Sudden Twist

Since Romeo was too distracted that he paid no attention to the pair of Carnal Shifters engaged in a heated word exchange before him, he failed to realize that the conversation has taken a different turn and is now being aimed at him.

Armstrong, having realized that he doesn't have the upper hand in battling against Regina, decided that if he is to go down by her, he would make sure to drag someone down with him.

And since Romeo is already tagged his archenemies, apart from Regina, Armstrong felt that only this nemesis of his is designed to go down with him. For that reason, he didn't hesitate to ruthlessly expose Romeo's true origin.

"What do you mean by 'his kind'?" Regina questions with puzzlement.

She is yet to comprehend the misunderstanding that exists between Armstrong and Romeo as her main focus had been on pursuing Armstrong away from Land Climax immediately she set her sight upon him.

However, since Armstrong is now putting Romeo in the crossfire, she finally took notice of him as she realizes that she hasn't paid any attention to the seemingly ordinary young man ever since she interfered in their matter.

With long sleeky black hair falling down his shoulders while gleaming under the lighting like onyx stones, and a pair of enchanting golden eyes, she reckons that the young man is quite fine especially since his appearance accentuates his proportioned physique which made him appear like an athlete.

The young man is claded in a high-tech luxurious outfit that made him stand out as a refined young man. However, after scrutinizing his features carefully, Regina felt that Romeo is just an ordinary young man even if he possesses an otherworldly appearance.

Judging by his aura, she deduced that he recently activated his Carnal Gene which makes him a newborn. But she is yet to know the kind of House he came from.

"What I meant is that he isn't also from Land Climax but is one of those outcasts from the slums." Armstrong declared viciously. His voice was raised to a higher decibel that it was enough to interrupt the conversation between Romeo and his Carnal Consciousness, thus snapping Romeo out of his reverie.

"Do you dare to deny it?" Armstrong asks Romeo who had a dazed look on his face. A cold glint flashed across Armstrong's eyes as he noticed the confusion brewing in Romeo's eyes.

He was only half satisfied with this expression and he won't stop until Romeo is humiliated, or worse, before he would be able to quell his anger and the dissatisfaction in his heart.

Romeo was totally unprepared for Armstrong's revelation. He stood transfixed on his spot with a dazed look on his face while trying to grasp the kind of predicament he had been pushed into.

He never expected Armstrong to involve him in a matter that has nothing to do with him at all. In the first place, the grudge was between the male Minotaur Carnal Shifter and the female female Lycan Carnal Shifter, so what does it have to do with him?

*Ding: Romeo, I expected you to be wise in situations like this. Can't you tell that Armstrong clearly holds a grudge against you which is the major reason he pulled you into their crossfire. Since he already knows that he is not evenly matched with the female Lycan, he decided to make you suffer in her hands before he would be satisfied. That way, he would enact his revenge while also regaining his pride.*

Listening to the explanation of his consciousness, Romeo felt that it made sense as he gains some clarity. 'However, if what you said is true, of what use would regaining his pride be when he would also suffer the same fate at the hands of the female Lycan?'

*Ding: You are one of the greatest enemies of Armstrong. What does it matter if he makes one of his enemies suffer in the hands of the other? Armstrong considers you to be beneath him so when you spoke against him consecutively publicly, especially in the Spatial Port yesterday, he was vexed as he thought he has lost face. Therefore, making you suffer would help him regain the face he lost, or so he thought. As for the Lycan, Armstrong already knows he is not a match for her so he would reluctantly bow before her, for now. But don't take it as a act of surrendering as he would make sure to enact his revenge upon her later.*

Romeo understood immediately. Armstrong is someone who bullies the poor but fears the rich and would superficially bow before them publicly but plot against them privately. Simply put, the male Minotaur is a coward which isn't quite surprising, unlike the attitude of most Minotaurs as they are known to charge ahead without a care, especially when there is a raised red flag.

Regina carefully observes the reaction of Romeo. Judging by the dazed expression upon hearing Armstrong's words, she reckons that he was telling the truth about Romeo being a slum outcast.

However, her judgement at this instant is one that is clouded with dilemma. Slum outcasts are people that are known never to possess a Carnal Gene yet the ordinary young man before her possesses one, a fact she ascertained judging by his aura.

If Romeo is a Carnal Shifter, then it would mean that he is automatically not part of the slum outcasts anymore. However, Regina is yet to discern the kind of Carnal Gene he possesses.

Perhaps, he might be like Armstrong whose Carnal Gene is not of THRIVE but of another organization which is the enemy of THRIVE. If this is true, then Romeo is really not welcome in Land Climax. Or, Romeo might really be a Carnal Shifter that is of THRIVE which signifies that it is within his right to be in Land Climax.

