Chereads / The Corrupted Syndicate / Chapter 39 - Her Smile, Enhanced Soldiers

Chapter 39 - Her Smile, Enhanced Soldiers

"I cannot pretend to grasp the depths of what you endure. However, if we are to work together, know this—I do not tolerate weakness, nor would I allow you to wither from something as trivial as hunger while under my command," said the Viceroy.

His voice, smooth and unexpectedly gentle, was a stark contrast to his usual harshness. Mavislin could only offer a small nod as she polished off her last scoop of rice and drained her glass of water.

Though his words were often severe, it was the deeper meaning behind them that truly mattered to her. Despite his abrasive manner, she understood that his intentions were more nuanced, revealing a layer of concern and depth she appreciated.

Zenos then pushed the cart away and out into the corridor, allowing the servants to come to pick it up before heading back into the room. With newfound energy and trust between the two, Mavislin cracked a small but genuine smile of thankfulness.

The blonde caught a fleeting glimpse of his prisoner's smile, igniting a strange, unfamiliar sensation within his chest. Was this… contentment? Zenos was unsure, or perhaps indifferent to the feeling, as he settled back into his chair.

At that point, Zenos felt like guarding this little dragoness with his life.

Meanwhile, Mavislin's tail flicked restlessly, betraying her boredom as she waited.

"Earlier, you wanted to speak more about your subordinates' findings. The one named Venom?" started Zenos as he wanted to continue with the discussion.

"That's right. Venom isn't the type to go outfield so hearing reports from him could only mean that it was from a research and experimental standpoint. All in all, that dragon man does not deal with the front lines."

"Venom doesn't see us as individuals, all he sees are piles of flesh. So hearing him blabber about the Legion's current affairs was a bit… Odd, so to speak."

The Viceroy raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"To be blunt, Venom rushed into my dinner discussion with Raven on a fine night, drunk and high on whatever substance he had made, and proclaimed that he found out why the Legion's men were different."

"At first, Raven swung at him, nearly sending Venom out of the gene pool but he woke up again. This dragon person was persistent, to say the least as he began rambling on about genes and sequences…"

"But what caught our attention was that he mentioned a program called the Enhanced Soldiers Movement."

"I have heard about my father mentioning it in passing but I failed to take heed of it."

"The Legion had always been notorious for pushing the boundaries of nature, twisting science and magic to suit their ambitions."

"They subjected their own soldiers to grotesque experiments, injecting them with unholy serums and potions designed to break the limits of the human body—enhancing strength, sharpening reflexes, and erasing any notion of weakness."

"But I wasn't surprised. The Legion always had a more refined mastery of science and mana, far beyond the crude, caveman tactics of the Syndicate."

"While the Legion's soldiers were outfitted with advanced devices and enchanted armor, I was left to fulfill my mission with nothing but a simple dagger—a relic of a forgotten time, barely enough for the task at hand."

"And what relevance does that hold to our current predicament? If the Legion chooses to sacrifice their own pawns in their pursuit of power, it is of no consequence to us. Let them indulge in their futile experiments—it poses no threat to our objectives."

"They've run out of flesh to play with."

Zenos widened his eyes, his expression showing worry but only for a fraction of a second before going back to his stoic look.

"So, they've set out on yet another hunt for more toys to tinker with? How utterly predictable of those brutes. And let me guess—do the results of their twisted experiments align with the reports you've scrutinized?"

"Is that why you felt compelled to bring this little endeavor to my attention?"

"Correct, and it's making me slightly… Worried about what the Legion would do next. They've already cracked the code about forcing a pact with unwilling Guardians, what else are they thinking?"

"And the Syndicate only has two individuals with Guardians who won't go mad with power. Thus, I have no choice but to seek help, even if it's from you," said Mavislin, sighing.

Somehow, the dragoness knew that this might bite her in the tail soon.

"I fail to see your reason to worry. Furthermore, you place far too much trust in me, far too quickly."

"So, indulge my curiosity—why are you so eager to align yourself with me to confront the Legion, rather than focusing on refining your own abilities? Are you that desperate for a shortcut, or is it simply fear that drives you?"