Visiting the Mayor

After exchanging a few more casual words, Officer Helvetica finally went to the main topic.

"Actually, I went to report your situation to the mayor." He said it with an apologetic look. "Although it's done without your permission, your case is just too much for us police alone to handle."

Aster frowned upon hearing this. However, after thinking for a little, he did understand their reasoning. Although he wasn't sure, being 100% human was a sensitive topic. It was too sensitive, in fact, that it could get him hunted and killed.

'I don't have a solid footing in this world yet. I can only go with the flow for now.' He thought.

"It's fine, Officer Helvetica. I know you're simply doing your job." Aster smiled as he spoke. "And meeting the mayor directly after two short days is already at the level of a miracle. I should be thanking you instead!"

If he could somehow get the mayor to be his backer, then his standing in the current world would become firm!

"That's good to hear." Helvetica smiled before standing up. "Then we'd better go. I've already gotten an appointment with the mayor this noon. With our remaining time, we can still barely make it."

However, as he heard the officer's words, Aster became worried.

"R-Right now?" He looked at his attire—nothing but a single pair of boxers and a thin, patient gown. "I don't think I can meet the mayor looking like this."

"Oh, right!"

Officer Helvetica leaned down, picking up the paper bag he brought with him. "Actually, I got you some casual clothes. You'll be released from the hospital as all the tests are done, after all."

"Wait, it's done already?" Aster groaned in surprise. "I thought there'd be a lot of tests I had to undergo?"

"There was, but they were all done while you were asleep. Don't worry, as the results will come soon. Probably tomorrow evening."

Officer Helvetica passed the paper back to Aster and smiled. "First, you should change. I'll be outside the door if you need any help."

After saying that, he quickly stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Aster alone. He looked inside the bag out of curiosity and was surprised to find that the handsome elf had made a bland selection. A plain white shirt with a dark-grey windbreaker, along with black pants and a belt.

"Well, beggars can't choose."

He leaped out of the bed, and his gaze turned toward the chair near the window, where his borrowed clothes were placed, folded nicely. Specifically, the scarf given by the pretty elf lady.

"..."

It was a waste to leave it, so he decided to keep it.

---

After a few minutes of traveling by car, they reached their destination. A gigantic silver tower reaching up to the heavens beyond even the dark clouds has a total of 419 floors in all. Its height reaches over 2 km, with a square base having a side of 500 meters!

It was a marvel of human-made construction, laden with mass dampers, earthquake-proofing, and other protections against natural disasters like tornadoes, storms, and such. It was made to be so sturdy that practically, even if the entire metropolis fell, this building alone would remain standing tall.

"We're here," Officer Helvetica muttered as he parked the car.

They stopped right at the entrance of the immense building, with Aster craning his neck just to try and see the top. "It's beyond the clouds," he whispered as a hand patted his shoulder.

"Let's go, Mr. Aster."

"A-Alright..."

The two walked forward, but Aster kept on looking around curiously. Everything looked familiar but unfamiliar at the same time. Unknown equipment, unknown furniture, unknown races... Everything that entered his vision was so fresh to him that it was getting scary.

"Good noon, Sir Helvetica!"

And just as they passed by the door, the guard greeted the elf officer with a sharp salute. The guard... was a dog. He had the face of a Doberman, with black fur covering most of his body and brown accents on his long snout. It felt like a joke more than reality to Aster as he kept staring at the guard.

"Hmm?" But the Doberman Guard quickly turned to him, returning his gaze. "And this guy is...?"

*Sniff!* *Sniff!* *Sniff!*

"A vagrant?" He asked as he pinched his nose.

"Hahah, that's rude of you, Garry. He's a guest of the mayor. Here's the permit."

"Oh, the mayor's guest!" His face brightened as he checked the small card that was presented. "Alright, I've confirmed it. Please enter."

After receiving the card back, Officer Helvetica waved to the Doberman as the pair headed further in, with the officer exchanging a few more greetings with the guard as they passed by.

A flood of "people" welcomed Aster as they entered. It was almost lunchtime, so the hotel was reaching one of its busiest times. Seeing this, Officer Helvetica frowned as he pinched the back of Aster's scarf and covered his head with it.

"Keep a low profile; we shouldn't stand out." He whispered while leading him by hand.

They acted sneakily, passing where there was less traffic, and headed for the closest mana elevator. As soon as the two entered, Officer Helvetica closed the entrance before letting the elevator ascend at a frightening speed.

Of course, although Aster was hiding his face, a few with sharp eyes and noses still turned toward the two before they vanished. Some merely shrugged before returning to what they were doing, but a few continued to stare at where the pair were going. Their eyes were glinting with greed and hatred.

"We should be safe now," Officer Helvetica sighed, before letting go of Aster's hand. "It'd be a disaster if there's anyone there that's about to mutate."

Aster, hearing another mysterious term, furrowed his brows. "Mutate? What's that?"

"Oh, right. You don't know." The elf sighed. "It's not entirely unrelated to you, so I'll explain. Due to Mana continually changing everyone's body, the current average human DNA in the entire world is a mere 25%."

"Uhuh...?"

"Right. And the less human DNA you have left, the closer one approaches becoming inhuman." He added with a grim tone. "Those who reach below 5% of human DNA, may it be from birth or due to circumstances, will begin to show signs of monsterification."

"Monsterification... Mutation... You mean, they become mutated monsters?" Aster clarified.

Officer Helvetica's eyes flashed with a scary glint for a moment before he closed them and sighed.

"Yes." He answered. "And it's irreversible once it happens."

"..."

Aster finally realized the importance of his "blood." In essence, he's a messiah who arrived right in the nick of time, able to save the world as it gradually headed for its fated doom.

As they were chatting, the elevator finally stopped at their designated floor. The top floor of the tall building. Officer Helvetica opened the glass wall-cum-door and ushered Aster out.

"Let's go; the mayor should already be waiting."