It took time to convince the Order Diplomatics and Irene to allow the demons who broke into Olympus to return to Hell with their artefacts and the hostage unharmed. They were reluctant at first, but if it meant that war could be prevented and the knowledge of Heaven and Hell to remain as a mythological concept. The Order had no choice but to accept that deal, even if it prevented them from studying the artefacts.
The reptile on the other-hand couldn’t care about the bickering of the Order. He knew what had to be done even if it meant for that child to face a fate worse than death. If there was a way to prevent Daylan from becoming the tablet he stole, the reptile would take that opportunity in a heartbeat. Alas, the world he lived in had made it so the only option for peace was usually to sacrifice another even when they had every right to do what they needed to do. At that point, it wasn’t justice, but barbarism to preserve the status quo of a fragile peace accord between two spireful kingdoms.
Alone in the gym with every different type of exercise equipment known to humanity. On the treadmill running at 70 kph at an incline of 40%, Jackson panted and coughed as he tried his best to beat his record. His body struggled while he was pulled down by specialised weighted clothing and bracelets that added 220kg onto him. The reptile’s hooked toes and claws dug into the treadmill which gave him some stability while he struggled to push on. Eventually, he had to jump off and gasped for air while his body felt like it was boiling from the inside out. His mouth was wide open as he tried to take in large gulps of air to cool down his exhausted body. He checked the clock, only to find that he had failed to beat his record. With the help of Frank the reptile figured he had 5% less endurance than what he used to be almost 90 years ago.
But the reptile would not get the rest they needed. A bald Taiwanese man entered the gym and locked the door behind him. He wore an all-grey suit and a black tie. To anyone, he would look no older than 60 years old but working within the Order for so long had granted him access to extend his mortal life well over 120 years. Despite his unnatural age, the only thing that made him look non-human was his yellow eyes.
Nathanael Gay was his name. Jackson knew him when he first joined the Order Diplomatics and the reputation he garnered for himself in covering up documents and the existence of monsters. A true manipulator of historical fact. However, he didn’t specialise in whiting out sensitive information that could cause mass panic, what he perfected was the disciplining and eradication of those within the Order who were foolish to step out of the line.
Jackson figured out why Gay wanted to talk to him after what happened the day before. Nathanael was calm when he approached Jackson even when he pulled out the enchanted brass knuckles and slipped them between his fingers. The reptile put his equipment aside and stepped away from the gym equipment so he could wait patiently for Gay to punch him to the ground. A loud bang rang from the brass knuckles making contact with Jackson's reptilian scales. Blue blood gushed out of Jackson’s mouth; he crawled on the ground while his head thudded. A brand where Gay punched him formed around his charred flesh, it would heal in time, but it would serve as a reminder.
‘Stay down, if you know what’s good for you.’ Gay pulled out his pistol from his jacket pocket before the reptile could pick himself up from the ground. ‘You really made a mess of things, reptile. Making us give up artefacts that could help humanity have a leg up against Hell.’
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‘I did what was required to…’
‘Oh, shut up.’ Gay cut Jackson off. ‘I know you were the whistleblower and told the Lucarian Knights about the artefacts. I wouldn’t even be surprised if you gave them a convincing cover story so they could enter Olympus.’
Jackson frowned, believing Gay had set the reptile up. ‘You know what would happen if the artefacts were not returned.’
‘We are aware of the consequences, the difference is we have the means for total victory. You already know that, however, you chose to go against the interest of humanity.’ Gay put his pistol away before he reached for a note from his pocket and chucked it by Jackson’s feet. ‘Let’s not forget that how you handled the hostage situation was abysmal, absolutely pathetic even from you.’
The reptile picked up the folded note and read it to find that it was a sanction on Jackson’s unit, forever preventing him or anyone in his unit from going on missions alone. ‘You were in charge, why allow me to be there?’ Jackson asked, unsure of what Gay’s intentions were.
‘To prove that you are full of shit. You are a terrible liar, reptile. Sadly, people need to witness your two-faced nature firsthand to understand that you are someone who should never be trusted.’ Gay looked down at the reptile and how he kept an emotionless expression. ‘I want to make this to be clear, reptile. You are the reason the world turned to shit and now we must work overtime to clean up the mess you made. We have demons and angels running around pretending to be human, new monsters that we struggle to handle, and don’t get me started on the amount of cover-ups we had to do.’
Jackson rubbed his bloodied snout before he could give a monotone reply. ‘I came to help.’
‘Help!?’ Gay scoffed. ‘Don’t flatter yourself. You came here because you are a mess and fucking hopeless on your own. Because if there is one thing that is predictable about you, it is that you are a killer. We point and you go there to slaughter anything in your way without a thought between those eyes of yours. You are a relic of an old world, I am surprised the others are willing to give you a chance when you are obsolete. Though I suppose a rampaging bull in a china shop will have its purposes.’
Before Gay could make his way to the exit, Jackson called out to him. ‘I never thought you’d become a member of the Council.’
Gay stopped in his tracks, his face turned bright red with rage. The revealing of a Council member’s identity was grounds for a summary execution. Gay would love to kill the smug reptile but he knew that was what Jackson wanted.
However, he chose to walk away and leave the reptile wiping away his blood. Gay had to remind himself that Jackson would know who and how someone would become a member of the Council. Though he would smile to himself to know the reptile would forever be on a leash.
‘Because you are incompetent in finding suitable soldiers for your unit.’ Gay continued with an insidious smirk before he left the gym. ‘I will take on the liberties of finding recruits for you.’