Chapter 175: Ch 175: Fire and Smoke - Part 6

Noah remained suspicious about what the head researcher wanted from him, especially since this sudden offer felt far too convenient.

He had spent years trapped inside the Labs, and now, without warning, the very person who had kept him there was offering him a chance to visit the outside world. According to him, it was too dangerous for him to go out.

But this also aligned with his visions from the academy. The future was unfolding in the same direction he had seen.

If this was the path he had already seen, then perhaps he needed to take the risk.

"Alright, sir. I will go."

The head researcher smiled as if he had expected that answer from the beginning.

"Good. I knew you would understand. I hope you get a lot of exposure from here."

Noah lowered his gaze and hid the complicated emotions in his eyes. He did not trust this man, and he certainly did not believe that he was being sent to the academy simply because the researcher wanted him to become stronger.

"However, don’t forget, Noah. You will return to me in the end. You have no other choice but this."

The head researcher’s gaze felt like a heavy shackle that held Noah in place. It was even difficult to breathe when he was being looked at that way.

But Noah knew that this was a risk he needed to take, and his plan was simple.

He would leave the academy when the time came, break free from the shackles of the Research Labs, find a way to steal Bluey back, and disappear somewhere far away from all of this.

It sounded dangerous... No, it sounded almost impossible. Yet, for the first time in years, Noah felt a strange wave of confidence rising inside him.

After all, he had already done something that should have been impossible once before—he had saved the children. He had caused the facility to burn and made sure those kids were taken away to live new lives, even though the future had told him that they were supposed to die.

If he could change that future, then perhaps he could change his own as well.

Noah slowly clenched his hands beneath the table.

’I can do this.’

For the first time, freedom no longer felt like a distant dream.

It felt like something he could reach, and he could take Bluey with him as well. The mark on his neck where his control device was embedded itched as a reminder that he still had something to deal with.

But Noah was no longer afraid of his future. If anything, he was looking forward to it.

He returned to his cell with an optimistic look on his face, and Bluey flew over to him and landed on his chest as Noah lay down on his bed.

The tiny blue creature pecked his cheeks, asking why Noah was so happy and what it could do to share this happiness.

Noah only smiled back even harder before he petted the small bird on top of its head.

"Bluey, things are happening as I expected them to. I will finally get a chance to head to the academy. And once I find a way to be free, I will come and get you as well. We will finally be able to live a free life."

Noah told the small bird, and its black eyes blinked back at him with the same curiosity as they always had.

He was not sure if Bluey could understand what Noah said or not, but it decided to partake in the celebration while flapping its wings.

Noah suddenly felt a pang of regret leaving this small creature behind, as he was not sure what Bluey would be able to do without him.

He also knew that Bluey was a monster, and they had a considerably shorter life span compared to humans. But he still believed that Bluey would be fine.

Or rather, he had to be fine because Noah did not know any other way to keep his sanity in this hellhole.

"I will be back to get you soon. I promise..."

That was all Noah could say as a guarantee for the small body attached to him. For Bluey’s sake, he needed to hurry up and complete his mission.

...

Bluey’s life after Noah was gone was rather monotonous. All he did was fly around and keep out of the way while experiments were going on.

He could have flown away now that Noah was no longer there, but his instincts warned him that he would die the second he tried. So he kept out of the way for the most part and kept himself hidden.

And that allowed him to hear all kinds of things, including the plans for the future.

"Head researcher, are you sure you want to carry out these experiments? Those kids-"

"What about those kids? All we should care about is Noah and his results."

The head researcher spoke with certainty, causing the first researcher to falter. He looked far more flustered, which made Bluey worry.

Just what were they planning for Noah?

"Sir, I know that this seems good on paper, but I am not sure-"

"This is not for you to decide. Ah, as for our officer... I have an idea. The experiment regarding monster-human mutation is ready, right? Then, I would like to give a parting gift to one of the people living in this lab."

The head researcher looked up, and his eyes met Bluey’s all of a sudden. Having that gaze focused on him made Bluey tense, and he had a feeling he needed to run away before it was too late.

"Sir, what is wrong? Do you want me to air the room out-"

"There is no need. Just prepare for the next phase of experiments. It’s time we enter the next phase. Noah is a cute kid who thinks he is playing us. But in this game, the only prey we have is him. And now, it is time he understands this truth."