Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Chapter 128 I'm the highest in the room

The sound of footsteps echoed down the dimly lit hallway as a tall young man, dressed sharply in a navy-blue uniform, strode forward with his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

His spiky golden hair fell across his eyes, completely obscuring them, yet it only added to his enigmatic allure. His chiseled face and athletic build were the kind that could make heads turn and hearts flutter—a visage that would undoubtedly draw the admiration of any woman.

Each step he took exuded confidence and authority as he made his way down the corridor. Finally, he stopped in front of a large, imposing brown door. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled his left hand from his pocket and pushed the door slightly. It creaked open, revealing a vast room bathed in faint, amber light.

The room was expansive, almost cavernous, with twelve meticulously arranged chairs positioned around a massive round table at its center. The dim lighting came from three small lamps hanging from the walls, their faint glow casting long shadows across the room. Despite its size, the space felt oppressive, the dimness lending it an air of secrecy and unease.

Six of the twelve chairs were occupied. The figures seated around the table turned to look at the newcomer as his footsteps echoed in their direction.

"You're finally here. Took you long enough," one of them said, his tone sharp and impatient. The speaker was a painfully thin man whose skeletal frame seemed to exaggerate every angle of his face. His name was Jack Bailey, and he was one of the academy's elite High Staff members.

High Staff were a step above regular academy personnel but remained subordinate to the Sirs—three individuals at the apex of authority. Among the academy's hierarchy, there were only five High Staff members and three Sirs. Jack was one of these select few, as were the others seated in the room, except for one: Sir Dominic, the formidable Sir Three.

"Apologies, everyone. I lost track of time while showering," the young man said nonchalantly, his voice calm and steady as he continued to approach the table.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" snapped another voice. This time it came from a plump, ruddy-faced man whose round cheeks quivered as he spoke. "You kept five High Staff members and Sir Dominic waiting for over thirty minutes because of a bath?! Unbelievable!"

The man, Sam, was another High Staff member, and his annoyance was obvious. As he ranted, flecks of saliva escaped his lips, further fueling his anger.

Klaus, the golden-haired young man, smirked. "Take it easy, Sammy. You wouldn't want to drench everyone here with your spit, would you?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sam's face turned crimson as anger overtook him. He slammed a clenched fist on the table. "You arrogant bastard! I'll teach you a lesson—"

"Enough!" Sir Dominic's deep, commanding voice cut through the room like a blade. The air seemed to grow heavier as silence descended. Sam froze, his rage swallowed by the palpable authority of the man who had spoken.

"Sit down, Sam," Sir Dominic ordered, and Sam obeyed without a word, his humiliation evident. Then, turning to Klaus, Dominic gestured toward an empty seat. "Take a seat, Klaus."

Klaus nodded and sauntered over to the vacant chair beside Kara, another High Staff member. As he sat, he leaned back leisurely, folding his arms and crossing his legs. His piercing gaze shifted to Kara, and he offered her a sly wink.

Dominic nodded. "Exactly. And if they were forced to flee, what was it that scared them enough to make such a decision? These are the questions we need to answer. You mentioned the supplies were untouched?"

"Every last bit of it," Klaus confirmed. "The computers, the weapons, the resources—it was all intact. It's like they didn't have time to take anything with them."

"Then we need to retrieve everything and investigate further," Dominic declared, his voice resolute. "There might be critical information left behind that could help us understand their motives. Kara," he said, turning to her, "the students finished their trials today, didn't they?"

"They did," Kara replied cautiously, her brow furrowing.

"Good," Dominic said. "Take the top three groups with you for backup. They'll be strong enough to handle themselves."

"You want to send the students to a mutant planet?" Kara's voice was incredulous, her usual calm demeanor breaking momentarily.

"The top three groups should be the best we have," Dominic explained. "And Agogjie is safer than Earth when it comes to mutant activity. It's the perfect opportunity to test their abilities in a controlled environment."

Kara shook her head, her unease evident. "Sir, with all due respect, it's still a mutant planet. Anything could happen. It would be safer for only the staff to handle this mission. After all, it's our responsibility, not the students'."

"She's right," Klaus added, surprising Kara with his agreement. "As much as I hate to admit it, bringing the students along would be a liability. Even the safest mutant planet is still unpredictable, and we'd be risking their lives unnecessarily."

Dominic leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. After a long moment of silence, he finally nodded. "Very well. This will be a mission for the five High Staff members only. No students."

Klaus stood, stretching leisurely as he slipped his hands back into his pockets. "Guess I'm off the hook, then. I'm not one of your precious High Staff, after all," he said, a mocking lilt in his voice.

"Yeah, get out of here, weakling," Sam spat, his words punctuated by another spray of saliva. "You don't belong in this room anyway."

Klaus's smirk vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark, menacing expression. His golden hair seemed to glint ominously in the dim light as he turned his gaze toward Sam.

"Careful, Sammy," he said, his voice low and icy. "Just because I don't hold your little title doesn't mean I'm weaker than you. In fact, you all know I'm the strongest person in this room. And if I wanted to, I could snap my fingers and end you right here."

The room fell into a tense silence. Sam, visibly shaken, shrank back into his chair, beads of sweat forming on his flushed face.