Mutagen

Day 129 - 10:36 AM - Audubon High School, Audubon, Camden County, New Jersey, United States of America

Mark's arrival took everyone in surprise, and the way he harvested the lives of the enemies with his scythe made the soldiers relieved that he did not seem to be an enemy. If this man clad in a black haze that looked like a grim reaper started attacking them, they were not sure if they would be able to stand it.

After all, Mark just eliminated most of the enemies by himself and that the soldiers did not know how many casualties they would have if they were the ones to do it.

Thus, when he said that it was his vehicle that was coming, they could only lower their weapons without hesitation.

This person did not seem to be human, after all. Even if one were to tell them that he was, they would not believe it entirely. They were enclined not to for some reason they could not understand themselves.

While waiting for the vehicle to arrive...

"Sir, thank you for saving me."

The old man approached Mark in gratitude.

Everyone around the old man that time knew how he was close to death. Luckily, Mark appeared to block the attack aimed at him.

"It's fine," Mark replied. "I have a reason for saving you."

The old man was stupefied. What reason could that be? Did he know this person? Even though he could not see the face of Mark because of the black haze, The old man could not feel any familiarity with him.

Then, it was Captain Morrison, who approached, with some of his men with higher status in this group.

"Sir, thank you for aiding us. May I know your name?"

The military captain humbly conveyed his gratitude.

This gesture gave Mark a good impression of this person. He was definitely the leader of this place, but he did not hesitate to lower his head because of his people.

Captain Morrison was not afraid of Mark. Even if they would surely lose, this military captain would not retreat if they had to face Mark. This, however, made his gesture even more sincere. He was not lowering his head because of fear but purely because of gratitude.

The military captain himself was a Mutator. And the ones standing behind him were the same. However, none of them were at the level to contend with the brothers that fled. Even if these soldiers ganged up on that younger brother, they would not be able to do anything much.

"Call me, Mark, just Mark and nothing else."

Mark replied with neither overbearing nor servile attitude. This way, he would not look arrogant or someone they could take advantage of, just pure neutrality.

"I want to ask, is this all your forces?"

Mark asked in a bit of confusion.

It would be easy for them to wipe out these soldiers, considering the strength of the attackers. Just the two brothers were enough to assassinate these soldiers and take over the campus.

And yet, they were here with a small army of societal garbage, and one of them was lying in wait. It was as if they were wary of something.

Captain Morrison seemed to realize why Mark asked that.

"We have two small groups out scavenging this time. Our strongest people came with them. It's because these bastards had been attacking our scavenging groups all this time, and we already lost many people."

"So, its all part of a plan, isn't it?"

Mark asked once more, and all those that heard him could only agree.

Because of the lack of supplies, they had to send as many scavenging groups out as possible. However, most of them got attacked by these same people. They would always demand the things that the scavenging groups collected, and those that tried to resist would get killed. Strangely, as long as it was not a good looking woman, they would let the others go back.

Thus, they started to take measures like making fewer but bigger scavenging groups and forbid women from participating in it. But of course, that did not stop the harassment. And if not dead, the members of the scavenging groups were injured. The survivors in this school were getting desperate these past days. They had no other choice but to send their most powerful mutants to guard the scavenging groups.

Unfortunately, that seemed to be what these outlaws were waiting for.

"Seems like you got rats in your camp."

Mark said, causing a ruckus among the soldiers. However, what other explanation could they find aside from this? It was like their movements were always known by the enemy, and their countermeasures were rendered useless.

"All of you here better not let this out, you hear me?"

Captain Morrison spoke towards his soldiers and the other men that participated in this battle that heard what Mark said. Although what he said might be true, it would cause serious trust issues among the military and the survivors once it spread out. There were still around five hundred survivors in this school, and although they had not had a new headcount since the battle just finished with casualties, there were still around a hundred and fifty soldiers.

With that number, infighting was not something they would be able to suppress without using force. Once force was used, though, the relationship between the survivors and the military would crumble.

They had already considered this angle. However, it was also not suitable to just point fingers without proper investigation. And it was one of the things hard to do after the outbreak.

"I want information," Mark suddenly voiced out. "I can help you uproot the weeds if you can give me enough. But it might want some confidential ones."

Everyone looked at Mark in surprise. However, Captain Morrison could not help but frown with a sigh.

"This person..."

Why would Captain Morrison not notice it? Mark deliberately caused some problems by saying it out loud, and then, he would offer some help for a cost. What a crafty person.

Although Mark helped them with the current predicament, he actually caused Captain Morrison some serious trouble.

"Don't worry, I'm not forcing to answer now," Mark said as the black haze around his body vanished. His scythe also turned to a gelatinous liquid that entered his body.

With the haze disappearing, Mark's face was seen by the soldiers. And he was...

...Rather common looking.

