Gregorio Silva

The heavy smell of iron permeated the area.

Sent produced by the dancing sea of blood in it, replenished every second by the piping system coming from the dim walls overridden by deep red rots doing the exact opposite. They buried themselves under the surface and drained the enormous pool of blood for all its worth, otherwise, the place would've drowned long ago.

The only light source was a fissure at the very top of the ceiling that expanded outwards as a dome with roots and vines following close to it as if opening a window themselves. The shimmers of light reflected on the red sea and made the contents of the area clearer.

Rubble and the old man-made structures resurfaced in the gory sea and the vines sucking the blood remained unrestrained by them, the only thing that has yet to crumble is a stone bridge that closed the gap between an elevator and what looks to be a destroyed memorial area.

Whatever statue used to take place in the middle was long broken and forgotten by everyone.

The only thing taking place on the desolate plateau was a throne in every sense but a righteous one. The red roots that continuously deplete the unending sea of blood lead behind the throne's apparatus.

And there, a complicated set of machinery took place at the throne with hydraulic cables attached to the roots and containers with gallons of filtered blood. As if a cruel display of human ingenuity, the cycle of depletion and replenishment feeds the man sitting at the throne, hooks and spikes sunken deep into his flesh.

The man seated on the torture device served no kingship or monarchy, the peace he upholds, the people currently living under a roof in this apocalypse, safe from the horrors… this wasn't his kindness, it was his penance.

His duty and determination to save the world and its people belonged to his daughter. And as the failure that he sees himself as, he will do his best to carry on the burden that broke his little girl.

This man is Gregorio Silva, Leader of Cerberus, also known as the Provisional Government. And the father of Cruz Silva, the Frenzied Queen who brought ruin upon the city.

"-that concludes most of it, only those two individuals are the most suspicious ones for now. However, I doubt they will cause trouble. Gustav and that woman seem to hold no connections between each other whatsoever." Dominic informed the events happening within the Gaol of the Mist.

He was a man late in his prime. The croaky voice and white hair told one that much. Nevertheless, his frame and presence told the story of a warrior, even if it is an old tale.

Dominic looked at the man on the throne whose eyes remained closed.

He had a tan complexion as well, however, his long white hair was natural. And, unlike the former's aging body, he seemingly hasn't aged a day since he reached his prime.

He had prominent eyebrows with a goatee and mustache, his natural stern features made him appear strict. Deep cheekbones and chiseled jaw made his stern visage much more firmer.

His frame easily looms over the common man with a body full of bulging muscles which one would think of as impenetrable armor if it wasn't for the spikes and hooks piercing his body.

Even in such a state, his mere presence emanated unwavering power. The strength that one cannot fathom unless in front of.

Gregorio's silence didn't appear to be awkward to his right-hand man. As if used to it, Dominic calmly waited for the former's thoughts.

'Hm… when was the last time he has been la-' Dominic's pondering didn't get to finish as the noise made by the elevator's mechanisms spread through the room.

Davis walked through the bridge and shortly after found himself beside Gregorio Silva with a bag in his hand.

"I have an important report to make," Davis said, no shame in his late arrival whatsoever. One could say that he was even smiling.

Dominic didn't bother calling him out, he knew Davis well. It was rare for his reports to contain 'good news' much less being so visibly positive about them.

An unusual event to the point that Gregorios' eyes opened fully and gazed at Davis.

His crimson eyes contained a certain madness belonging to no man, a gaze that could make the most feral and deranged beasts lusting for carnage cower under its insanity, yet firmness and intellect were profoundly embedded into them. The grit of a hardened veteran had yet to surrender over the bestial intent, for now…

Silva peered into the eyes of his most trusted commander. The latter remains unfazed by the pressure that could make the braver than most cower. In fact, although in a fleeting moment, Davis saw a certain similarity between Silva's eyes and Adam's. They both contained that untamed aspect in them, however, Adam appeared to be almost in a deep slumber and far more focused compared to Silva.

Be that as it may, he wasn't here to theorize, he was here to deliver information.

Davis trusted Gregorio and Dominic, their relationship wasn't just boss and subordinate. They were friends and comrades. So he didn't withhold any information about Adam and his participation in Louis' research, an investigation Silva was already aware of, considering that Louis was a dear friend of Cruz's.

