Mutagen

Day 373 - 4:41 PM - Mountain Back, Lemahkembar Village Ruins, Sumberasih District, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, Indonesia

"Don't tell me..." Val'Flora thought of something after hearing Devon's reply. "Did you rent one of those?"

Val'Flora's tone was a mix of surprise and doubt.

"The [Temporal Stasis Chamber]. Yes, I did," Devod spoke without hesitation. "It cost around two-thirds of the assets I accumulated for two hundred years. But it doesn't matter even if I used all of it for the only family I had left."

Those words of Devon sure surprised everyone listening, especially the part where he said he had been accumulating those assets for two hundred years. Then, how old was Devon?

"You're more than two hundred years old?"

Dr. Willis could not help but blurt out the question in his mind. It had not been long since this scientist with a screw loose was involved in the field of paranormal phenomena. It was his first time encountering a magical creature when the [Face Wearers] were discovered in Muria Sacred Fortress.

"That two hundred is just the span since I started working for the CNC," Devon smirked before turning from Dr. Willis to Mark and then to Val'Flora. "My real age is far more than that. After all, I'm not human. Just like the Demons here and this half breed of a [Dryad] and a [Doppelganger]. Human lifespan does not apply to us."

That statement caused everyone to turn to Val'Flora. On the other hand, Dr. Willis' mount was wide open as he learned these unscientific truths.

"Isn't that uncalled for?" Val'Flora complained in irritation. "I do not care about you disclosing information about yourself, but can you leave me and my client out of it? You did not even disclose your own race before ours."

"That will come. Do not fret."

Devon replied, not minding Val'Flora's complaints, further fueling her irritation.

"You play too much, even though you were supposed to ask my client for something."

Val'Flora spoke as her figure suddenly blurred. Then, the roughed-up female survivor was suddenly replaced with a woman in a flowery, gothic-styled dress. She had greenish hair adorned by alternating small pink and white flowers. She also sported the looks of a natural beauty similar to the [Diwatas] in the Philippines.

For the first time, Val'Flora had shown her true self. It was not necessary. However, it seemed that she took advantage of the situation to finally show her true appearance to her client. After all, Devon had already blurted it all anyway.

Mark gave Val'Flora a curious glance. Now, things in his mind about Val'Flora had been cleared up. Two of these things were Val'Flora's strange mental fluctuations and how she could perfectly change her personality at will. If it was just an act, then Val'Flora could become an excellent actress. Now that her bloodline as a [Doppelganger] was revealed, Mark's questions were answered.

A [Doppelganger] had one very powerful ability. It was to copy a person to a very high degree. Val'Flora did not need to act since the appearance, personality, and mentality of the target would naturally change once she copied them.

Amidst the amazement of Val'Flora's reveal, there was someone who was fixated on something else.

Raising her hand like a student, the bubbly Kana asked.
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"What does temporal stasis mean?"

It was a cue to return to the original topic and veer away from the topic of their races. It was a good move from Kana, although unintentional.

"It meant time stop. Literally," Mark answered Kana before turning back to Devon. "Am I right?"

"A device to stop time. That is what a [Temporal Stasis Chamber] is," Devon nodded. "It is a chamber where it will stop time for anything put inside. No one totally understands how those work. However, it is said that some mad alchemist made those things to preserve fresh corpses for their experiments. Unfortunately, that alchemist created something that angered the Gods.

A [Chimera] that even Gods could not destroy. His laboratory was destroyed, that creation lost its physical body and was sealed, and the devices used by that alchemist were scattered around the world. Then, he vanished. That was all we knew about those chambers. And that is also why it was very expensive to rent even just one of them."

Mark and Mei glanced at each other. They had heard a similar story before, after all. And if their suspicion was correct, then that alchemist Devon mentioned was someone they already knew beforehand.

"How expensive is it?"

Kana asked in another bout of childish curiosity.

And then, as casually as he could, Devon replied with a smile.

"A rent for a year would be enough to buy the entirety of this country's capital. That's how expensive it is."

Everyone fell silent. It was still hard to imagine how much it was exactly, but it sure was something that none of them could earn in a lifetime of a human.

"About your brother," Mark finally spoke. "I can't guarantee that it will go the way you want it to become. After all, I don't know his exact state. The only thing I've tried before is helping a failing [Mutator]. I have no idea what will happen if I forcefully mutate a normal bitten person."

However, after hearing Mark's explanation, Devon's eyes lit up.

"In that case, you should give it a try! Absolutely! Even if you fail, then it is fine. But hearing what you said, it would likely be a success."

Devon was already in the state to celebrate.

"Is your brother in the middle of a failing mutation when he was put into stasis?"

Mark could not help but ask.

"Exactly."

Devon immediately answered.

"Even for non-humans, the time frame between being bitten and turning isn't long. The longest one we observed for someone to turn is about an hour without any help from anything. And that person was a rock humanoid creature. Yet, he still turned. If my brother did not enter a mutation state, he would have turned in about half a minute. Fortunately, he did.

Although it was a failing mutation with an obvious lack of hope to turn into a [Type 2 Mutant], it still gave us time to put him into stasis before he lost control."

"I see," Mark nodded, knowing it would be a fruitful attempt. "Then, write the contract. Although it would be better if we reached Bali first before leaving."

"That is fine," Devon nodded with a happy smile. "I still have two months before they eject my brother from stasis. We are not in a hurry."

