Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System - Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Fort Commander, Eisenburg [Bonus Chapter 1/7]
“???”

Although taken aback at first, Cassius quickly reciprocated the hug when he sensed the poor girl’s unease.

She had been trapped in that cold, wet, and scary dungeon for so long. And when finally allowed to escape, the kind man who helped her spoke words that surely spelled his demise. For the past few hours, she couldn’t stop herself from assuming the worst.

It became dark again. So very dark.

Then, like the dam walls of light breaking forth, the door to the room she was ordered to stay in swung open. Light returned once more.

Only muffles escaped Opal’s lips, but Cassius could fully understand the intent behind what she was trying to say. He smiled fondly, coddling her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone again. After all, we’re going to head over to your elder sister’s place right after I explain to the Fort Commander what happened.”

‘Yun, Yun!?’ Opal’s puffy eyes brightened as she peered into his soul, searching for the truth in his words.

Cassius patted her head, causing her to cutely squint. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I only sometimes lie. This isn’t one of those times.”

Opal’s cheeks puffed outward.

How was she supposed to know if that wasn’t also a lie? The big jerk.

Cassius chuckled before swooping the jittery cat-girl into his arms. “Before you get mad, I’m only doing this because it’s faster if I transport you to your elder sister. Raijin here is convenient for long, relaxed travel, but I’m still faster by a long shot.”

Raijin grumbled a little in the background but knew full well how true that statement was. In terms of raw speed, he could never hope to beat his Master. Even ascending to the high heavens above would be an easier task to accomplish.

“Anyway,” Cassius said while looking away from the profusely blushing girl in his arms, “I say it’s time we make another trip. Come, Raijin and Nyxvoldar; it’s time to go.”

Both of his unique Evomons complied with their Master’s request and returned to the Evospace inside him. Seeing as they no longer needed to reside within an Evoball due to their special constitutions, they were now able to “enjoy” each other’s presences within the mystical inner world—the Evospace.

However, as it was a new System feature that came just recently, it was naturally still in the development process. Right now, it was really just a massive empty space with a small mountain range and a couple of ponds in the center. Though, for Raijin and Nyxvoldar, it was more than sufficient enough for them to relax and soothe their tired bones.

Cassius sighed as he watched his two most powerful Evomons hit the sack as soon as they entered the Evospace.

“Those two…” Cassius muttered before shaking his head and focusing on the shy girl in his arms. “You ready?”

Opal’s mind spun, and so did her eyes, but she meekly nodded nonetheless.

Cassius smiled before saying, “Hold on.”

Soon after those two words left his mouth, he blurred.

In an instant, the scenery had changed, and the two of them were now standing directly outside a well-polished office. Calmly sitting inside that office was the mountain-man-like Fort Commander—Eisenburg.

Without even needing to say anything, the Fort Commander’s voice sounded out, deep and rich:

“Come in, Cadet Cassius.”

As one not to stand on ceremony, Cassius waltzed right on in. He briskly approached the opulent cedarwood desk, where on the other side sat a man whose presence felt overbearing. It wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as the East Fortress Master’s, but it was still up there.

‘5th Stage 2nd Class Slayer… He’s far stronger than I originally assumed the Fort Commander to be.’

“Speak. What have you come to me for, Cadet Cassius?” Eisenburg asked in a neutral tone. “And who is the girl in your arms? A friend?”

Cassius smiled in a friendly way. “Yes, my friend,” he said as shadows began to shroud his face. “I’m just making sure she gets to where she needs to go. And to this end, I have come to you. For that and also to discuss what happened to Platoon 49.”

“Platoon 49…? I see. Go on, then. I’m all ears.”

“Very well, sir,” Cassius said, his guard still raised. “Platoon 49 is…”

He then went on to explain how Platoon 49 had been entirely wiped out, and did so while expertly leaving out his involvement in the matter. He did so this way because trust was not easy to come by, and if he were being frank, he didn’t yet trust this Fort Commander.

In fact, he didn’t trust anyone in this Land of Darkness.

‘If I were powerful enough, I could simply read through the Fort Commander’s description and see if he had anything to do with Opal’s kidnapping,’ Cassius thought as he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. ‘But since that is not possible, informing him of Opal’s true identity is not wise. Furthermore, outright telling him that I murdered all of Platoon 49 is also impossible.’

For now, he had to play things safe. Until he was strong enough to no longer beat around the bush, he had to continue playing things this way.

After the conclusion of the altered recap of events, Eisenburg’s expression thoughtfully contorted. “I understand the general situation,” he said, his voice unreadable. “I’ll report this higher up and also inform them of a potential Soul Eater scheme.”

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Cadet Cassius,” he continued, seemingly not the least bit suspicious. “What would you like as a reward for your contributions? You’ve received permission to bring your friend to wherever she has to go, but that is hardly a sufficient reward. So tell me, what else is it that you want?”

Although Cassius found Fort Commander Eisenburg’s pleasing attitude a little bit odd, he decided to use this opportunity to request something that would make things far more convenient for him:

“As long as you’d have it, I’d like to start a new Platoon—Platoon 0—and be the only active member of that same Platoon,” he said. “I won’t deceive you; I request this so as to have more freedom and not get caught up in something as dangerous as what I just experienced. As for other members, using random Slayers as placeholders or members on paper should be easiest.”