Chapter 912 – Far from home

POV Elisabeth Jonas, First Contact Specialist for the National Office for Returnee Affairs (NORA)

I quickly finish the carac I’ve been eating, thinking that if there were something worth dying for, it’d be this. Or at least until next week when I discover something better.

My assistant rushes behind me as I wipe my fingers with a wet tissue and hand it off to her. She immediately hands it off to some poor NORA employee standing nearby, but I don’t really mind. That is how things should be after all.

Before stepping into the cottage with a way too stunning view, I stop myself and fix my clothes a little. Then I take a deep breath and enter with a smile.

No matter how many times I meet him, the returnee Rafael Vaughn always takes my breath away. Some time ago, I saw his recordings and social media photos from before the tutorial, but their vibe is very different from the man standing before me now.

He has that air around him, of a person used to dealing with powerful people who hang on his every word. The returnee Rafael Vaughn is far from being the most powerful person around, but he is quick-witted, charming, and has the right connections. And let us be honest: being so handsome that his stalkers are being arrested every other day doesn’t hurt either.

“I am happily married,” I say out loud, not sure if I am reminding him or myself.

“I know, Elisabeth, and you also already showed me photos of your young son. The last time you mentioned him, he'd just started getting into athletics?”

I nod quickly. “I want him to develop his athletic skills a bit before I sign him up for martial arts and the prototype classes that should help him once he starts leveling.”

“That’s rather smart of you. I guess the preparations for the integration program are going well, then?”

“It is,” I confirm and sit on the plastic monobloc chair opposite him with the table between us. “Will Christoph be coming today?”

“He is a very busy man, Elisabeth, but rest assured that my words directly reflect his. I’ve already met with the Vice President, the Returnee Guild Coalition, and a few important people. NORA is the last remaining.”

“So why here in Geneva? I won’t complain too much, I’ve been planning to explore Switzerland a bit after all this, but it got me curious.”

At my words, he nods with a smile, though a hint of awkwardness slips into his demeanor. “I don’t really like to linger on this, so I may as well get straight to the point. Christoph is going to build his main headquarters here and will be taking over CERN in its entirety.”

I blink a few times. Then I shake my head, trying to grasp it all and filter out the jokes I want to spout off in response, deciding this requires a bit more of a serious disposition from me.

“Is it because of the moon?” I ask carefully.

“As far as I know, yes. Christoph will be handing everyone working here specialized blueprints for overhauling the Large Hadron Collider. He plans to integrate mana inscriptions, exotic materials emerging all across the Earth, components harvested from the monsters he’s hunted down personally, and whatever additional supplies we buy off the black market from the groups currently clearing dungeons.”

“I cannot imagine the Swiss or other Europeans liking it.”

“You’d be surprised. There’s plenty of Swiss people who like the fact that Christoph was born here. Did you know they’re already making documentaries about him? But you are correct, most people take issue with the idea. Especially the increased budget all this will require.”

“Out of curiosity, by how much?”

“Ten to a hundred times more than it is now.”

“But it’s nothing you wouldn’t be able to get, correct?” I take a bonbon from the small bowl on the table, then two more, and throw them into my mouth. My mind stills when I feel the sugar enter my system, and I look toward Rafael.

Forcefully, I take my eyes off his handsome, smiling face and take in the rest of him. His formal, yet not stiff, suit-like clothes. A very nice pale blue polo shirt that makes me wonder if the material it’s made from isn’t worth my monthly salary, sleek pants, and even a few things that I think are items brought in from the tutorial. According to the reports, he should have some he’s gotten from the Hard difficulty attendees. These, I am sure, are worth more than my lifetime salary.

Rafael waits patiently, observing me in the same way I do him. I can see it in his blue eyes, and like everyone else, I’m more than aware of his perfect memory.

It is no surprise he was chosen as herald by the most powerful man in the history of Earth.

“People like to complain, but they’re usually doing it all for show and to appease their voters. Behind the scenes, they often agree immediately, all they ask in return is access to our healers, help with leveling up, knowledge, and the like.” There is gentleness in his voice as he speaks. “How very human, is it not?”

