Mutagen

Day 162 - 12:45 PM -  Ragtag Encampment, New Infanta Settlement, Infanta, Province of Quezon

With that sound of a gunshot, there was no way that anyone would be able to ignore it.

"Is this your doing?"

Artenaris could not help but ask Mark, considering his ominous smile and the timing of the commotion.

"You think I would need to resort to something like this and associate myself to idiots?"

Mark asked back.

Artenaris stared at Mark before shaking her head immediately. While she could not measure Mark's exact strength, she knew that he was powerful. Powerful enough that even the entire remaining members of the tribe would not hold a candle against him. Just with his strength alone, he could capture them and force them to become his slaves. There was no need to resort to a roundabout method like this.

"Just what in the world is that idiot doing now?" Jones stood from his seat and turned to Mark. "Mark, I think we better address the situation first. You can continue the talk later."

There, Mark also stood up.

"It's fine. We're already done here." Mark replied and glanced at Artenaris. "You're also going to check the situation, right? Why not go together with us."

"Then, this one will accept your invitation."

Artenaris replied.

The half-Diwata slowly stood from the seat she never left since the start. Then, her body was covered with light. It was not blinding. However, it was enough to obscure everyone of her appearance.

It just took a second or two, and the light immediately dimmed.

There, a young woman in her teens stood. She looked like a beggar in tattered tribal clothing. There were even marks of dirt smeared all over her body.

If not for the fact that her face looked similar to Artenaris, one would think that it was a different person. Her aura was also non-existent. Even if she was a beauty, no one would easily notice her within a crowd of people.

Karlene and the rest could not help but stare at the absurd scene. After all, it was too magical.

Artenaris then stepped forward beside Mark.

"Should we go?"

She asked, still calm about the situation outside.

"If you had this form, you should have used it every time you went out, or that guy outside had not seen you."

Mark spoke.

"I do use this form every time I go out. However, I don't think that even humans would dress up when just walking around their backyards."

Artenaris replied.

"Well, that's true." Mark shrugged. "But it looks like not only your appearance changed but also the way you talk."

"I don't know?" Artenaris widely smiled. "It just changes naturally. But I think that it is not the issue right now."

With those words, the group went outside. They reached the gates, only to see a group of about thirty people lined up outside.

And, of course, the person in the lead was the same man thrown out earlier, Jackson.

"I said... GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY! OR THE NEXT SHOT WILL BE INTO YOUR BRAINS!"

Jackson yelled out loud. It seemed that he was not entirely stupid to just force things immediately. He seemed to be using numbers and weapons to intimidate the guards into opening the gates and letting them in.

Unfortunately, it was not working.

The cavemen-looking guards stood in front of the gates with their spears ready. They were not afraid of a fight. Even if they died, they would take a whole lot of enemies with them.

"Boss, intimidation is not working." A well-built man standing beside Jackson spoke. "These cavemen don't even understand what we are saying for them to feel intimidated. Just kill one of them to say that we mean business."

"Do I need you to tell me what to do?"

Jackson snarled at the man, even pointing his pistol at the man's head.

The man did not seem afraid but raised his hands and took a step back.

"I don't mean that. But we won't be achieving anything just by standing still."

The man urged Jackson even more.

"Hmpf." Jackson. "I know."

At those words, Jackson pointed his pistol at one of the guards, causing the cavemen to be even more prepared to retaliate.

This time, Jackson was ready to spill blood. It was just a single pull of the trigger.

However, before he was able to do so, the gates of the encampment opened.

Jackson thought that these weird people finally felt fear, but his face changed, seeing the group that came out of the gates.

"Just what do you think you people are doing?"

Jones Galley asked with an intimidating stare.

The group of hoodlums was confused seeing the General's right-hand man coming out of the encampment. Even more, seeing Karlene, the Major's daughter and someone well known in the settlement. Well, not all in good light, though. Karlene was more known due to her rampage episodes, causing a huge amount of damages and even almost caused deaths in both military and civilian populations.

Jackson stared at the group in surprise. After all, he could not understand how they were able to enter the place without problems while he was thrown out.

"Why are you all inside there? How did you get in?"

Jackson asked in an irritated tone.

He saw a beautiful lady earlier and could not help but wanted to meet her. However, as he forced himself in, even trying to slip through the gates, he was thrown out instead. To experience that humiliation was something that a son of a politician like him could swallow.

Nonetheless, meeting that woman was more important to him than the humiliation for some reason. Even if he had to kill, he must meet her.

"I don't think that that's the problem here, Jackson," Jones spoke, stepping forward. "Causing a commotion like this... Did your father know about it? You know that mobilizing an armed group inside the settlement would cost you some consequences?"

"Tsk!"

Jackson clicked his tongue, hatefully staring at Jones.

"Boss, we better step back this time." The well-built man whispered to the Congressman's son. "I don't think we can win against the General's dog in an upfront confrontation even with our current numbers."

"SH*T! This is not over!" Jackson cursed at the guards before flipping a finger at Jones. "All of you, let's go!"

