Chapter 211: The Newcomer
Johan then led Gideon into the tent behind him. This particular tent had been set up as a temporary ’interrogation’ room while also being used to store food supplies and barrels of aberrant oil.
When Gideon stepped inside, a boy and a girl were already sitting there with a woman standing quietly behind them.
The moment his eyes met theirs, all three visibly tensed. Perhaps they were afraid he would reject them and force them to leave after traveling so far just to reach Cinder Dusk.
Even their guardian looked nervous despite the gentle smile she wore as she approached him and offered her hand.
"Chief Gideon, I’ve heard a lot about you from my friend over here." Her eyes briefly shifted toward Johan before returning to Gideon. "My name is Laura, and I sincerely hope you’ll allow us to stay."
Laura looked to be around Delilah’s age. Her short curly blonde hair was tied into a half-up ponytail with a small ribbon, while her golden eyes that were framed by thin glasses tried to remain confident despite the uneasiness hiding behind them.
She was clearly afraid he would reject their request, or perhaps simply afraid of the man standing in front of her.
Gideon had started noticing the same thing recently. People who had just met him always seemed hesitant to get close, as if they were instinctively afraid of him.
"Laura, it’s nice to meet you," Gideon replied while shaking her hand. "But before we discuss anything else, I need to ask a few questions."
Laura nodded and quietly stepped aside.
Gideon sat across from the two teenagers. "What’s your name?" he asked, looking at the boy first.
The boy immediately straightened his back. His messy brown curls bounced slightly as he nervously rubbed both hands against his dirt-stained clothes. Before answering, he glanced toward the girl beside him, only speaking after she gave him a small nod.
"My name is Kim Ji Hoon." He smiled innocently. "Do you also want to know about my power? My sister doesn’t really like talking about it, so... you should ask her first."
Gideon blinked before looking toward Laura. The woman could only give him an awkward smile.
"I’m sorry, Chief... Ji Hoon is just... a little different."
Before she could explain further, the girl immediately grabbed Ji Hoon’s hand and held it tightly.
"He isn’t weird. He’s just special." She glared at Laura. "And stop acting like you’re our mother."
Only then did she turn toward Gideon. "My name is Kim Ji Eun. If you’re planning to use us just because of our powers, then we’re leaving."
She immediately stood up and tried to pull her brother away, but Laura quickly stopped them and quietly tried to calm her down.
Gideon simply let out a slow breath before glancing at Johan.
The old man shrugged. "The pride of teenagers."
"They’re young adults," he corrected with a straight face.
He lightly knocked the table twice. The sound wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough to make both siblings stop arguing.
Gideon didn’t say another word. He simply looked at Ji Eun.
The girl’s confidence slowly faded under his calm gaze. She unconsciously swallowed before sitting back down, still holding her brother’s hand tightly while lowering her head until her unkempt black hair covered most of her face.
"Anyway," Gideon finally said, "if you don’t want to use your powers, that’s your choice. I’m not forcing you."
"But everyone living inside Cinder Dusk contributes in one way or another. Even children younger than the two of you have responsibilities."
He then shifted his attention toward Laura. "I think I’m done with those two children. Please let them return outside. I’d like to speak with you instead."
The moment Ji Eun heard the word children, her expression immediately darkened again. "We’re not children! And both of us have restorative abilities. My brother restores inorganic materials like rocks, soil and minerals and mine is the other way around."
She paused for a second before adding stubbornly, "So don’t treat us like we’re useless."
Without waiting for Gideon’s response, she pulled Ji Hoon out of the tent.
Laura watched them leave before letting out a long, exhausted sigh. Her shoulders visibly slumped as she slowly sat down.
"I’m sorry." She rubbed her forehead. "They’ve been difficult ever since their guardian passed away. But they’re right about one thing, Chief. I hope you won’t take advantage of their abilities. They... have bad memories related to that."
Gideon nodded. It’s alright. I understand."
Johan suddenly spoke up. "She used to be a doctor, specializing in general surgery. She’s a great asset for any territory."
Gideon’s brows immediately rose as he looked back at Laura with interest. "Really?"
Laura nodded. "Yes. I used to work in a government hospital before everything collapsed. My late husband was one of the researchers involved in the Children of Eden project, and after learning what they were planning to do with those children... we adopted one ourselves."
"And where is he... or she now?"
Before Laura could answer, Johan sighed. "Gideon, that’s rude. You’re smart enough to figure it out."
Laura gently shook her head. "It’s alright, Johan. She was captured by the Order of The West."
Silence immediately filled the tent. Even Johan looked away while Gideon quietly rubbed his chin and decided to change the subject.
"I’m sorry for bringing that up." Gideon leaned back slightly before continuing.
"Let’s talk about the people traveling with you instead. Who are they exactly, and why did they decide to come with you? Did your group meet anyone during the journey here?"
Laura nodded, grateful that the conversation had moved on. "Chief Gideon, you need to understand where we came from first. Our settlement was called the Burrow. It was built inside a natural depression created after the apocalypse, making it an excellent place to hide from wandering aberrants."
She let out a tired sigh. "Unfortunately, our leader was incompetent... and corrupt."
"They imposed heavy taxes on everyone while promising protection they could never provide. In the end, when the Order of The West arrived and started taking not only Children of Eden but also ordinary men and women to interrogate them, we realized staying there would only get us killed."
She paused briefly before continuing. "As for the people who became sick, it really was only hypothermia. Although..." Her expression suddenly became hesitant. "One of our people collapsed during the journey because of the same illness."
"Where is the body?"
Laura blinked. "I... beg your pardon?"
"The corpse," Gideon repeated calmly. "Did he or she die before winter fully arrived?"
"Yes." Laura slowly nodded. "About a day before winter. We couldn’t carry him with us, so... we had no choice but to leave him behind."
"I see."
Gideon remained silent for several seconds before asking another question. "The people traveling with you now... how well do you know them? Were they all original residents of the Burrow or someone new joined the settlement?"
Laura looked surprised. "How did you know?"
She thought for a moment before answering. "No. Four of them joined the Burrow only a few months ago. They were newcomers, but they had already been living with us for quite a while before we decided to leave."
Gideon quietly nodded. Without another word, he purchased a notebook and a pen from the system. A faint blue light flashed for only a moment before both items materialized in his hand, making Laura’s eyes widen in surprise.
He placed them on the table and pushed them toward her. "Write down everyone’s name. I also want to know when each of them joined the Burrow. If you can remember, include their relationships with one another and with the rest of your group."
Laura nodded and immediately began writing.
Gideon patiently waited while his fingers rhythmically tapped against the wooden table.
Arthur’s report, the fake Eagle Union letter, the missing expedition, Jace’s infection, and now four strangers who had quietly joined another settlement only months before it collapsed.
The pattern was becoming painfully familiar. The Scions of the Lord weren’t attacking settlements directly, they were infiltrating them first.
Gideon’s expression slowly darkened. ’Those fucking zealots... so it really was them.’
Comments