Mutagen-Chapter 1187: Val’Flora’s Thoughts, A Short Tour and A Peek at Odelina’s Identity
Day 379 - 10:41 AM - West Housing Area, Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon
At the center of the living room of one of the houses, Val’Flora stood while looking at her finished work.
The house was roughly similar to a small apartment room that could accommodate a family of three. It was also lined with the other rooms instead of being separate to save space for the base.
After being guided to this house, Val’Flora immediately began working. She had to set up a waypoint that she could use to move between the CNC’s headquarters and this place. Creating a waypoint was not too difficult, especially for her, who had done it several times before. However, it did not mean that just any Agent of the CNC could make one. While the organization had fixed waypoints around the world that the Agents could use, having a personal waypoint had stricter requirements. For example, [Country Contractors] were allowed to set up waypoints that could only be used within their presence. However, becoming a [Country Contractor] was not easy, and the number of them was limited. The easiest condition an Agent could be allowed to use personal waypoints was through their contribution to the organization. Well, it sounded easy when it was not. There were other conditions, but those were harder to achieve.
And thanks to Mark, Val’Flora fulfilled two conditions, allowing her to use the organization’s personal waypoints. One was the contribution through the so-called [Pure Elemental Crystals]. As the sole distributor of the rare but in-demand item, she fulfilled one of the conditions. The second condition was something that happened just yesterday. It was to receive acknowledgement from more than one elder or founder of the organization.
Val’Flora had a close connection with the owner of the Moonstone Boutique, Chris. However, it was the only one she had. Until yesterday, she was just another agent in the organization, despite handling her rare items. She was not the only one with rare commodities, after all. However, it changed during the auction.
Now, Val’Flora also received the acknowledgement of the owner of the Auction House, Lucion. How could she not when she was the personal agent of two [Candidates to Godhood]? Even though the details were being hidden, she did deserve a raise in her status within the organization.
It was why Val’Flora insisted on following Mark to his place, although it was not in her initial plans. Luckily, the reason also appealed to Mark. It was how Val’Flora arrived here with the group.
Val’Flora had some expectations as to what Mark’s base would look like. However, those expectations were far exceeded by reality. She thought it would at least be a fortified place similar to the current state of most of the surviving settlements around the world. But she was proven wrong. It was like a paradise within a fortress. Necessities, location, security, it might not be perfect in every aspect, but it was far more than just enough in this apocalypse.
Looking at the waypoint, a magic circle on the floor, Val’Flora remembered something. Mark said that she was free to look around if she wanted to. It sounded careless, but she knew it was not. She was already under a confidentiality contract, not to mention it was unlikely she would be unsupervised. [Pure Spirit Trees] were not just rare. These trees were sentient and could communicate with their owner. With the towering [Pure Spirit Tree] at the center of the base, everyone’s actions in this place were under strict monitoring, and Mark would know whenever someone was causing trouble.
"Let’s activate it."
Val’Flora whisked away her thoughts and focused on the waypoint. She then pricked her finger, letting her blood drop on the magic circle. It then released a red glow on the area around the drop of blood, which slowly spread out to the rest of the magic circle’s outline. Materials of unknown origin, cylindrical rods that were originally standing around the magic circle, began floating. The rods were then suspended mid-air as the red glow intensified. With a flash, the rods fell back into their original place, and the magic circle dimmed.
Seeing that, Val’Flora tried tapping and moving the rods. However, it was impossible to do so as if the rods were being held in place by an invisible force. Seeing that, she nodded. It was a clear indication that the waypoint was properly established.
"I’m done here. I think I should look around."
Val’Flora pressed her wounded finger with her other hand. Then, with a slight glow, the wound closed. The healing abilities of her [Dryad] bloodline, while not as monstrous as Mark’s [Regeneration], were nothing to scoff at either.
Val’Flora headed to the door after looking around one last time. Then, she froze. There was a presence outside the door.
Opening the door, Val’Flora saw one of Mark’s maids waiting outside. It was the head maid, Odelina. Normally, Val’Flora would not easily remember people unless they were involved with the information she was selling. Even the other maid, named Aephelia, took some time to remember properly.
But Odelina was a different case.
"I am here to guide you around, dear guest."
Odelina opened her mouth first.
It was unknown why Odelina was here at the perfect moment, but Val’Flora could only nod in agreement.
As such, Val’Flora requested to be guided around the base.
And there, Val’Flora was, once again, faced with unexpected sights.
Unlike most settlements around the world, the children in this base received proper education. They had classes in the morning to learn the necessary knowledge they could use daily in the apocalypse. They also had proper subjects such as math and language. It was quite a sight when some settlements in other places would just leave children around to fend for themselves.
The farmland was blooming. The walls were secure. Val’Flora saw an ideal place to live in the apocalypse. It was not wrong to say that she wanted to live here too after seeing all those things.
However, there were also a few things that made Val’Flora fearful.
One was the tall woman named Aimee, who always carried a stone-like egg in her arms. This person was definitely not human. And for some reason, Val’Flora could feel a pressure from Aimee similar to what the stronger founders of her organization had.
