“My name is Victoria Wilkes, and I am the acting CEO of Humanity Engineering."

  “Like… for real?”

  Ellie quickly covered her mouth, as those words she just uttered were supposed to be just for her mind. But alas, the situation was just too weird and shocking to her that she couldn’t help it anymore—there were really only so many reveals she could take in a single day.

  “Yes.” Victoria did not seem to mind, just softly chuckling as she covered her mouth; probably the most human action she had done since they met her. She was about to say something else, but MEGAN once again pointed at her.

  [That still doesn’t change the fact that Julian is not what you say he is. He isn’t a mutant,] MEGAN lightly scoffed, [Do you even have any proof of what you are saying?]

  “We have satellite footage of Mr. Winters fighting against the daemon alone, with his concealed rapier.” Victoria replied, not even a single hint of doubt in her voice, “Need I say more?”

  [Purely speculation without physical proof.]

  “I could show you, but I think it would be faster to say that we also know about your little altercation with the loan—”

  [Stop.]

  If it wasn’t for MEGAN cutting off Victoria, Julian would have probably already reached for his cane that was resting on the bench near him.

  [Are you blackmailing us now?] MEGAN’s voice turned deep, and even Ellie’s brows started to lower as she glared at Victoria.

  Victoria’s smile softened as she raised a hand, waving off MEGAN’s accusation.

  “Not at all,” Victoria’s smile softened as she raised a hand, waving off MEGAN’s accusation. “Humanity Engineering does not engage in such tactics. My intent is merely to inform you that we know everything that happens on the surface of Earth—everything.”

  [That itself should have serious legal implications.]

  “That would be, but we dictate what is legal or not. Humanity Engineering is much larger than any of you seem to understand. We are everywhere, we… are.”

  [It doesn’t matter,] MEGAN snapped, [And you’re wrong. Julian isn’t a mutant. If he were, it should have shown up when you scanned his body and created his clone. Or are you saying that the technology of Humanity Engineering isn’t as good as you make it out to be?]

  MEGAN’s words seemed to have done something to Victoria as the confident smile on her face twitched. Only momentarily, however, as her lips once again curled as she took a slow step toward MEGAN, bending and leaning down closer to her small hologram.

  “Oh?” She hummed, “Then if he is not a mutant, then he must be something else entirely—and now we are even more curious about him. For the sake of humanity, that needs to be verified.”

  MEGAN’s avatar quickly froze for a split-second before an awkward smile crawled on her face, [No. You got us—Julian is indeed a mutant.]

  [Psst, Julian. From now on, if any of these people ask, you’re a mutant.] She also quickly whispered into Julian’s mind; her avatar not changing expression at all.

  “Hm. Then from now on, I wish we could be transparent with each other.” Victoria took a step back before bowing her head at Julian again, “It is my honor to meet you, Mr. Winters.”

  The tone of Victoria’s voice lingered, her steps brimming with excitement as she began circling Julian slowly—somewhat like a predator, but not quite.

  He could hear her voice moving around him, but Julian could not hear her walking at all—it was as though she wasn’t actually with them in the gym at all.

  “And so,” Victoria halted her steps, “May I ask what you know about mutants, Mr. Winters?”

  “Not much.” Julian replied, his shoulder following her voice.

  “Then allow me to enlighten you, then.” Victoria clasped her hands behind her back, also glancing at Ellie so that she would not feel out of place,

  “Mutants were thought to be the next step in human evolution—at least that was what the world believed at the time they were born. Shortly after World War III, a remarkable phenomenon born from the ashes of destruction and the innate violence of men.”

  Julian lied—he already knew what Victoria was saying. MEGAN had actually already told him all about that.

  And mutants, by all accounts and records, already exhibit their mutated abilities at the time of their birth or moments after.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Julian is not a mutant.

  And so, instead of listening to Victoria, he was trying his best to pick up the faintest vibrations and shifts in the air as Victoria spoke… but aside from her voice, there truly was nothing.

  In fact, even her voice vibrated weirdly.

  “Sadly, mutants only lasted for two generations before they vanished entirely—and that is already giving the length of their existence more credit.” Victoria continued, a trace of passion escaping her words,

  “But they weren’t hunted, not at all—if anything, they were celebrated. But their genetic markers proved tragically fragile, with a mere 0.0269% chance of being passed on to offspring. Their extinction was a tragedy as humanity had hoped they were the future. It was already a marvel to have even given birth to a second generation.”

  A disappointed sigh whispered throughout the entire gym as Victoria shook her head.

  “They were faster, stronger, smarter than any ordinary human. But of course, as is nature,they had their own quirks and disabilities, but their unique abilities more than compensated for it. Some mutants could even defy physics itself—flight, for instance. It was recorded that some of them could fly—magic, perhaps? Perhaps it was a chance for Earth to become like Artemia.”

  Victoria’s smile never wavered as she finished her explanation, tilting her head as though waiting for a response from Julian. And when she saw him just standing still, a small chuckle escaped her lips.

