District 42-Chapter 224: Confessing
The soldier was expecting to have a pleasant conversation for longer before he could enter into a more serious subject, but since Amelia was the one bringing it up, he chose to talk about it already.
"Ok, then. I need to admit that I have another reason to come here, other than simply thank you and talk a bit about our misadventures of some weeks ago."
Amelia intertwined her fingers, looking intently at the White warrior as if she could read him completely.
"It’s also the reason why you put me in the maximum power possible here, right?" She inquired, making Casper falter for a while.
’She sure is intelligent, huh? A very sharp woman...’
In truth, Amelia was, for the most part, just a tool for Casper.
The soldier didn’t do anything moral with her. He used her angriness against the old director of the Third Lab and her will to change everything just to manipulate her and get influence over her.
Afterward, he made her treat his friends and use her contacts among the scientists to help them to go out. He even fulfilled his promise to change Halden and the Third Lab, but always with ulterior reasons.
"Yes. I will be blunt with you because, even though what I made was just use you, I don’t want your antipathy, nor to turn in an enemy."
He pondered carefully every single word he would say there because depending on how he said it, she could get angry at him.
The soldier evaluated that relationship the most. With Amelia on his side, it was just like have an entire laboratory under his influence and it was a lot of power to have a hold on.
"Well, yes, I put you in the power here since I knew that you were someone who could take care well of the Third Lab, mainly because of how you had empathy with the prisoners and wanted to end with the corruption and cruelty here. But also because this greed was what made your mind susceptible to my persuasion, so I could use you, and make you have a good relationship with me..."
"And this way you would have power over an entire laboratory, right?" She finished his explanation, with a severe voice, but a serene expression.
’Hmm, I may be wrong, but this woman knew since a while ago that I was doing something of the sort, right?’
Casper sighed, trying to show that, in part, he regretted being like that. However, it was necessary. He would go against morale, laws, and everything else if it meant escape from Halden and consolidate his power inside the district.
"You don’t need to make me pity you, because I wouldn’t feel any pity even if you commit self-scourge. But I know that it was something essential to make you accomplish both my desires and yours." She shrugged.
The director was pissed off. It was showing all on her face. She knew about Casper’s plans but hear it coming from his mouth was two times more infuriating.
"It seems that your plans are really big, White warrior. Otherwise, why would you try to consolidate such power inside the district?" She raised one brow.
The soldier narrowed his eyes towards her, compressing the lips for a moment.
"I think you are going too far with this little statement, Amelia. I just want safety, nothing more." He crossed his arms.
"Hehe, ok, ok. I will pretend that I believe in you, and you pretend that I don’t know anything. Anyway, since now all things are clear, why you don’t start to talk more about the real reason for your visit?"
The soldier picked the nearest chair and sat down in front of her.
He was still fearing that Amelia would hold a grudge against him because of his previous actions, but he kept his cool.
Now that she knew the type of person that Casper was, then it would be the kind of relationship that he had with Vick: once one of them found a weakness in each other, they would take advantage of it to manipulate.
’That’s a bother. This woman pretends to make my life a hellish one for sure. I don’t have any clue of it by now, but I know Amelia enough to see through her.’
"Well, I will be straightforward here with you, ok? I need to know more about two projects that were archived here in the Third Lab. It is important for some things I am taking care of by now."
Amelia had a curious expression on her face. Casper could notice that matter in her exposed eyes.
"There is a project called Project Draugr. I found some of the reports of this Project, and it seems to be a terrifying one. In the reports, the scientists didn’t let explicit what they did exactly, but it had something to do with dead people and even with the Midwest Battle. Do you have any clue about it?"
Amelia got in deep thought for a moment, looking at her desk. That was a tricky question. She didn’t have too much knowledge about the issues involving the Old Third Lab, so she was kind of lost there.
"I heard once about this Project in my times as a head nurse. It was very secret, indeed. Even the most renowned Jarl scientists of the Third Lab were unaware of this Project."
Casper got perplexed. He imagined that it wouldn’t be easy to gather information, but to know that it was so well hidden...
’I am starting to understand how serious it is... I need to find a way to search more about this subject.’
"I don’t remember who talked about it, but he said..." She was going to say something but stopped immediately, in a natural way, as if she just gave up on talking. Her face was blank, then turned to normal again.
Casper noticed what was going on, and she as well.
Following the usual signal people had among them, she pointed to her mask, looking at Casper with worry in her eyes.
’For a moment I nearly forgot. Although she is a Jarl, it’s still tricky for her to say some things because of the restrictions. These masks are frustrating my plans again.’
Because of those handcuffs, he couldn’t get information from anyone. That was one of the reasons why he always resorted to Vick or another powerful person.
’I am running out of options here. Even if I bring up another question, I am unsure if she will be able to answer it. I always end up forgetting for a while that I am the only person here with an actual free will...’
Amelia, just by looking at Casper’s eyes, knew exactly what was going on in his mind. She was sure that he had other questions he wished to ask her, but wasn’t willing to lose time fighting against something as powerful as the masks.
"Casper, if you have another question regarding any other project, then it will be unproductive. I suggest that we use another approach."
The soldier was thinking deeply on that matter. He didn’t know how he could ask it without reaching the condition for the mask to restrict her to talk.
In the end, he needed a different approach, and it was more than just play with words or use jargon.
’Unfortunately, I will need to do here what I am always doing since I entered this place: act all alone. Have my total freedom has its advantages, but in the end is five times as laborious as it should be... Well, better than be handcuffed, anyway.’
"Well, Amelia, I will ask you another entirely different question, then. I am working for more than two months inside the Main Laboratory. I have contact with the most influential people there. Also, there are a lot of things that I helped them to do until now, besides a prototype I did on my own, though it wasn’t approved.
"Anyway, until now, I feel like my power inside there never changed. I want to know how I can raise my rank inside the laboratory, for now, so I can... walk with my legs."
Amelia understood what Casper was meaning with those words, and she smiled slightly, squinting her eyes.
’This man is an interesting one. While ones have the strength of one hundred soldiers inside District 42, this man has the brain of a hundred people trying to take control and have influence over everything. If he continues like this, he will be just like a dictator.’
She nearly giggled at her own monologue.
"Well, yes, there is a way in which you can raise your influence and, at the same time, your power among the scientists. In the Main Lab, it will be more difficult but not impossible."
The soldier nodded with his head.
"I am looking forward to your explanation. Now, I need just one more favor. I want to take a look at the lab’s weapons as well."
