Later, they reached the Mermaid settlement, a neutral place on center of eastern wasteland. its was a small town with a small fence, and few watch tower. they build on top of once buried city on the desert sand. a makeshift building made by scarps and wood is dominating the settlement.

Wanderer stretched his arms and addressed his lieutenants. "Mhmh... agh... we can buy supplies cheaper than at the Caliphate market. And don’t accept any people who want to join our force again. We have enough men for now."

The lieutenants nodded in agreement.

Chrome spoke up, "Agreed. We don't need any more muscle. We need supplies and information."

Furqan added, "Best keep a small, trusted team."

Shizuka chimed in, "We'll restock here and then head out. We're getting close to their territory."

Wanderer nodded, "Yes, we need quality for now. Alright, you know what to do."

The lieutenants nodded again.

Chrome said, "We'll take care of the supplies."

Furqan added, "I'll gather intel from the local chatter."

Shizuka assured him, "I'll make sure no one tries to join us uninvited."

Wanderer gave them a casual salute, and the lieutenants returned the gesture before dispersing to their assigned tasks. Chrome and Furqan headed off to buy supplies, while Shizuka stayed back to keep watch over their transport.

As Wanderer watched them go, he took a moment to rest and recompose himself. He knew they were getting closer to the danger zone, and he needed to be focused and alert. Turning his attention to the scout, he asked, "So, how do you manage to know such important intel? What’s your trick?"

The scout smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. "Mhm, you see, I have my own methods. I've developed a small network of informants in various areas. Plus, I have an eye for observation. I pay attention to details that others might miss. I notice changes in body language, the expressions on people's faces, the tone of their voices. All of these things can give you clues about what's really going on behind the scenes."

Wanderer chuckled, "Hmh, you’re smarter than that dumb face."

The scout laughed at Wanderer's comment. "Haha, don’t judge a book by its cover. I may look like a fool, but I’m actually quite clever. Plus, my face is not dumb. It’s rugged and handsome, thank you very much."

Wanderer smirked. "Hehe, good. So how do you blend in with those cyberpunk fellas? Oh, don’t tell me... you must be nerd enough for them to open up."

The scout laughed again, this time louder. "Oh god, hahaha, you sound like an old man. Yeah, I had to do some pretending. I had to seem interested in their weird obsessions with cyber implants and synthetic skin. But they ate it up. They saw me as one of them, a fellow tech enthusiast. They had no idea I was just pretending."

Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "Really? Do you use implants right now?"

The scout grinned and tapped the side of his head. "Nah, luckily I didn’t have to go that far. But I did have to act like I wanted to get some implants in the future. They kept trying to convince me, telling me about all the cool things I could do with cybernetic limbs and enhanced vision. But I just played along, nodding and pretending to be impressed."

Wanderer nodded thoughtfully. "They’re dumber than I thought... perhaps only the tech has become smarter."

The scout nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they were quite gullible. Sometimes I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from rolling my eyes at their naïve babbling about technology. But it was all worth it for the intel I gathered. Tech does have its place, I’ll admit, but those guys were just blindly obsessed with it."

Wanderer’s expression turned serious. "But how do you know this information is legit?"

The scout became serious as well, understanding the gravity of Wanderer’s question. "Mhm, good question. I don’t take everything at face value. I have my own ways of verifying the information I obtain. I cross-check it with other sources, I look for patterns and consistencies, I use my own judgment. Of course, there’s always a chance that I can be misled, but I’m quite confident in my abilities."

Wanderer cleared his throat. "I see... we’re looking for something that might not exist."

The scout looked puzzled. "What do you mean? We’re looking for something that might not exist? What are you referring to?"

Wanderer replied, "You know what I mean... this weapon might just be a bluff to show how great they are, but of course, it’s in the realm of probability."

The scout nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see what you mean. Yes, it’s possible that the rumors about this weapon are just a bluff. The cybernetic tribe might just be trying to project a powerful image, to make others quiver in fear. But as you said, it’s also within the realm of possibility that such a weapon does exist."

Later, Wanderer wandered around the mermaid settlement. He watched half-mutants, humans, and cybernetic humans intermingling in cafes and on the streets. He flinched a bit from the sight until he stopped at a gathering of people in front of a mosque. It was her—the legendary mermaid.

