CHAPTER 39: TRAITOR

Jack blinked, rubbing his head as he reviewed the appraisal results.

’Level 31... Level 35.’

The two agents sent by the Association were powerful, as expected.

He glanced at the other guards. ’Level 26, 24, 26.’

Even six against two, the fight was unpredictable.

Just then, a door opened, and footsteps approached—soft, composed, familiar.

Doctor Riza entered.

Wearing her crisp white lab coat, tablet in hand, she moved with quiet purpose. Her Identification Card glinted under the sterile lights—Research Department, Senior Analyst.

"I knew you were here. Shadow’s vitals calm the moment you return," she said softly.

Jack, however, this time, felt more conflicted.

But he did not dare show it. "Good morning, Doctor. Sorry for disturbing you."

Doctor Riza, however, merely shook her head.

"No, it’s fine."

She gave everyone a polite nod before turning her attention to Jack.

"Employee Jack. Since you’re here, can you help me with something?"

Riza glanced into the containment chamber where the black cat slept curled against a mound of soft blankets. Even in sleep, Shadow’s irises shimmered faintly beneath closed lids—remnants of Substance 56.

"We’ve adjusted the temperature and enrichment toys," she reported softly. "I’ll be inside handling his vitals. If he wakes, I’ll need your support."

Hearing her, the three of them exchanged the slightest nod and Jack answered. "Of course."

"Thank you," Riza said sincerely. "Your presence really helps him feel safe."

She didn’t ask what the three of them were doing there and proceeded to enter the sterilized antechamber, tapping commands on her tablet as the inner door hissed open.

Inside the habitat, she moved with practiced gentleness, checking monitors and quietly speaking to the sleeping creature, her presence radiating calm.

Soon, the blood test results were compiled quickly, and by the time Shadow began to stir awake, Riza was already waving Jack over with a gentle smile.

Pointing towards her, Jack slipped from her seniors and into the containment room. He made sure his posture was polite as he passed by so as not to provoke the Association agents who were now even glaring daggers at him.

"There are no abnormalities." Riza then told him.

Jack was relieved he got away, but then listening to the Doctor, curiosity gnawed at him.

He finally asked.

"What exactly are you looking for in Shadow, Dr.?"

Riza kept her eyes on the tablet as she answered.

"His life expectancy. As a result of getting injected with Substance 56, Shadow has grown stronger, and awakened basically. But we don’t know how long his body can sustain the changes or if it can."

"I see." Jack murmured, petting Shadow as the cat nudged his hand as usual.

"Shadow is the only surviving subject of Substance 56. Even during my time with the Association, every trial ended in failure." Her voice softened. "He’s the only one who lived. That’s why Sir Carlos is so... eager probably."

Jack blinked, surprised.

"You know Joe Carlos, Dr.?"

"Not personally." Riza chuckled faintly. "But I have heard of him when I was still in the Association. We worked in different departments and never spoke but his reputation was impossible to miss."

Jack nodded, finding the coincidental connection interesting.

However, Riza stopped there, and looked at Jack more closely, surprising Jack how talkative she was than usual.

"So what are you guys doing here? You missed Shadow?" She smiled, "But if I remember correctly, the two men you are with is the Division 12 and Division 3 Vice-Captains. Is it to add to the security?" She then asked casually.

"Something like that," Jack answered, and smiled warmly.

While not exactly talkative, Riza’s demeanor had a way of loosening knots in people’s chests.

For Jack, being with her was a relief compared to standing outside with the Association agents—and with James.

Outside the glass, James and Simon were whispering.

"Look at that bastard flirting with the Doctor." Simon said.

James also looked but didn’t seem to be as interested as Simon.

"What do you think?" he instead muttered. "The loud one’s practically twitching. He has traitor vibes."

Simon sighed.

He knew that romance was out of James’ world to begin with.

"I just hope the newbie’s hunch is wrong." He then said. Then added in a casual but serious tone, "But if he’s right. let me fight the noisy one. You take the silent guy."

Simon deadpanned.

"Will you?"

James placed a serious hand on his shoulder.

"You’re good at assessing your opponents’ levels. Not a lot of awakened, not even some vice-captains have perception skills as sharp as yours."

Simon grunted, visibly irritated.

"Do we have an agreement?" He merely asked.

James glanced at the hostile agents again, smirking.

Inside, Jack stayed close to Riza—not just for safety, but out of respect for her power. Her presence was steady, her aura soothing.