"Adam…" If he had any shock or disbelief at the young man's survival, Silva showed none of it.

"The 'wonder boy' huh?" Dominic spoke with reminiscence and hope. Documents detailing most information about the BOR Parasite and the Queen Slayer Operation were destroyed. Whether intentionally or not, that left a gap of knowledge between the citizens and top higher-ups, like the scientists involved.

Between the three of them, only Dominic and Silva knew in full detail about Adam's past as a 2nd generation revenant during the war.

The 'wonder boy' who immediately set out to hunt lost and the queen with great prowess, a young man who earned a title of truly undying as he had never dispersed a single time in his battles.

The trump card took down the queen with the help of Gregorio and Jack.

But there was a thing to wonder, why did he appear two decades later after his 'death'?

From what Davis reported, he has lost his blood code from an injury and become a void type… but the government already had records of such occurrences similar to his, and very few of them came close to what Adam has displayed, he seemed much more versatile than the rest. Even his eyes appear to have changed in appearance.

He is significantly weak compared to his prime. Especially as his blood code allowed him to stand up against greater lost and the queen herself as equals for a short time. One of the reasons he was their trump card.

And one thing more important than any of those other facts is his blood that revives blood springs and mistles.

"He has become a successor most likely." Dominic deduced after some pondering. It is known that if the BOR Parasite tries to digest the blood code of another parasite it will immediately frenzy as it can't sustain two blood codes… but, what if the parasite attempting to digest the blood code was wounded in the process and loses its original blood code?

Dominic had a few theories, but that one seemed most likely. Quite lucky considering that not only those criteria must be met, but he also would need high compatibility with the Queen's mutated body.

According to the records, the Queen, or Cruz, created the mistles which sprout out of the ground and purify miasma. Even an elixir was created with the blood of Cruz to revive mistles during the war.

It's not far-fetched to think that Adam assimilated with her miraculous blood in their last exchange.

And that is not mentioning his power to get blood codes from vestiges. That can't be related to some normal blood code. It definitely had something to do with the Queen's blood.

"And if he is truly a successor, then we should tell Jack to keep an eye on him," Dominic suggested to the men.

Davis immediately shook his head. "He is still suspicious about someone listening to our communications. I will inform him in person once I meet him."

Dominic's expression sank. There is someone out there messing with relics and they still have no clue who that is. As if they are being played with. "Very well, I will keep investigating."

While the two of them exchanged information, Gregorio still mused Adam's actions…

'They don't plan on getting a reward in of itself for capturing a rogue revenant who kidnapped a human, but a deal where they can keep such a revenant as to help them in the labor, while also furthering their funds for their research… dealing with prisoners and the collection for blood beads with more efficiency than the government is doing…' Gregorio could see what Adam and Louis were thinking.

They trusted Davis with such information and gambled on the fact that he would be high enough on the chain to contact Silva…or that is what it looked like. It's not a decision made in desperation. He could see that this one was made with confidence.

Most shelters have a levy of labor for shelter revenants too. They help with expeditions to the depths and on the surface. Usually, it is just for blood beads… and if revenants wanted blood beads, then people might want to join a team who seems to pull actual results.

Meaning, they would help Louis and Adam. That is if their project is approved by Cerberus and they are allowed to ask for volunteers in government shelters.

He doubted that they would attempt some kind of takeover as he saw down the line how the young men would amass people to revive blood springs and mistles... Adam might've lost his memory, but that didn't change him to his core. So Silva could trust his memories together.

"Dominic, I give my approval," Gregorio stated after he was done contemplating, he thought about a few things as to what Adam really knew or remembered. The plan had some flaws, but if one knew about successors and what really happened after the Queenslayer operation, it was a solid idea.

Whether this turned out to just be a lucky shot or Louis got some classified documents, he will find out later.

Gregorio looked at the human in case he wished to add anything.

"Hm… consider it done. I'm sure there won't be many complaints about such a quick procedure." The man affirmed. The disparity in the conditions in which the humans and revenants were massive.

