Leave The Monster Alone

"Can we just go inside? I have things to ask Zeno right now and I also need to get Alan introduced" Alan? She vaguely recognised that name. Someone's important brother.

So this was a big shot which was very good for their plan. He could get them the final piece of information that Mark might not be able to. She would also get time to start working at him.

Hopefully.

"Let's go then. Zeno has had enough of waiting" now she had even more workload.

Mark could not read Shiro at all and neither could Alan. they could feel her power and emotions but not her actual thoughts about the whole issue. Was she happy to have another companion? Was she cautious? Was she angry?

There was no way for them to tell what she would end up doing in the future but there was one confusing factor in all this - her scent of fear. It was faint and buried up under a lot of other things but it was there nonetheless. 

The resistance base had not changed at all, not that Mark expected it to change at all.

The only thing that had changed was the subtle scent of danger and caution. The people here were not meeting their eye at all which made too much sense. They were still not comfortable with someone like Shiro.

"So, do these people know the truth about you? About people like us?" it took an enormous effort for Alan to let those words out. But he had to say this to make the other relax.

"They guess the reason but they do not have any confirmation. But still, I don't think they will be that shocked if someone here really sprouted a pair of wings and flew away. After all, we all have the same goal" It was amazing how people could forget the biggest difference once they were facing the same goal.

In such a situation the past insult and misgiving were forgotten in favour of working together for a better future.

Shiro took them to the same underground area where Zeno was held right now. The deeper they went, the lesser the population they faced till there were only a handful of these people left to face.

"Shiro, welcome back. Who's that being you? Someone you kidnapped?" an older man joked, his face twisted in a joking manager but Shiro ignored him. She just entered another code and left them inside the door.

She returned after a few minutes, her face impassive. She just talked with the person who had called out to her about the 'right thing to say at the right time.' If the person was never seen again, then it was his fault and not her's.

"So, have things progressed any further in these past days?" Mark asked, trying to pry out the information. Shiro did not dignify him with an answer. She was avoiding having to repeat herself.

"Shiro, welcome back. And who's this? Mark, you are back! And, what a surprise you have there with you. But are you sure about this?" the teen, Zeno was still a ball of energy who asked too rapid questions.

"Hello to you too Zeno" Mark allowed the sarcastic tone to pass his lips. The other was far too excited to notice this but everyone else did and a small chuckle left Shiro's lips at the reply.

"Not that I'm happy to see you but really, can you not give us a warning beforehand? I would appreciate it if you did. Also, what is the 'Agent's younger brother' doing here exactly?" The Agent was the code word for Luna, one that was not actively used.

It had been his designation in the original game but had never been used in their current setting. If Zeno knew this much then he had a lot more knowledge than Mark initially gave him credit for.

"He's on our side. He's similar to you in a way" the other gave him an odd look.

"Another one blessed by the gods? My, I never heard anything about it and he also feels different. Kind of like a mix between you and us. What the hell is this person? In an experiment" Zeno had no brain-to-mouth filter and he blurted out those words.

Mark had no answer to give him but it was not even necessary. The other reached his conclusion which Mark was more than happy to accommodate.

"He's his one person like you. He's also loyal to me so I ask you to trust him as well" Alan was behaving perfectly which pleased Mark a lot. He could see Zeno caving in.

The other was not particularly smart and his instincts were his downfall. Since Mark had gained his trust, he could humour him for now. 

Also, he needed to keep an eye on this so-called younger brother since he felt dangerous to Zeno's senses. He could feel the current in the air that forced him to submit in the presence of the other.

But Zeno was the chosen one and he did not submit to anyone. So he pushed the feeling down and allowed himself to breathe freely out of his violation. His body did not matter, it's needs did not matter at all.

What mattered was his willpower and the results. And for that Zeno needed to keep an eye on this blooming threat and eliminate it if it turned out to be an enemy.

"If he's like us then he is welcomed here. But please, remember who you are loyal to. Also, Mark will need to complete the test as well. It's just a formality but still, it will be better if he did" so that Zeno could access the other's capabilities.

He would not like to be crossed so easily, especially when he knew the other was a threat. Whatever game Mark was playing here, he would not win at all. After all, Zeno had god on his side as well as his special circumstances.

But his mind and powers painted Mark as innocent. The god had also asked Zeno to trust Mark and to allow him to help Zeno out. So there was another contradiction

There was also the possibility of this teen manipulating Mark into doing his bidding. That was another possibility that seemed too farfetched except when you look at it. Mark was surprisingly gullible and needed direction.

"Alan will do his best then. I'm sure he'll not disappoint" of course he will not. Someone who felt this powerful should not have any problem with small tasks Zeno was about to give him.

"I will do my best" Mark did not doubt that the other would be able to finish this task with ease. After all, he had the power of a divine beast behind him and a lot of expertise.

"So, are there any changes that happened while I was gone?" Mark asked because his curiosity was peaked. The system had said that nothing would happen behind his back but he was not sure how much he trusted that system's logic.

It was not like the time had stopped just working while he had been outside there, but the progress did stop in the end. Time did pass normally so things must have happened that he did not know of how things could have changed.

"There has been much progress about things around here. Most notably, the knowledge that the communication system has been restored. It's a shame I was not able to become a part of this program but I do not regret staying back here" Mark could not tell how much of it was genuine. 

However, he did not regret the decision to bring Rika along. She might have strong-hold her way into that operation but she had been a big help. Mark was not sure if the same could be said for Zeno.

Besides, it would have been difficult to explain if Zeno would have recognised Fidi and his companion. Alan was still young, his aura weak but the other two were full pledges beasts.

There would have been problems should Mark have taken the other and he was beginning to see it too.

"Anyway, can someone tell me what my trial is? I just want to get it over with" Mark could not help but sign at Alan's words. The other was making it way more complicated than it needed to be.

"I'll think of something and inform Mark. You have not yet reported into the main headquarters yet, have you?" The other looked smug and a little happy at the shake of Mark's head. 

"I thought coming here first would be better to give you a heads up. I should know what I can and cannot say after all" After all, Liam was not the only one Mark had been in touch with. 

He had kept in touch with Zeno and the resistance as well to keep his cover intact. 

"Good, then here is what you need not tell the other" too bad, Liam likely had guessed most of it already. Zeno still did not know that he was fighting a losing battle and he should never know.