Chapter 70: Questioning A Summoner

Chapter 70: Questioning A Summoner [mass release 4/6] Kairos had agreed to follow the military men without resisting. Deep down, he wanted to retaliate, to fight back and escape, but logic outweighed emotion. It was better to understand their intentions first, to uncover what their "deal" was, before making any move. And even if he had chosen to retaliate... there were too many of them. His decision was simple: answer their questions if asked, do what they said—at least for now—and use psychology to manipulate the situation in his favor. If he could sway them with words and behavior, perhaps they’d let him go on their own accord. As Kairos walked silently through the halls of the Academy, he trailed behind the soldiers, his mind racing through different scenarios that could unfold. They passed through the corridors of the First Years’ building, each hallway colder and more lifeless than the last. Eventually, after a long, silent trek, they arrived at a large dome-like structure on the far side of the Academy—an area with barely any students in sight. Upon entering, the soldiers led Kairos past several uniformed military officers. The air was thick with tension, and their footsteps echoed ominously through empty halls. Room after room blurred by until they stood before a massive white door. One of the soldiers stepped forward and knocked firmly. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, without a word, the door slowly swung open. Inside stood an old man, his face aged and harsh. He had a scruffy beard, deep wrinkles carved by time and authority, and a bald head that gleamed under the white lighting. Without speaking, the man stepped aside, silently signaling for them to enter. Without warning, the soldiers shoved Kairos into the room. Only two of them followed in, shutting the door behind them. Kairos found himself in a sterile, overly bright white room. There was no decor, no distractions—only a metallic table in the center with two chairs on either side. The atmosphere screamed interrogation. The bald man walked calmly to one of the chairs and sat down. The soldiers motioned for Kairos to do the same, and he reluctantly obeyed. He sat down, trying not to let his nerves show. His heart beat a little faster, but he wore a calm expression. "Are you nervous?" the bald man asked suddenly, catching Kairos off guard. "Sorry—I won’t pry into your thoughts like that unless a question is asked." Kairos’ throat went dry. ’This man... he can read thoughts? Then why tell me this?’ ’He’s perfect for an investigation. No lies can be told. So why doesn’t he just extract the truth from my head without asking anything?’ But then, the answer hit him, and he understood. Just as he figured it out, the man let out a low chuckle. "You’re really brilliant. But even if you understand how my abilities work, that doesn’t mean you can dodge my questions." He was right. Kairos couldn’t dodge them. Even though he now understood the nature of the man’s power, there was no hiding—lies would be uncovered before they even left his mouth. "So," the man began, pulling out his phone and tapping a video, "your shadow wolf... according to this footage—" The screen lit up, showing a clip of Kairos absorbing his summon into himself. "Is this true? Can you really absorb beasts to make your summon stronger?" Kairos nodded slowly, keeping his mind quiet. Then, he replied, "Yes. It gets stronger that way." The bald man paused, clearly impressed. ’This kid... he’s incredible. He’s managing to think of nothing but the conversation itself. Most humans would’ve already leaked thoughts by now. I like his self-control... however—’ "So," the man pressed, "when was the first time you discovered this ability?" Kairos hesitated slightly. An image flickered across his mind—a bed, then darkness. It was faint, but the man saw it. ’That... meant nothing. No context. This boy—how is he not even thinking? He’s about to speak now...’ Kairos calmly replied, "It was during the forest expedition at the other base. My summon killed a beast and absorbed it." The old man leaned forward slightly, intrigued. But not because of the answer—he was stunned by how it was delivered. Kairos hadn’t thought of the reply in advance. It came naturally, spontaneously. ’Maybe he’s lying... Let’s try again. He has to think this time.’ "What effects did it have on you?" "Nothing much," Kairos replied, "it just increased my integration strength." "And those martial arts? Are they a result of the integration too?" "No. I trained really hard to get that good. The integration only boosted my strength and resilience." The old man clenched his fists. Sweat formed on his forehead. "Think through your next reply..." he warned. But Kairos didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. He remained as composed as ever. Even being told to think didn’t trigger unnecessary thoughts. ’How? Even now—no stray thoughts, no emotion. This is unnatural. No one can suppress their mind like this, not unless—’ "What’s the highest level of beast you’ve ever consumed?" Kairos raised his hand to his chin as if pondering. He sat in silence for a few seconds, then answered, "It’s gotta be an apex beast." The bald man slammed his fist onto the table. Two soldiers reacted immediately, stepping closer. "Is something wrong, sir?" As they entered his psychic range, the bald man’s ability activated easily—he could hear their thoughts loud and clear. ’So... it wasn’t that his ability had failed... it was just Kairos.’ Meanwhile, deep within himself, Kairos was smiling. Anytime he needed to think, he’d enter his summon space—a mental void. Within it, he processed his answers. Then, upon returning to reality, he’d erase every trace of the thought and replace it with white. Just pure white—the same as the room around him. Humans couldn’t survive without thinking, especially someone like Kairos who lived in his mind constantly. But he had mastered control. ’I just hope this is enough to make them let me go... I’m not in the wrong. I should be released...’ The bald man slowly stood from his chair and exhaled deeply. "Kairos Veyl," he said, "you have no family. No known faction. What if I told you the military could offer you affiliation?" He smiled. "Of course, as a condition, you’ll be required to conduct private tests of your powers. Under our supervision." Kairos’ heart thudded in his chest. ’Just as I thought... This motherfucker is trying to sugarcoat becoming a lab rat.’ He rose to his feet sharply. "No. I don’t need affiliation. I’m fine the way I am—" Before he could finish, the soldiers sprang into action. One grabbed his arms from behind. Another forced his head down and slammed it onto the metal table. The door burst open. More soldiers rushed in, surrounding him. The old man chuckled darkly. "Who said anything about asking? Your abilities might be the key to creating stronger military soldiers. Summons with real power... Do you think we’d let that slip, Kairos Veyl?" Kairos bit his lip, fury rising in his chest. ’This... This is what I’ve tried to avoid. Being exposed. Becoming a test subject. A tool. A weapon...’ No. Never. ’If that’s the case... I’ve seen their intentions then I’ll kill them all. I’ll kill them all with my summon.’