Mutagen

"Is it just me, or is it getting cold?"

Karlene voiced out as they traced back the way they walked before.

By the looks of it, it was not only her. Even Jones realized the sudden drop in temperature.

At this time, Mark spoke.

"Just don\'t mind it."

They were confused. However, since Mark did not want to elaborate, they just shut their mouths.

It did not take too long, and they were already in the vicinity of the military encampment. It was when Karla tapped on Mark\'s hand.

"What is it?"

Mark asked the little girl.

"Hungry."

Karla replied.

Mark shrugged and took out his phone to check the time. Seeing that it was already almost half an hour past two in the afternoon, he could only nod.

"Let\'s stop by the General one last time. Then we\'ll eat before we leave."

Mark told Karla, making her nod in reply.

"Want me to tell the cooks to prepare something?"

Jones asked. After all, Mark\'s group were guests. He could at least offer some hospitality.

"Just save your food for yourselves," Mark replied. "We have our own."

"If you say so." Jones shrugged. "But if you are going to cook something, please cook somewhere hidden. We are getting complaints about the rations these past days."

That statement made Mark give Jones a shrug.

"I\'m pretty sure that those people complaining are those who don\'t really do anything but wait for food to be laid before them, right?"

Jones could also wear a bitter expression at that statement. After all, Mark was on point.

They reached the infirmary and met the General one more time. He was still in a serious conversation with Major Bautista when they arrived.

"All of you are back." General Faustino greeted. "How is it, Mark?"

"They sure are an interesting group," Mark replied. "I tried to invite them to my base, but they declined for now."

"Huh?" General Faustino was surprised. "It looks like my hunch is right. You could converse with them. I thought that some of them resembled creatures from folklore and myths. Since you came here with a fairy with you before, I thought you might be able to understand their language."

Mark knew that the General was talking about Amihan. However, Amihan was using human language since the start and did not have much to do with Mark being able to speak the [Spirit Language]. Nonetheless, Mark did not bother to explain as it was unnecessary.

And since it was already the topic, Jones relayed a bit of the conversation with Artenaris to the General, making him nod in understanding.

"We will talk about this later and plan it all out. We should also announce their cooperation with us so that the people would be less wary."

General Faustino said.

"Anyway, that will be the job for you soldiers," Mark interjected. "We just came here once more to say that we will leave after we eat lunch."

"Is that so?"

General Faustino looked at Mark and then to Major Bautista.

Major Bautista then nodded and turned to Mark.

"Mark, can I ask you a favor."

"What is it now?"

Mark replied.

"It\'s nothing much. I just decided to stay here and fulfill my duties. So I will leave Karlene and Karla to you once more. As for Professor Sandoval and his family, let them stay in your base for a while. It will be Joash\'s group who would take over my duties as the professor\'s escorts."

"Well, there\'s no problem with me."

Mark replied.

"Then, thank you." Major Bautista nodded and turned to his daughter. "Sorry if I have to separate from you again."

And to those words, Karlene shook her head.

"I already expected this. Even mom complains a lot because you always prioritize your duties in the military over your family. So, it\'s fine."

"I\'m sorry."

Major Bautista approached his daughter and gave her a hug.

"Don\'t worry. I\'m not angry." Karlene replied. "Mom is the same. She always complained, but she also said before that your diligence in your work is one of the reasons she loved you."

Major Bautista shook his head and silently smiled. Karlene also returned the embrace. After all, it might be the last them they would be with each other for quite a long time.

While the father and daughter were in their own world, General Faustino spoke to Mark.

"Actually, I have a question."

"What is it?"

Mark asked.

"Is it possible for you to take refugees from here to your base?"

The General inquired.

And to that inquiry, Mark replied with a frown.

"I\'m pretty sure that you already expected my answer to that."

"So, it\'s impossible." General Faustino shook his head bitterly. "I know this would be your answer, but I still want to take my chances."

"You don\'t have to take chances." Mark crossed his arms in annoyance. "There is no way I will take in leeches into my place."

Those words from Mark\'s mouth spoke about the greatest problem in the settlement.

People being leeches.

It was not wrong to feel helpless in the face of an unavoidable catastrophe as long as the people had the urge to take their steps and continue moving forward. However, the majority of the people did not have that urge. And instead, relied on other people to give them sustenance.

In this case, it was the military who was being relied upon.

However, even the military had its own problems. Yet, they had to help people who were not even trying to help themselves.