Who would have thought that a powerful existence like this person actually looked like some "Henchman A" from a gang movie?

Well, although he looked like that, Captain Morrison and the Mutators behind him knew that it had nothing to do with looks. Life was not like just some television drama where every protagonist was good looking.

Finally, the vehicle came.

Sure enough, the soldiers looked intimidated by the black vehicle with an uncanny style. As they were experienced soldiers, they somewhat knew that this minibus was not any less sturdy compared to their tanks.

As the vehicle stopped a few meters away since it was blocked by the dead bodies of the outlaws, Mark spoked the old man.

"Old man, look who's here."

The old man was very confused.

Unexpectedly, after a few seconds, no one went out of the vehicle.

"What the hell are they doing?"

Mark could not help but murmur.

Any one of them could step out already. However, it seemed that they were urging Felicia to step outside first. It was not like he did not know the reason.

Mark sighed and decided to approach the vehicle. The old man was left in place, even more confused.

Opening the passenger door in the front seat, Mark spoke inside the vehicle.

"If you're not going out, we're going to leave."

Felicia stiffened. Her eyes were filled with tears as she saw the old man, but she could not find the courage to step out and face him.

"Come on. I'll be right behind you when you go out."

Sandie tried to encourage Felicia.

"But what if they are still angry with what I did?"

"Don't worry. I'll kill him if he is."

Everyone stared at Mark wide-eyed. What kind of encouragement was this?

But with the looks in his eyes, he did not seem to be joking.

"NO!" Felicia shouted and stood up in reflex.

Unfortunately, the car was not something made to stand inside. The roof was low, and she ended up bumping her head.

Dizzy by the sudden pain, Felicia tried to hold unto the side of the vehicle.

Mark, on the other hand, found that as the best opportunity.

CLACK! SLIDE!

Mark reached for the knob of the door and slid it open.

Felicia, who was reaching for the wall, ended up touching nothing and fell out.

She managed not to fall in an unsightly way because of her cat-like reflexes and managed to stay standing.

However, she was out of the vehicle now.

"Sir, isn't that a bit forceful?"

Arnold could not help but say.

"It's fine," Mark shrugged. "Look."

The vehicle was opened, Felicia stood outside the door, and Mark stood leaning by the front passenger seat.

Everyone outside that was watching it unfold was confused, especially when a beautiful woman fell out of the vehicle because of Mark.

The old man, however, stood stunned.

The beautiful woman looked very familiar. Then, the woman raised her head, staring at him with surprise.

Seeing that face...

The old man's body shook.

"Licia..." the old man murmured.

The old man then started walking towards Felicia, not minding that he was stepping on the blood of the outlaws that Mark had killed.

In every shaky step he took, the blood on the ground splashed.

But it did not matter.

"Licia, is that you?"

The old man uttered with a shaky voice as he approached.

Felicia could not do or say anything. She was utterly shocked at what Mark did. Her mind was blank as she faced her father.

As the old man got closer, he became more and more sure. The beautiful face that looked like a copy of her mother when she was younger. The woman that stood in front of him was definitely his daughter.

"Licia, you're Felicia, right?"

When Felicia came to, her father was already holding her on her shoulders.

Seeing that face that wrinkled due to age and the blond hair that already turned white. Felicia realized how much time she lost because of her wrong decisions in the past.

"Dad..."

Felicia uttered as tears overflowed from her eyes.

"My daughter!!!"

The old man could not hold himself as he heard Felicia call him dad. He immediately embraced the daughter he had not seen in years with an outburst of emotions.

They did not know what happened to her after she left their side. When the outbreak came, their chances of seeing her once more had gone down to zero.

However, she was here, in his embrace, alive.

Only the heavens knew how happy the old man was.

They might have some scuffles and regrets in the past. But now, it did not matter.

What mattered was that they were both alive and met once more. This time, even if the world was to be destroyed, they would not leave each other's side.

Inside the vehicle, Sandie and the others also had tears on their eyes. They were happy that Felicia was able to reunite with her father, and it seemed that what happened in the past did not matter anymore.

"*Sniff!"

A loud sniff was heard, they could not help but turn to Ernst.

"Ugh..."

That was their reaction after seeing the snot that reentered his nose.

"What are you, a kid?!"

Arnold shouted as he was just beside the disgusting guy.

"What?! Is it bad to be moved by this?!"

Ernst complained, closing in towards Arnold.

"F*ck off! Get away from me! Don't wipe your nose with my clothes!"

Laughter echoed from the vehicle because of that. Even Felicia and her father, who was crying just now, could not help but let out giggles.

Mark and Mei, at the side, looked at each other with a smile.

"It's a good reunion, isn't it?"

Mei said. There was a trace of enviousness in her voice.

Mark patted her head. If he could, he would try to erase her envy. However, it could never happen as Mei was born from a sh*tty father. There was no way to change that by force.