Chapter 66: A New Refuge for Humanity

The following day, in a small coastal town in Utopia, two figures dressed in civilian clothing strolled into the settlement.

"So according to the intel, they’re in this town?" Bradley asked.

"No, Lieutenant. They are in one of the small towns surrounding Utopia’s capital. We are starting our investigation here because it’s easier to reach and infiltrate from New Leviathan," Sasha answered, holding her tablet.

"Hey... hey, how many times have I told you not to call me by rank? Call me by my name...Bradley," Bradley said.

"Sorry, Lieu...uh... Brad," Sasha said, turning her head aside as she raised her fist to her mouth.

"Good. We’re undercover here as civilians, not military, so let’s not draw any suspicion from the locals," Bradley said.

"Right. Understood," Sasha replied.

Then, Sasha shifted closer and linked her arm through Bradley’s. Naturally, Bradley flinched, but he quickly composed himself and looked at her. Sensing Bradley’s gaze, Sasha turned and offered a chilly smile.

"To play the part, we’re a married couple. So let’s act affectionate so we don’t look suspicious," Sasha said.

"Ah... good point... Does that mean we’re sharing a room?" Bradley asked.

"Of course. Taking separate rooms would be suspicious," Sasha answered.

"Hmm... makes sense... So we’re sharing a bed too... to keep up appearances?" Bradley asked.

"Don’t get any funny ideas. We’re on a mission, not a honeymoon," Sasha replied with a smile, though her expression clearly screamed, Touch me and you’re dead.

"Ah... right, sorry... my bad," Bradley replied, looking straight ahead again.

"Though for the sake of humanity, I am willing to bear three of your children," Sasha added.

"We are on duty, stop talking nonsense," Bradley replied without turning his head.

"Understood, Lieu...uh... Brad," Sasha replied, turning her eyes back forward.

They continued strolling through the town arm in arm, looking just like a married couple.

***

Meanwhile, at the exact same time in the city of Safe Haven, a train arrived at the underground station. Mary, wearing a jacket, stood at the edge of the platform watching the train zip past her at high speed before slowing to a stop. Psssh. The doors of the stopped train car slid open, releasing a thin cloud of white steam. As two figures stepped out, Mary rushed forward to embrace a woman who had just disembarked. Afterward,

"You actually came, Selma! I thought you were just talking," Mary said.

"Well... things changed in Neo Ark. The military started sweeping the eastern district with plans to arrest us. Luckily, I got a heads-up beforehand," Selma replied, turning to look behind her at a woman wearing a black long coat, a black sweater, and a fedora.

At Selma’s words, Mary leaned sideways to glance past her. The woman removed her fedora, letting her blonde hair cascade down. Mary’s expression instantly turned guarded as she recognized the woman standing behind Selma. Meanwhile, soldiers and others allied with the rebels filed out of the train cars ahead. Mary stepped up beside Selma, who had already turned back toward the woman.

"Colonel Irena... what are you doing here? And why are you in civilian clothes?" Mary asked.

"Ah, this? I couldn’t exactly come here in a military uniform, could I... There’s something we need to discuss, Mary. Right now, I’m representing New Leviathan," Irena said, gazing at Mary with a serious look.

"New Leviathan? What is that?" Mary asked.

"I’ll explain later. It’s only natural that those from Neo Ark wouldn’t know about New Leviathan’s existence. Is there a comfortable place where we can talk, Selma?" Irena asked, turning to Selma.

"Follow me. Let’s head up to the surface first," Selma offered.

The three walked toward the station exit. Mary, walking up front beside Selma, glanced back at Irena, who was strolling with both hands thrust inside her long coat pockets, taking in her surroundings. Mary turned back to Selma,

"So what’s really going on here?" Mary whispered.

"Your younger siblings... Clyde, Casca, Craig, and Corie, they’re in Utopia right now, and the Neo Ark military knows they’re there. According to the colonel, the military dispatched operatives over there, and she asked me to evacuate all the rebels out of Neo Ark. That’s all I know so far," Selma answered.

"So... is she on our side?" Mary asked curiously.

"I don’t know... She says she’s with New Leviathan, and I have no idea what New Leviathan is. She said she’d explain everything, right? So let’s just wait for her explanation," Selma answered.

"Then why did you trust her in the first place if you don’t even know whose side she’s on?" Mary asked, puzzled.

"Because she knows about the existence of Safe Haven and the rebel headquarters... That’s why I brought her here. If she tries anything funny, we can lock her up right here since she didn’t bring an army with her," Selma answered.