Sliding a tablet over to me with an open document detailing various plans and contracts, he continues, “Naturally, some people realize Christoph considers this necessary to save us from the moon, which, as you’ve surely noticed, has begun to crumble. Others think it is merely an excuse for whatever he’s planning behind the scenes, but who really knows.”

“Christoph, maybe?”

At my question, his smile widens, revealing the dimples on his cheeks as he nods. “Probably him. But even if all that weren’t enough, they know he could take it all by force. Everyone saw what he did in North Korea, Texas, and Russia.”

Hearing him name those places brings back memories of the classified satellite and drone footage, all showing that man obliterating everything in his path, his figure rising from the superheated center of a nuclear explosion, and halting the radioactive fallout in its entirety.

All back when multiple Hard difficulty attendees, in collaboration with a number of organisations, meticulously planned out a number of assassinations using specially engineered weapons and complex methods. They all tried to stop him, saying it had to be done before it was too late, labeling him a dictator in the process.

They should have been smarter. If they knew what I knew, if they had seen the classified files I’d seen, they wouldn’t have even bothered trying.

Or maybe they knew better than I do. After all, they saw him during the tournament, and they have an understanding of the tutorial participants' capabilities that I might lack.

Though, as I look at Rafael and his smile, I still think it is possible people would try, even knowing the chances were abysmal. There are also organizations that believe simply removing Christoph from the picture will open a way for them to fill his spot.

All this mess when the Hell difficulty returnees have not even started appearing yet, and the process of the Pairing has just begun.

Once again, I take a handful of bonbons and stuff them into my mouth, crunching them under my teeth before I smile at Rafael. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go violate a dozen treaties that would surely see us dragged in front of an international tribunal at any other time, and give that man what he wants.”

POV Leader of the Thalassan Long-Range Recon Detachment, Kaelen

This forest isn’t all that different from the ones on Thalassa, but its sounds are unfamiliar. Flying creatures fill the air with constant calls, and even the sunlight carries a strange, foreign glow.

I give the signal and the unit moves out. I watch as the tear Lord Champion Malakor held open for us seals itself shut. Even he couldn’t maintain it any longer than that, and at this stage of the Pairing, only those below level 100 can squeeze through, and only with immense effort from someone like Lord Champion.

“We have a single week until the tear reopens for another twenty-four hours, so stay sharp! Their Hard difficulty returnees are beginning to complete their tutorials, and if we run into them, things are going to get ugly. Remember your mandate, we are here to scout and gather intelligence for the primary assault forces!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good, keep your mana low!” I bark, giving the order as I open the map inscribed in one of the stones on my necklace to decide the way we should head.

After sending our scout ahead, we carefully pass through this familiar yet alien forest.

Only ten minutes or so pass when the scout returns to the unit, “Native ahead, roughly a mile off,” he whispers. “Zero mana signature and unarmed. He's just sitting on a fallen tree, observing the scenery.”

Recalling our briefs, I quickly conclude he is likely a local hiker or tourist. We landed out in the wilderness, but civil infrastructure isn't far off.

“Are you sure there isn’t a mana signature?”

“Yes, sir, I even used the telescope the Lord Champion gave us.”

“Good. We approach and pretend we belong here, just like him. Conceal your items and suppress all active skills. We’ll gather whatever intelligence he has, then eliminate him and dispose of the remains.”

A wave of agreement sounds from the six other members of the unit. I make sure to check them and their clothes, which are made to resemble Earth's native style, and nod as we continue.

When we break through the treeline, the man turns to us and waves with a warm smile. Crossing paths with a stranger isn't a cause for concern on this world, it would seem. What a careless species. What a naive planet.

I put on a smile and wave back to him. Before stepping in closer to join him, I turn and take in the view. With the sun slowly falling behind the horizon, the golden shine is indeed beautiful, especially as its light shines down on the mountain side, the forests, and the small city nearby.