One example of this situation was the current state of the farmlands in the New Infanta Settlement. While it was true that people needed some knowledge to plant crops, there was not much knowledge needed to be able to plow the fields. Even children could do it.

Yet, there was only a handful of volunteers currently working in the fields. If everyone were to help, even just in plowing, these farm fields should have long been ready for planting new crops.

The settlement was struggling, and the people were not helping at all.

There was no way Mark would take in those kinds of people.

"Anyway, I\'m pretty sure you are asking me that because of the things you heard from Major Bautista."

Mark glanced at the father and daughter that were already finished in their talk.

"Don\'t blame him. It\'s me who should take responsibility for asking him."

General Faustino spoke with a serious face.

"Don\'t worry. I\'m not looking to blame anyone. I don\'t care anymore about these things. There\'s nothing you guys will be able to do anyway with the information you got."

Mark jeered.

Those words from Mark turned the General\'s serious expression into a bitter and helpless one. After all, Mark was speaking facts here.

"Anyway, we should end it here." Mark continued. "I made some time to bring the Major here, but I\'m also a busy person."

"Well, I won\'t hold you any longer. But just one last question."

General Faustino stated, having his serious expression once more.

"Say it. But I\'ll only answer depending on the question."

Mark replied.

"Within your knowledge. Does Earth have any possibility to recover from these disasters?"

The question from the General made everyone confused. After all, why would he ask that kind of question to Mark of all people?

However, Mark stared at the General with a sigh. This guy was asking him, knowing the possibility that he had information that even they from the military did not have.

In any case, any answer to this question would sound like a piece of personal opinion. Thus, there was no reason for Mark to hold back.

"Earth recovering from this mess? That\'s only a fleeting dream. Expect things to get worse than getting better. The [Infected] will continue to get stronger, and there will be more and more encounters with the [Mechids]. Humanity is doomed if we lagged behind even a single step. Is this the answer you want from me?"

"That answer is fine. Thank you."

General Faustino thanked Mark, but it was clear in his face that he was troubled. However, he was not troubled by the answer he was given. It was more like he was thinking about the steps to take from hereon based on Mark\'s response.

"Then, we\'ll have lunch first before we leave. Oh, we will cook our own, so don\'t bother your volunteers to cook for us."

With that, Mark\'s group left the infirmary. Major Bautista still accompanied them, however. After all, they were not leaving yet, and he wanted to spend more time with his daughter before the separation.

Mark\'s group cooked lunch within the outskirts of the settlement. And to say, it was not a comfortable one. The lunch was some instant spaghetti that Mark had inside his ring. And unfortunately, the smell was more than enough to get the attention of people passing by.

And the stares they were getting were definitely annoying. The soldiers were fine, but the refugees might have approached them and begged if not for Chaflar resting beside them.

There were also some annoying people who were watching in the shadows. It seemed that these people should be affiliated with the politicians and were trying to observe Mark\'s group as close as possible.

Mark was annoyed and wanted to strike down those people. Unfortunately, he already gave his word to not cause any trouble this time. In any case, they were leaving after eating. It was still tolerable to just ignore them.

While eating, Mark was also paying attention to the surroundings. He was keeping track of the soldiers. However, it seemed that nothing notable was happening. Rather, they were perplexed that the mechanical shark from this morning did not return at all. Some were worried that the shark would attack when they least expected. It was better to deal with it as soon as possible.

Mark also tried to survey the river by sending Ignis to patrol while they were still in the settlement. However, even the Demon Sword found no traces of the mechanical shark. It was as if it did not exist at all.

This made Mark a bit more annoyed. The possibility that [Mechids] could perceive danger and escape from it was troublesome. It was extremely different from most [Infected], who only knew how to charge and use any ability they had towards their target. What if the majority of [Mechids] had this function?

And since they were robots, they should be capable of remembering things. Which meant that a [Mechid] that escaped could remember any danger they encountered and escaped from and could possibly formulate any form of revenge.

If that was the case, that mechanical shark could come back in an absurd way that would cause a large number of casualties.

Mark could only keep a mental note this time.

That was not to let any [Mechid] they encounter escape, no matter how many or what size it had.

Soon, they finished lunch.

Before going, Mark told his thoughts about the [Mechids] to Major Bautista. For sure, this information would reach the General.

It was better that way. It would be bad if their neighbor got done in by [Mechids] just because the things from his theories happened. After all, the existence of this settlement still served some purpose for Mark. Karlene\'s father was also staying here.

And with that, the rest of Mark\'s group left, riding on Chaflar\'s back, leaving Major Bautista in the settlement.