Humans had almost all the means for sustenance available. Most of them had full stomachs thanks to the advancement and recovery of agriculture of the modern age before the collapse. Hell, even some could eat red meat. But those were a minority as it is considered a luxury, it can even be used as a reward for some revenants as well. Mostly those in high positions, even Davis gets some rations now and then.

Though, he doesn't seem to eat it himself and shares it with his squad and the people at the base in the cathedral.

Meanwhile, the revenants were turning desperate for the scarcity of blood beads, the one source to stop them from the going frenzy. Keeping up the red mist was already a huge burden on Gregorio as he has done it for the past two decades, blood beads keeping him sane for using his relic for so long already puts a huge strain on the blood beads influx that have thinned over the years.

There were only so many humans to feed the revenants. They couldn't just be repopulated in a couple of years, decades were necessary. And time wasn't on their side. Also, since human blood has a drug-like effect on revenants, it goes through a few procedures to reduce such side effects, thus making it rather costly.

A government wanting to keep order can't have some junkies for defenders protecting the remains of the human race.

As the livelihood of the remaining humans became stable, Cerberus could now focus on the blood beads problem. They stood by too long, making sure that humans, the only ones capable of leaving a legacy, needs met while they left most revenants up to their luck.

They might have bought some time when they had set an example of what happens when trying to steal humans from the government with those named revenants years ago, but desperation can make the most cowardly the most feral. Cerberus couldn't afford to let things worsen outside their territory much more, else, the scene from years ago would surface again.

Hopefully, it isn't too late.

After a short talk, Davis and Dominic left the man to himself on his endeavor.

Silence dawned on the place once again. He had become used to its company.

The only noise to hear belonged to the machinery attached to the back of the throne as it replenished the empty gallons of blood every once in a while, reminding him that he still has a job to do.

Gregorio looked at the inconspicuous bag that Davis brought to him.

A bag with dry jerky in it…

Yakumo was a kid who grew up on the battlefield. And in a place where you have to watch your back every waking second, one will learn to enjoy the smallest things such as these. Being the leader of a mercenary group, comrades that were his family, he saw it to himself to be the one to take care of them, which is why he has quite the cooking skills.

Davis and Yakumo have exchanged pointers as they both relied heavily on their strength as revenants. One thing led to another and Davis shared some of his meat so Yakumo could make some rations. And one day long ago, Davis shared some with his comrade, Gregorio.

Revenants have no need for food, but it can remind them of the time when they needed it. Memories that many consider much more precious than anything.

Dry jerky, a snack that Gregorio Silva didn't have much fancy for. But he eats it not for its flavor, but for a dear remembrance when the world was whole.

From an early age, Cruz always followed him around copying his actions and would always pay attention to his stories. Of course, he would never tell her in full detail about his military days, he would simply make it an appropriate story for a child with an unnecessary amount of explosions and bad guys who were scary monsters.

The little girl knew that her father was considered a hero by many people. She admired him.

And there was one time she asked what his favorite food was during his serving days. One that he didn't think much of. Dry jerky was the only thing with strong enough flavor to take his mind off of things in the field. But it didn't come close to being his favorite snack.

Alas, that changed the moment a small Cruz bought a bag full of dry jerky during Father's Day. The money that she was supposed to use for lunch and snacks, the allowance given to her, was used for her father's 'favorite' food, to remind him of his 'hero' days, when he had 'fun' kicking the ass of bad guys and fantasy monsters in a battlefield filled with rainbow explosions.

The memories of listening to bullets hit his cover, how they whistled past his head as adrenaline pumped in his veins. The repugnant smell of blood, not knowing if it was his or someone else's.

Many years of unpleasant experiences were overshadowed by this one small moment.

A little girl whose white hair shone brighter than his and had a light tan complexion. Almost a spitting reflection of his if it wasn't for her shy attitude and big round eyes belonging to her mother.

Her red puppy eyes stared at Gregorio, waiting for him to try out the dry jerky. Her little hands were a little uneasy as she stood in front of him wearing a pink dress, looking up at him as her index fingers taped each other.

Silva sat on his throne of penance, alone and surrounded by blood, savoring the dry jerky. His ever-frowning eyebrows eased up just a little.

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Word Count: 2,772

When was the last time you ate dry jerky?

I haven't for at least three years I believe.