Ch 7: New Home

I looked at the man who had just killed three powerful beasts with ease. He was wearing a mask just like before, but now I could see his eyes. They were cold, showing no emotion despite the slaughter he had just created."What happened? Why did the building explode?" he asked Brian."Don't mention it. I killed a guy randomly who turned out to be the leader here while trying to save this guy," Brian said, pointing at me."Because of that, the base system initiated the self-destruction protocol.""Fool, now all the evidence is lost," the man said with frustration."Ah, don't worry about it. I picked up some useful things for you," Brian replied, handing over the papers he had collected from Oliver."So this guy came for Brian, and both of them are with the Federation," Yohan thought, piecing together the situation."He wasn't the leader. There was someone above him," I added, feeling the need to share what I knew."Oh, and how do you know that? And who are you?" the man asked."I am Yohan," I answered. "I heard it when a man called him and warned him about you guys before your attack. He called him 'chief.'""Oh! They knew we were coming. That's interesting," the man said."Sir, we have caught everyone trying to escape," a soldier reported."Hmm. Take this boy to the medic and have him checked for any injuries," the man ordered. "And keep an eye on him.""Yes, sir.""Let's go," the soldier said, guiding me to a vehicle where the injured were being treated."Why did you save him?" the man asked."Well, I don't think he's a criminal," Brian replied."Did you check the manifest?""Yes," the man replied, reading from it."Name: Nathan Collins.Age: 25.He was arrested and sentenced for life for selling defective potions.""Well, this is a clear scapegoat situation," the man said."The Collins family used this boy to save their heir.""Fucking conglomerates," Brian spat."So, what do we do with him now?" the man asked."I'm thinking of taking him to the orphanage," Brian replied."Why? We can just hand him over to the federation. They can keep him in witness protection, and I don't think the Collins family will dare touch him there.""Hehe, don't you see? This boy is special.""What do you mean?""He already has a core in his body.""What? Did he already reach gold level? But he looks only 10 to 12 years old.""No, wait a minute. His body has very little astral force, like he just awakened.""Hehe, now do you understand? If he can grow up properly, he will be a monster.""Let me talk to the captain then.""You should know the captain is very angry with you this time. You killed too many people this time, and they were official guards.""But you know what they did," Brian said angrily."Yes, but you should have waited for us.""Well, I found this operation because of this incident. That must mean something, right?""We have to check first what they were researching.""Hmm."Yohan sat on the ground while a medic checked him over."Well, you're alright and you don't have any injuries, so you can sit here.""Okay," I replied.I observed the medic's beast, which was healing the injured soldiers. It was a slime-like creature with plant features. It touched the soldiers' wounds, and after some time, the wounds healed without even a scar."Can you tell me what type of beast that is?" I asked the medic."Oh, are you talking about her? She's a water elemental," the medic replied."A water elemental? Then it must be a water-type beast," I mused. The beast here should be specified by type and race.As I was thinking about what other types of beasts were out there, a soldier approached me."Let's go. The captain is asking for you," the soldier said.I got up and started to walk."Do you know the name of the man who turned into a wolf?" I asked."No," the soldier replied."Isn't he your leader?""No, we are regular army. He is from the special forces.""Oh, then Brian must also be from the special forces, and this must be a sting operation of theirs."We went to an open area where Brian and the man were standing and talking with each other."Sir, I have brought him," the soldier said."Hmm, you are dismissed," the man replied."Let's go, little Yohan. It's time for you to go home," Brian said."Home? I don't think I have one," I replied."Don't worry about it. I have found a perfect place for you."I squinted my eyes and asked him,"Where?""It's the orphanage I used to live in," Brian replied."Why are you doing this for me? I don't think this is the normal procedure," I questioned."You are very special, little Yohan, so I want to help you. I want to guide you so that in the near future, you can become a valuable asset to us," Brian said with a reassuring smile."What makes me so special?" I inquired."Don't worry, you'll come to understand everything in due time," the man replied cryptically."Hello, my name is Kyle," he introduced himself, extending his hand in a friendly gesture."Hello" I responded, shaking his hand firmly.As we exchanged pleasantries, Brian's gaze drifted toward the sky."Looks like our ride is here," he remarked.Sure enough, a distant black dot was rapidly approaching, gradually taking the form of a sleek VTOL aircraft—a sight straight out of a science fiction film.The aircraft descended gracefully, its engines humming softly as it touched down near us. A man emerged from it, signaling for us to board."Let's go," Brian said, leading the way.