Chapter 323: Unwelcome Reunion
The figure that emerged from the shadows of the park’s evening light made my blood run cold. Even with the extensive scarring that covered every visible inch of his skin—twisted, pale lines that spoke of unimaginable pain—I recognized him immediately. It was all in the way he moved, that calculating gleam present in his eyes, the slight tilt of his head that suggested he was always three steps ahead of everyone else.
It was Mark. Subject 3834.
My body tensed instinctively, every survival instinct screaming at me to get Sienna away from here. Without thinking, I stepped forward, creating distance between her and the unpredictable man who was one of my greatest allies and one of my worst enemies.
"Rey?" Sienna’s voice was soft, confused, but I could hear the underlying worry. She’d picked up on my sudden tension.
Mark noticed my protective stance immediately, and instead of the anger or offense I expected, he remained calm. No...not just calm. His scarred features softened into something resembling understanding.
"Easy, Reynard," he said, his voice carrying that same unsettling calm I remembered from our last encounter in Europe. "I’m not here to hurt anyone. Especially not her."
His eyes flicked to Sienna, and I saw something almost like sympathy there. It made my skin crawl in a way I didn’t understand.
"I’ve switched my job to an A-Rank Janitor," Mark continued, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "If it makes you feel safer."
I didn’t need to use Scan. My Psychological Insight and Lie Detection skills were already working, analyzing his micro-expressions, his body language, the subtle tells that would reveal deception. Everything was telling me that he told the truth about his job change, at least.
But that didn’t make me feel any safer. I could beat him in a fight and Sienna had a good shot as well. If we both fought him we’d likely pummel him. Despite this, Instinct was telling me that he was more dangerous than I could imagine right now.
"How did you get out of Europe?" I asked, my voice carefully controlled. I kept my position between him and Sienna, ready to move if needed.