“Name’s Christoph,” the native offers with a quick smile. “Out enjoying nature as well?”

The others from my group greet him in much the same fashion and pretend to be tired, setting down their backpacks and resting.

“You could say that, Christoph. I am John, and this is my group. We’re training for a difficult hike we’re planning to go on in a few months.”

“Hello, John,” he replies, his smile never fading. “Is it rude if I ask if there’s a specific spot you’ve got your eye on?”

“Not at all! Tour du Mont Blank,” I answer, naming one of the places from our gathered intel.

“Oh, I hope you’re not planning to hike there all the way from here in Colorado,” he chuckles.

It makes my tension rise as I expect another question, but he just shakes his head. “Pretty, is it not?” he asks as he looks over the view once again.

“It is,” I confirm honestly before asking curiously, “Are you alone?”

“Yes, it is one of my great pleasures to take my walks alone. There are times when I just want to get away from people. Occasionally it allows me to meet interesting people with unique stories to tell. Sometimes you even meet people from your homeland in places you’d never expect.”

“Homeland?” I repeat, playing off a light, friendly chuckle while subtly glancing at my second-in-command, Vael. “Colorado’s a big state, but I doubt any of us are local. Where are you originally from, Christoph?”

“Oh, quite a bit far away from here,” he says smoothly, leaning back on the weathered bark. “Though I suppose distance is a relative thing depending on the path you take to get here?”

I stiffen slightly, but keep my smile firmly pinned in place.

Just a coincidence. He has zero mana signature, our Lord Champion’s specialized telescope doesn’t lie. He’s just an ordinary native rambling on about travel.

“Distance is always relative when you have a long way to go,” I offer smoothly, taking a slow step closer to him. “Do many people come out this far into the woods this late? We were hoping to avoid the crowds.”

“Not many,” Christoph replies, picking up a small stone, tossing it up, and catching it. “Most turn back when the sun hits the ridge. They don’t like being out when the light changes and the shadows get long. People tend to feel... vulnerable... when they realize they’ve found themselves in an environment they do not fully understand.”

Vael shifts his weight behind me, his hand hovering an inch above his concealed blade. I give him a small nod, telling him to wait a while longer.

I do not like this man.

“Is that so?” I laugh. “Well, luckily, my group is pretty well-prepared for any environment. We like to think we can handle whatever comes our way.”

Christoph turns his head slowly, his eyes locking onto mine. The golden light of the setting sun catches his gray irises, casting a strange, almost metallic sheen across them.

His smile does not fade, but it does grow a fraction wider. “If you say so.”

Christoph nods, standing up from the log with slow, fluid ease. He stretches his arms, turning his back to us completely as he looks back out over the glowing valley.

He is completely exposed. Carrying no weapons, wearing no armor. His back turned to seven trained scouts of Thalassa.

“Say, Christoph,” I ask softly, sliding my hand toward my waist where my hidden dagger is. “One last thing... Do you happen to know if there are any military outposts or surveillance stations near this ridge?”

Christoph does not turn around, but I see him shaking his head, and I turn to my left to gesture an attack.

Before anyone can move, a huge red arm slams down, splattering Vael and turning him into a smear no thicker than a coin.

Everyone else explodes into movement and uses their mana, but in mere moments that red arm pulls back, revealing that it belongs to a red half-figure with a nearly smooth surface with hints of a skeletal face.

As the light weakens with the sun falling behind the horizon, the figure grows and extends out above the forest. It swats one of us, sending his body flying far into the distance. It squashes another soldier flat, smashing him into the ground twice in a display of terrifying rage. It launches a third, sending his body crashing against a nearby boulder, and drags a fourth into the dark woods, where his screams finally stop with a sharp crunch. Still moving impossibly fast, it hurls a fifth into the air, his body landing as a pile of broken bones and sliding down the mountainside, before ripping the sixth clean in half.

It all passes so quickly that I can only stand here and watch Christoph’s back as he speaks once more.

“It was nice speaking to people from my homeland after such a long time.”

Then that huge red arm moves again, and there’s nothing I can do.