Another thing was that this base did not hesitate to utilize the [Infected] in some facilities. The garbage disposal was done by a large [Mutated Infected] controlled by the Aephelia. There was also a research facility, which Val’Flora was recommended not to enter.
Furthermore, Val’Flora saw the flying vessel parked in the northwest area of the base. She could feel dread at the entities inside the vessel, prompting her not to risk approaching it.
One more thing was the existence of [Monarch Types] freely wandering around the base. There were three [Queen Types] from what she saw. And from asking Odelina, Val’Flora learned that there was a [King Type] imprisoned within the research area and two [Insect Queen Types] in captivity.
It was such an absurd place.
Val’Flora’s eyes were already satiated by the sights within the base. As such, she decided to address one curious thing she had since the start.
While sitting on a bench in the central area of the base by the foot of the [Pure Spirit Tree], Val’Flora turned to the maid standing near her while waiting.
"So... Can I ask your story?"
Val’Flora asked.
"What do you mean?"
Odelina asked back without changing her calm expression.
"I mean, how did Miss Odelina, no, Miss Odelina Rothschild, end up in this place?"
Hearing that nearly forgotten surname, Odelina stared straight at Val’Flora.
"I guess I should have expected this, considering you are initially an Information Broker. However, it was unexpected to hear that name. I haven’t used it for years, after all. How did you even recognize me?"
"Others might not, but I did. When you suddenly appeared with Miss Spera in Indonesia, I had already recognized you. I did not have the opportunity to inquire, considering that you seemed to be hiding it. The same for your niece, Hannah."
Val’Flora shrugged and continued.
"The illegitimate child between the current head of the Rothschild family and a servant. Despite not being accepted as a member of the family and being raised as a servant in her mother’s family, she showed an unparalleled ability from a young age. She was unparalleled enough to be called the Genius Rothschild Princess. Although she did not receive the same privileges as her legitimate siblings, she exhibited talents and abilities that surpassed the family’s heirs, making them feel threatened. Unfortunately, after her coming of age, she suddenly vanished, and everything about her existence was erased."
"As an [Information Broker], I can’t help but feel curious. What happened to that princess? Why did she suddenly appear here? There were a lot of questions to answer."
Val’Flora sighed as her curious eyes never left Odelina.
"What are you going to do with that information?"
Odelina asked. Again, without a change in her expression.
"Nothing, really," Val’Flora answered. "I’m just satisfying my curiosity. Furthermore, I’m under a confidentiality contract with Sir Mark. Considering your connection to him, I’ll be risking myself if I sell your information, really."
"I see," Odelina vowed. "Then forgive me. There’s no need for me to answer."
"Wha-!"
Of course, while Val’Flora did not expect to receive an answer, such a blatant refusal was still unexpected.
"What I am in the past had nothing to do with what I am now," Odelina continued. "As someone who had already died once and been revived by Master, I am nothing but Odelina, his loyal servant."
"I guess that is one way of answering," Val’Flora let out another sigh as she stood up. "I won’t press further. Just guide me to Sir Mark next."
"Then, please, follow me."
Odelina turned around and led Val’Flora. It was as if the conversation just now never happened.
***
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Loud sounds of metal being hammered entered Val’Flora’s ears.
Apparently, Mark was in his workshop, already working on the items he asked Val’Flora to find. Although they had just returned from Indonesia, he had already begun working without much rest.
Arriving at the place, Val’Flora saw a garage-like workshop. The front area was open, and they could see Mark working.
"Done with the tour?"
Mark suddenly asked without even looking at the two.
"We are," Val’Flora replied while looking at the item Mark was hammering. "I just came to say goodbye."
Hearing her, Mark stopped his hands and looked at her.
"Leaving already?"
"Yes. I only came to establish a waypoint. Now that it’s done, I will leave. With it, I can come here when needed," Val’Flora then turned her head, looking around. "Besides, I feel like if I stay here any longer, I won’t want to leave anymore."
Val’Flora was not trying to flatter. Since she was a [Half-Dryad], this place was a perfect environment for her. The air was fresh, the surroundings had a perfect temperature, and the nourishment from the [Pure Spirit Tree]. She really wanted to live here. Unfortunately, she had many things to do. Well, most of those things were the job Mark had given her.
"I see," Mark nodded in understanding. "Then, at least stay until lunch. I at least don’t want to be a bad host to guests."
"Then, I’ll accept the invitation."
Val’Flora smiled.
There was one thing that Val’Flora noticed.
Mark was highly distrustful of everyone. In fact, although she had been interacting with Mark for quite a while now, he had always been dismissive. It was as if she were just another unimportant person to him.
But it changed somehow. If it was before, Mark would just nod and let her leave without a fuss.
The change was clearly because of the contract. With the contract active, Mark could trust her and Devon. That caused the change. It was definitely that.
Val’Flora sighed within her heart. It seemed that she still needed to work harder to get her client’s trust, even without the contract.
