Mutagen

Day 148 - 3:24 PM - Crystallus Notitia Coetus Hideout, Catanduanes Military Settlement, Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes

Excusing herself from her duties, Vanessa left General Padilla's side. As she was a hardworking individual that barely took breaks from her duties, she was allowed to leave without question. It was not like Vanessa wanted to go. However, she received a message from Roach using his little underlings. 

This settlement was run by the military. However, it was unknown to everyone. There was a house here being used by a secret organization as a hideout. No one suspected it as the home was listed to a Mutator and his group. And by the records, that Mutator was Vanessa's brother. That was why no one would find it strange that Vanessa would appear here from time to time.

The organization was called Crystallus Notitia Coetus. A worldwide secret organization with a similar structure to Auraboros. Its members were not only humans but also beings that lurked in the darkness of modern society.

However, while being similarly structured, Crystallus Notitia Coetus or CNC, was far too different from Auraboros. The latter was more or less considered as a terrorist group. The former was more of a black market organization.

As long as it could be sold, the CNC had them. From information, illegal firearms, drugs, and even human slaves, they had it. For the people of the dark side, they might also sell magical treasures and even non-human slaves.

Another difference between CNC and Auraboros was that CNC had no fixed base for the whole organization. They had businesses and hideouts around the globe. However, no place could be considered the organization's central area of operations.

Instead, all members could manage their own businesses. They could also group up and conduct business in their own ways. The only thing that put the whole organization together was their leader. No one knew who or what the leader was. However, whenever a new member passed the organization's trials, he would appear like a phantom wearing a mask to give them a mark and a unique way of communication with other members.

The only times that the members of CNC gathering on a large scale were when a commissioned mission occurred or when the yearly black market was happening.

Vanessa arrived at the hideout. It was located in the easternmost area of the settlement. She knocked at the door in an inconspicuous but rhythmic manner, and the door was opened by Roach. Without a word, Vanessa entered. Roach then closed the door after securing that no one followed her.

The hideout was not too spacious. It was just a bungalow with three small rooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and a living room.

As Vanessa entered the living room, she was greeted by a woman who vowed to her with respect. With a collar on her neck with the symbol of the organization, she was definitely a slave. She was in charge of the house chores while the members of the organization were doing their job.

"Elena, you can go back to your work."

Vanessa said to the maid.

Without a word, Elena nodded and walked to the kitchen. There was a smell of meat being boiled. It was likely that she was in the middle of cooking.

Vanessa turned back at Roach with a look telling asking him where. In reply, the man pointed to the innermost room in the house.

Usually, there was only Roach and Elena in this place. Because Roach was in charge of communications and, from time to time, scouting and tailing people, he would not have much to do and would only stay home. Then, of course, Elena, who could not leave the house without permission.

Now, however, two people were here in an untimely manner.

Vanessa opened the door and entered. There, the young-looking Felix was sitting on a chair without care. On the bed, an unconcious woman was lying down.

"Yo!"

Felix waved with a smile.

Seeing that behavior, Vanessa could only shrug. Out of all the members of their group on this island, Felix was the oldest. And yet, he was the most childish.

"Is the message Roach sent me real?" Vanessa asked as she turned to the unconcious woman, who was without a doubt, Emellynn. "Is the faction you looked after already gone? What happened?"

"Heh, that courier got us."

Felix shrugged with a smile.

"Courier?"

Vanessa was confused.

"Did you forget already? That guy you told Roach to tail." Felix replied and turned to Roach. "What's his name again?"

"Mark."

Roach replied.

"Yeah, that guy."

Felix nodded.

"I didn't forget, alright?" Vanessa said in annoyance. "I just don't understand why he would do that. Are you sure that it's him?"

"He's wearing a mask and a full-body armor, but you know my eyes." Felix pointed at his eye. "Even if one put on a disguise, as long as I saw them before, it would be hard for me not to recognize them."

Vanessa could not retort to that.

"I talked a bit with him, and he said that our men did something to offend him. Gravely if I say since he just went on killing without saying anything. Probably, the only people left alive at the base now are those people that were captured for labor."

Felix added.

"So, your men offended him." Roach chimed in. "Is it possible that it's connected to what happened this morning?"

"What happened?"

Felix asked.

There, Roach and Vanessa exchanged information with Felix after moving to the living room. In a few minutes, the three had full knowledge of what transpired on both sides.

"So, from the information, we had so far, it is possible that the rebels ended up killing his family after being driven away by that soldier."

Vanessa surmised.

"What do you think?"

Roach asked Felix.

"It's really possible." Felix nodded. "Those bastards of Renz had been doing things behind our backs. I shouldn't have turned a blind eye to them if I knew this would happen."

But then, Felix added.

