Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 108: Plans

Within two days, word of the capital incident spread like widefire.

From all corners of the kingdom, everyone and their mothers heard about strangers dressed in black robes setting explosives all over the capital.

No one really knew what that was about, but speculations around the incident were that an enemy kingdom was declaring war on the kingdom and that the attack on the capital was their way of saying they could reach the heart of the Luntheria Kingdom with ease.

Others believe this was the work of some underground and ancient group making a show of their power, and probably making demands of the kingdom. However, another kingdom declaring war had the most attraction.

After all, word had reached people about the kingdom losing a large portion of their borderlands. The Growian Kingdom had taken advantage of the chaos to wage an attack on the surrounding towns and villages, seizing strategic points and resource-filled areas.

While this was an issue the Royals would be dealing with and were already making preparations, they chose to focus more on their internal affairs. Rebuilding efforts were already underway and people were getting the help they needed.

Fortunately for the Royals, no word about the almost demonic invasion reached the ears of the normal folks. Royal Commander Lance made sure no word about the demon almost reaching the castle circulated.

The subjugation mission in the Achil forest was a different matter that was a bit challenging to hide. However, because the demons were dealt with around the dungeon, it didn’t hold too much weight.

It was not the first time a demon had ventured into human territory, and it certainly won’t be the last time either. Only if they knew those demons were general-level class capable of razing cities to the ground.

Commander Terrance had arrived later that day, completely dishevelled and out of energy. He couldn’t keep up with the demon general like he had thought.

But then, learning about the condition even the other commanders faced, he was certain that things would be changing on the frontlines. For now, however, the demons were back to their usual tactics.

It was strange and confusing, but the Royals were glad. They couldn’t afford another mess like this anytime soon.

With the help of the priestess, the Royals were able to perform a purification ceremony to cleanse anyone who fell prey to the enslaving demonic spell that turned them against their kingdom.

Unfortunately for the Royals, they couldn’t pinpoint how this came about. Whatever method the nobles used to get so many people enslaved, they made sure it wouldn’t lead back to them.

One minister of the council proposed it could have been done through food or something that most of these knights and servants did together.

It was also not surprising that those who went on demon subjugation mission had no one tainted. This may have pointed out that the enslaving process occurred sometime after the tournament ended, and may have been planted during that period.

Security couldn’t be very tight with such a grand event, and with so many people coming in from different parts of the kingdom, it would have been very easy to cast those spells.

While the king and the people closest to him knew those who were responsible, he couldn’t just accuse the nobles of a crime he had no evidence of.

As such, he decided to set up a private force, completely separate from all existing ones who answered only to him. His own council members didn’t even know about this decision.

They were going to exist off the books; no records of ever being formed, and certainly no records of their existence.

But to do that, there was one particular person he had in mind to lead this investigation. Someone who could not possibly be corrupted with demonic power; someone who was unafraid of nobles and had abilities that were out of this world.

King Gray had weirdly come to find a man he had never met more trustworthy than the people in his council chamber. The only other person he confided in was his loyal friend and guard, Commander Lance.

The Royal Commander had been suspicious of Caleb since he heard of him. However, reaching the capital, hearing and seeing what took place, he could no longer see Caleb as the person he imagined him to be.

While there was still some doubt, he hoped those doubts would be cleared once he personally met that Caleb fella. The only thing left was to find him.

.......

BOOM...! frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"Hehe, you’ll have to do better than that." Caleb chuckled, swatting the kick to the side. "Remember, I can see you coming."

"Tsk!" Jess snorted and jumped backwards. "I can’t believe you have all these abilities. No wonder you’re always confident."

After making the decision to trust Caleb, the catwoman had her genome unlocked to the fullest. And as Caleb said, the experience was extremely agonizing, but the results left her speechless for a long time.

With strength and speed she didn’t even know she had, Jess was awakened to a whole new world of strength.

Everything about her had changed; her senses had evolved into something Caleb called domain sense and her mana capacity had more quadrupled.

It was insane.

Things she previously missed could now be spotted without even looking. Her feline instincts had become sharper, more refined even. She could even tell a person’s intention towards her, making it almost impossible to deceive her.

Her aura had become just as pure as Caleb, making the catwoman realize why Caleb was so different. Then, there were the abilities Caleb granted her based on her preference as a stealth warrior.

Jess could produce grey mist around herself using mana. She would suffuse her surroundings to a radius of about 50 meters, blinding her target and disorienting them. It was the perfect domain for taking someone out without them even knowing what happened.

Unfortunately for her, it didn’t work on Caleb, not even a bit – his abilities were too broken. No matter how much mist she released, she could never sneak up on him, and when she closed in, Caleb always either blocked her attacks or dodged them with ease.

"It is what it is..." Caleb shrugged. "So, you still want to go?"

"Nah, I’m good." The catwoman sighed as she dispelled her mist. "So, do we immediately go after the scumbag noble?" She looked over to the side, her gaze lingering on the city below.

The two were no longer in the Crownlands, having left the following day. They had decided to take their time journeying to the Therindor Duchy, where they eventually arrived on a cliff that overlooked the city in the distance.

"I will be meeting the Duchess first," Caleb replied, receiving a glare a second later. "Haha, I like that possessiveness."

He approached her and gently rubbed her cat ears, something he had come to realize Jess enjoyed very much.