Nick went to the secret research base and released Aria.
When she came out and saw the many different machines, she became interested.
However, the most surprising thing was that she didn't see anybody.
"Every current member has seen the true enemy and is isolated in the true center of the research base," Nick said. "I would like you to keep my presence and any information about me secret. Only one other person in here knows about me."
"You don't know what my ability is, but you know that knowing about my ability puts me at a huge disadvantage. I can't allow anyone to know about it. Please understand."
"I know," Aria answered.
Suddenly, the huge gate at the end of the research base opened, and a person came out.
When Aria saw that person, her eyes widened.
Of course, Ghosty's eyes also widened in surprise when he saw Aria.
Aria sighed. "It's nice to see a familiar face. I always believed that you had the good of humanity at heart."
"Well," Ghosty said with an awkward smile as he rubbed the back of his head, "it took a while, but our mutual friend eventually helped me realize this inherent desire that I always had."
Aria smiled. "Same with me."
"How much do you know?" Ghosty asked.
"She knows that there is a true enemy, and that's the extent of it. She doesn't know what we are researching, how many members we are, who the members are, or anything else. Just like everyone else, she has to see the enemy first."
"I understand," Ghosty said before turning to Aria. "I know that you probably doubt Nick's words since they contradict some fundamental truths, but I can assure you that he speaks the truth. Everyone here was like you until they saw the irrefutable proof with their own eyes."
"I don't doubt him," Aria said with a shake of her head. "I trust Nick."
Ghosty smiled. "That's good to hear. I'm sorry, but you have to remain out here until you become a Protector. Advancement is a necessary requirement for seeing the proof."
"I understand," Aria said.
"I am also the only one who is allowed to come in and out of the center. Other people are only allowed to pass through this door when I accompany them. That means you will most likely not meet anybody else until you've become a Protector. I hope that's okay," Ghosty said. ŗ𝓪ΝÒᛒΕṨ
"It's okay. I can deal with that," Aria said.
"Nick, can you get some more people? I think leaving our new comrade alone for several years would be unnecessarily stressful for her," Ghosty said.
Nick nodded. "I was planning on."
"I think I know of somebody," Aria said.
"Oh? Another person I know?" Ghosty asked.
Aria nodded. "It's Samar Melfion."
When Nick heard that, he furrowed his brows.
"You know that she's out to kill you, right?" Nick asked.
Aria sighed. "I know, but that's because she can't get over her pride. Samar is a bright girl, and I worked with her for many years. Her relationship with her father was transactional. I think she saw through Vernon's mask very early in her life, and it killed all love she had for him."
"It's difficult to love somebody who doesn't love you back."
"She followed her father's footsteps, but she doesn't believe in the same things as him."
"I see a lot of my past self in her."
"If you can talk to her and tell her about what happened, she might come around."
"Samar is very driven and very intelligent. She does research in her spare time and has already contributed a lot to Crimson City's technology without focusing on it. She would be a brilliant researcher if she could just forget about this entire vendetta."
"It's risky," Nick said. "If even a slight bit of information is spoken in the wrong place, everything will collapse.Any single member can break the entire operation. I have to fully believe in the people I recruit."
"I understand," Aria said. "I am willing to trust her. Her goal might be to kill me, but I know she has humanity in her heart. I believe Vernon's cold attitude to humanity made her move in the opposite reaction."
"When a child doesn't like an attribute in their parents, the child often develops in the completely opposite reaction."
"A child who sees their parents constantly sacrificing themselves for others has a high chance of becoming very selfish. They see their parents and themselves suffering from the sacrifices, and they start to resent that attitude."
"Of course, the opposite is true as well. Vernon was a great businessman, but he was completely emotionless and cold deep inside. Samar knows that side of him, and I believe she despises it."
Ghosty and Nick looked at Aria for a bit with skepticism in their eyes.
"I can go talk to her," Nick said, "but you have to know that the mission comes before everything else. If I do not deem her trustworthy, I can't risk having my identity leaked. I will have to kill her."
"Just like with me," Aria answered.
Nick was a bit hurt by that comment.
But Aria was right.
If Aria had turned out to not be cooperative during their talk…
He would have killed her.
Any potential member Nick talked to was not put before a choice.
They were put before an ultimatum.
Cooperate or die.
It wasn't the right thing to do, but it was necessary.
"Yes," Nick answered.
"I do not fault you for that," Aria said. "I understand the weight of this operation. If you didn't consider killing me, I would be disappointed."
"Your place is at the forefront of humanity. You might be a Specter, but you are the most human out of everyone."
Nick felt a sting of guilt in his heart as he remembered the traitors currently suffering in the special Containment Units.
Was that something a human would do?
Nick took a deep breath and sighed.
"I am going to talk to Samar, but I won't promise anything."
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