This two possibilities has gotten Regina stuck in a dilemma. Either ways, Regina would first real with Armstrong before deciding on what to do with the enigmatic young man. Besides, Armstrong is the person she has a problem with in the first place.

As for the mysterious young man, she would make sure to investigate him properly before drawing her conclusions about him.

"Armstrong, I don't care about the slum outcast. All I care about is your leaving, an action you've clearly not taken." Regina said calmly as she cast her gaze upon Armstrong once again.

Armstrong was stunned silly at her words and he is not the only one. Romeo had expected the female Lycan to have him thrown out of the Center but it seems like he was overthinking matters as she doesn't even care about him.

*Ding: Romeo, you are not overthinking anything. If it was under normal circumstances, you would be kneeling and wailing at the entrance of the Center as she would have casted you out.*

'Why hasn't she done that yet? I mean, what changed?' Romeo asks inwardly.

*Ding: The fact that you are a Carnal Shifter made her think twice before acting rashly. The female Lycan could sense that you are a newborn and even if she believes that you are a slum outcast, there is nothing much to do at this point but to give you the benefit of doubt.*

'If I am allowed to stay due to me being a Carnal Shifter, why is Armstrong urged to leave?' Romeo is really confused at the number of actions in play at this moment.

*Ding: Armstrong isn't a Carnal Shifter of THRIVE but of another organization known as STRIVE, which is the enemy of THRIVE. For this reason, he is not allowed anywhere near THRIVE territory. In fact, Armstrong should consider himself lucky as if it was any other House, say the Dragons, his head would have been rolling on the ground. Also I would advice you to be careful in the future as the female Lycan has the intention of investigating you. She is willing to give you a benefit of doubt for now until she knows the kind of Carnal Shifting organization you belong to.*

Romeo ponders deeply on the words of his Carnal Consciousness and couldn't help but wonder about the deep mysteries that revolve around the concept of Carnal Gene. He thought that all Carnal Shifters in the world are under the rule of THRIVE but it turns out that there is another organization which he has never heard of.

'So if this STRIVE was responsible for making Armstrong a Carnal Shifter, what kind of Carnal Shifter am I then?'

*Ding: When it comes to you Romeo, I would say that you are a unique kind of Carnal Shifter. You are neither of THRIVE nor of STRIVE which is why I suggested that you should be extremely careful in the future as this uniqueness of yours could cause your downfall or your uplift, depending on the kind of path you trail.*

'I got your message but I really want to know the kind of Carnal shifter I am. And why would you also say that I am unique?'

Romeo's mind was filled with the intense desire to satiate his curiosity and clear his confusion. The more he learns about Carnal Shifters, the more he realises that he knows nothing as he tend to discover new things.

*Ding: Romeo, you are quite inquisitive for someone who claims to have enough comprehension. Unfortunately, the answers to your questions doesn't lie with me but in your hands as you would simply have to discover who you are through the passage of time.*

'Or you could simply say it and put me at ease.' Romeo suggested.

*Ding: I could. But I don't want to. It is quite a fascinating scene unfolding before you, don't you think? A male Minotaur and a female Lycan engaged in a heated argument, you don't see that everyday so I suggest you take a look at it.*

With that, Romeo felt his Carnal Consciousness shut off in the depth of his mind. He is quite disgruntled as he is left in a state of confusion due to his unanswered questions.

However, just like his consciousness had suggested, he focused his attention on the ongoing bickering between the pair of Carnal Shifters while suppressing the uneasiness in his heart.

"What do you mean by not caring about the slum outcast? The last time I checked, people from the slums are not also welcomed anywhere near THRIVE territory." Armstrong stated with a sneer.

"And so what? Are you questioning me now? Since you are not ready to leave, I guess I would have to help you out." Immediately Regina made this statement, the tons of Armoured Elites behind her moved towards Armstrong.

Armstrong was also protected by his Elites with alacrity. Though he knows that they are barely enough and he is clearly at a disadvantage, he still counted on his Armoured Elites for protection.

"Regina, what are you trying to do? If the slum outcast is allowed in THRIVE territory, then I guess I am too!" Armstrong bellows as he stood behind his Armoured Elites.

He was filled with indignation and since Regina is willing to allow Romeo to stay, then there shouldn't be any harm in him staying also. He had thought putting Romeo in the crossfire would implicate the outcast but he was put to shame instead. This sudden twist further strengthen his resolve and indignation. He would stop at nothing until he sees Romeo being trampled under his feet.