Chapter 126: The Failed Test Specimen
Carlos sat cross-legged, studying Alfred’s profile for what felt like the twelfth time.
He had spent the past hour combing through every page without even realising it. This was no ordinary academy record but a dossier compiled from several highly reliable sources, each revealing details that should never have existed in the standard academy file.
And one particular line refused to leave his mind.
’A failed test specimen from that lab.’
Carlos’ eyes narrowed.
He knew that laboratory. More importantly, he knew what had been done within its walls. Any other powerful Enhancer would have dismissed the report as fabricated the moment they saw its name, convinced that no such place had ever existed.
Carlos knew better.
He had been personally involved in the incident that brought the secret facility to a disaster.
’A failed specimen... Weren’t failed specimens always disposed of?’
He rose from the couch and poured himself a glass of a bitter, caffeine-rich drink before emptying it in one swallow. Even so, the bitterness lingering in his mouth was nothing compared to the memories the file had stirred.
For a brief moment, old tragedies resurfaced, each one tied to that cursed laboratory. Yet Carlos quickly regained his composure and returned to the profile with renewed focus.
’Lost every member of his squad multiple times... Sole survivor of several large-scale incidents... Uncontrollable fits of rage... Extreme emotional detachment...’
None of that surprised him.
He knew the kind of operations those specimens had carried out in Eldrune. Losing entire squads was almost expected. What unsettled him were the personal evaluations.
’I can’t believe these describe the same person...’
Carlos opened a combat recording.
The footage showed Alfred stepping forward without hesitation, intercepting a sword aimed at Silas during the chaos of battle.
He replayed the moment several times.
’That man isn’t cold.’
’Nor does he look like someone consumed by uncontrollable rage.’
’So what is this file hiding?’
Among everyone on Silas’ team, Alfred intrigued Carlos the most. Even Silas failed to capture his attention to the same extent, and Carlos knew that curiosity stemmed largely from personal reasons.
’I’ll have to dig deeper.’
After finding nothing new despite reviewing the dossier again and again, he decided to tap into additional channels and uncover Alfred’s past himself.
***
"You said he contacted you?"
Far away from the dean’s shuttle, another shuttle hovered in the sky. It was surrounded by a cluster of other shuttles that resembled a swarm of bees guarding their queen.
Inside, Rachel listened as Montar delivered his report.
"Yes."
Without another word, he activated his wristwatch and projected the message Leopard had sent him a few hours earlier.
"I was resting, so I didn’t notice it until now. As soon as I saw it, I came straight to you."
Rachel studied the message before shifting her gaze to Montar. She could tell he was trying to appear loyal, though whether that loyalty was genuine remained another matter entirely.
"What do you think we should do?"
Unlike what Montar expected, he received neither praise nor applause for his contribution. Instead, Rachel answered with a question that caught him completely off guard.
"Please understand that I rarely let others decide what I should do."
She paused before offering him a calm smile, one convincing enough to make him believe every word.
"So give me the best advice you can. I’ll consider it seriously."
Those words filled Montar with pride. He had not reached this point by chance. He patiently bided his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity, and, much to his surprise, the arrogant Leopard had stumbled this early into the game.
To Montar, the academy had always been nothing more than a game. Anyone could enter without status, wealth, prestige, or powerful backing, yet those clever enough could leave with enough influence to stand far above everyone else.
He came from a G-clan, but it was insignificant compared to the clans behind Leopard and Rachel. To them, they were lords and princesses, while he was little more than a butler.
And Montar despised that role. One day, he intended to become the master instead.
’You have no one to blame but yourself, pathetic Leopard.’
Rachel’s willingness to acknowledge his opinion only fueled his confidence.
"I think we should deceive him," Montar said after a moment of thought. "Let’s convince him that we’re betraying you and joining his side, while in reality we’re doing the exact opposite."
"Wow."
"That’s an excellent idea."
Rachel smiled so brightly that her eyes narrowed into slits.
’You really take me for a fool?’
’You want to keep a foot on both sides until you see which ship sinks first, then jump to the winner?’
’What a greedy, arrogant idiot.’
None of those thoughts reached her face. Her warm smile never faltered.
"Then let’s do it."
"Contact him and arrange a time and place to meet."
She paused before adding,
"I know he wanted the meeting inside his shuttle. Choosing a different location will remind him whose territory he’s standing on and crush his ego even further."
Montar could not help grinning.
"My lady truly is the wisest among us."
"If you’ll excuse me, I’ll arrange it immediately."
His eagerness made him rush out before even discussing where the meeting would take place, and Rachel made no effort to stop him.
’What a moron.’
The moment he left, the smile vanished from her face.
She picked up a rubber ball and slowly squeezed it, venting the frustration boiling inside her.
’You actually expect me to send you to him?’
’What does that loser even have left that’s worth my attention?’
’He’s already lost everything. I have nothing to gain by challenging him, while he has everything to gain from winning even a single exchange against me.’
The more she considered Montar’s proposal, the more irritated she became. For a brief moment, the thought of getting rid of him crossed her mind, but she dismissed it just as quickly.
’I need to find a better role for you.’
’Otherwise, sacrificing you now would waste all the effort I spent recruiting you.’
No matter how irritated she was, Rachel forced herself to calm down. Montar still had value, and until she found the perfect use for him, he would remain alive.