"That's if he's saying the truth when he said that his family members are all dead. It's also possible that he's lying to conceal the truth."

Since that could also happen, Vanessa and Roach could only nod.

However, it was hard to determine the truth. The clues were too vague. Furthermore, Mark's actions were erratic and hard to predict.

Moreover, even though Felix already mentioned their organization, Mark still showed hostility and threatened to kill. Was it worth it to go against a worldwide organization if it was only for mere deception?

The more the three mulled over the topic, the harder it became to gauge Mark's intentions.

What was the truth, and which was the lie?

If Mark was really deceiving everyone, he made it hard to decern.

"Should we investigate it?"

Roach asked.

"Investigate for what?" Felix asked. "It's not like anyone was paying us to investigate it. Besides, I better not get the ire a monster like that more than this. Just talking to him while he's not concealing his killing intent makes it hard for me to smile."

"You don't want to get back at him?" Roach asked back. "He just destroyed years of your effort. You even paid us this year to gather here and put the whole island in observation."

"Well, I didn't really lose anything." Felix laughed. "I only supplied the rebels the routes, and the money came from their funds. Furthermore, I got commissioned from that since I'm the agent for both sides. That's where I got what I paid you guys. The years of effort didn't go to waste too. Emellynn had grown far more powerful than most people on Earth. The only thing left is to let her get her revenge. After that, we can leave."

"I guess that's true."

Vanessa and Roach agreed.

"However, we can't do that right now, can we?"

Vanessa then added.

And to that, the other two can only agree.

Their organization had various missions that they were paid for.

On this island, they had two missions to fulfill.

One was the mission that Felix paid for.

The other was to keep the power balance in this place until a specific point in time.

And who paid for that? It was no other than the political faction in this settlement. To be specific, the political family, the Marcos. Their family had ties everywhere, and it was not news to them about the existence of several secret organizations in the world. In fact, they had connections to some, and CNC was not an exception.

The political faction was growing their influence behind the military's back. However, before the political faction could gain enough power, the military should not fall. If that happened, the political faction would not have enough ability to protect the settlement.

By the looks of it, the political faction wanted to take over the island soon. Until they managed to reach their goal, Emellynn's revenge could not be done.

After all, Emellynn's main target for her revenge was an important figure in this settlement. And due to an unexpected event, the two missions unexpectedly overlapped. 

Thus, before they could finish the mission Felix paid for, they needed to wait.

The three continued to discuss things since Vanessa still had time before returning. Elena even served them some coffee while they talked.

It would not be too long, and the fall of the Anti-Government faction of the rebels would reach the military. The power struggle already tilted to the military's side, and they would need to do something about this soon.

But then, in the middle of the discussion, Roach froze.

"What's wrong?"

Felix asked.

"I lost connection to one of my familiars," Roach replied, turning to Felix. "It's one of those we sent to the outposts. The outpost might have been attacked, and my familiar died for some reason."

"It might be that courier and his group," Vanessa mulled. "It looks like they really have the intention of removing the rebels from this island."

"They might be only aiming for our faction, though."

Felix said, which made Vanessa retract some of her words.

"Which outpost was it?"

Felix then turned to Roach.

"Should be the one south of your main base," Roach replied with his eyes closed. "The others are still fine."

"Is it possible that they found out about your familiars?"

Vanessa voiced out her assumption.

However, Roach could not reply. There were a lot of possibilities to conclude a specific one.

"Let me send another one."

Roach decided as he let out a short and soft whisper-like screech.

Then, from the gap in the ceiling, a fist-sized cockroach climbed down the walls.

Roach then sent out a few more screeches, and the cockroach rushed out of the house through another gap in the wall.

"Seriously, I can't really get used to this ability of yours."

Vanessa complained.

Around the world, although it was very rare, some people were born with the ability to decern and understand sounds and noises from certain kinds of animals and insects.

These people were called Whisperers.

Roach was one of those people, and he was able to understand and command, no other than, different kinds of Cockroaches. Thus, he got his current alias.

It was the method they used to communicate throughout the island and the thing Roach used to tail some people. Of course, Roach would come himself if what they needed to follow was important people.

Soon, Vanessa's break time was finished, and she returned to work. It could not be helped if they wanted to maintain her image in this settlement.

As such, Felix continued to nurse Emellynn while Roach waited for the familiar he sent just earlier.

But then, Roach was struck with surprise.

About two hours later from the time he sent it, he lost connection with his familiar once more.

Felix had just gone out of the room and saw Roach's frown.

"What is it now?"

Felix asked.

Roach turned to Felix with a click of his tongue.

"This might be bad. It looks like Mark's group can distinguish my familiars. I just lost connection with the one I sent earlier. Maybe the first one was not a coincidence either."