Aspaira, unlike the other members of the team, wasn't privy to the reactions that occurred frequently between Kieran and Dr. Riley. Because of this, it naturally led to her assumption that they were a couple.
Of course, this assumption was also spurred on by the fact that Kieran currently held Dr. Riley's hand, as well as the fact that they were somewhat close to each thanks to Dr. Riley attempting to console Kieran moments before.
After hearing this question, Dr. Riley's cheeks reddened as she immediately snapped her head to Aspaira. "Not at all! He's my patient, so I have to ensure the best care. Otherwise, how can I call myself an excellent doctor?"
Meanwhile, Kieran silently viewed Dr. Riley's reaction, noticing how she subconsciously tightened her grasp on his hand.
All of a sudden, Kieran felt playful, drawing in his finger to tickle her palm.
"!!"
Dr. Riley yelped, surprised by the tickling sensation in the middle of her palm. However, because of the angle she stood, the view of her body and hand was somewhat obscured.
As she heard this sudden yelp, Aspaira narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing these people before her. "Are you two… doing something strange? Do you need some privacy?"
"It's not like that!" Dr. Riley exclaimed, her voice becoming somewhat of a whine.
Helpless, she turned her head back to Kieran and glared. "Can you stop being such a tease? You're literally causing misassumptions!"
"Oh, how troublesome~," Kieran said.
His tone was playful, and his smirk mischievous.
Nevertheless, he didn't intend to horse around any longer, so he soon retracted his hand and stood up from the medical bed.
He approached Aspaira and scanned her appearance before nodding slowly. "I like the overzealous work ethic. Though, if you want to uphold that kind of hellish research, I believe we should start you on an X-hancer regimen. However…"
Kieran turned back toward Dr. Riley before glancing at the chilled cabinet.
"Our stock of low-concentration X-hancers has become dangerously low. Furthermore, this is after I've combined what's left of your supply and mine. We need an injection of them," Dr. Riley said, bringing up the chart that illustrated the supply and consumption of X-hancers.
As Kieran looked through it, he nodded, seeing nothing abnormal except for an odd jump in one particular X-hancer. "Why are the 10% concentration X-hancers being consumed so quickly?"
"Ah, that… after Bastion's sudden appearance from within Zenith Online, it seems his body has undergone some kind of change that was precipitated by his mind," Dr. Riley revealed.
This news took Kieran by surprise as he rubbed his chin. It was not something he had completely accounted for. After all, his interaction with Hidden Classes was meager before his rebirth.
Though several of the Golden Brigade's members held Hidden Classes, they were not comparable to Bastion's Ancient Defender Class.
After a moment of silence, Dr. Riley posed a question. "Did anything unusual or a series of unusual events occur within the game?"
"Somewhat. Bastion chanced upon a remarkable opportunity and he has experienced steady growth in his mental state and personality. I suppose this change had led to his body exhibiting more of its latent potential?" Kieran voiced.
"Wait… X-hancers? I've heard about those. My interaction with them is somewhat… vague as my position in the medical company wasn't high enough. But I heard some things about it," Aspaira suddenly remarked.
The mention of X-hancers immediately perked her up, removing all previous signs of drowsiness. While at work, she had attempted to get on the team of researchers that analyzed X-hancers, but it was to no avail.
She apparently didn't have the qualifications to partake in such groundbreaking research.
However, her interest in X-hancers wasn't as passionate as it once was. Not after learning of the cover-ups that occurred in her company.
Shortly after she learned of them, she was approached by the higher-ups to become a part of the next research team, but she declined the offer.
Kieran turned toward Aspaira and noticed her strange expression, which inevitably prompted his line of questioning. "What is it, Aspaira?"
"Have you guys tried to either… reverse engineer or even deconstruct the X-hancer serum?" Aspaira questioned, nervously twirling her finger in her hair.
"We haven't," Dr. Riley interjected, finding interest in Aspaira's worries. "Is there something we should be concerned about if we do?"
"Yes!" Aspaira blurted, nodding repeatedly without end. "My company doesn't know that I know this but… I went snooping about the classified laboratory and saw something disturbing."
"Well, go on, spit it out. You've had my attention with your concern, but now you have my curiosity," Dr. Riley said, leading Aspaira to sit down with her at her desk.
Aspaira fidgeted and balled her hands before sighing. "Bodies. I saw dismembered bodies being hauled out of the laboratory. I could never get close enough to find out what happened, but I have my suspicions. That lab was exclusively for conducting research on X-hancers, attempting to make progress on it."