The first mermaid, a woman with a red scarf, spoke from a podium. Her body was covered, including her lower part, which might have had fish elements. When she spoke, her voice was soft but passionate. She began discussing Islamic tradition and its history. All seemed well until she preached, "It’s okay to steal... because God is all-loving. God will forgive us."

Wanderer listened to the mermaid’s words with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and skepticism. Was she really advocating for theft? Was she truly preaching that it was acceptable, that God would forgive such behavior? He glanced around, observing the reactions of the other people listening to her.

The people around him nodded and absorbed the mermaid’s teachings as if it were nothing. Wanderer’s lips stammered, and he couldn’t help but raise his hand.

Wanderer stood amidst the crowd, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "What do you mean? We’re okay to steal? That is a clear major sin!" His voice cut through the murmurs of the audience, drawing the attention of those nearby.

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The mermaid, standing gracefully at the podium, regarded him with a calm and patient demeanor. Her expression shifted slightly, acknowledging the weight of his words. "My child, you are correct that theft is generally considered a sin in Islam. However, it is important to remember that God is merciful and forgiving. If someone steals out of necessity, out of survival, out of desperation, and then truly repents and seeks forgiveness, God may forgive them. In the end, it is up to God to decide."

Wanderer shook his head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Well, yes, but you can’t just speak of it like it’s a tool. God is indeed merciful, but that doesn’t mean we can abuse His trait."

The mermaid nodded, her voice softening. "I understand your concern, my child, and I did not mean to imply that theft is accepted or encouraged by Islam. I apologize if my wording caused confusion. It is not for us to abuse God's trait of mercy. We must still strive to be just and honest in our dealings and to seek guidance from the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah."

Wanderer nodded, but deep down, he knew she probably wouldn’t listen to what she had just said. As the mermaid continued her speech, shifting to a different topic, he felt a growing sense of unease and disappointment. He scanned the crowd, wondering how many were truly understanding her message and how many were simply nodding along without comprehension. A few sympathetic glances from others in the audience confirmed his skepticism.

Later, as he stepped away from the gathering, he encountered Furqan, who had been waiting for him. Furqan smiled knowingly. "She’s considered a naughty by many scholars, you know. She never took a serious education about Islam itself."

Wanderer pouted slightly, then nodded in agreement. "People might flock to her because of her charm, not because of her mind and heart."

"Exactly," Furqan replied, chuckling. "She definitely has her charisma. But it’s concerning how easily people are swayed. They don’t seem to question or analyze her teachings. She’s just feeding them what they want to hear."

As the duo walked toward the street to return to their vehicle, they were suddenly surrounded by a throng of people. "That is the Arab general and Wanderer!" someone shouted, and the crowd surged closer, voices rising in excitement. "Let me become your soldier, Wanderer!" another called out. "We will follow you! You are a hero!"

Wanderer, who was not a fan of attention, instinctively covered half of his face. He leaned closer to Furqan, speaking urgently over the din. "Get us out of here!"

Furqan chuckled, understanding Wanderer's discomfort. He began to push through the crowd, gently but firmly moving people aside. "Hold up, give us some space! We need to get through!" he called out, leading the way. Wanderer followed closely behind, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact with the eager fans.

They managed to slip into a small alleyway, ignoring the shouts of their admirers.

“hold my hand!” furqan then grab wanderer hand. and from his left hand. his exo suit a launch a grapping hook. and they two is then transfer into a rooftop. of a nearby building, jumping from one rooftop to another until they finally lost sight of the crowd below. "Phew... that was unexpected," Wanderer said, catching his breath.

Furqan laughed heartily, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that was definitely unexpected. I guess your fan club has grown quite a bit since our last visit. People sure do love a hero."

Wanderer sighed, shaking his head. "Yes, but they just don’t know me."

Furqan nodded, understanding the weight of Wanderer's words. "I get what you mean. Sometimes strangers put you on a pedestal and idolize you without really knowing who you are. It can be uncomfortable and even burdensome. But hey, they see you as a hero because you’ve saved countless lives. Maybe it’s a heavy weight to carry, but it also means you’ve done something truly meaningful here. Try to take it as a compliment, and remember why you do what you do."