Jones frowned but did not say anything else. The guards did not do anything, and everyone just watched them walk away.

At this time, Mark spoke.

"Geez... Just kill them. What is the point in doing this?"

Of course, Mark would grumble. He wanted to take action and shed some blood. After all, there was no use for a source of trouble like that to continue existing. However, before they came out, Jones requested him to just stay put. That was why Mark was just watching the scene together with Karla, Spera, and Artenaris at the back while Jones and Karlene took the front.

"Hah... Easy for you to say." Jones replied. "He might be troublesome, but he's still the son of a Congressman. Not to mention a Congressman that held a bit of power in the settlement. He had his own supply stock and even a private army composed of [Mutators] they managed to rope in. We can't just start a conflict with them. Even more, this time when everything is uncertain. If you ask me, I really want to squeeze that idiot's head to a pulp. But I still represent the General. I can't."

By the looks of it, Jones had his fair share of troubles being in his current position. A mercenary like him who was living by shedding the blood of others must be having a hard time holding back while dealing with these troublesome people.

"Human lives sure are complicated," Artenaris remarked to the side, realizing what was happening. "They have a whole lot of unnecessary things to consider."

"I can't deny that," Mark replied.

Mark then turned to Jones.

"Hey. Then, you better take responsibility for that, right?"

"Responsibility? What are you talking about?"

Jones frowned at Mark talking riddles.

"I mean, if we got rid of that guy now, she would have one less problem." Mark pointed his thumb at Artenaris. "That guy is targeting her, after all."

"But since you don't want to kill them, he will surely cause more trouble in the future. So you must take responsibility for that."

Mark smiled.

"You..."

Jones was speechless. Mark just dumped a whole lot of work on him all of a sudden.

Then, scratching his head, Jones complained.

"You should know that killing that guy will only invite more trouble, right? That doting father of his won't just stand idly after his son was killed."

"Then, just kill them all." Mark shrugged. "What are you afraid of? The government? As if that still exists. Those politicians are taking matters into their hands. Why don't you guys do the same? You guys are afraid of infighting. There wouldn't be any infighting if the military did not let the opposing parties exist in the first place."

"Hahaha." Jones could not help but laugh. "You really have a blood-thirsty mindset. If it was just me, I'd prefer what you are saying. But, the say in this is not on me."

That was true. Jones was just following orders. In the end, the decision of the General would still prevail in this situation.

"In any case, I get your point," Jones added. "I will post some soldiers nearby to stop that idiot from causing trouble here. Of course, if we knew their purpose in the first place."

"A right." Mark tapped his chin. "I need to tell you."

Closing the gates once more, Mark told Jones about the current situation of the tribe. Especially that they just wanted to stay peacefully in this area since they did not have anywhere else to go. In exchange, they would help guard the area against enemies from the outside.

Mark served as the translator as Jones and Artenaris conversed with each other. It was tiring, but it was a new experience. In the end, Jones said that he would convey the conversation to the General, and he was sure of a positive response. After all, who would deny help from a small but powerful group of people? Only an idiot would not accept that kind of help in these trying times. Not to mention that they were not asking for any kind of rations. They only wanted to have a place to stay while they provide themselves with their own food for consumption.

It was a win-win scenario for both the tribe and the military.

The meetup and conversation spent more than an hour. It ended with Artenaris conveying her gratitude.

"You have this one's gratitude," Artenaris said to Mark in her true form. "We are having a hard time because of the language barrier. We are lucky that you came today. With this, we might have more peaceful days to come."

"It's fine," Mark said. "Usually, I will ask for remuneration for my work, but satisfying my curiosity is fine this time."

"In any case, my proposition still stands. If your tribe can't live here anymore, you're all welcome in my place."

Mark added.

"This one will keep that in mind." Artenaris nodded. "Still, this one is confused as to why you seem adamant to invite us. Don't tell me... You too..."

Artenaris seemed to hesitate to continue her words. Nonetheless, she seemed to be blushing a bit.

But then...

"Ah..."

Artenaris voiced out uncomfortably as she snapped back. She then noticed that Mark's eyes were releasing a bit of red glow.

"Don't flatter yourself too much," Mark said. "I'm not interested in you in that way. Also, I already have a wife. I'm not looking for others."

"Hmmm..." Artenaris took a deep breath. "Then, she must be lucky."

"Well... Maybe..." Mark replied. "Anyway, we already spent a lot of time here. We still need to go home."

"Then, this one will see you all out."

There, Artenaris watched Mark's group as they walked away. She could not help but shiver at her experience just now.

Artenaris might be a half-Diwata, but she was also a half-Demon. It was not wrong to say that rather than face, strength appeal more to her. She could not help but blush at the thought that someone as strong as Mark could be interested in her. She would prefer a plain-looking but strong Mark than a handsome-looking but weak Jackson.

That thought might have bloomed some feeling if left alone.

But then, the feeling of budding interest was suddenly replaced with fear and uncertainty.

Artenaris was sure. Mark did something.

If that was true, then Mark's wife was lucky.

Because he was willing to erase any other woman's interest in him as the opposite gender just for her.