"Why isn’t this a surprise?" Mathieu remarked, walking over to Rael. "Seems like the others were affected by the mind control. And yet, you remain unscathed. Why is that?"
"Doesn’t matter," Rael replied, narrowing his eyes. "Something felt off about you from the very start. I’m starting to feel like you’re not exactly a part of their Division. Nor are you as young as you claim."
"Hmm... be that as it may, I’m not your enemy, nor am I the enemy of these people here," Mathieu said. "If we are to get technical, I’m here on urgent business."
Rael tilted his head, then realized something.
"Are you an evaluator?"
He smiled. "I’ve been assigned to this Division several years ago. My primary task was to figure out what was wrong with these people. Every time they return, several people are dead, so it’s only natural to assume someone’s pulling some strings, isn’t that right?"
Rael rolled his eyes. Or maybe it’s because their missions are too difficult?
Mathieu chuckled. "You, however, are a bit different."
—Mathieu Light [Grade 2 Leader Class | Level 912] - Vitality: Tier 5 [100% / 100% HP]
And yet you’re so ordinary, Rael mused. It’s hard to take him seriously when he looks weaker than the captain.
Or he might not be weaker. Rael was aware of how Grades didn’t exactly translate to power.
After all, Rael was able to one-shot Grade 2 monsters while still being Grade 1.
So for the time being...
"What do you want?" Rael asked.
Mathieu sighed. "If you’re thinking I came here to fight, then you’re wrong. As I said, I don’t have any qualms against you or the people here. But I do need your help if I want to save them."
The moment he uttered those words, a loud clang resounded. In the next instant, a sword came flying toward Rael, but as it was about to pierce through him, he caught it with two fingers, shattering the sword by accident.
"Let us knock them out," Mathieu said, rolling back his sleeves. "After that, we find the one responsible."
With that, he vanished from sight.
Rael could still follow his movements, but it was clear this guy wasn’t only a Grade 2. More like a high-level Grade 3 if he had to compare.
Even so, Rael decided to help him out.
With a single step, Rael appeared in front of Frederick.
He was clearly mind-controlled, and because of that, he swung his sword straight for Rael’s neck.
However, Rael was prepared. He threw an extremely fast punch, which landed on Frederick’s jaw, knocking him back.
Or rather, he was knocked out and sent flying straight into the wall.
Rael’s smirk widened as he turned toward the other Division members.
And like that, alongside Mathieu, they went through all of them, knocking them out until eventually...
"Phew, that took like, what, 15 seconds?" Mathieu commented. "Thanks for the help."
"Right..." Rael rolled his eyes and glanced around.
It seemed room had no exits, but that was only on the surface.
Because of his Primordial Sight, Rael spotted a couple of inconsistencies in the walls. A moment later, he found a hatch at the far end of the room.
He approached it, and with a single kick, broke the hatch, revealing a downward ladder.
Rael glanced at Mathieu, then jumped down without hesitation.
He fell for what felt like minutes, but soon enough, he reached the ground, and the moment he did, a shiver ran down his spine.
It was a completely white room, yet in the very center, there was a single red-haired doll. It looked the exact same as the one he had seen earlier, just this time, it wasn’t bawling its eyes out.
Instead, its hollow black eyes met his own, and in the next moment...
"Welcome to my humble abode," the doll spoke. "I noticed you’re a bit stronger than the others. Do you wish to come join our cause?"
"I’ll have to pass this time," Rael replied skeptically. "So uhh... who are you?"
"I am the Puppet Master," the doll said confidently. "You could say I’m what’s left of the human civilization."
Rael tilted his head. "You’re human?"
"In a way," the Puppet Master replied. "I’m the first-ever person to fuse with a machine. Though, I am also the last."
"Aha... so are you on our side, then?" Rael asked, entering a combat stance.
"Sides?" the Puppet Master chuckled. "Tell me, what is it that brought you to this world? Is it to conquer it? That is the reason, isn’t it? Many others have come before you and tried the same. Yet you could guess how that worked out."
Suddenly, the doll stood up on its two straw legs and approached Rael, stopping right before him.
"I’ve grown tired of your invasions, so why don’t you take your friends and leave? I promise not to kill you," the Puppet Master offered.
Rael let out a sigh. "Let me guess, if I refuse, you’re going to send in all the mechas after me?"
"Not only after you, but also after your friends. You will be dissected, and I’ll use your soul to mold new mechas. How else do you think I’ve made all these security advancements?" the Puppet Master added.
So he’s the one we’re supposed to find, eh? Alright... I hate dolls, and I hate puppets. Fucking horror movie bastard...
Anyhow, Rael put a smile on his face and, without hesitation, kicked the doll with all his might.
The pressure cracked the space slightly, dimming the lights in the white room. Yet when the doll reached the wall and slammed into it, an entire section opened up.
It looked like a maze, and more importantly, the nuclear siren he’d heard earlier was blaring again, only much louder this time.
Then, a voice rang out through speakers he hadn’t even noticed were there.
—It is not too late to run away. Just finish the maze, and you may go on your merry way.
Category: World / The Clockwork Grave / Tower / #432 / Self-Destruction / Explosives
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