Tess

Prologue

“The judge is entering. Everyone please rise.”

According to custom, everyone in the courtroom stood up. The judge took his seat, and everyone sat down simultaneously.

As the trial began, the man’s face, already visibly tense, turned pale. His lightly clasped hands kept trembling, so he clenched them into fists. He repeatedly lifted his head, trying to control his gaze that kept dropping to the floor. Time felt both slow and fast. He remained still while everything around him seemed to move like a fast-forwarding film. The distorted space-time shattered the moment he closed his eyes briefly and reopened them.

Finally, it was his turn.

“Please state your name,” someone requested. His lips parted slowly.

Part 1

1.

“It’s amazing how they always know and appear like ghosts.”

At Andrew’s sigh, Rus Briane raised his head and looked out the car window. Dozens of groups were demonstrating with picket signs in front of the Central Hotel, where a charity party was being held. This was a common sight whenever charity events attended by many Alphas took place. Since it wasn’t unusual, Rus indifferently turned his attention to his mobile phone.

“They’re quite remarkable. Sometimes they seem to get information faster than journalists.”

“Well, charity events aren’t exactly secret.”

“It’s amusing that even obscure groups travel all the way here to observe us.”

The Nevils family had produced prominent politicians for generations. Although Andrew was only twenty-four, he would soon enter politics, so he naturally had an interest in civil organizations. Andrew identified the names of each group as he looked at their flags, as if solving a quiz. His friend’s memory was admirable, but Rus wasn’t interested enough to encourage him. He just wanted to make an appearance at the party, donate, and return home as quickly as possible.

Despite the police’s continuous efforts to manage the situation, the protesters made it difficult to enter the hotel. They remained in the car even though their destination was right in front of them, knowing they might face trouble if they got out and walked in. Experiencing a big city’s rush hour at this time of day! Growing restless with boredom, Andrew suddenly whistled like a neighborhood thug.

“Walking around in public with a face like that. Is it bravery or recklessness?”

Rus glanced in the direction his friend was pointing. A group dressed in black clothes resembling priestly garments was handing out flyers and shouting at passersby. They all wore long clothing with buttons fastened tight to the neck. Looking at just this group, one might mistake it for a funeral.

“Is that meant positively or negatively?”

In response to Rus’s question, Andrew was exasperated with his friend who seemed not to understand.

“Don’t you feel anything when you see that face?”

Andrew pointed to the man at the front. The area in front of the hotel was brightly lit, and Rus had better eyesight than others. Despite wearing drab black clothing that no one would wear even if given for free, the man’s face stood out. No, the plain clothing actually made his face more prominent.

The man’s facial lines were graceful, still retaining some youthfulness. Clean skin with a straight nose. Deep gray eyes. Dark brown hair slightly disheveled, covering his eyes. Up to that point, he might have just been considered handsome.

The moment Rus saw him, he was reminded of the female protagonist from a classic film he had watched long ago. Thanks to his moderately full, red lips, the man appeared not just as an ordinary handsome man but as a captivating figure. He was both pure and seductive, like the actress in that movie.

“I agree he’s handsome.”

But that was all. Central City was a city of pleasure and entertainment. Beautiful and charming men and women filled the streets. No matter how handsome the man was, he was just something interesting to look at during a boring wait.

“When someone covers up like that, it makes you more curious about what’s underneath. If he had that face and was an Omega, just imagining it…”

Rus frowned slightly. Realizing his mistake, Andrew quickly shut his mouth.

Rus disliked vulgar talk. Since childhood, he had never joined the young Alphas whose sexual desires were always boiling. Everyone said he was peculiar. Even setting aside his Alpha characteristics, a vigorous young man shouldn’t be indifferent to sex. Males typically developed their lower bodies before their brains, treating sexual experiences like trophies.

Some were offended by Rus’s attitude of not utilizing his Alpha abilities and Briane family background, while others mocked him. Many attempted to seduce Rus, but no one succeeded. At least not as far as Andrew knew.

This led to all sorts of strange rumors circulating under the surface, but they were all groundless. Some almost faced lawsuits for lying, only narrowly avoiding legal action due to interventions from others. Though Rus was indifferent to most matters, he wasn’t the type to let his family name be tarnished by scandal.

Even as a friend, Andrew had to be careful not to offend him, considering his future. Knowing Rus’s usual temperament, he tried to be cautious, but momentarily let words slip without thinking. It was his mistake. Andrew changed the subject.