It seemed that Devon put his last hope in Mark. It was very likely that there was no way Devon could extend his rent of the chamber. Whether Mark helped or not, Devon's brother would be at the end of the line.

Mark then turned to Luna and the others.

"I guess the funding issue is solved, right?"

"Haah," Luna sighed. "And we have one more thing to owe you."

"Nah, it's fine," Mark shrugged. "Just think of it as me doing volunteer work. Volunteers don't expect to be paid, right?"

And before anyone could say anything more to Mark, he stood up. Then, with Mei and Val'Flora following behind him, they went out of the tent.

Luna and the Indonesian survivors could only sigh as they thanked Mark within their hearts.

***

"Papa!"

As Mark's trio left the tent, Miracle called out.

Mark's daughters were playing with Emika and Amisha. The other children of the Indonesian survivors were also present. There were twenty-two children in place in total, with ages ranging from five to fourteen.

It was amazing to see these children being able to play together despite the obvious language barrier. Well, that was just how children were.

Of course, with Miracle calling to Mark, all the children turned towards him. Mark only waved at them, especially to his daughters, as he went back to the previous. He also nodded to Hannah, who was looking after the children.

Back at their personal tent, Val'Flora immediately asked.

"Can you really turn people into mutants?"

After hearing the question, Mark turned to Val'Flora, who had already turned back to her disguise as they exited the previous tent.

And his answer was another question.

"Do you want to become one?"

Val'Flora fell silent. There was no need to repeat the question. It was clear that Mark could. His question was not out of sarcasm. If she wanted to, he could. That was what his question implied.

"That kind of skill sure is a big deal."

Val'Flora could only remark.

"It is. It really is," Mark shrugged. "If the world knew of this, I'd be chased till the ends of the Earth."

That was true. If this ability had been widely known, Mark would need to say goodbye to any peaceful moment in this lifetime.

"But it's not like it's without limitations and side effects, you know?"

Mark said as he sat down in front of his drafting table.

"Limits?"

Val'Flora asked.

"Yep," Mark nodded. "Personality changes. There are also compatibility issues. That's obvious. However, the most pressing constraint is that..."

Mark shrugged.

"I can't create a mutation out of nothing."

Mark then faced Val'Flora.

"I can't turn people into [Mutators]. What I can do is take a mutation from a dead [Mutator] or an intelligent [Mutated Infected] and transfer it to another person."

Mark then turned back, facing the table.

"There are fewer constraints if one wanted to turn into an [Evolver], though. You guys from CNC call then [Type 1 Mutants], right? I can turn anyone into a [Type 1 Mutant] as long as I have the materials."

"Here."

Mark suddenly said as she chucked something in Val'Flora's direction.

"This is..."

Val'Flora voiced out as she observed the thing she caught by reflex.

"It looks like an elemental crystal, right? But twice the size and without any magical fluctuation," Mark interrupted. "Put it into your mouth like candy. Then, you will suffer from fever and body pains for several hours. Don't worry. It's nothing deadly.

It's just the process of the body changing. Unfortunately, unlike mutated abilities, I have no guarantee what kind of enhancement you will receive when you become an [Evolver]."

"W-wait," Val'Flora, for the first time, was flustered in front of Mark. "Are you giving this to me?"

"Yup," Mark glanced over his shoulder as he replied. "Just think of it as a bribe to keep you silent on the matter, although I don't really think you are that loose-mouthed. Besides, you're not a mutant of any kind."

"Even without this, I'll keep my silence," Val'Flora replied in all seriousness. "But, I'll gladly accept this. Having more cards to hold would be beneficial for me."

"So, what are your plans now?"

Mark asked.

"I think of leaving immediately to handle the materials you wanted," Val'Flora replied. "But unlike information, I needed a place to properly deliver the items."

"That's true," Mark understood. "Then, deliver it to Bali after Devon established a new waypoint there."

Upon hearing Mark's words, Val'Flora's grew wider.

"You... How did you know that?"

Val'Flora could only ask, only to realize her mistake as she saw Mark's grin.

"So, it's a bullseye? I'm not really sure. After all, I just speculated it. It became more apparent when Devon disappeared and had to catch up with us. It likely meant that he had some sort of item that would bring him to a stationary location like a waypoint. That's also how you could appear in Corregidor, right?

Because Subsinctus is there. So, there should be a waypoint there."

"You are too perceptive," Val'Flora sighed. "Then, I will deliver the items as you instructed. Give me the feather I gave for a second. Your hand with the mark, too."

Mark did as requested. Val'Flora then held the feather with her right and Mark's left hand with her left. The feather and the marking of a CNC's client glowed as a new contract was established. The information within the contract flowed into Mark's mind. It made him nod as he saw no problems with it.

After returning the feather, Val'Flora spoke.

"Then, I will take my leave."

"Alright. There's no hurry, but I need the items as soon as you gather them."

Mark reminded.

Val'Flora responded with a bow. Her body then blurred as a crest symbolizing the CNC appeared by her feet. It then rose from the ground as if swallowing her. And with a beam of light, she vanished.

"That's pretty handy, huh."

Mark commented on the scene he had just seen.

"That's the only thing you can say?"

Mei giggled at Mark's lethargic remark.

"Well, I can't really feel excited, after all."

Mark shrugged.

But then, Mei stopped giggling and sighed. She suddenly hugged Mark from behind.

"Are you okay?"

Mei asked Mark something that would confuse anyone if they heard it.

"I am," Mark answered. "I should be. At least, I think so."

Unexpectedly, Mark's answer was hesitant.