  “Did I not just explain your existence, Mr. Winters?” She said, “Based on what we have reviewed on the footage we captured, you seem to showcase immense strength, speed, but most importantly—an abnormally high level of perception to the point of almost precognition. And in exchange, nature thought it necessary for you to be born without eyes and for your mind to be… limited.”

  “Hey…” Ellie did not appreciate Victoria’s last words at all.

  [And what is your company going to do about that?] MEGAN also shared Ellie’s irritation.

  “You do not have to worry at all—Humanity Engineering, as our name already suggests, is first and foremost a bio-engineering company. We simulate and create.” The tone of Victoria’s voice slowly became monotonous again, “And we also observe, and for our benefit, Mr. Winters’ existence shall be given priority and protected at all costs.”

  “Then, do we have your word that you will keep my existence a secret?” Julian finally said something, his voice carrying a lot of weight.

  “No.” Victoria shook her head, “We actually wish the opposite—we were hoping that you would reveal yourself to the world, Mr. Winters.”

  [What the fuck?] MEGAN could not help herself as she pointed at Victoria, [Why would we do that!?]

  “Because sooner or later, people will know—do you not wish to reveal it yourself rather than other people?” Victoria tilted her head, “And people already do now—Cindy Solis.”

  “I know her.” Julian whispered.

  “And she knows what you are.” Victoria bowed her head again, “And with how things are developing back on Earth, I do believe that she is about to invite you to join her team—join her.”

  [Why are you giving us orders?] MEGAN’s voice deepened, [And what if Julian doesn’t want to do what you want him to do? Are you going to reveal his existence?]

  “No, it is completely up to Mr. Winters what to do.” Victoria shook her head.

  [Then why do you want him to reveal himself!?]

  “Because the world would be looking for hope soon, we would very much prefer it to be you, Mr. Winters.” Victoria’s gaze latched onto Julian, “But whatever your choice is, know that Humanity Engineering will back you. And if you are in doubt as to what we are capable of, do not be…

  …we are the wealthiest and most influential organization in the universe of men. We control entire governments. The current leader of Earth, we put there.”

  Ellie took in a small gulp as Victoria did not even give out a trace of lying at all.

  “And MEGAN is right.” Victoria snapped her fingers as she glanced at MEGAN’s hologram, “We are related to the people who created the Radiant Gates, because it was us—with the snap of our fingers, we can cripple trade and entire societies…

  …We are humanity itself.”

  [Why…] Even MEGAN visibly gulped, her holographic avatar stiffening as she stared at Victoria. [...Why are you revealing all of this, and so soon? Based on my studies, corporations like yours typically operate from the shadows until the very last moment—and by studies, I mean novels and comic books.]

  “Because,” Victoria replied, her gaze once again latching onto Julian, “We wish to be transparent with the only living mutant in the entire universe.”

  “...And what do you ask in return?” Julian hummed.

  “I am curious about that myself.” Victoria’s unwavering confidence faltered momentarily as she took a deliberate step back. “If it were up to me, we would simply dissect you—but the person above me has requested that you be treated with the utmost care.”

  [Be careful there,] MEGAN’s eyes narrowed as she folded her arms. [Your true colors are showing. And what do you mean by ‘the person above you’? You’re the CEO.]

  “As I mentioned earlier,” Victoria delicately covered her mouth, “I am merely the acting CEO. And my relationship with the true CEO is quite similar to what you have with Mr. Winters, MEGAN. It is—”

  “Someone’s coming.” Julian’s voice cut sharply through Victoria’s words, his head tilting slightly toward the door.

  Victoria paused, tilting her head momentarily as if listening to something. Then she nodded, her composure unfaltering. “So it would seem. Until next time, Mr. Winters—and please, do think about everything I’ve said. There is no use hiding what you can do. People will find out. This is not a comic book. Wear a mask if you like, but scanners exist that can see through it…

  …and are you not tired living in the shadows?”

  “They are coming,” Julian repeated, his voice firmer this time.

  “And if I recall correctly,” Victoria continued, hastening her words, “You are sterile due to having been tagged as GNVI, correct?”

  Her eyes, however, was not on Julian as she said this. Instead, she was staring at Ellie.

  “I would like for you to know…” Victoria added with unsettling calmness, “...that we could fix that.”

  “What do you—Huh?” Ellie’s words were cut short by a startled gasp as she watched Victoria suddenly vanish into thin air. There was no flicker, no fade—she simply ceased to exist.

  [Wait…] MEGAN’s voice lowered into a suspicious whisper. [She was a hologram!? But… from where was she projecting!?]

  Julian’s brows furrowed slightly as he exhaled deeply. Finally, he had an answer as to why he couldn’t detect or sense Victoria at all. Unfortunately, there was little time to process any of their questions before the person Julian had sensed earlier stepped into the gym.

  As soon as Ellie saw who it was, her expression instantly darkened. Any trace of confusion was replaced with exasperation.

  How could she not express slight anger, when the one who entered was the very person who was not shy to insult Julian earlier during their introductions?

  “Huh? What’s a GNVI doing here?”

  Patreon page.

  Discord server.