Chapter 170: Virtue and Justice

The cavernous chamber, a space for suffering, hummed with the thrum of advanced machinery. Rows upon rows of stainless steel operating tables stretched into the blackness of the massive room, each occupied by a human or demi-human form, bound and supine. Children, their eyes wide with terror, lay beside weeping women, their bodies contorted in impossible angles. Men, their faces etched with pain, gasped for breath along with the whirling of metallic screeching.

A legion of scientists, clad in obsidian uniforms accented with red piping, moved with the precision of magitech. Their faces, pale and gaunt, were obscured by surgical masks, their eyes cold and unfeeling. At the heart of this repulsive scene stood what seemed like the head of the operations, a nametag on his uniform reading Dr. Kaelen, his black uniform stained red.

His eyes, burning with an unholy light, swept across the rows of suffering, "Magnificent," he rasped, his voice low, "simply magnificent. The yields are exceeding even my most ambitious projections." A circle of his acolytes, their faces pale and drawn, clustered around him, their voices a blend of admiration.

"The mana saturation is unprecedented," one, a woman with a chillingly serene smile, declared. "The bodies are adapting, growing stronger, more resilient."

Kaelen chuckled, a dry, grating sound. "Of course," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "We are pushing the boundaries of their endurance, shattering the very foundations of their frail existence."

"But the casualties," another acolyte stammered, "They are mounting." Kaelen waved a dismissive hand,

"Collateral damage," he sneered. "A necessary sacrifice on the altar of progress."

"The intruders," a third acolyte, his voice agitated, started to speak. "The ones who breached the perimeter. They've dealt with our Magitech and guards stationed here."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening. "They will be dealt with," he hissed. "But first, we have more pressing matters to attend to." He gestured towards a young girl, her eyes wide with terror, her limbs constrained and her body broken. "Increase the dosage," he commanded, "Push her further. Break her. And then, we shall see how much more mana she can produce." The acolytes exchanged grim glances, but none dared to disobey. They understood the stakes. These experiments were greenlit by Vel'ryr's royalty after all. There were other sources of energy, but mana was by far the most potent.

However, mana siphoned by the leylines flowing through the entirety of Vel'ryr decreased as time went by. And they could not establish a power grid to siphon mana from other nations and lands; the process was all but impossible. But here was the alternative. Those who possessed mana functioned differently from those who did not. The experiments done on those who had mana were simplistic at first. The simple siphoning of mana from the subject, of course, mana acted as a life source due to how ingrained it was into the bodies, via their bodies adapting to accommodate it.

However, there was a new method proposed. Mana grew in quantity and quality when strained and trained as if it were a muscle. Though even through more 'severe' tactics, they could not reliably force a subject to train their mana. Hence an alternative was discovered, by breaking down the physical shell, the body, the mana itself was forced to adapt to make sure the subject survived. In turn, the mana increased exponentially as a result. And the number of subjects was easy to procure, taken from nations the Vel'ryr empire conquered.

Kaelen watched uncaringly, ("This abundance of mana siphoned shall be plenty enough to fuel project Alpha. Though project Omega will have to wait, either way Prince Avice will be most pleased.")

["Access Granted"] A cold robotic voice rang through the area. Kaelen's gaze snapped to the large yet sleek reinforced doors of the laboratory. They slowly slid open, and he looked on in confusion.

("No one is scheduled to monitor our research today, what is this?") The question did not sit in his mind for long. In no time, the large doors were opened, and a figure took slow steps forward. The clanking of armor followed as a familiar figure made itself present. That mane of distinctive red hair was all he needed to see. "General Grimm!?"

"Yes, who else?" He shot back, scanning the vast space. Taking in the numerous people constrained to operating tables or other apparatus. "Hmm," Grimm hummed and approached Kaelen, who froze up as a result. The other scientists had long since stopped their work, varying degrees of anxiousness clouded their faces as they looked at the imposing general. Kaelen involuntarily swallowed a lump in his throat as he backed away. The general stopped before him, towering over him with a good few meters. "Kaelen," he noted his name displayed on his nametag.

"Y-yes general. I am the head researcher here to-" The scientist started, only to be immediately cut off.

"I don't recall asking," Grimm bluntly and dryly voiced, shutting Kaelen right up. Grimm paced, taking in everything. "This facility is registered as a Magitech research and development one, correct?"

"Well, i-it's been re-"

"Answer with one word." Grimm ordered.

"Y-yes."

