6th of Third Month, 521 YAB.
"Ghostship is the key to our next milestone in space, stealth, and communication technologies." A reputed scientist said with a serious expression.
The hostess asked. "So, what is the impact of 'Dreamer' holding such technology?"
At her question, the panel of experts flinched.
"Traitor! He's betraying humanity!" A hot heated woman slammed her desk and declared.
Others were shocked at her words. Traitor? That was a bit too much.
But the channel hostess was more than happy to receive such controversial content. So, she smiled and asked.
"How is his treason justified? Do you think he has any ulterior motives for withholding the ghost ship?"
The question itself was a trap as its presumption was that his treason was justified. That he actually was a traitor.
"Son of bitches." Varian cursed and changed the channel.
Students all the way from little kids to college cadets were protesting on streets, carrying banners with titles like:
'Dreamer, surrender yourself.'
'Ghostship's technology belongs to every human.'
'For your selfish desires, do you want more of our soldiers to die?'
'If you give in now, we'll defeat abyssals early on.'
Varian clenched his fists. He felt like punching the living shit of the guy who started this.
"Boo…"
"Master, ghost ship has its own operating rules. Transfer of technology is impossible unless you reach a level of the previous master." Boo answered with an uncharacteristically serious tone.
Varian exhaled lightly and closed his eyes.
"Even if they want to study me, do you think I'll let them do it? Hell no!"
Then Boo asked meekly. "D-Do you want to give me away…?"
Varian's eyes snapped open and he patted Boo lightly. "Don't worry."
"Hehe. You're the second-best. Just after me." Boo praised.
Varian rolled his eyes and asked. "Did you find where this started?"
"Well, it was an abrupt post. The location was Neptune." Boo said and showed the original post.
{Hello, I am a technocrat posting this under anonymity after I found out the records of ghost ship after stealing them from abyssals…}
"…." Varian read the post again.
Is this really so convincing that people started rallying protests against me to hand over Boo?
Then he checked a few links attached to the post.
First, the video of Han Nial's kidnap.
Second, the video of ragnaroks abruptly thrown inside Shadow Order's secret realms out of nowhere.
Varian took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.
But he still couldn't help but smile wryly. "No wonder…"
"Dreamer, you are being irresponsible. You're playing a hero by keeping ghost ship to yourself!
But do you know what's the cost? Tens of millions of lives! Possibly hundreds of milli—"
Varian closed the news channel and rubbed his forehead.
"Master, not anyone can be my master," Boo said slowly. "They're just exaggerating things and trying to guilt-trip you.
My technology is pretty much broken at this point. My stealth technology and space subsystems need rare materials not found in this solar system.
Even if they find me, they won't be able to gain anything."
Varian's expression finally eased.
Laying on the couch, he asked. "What's happening with Enigma?"
"…" Boo fell silent for a few seconds before opening channels exclusive for powerful awakeners.
The head of the Academy of Sciences, Earth was at a press meet.
"Through the samples collected from Enigma and the method published in the dark web, we can confirm Enigma is neither a human nor an abyssal.
We don't know how she arrived in the solar system or when. But what we do know is that if another force, even if weaker than us, joins the power struggle, we'll fall into passiveness.
Whoever the third party supports wins."
Speaking so far, the old man's eyes were filled with killing intent. "Enigma's existence itself is dangerous. She must be disposed of all.
We'll also be conducting a federation wide test to check if any such dangers exi—"
Click!
Varian slapped the projector shut.
Rubbing his brows, he thought of the consequences.
Enigma's name would now be on top of all hit lists. The government would be desperately searching for her. Perhaps they'd dispatch even mid or high-level 9s for her.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Shadow Guardians… might crumble.
Varian really wished the organization wasn't so fragile. But would they still trust Enigma the way they used to?
Despite looking like a human, she wasn't.
What if all her help was an experiment? What if the potions she fed them were some test drugs?
What if…?
Once a seed of doubt gets planted, it's easy to see the other person through the prism of negativity and doubt.
Enigma would now be getting the same treatment.
At least, Dreamer wouldn't be having big troubles since he wasn't accountable to anyone.
But Enigma…she'd have to take care of a lot of people, perform missions and work towards her goals.
"Call her…no, send her a message. If she needs any help, she can contact me." Varian said after thinking for a while.
Then thinking of the sudden 'retaliation', Varian fell into contemplation. "Abyssals…who is it this time?"
Meanwhile, almost a thousand miles away, Enigma answered that question.
"Abyss Emperor. There's no one else but him."
"The trouble is really big this time." Blue Flash said with a tired face. "Rudolf and Xia asked to meet y—"
Boom!
Before she could finish, the door of the home was blasted away. A man and woman stormed in.
"Is it true? Are you really not a human?!" The purple-haired woman glared at Enigma.
Enigma didn't answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze towards the white-haired man, Rudolf.
"I'm listening, miss." He answered.
"Don't you guys have any shame? Who saved your lives? If not for her—" Blue Flash growled and reprimanded them, only to be cut off by Xia.
"Please answer me, leader." Xia's eyes narrowed as her body slowly turned into lightning.
"I serve you, even though you are weaker than me because I trust that as members of the same race, we will stand on the same side. One day, you'll be stronger than me and help our race further.
But if you're an alien race…pretending to be one of us, I'm sorry, this trust no longer stands."
Enigma still maintained her silence and turned to Rudolf. He hung his head in shame and whimpered.
"I…I won't interfere in this matter." That was the best he could do or so he told himself.
"Ungrateful bitches! If race is really the thing that mattered, what about Shadow Order? Are they cross breeds of humans and murlocs?" Blue Flash yelled in anger.
"I'm sorry, Blue Flash. We will have to settle this another day." Xia said and her eyes locked onto Enigma.
"Now then, leader. I will kindly ask you to tell me how you got to Solar System, who sent you here, and what is your purpose."
Zap!
Zap!
Lightning began to spread out from her body as a heavy pressure loomed over the area.
"I am asking kindly for the last time," Xia repeated.
Enigma looked at the strongest members of Shadow Guardians and sighed. "Are relationships really so fragile?"
Zap! Zap!
A huge lightning disk was condensed.
"ANSWER ME!" Xia howled and raised her hand.
Shuaa~
A sword slash was the reply.