Chapter 21: Defensive Counterattack |
Robnos was a sly old fox.
He had laid a trail of traps, using threats and promises to lure the apprentices onto his hook before finally revealing his true colors.
Lino realized he had boarded a sinking ship, but it was too late.
He already knew too much about the Ghost Mushroom. Walking away unscathed was virtually impossible.
Fortunately, the Council of Nikaea was still a long way off. He had time to maneuver.
"Overseer, I have a question," an apprentice asked, raising his hand.
"Speak."
"What do I need to do to get the Ghost Serum?" the apprentice asked.
Robnos gave a half-smile.
Marzachs looked disappointed.
The rest of the apprentices buzzed with excitement.
Between the employment benefits and the promise of the Ghost Serum, their motivation for the upcoming training would be off the charts.
Even the guy who had mouthed off to Robnos earlier was now flashing a fawning smile.
Robnos played the part of a benevolent elder, graciously forgiving the apprentice's earlier disrespect.
A joyous atmosphere quickly filled the lounge.
"Alright, everyone. Get back to your dinner. Once you finish, you're free to go. Just remember to report here at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Understood, Overseer."
"This dinner is incredible. I'm definitely staying in the Collection Department!"
They all sat back down and dug in.
Not long after, the group headed home amid laughter and cheerful chatter. Each of them believed they were fate's chosen few, convinced they would safely survive the upcoming injections.
Weighed down by his thoughts, Lino ate slowly and was the last to leave the table.
Robnos squeezed his shoulder and smiled warmly.
"Lino, are you worried because you think you're destined to wash out?"
'No, I'm just worried about getting purged as a heretic by the Space Marines in the future.'
Lino gave a bitter smile.
"Yes, Overseer. Knowing they all have a shot at the Ghost Serum while I don't... it makes my future look pretty bleak."
"Hahaha, don't give up so soon." Robnos patted Lino's shoulder. "I'll tell you the truth. The head of the Experimental Department has been trying to poach you from me."
"Oh? Really?" Lino's eyes lit up.
"Of course. I might be forgetful, but I never lie." Robnos laughed. "Stick it out with me for a little while longer. Once the training is over, I'll transfer you over there. But once you leave my department, getting your hands on enhancement serum is going to be tough. Make sure you seize this opportunity."
Robnos was all smiles, tossing the words out so casually he made it sound like the enhancement serum carried zero risk of death. The nonchalance sent a chill down Lino's spine.
"Understood, Overseer. I'll stick it out to the very end."
Lino swallowed his unease and thumped his chest, putting on a show of fiery determination.
"Head on home. See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Overseer."
Lino took the elevator back to the ground floor and returned his Dataslate at the main entrance.
Walking a short distance away, he looked back at the towering factory building. To him, it looked like a colossal steel beast designed to devour human souls.
'It is what it is,' he thought. 'I'll take it one step at a time. First things first, I need a way to overcome the hallucinations.'
Picking up the pace, Lino found a new mushroom stall and bought the supplies he needed to cultivate Milk Mushrooms.
He handed over his ration card. As he grabbed the bag of soil, his eyebrows shot up in surprise.
'This bag is so light.'
'Did the stall owner shortchange me?'
Lino opened the bag to check. It was packed to the brim; there was no issue with the quantity.
He grabbed two bags at once with his right hand. Only then did he feel any real weight.
'Oh, I get it. It's the enhancement serum.'
Usually, a sudden spike in raw muscle strength made it easy to overexert, accidentally injuring oneself or crushing fragile items like cups.
But the enhancement serum hadn't just significantly boosted his physical strength; it had also fine-tuned his muscle control to match.
He hadn't felt clumsy or uncoordinated at all on the walk over. It wasn't until he picked up the heavy bags that he even noticed the massive leap in strength.
It was further proof that the Collection Department's enhancement serum was no ordinary drug.
For a dangerous substance tied to The Warp, its effects were genuinely extraordinary.
Curious about his limits, Lino grabbed two bags of soil in each hand.
"Whoa there, young man. You've got some real strength! You're almost catching up to my son—he's a meter-eighty tall, works as a foreman, and even has a wife!"
The old stall owner chuckled, clearly bursting with pride over his son.
Lino glanced back at him. "Your son must be pretty strong to match a fifteen-year-old kid like me."
The stall owner choked on his words. He glared indignantly at Lino's retreating back but couldn't think of a single retort.
