Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

“Really,” Axel said smoothly. “I’m sorry to have troubled you.”

Dennis and Derek exchanged a glance, then slowly edged toward the exit like men walking a tightrope over a pit. Neither dared breathe too loud.

After the two men left, the Obsidian team filed into the ruined room. Kaia was clutching her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely stand.

Phoenix let out a sigh. “Axel… a little overboard?”

The temporary headquarters had already been shabby, but now it looked like a warzone.

Kaia was still grinning, gloating at the retreating figures. “Serves them right. Level Four Awakeners who sat out the mutant beast tide, acting like they’re untouchable? They deserved to be scared shitless.”

Just then, Vince and Rosaline stepped inside. Axel turned to greet them. “Captain, Rosaline. Did you catch that little performance?”

A moment ago, Axel’s expression had been pure menace—so convincing it was unsettling. He looked for all the world like a spoiled playboy picking a fight

Vince thought it through before speaking. “Both of them are lower-tier Fourth Level. Against Phoenix they didn’t stand a chance. Miller’s artillery bluff was the real kicker. They never showed any hidden strength.”

Rosaline nodded, agreeing.

Vince continued, more serious now. “Connor was a high-level Fourth Level—Psychic Awakener. Those two couldn’t have taken him down.”

Rosaline frowned, hesitating, but she waited for Axel to weigh in. The rest of the Obsidian team wasn’t exactly skilled at picking apart theories. All eyes were on Axel, who sat there in silence, thinking.

Finally, Axel lifted his head. “Rosaline, do you see another angle?”

Rosaline hesitated before answering. “Maybe. Look—the Atomic Cannon is inspected every single hour, with random checks in between. The person who sabotaged it had to work under those conditions. Two people would buy more time. Connor was a Psychic Awakener—strong mentally, but physically fragile. What if he never even realized there was a second attacker?”

Vince crossed his arms, considering. “But according to Xander, the spies we caught didn’t have accomplices. Their identities checked out perfectly. They weren’t suicide pawns either—they would’ve kept hiding in plain sight if we hadn’t baited them into the trap. And Northern Spiritual Town is just one of forty-eight new cities. Why risk sending two spies here?”

Rosaline looked at Vince in sudden realization. Miller, however, still frowned. “Then who the hell could’ve taken down Connor alone? Isn’t Geoffrey the only one who fits the bill?”

Vince shook his head. “Not necessarily. If it was someone Connor trusted, then almost anyone in the Survey Corps could’ve gotten close enough to do it.”

Axel nodded slowly, locking the thought away. “Captain makes sense.”

“So who’s next on our list?” Vince asked.

Axel thought for a moment. “Jeremiah. At the hospital.”

Kaia raised an eyebrow. “Jeremiah? He’s been there the whole time. There are surveillance feeds inside and outside his ward. Do we really need to waste time questioning him?”

To her, Jeremiah was the least suspicious of all. Miller had already checked the hospital footage—no sign of tampering.

“We question everyone. The more we ask, the more pieces fall into place.”

That silenced them. Vince stepped closer, placing a steady hand on Axel’s shoulder. “You need rest. Take a break.”

Axel scanned the room. Aside from Vince and Rosaline, everyone else looked dead on their feet, eyes hollow from exhaustion. They’d flown all day yesterday, expecting to unwind in Kensington Hot Springs. Instead, they were rushed straight into Northern Spiritual Town.

“I’m fine,” Axel said firmly, drawing a deep breath. “The killer’s still out there. I won’t be able to rest until we find him.”

Northern Spiritual Town was colder than Shiverstone, the streets heavy with frost and tension. The beast tide had passed, but the ordinary people walking there carried fear in their eyes.

Soon, the team reached the hospital. Before they even spotted Jeremiah, they ran into Ingrid and his squad coming out.

“Ingrid,” Vince called.

Surprised, Ingrid straightened. “Mr. Vince? What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to check on your injured man. We brought an Awakened healer with us—he can treat Jeremiah.”

At that, Ingrid’s face lit up with relief. “That’s… that’s wonderful. The beast tide may have pulled back, but it could return any time. If Jeremiah recovers, we’ll have one more fighter.”

While Vince and Ingrid spoke, Axel hung back, silent, watching Ingrid’s team. He studied their faces for the slightest crack. Nothing. Calm, steady.

Of the four, only Ingrid and the man with the gold-rimmed glasses—Clifford—had spoken much so far.

The other two, Ernest and George, were shadows, mostly silent except for the few words they’d muttered when Connor’s death at the east gate was announced.

“Mr. Vince,” Ingrid asked suddenly, his voice softer, “how’s the investigation going? Any leads?”

Vince shook his head, the motion heavy.

Ingrid’s eyes reddened. “If I knew who did it… I’d kill that bastard myself.” She exhaled shakily. “We just came from telling Jeremiah. He took it hard…”

Seeing the two still deep in conversation, Axel quietly walked over to Clifford, the man with the gold-rimmed glasses, and gestured for a private word.

Clifford, who had earlier advised Ingrid against acting rashly at the East Gate, seemed like the reasonable type. He understood at once and followed Axel to a tree nearby.

“Mr. Clifford,” Axel said lowly, “I can tell Miss Ingrid isn’t exactly fond of Geoffrey. Truth be told, we’ve had our doubts about him as well. Did Connor have some old grudge with Geoffrey?”

Clifford paused, adjusting his glasses before answering. “No, nothing like that. Geoffrey just has a hot temper, and Ingrid’s the type to speak her mind. With Lieutenant Connor vanishing at the East Gate, tensions were bound to rise...” He shook his head faintly. “You’ve been handling the investigation longer than I have, so I won’t say too much. If you want answers, Jeremiah is sharper than I am.”

Clifford smiled modestly. Axel nodded in return, though when he looked back he saw both Obsidian and the Survey Corps staring his way. With no choice, he walked back with Clifford.

“Alright then,” Vince said. “Let’s go check on Jeremiah’s condition. Want to come along?”

Ingrid shook her head. “We just came down. But, Mr. Vince, if you hear anything—anything at all—please let us know.”

With that, the Survey Corps left.

“Axel, what were you and Clifford talking about?” the others asked at once.

“Just a few words…” Axel glanced at Vince. “Captain, did you notice anything off?”

Vince shook his head. “When you pulled Clifford aside, the rest just stared. I don’t know them well, so I couldn’t think of anything to say.”

Axel suddenly realized his captain wasn’t exactly skilled at small talk.

As Ingrid and the others disappeared down the hall, Rosaline frowned. “Why didn’t you press them harder? They’re suspects too.”

Axel hesitated, then spoke. “Based on what we’ve said before, the murderer had to be working alone. But don’t forget—the Survey Corps always operates in pairs.”

He let that sink in.

“The cannons at the west and north gates—where Captain Vince and Rosaline fought—were destroyed. The only reason those defenses held as long as they did was because, after learning the city gate cannons were sabotaged, the Survey Corps split into two teams, each holding one gate.”

He went on: “Connor died in battle, and the east gate cannon also failed. If one of those four really was the traitor, that means he left his post for a long time—and their partner would’ve noticed. Unless…” His gaze sharpened. “…unless there was more than one killer. In that case, Dennis and his bro are suspects too.”

The room went quiet. Kaia, Phoenix, and Millers all stared wide-eyed, as if lightning had just struck them.

Axel smirked. “You guys remind me of a movie I saw as a kid.”

“What movie?” the three asked at once.

“3 Idiots”

Millers and Kaia scowled. Phoenix scratched his head. “That movie?”