Naturally, Jack was doing this because he could see through the Doctor’s abilities even without her telling him.

[Name: Riza Crown]

[Age: 38]

[Level: 33]

[Lineage: Luminari (Awakened)]

[Abilities: Cellular Restoration, Emotional Stabilization, Life Force Exchange]

’What a set of abilities... is this all meant for healing?’ Jack couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration.

’This person really is something else.’ He thought.

Even though she could effortlessly play the role of a real-world healer and easily make money from it she still chose the long, grueling path to becoming an actual doctor.

Jack knew after all.

Sure, superhumans lived in the world and they make insane money just by using their abilities. But the professional world was hard to get into.

That involved years of studying, sleepless nights, endless medical terms and concepts... all without the help of a system like his.

Jack found that deeply impressive and reflected on his life choices for a moment.

’!!!’

It was at this moment!

A red warning flashed across his vision.

[Warning!]

[Danger detected! Danger detected!]

[Use of multiple abilities detected!]

[Identified Vargan, Elf, Skarn, Skarn, and Luminari.]

’Luminari?’

Something screamed inside Jack’s mind and he instinctively backed away with amazing speed from where he was standing.

Then—

Outside the thick glass.

A body flew across the room outside the glass. Two guards hit the wall, blood spraying.

The silent Association agent—level unreadable—stood where they had been with his large fists showing blood not his own.

He wasn’t finished.

The agent prepared another punch and the third guard braced, activating a reinforced structure of muscles all throughout his body. But it was too slow to form.

"!!!"

But the sound of air getting cut like a whistle and glinting blades was heard. Simon’s eyes were suddenly glowing in emerald light as he moved like lightning.

In a split second, while in the air, twin mono-edge blades snapped open from his legs, catching the blow from the agent mid-swing, causing a loud bang from the impact!

"James, you fucker! I’m not fighting this guy!" Simon barked, while his face visibly showed him struggling with his opponent’s strength.

Meanwhile, James had grabbed just in time the baton the loud agent had tried to him with from behind.

’How could I agree to that if I’m a little pissed at this guy who doesn’t even know his place?’ James coldly thought.

Then in the next instant, he turned his hips from where he was standing and hit the loud agent with his own baton without even turning his whole body.

His face morphed from a smile to manic as he then gathered power in his right arm and slapped the agent, sending the agent staggering sidewards.

"So there’s not one, but two traitors. This ain’t treason anymore I guess."

James said coldly.

Meanwhile.

Inside the thick glass, Jack’s heart had hammered. He was shocked at the sudden change in scenario in just a second!

Unsure why he stepped away from where he was standing, he tried to open his mouth.

"Doctor!" He shouted.

Gritting their teeth, the agent-traitors then joined together and dashed forward as they aimed to go straight to the door to go inside the thick glass barrier but--

Bang!

Clash!

They were pushed back by the vice-captains’ and the surviving guard’s counterattack. In no moments notice, a barrage of attacks was unleashed one after another.

Doctor Riza this time who had also seen what was happening could be seen carrying and clutching Shadow protectively.

’Doctor...’

Jack snapped to reality. What he noticed in an instant was the way Shadow’s eyes drooped. He was falling asleep again.

’No way, right...?’

He activated the map in his head creating black lines in his vision, and this time, a new red dot has appeared on top of Doctor Riza’s location.

’How?! Why?’

Jack gulped hard and cursed silently.

’She’s one of them....I cannot believe that this is possible. The system cannot detect every enemy?’

Cursing at the system, his eyes darted around the room looking for escape.

Then without opening his mouth, he didn’t think that long and relying on his speed, he sprinted towards the door but but a metallic whistle cut the air.

But just before he could take his third step, a pair of scissors then spun towards his back.

Swish!

[Dodge]

[-2 HP]

Seeing the notification, Jack dodged—barely—feeling the blade cut through his shoulders. After rolling to the floor, he looked up.

Dr. Riza stood perfectly still. Her expression serene and was still the same as before.

"Employee Jack, why are you running?" she said with a curious smile.

At the same time, Jack’s eyes widened.

[-1 HP]

[You have been poisoned.]

[You have healed.]

[Resistance +1]

Jack’s stomach dropped as he bared his teeth in a bitter grin.

Of course.

He didn’t even need to ask anything. His system confirmed the truth he didn’t want to believe.

There weren’t just traitors in the Association. There was one inside the Company.

And she was standing right in front of him.