"Shhh... stop being a nerd," Wanderer replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his frustration.

Furqan feigned offense, laughing. "Hey now, I’m just trying to be supportive! You don’t have to call me a nerd just because I can get philosophical sometimes."

Wanderer rolled his eyes, his mood lightening. "I’m not in the mood for that..."

As they continued their banter on rooftop, they stumbled upon an elevator and decided to use it to get down. Wanderer and Furqan froze as the elevator door slid open, revealing a striking figure. The green-skinned woman stood before them, tall and imposing, her unusual appearance momentarily leaving them speechless. They gawked at her, taking in the vibrant hue of her skin and the commanding presence she exuded. Wanderer exchanged a glance with Furqan, both intrigued and cautious about the unexpected encounter.

Furqan was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with surprise. "Whoa... What in the world is that? I've never seen someone with skin so green... or so tall."

Wanderer nodded in agreement, still trying to process the sight before him. His mind raced with questions and curiosity, wondering what race or species she belonged to. He stepped forward cautiously, sizing up the newcomer and attempting to read her expression. "Who are you? Where did you come from?" he asked, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his head.

The green-skinned woman regarded them with a neutral expression, her eyes darting between Wanderer and Furqan. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice deep and smooth. "I am called Jil," she said simply. "And I hail from a place far beyond your understanding."

Wanderer paused, then snorted dismissively. "Yeah, sure... I totally buy that."

Furqan shot Wanderer a glare, silently urging him to be respectful. Jil, however, seemed unfazed by Wanderer's skepticism. She gave him a cool glance, a smirk playing on her lips. "You may disbelieve if you want, but it matters little to me. I have no reason to lie to you."

Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "So... mutant?"

Jil's smirk widened, and she nodded slightly. "Yes, you could say that I'm a mutant. But my mutation is quite rare and different from what you may be familiar with."

Wanderer glanced at Furqan, then fixed his gaze back on Jil's face. "Huh? Can you tell us more?" But just as he asked, the elevator door opened fully, and they reached the bottom level of the building. Jil stepped out of the elevator, turning back with a smile. "Bye, normie," she said, her tone teasing.

Wanderer's eyes shot wide in disbelief. "That... bitch," he muttered under his breath, then sighed. "Well, I guess it's kinda karma."

Furqan laughed and patted Wanderer on the back. "Hey, look on the bright side! We got a little mystery to solve now, don't we? Who is this Jil lady, and what kind of mutant is she? Maybe we'll run into her again and find out more."

Wanderer rolled his eyes. "What? You wanna make this into a love story? No thanks."

Furqan chuckled, rolling his eyes in return. "Oh come on, I was just joking. I'm not suggesting anything about a love story. I'm just saying, it's always interesting to meet someone who's mysterious and different than us, you know? And she seemed pretty... captivating, didn't she?"

Wanderer raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. "So, you tell me now if you’re attracted to mutants instead of normal women?"

Furqan laughed heartily, lightly punching Wanderer on the arm. "No, no, no! I'm not saying I'm attracted to mutants or anything like that. I was just commenting on her unique appearance. She caught my attention, that's all. Doesn't mean I'm suddenly into mutants or anything." He grinned and winked at Wanderer. "Although... who knows, maybe she'll win me over with her mystery and charm. Ha!"

Wanderer shook his head. "No... they’re not normal. Every mutant... except Shizuka. But perhaps I’m just xenophobic after all this war."

Furqan nodded, "I know what you mean. Mutants are... different, there's no denying that. But maybe there's more to them than meets the eye, you know? We can't judge them all based on a few bad experiences or stereotypes. They're just trying to survive in this harsh wasteland just like we are."

Wanderer sighed, contemplating Furqan's words. "Then... yeah, sure. Why follow a bloodthirsty person like me then?"

Furqan laughed again, nudging Wanderer playfully. "Oh come on, you're not bloodthirsty. You're just... intense. And you're a damn good soldier. I've seen you in action, remember? You're skilled, strategic, and you get the job done. I'd follow you into battle any day."

Wanderer smirked, appreciating the compliment. "Alright... that is a good boy."

Furqan grinned and saluted Wanderer jokingly. "Yes, sir! I'm here to follow orders and kick some mutant ass, sir!"