COVELENT: XenoTrait

The underground tunnel was quiet...Too quiet.

The faint hum of machinery echoed through the concrete halls as Abel walked alone. His footsteps bounced off the walls. Step. Step. Step.

His hands were shoved into his pockets.His jaw was clenched. "...Damn it."

The words escaped before he could stop them.

His eyes lowered toward the floor. "Amme."

The image wouldn’t leave his mind... The way she had been dragged away and the way she had screamed. The way I had done absolutely nothing.

His fists tightened. "...I should’ve stopped them."

Silence.

"...I should’ve done something... but I was too weak to do anything." He clenched his fist. "But now I’m different."

An image of Amme went through his mind. "I will find you," he thought.

Abel exhaled heavily. "My chest feels tight. Every minute that passes makes the feeling worse, is she alive? Is she hurt? Has Markus already done something to her?"

The questions kept haunting him... again. And again. And again.

Until finally, "Fuck." He kicked a loose metal pipe.

CLANG. The sound echoed through the corridor.

Abel dragged a hand through his hair. "...I’m gonna lose my mind."

A pause followed. "...I need answers."

He resumed walking. This time, he was faster.

"There is only one person who might know where to start... Takakura. But first, Jean."

Several minutes later...

Abel pushed open a reinforced metal door. The room beyond was dimly lit.

Stacks of documents covered multiple tables. Blueprints, maps, reports, and random notes.

The entire room looked like a disaster zone, and Jean sat in the center of it, reading as usual.

Abel frowned. "...How do you even find anything in here?"

Jean didn’t look up. "I don’t."

Abel blinked. "...What?"

"I lose things constantly." A pause followed. Jean turned a page. "But eventually I find them."

Abel stared. "...That’s stupid."

"It works," said Jean.

Abel sighed. "Of course it does."

Jean finally looked up. His eyes immediately narrowed. "...You look terrible."

Abel crossed his arms. "Thanks."

"I wasn’t complimenting you," Jean replied.

Jean studied him. "...So what may I help you with? You look like you are worried about something."

Abel froze. "...Is it that obvious?"

"Very." Jean leaned back slightly. "Most people blink more than you currently are."

Abel looked away. The silence answered for him.

Jean’s expression softened slightly.

Abel’s jaw tightened. "I’m looking for something."

The room became quiet again.

Jean folded his arms. "...What exactly are you looking for?"

Abel hesitated. "...Markus."

Jean raised an eyebrow. "...Markus?"

"Yeah," Abel said.

"Why?" Jean questioned.

Abel remained silent.

Jean just watched him. "...You aren’t telling me everything."

Abel looked away. "...No."

Jean sighed. "I figured."

Neither of them pushed further. They both knew better.

Finally, after a bit, Jean spoke. "...If you’re looking for Markus, then you should talk to Takakura."

Abel looked back and pondered. "I figured he would say that.""Takakura?" Abel questioned.

Jean nodded. "He’s been investigating him since he got infected by Mark 8 for months."

Abel frowned. "...You think he can find Markus?"

"Maybe... Maybe not," said Jean.

Abel groaned. "That’s not very encouraging."

"No," Jean agreed. "It isn’t."

Before Abel could respond, a voice appeared behind him. "...Looking for me?"

Abel jumped but Jean didn’t react.

The door behind them was already open.

A tall, fat figure stood there... Takakura.

His glasses reflected the room’s light. His expression was unreadable.

Abel immediately turned. "...How long have you been standing there?"

Takakura thought for a moment. "...I just got here."

Abel narrowed his eyes. "...That’s creepy."

"I’ve been told that," he said as he entered the room.

The door closed behind him. Silence followed.

His gaze shifted toward Abel. "...So... You need something."

Abel didn’t waste time. "Can you find Markus?"

The room became still.

Takakura adjusted his glasses. "...Straight to the point, huh."

"Can you?" asked Abel.

Takakura didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked past Abel, then around him, and stopped to study him.

Abel frowned. "...Why are you looking at me like that?"

Takakura ignored the question. "...Why Markus?"

Abel hesitated. "...Someone important to me was taken."

Takakura nodded slightly. "...Amme?"

Abel blinked. "...How did you—"

Takakura interrupted, "You’re not subtle."

Abel groaned as Takakura folded his arms.

"...You believe Markus has her," said Takakura.

"Yes," Abel replied.

"And you want her back," Takakura asked.

"Yes," Abel answered.

Takakura looked toward Jean, and Jean shrugged.

Takakura sighed. "...Fine."

Abel immediately straightened. "You can help?"

"Perhaps I can," Takakura replied.

The answer irritated Abel. "...Perhaps?"

"Finding Markus is difficult," Takakura continued. "Extremely difficult... but not impossible."

Abel stepped forward. "Then let’s do it."

Takakura raised a hand. "...Not yet."

Abel frowned. "What now?"

Takakura looked directly at him. "...I’ll need something first."

"...What?" asked Abel.

Takakura’s expression remained calm. "...Your blood."

The room became quiet.

Abel stared at Takakura. "...My what?"

"Your blood," Takakura replied.

Abel blinked. "...Why?"

Takakura adjusted his glasses. "Blood contains information." A pause. "More importantly... Mark 8 leaves traces."

Abel got flashes of when he was injected with Mark 8.

Takakura continued, "If Markus interacted with Amme... there is a chance that she is already infected."

Abel frowned. "...You can track that?"

"Maybe." He said as he pondered, "this guy really believes that lie."

The answer annoyed him again. "...You really like saying maybe."

Takakura nodded. "I do."

Jean snorted.

Abel rolled his eyes. "...Fine... How much blood?"

Takakura reached into his coat.

He removed a small metallic container. "A few drops."

Abel stared. "...Only a few drops?"

"Only a few ," Takakura repeated.

"...That’s it?" asked Abel.

"Yes, that’s it," said Takakura.

Abel extended his hand. "...Then do it."

Takakura blinked. "...No hesitation?"

Abel looked away.

Takakura’s expression darkened as he smiled.

"...If it helps me find Amme... take all of it if you have to."

Jean interrupted, "Careful what you say."

The room fell silent.

Takakura continued. "...Interesting."

Abel frowned. "What?"

"Nothing." Takakura handed him a small blade. "...Do it yourself."

Abel grabbed it, and without hesitation, he sliced himself.

A small cut appeared across his finger... A crimson droplet formed. Then another.

Takakura immediately held the metallic container beneath it. Drip. Drip.

The blood landed inside. Abel waited, and to his surprise, nothing happened.

Five seconds passed, then ten... then twenty seconds.

Abel frowned. "...That’s it?"

Takakura didn’t answer. His eyes remained fixed on the container.

"...Takakura?" Abel said.

Still nothing from Takakura as he thought, "Yessss... this blood is going to help me get there much quicker."

Abel barked, "Takakura!"

Takakura replied, "Yes that’s it".

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!