'Wha-'
Mark looked at the leader of the Hounds, who regarded him with a profound authority.
His gaze seemed to pierce through everything, stripping Mark of his skin and peering inside, seeing what he holds secret and what he doesn't know himself.
He was sure that his ability was hidden during the match, only put onto the attendant he fought, but it seemed that the boss was hiding a great deal of things himself.
Shuddering, Mark found himself curious to test the extent of the leader's knowledge.
"How did you find out?"
The boss smiled.
"Truthfully it was just a hunch, but thanks for confirming it."
Mark blinked. His mouth opened, then closed.
'No- no way he just did that to me. Am I an idiot?'
He forced the incredulous expression from his face and straightened his smile.
"I'll make sure not to reveal my hands so easily next time, but what gave you the suspicion?"
Since the truth was already told he might as well make the most of it.
"Huh, I thought you would have a greater reaction than that, seeing how the army is hunting your kind like some bloodthirsty dogs, but I was wrong. As for how my intuition came to be, you would have to thank Billy and the fight he gave to you."
His smile unwavering, the boss explained his methods in a way that told nothing, subtly implying an unwillingness to lay out his reasoning.
Mark clicked his tongue.
"I thought that man was going to kill me."
The boss nodded.
"Well, that is the point of the whole test. If you weren't pushed to your limits, how would I know if you have the grit that it takes to survive in this rotting world? Only a select few are able to stand back up after a beating, and those are the people I want in my gang."
Mark had a feeling that the test was based on that. Aside from the basic need for strength or wits, what really tested people was their ability to endure.
It made up for the difference between the people who ran from their problems or took care of them.
He was reminded of the loonies, and about how they fought. Even though they were drunk, even though they had taken countless blows, they continued fighting with an unwavering spirit.
This determination is what made the backbone of the Hounds.
Yet, he didn't care much about the test anymore. His worries lay in the future more than anything else.
His eyes narrowed while his fingers folded.
"It appears that your filter did wonders for your success. But there's one thing that still doesn't make sense."
The boss raised a brow.
"What?"
Hearing the deep voice echo through the warehouse, Mark forced words from his mind and out of his mouth.
"Now that you know I'm a Blessed, what are you going to do? Trade me off to the military in exchange for their favor?"
The boss stroked brought his hand to his chin and rested on it in a thoughtful manner.
"That would be a good way to use you, but there are better methods. Think about why the army would need you in the first place- to bolster their forces. Don't you think that my gang is somewhat of an army itself? Having you here would be more beneficial than giving you away."
He paused before continuing.
"There is also the oncoming fight with the Spheks. You've had some encounters with them too, right?"
Mark nodded, some unsavory memories replaying in his mind while the boss carried on.
"Then you would know that they aren't exactly the most normal crowd of people. The further you look into it the creepier it becomes. Especially their leader. Anyone who meets him would be able to tell the man apart from a crowd. He seems to be the perfect man to serve under, yet under that lies a demon."
The boss caught himself, not wanting to reveal too much.
However, Mark was slightly interested in what experiences the man had with the Spheks.
"I met the leader of the Spheks too. He offered for me to join- though, offered is putting it a bit lightly..."
Mark thought of the red-eyed man who confronted him in the valley. How graceful and posed he was. The true face of a great leader.
Up until that point, the boss was wistfully looking at the ceiling. Mark's words brought his head back down.
"That's something most people aren't able to come back from. If you really did survive an encounter with that man, then you might be one of the most capable people here. Most of my closer attendants can't say that, let alone so lightly. "
He coughed.
"Anyway, if you have met the boss of the Spheks, then you would know that the man has something about him."
It was easy to tell what he was getting at. He also arrived at the same conclusion.
"You mean to say that the leader of the Spheks is also a Blessed?"
The boss nodded.
"That's right."
Mark was slightly impressed by the man sitting in front of him, but was also frankly scared.
The leader of the Hounds was a fearsome figure. Not in the way that the red-eyed boss of the Spheks gave off an intimidating aura, it was nearly the opposite.
This ordinary-looking man was the shell of a complete enigma. The depths of his logic and reasoning were profound and well-concealed. Those who underestimated him would suffer, while those who knew him could only marvel at his intellect, and wonder how deep it goes.
It intimidated Mark, the mystery of what lay behind that facade of simplicity. He would have to hope that it isn't an insanity of its own.
He was beginning to trust the man.
"So the reason you wanted to check if I was a Blessed is so you could use me against the leader of the Spheks, is that correct?"
The boss nodded.
"Yes, but also for another reason. You see, I have quite a curious mind. One thing that nearly nobody knows about, save for the few people who have it, is the knowledge of what the abilities of the Blessed exactly are."
He straightened his back.
"I want to know specifically about the leader of the Spheks. So tell me what you think."