"Yet here I see humans and demi-humans. As well as unethical experimentation," his muffled voice was low yet sharp, "Such vile experimentation is counterintuitive, I shall illuminate reasons as to why. It's repulsive and stains this nation in a negative light. It's bad for our reputation, Vel'ryr is already a nation known for invading weaker countries and whatnot. And this is bad for the soul, you diminish yourself to evil. It's an easy path hence it is pathetic, you see?"

Kaelin remained silent, there seemed to be no right answer.

"Tell me, who greenlit these experimentations?" Grimm asked, though it seemed more like he was ordering him to talk.

"P-princess Anuran and Prince Avice." He answered hesitantly.

"Of course," the general shook his head, seemingly not surprised, "Anuran is quite demented, a good thing she's not next in line. And Avice....it seems ambition is not always a good thing" Grimm mused, "Now release all the prisoners."

An order once more, not a request. One Kaelin would not dare refuse, "O-of course, general." He gestured to his acolytes, and they immediately understood. Slowly and carefully, the captives were freed from the operating tables and other apparatus. Of course, most were far too injured to even move; they could but look around in fear and apprehension.

Grimm turned away from Kaelin, gazing at the entrance, "You two are free to enter now. I've proved myself no doubt." He said much to the scientist's confusion.

The red hair of Lyraeth peaked out first, and then the head of salmon pink from Isabella. The former looked around with a glare, and the latter disgust.

"Those are the intruders!" One scientist exclaimed, though he was quickly silenced as Grimm threw him a stare.

"This is...deplorable." Isabella all but spat out with a scowl, with a simple gesture, a bright light illuminated the space. Originating around her hand, her harp began to take shape; it did not take long before it was completely materialized. The scientist tensed in apprehension as Isabella's fingers gracefully played on the strings of her harp.

A soft green translucent light expanded out, engulfing all. A great comfort enveloped the captives, the worst of their injuries mending in a near instance.

("Fascinating, such potent mana. Not large in quantity but its quality is exponential.") Kaelin noted, looking at the green light with interest. Nearby sensory machines went haywire as they picked up the potent mana, fueling his thoughts. His acolytes seemed to be of the same mind, but before he could ponder more about the matter, Lyraeth stomped her way to him.

"Be-" Before Kaelin could get a word in, her fist collided with his cheek, the force reverberated through the space as his body took off in flight, "Guh!" Teeth flew along with blood mixed with saliva as his body unceremoniously collided with the hard floor. Were it not for his Vel'ryrian physiology, his head would have no doubt been knocked off his shoulders under the absurd force of her punch.

"You look like the bastard in charge!" She exclaimed with a fierce glare. "These many people....you animal...." She growled out.

Isabella pursed her lips as the intense light died down, her harp dissembling from her grasp. Lyraeth's mana flared, her anger palpable as her own disgust. Her eyes swept through the gaunt and haunted faces of men, women, and children. Their injuries were mended, they were no longer confined yet not a shred of hope was present within their vacant eyes.

Her stomach dropped at the sight, "Just what have you done to these people..." She whispered out.

Lyraeth took another step towards the now cowering Kaelin, who attempted to crawl back. Retribution stared him down, and he did not want to face it. Before Lyraeth could follow through, however, Grimm placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"What?" She all but spat out.

"Don't do it, girl." The general ordered. "You're not merely going to maim him, with that look in your eyes, it's clear that would not satisfy whatever loose sense of justice you hold."

"This scumbag-"

"Will face true justice." Grimm cut her off. "Killing him now is meaningless. An individual such as him must face true suffering for his actions; killing is a mercy not everyone deserves. Even with your lack of a brain, you should understand that."

Lyraeth's eye twitched at the comment, but the general's words did make sense. Death was an easy way out, this man needed to face true punishment. She took a deep breath, a glare directed at Kaelin as she spat in his direction.

"I have a brain!" She declared right after with a huff.

Isabella released a breath. She did not want to deal with death at the moment, even if that death was justified. "My magic mended the worst of their wounds, but we need to begin moving everyone out of here. These conditions won't do them any good."

Grimm nodded, "Facilities like these should have vehicles to transport parts and whatnot. Take all the captives out front; transport vehicles should be there." He advised, the girls nodded their heads as they approached the shaken people who glanced at them with apprehension and a hint of fear. Grimm, meanwhile, turned to Kaelin.

"I'll take a gander and assume this is not the only facility that specializes in this kind of experimentation." Grimm mused, folding his arms, his hidden gaze pierced the scientist.

