Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 40: Aftermath (1)

Fred stood at the dungeon entrance for over half an hour before deciding to leave.

"Keep an eye on the entrance and make sure he doesn’t sneak out," Fred instructed his men before heading to his carriage.

From what he had seen, Fred believed Caleb was trustworthy, though he had taken justice into his own hands.

’If only nobles didn’t misuse their power,’ he thought with a sigh as the carriage rolled toward the city. ’A man like that could’ve been a valuable ally. His abilities could’ve served a greater purpose.’

Fred returned to the garrison later, only to find the very person he wanted to see waiting for him.

’This woman is relentless,’ he thought, shaking his head as he approached.

Jess was deep in conversation with one of the knights, still pressing for information about Caleb but getting nowhere.

"Miss Jess," Fred called out. "Leave him alone. He doesn’t know anything."

The knight saluted quickly, stepping aside, while Jess turned to Fred with a sharp, determined gaze.

"Come with me," Fred said, his tone firm. "I’ll tell you everything you want to know."

He turned and walked toward his office, Jess following close behind.

"How is Caleb, and when will his trial take place?" Jess asked as soon as she and the commander took their seats.

"Calm down, woman. I told you I’d explain everything," Fred replied with a sigh, already bracing himself for the headache this conversation would bring. "There won’t be a trial, and Caleb isn’t with us anymore."

Jess frowned at his words but stayed composed, waiting for him to continue.

"Your friend—or whatever he is to you—crippled a noble, a baron to be exact," Fred said.

Jess wasn’t shocked. Both of them knew that nobles often fell short of their titles.

"According to the kingdom’s laws, he should’ve faced a trial, and if found guilty, been punished accordingly," Fred continued. "But Caleb confessed to everything we needed to know, making a trial unnecessary. The kingdom moved straight to his sentencing."

Jess leaned forward, her unease growing. She had a sinking feeling about what was coming.

"He was sentenced to clear a sealed dungeon," Fred stated flatly. "Alone."

"What?" Jess stood abruptly. "That’s basically a death sentence!"

"Believe me, I know," Fred said, gesturing for her to sit down. "But given the seriousness of his actions and his unwillingness to cooperate on certain matters, the duchess handed down that punishment."

"How long ago was this?" Jess asked, her voice trembling.

"A few hours. I just returned from there," Fred admitted.

Jess didn’t wait to hear more. She stood and headed for the door.

There was no point in staying here any longer—she had other plans now.

"He gave me a message to pass on to you!" Fred called out as Jess reached the door.

Jess froze after hearing those words and turned back to him.

"He said not to worry about him and also..." Fred paused, his tone firm. "...not to do anything until he returns." He emphasized the last part, making the meaning clear.

"Thank you, Commander," Jess replied with a nod before leaving the office.

She understood exactly what Caleb meant, but she was a realist. Surviving a sealed dungeon was next to impossible.

Her thoughts drifted to the confident words Caleb had spoken when they first entered the city.

She scoffed at the memory, shaking her head at his naivety. Caleb was strong, no doubt, but where he was now was a death trap.

’I’ll find out what I can on my own and, if possible, deal with the ones responsible,’ Jess vowed silently as she left the garrison.

Fred watched her leave, shaking his head in resignation. There were still other matters demanding his attention, and the mess they were dealing with was far from over.

Meanwhile, in the city’s underworld, where shady dealings and criminals thrived, Jetro received a report on someone he had ordered an investigation into.

After returning to the city with what was left of his crew, Jetro had set out to learn more about the individual who had interfered with their operation.

He had already endured an earful from his superiors for failing the mission and tarnishing their reputation. Now, as recompense, he’d been tasked with cleaning up the mess.

Jetro needed more information before making his next move. In his dimly lit office, where sunlight barely filtered through, he sat behind his desk and unsealed the report, skimming its contents.

"Caleb Zane, huh," Jetro muttered, his expression serious. "Crippling a noble, turning men in their prime into old men..."

The more he read, the heavier the weight of the report became. It detailed Caleb’s actions, the noble he had crippled, the reasons behind it, and how he was eventually captured and interrogated.

Through it all, Caleb showed no signs of fear or unease, as if he had everything under control.

"What a terrifying man," Jetro remarked under his breath. "And good riddance."

He felt a twisted sense of relief knowing Caleb had been sentenced to a sealed dungeon.

"That means the cat is alone now," Jetro said to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "She’ll be easy to deal with. But if she’s mentioned my name to the authorities..."

He leaned back, considering his options. "I need to handle this carefully. No mistakes, no attention drawn to me or the organization."

A sudden knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," Jetro called.

The door opened, and one of the organization’s personnel stepped inside.

"Sir, the boss has summoned you. It’s about your last mission," the man reported.

Jetro frowned, caught off guard. He thought the matter was left entirely in his hands and didn’t expect a summons until it was resolved.

’Could this be related to something else?’ he wondered before responding. "I’ll be there soon."

The man nodded and left. Jetro stayed seated for a moment, collecting his thoughts, then got up to head upstairs to the boss’s office.

The boss’s office was on the next floor, and Jetro arrived within a minute. He knocked briefly before stepping inside without waiting for a reply.

"Boss," Jetro greeted as he approached the desk.

"Sit," the boss instructed, gesturing toward a nearby sofa. Jetro complied, and the boss joined him a moment later.

With a light exhale, the boss spoke, "About the mission you failed to complete—our client wants to call it off."

"What?"