BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

784  Strategic Meeting (3)

Erik hastened his pace. His heart pounded with urgency, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about his father and the Blackguards' intentions.

Quakestrike's heavy armor clanked as he went past the debris of the half-destroyed villa, making a sound that echoed through the ruins.

A Blackguard in full regalia running through the city streets was an odd sight.

The citizens' expressions mixed curiosity and concern. They didn't know if the Blackguards already took care of the flying Thaid, but based on the searches they were doing, it was clear there was more to the matter than they knew.

However, Erik paid them no heed. His focus was just one—to reach the park as soon as possible.

As he navigated the streets, a vibration in his pocket caught his attention. It cfrom a phone he stole.

Erik swiftly grabbed the phone without breaking stride, only to discover it was an unfamiliar number.

As he had instructed June and the rest to get phones for better communication, he assumed that one of them was the one calling him.

"Who is it?"

"It's June, Master. I just wanted to tell you we all got a phone each and are waiting for instructions."

"You called at the right moment. There's been a change of plan," he said. His voice, muffled by the helmet, had a deep, resonant quality that seemed to vibrate through the air, imbuing his words with an undeniable authority.

Even through the helmet, each syllable carried the weight of command, echoing as if spoken from the depths of a cavern.

"Head to the park immediately if you didn't already. We need to regroup. We're leaving the city soon." His words were firm. Though, June wasn't a mindless creature. He had questions.

"Why so, Master? Didn't you say you wanted to infiltrate the Blackguards to get sinformation out of them?"

"I did," Erik said. "However, there isn't much they can do to capture me. I can shapeshift even into animals, and unless they send 30 blackguards, I doubt they will be able to subdue me."

Erik was sure of that, but it wasn't because of arrogance he said those words.

"The issue is that they didn't really know what to do, so they started talking about other strategies to use against me. "

Since he was smart, June had an inkling of what they proposed, likely to use someone Erik cared about to get to him.

"Worse. They already did."

"Who?"

"Dad."

June was flooded with a surge of Erik's memories. The man who had raised him until four years ago, his own father, the sperson who had gifted him the biological supercomputer, had been kidnapped.

"That's why he didn't cback…" June said on the phone.

"Right. Based on what these bastards said, the Crystal Cross Gang has him captor in Frant."

"You want to leave and go save him?" June asked.

"Yes. But we need the others' help. For now, regroup at the park as planned but anticipate the meeting to half an hour from now. I will be there around that time."

"Where are you now, Master?"

"I just left the Villa. Why?"

"Based on your location, it should take you ten minutes to reach the park. Where are you planning to go?" June saw Erik's position, he wasn't heading toward the park. It was clear Erik wasn't done yet in Caelora City.

"Just to go pay a visit to an old friend."

***

Dreadnought stormed out of the room where she and Quakestrike agreed to meet with furious steps.

Her face was a mask of anger, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of Quakestrike.

The villa echoed with the murmur of blackguards and the quieter voices of police guards stationed throughout.

"Where the fuck is that prick?" Her behavior was atypical, considering her usual demeanor of calmness and poise. The onlookers recognized she was not her usual self at that moment, yet hesitated to approach her due to her status as a blackguard.

As she navigated through the villa searching for Quakestrike, she went past Techmaand Stickyfingers.

The two women were sipping stea I the kitchen and saw her rushed steps and reddened face.

"What's wrong with Olivia?" Stickyfingers asked.

"I don't know. Maybe she fought with Adrian?" Techmasaid.

"Who the hell doesn't fight with Adrian?"

"Not her, usually. So, unless something big happened, that is the likely cause of her rage."

Unable to find Quakestrike, Dreadnought approached a guard. "Have you seen Quakestrike?" she asked.

"No ma'am, I'm sorry."

"AAAAH FUCK!"

While moving through the corridors, her boots crunching over debris, Dreadnought's anger simmered.

The guards avoided her gaze, sensing her anger. In the garden, she spotted another guard.

"HAVE YOU FUCKING SEEN QUAKESTRIKE?!"

The man was startled and scared. "Y-YES MAAM!" Finally, a guard offered a clue.

