Mutagen

Chapter 1093 Outside the Exchange Center, Hitting Several Birds with One Stone

Day 360 - 4:11 PM - Exchange Center, Military Compound, Southside Peak, Muria Sacred Fortress, Mount Muria, Central Java, Indonesia

First, it was just a rumor coming from the 41st Satellite Settlement. Then, a battle occurred in the market area as a giant appeared out of nowhere. However, according to the witnesses, the giant was said to be a doctor who ran to escape from the hospital. There were also witnesses who saw the mask on his face peel off and break when he transformed. That mask was clearly similar to the details regarding the previous rumor.

The fight in the market caused the rumors to spread even further. And these rumors were not good for both the people of the fortress and the impostors.

These rumors would hinder the movements of the impostors for whatever goal they might have. On the other hand, knowing that the people in the fortress might not be the people they thought to be would cause distrust among the populace to blossom. Worse, this distrust could even turn families into strangers.

Nonetheless, while many people began to worry about the rumors, there were also those who did not seem to care. After all, rumors were just rumors until it was absolutely proven. A few coincidences could not turn a rumor into an absolute truth.

Instead, those who did not believe the rumors focused on a different thing.

Those people turned their eyes towards the little girl who ended the trouble in the market area. The little girl's speed and power were something many people would covet. She might even be better to have than a dozen or two armed soldiers.

Of course, there was no one trying to just go and abduct the little girl. They might as well try to commit suicide to do that crime within the territory of the military. The only way to get the girl into their ranks was to approach her guardians.

However, these people suddenly felt that getting the girl was a task far greater than attacking an [Infected] nest.

The little girl's likely guardians or parents were easy to spot. The girl's guardians were the man who appeared at the end of the battle in the market and the woman wearing a veil currently with the girl.

Unfortunately, although they were in public to see, approaching them was one hell of a task. The woman was together with the leaders of the Moon Chasers, chatting with them in a friendly manner. On the other hand, the man was just sitting in the nearby waiting area. However, he was having a conversation with General Wijaya with a few high-ranking officers surrounding the vicinity.

There was no way to approach them at this time without compromising and sacrificing things.

***

"Look at those people. They are itching to approach but can't do it."

Edge remarked as he noticed representatives of various survivor groups lurking in the area despite having no business in the exchange center.

"It will take an extremely thick skin if they want to do it right now," Nelia shrugged. "They are probably thinking Sir Mark's group are our members, so they can't just march blindly and offer invitations while we are here."

"It will be different if those bastards from the north are present, though."

Edge said with a rather aggressive tone.

"Right, those people won't care. They won't even hesitate to insult people right at their faces."

Nelia agreed.

"They had the backing of another General, so they won't even feel afraid with General Wijaya present."

Limabela chimed in.

Fortunately, they had yet to see any members of those people Edge called bastards from the north.

"Still, Sir Mark's pretty cunning, isn't he?"

Limabela suddenly added, getting the attention of the other members around her.

"What do you mean?"

Bajing asked.

However, Bajing's question was not answered by Limabela but by Nelia, who spoke while counting on her fingers.

"He could pick any other location to have a talk with the General, but he chose something where the people in the Exchange Center could see them. He also made sure to show them that the General came along with us. And, also because of the General, those having ulterior motives can't approach at all."

"Mark is hitting several birds with one stone, and we're benefiting from it."

Luna said as she glanced at the frantic people in the Exchange Center.

Trading in the Exchange Center was never easy for the Moon Chasers or any other survivor groups without strong backing. Corruption was strong in this division. Sometimes, exchanged items would be claimed by thieves and other times, people within the center would nick items traded by the survivor groups. There were even those adding unlisted fees and stuff.

"The fog is also a problem. I also want to hear the information about it," General Wijaya replied. "However, the problem with these creatures pretending to be people is far more urgent. Even if we learned anything about the fog, we won't be able to do much while knowing any one of us might be just another creature in disguise."

"So, you want me to check all the people in the fortress one by one or something?"

Mark asked another question.

"Although that would be a plausible action, it would not be efficient," General Wijaya answered. "If possible, we want to know how you are able to distinguish them and teach these methods to our soldiers."

However, hearing what the General wanted, Mark shook his head.

"It's not possible," Mark said, continuing before General Wijaya could respond. "It's not about the reward or if I wanted something from you."

The General was surprised. He could not but look at Mark because he answered the question that he could not even ask.

It was as if Mark could read his mind.

"I can't read your mind," Mark shrugged, surprising the General even more. "What I can read are emotions. The energies emotions had, to be exact. This is also what allows me to find the impostors because emotional fluctuations differ greatly from humans."

"So, you're a [Psychic]," The General was surprised. "Then, you really can't teach us that method."

General Wijaya accepted Mark's reason without further questions. Although he was surprised, Mark was not the first [Psychic] he had seen, and he knew that being a [Psychic] was a characteristic that could not be passed on unless it was inherited.

"But I didn't mean that I can't help," Mark suddenly said, surprising the General. "I'm not talking about checking everyone one by one."

Mark then took out a dagger and placed it on the table.

"What is this?"

General Wijaya asked.

"This is a dagger with a [Dispel] enchantment. If you guys asked Farel before, then you must have heard about it."

The General then realized. The dagger Mark took out must be the item that forced Wahyu's impostor out of his disguise.

"But... Enchantment?"

The General asked. He had a suspicion. As a General, he was pretty young. He knew some fantasy terms because he would play some games with his children in the past.

"Yes, it's a magical item. The [Dispel] enchantment can force the impostors out of their disguise because what they used to disguise themselves was some kind of magical spell."

What Mark was saying would sound bogus if it was before the apocalypse. But now, rather than doubt, General Wijaya and Captain Wahid were just amazed to see a magical item before their eyes.

"How many of these daggers do you have?"

General Wijaya asked. He heard that Mark threw this dagger and dispelled the impostor's disguise despite getting parried. If they could arm a few soldiers with these daggers, a simple touch by these daggers would reveal the impostors.

"It's just a prototype, so there's only one."

Mark replied.

The General was about to feel dejected. A single dagger would not change a lot of things. But he realized something from Mark's words.

"A prototype, you say?" General Wijaya asked. "Then..."

"Yes, I made this one," Mark admitted. "Unfortunately, we had just arrived in this place. If I had the materials and equipment, I could make more, and probably in different forms as needed."

General Wijaya understood what Mark meant.

"What materials and equipment do you need?"

General Wijaya asked, making Mark smile.

Mark knew that Luna's group would not be able to get all the items and equipment he needed to make a workshop. If that was the case, the rest of the missing items would be handled by General Wijaya.

Just like Luna had said before, Mark was hitting several birds with one stone. And each bird was a bullseye, so far.

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