Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 41: Aftermath (2)

"What?" Jetro muttered, his confusion evident. "Why would they call it off?"

"I didn’t ask, and I don’t care," replied Oliver Mendel, his tone flat and unwavering.

Oliver was a man of few words, known for building his empire from the ground up. The nature of his work might be questionable, but in the real world, skill often trumped morality—and Oliver was very skilled.

"Our job is simple," he continued. "We take the contracts, we complete them. We don’t ask questions, and we conduct our own investigations into the targets."

Oliver’s sharp gaze fixed on Jetro. "You failed. For whatever reason, the client backed out. Case closed."

Jetro remained silent for several moments, his mind racing to deduce why the client would abandon the contract. Despite his efforts, no clear reasoning came to him.

"You’re dismissed." Oliver stood and moved back to his desk. "I’ll assign you a new job in a few days."

It was clear the conversation was over. Jetro gave a curt nod to show he understood, then turned and left the office.

Still, his thoughts lingered. ’I’ll keep an eye out. That woman might not let it go so easily.’

He had good reason to think so—if he were in Jess’s shoes, he wouldn’t have let it go either

.......

Duchy of Vawns

Nora, wife of Baron Ezekial, stood nervously before Duke Jason after being summoned to address the issue surrounding Caleb.

The summons had filled her with a rare sense of hope. Finally, justice would be served for her crippled husband.

The Baron’s once-proud figure was now a shadow of its former self. Constant agony, compounded by a weakened body and a neurological condition, had robbed him of his sanity.

His days were consumed by moans of pain and whispered prayers to the goddess for salvation. But even with all the knowledge they had about his affliction, there was nothing they could do.

It was as though he had been born this way, destined to endure such torment.

"Regarding the offender, Caleb Zane," Duke Jason began, his expression grave. "He has been sentenced to clear a sealed dungeon."

Nora’s lips curled into a small, triumphant smile. ’It’s a death sentence,’ she thought with grim satisfaction. ’He’ll struggle, clinging to life, only to meet his end in vain.’

But her satisfaction was short-lived.

"Unfortunately," Duke Jason continued, his calm tone cutting through the air, "the Baron will also face punishment."

Nora’s smile vanished, her face stiff with disbelief.

"The Baron has repeatedly abused his status," Jason said, his voice steady. "Upon further investigation, it’s clear this is not the first time he’s misused his authority."

"But—" Nora began, desperate to defend her husband.

Jason silenced her with a sharp raise of his hand. His expression made it clear there would be no room for argument.

"I could list his crimes," Jason continued, his voice firm, "but you know them all too well." His piercing gaze seemed to cut through her. "The Royals were not pleased with what they uncovered. While noble status affords certain privileges, abusing it crosses a line."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before delivering the blow.

"As of today, House Zeke will be stripped of its noble status and relegated to commoners. Your lands are to be relinquished to the Crown."

Nora froze, her mind unable to process the words. Her lips parted, but no sound emerged as she stared blankly at the duke. Her reaction, though improper, was met with indifference.

"The Royals have enacted a new law," Jason explained coldly. "Any unlawful act by nobles that causes significant harm to the kingdom’s citizens will result in the stripping of titles—no exceptions, regardless of history or contributions."

Nora’s fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she bowed her head. Her teeth ground together, and though she longed to argue, the truth rendered her silent.

She knew, better than anyone, the sins her husband had committed.

’I only wanted justice for him...’ she thought bitterly, shame washing over her like a tide. In her blind pursuit of vengeance, she had ignored the truth: Caleb’s actions had not been without reason.

’If only...’ The thought trailed off into a hollow void. There were no second chances. No reprieves.

This was their fate.

As a Baron’s family, their influence had never been immense, and now, stripped of their title, there was no one willing to risk their own standing to help them.

’It’s over for us...’

Hot tears streaked down her cheeks. Shame burned within her, mingling with despair.

The overwhelming humiliation she felt at the mention of Caleb’s actions made her wish the ground would swallow her whole.

"That will be all," Jason said as he rose from his chair. "You have one week to vacate the estate."

Without glancing at the distraught woman, the duke strode past her and exited the office. He didn’t need to look back; as a gentleman, he understood she needed a moment to collect herself.

As he closed the door behind him, his thoughts turned inward. ’I don’t know why the Royals decided to enact this law, but it’s certainly rattled a lot of nobles.’

Jason’s brow furrowed slightly as he walked down the corridor. ’It’s not as though they were unaware of these issues before now. And I doubt that Caleb Zane is the reason for this sudden shift in policy.’

The logic behind the Royals’ decision eluded him. While the new law wouldn’t affect him or the other dukes directly, the lesser nobles—those beneath their rank—were bound to feel its full weight.

’If this continues, the entire power structure could be disrupted,’ Jason mused, though his expression betrayed little of his concern.

For now, all he could do was observe and adapt, as he always had.

.....

BOOM!

Back in the dungeon, Caleb delivered a crushing blow from above, his fist slamming into the final Burrower worm.

The worm let out an ear-piercing screech as it collapsed with a heavy thud, its cracked carapace oozing thick, grey blood.

"Haa..." Caleb exhaled, his chest rising and falling heavily. "That should be the last of them."

The Burrower worms, though not the most formidable enemies, had proven relentless.

They navigated by sensing vibrations, and their burrowing abilities allowed them to create tremors that destabilized the ground and nearby structures.

Their gaping mouths, lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, could crush boulders with ease. Against their tough, chitinous armour, pointed weapons were all but useless.

Only raw, brute force had proven effective against them.

After a moment’s rest, Caleb crouched beside the fallen worms, extracting their glowing cores with practised efficiency.

The acrid stench of blood filled the air, clinging to his clothes and skin. With a grimace, he wiped himself clean as best he could, ensuring none of the viscous liquid remained.

Satisfied, Caleb straightened up, his resolve unwavering. It was time to press forward.