Lino ignored the boastful old man.
It took three trips between the stall and his apartment to haul all the supplies back. He also bought a few larger sets of everyday clothes, just in case he grew.
Just as he was getting ready to wash up and sleep, someone began hammering violently on his door.
Frowning, Lino lifted a corner of the curtain and peered out.
Several men were outside pounding on his door.
Their faces were flushed and their speech slurred. They had clearly been drinking heavily.
"Hey! Lino! Open up!"
"Are you going to show up for work or not?! We've been waiting for days! Why the hell haven't we heard from you?!"
Bang, bang, bang!
"Open the damn door! We saw you go in!"
It was the cargo crew—the same gang of loaders who had been extorting him.
They just wouldn't quit. Instead of sleeping, they were out here causing trouble in the middle of the night.
Lino clenched his fists, rapidly calculating how to take on multiple opponents at once.
Bang, bang, bang!
"Open up! Lino! We held a job for you, and this is how you treat us?! Open the door!"
Bang, bang, bang!
Throw one punch to prevent a hundred. He finally had the strength to face them head-on. There was no need to cower and swallow their abuse anymore.
His gaze hardened. He grabbed an iron ruler he had bought back in his academy days, flipped the deadbolt, and wedged his toe against the bottom of the door.
Hearing the lock click, the men outside shoved the door hard.
The door swung open a crack before slamming into Lino's wedged foot, halting entirely.
"Little rat, you finally showed your face! Just wait till I get my hands on you! You vanish for days, and you don't even have the decency to let us know?!"
The foreman practically spat the words, his breath reeking of cheap booze and his eyes heavily bloodshot.
He grabbed the edge of the door, trying to force it open.
Lino tightened his grip on the iron ruler and brought it down with a heavy, overhead strike.
Crack!
Solid iron smashed into bone. The foreman's right hand turned an angry red as a massive welt swelled up instantly.
"Ah! My hand!"
The foreman reeled back in agony, crashing into the men behind him.
Lino ripped the door open and planted a heavy kick squarely in the foreman's gut.
With a dull thud, the entire group of loaders staggered backward.
The foreman clutched his stomach, his face purple and veins bulging on his forehead. "Get him! Beat him to death!!"
The loaders rushed the doorway.
This time, instead of just using their hands, they frantically threw their shoulders against the door.
Lino slammed the door shut and braced his back against it.
Deafening crashes rang out as they hammered against the wood. The door shook violently, the lock screeching under the strain as the cylinder threatened to snap.
Several burly men took turns throwing their weight into the wood.
If his strength hadn't just been augmented, Lino wouldn't have stood a chance of holding them back!
Amidst the chaos, the foreman yelled, "Are you all idiots? The window is right there!"
Lino glanced at the glass window and then at the bags of supplies scattered across his floor. His heart sank.
A fight was one thing, but if they ruined his mushroom-cultivation supplies, all his hard-earned savings would go down the drain.
Gritting his teeth, Lino yanked the door open and charged out, determined to keep the brawl outside.
"You actually have the guts to come out? Beat him!" the foreman roared, eyes blazing with fury as he and his men swarmed in.
Lino swung his iron ruler with tremendous force. It connected with a man's shoulder with a sharp crack. The man's arm went limp, and he let out a pained whimper.
"What the hell! Since when is he this strong?! Don't fight him head-on!"
Hearing their companion's warning, the others pulled their punches. Instead, they reached behind their backs, grabbed handfuls of dirt, and threw them into Lino's face.
Lino threw up his left arm to shield his eyes and stomped off his back foot, bulldozing straight into their ranks.
Unable to dodge in time, the foreman caught the brunt of the impact. He stumbled wildly before collapsing flat on his back in the middle of the street.
Sweeping the iron ruler horizontally, Lino spun like a top. His arms lashed out in a wild frenzy, the heavy iron cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
Completely caught off guard by Lino's speed and ferocity, the loaders were overwhelmed. They broke into painful howls, clutching their heads as the iron ruler rained down on them.
Terrified, they scrambled backward to get out of range.
A clear perimeter quickly opened up around Lino.
His cold gaze landed on the foreman, who was still sprawled on the ground nearby. Lino decided it was time to teach the man an unforgettable lesson, so they wouldn't keep coming back to harass him.
"You... what are you doing..." The foreman scooted backward on the ground, clutching his stomach in sheer terror. His previous arrogance had vanished without a trace.