“But that wouldn’t happen. He’s a believer in the ‘Spiritual Church.'”

“Spiritual Church?”

It was a denomination Rus had never heard of before. Though uninterested in religion, he was familiar with most mainstream denominations.

“See the flag behind them? That’s the symbol of the Spiritual Church.”

The image on the flag, which was being waved vigorously up and down like a shaman performing a ritual, depicted a spear piercing a snake. The shape of the snake resembled the Greek letter Omega. Just from this symbol alone, one could guess what kind of denomination it was. Believing he had successfully caught Rus’s interest, Andrew quickly continued.

“This area was traditionally a white supremacist neighborhood, you know?”

“Traditionally?”

Rus smirked at the nuance in Andrew’s expression. Those traditional concepts of race and gender had changed long ago. With the emergence of Alphas and Omegas, the world had become chaotic. Some called it genetic evolution, others regression. The media fostered fear, and the public trembled with uncertainty. All sorts of conspiracy theories abounded. In the absence of scientific explanations, conspiracy theories seemed more credible to the public. When existing racial and gender discrimination was turned upside down, it was truly chaos.

“It’s been around for a while. But compared to established religions, it’s still at an infant stage.”

Numerous religions emerged during this time of confusion. The appearance of Alphas and Omegas was seen as a sign of the apocalypse, and Alphas, who had rapidly risen to become the new ruling class, were viewed as the Antichrist from Revelation. Conversely, there were many followers who admired them and wished to become like them.

“They say that ordinary Betas are people chosen by God, Alphas are the offspring of the devil, and Omegas are beings cursed by God. They claim that Betas, who aren’t ruled by instinct, are the true rulers of the world.”

This was the context in which Andrew initially mentioned white supremacy. Such people didn’t want to acknowledge genetic superiority that transcended race. That’s why sects similar to the Spiritual Church were particularly prevalent around Central City.

“At first, there were quite a few Omega believers too. They said atonement could free them from the curse. But there were reports of them being treated like slaves, so the police investigated. In the end, nothing came of it.”

“Amazing they survived such treatment.”

“With employment instability and family rejection, they probably sought comfort in something to hold onto. Now they only accept Betas as believers.”

“You know quite a lot about this.”

“The founder’s claims were so absurd that they stuck with me. They said that through prayer and a disciplined life, Alphas and Omegas could become like Betas.”

Many Omegas had actually fallen for this claim. After all, salvation is humanity’s eternal desire.

*

*

Despite talking at length about other emerging religions, their car still couldn’t enter the hotel. Looking at his watch, Rus estimated the distance. Despite the car’s good air purification, he felt suffocated and wanted to get out.

“I’ll get out here.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

Andrew jumped in protest. For Andrew, who always put bodyguards ahead and exercised caution wherever he went, Rus’s behavior seemed recklessly foolish. Conversely, Rus thought Andrew was overreacting. Neither of them had that level of influence yet.

“If terrorism was the goal, bombing the building would be more effective than killing a single Alpha.”

Andrew sighed at Rus, who casually spoke of such horrifying possibilities as if discussing a movie. While most Alphas lived ignoring the world’s common sense due to their self-importance, if this indifferent Alpha before him became a terrorist, he would surely gain quite a notorious reputation.

“It’s just a few steps anyway.”

“No, wait…”

Before Andrew could stop him, Rus opened the car door and got out. While Andrew hesitated, unsure whether to follow and leaving the car door open, Rus strode purposefully toward the entrance.

Jeers. Cheers. Silence from some. It was familiar noise and the usual stares.

A sound broke through this mundane routine for Rus. Light, quick footsteps. Not a bodyguard, not Andrew. His senses detected a momentary chill. Rus moved aside a beat faster.

Splash! It was a cold shower as frigid as the sound itself. Unfortunately for the person who poured the water, only Rus’s clothes and face got slightly wet, but his well-groomed hair was disheveled. Without showing any shock, Rus took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. A woman completely wrapped in black with only her face exposed was breathing heavily in excitement. With a reddened face covered in freckles, she looked more like a girl than a woman.

“Holy water will burn your filthy body!”

The girl shouted triumphantly. Gaining momentum from her cry, several people behind her shouted, “Begone, devil! Children of Satan!” Their shouting drowned out other voices. As the excited protesters tried to climb over the barricades, the police approached to arrest the girl. Rus raised his hand to stop them.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. It’s a minor incident, no need to respond.”