Lucian POV (Current Day)

  The once perfectly silent office, Lucian's sanctuary from the persistent annoyance of the inept, was once again disrupted by the familiar whine of a certain redhead, a subordinate whose necessary skills barely outweighed his desire to eliminate her.

  "We found absolutely nothing," Inez complained, crossing her legs with a petulant sway. "The experiment was a complete waste. And now the egg hatches without warning, and the Slitherwing has vanished! Honestly, this is beyond frustrating."

  Lucian finally raised his gaze, a sharp edge to his voice. "All I'm hearing is that you are incompetent."

  "I did my best!" Inez retorted, her voice rising defensively. "Do you have any idea how many crystals we burned through trying to decipher what happened to those beast-men? You're not the one down there getting your hands dirty, so it's easy for you to criticize."

  "And is the pristine state of my hands also the reason a legendary, practically extinct creature has gone missing under your watch?" Lucian countered, his eyes narrowing. "You should have implemented more rigorous monitoring protocols."

  "I did!" Inez insisted, her voice tight with frustration. "I reviewed the camera footage countless times, and yet I never saw the egg hatch. It simply... vanished through a minuscule crack and was gone. It's infuriating that such a magnificent creature slipped through my fingers, but it's your fault, isn't it, Megan?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Megan mumbled, nodding quickly. Her short, wavy black hair framed a face etched with apprehension, her grey eyes darting nervously.

  "Then perhaps a little... recompense is for such a monumental oversight," Inez said, a cruel smile spreading across her lips. "A small donation to further my research, perhaps?" Her words caused Ana to visibly flinch.

  Lucian interjected, his voice laced with weary authority. "Threatening and punishing your subordinates for your negligence is a recipe for resentment. You're practically begging to be betrayed."

  "Aw, you do have a soft spot for me, Lucian," Inez purred, a playful chuckle escaping her lips.

  "My concern is purely pragmatic, contingent on your continued efficacy," Lucian corrected sharply. "Megan, you're dismissed."

  "Yes, sir," Megan replied with a quick bow before silently retreating from the office, closing the door behind her.

  Lucian waited for a beat, the click of the closing door amplifying the sudden intimacy of the office. His usual composed facade flickered, revealing a sliver of underlying frustration. "The other countries are proving to be difficult in lending a helping hand."

  "You're not one to let things easily unsettle you," Inez observed, leaning back in her chair, her gaze sharp. "And all we truly need is the backing of that powerful alliance."

  "Precisely," Lucian agreed, a hint of bitterness in his tone. "But they view us with disdain. In their eyes, we offer nothing of real value. The Slitherwing... that creature would have been our ultimate trump card, the key to elevating our standing."

  "I will redouble my efforts to retrieve it," Inez said, a determined glint in her eyes. "It's practically immortal. Its instincts will likely drive it to search for its mother. Once it grasps that its parent isn't in this world, it will return."

  "Return? Why would it possibly return here?" Lucian asked, one eyebrow arching in scepticism.

  "Intelligence," Inez stated with a shrug. "It will return to its egg, once it understands its mother is gone."

  "I sincerely hope your assessment is accurate, but we cannot afford to rely on the potential return of a single creature," Lucian stated, his tone decisive. "For all intents and purposes, the Slitherwing is a loss for now. My focus will shift to refining the collars. Despite Encer's perceived inferiority, the other nations are equally inept at controlling beast-men. Their attempts to replicate our collar technology are...poor. That disparity will serve as our immediate leverage."

  "Excellent," Inez agreed, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "And there's another opportunity presenting itself, a nation ripe for the taking. Lalan is incredibly vulnerable at the moment."

  "Lalan? Aren't they our neighbors? What is their current state?" Lucian inquired, his interest piqued.

  "They operate under a monarchy, but the true heir is absent, likely deceased or lost to the apocalypse. The country is effectively being run by a council of ministers, much like our own situation with the late president. The global chaos has left them fractured and fearful, their resources stretched thin. Our technological superiority gives us a significant advantage. A gradual, strategic takeover of Lalan is entirely feasible." Inez's smile widened, radiating ambition.

