Exo Seeker: The Strongest Human Woke Up In The Future!

The Inspector and the others turned toward the sound, all of them surprised—except for one, of course.

"Miss Carina," the Inspector said in surprise. He looked at the leader of the New One group for a moment before glancing at the newbie. Then his eyes returned to her. "You're vouching for him?"

"Yes," Carina nodded, her gaze settling on Kael. "What he's saying is true. Those Growth Orbs belong to him."

Trey and Bach, standing behind the White Prime, were stunned. They exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"She's taking our side?" Bach muttered, unable to believe that this woman—the same one responsible for killing the other Primers inside the portal—was supporting Kael.

Carina was someone even Bach knew was difficult to deal with, especially given her personality. She treated everyone below her like trash.

Bach had seen many youngsters like her—arrogant and prideful to the point that a single bruise to their ego could make them lash out like rabid beasts. He had his fair share of experiences being treated like garbage.

Shoved into the dirt, kicked in the stomach—Bach remembered every moment. But as a miner, there was nothing he could do except endure it.

"Maybe she wants something from him," Trey muttered, narrowing his eyes at Carina. His instincts told him she hadn't come here for a good reason.

Meanwhile, the Inspector still couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"You… you actually believe him?" he asked incredulously.

As an Inspector, he had been stationed at hundreds of Fissures since taking the job. He knew about Carina and the New One group.

Unlike other newbie groups from that company, Carina and her team had a steady record, progressing much faster than their peers.

They were like a rocket, breaking firmament after firmament. The Inspector even believed it wouldn't be long before they were qualified to enter Blue Fissures. This might even be their last Grey Hunting.

And now, Carina was vouching for a man who had entered the Fissure without a suit. It left the Inspector utterly confused.

"I'm not d*mb," Carina said, smiling at Kael. "Of course, I don't believe him. He knows how to fight, knows how to handle weapons—even better than me. But his strength isn't enough for him to have gathered this many Growth Orbs."

"Then why are you vouching for him if you don't believe he got these Orbs on his own?" the Inspector asked.

"That's because I gave them to him," Carina said, shocking the Inspector, Trey, and Bach.

"What a b*tch! She's lying!" Trey snapped.

"Wait, I think this is for the best," Bach whispered, but Trey couldn't hear him—he was already too angry.

By staying beside Kael, Trey had benefited a lot. He was now more confident in fighting and had even been given a 2nd-Grade Growth Orb. Seeing someone else claim she was the reason Kael had so many Growth Orbs infuriated him.

"Oh? Is that true?" The Inspector turned to Kael with a knowing look.

Kael didn't answer. He merely stared into Carina's eyes. Then his gaze drifted downward—to her chest, then to her feet—before returning to her eyes.

"That's the truth. You don't need to ask him further," Carina said.

"Well, if you insist." The Inspector shook his head and updated Kael's Status Band. After a few swipes, Trey's Status Band let out a series of beeps.

Kael, however, wasn't bothered by the sound. He continued to stare at Carina.

"You want to talk?" he asked.

"Yes," Carina nodded. "But another time. I'll find you."

After saying those words, Carina took one last look at Kael before turning around and walking toward the giant Behemech.

By now, five drones hovered above the Ground Fire Hog, while Dave and Lance secured the Behemech with ropes. The drones each took their positions, preparing to lift the massive creature into the air.

They were small, but powerful enough to lift a 20-meter-tall Behemech.

Kael narrowed his eyes, noticing Growth Orbs inside the drones. Interesting.

As the New One group left, the Inspector resumed calling out names. Though only a few remained, the inspection quickly wrapped up.

Kael, followed by Bach and Trey, made their way out of the mine.

…

The sound of massive machinery echoed through the air—metal plates grinding, hydraulics hissing steam, and engines roaring as the machines worked tirelessly.

Back on the long highway, surrounded by mining equipment, a crowd gathered around a single person.

They wore black-and-yellow uniforms, their clothes smeared with dirt. Each had a yellow helmet with a mounted flashlight. Their concerned voices overlapped as they surrounded him.

"Oh my! Thank God you're alive!"

"We thought you were dead!"

"Man! Bad grass never dies! Here I was, thinking I lost a friend!"

