A MAN WITHOUT FACE

The air in the dining hall remained thick even after the commanders had left. The large chandeliers cast a dim glow over the long wooden table, where only two people sat now—Manav and Priya.

Priya let out a small sigh, pushing her untouched plate aside. Her gaze remained fixed on Manav, who sat silently, staring into nothingness. His demeanor was as unreadable as ever, but she knew something was off.

"You knew, didn't you?" she finally asked.

Manav didn't react immediately, but after a brief pause, he spoke, his voice calm as ever. "Obviously."

Priya leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

Manav's fingers lightly tapped against the table's surface. "Didn't you understand from their behavior?" He tilted his head slightly, his eyes sharp but void of emotion. "The way they walked in. The way they bowed. The way they hesitated before leaving. They know."

Priya exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "So that means Dr. Moreau told them."

Manav simply nodded.

She studied him for a moment longer before speaking again. "You've changed."

For the first time in the conversation, Manav's fingers stopped tapping.

Priya continued, her voice steady but carrying a tinge of something—concern, perhaps. "The day we arrived here, five hundred years ago, you were different. You were active, always moving, always planning. You used to smile. You used to laugh." Her eyes narrowed. "But now… it's like you've lost something. Like your emotions have faded away."

Manav remained silent.

Priya's voice softened. "What do you actually want to achieve, Manav?"

Manav slowly turned his head, his gaze drifting toward the large window beside them. Beyond the glass, the city stretched into the distance, its towering structures illuminated by artificial lights. The world outside looked peaceful, but they both knew that peace was an illusion.

His lips parted, and in a voice barely above a whisper, he spoke his goal.

(But the truth is not revealed to the audience.)

Priya's eyes widened slightly. She had expected an answer, but whatever he had just said—it shook her.

Manav turned back to her, his face as unreadable as ever. "Does that satisfy your curiosity?"

Priya didn't respond immediately. She just stared at him, trying to find something—anything—left of the man he once was. But all she saw was someone who had buried his humanity a long time ago.

"…You really are different now," she murmured.

Manav didn't deny it. He simply stood up. "There's work to do."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Priya alone with her thoughts.

---

Meanwhile, in the barracks, the soldiers who had returned from the mission gathered in one of the briefing rooms, their minds still occupied by the events of the day.

Ryan Jim leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. His injuries from the fight with Erythros still ached, but his aura had done enough healing to keep him standing. He looked at the others—Dain, Liora, and the rest of the squad—all of them deep in thought.

"He knew," Liora said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Manav. He knew exactly what Moreau was going to tell us."

Dain nodded. "That man is always ten steps ahead. Nothing surprises him."

Another soldier chuckled, shaking his head. "You're saying that like it's a bad thing."

Ryan Jim narrowed his eyes. "Isn't it?"

The room went quiet.

Then, one of the younger recruits, who had always admired Manav, spoke up hesitantly. "You all saw him just now. He didn't even react when we bowed. He just looked at us, like we were nothing."

Dain sighed. "That's just how he is."

"But he wasn't always like that," Ryan Jim muttered. "Priya's right. He's changed."

Liora frowned. "Are you saying we shouldn't trust him?"

Ryan Jim didn't answer immediately. He just exhaled and looked away. "…I'm saying we should be careful."

No one had a response to that.

---

The lab was one of the most advanced facilities in the world, filled with machinery that most people could only dream of. The air was sterile, the walls lined with monitors displaying data in real time. At the center of the room stood Dr. Moreau, examining the results of a test with a cold, calculating expression.

Around her, the other scientists—Dr. Solis and Dr. Voss—were already deep in discussion, exchanging theories and data as they worked to find a cure. The weight of the world rested on their shoulders.

Then, the doors slid open.

Every scientist in the room immediately straightened up, turning to face the man who had entered.

"Salute, sir!" they said in unison, standing at attention.

Everyone except Moreau.

She didn't even glance up from her work.

Manav didn't acknowledge the greetings. He simply walked forward, his gaze locked onto Moreau. "How long will it take?"

Dr. Solis adjusted his glasses. "We're making progress, but we still need time."

Dr. Voss nodded. "We're working as fast as we can, but this virus is… complex. Unlike anything we've seen before."

Manav's voice remained even. "Work faster."

Dr. Moreau finally looked up. Her eyes met Manav's, and for a brief moment, something flickered between them. An understanding. A challenge.

"We need to cure and save the world before the Global Parliament," Manav stated.

The room fell into silence. The unspoken message was clear. The Global Parliament wouldn't wait forever. If a cure wasn't found soon, drastic measures would be taken. Measures that no one wanted to think about.

Dr. Moreau held his gaze for another second before nodding. "Understood."

Manav turned to leave, but just before stepping out of the lab, he paused.

Without looking back, he spoke one last time.

"Failure is not an option."

Then, he was gone.

The room remained silent for several moments.

Then, Dr. Moreau exhaled and turned back to her work.

"Let's get started."