  "They don't have much to offer." Lucian mused, considering her proposition. "I will task Kiirion with a discreet visit to Lalan after he gathers Intel from the southern district. If Lalan cooperates then I can have more soldiers to spread to the north, south, east and west of Encer."

  The office door burst open without warning, revealing two men with faces etched in panic. "Sir!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices tight with urgency.

  Lucian's gaze sharpened. "You both better have a damn good reason for this intrusion." He studied their frantic expressions, a flicker of unease stirring within him. "Speak. One at a time."

  A tense silence hung in the air before the first man blurted out, his words tumbling over each other. "The southern district... it's destroyed! We were completely overwhelmed. Monsters... they just appeared, a massive wave. Almost every hero deployed there is dead. The shelters... they've been destroyed. Commander Kiirion... he's trapped, in hiding, he couldn't evacuate. And now... some of the creatures are heading towards the Northern district."

  A muscle twitched in Lucian's jaw. He took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to maintain his composure. He then turned his attention to the second man, his eyes narrowed. "...And you?"

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  "In the Grub restaurant," the second man added, his voice grim, "every single hero stationed there has been poisoned. The medical teams have them at the hospital now, and Captain Barachiel is trying his best to keep the situation quiet, away from the public eye."

  Lucian let out a dry, humourless laugh. "Isn't that just... splendid? At this point, I'm starting to believe Encer is genuinely cursed."

  "Let's try to maintain some composure," Inez interjected, turning her head to address the two men. "We'll address these issues one at a time. Have there been any deaths?"

  "So far, only four individuals," the second man reported. "The healers managed to contain the poison in time."

  "Then that situation is temporarily stabilized, provided the healers and doctors maintain their effectiveness," Lucian stated, his gaze firm. "Barachiel should be capable of managing that aspect. We will dispatch a retrieval team for Kiirion immediately. Now, leave and instruct Captain Cerise to conduct a thorough internal investigation. I want to know how this happened."

  The two men bowed sharply. "Yes, sir!" They retreated from the office with the same haste they had arrived at.

  "What if Kiirion doesn't make it?" Inez asked, her brow furrowed.

  "That would be a genuine setback," Lucian admitted. "His experience and competence are difficult to replace. I would then face the arduous task of finding a suitable replacement and the inherent risk of entrusting such a crucial position to someone new, someone potentially... inadequate." He shook his head, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features.

  "We could always promote Barachiel," Inez suggested, "and perhaps make that Elric fellow a captain."

  "Elric?" Lucian scoffed, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand. "No, he lacks the necessary acumen. His recent assignment demonstrated a significant lack of focus. While I don't question his loyalty, his strategic thinking isn't up to par. I would sooner entrust a captaincy to someone like Ana than to Elric." He shook his head again, his decision firm.

  "Hm, but poison? Do we have an enemy in the kitchen?" Inez asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

  Lucian tapped his finger thoughtfully against the polished wood of the table. "Possibly. But to attempt something so risky..." He paused, his gaze distant. "Either the person is utterly foolish and believes they won't be discovered, or we have a rat burrowed deep within our ranks."

  "We will find them, I have no doubt," Inez declared, though a shadow of worry lingered in her eyes. "But my greater concern lies with the growing impatience of the monsters. It's almost incomprehensible how the old generation managed to decrease their numbers and force them into hiding. It feels so impossibly difficult now." She let out a frustrated sigh.

  "The past wasn't necessarily easier," Lucian countered, his voice low and measured. "The monsters are simply evolving, growing stronger, adapting in ways that mirror our own advancements. It's a grim reality. If only humanity could evolve at a similar pace." He inhaled deeply, the air heavy with unspoken anxieties.

  "What of the plan?" Inez pressed, her voice softer now. "The one involving the beast-men?"

  Lucian's gaze drifted upwards as if he could see through the ceiling and into the uncertain future. "It remains in progress, albeit slowly. Their aggression makes them incredibly difficult to control. We managed to tame a handful, but the rest died. If I could command them, the constant fear of losing my own men would lessen considerably." A flicker of longing crossed his face. "I guess the trip to Lalan would have to be suspended for a while."