Dr. Riley considered the information and fell silent before voicing what she understood of the matter.
"So you're saying that you believe those dismembered bodies have something to do with deconstructing or attempting to reverse engineer X-hancers?"
"Yes!" Aspaira nodded, her eyes certain yet fearful. "The series of explosions that occurred had to have been related to some anti-tamper mechanism placed inside the serum's formula. Having these suspicions, I couldn't, in good conscience, join the next research team, knowing that I could be in imminent danger."
After listening to Aspaira's recount of her suspicions, Dr. Riley turned to Kieran with a deep frown. Part of her interest in the X-hancers was finding a way to create a proprietary version of X-hancers better suited for consumption.
The withdrawal effect was simply absurd, so Dr. Riley wished to find a solution to curb the symptoms, or perhaps even resolve them altogether.
But if doing so was as dangerous as Aspaira claimed, Dr. Riley felt that she should reconsider her desire to uncover this breakthrough.
"Question—do any of you know the origins of the X-hancers? Who made them? Because the more I listen to Aspaira speak, it doesn't sound like it's a product of the Gamer Republic. There are far too many risks and stipulations for it to be created by a mere gaming entity," Kieran voiced, approaching Dr. Riley and Aspaira with a pensive look.
"There have been rumors. The Gamer Republic Corporation is not responsible for the creation. On the contrary, they're simply a partner of the creator. Apparently, that creator also had a hand in developing Zenith Online. It was not a sole endeavor," Dr. Riley replied.
After using some of the channels available to her, Dr. Riley learned of a redacted document that listed the Gamer Republic Corporation as a dispensary, not even a partner of the X-hancer project.
If a global entity like the GRC was a mere dispensary, then what goliath could be responsible for the creation of the X-hancers?
Upon receiving this information, Kieran's expression changed, falling into deep thought. 'If the GRC is only a distributor of the serum, then it's understandable why Magnate Families should also have the ability to readily access a supply of X-hancers.'
When it came to financial ability and political presence, Magnate Families were only outclassed by three presences.
One—the Private Sector.
Thanks to the way it was created, the heads of each industry within the Private Sector commanded an unfathomable authority.
Some even believed that the Private Sector possessed a shadow version of the world economy that relied upon the downfall of the normal economy to prosper. Meaning, even in the presence of an economic collapse, the Private Sector was secure.
That kind of frightening stability was something ordinary people couldn't fathom.
The second presence that eclipsed Magnate Families was the new forms of government that arose after the Global Economic Merge.
Though separated by large distances, it wouldn't be incorrect to call the new government a global plutocracy where only the pursuit and influence of wealth existed.
This was why the ones believed to hold supreme power of law and order were the Extreme Magnate Families, the third and final presence that outclassed Magnate Families.
However, while their names were known, their location, presence, and existence, in general, were somewhat shadowy, hidden by a veil of inimitable wealth.
Nevertheless, Kieran understood that the Extreme Magnate Families were very much real. In fact, he had even clashed with one of their people once before.
To call them monsters in human skin would be an understatement.
'Alyssa Drake ended up becoming close to a member of an Extreme Magnate Family. I wonder… has that already happened? Because if I must go against an Extreme Magnate Family…'
Kieran grimaced, shaking his head.
The more he thought about it, the more Kieran realized his vengeance was not simple. For him to take out the Golden Brigade, he'd have to prepare for war. Whether or not this war existed on Earth or in Zenith Online, Kieran wasn't sure.
However, he was sure of one thing. If Alyssa Drake was there to ensure their safety in his original time, who's to say she wouldn't interfere when he eradicated them?
While Kieran could never get a read on her position in that Leviathan guild, he estimated she should at least be middle-level staff.
In that position, it wouldn't be odd if she could command a legion.
"Since we have learned of all this… my question to you is, Dr. Riley—do you wish to move forward on your research?" Kieran asked.
Dr. Riley deeply contemplated the answer before revealing it.
"Yes, I do. But I want to refrain from that aspect until we acquire more information. We'll have to generate relationships if we're going to obtain that kind of sensitive information. In the meantime… I would like to continue recording these changes from you all."
Kieran agreed with this. "That's fine. But I must warn you, we're approaching a time when I'll have to leave this place and set out to acquire my own land and property."
As soon as Dr. Riley heard this, she became crestfallen. Though she knew Kieran's departure was inevitable, she couldn't help but desire his company for longer.
However, Kieran's next words made her look at him in disbelief.