"Y-yes, there are several." Kaelin admitted, Grimm heaved a small sigh and shook his head.

"Aye, this nation truly has regressed if we are devolved to this." He rubbed the chin of his mask as he continued, "I'll make it so you and your acolytes receive the maximum punishment. Simple Death is too good for you; the abyss will not claim you today. For your crimes of dragging the Vel'ryr name through mud and subjecting these people to these horrors, you shall rot for the rest of your lives. When you sit in that putrid cell, when you're subjected to the same pain every day, when you are humiliated, you will come to change as a person. Maybe you'll see the error of your ways, unfortunately not everyone deserves redemption."

Kaelin could but look at the dingy floor, a mix of emotions ranging from fear, anger, and horror present on his face. His associates were of much the same mind as Grimm's words hung in the air.

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The Eastern district, a district that was a labyrinth of interconnected pathways, a maze of shops and boutiques, each vying for attention. The air was thick with conversation, the clinking of coins, the scent of exotic spices, the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries, and the intoxicating fragrance of designer perfumes, and the hum of automated carts gliding effortlessly through the crowds. Fashionable shoppers, their faces illuminated by the glow of holographic displays, navigated the maze of shops with ease. Tourists, wide-eyed and awestruck, gawked at the wonders on display. The shops themselves were a marvel, with the ingenuity of the architects and designers. Some were cavernous structures, their interiors bathed in a soft light. Others were sleek and minimalist, with stark lines and clean surfaces. The air was one of sophistication.

Yet that sophistication would be easily broken were one to glance high atop a skyscraper.

"Pervert, pervert, pervert, pervert, pervert, pervert, pervert!" The chant rang through the air. Where did it originate from? Well, from Vel'ryr's princess, sixth in line to the throne. Currently, she was being lifted like a sack of potatoes, residing under Dante's left arm, effectively restraining both her arms while she kicked her dainty legs with vigor.

Dante could but shake his head, barely nudging despite the inhumane strength she possessed and attempted to use to break out. "You piece of shit, I'll kick your ass!" Clearly giving up on her haughty act, she regressed to being foul-mouthed.

"It is impolite to have such a foul mouth, young one." Dante advised.

"Screw you!" She shot back as she writhed under him. Dante said nothing, for he was awaiting something. Much to her confusion, Dante pointed in a certain direction with his free arm, she furrowed her brows as she followed it.

Obscured and nestled between two large buildings, it was easy to miss for ordinary folk. It was a small structure, sleek black giving no hint as to what could be inside. There was a main gate, unguarded but an array of transportation vehicles were lined outside. Though that hardly caught her attention, from the distance they were standing, anyone normal would not have been able to make out anything worthwhile. But their keen gazes could see it clearly, huddled together was a collection of white. At least two dozen people, all outfitted in tattered white uniforms stained with blood and grime.

Emilia looked on confused, not sure what she was even looking at, but Dante was quick to clarify, "As you recalled, those are the captives Vel'ryr has been experimenting on, I mentioned. Is this proof enough?" Emilia said nothing as Dante finally released her, she landed on her feet but did not attack him. She was too focused on the sight.

"Those....Vel'ryr would never..." She attempted to reason.

"Your keen eyes no doubt see it from here, they walk, they hear, they see, and they smell. Yet look into their eyes, vacant you would swear each were but a walking corpse." He spoke, his tone grim. "Vel'ryr labs have been forcefully taking those with mana, the experimentation done on them is nothing short of torture."

Emilia scowled, she seemed in denial yet the disgust was visible in her eyes, ("This...can't be true")

As if hearing her thoughts, Dante continued, "The religious nation of Verdantis, the hospital nation of Galadriel, and the technologically advanced nation of Vel'ryr, each possess a thick darkness not easily snuffed." The Inheritor of strength folded his arms, "You were merely oblivious to it. Those people will never know peace, Vel'ryr has ruined their very being."

"But who...why....I...." She did not know what to say, this was her home and she refused to believe it could be capable of such atrociousness. Yet the proof was right there, she could not ignore what reality showed.

Dante turned away from her and started walking, "You've not yet been tainted by this darkness, princess. I can not tell you what path you need to walk, but I can part with some advice. The darkness that plagues all can never be fully snuffed out, you can but tame it. If you want change in this nation, then wrench away control from those who would sooner see all plunge into chaos." The princess could not say anything back, as she glanced at him, he was gone as if he were never there.

She was left alone to witness the sins her nation had committed. A nation she grew up in, one she loved, and now she did not know what to think anymore.

Things were never black and white.