to their base.
"I'm Derek, the captain of these 50 evolvers assigned to look for survivors and bring them back to the base. I'm asking you as the Chief of this place to follow us back as this was a national order directly coming from the government." Derek changed his attitude and firmly introduced himself as part of the government hoping that this would deter them.
"A national order, huh. So, what's there for us?" Zach wasn't impressed as he continued asking while looking at Derek.
"W-What. Of course, safety, order, and a life." Derek immediately answered.
"Do you think this place is not safe? Not in order? And the people were not living peacefully? Are you blind perhaps?" Zach could only mock after hearing such a response because just like he thought, the government just wanted them back so they could work for them.
"Y-You. This is a national order coming from the government itself! You will be committing treason if you don't abide by this order!" Derek had lost control upon being constantly looked down on by Zach. He slammed the table as he stood up and immediately threatened them as he was here by the orders of the government.
"Treason? Let me ask you, where was the government when the calamities were happening? All of us here have survived on our own and rebuilt the place on our own without the government's help. And, now you want us to surrender to the government and take away all our rights the portals that we have sweated to acquire. Are you looking to die? If I wanted to, all the Rangers under me would completely annihilate your so-called Evolvers without a sweat in just one of my commands." Zach said while looking at Derek as his threats were completely nothing to him.
Hearing Zach, Ethan and the other shelter owners immediately took their weapons out as they looked at Derek. They all have the same disposition as Zach upon learning the shamelessness of the government as just like Zach said, they have survived until now, not because of the government and even not because of themselves but because they were saved by Zach and that will never change.
Seeing this, Derek couldn't help but feel nervous and scared. He couldn't help but silently curse upon his situation since one wrong move of him would probably be his end. He just couldn't believe that they would really disobey the government blatantly. Also, he could no longer use anything to threaten them because aside from knowing the people here, it was only earlier did he found the full force of the place after seeing hundreds of high-level and well-equipped Rangers when they got invited for a meeting.