Bach Ponce found himself swarmed by his colleagues, who had feared the worst.

"Okay, everyone, calm down!" Bach raised his hands in surrender.

"We are calm! But how did you make it out of there?"

"Long story," Bach grinned. "Anyway, thanks for worrying about me, but everything's fine now, alright? No need to make a big fuss. Besides, the only thing that'll kill me is my daughter's anger!"

The miners burst into laughter, some with tears forming at the corners of their eyes.

Bach chatted with them for a while longer before excusing himself.

He glanced around and spotted Kael sitting on one of the hydraulic cranes, fiddling with the controls as if he were playing a video game.

A few feet below, Trey was frantically trying to make him stop, but no matter what he did, Kael continued messing with the machine.

With a loud clang, the crane knocked over a pile of boxes filled with rocks. Alarmed, Bach rushed over.

"Kael!" He climbed the metal ladder as the crane inched forward. "What the hell are you doing? You're gonna make me lose my job!"

Suddenly, the 'weapon of mass destruction' came to a halt.

"Sorry, I was bored," Kael said, popping his head out of the window.

Bach was speechless. Shaking his head, he asked, "Are you in a hurry to get to that mine?"

"The faster we get there, the better," Kael replied as he stepped out and jumped to the ground. "But I don't mind waiting."

Hearing this, Bach let out a sigh of relief.

Kael wasn't the type to waste time, but he also wasn't someone who would deny a man his moment. Bach's colleagues had been deeply worried about him, and he needed to reassure them.

Although Kael readily admitted he was an asshole—even a hundred years ago—he still had a sense of humanity. Otherwise, he wouldn't have carried the mantle of the strongest human. Still, his version of humanity was… different. He would kill, he would torture, he would make people suffer if he felt like it.

But if they were good people?

Then they had his protection.

As one of the Exo Primeval—one of the first Aegis users, a hero revered across the universe—Kael would save the species that deserved to be saved. That was one of the reasons he became the White Prime. That was why he wanted to defeat the Anthi-Org—to kill every last one of them so that no more planets would have to suffer.

Even though he was petty, even though revenge against the Anthi-Org and the Pink Prime who betrayed him consumed his thoughts, the humanity inside him was never lost. It may have twisted over time, turning into a love for petty vengeance, but Kael didn't care as long as his goal remained clear.

People could offend him, but they would have to face the consequences.

"Are you two leaving?" Trey asked.

"Yes." Bach nodded, a smile on his face.

"What about the Growth Orbs?" Trey glanced at the bags behind him, where the Growth Orbs were stored alongside the Compression Sphere containing the 2nd-Grade Growth Orbs.

"I'll need those," Kael said.

"But why are you leaving these things with me?"

"Because we'll meet again." Kael smirked confidently. "I am Kael Draven. You helped me with your equipment, carried my Orbs, and I've decided—from now on, you're my subordinate."

"Eh?" Trey was stunned.

Bach's eyes widened in disbelief. "You really think you're that Kael Draven?"

"You guys still don't believe me?" Kael looked at the two, confused.

"Should we?" Trey gave a bitter smile.

"Hmm…" Kael stroked his chin, deep in thought.

He didn't care if people doubted him, but it still sucked knowing they were standing right in front of the White Prime and refused to believe it.

Not that it mattered. Kael wasn't keeping it a secret. Even if his enemies found out, he would just kill them all.

Shaking his head, he turned to Trey, his eyes falling on the young man's gloves. He stared at them for a moment before looking up. "Anyway, if you don't believe me, that's fine. The offer still stands. But answer now before we leave. I won't ask a second time."

"I…" Trey gulped, his lips trembling. He had no idea what to do.

Kael was talented. Skilled in combat, weapons, and—Trey had to admit—even more gifted in engineering than he was. Fixing the Compression Sphere wasn't an easy task.

Yet months of work had been repaired in just a few minutes. Trey couldn't help but be curious—how had Kael done it?

"Well… you're good at fighting, and you're also a fellow engineer. I guess it wouldn't hurt to be your teammate." Trey hesitated before nodding. "So I'll join you."

"I think he said subordinate," Bach commented.

"It's the same thing." Trey glanced at the miner, only to see Bach shaking his head.

"The same thing, right?"