Chapter 170: Ch 170: Fire and Smoke - Part 1

Noah spent the next few days quietly observing the scientists and memorising everything he could about the facility.

He could not simply approach them and ask for help because that would immediately make them suspicious, so he needed to find someone who was already willing to question the Labs and use them as the first opening in his plan.

The opportunity came sooner than he expected.

One of the younger scientists often stayed behind after the others left, and Noah had noticed that she never looked comfortable whenever the children were taken away for testing. She always watched them with a troubled expression before forcing herself to return to work.

Noah decided to approach her.

"Are you sad?"

The scientist froze before turning towards him.

"What?"

"You always look sad when they take the kids away."

Her expression changed, and Noah could see her struggling to find an answer.

"You should not worry about things like that, Subject S-001."

"Okay. But are you still sad? You should speak about your feelings."

Noah tilted his head innocently, hiding the seriousness behind his expression.

"If you don’t like what happens here, then maybe you should do something about it."

The scientist stared at him in silence, and for the first time, Noah saw something other than fear in her eyes.

He saw hesitation.

And hesitation was enough.

Noah smiled softly.

’One step at a time. I can manipulate her into helping us out.’

This scientist was innocent... well, as innocent as someone participating in child experimentation could be. So Noah still felt hesitant about using her.

But the weight of the other kids’ lives and freedom kept Noah attentive enough to not form any attachments with the scientists. He knew what they were doing to these kids, and he had no intention of letting them continue.

"Oh, I-"

The scientist looked taken aback by Noah’s words, but he made his expression turn innocent the next second, making her feel like she had been mistaken about him. So she bit her lip and looked away in awkward shock.

"I... should get going now. Yeah, I should-"

Noah nodded and watched her run. It was fine if she wanted to leave. This was only her first time coming across him. She would slowly begin to find the will to help him herself.

Over the week, Noah continued to send her signals for help, and the female scientist continued to feel guilty about what she was doing.

Noah saw her form crumble over herself as she muttered useless stuff. But he could also tell that he had gotten to her.

Her empty eyes looked at the phone, and Noah spied on her and planted suggestions in her mind. And finally, the scientist made a decision.

She was going to strike this facility on Saturday and call Child Protective Services as well as reliable people to get the kids out. That was what she owed these kids.

...

That Saturday, Noah was ready for an explosion. He quickly gathered the kids around and instructed them where they should go to play that day.

He also separated Daniel and Alan beforehand.

From his knowledge of the future, he knew that there were only supposed to be two survivors that day—Daniel and Alan—while everyone else was supposed to perish. But Noah was not going to allow that.

So as not to change the future, he was going to make it seem like all the other kids had died to these two. But at the same time, he was going to save them and send them to new homes.

He walked out quietly so as not to alert anyone. But someone still tugged at his clothes, startling him.

When Noah looked back, he saw that it was a kid the same age as him, but he looked a little wilder.

"Subject L-091, can I help you?"

Noah asked the kid, and he scowled immediately to show that he did not appreciate being called that.

"Don’t call me by that number. Call me Ethan. That’s what those humans willing to adopt me in the future, when I get all better, call me. Now, where are you going and what are you doing?"

Subject L-091 asked in a suspicious voice, and Noah could not help but find him lucky. He was one of the few kids who had biological parents. There were quite a few kids like that in here who had a place to go.

Or, at least, were promised a place to go to. But there was no salvation from this place, and Noah knew that well.

So instead, he was going to give these kids the salvation they needed.

"It is nothing for you to worry about. You should head back in-"

"Nah, I don’t think I will. I will stay with you for now and I-"

There was a sound of an explosion that shook the building before Noah sensed the flames heading their way.

He grabbed Ethan’s hand and pulled him along.

"Hey, what is going on? Those flames-"

"The facility is burning. Take the kids and get them out right now. I will look to see if anyone is missing."

Noah told Ethan without missing a beat, and the esper looked suspiciously at him.

"Why are you so calm? Did you expect this to happen? Are you trying to kill us all? Hey, answer me!"

He demanded answers Noah did not have.

Noah ignored the questions and pulled Ethan further down the corridor, keeping his expression calm even as the heat grew stronger around them.

"There is no time. If you want to survive, then trust me."

Ethan stared at him for a moment before clicking his tongue and following.

"Fine, but you better explain this later."

Noah nodded and hurried towards the room where the younger children were gathered. He could already hear them crying as the smoke began filling the hallway.

"Everyone, listen to me! Stay together and follow Ethan. Do not stop, no matter what happens."

The children nodded fearfully, trusting him without hesitation.