"I see," Mary murmured, looking back once more at Irena, who was still surveying her surroundings.

They continued walking out of the station, making their way to an elevator to ride to the upper level. Throughout the ride up, Mary kept her eyes fixed on Irena, who was standing by the glass window watching the underground city below as they ascended. Reaching the top, they walked toward a small café situated near the station.

Clink.

Selma opened the door. "Welcome...huh... Boss?" a female barista standing behind the counter greeted the incoming guests, but froze in surprise when she saw Selma.

"Hey... Fiona, three black coffees," Selma said, holding up three fingers with a wink.

"Understood, Boss."

Fiona nodded with a grave expression. Instead of brewing coffee behind the counter, she stepped out, reached for a cord beside the window, and closed all the café’s blinds tight. As the indoor lights flickered on, she walked to the entrance, flipped the sign, locked the door, and pulled the curtain over the glass. Only then did she return behind the counter to prepare drinks for Selma, Mary, and Irena, who had taken a seat in the farthest booth.

"Alright... now we can talk comfortably in here," Selma said, relaxing into her seat as she tossed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter onto the table.

Irena picked up the cigarette pack, tapped the bottom, and pulled out a single stick that popped out before lighting it. Fuuuh. She blew a stream of smoke upward before looking at Selma and Mary.

"Alright... first off, let me clarify: I am actually a spy operating for New Leviathan who infiltrated Neo Ark to investigate military reports that were deemed full of holes," Irena said.

Irena went on to explain that a human city still survived in the middle of the ocean, one that had endured since the 100-year war ended roughly fifty years ago, its location completely hidden from a world now inhabited by the Gigas or Nephilim. Listening to Irena’s explanation, Mary’s face shifted from guarded to rigid with disbelief. She turned to look at Selma.

"Did you know about this, Selma? Why aren’t you surprised?" Mary asked.

"Back when I was still in the military, I did read about a city out in the middle of the ocean, but I never knew its name," Selma answered casually.

"So then, I was tasked by the GDAB, the governing body of New Leviathan, to locate the children of the Chimaera Initiative. And that’s why I came to you, Mary, because I know you have a connection with them," Irena said.

"Huh? Me? So New Leviathan or whatever it’s called... wants me to persuade them to join you? Do you intend to use them as weapons too? You’re no different from Neo Ark, wanting to turn them into batteries for your GEAR project!" Mary snapped in anger.

"So that’s your actual mission, Colonel," Selma remarked, lighting a cigarette and blowing smoke straight into Irena’s face.

Irena didn’t answer. She merely observed Selma and Mary, who were both now twice as guarded as before. Irena smirked as she smoked casually. Seeing Irena’s unbothered demeanor, Mary stood up, her face flushed with fury.

"Answer me, Colonel! I won’t help you! I consider Clyde, Casca, Craig, and Corie my younger brothers and sisters! They aren’t weapons, batteries, or whatever else you plan to do to the four of them, they are human beings!" Mary shouted furiously.

"Hey... hey... Mary," Selma said, grabbing Mary’s arm to pull her back into her seat.

Silence descended on the booth. Fiona finally emerged from behind the counter to serve three cups of cappuccino as "black coffee" was actually a coded signal, and both Selma and Mary preferred cappuccinos. After placing the three cups on the table, she hurried back behind the counter. Irena casually picked up her cup, took in the aroma, and took a sip. Setting the cup down quietly, she continued,

"I want you to go meet them... and after that, bring them back here to fortify this city’s defenses. My goal is for you to find them so they can secure your city. Do you get it now?" Irena asked, looking at Mary with a gentle smile and a calm voice.

"I don’t understand what you mean?" Selma asked.

"New Leviathan has already dispatched operatives to retrieve them in Utopia, but General Heindrich is pessimistic. I just filed a report stating that Neo Ark is utilizing ancient giant remains to build GEARs, an act that will surely incite the wrath of the Nephilim Kingdom. Therefore, I was ordered to evacuate as many people as possible from Neo Ark and establish a new settlement, then bring those children back from Utopia, who would otherwise likely end up aiding Neo Ark in the future, back here to safeguard this city and humanity, because a war is bound to break out again. Do you understand?" Irena answered with a smile, blowing a plume of cigarette smoke toward Selma and Mary across the table.

Both Mary and Selma fell silent, looking choked up as they absorbed Irena’s words, while she sat across from them smoking casually with a gentle smile on her face.