  Jahir POV

  "Copying the Flow Society design?" Tosic said, his gaze fixed on the colossal. A group of beast-men were piling up, jagged debris while using a bowl of blue saliva from a raphat to secure the uneven wall constructed.

  "A rather poor imitation," Jahir muttered to himself.

  "Yup! Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Since we're lacking magic users who can conjure barriers or access barrier crystals, we're borrowing from the best... the enemy!" Chausse declared with a wide grin, earning a hearty high-five from Kel.

  "That's the spirit!" Kel exclaimed, his smile mirroring Chausse's enthusiasm.

  'Idiots,' Jahir thought, a sigh escaping his lips as he observed the two.

  "And now that you've effectively blocked the road," Jahir inquired, his tone dry, "how exactly do you propose we leave?"

  "That's the beauty of it!" Chausse said and pointed to two ends of the wall with a high building. "We strategically built this wall, wedging it securely between those two buildings. You simply enter one of them and exit through the back door, which, might I add, is always under guard!"

  "And you are absolutely certain," Jahir pressed, his scepticism evident, "that there are no monsters currently within the buildings or the immediate vicinity?"

  "Positive! Aside from the usual birds and the occasional small critter, this area is completely secure!" Chausse affirmed, flashing a confident thumbs-up.

  "Kel, don't forget to watch my brats for me. Especially the little one." Tosic said as he stared at Kel.

  "You can count on me." Kel nodded.

  "Now let's go and quickly head back. I don't want to imagine a night out there." Kel adjusted the bag on his back and Tosic did the same.

  They both walked towards one of the wall's ends, the distance stretching out before them. Jahir surveyed the impressive span; its breadth and height were considerable, a tangible testament to their will to survive. Reaching the far end, they found a small group stationed by a sturdy-looking door, who nodded them through without question. Inside the building, another set of individuals awaited, their expressions calm and watchful. These, too, granted them passage to the rear exit. Stepping out into the open air, they walked in comfortable silence, side by side, for a good thirty minutes.

  "I find myself in the mood for tea," Tosic finally said, breaking the quiet.

  "I find myself questioning why nothing has attacked us yet and what monster do you want to control?" Jahir glanced at him.

  "A simple Ankc will do," Tosic explained, "remarkably docile and friendly creatures. They're so sensitive, in fact, that extreme stress can be fatal, and sadly, a good portion of their species perishes due to a lack of basic survival instincts."

  "And that's your brilliant plan for our protection?" Jahir retorted, incredulity lacing his voice. "Neither of us is exactly a seasoned warrior."

  "Then what's with the spider legs?" Tosic gestured towards Jahir's spider legs that clung to his chest and waist like multiple belts with a sigh. "Merely decorative? Yes, the Ankcs are weak, but that's precisely what makes them manageable. Other monsters are too powerful, too volatile. They'd likely kill you the moment they sense you attempting control."

  "Not everyone harbours a desire for constant bloodshed," Jahir countered, his gaze narrowing. "Even if I were to try... the reality is, I'd probably just freeze up and flee."

  "So, essentially, you're a coward who clings to the strength of others, is that it?" Tosic chuckled, a hint of amusement in his tone.

  "And you consider yourself any better?" Jahir challenged, his voice sharp.

  "At least I possess the means to defend myself, even when things go south," Tosic countered with a shrug. "You should learn to employ a few tricks yourself, like I do and not hide behind me."

  Jahir stopped in his tracks and stiffened for a moment before he continued. Tosic glanced at him over his shoulder. "And don't misunderstand me, I'm not condemning you for relying on others. In this world, where people readily justify taking lives without a second thought, simply surviving the way you are is, in its own way, an accomplishment."

  "Don't flatter me," Jahir retorted, a hint of defensiveness in his tone. "Let's just focus on finding a simple, yet defensively capable monster to handle—" His words abruptly ceased as his gaze snagged on a nearby group. Several adults and a cluster of small children stood a short distance away. Despite their varied hair colors, a striking uniformity caught Jahir's attention: every single one of them possessed vibrant green eyes.

  "Oh, hello there! We are from the southern district." A man from the group stepped forward, a wide, cheerful smile spreading across his face as he addressed Jahir and Tosic.