Chapter 296: Subject: Trouble Returns

***** [Arkas’s PoV]

I sat alone in my office at Unit 02, staring at the reports spread out in front of me. It was late at night, and the day’s training sessions were already done. The rest of the base had quieted down, but my work wasn’t finished.

I scrolled through the performance reports on my tablet, each page filled with charts, names, scores, and feedback from the drills. Most of it looked solid. The soldiers were improving well, pushing past their limits without needing too much hand-holding.

We had only lost sixteen of them since this unit’s formation. Sixteen. That was a number I could live with. Compared to last year’s numbers, it was a damn miracle.

"Sixteen... plus three," I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing slightly as I corrected myself.

Three of them weren’t on any list. Not marked as dead or injured, but absent. Off the grid.

Billion. Steve. And North.

The boys were out on a mission, at least that’s what we told the other soldiers—but North...

I clenched my jaw, a low frustration burning in my chest as her face crossed my mind.

"Dante," I growled, barely restraining the urge to slam my fist on the desk.

That old bastard had stolen another one of my grandchildren. First her brother, now her. I’d been chasing him ever since, pulling every string I could, digging through every lead. But he was a shadow—slippery, always just out of reach.

I exhaled slowly and turned my attention back to the rankings.

June had done exactly what I asked and kept Billion in the top position. Some people didn’t like that. A few of the kids had raised eyebrows, muttered questions behind my back, even dared to challenge the decision.

They shut up quickly after one proper lecture.

I wasn’t running a democracy. I was running a war camp. And Billion was the kind of kid who I was ready to bet on.

I spent the next few minutes reviewing each soldier’s progress, entering my comments, highlighting areas for improvement.

Some needed to work on reaction time, others lacked coordination in squad maneuvers. A few had the skill but lacked the discipline. I wrote down exactly what they needed to fix before the upcoming inter-unit competition.

Unit 02 was doing well. Better than expected. But something told me this peace wouldn’t last long.

With the Ferans making headlines and Billion still missing inside the realm, there were too many currents—some hidden, some loud—moving across both the Empire and beyond its borders. I could feel the pressure building. The kind of tension that came before a storm.

Ding!

An email notification popped up on my official Unit 02 terminal. I frowned. No one really sent emails anymore—at least not to me. Not unless it was something serious, or someone forgot how to use a comm.

I clicked it open, curious.

It was from Steve.

Of course.

That reminded me—he was still lounging around the Royal Palace.

A lot of people had been surprised when the Emperor asked him to stay behind. But I wasn’t. I knew exactly why the Emperor kept him close.

Memories flickered across my mind, ones I didn’t want to linger on. I pushed them aside and turned my attention to the email.

—-------------------------------------------

From: Steve Harper

To: Commander Arkas

Subject: Mildly Urgent Update – Regarding a Certain Missing Problem Child

Commander,

Hope this message finds you in one piece and not flipping tables over recruit scores again.

I’m writing to report that our mutual headache—Codename: Disaster—is alive, conscious, and still as dramatic as ever. He’s currently in the Western Continent, city of Caltech.

He reached out to me a few hours ago via phone, don’t ask how he got out of the realm. I’ve stopped questioning these things.

According to him, he’s fine, healthy, and hungry enough to order half a forest’s worth of meat. No mention of long-term damage or psychological collapse, though I wouldn’t bet money on that last part.

He asked for you, by name, to come pick him up. Personally. Not sure if that’s a request, a threat, or some twisted attempt at bonding. Either way, figured you’d want to know.

I’m still stationed at the Royal Palace per the Emperor’s direct order. Still trying to earn enough favor to sit three chairs away from him during formal dinners. Progress is slow, but I haven’t been thrown out yet.

Let me know if you’d like me to coordinate with anyone for pickup, or if you want me to send him a fruit basket. Personally, I suggest tranquilizers instead.

Regards,

Steve Harper

Survivor of Unit 02, Now a hostage with the Emperor

—-------------------------------------------

I blinked, surprised by the contents of the email. For a moment, I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or get mad at Steve for delivering such big news that casually. But more than anything, I felt a spark of excitement. And anticipation.

It had been weeks since I’d seen the kid.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed my phone and dialed Edgar.

He picked up, sounding as tired as ever.

"Yes?"

"I’m forwarding you an email. Check it. Now."

He groaned. "No, I’m busy. Don’t waste my time with more of your random nudes."

"It’s urgent," I growled, already hitting forward on the message.

I waited in silence while he read it.

A few seconds later, his voice came back, suddenly much more alive.

"Wait....seriously? Is this true?"

"And that’s why I called. Confirm it. Now. You’ve got ten seconds."

"On it!" he barked, and the line filled with rushed movement.

I stayed quiet, mentally counting down.

Ten... seven... four...

Then I heard a muffled yell on his end.

"Fuck—who the hell are you?"

A second of silence.

Then Edgar’s voice again, this time almost breathless.

"It’s him. It’s true. You want me to come with?"

I pushed back my chair and stood up.

"No need. Just inform the Emperor."

"On it."

I hung up without another word.

It was happening. The storm was beginning to shift, and Billion Ironhart was back in the world.

The last report I’d gotten from Edgar said the kid had already reached the level of a Master. That wasn’t something I could ignore, not without seeing it for myself.

I took a step forward, and with a crackle of energy, I zoomed across the facility, arriving just outside June’s office in a blink.

I knocked once and stepped in.

She stood up immediately and saluted. "Commander."

I waved her down. "At ease."

"I might be gone for a day or two," I said, keeping my tone brisk. "Something urgent came up. While I’m away, increase security across the area. I don’t want even a rumor of an Abomination raid while I’m gone."

She nodded firmly. "Understood."

Crackling lightning surged along my limbs as I turned, and in the next instant, I vanished from her office and reappeared in the teleportation hall.

The air there buzzed with quiet energy, attendants giving me a wide berth as they recognized who I was. I didn’t pause. My eyes locked on the terminal.

A grin tugged at the corner of my lips.

Western Continent, Caltech.

Time to see what kind of monster that boy had turned into.