Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 106: Aftermath (1)

Arriving in the city, Osbourne headed straight to the temporary shelters where the injured and unfortunate had gathered. Travelling through the ruins had been a harrowing experience for the prince.

Houses, shops, and other buildings were reduced to rubble. Some knights and guards were still at it, digging through the debris, trying to find anyone who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structures.

People who saw him along the way called out, pleading with the prince to help them rebuild their homes and businesses. Some were even making preparations to leave the city for good.

It was a first-time experience for many, but ordinary people valued safety and peace above all else. They had already lost so much—Osbourne couldn’t ask them to stay.

Anger burned in the prince’s heart. He swore to himself that those responsible would pay—after he dealt with the mess that was now the city.

"How bad is the damage?" Osbourne asked the captain in charge of assessing the destruction.

"Not good, Your Highness." The captain shook his head. "Reports are still coming in, but a rough estimate puts the cost of damage at over 100,000 gold, at the very least."

And that was just the city’s destruction. The crown would also have to cover the cost of treating the injured and compensating families who had lost their loved ones and property.

It was already shaping up to be a massive burden.

"That’s fine." Osbourne nodded, his gaze sweeping across the devastated scene.

His senses picked up on hushed conversations nearby—and the tone wasn’t encouraging. While the people kept their voices low, the prince’s heightened senses caught every word.

"Isn’t that the prince?" one of the injured muttered.

"Yeah... Shows up only after the worst is over," another replied, anger clear in his voice. "I lost everything I owned." freewebnøvel.com

"You should be glad. Have you seen those who lost loved ones?" a third voice cut in. "Mothers lost their husbands and children. Fathers lost wives and relatives."

"And blaming the royal family is a bit much," the person added, subtly glancing in the prince’s direction. "We all saw the knights running around trying to catch those responsible. I’m sure he had his own problems to deal with."

"Like what?" someone sneered. "Losing his giant castle? If you haven’t noticed, it’s still standing tall.

"And let’s not pretend—only powerful people could pull off something like this. Maybe there’s trouble among the nobles... or even between kingdoms."

"..."

That argument silenced many of those nearby. They didn’t know the details, but the point hit home.

"All I’m saying is... something big is happening, and we’re just the nobodies caught in the crossfire."

’These people are sharper than we give them credit,’ Osbourne mused. ’And worse... they’re absolutely right. It’s always the powerful playing with the lives of the common folk.’

It wasn’t the first time. And it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

"Make sure everyone gets the treatment they need." Osbourne said over his shoulder.

"Yes, Your Highness." The captain bowed and moved away, leaving the prince to his thoughts.

’Hah... If only we had someone like him around all this time.’ The prince sighed with a heart full of grievances. ’But there’s no use crying right now. I need to learn more about that fella and see how to get him on our side.’

Having Caleb around as a secret force would be more than enough to put the nobles in their place. With what he could do, Osbourne could imagine how shaken the nobles would be.

’I’ll have to speak with father about how to handle this matter,’ The prince gestured for his followers as he moved over to his ride. ’A little act and one of them would fold.’

Under the gazes of the normal folks, Osbourne and his knights rode away, heading towards their next destination. There were still a lot of other places he needed to check out.

.......

Commander Lance sat in one of the carriages heading to the capital, his expression that of someone lost in thought.

When he recovered enough to wake up from the beatings he received from that demon general, the fight was all but over. The commanders explained the situation to him and how the entire thing was brought to an end by a man called Caleb.

Lance couldn’t believe some of the things he heard about that mysterious man. However, seeing the demon generals reduced to nothing sent the message home.

If one of the kingdom’s strongest was reduced to a ragdoll by demon generals, then their kingdom was doomed. Just another one or two of those demons would be enough to bring the kingdom to its knees.

’We’re more exposed than ever.’ Lance thought grimly. ’Our strength is no longer enough. For someone we sentenced to a one-way ticket to the afterlife being the one to save us doesn’t sit well with me.

"What if he goes after the crown? How do we ever hope to stop him?!’ Lance clenched his fists, his jaws tightening in unwillingness and anger.

The other two commanders sharing the carriage with the Royal Commander exchanged glances. They could more or less tell what was going through the commander’s head. After all, they were all thinking the same.

A sudden call from Commander Lance’s call artefact caught everyone’s attention. Lance took out the artefact and furrowed his brows slightly.

’Please don’t be what I think it is...’ Lance was already dreading the incoming news. Answering the artefact, the grim tone of the other person reached everyone in the carriage.

[Commander, we have an issue.] The voice came, already making everyone’s heart sink.

’What is it?" Lance sighed, rubbing his forehead.

[It’s the Growian Kingdom...] The person said. [They made their move. It seems word reached them about the happenings in the capital. I’m afraid if we don’t respond soon, things could become more challenging later on.]

The voice on the other side didn’t have to say more; the commanders understood what had happened.

"Thank you, captain."

Lance ended the call, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Silence settled in the carriage as the commanders went through various emotions.

"Spies..." One of the commanders growled. "They sure work fast...."

"It would be weird if they didn’t make their move." Another replied, turning to look at the Royal Commander. "What do we do, sir?"

Commander Lance remained silent for several seconds. Sitting up, he turned to look outside the window, seeing as they were already close to the city.

"Handling out internal matters comes first." He replied. "Only then can we focus on those parasites..."