"I-I S-SAW HIM HEADING TO SPEAK WITH MOMENTUM M-MAAM!" He said as he pointed outside. With renewed purpose, Dreadnought headed towards the truck where Quakestrike was last seen.

Outside, the bright sun did little to ease the gloom that hung over the villa.

Dreadnought noticed Momentum, unmistakably attired in his Blackguard uniform, engaging in conversation with a few of the team members.

She made her way towards him and moved with a ponderous gait, her rage barely restrained.

"MARCUS, HAVE YOU SEEN ADRIAN?"

"Are you crazy telling our names like that?!" That was a taboo for the Blackguards.

Learning their real identities and not using their nicknames in public was dangerous, as people could target their families or target their assets.

"Shut up and tell me!"

Momentum turned, his expression one of mild surprise at the usually stoic Olivia's demeanor. He sighed.

"He was here earlier, asking about Lyria. I told him she was at the Caelora city mercenary guild hall. He should be back inside the building by now."

Dreadnought's face contorted with confusion and worry. Momentum couldn't see her face due to her helmet, but sensed something was amiss by how her shoulders slumped.

"He's not there. I've searched the entire villa. He promised he'd meet me, but he disappeared."

Momentum shrugged, a hint of annoyance in his demeanor.

"That's typical Quakestrike behavior. He often disappears without a word. Why are you worried about it? Based on how mad you are, it looks like you are going to rip him apart."

"That's… that's not like him…"

"Not like him? Are you sure we are talking about the sperson?"

But Dreadnought's concern only deepened despite Momentum's words.

This disappearance was unusual, especially after their mutual agreement to meet privately to have sfun under the bedsheets.

Despite being known by only a select few, their relationship was characterized by intensity and passion, at least in her perception.

However, the reality was that Quakestrike was truly a womanizer, often exploiting his authority as a Blackguard to coerce individuals into sleeping with him.

Unaware of this, she found his sudden absence concerning and uncharacteristic, especially considering his typically high libido. Based on what they learned about Erik Romano, there could be the chance he could steal brain crystal powers. What if he stole Max's? That would explain why he targeted the shapeshifters.

"What?" Momentum asked.

Dreadnought paced restlessly, her mind abuzz with many potential outcomes.

Could something have happened to Quakestrike? Was there an alternative explanation for his abrupt disappearance?

"Something's not right," she said to herself.

The relationship between Dreadnought and him, although intricate, was built on a mutual understanding.

The sudden disappearance contradicted the behaviors she observed in him.

She turned away from Momentum, her mind churning with thoughts.

Quakestrike's absence, in that particular situation, with the shadows of Erik' Romano's presence, was more than just odd—it was alarming.

Despite her knowledge of the man's tendency to leave the temporary barracks for recreational purposes, this particular occurrence felt different, straying from the typical routine and causing alarm in her thoughts.

"Where are you going?!" Momentum asked as Dreadnought left, but the woman didn't reply.

"Dreadnought!"

Her steps took her back inside the villa, each stride heavy with concern.

Maybe she had overlooked splace, maybe she didn't see him, or maybe he reached the room as soon as she got out.

The place was enormous after all, and you couldn't tell what was happening on the other side of the Villa if you were in the opposite halls.

She moved through the halls, her eyes searching, hoping for a glimpse of Quakestrike, but finding none.

He was not in the bathrooms, not in the bedrooms, not in the kitchens or the garden. He was nowhere to be found.

The woman paused her search for a moment. To calm the storm of thoughts, she closed her eyes. Without delay, she hurried to the kitchen and found Techmaand Stickyfingers.

Out of their squad, those two had the strongest bond with her. Although there were no close bonds among them, since competition among the highly skilled Blackguards was intense, she thought she could at least ask her for help in searching for the man.

As soon as she reached the kitchen, she saw the two chatting. She took off her helmet, her worried look no in front of the two women.

"What happened?" Stickyfingers asked.

"Adrian went missing. I think this tis not like the others. Something is wrong."

"Are you sure? It's not the first the does things like that."

"No. This is serious. We agreed to meet in a bedroom. You may understand why knowing him, but he is nowhere to be found."

It was then the two understood the situation was indeed serious. That was really out of character for Quakestrike.

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