Kai could feel the tension in the group...
Half of them wanted Terrence gone, afraid that they might be controlled unknowingly.
Still, the other half hesitated and left the final decision to him.
Claire also finished listening and turned to Kai... It was ti to speak.
"You all saw it. Hypnotic Suggestion. He tried using it on , but he didn’t know about my Talent, so I got lucky... The others will not. If he’s allowed to speak freely, he can bend others’ will."
The others only knew about Claire’s physical strengthening talent. However, Kai and the three others from Haven-45 knew about Claire’s spirit, whom they suspected was Greed.
"That’s why I gagged him for now. I’m not sure about the limitation of his Skill, but since we saw it’s a Level 5 Skill, it’s safe to assu it’s a very strong Skill that could affect multiple people at once. He’s not harmless."
She paused for a mont before she shared what she wanted to happen. "We should just confine him for now..."
Alfie nodded. "Confining him is a good choice. However, I will also vote to send this person away. He’ll not survive anyway."
Victor then looked at Kai and asked, "So what do we do? Kill him? Lock him up? Use him?"
Kai sighed as he looked at Terrence.
He actually believed that Terrence’s Pathfinder Talent would greatly help their shelter’s future. However, the fact that he tried to be mischievous and used hypnotic suggestion on Claire was quite terrifying.
Terrence wasn’t even denying it.
After a few monts, he finally spoke. He already heard enough.
"Alright. We can’t ignore his Skill. Hypnotic Suggestion is too worrying. But killing him outright... that’s not the answer."
Terrence fell to his knees, trembling at the thought of dying. "I’ll accept exile. I’ll leave the shelter. Just let live. Please."
The group fell silent, waiting for Kai’s decision.
"Imprisoning him won’t work," he said firmly. "With his Gene Enhancent, handcuffs and simple restraints won’t hold him. And keeping a prisoner consus food we can’t afford to waste... It will add to soone’s work as well... and if we won’t feed him, then we might as well kill him now."
The group stiffened at his blunt words.
"But again, killing him outright seems too harsh," Kai continued. "He hasn’t destroyed us yet. He hasn’t killed anyone... He even saved so of us with his skills. This is also his first offense... probably. So instead... he’ll buy his life, and we’ll put a restraint on him."
Terrence’s head turned as he looked at Kai, grateful at his rcy.
Kai then continued.
"Empty your Inventory... Every resource, every Survivor dal... and that Arm Replacent Implant you purchased but haven’t used yet... It’s ours now. That’s the price for your survival."
Terrence trembled, but he nodded frantically. "Yes... yes! I’ll give it all! Just don’t kill !"
Just like that, Terrence gave up all his belongings...
Still, Kai wasn’t finished yet.
"Sending him out might lead to trouble later. He could join another group, or worse, use his Skill against us once he got stronger."
Terrence shook his head violently.
"No! I swear I won’t cause issues! I’ll never use Hypnotic Suggestion again. I’ll accept exile if you want. Please... I’ll do anything!"
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Terrence looked pitiful, but Kai was right. He might return soday.
However, Kai just smiled and turned to soone else... not to Claire, not to Victor, but to Marissa!
"Marissa," Kai said.
Everyone blinked in confusion.
"Marissa? Why her?"
This was everyone’s thought.
Most of them thought she was just an unimportant Survivor.
She was part of the Support Division, and she would normally help with Irene in the dical bay and would rarely help in battles against the A.I. Army...
They believed that she was soone without notable Talent or Gene Skills.
But Kai, as leader, had made it his duty to learn everyone’s abilities. He would even reward them with a Gift Pack, so they don’t feel bad sharing their Talents and Skills with him.
Because of that, he knew the truth about her skills!
Marissa’s eyes widened as Kai looked at her.
She hesitated only for a mont before she nodded.
Kai explained, "Her Talent... isn’t ant for fighting the A.I. Army. But right now, it’s exactly what we need."
The group waited, curious about her abilities.
Of course, Kai didn’t reveal it...
"Hey, can I at least know the na of her Talent? Or if not, will you explain how it works?" Claire asked.
"Well, I can’t explain the full details, but I guess revealing the na of her Talent isn’t a problem... It’s called Witch Doctor... as for what it does, we can leave it to your imagination."
"Witch Doctor?!"
It wasn’t just Terrence who was shocked. Everyone looked at Marissa with wide eyes. They didn’t expect this sudden revelation.
They really thought that she was just an unimportant Foreign Survivor who was helping in the infirmary!
"A witch doctor? What does that even an?" Victor whispered to himself.
He wasn’t asking Kai about it. He knew that Kai wouldn’t reveal it in front of Terrence. He was simply unable to comprehend how it would be useful now...
’Ahh... Is it--’
The mont he realized what it ant, Kai already gave his instructions. "Alright... Marissa. Put the curse on him."
Terrence’s face went pale as he heard this.
Soon, Marissa stepped forward and placed her hand on Terrence’s shoulder. Then, she activated her Gene Skill!
In just a mont, a pale purple light appeared and seeped into Terrence’s body!
It wasn’t painful or caused any discomfort. However, Terrence trembled, convinced sothing unnatural was happening.
Kai watched silently and nodded.
"It’s done. You’re cursed now. If you ever co back to cause trouble, Marissa will know. And activate the curse in your heart..."
Terrence’s lips quivered. "I’ll never return to harm you. I’ll live quietly. I’ll change. I’ll beco a better person!"
Kai nodded. "This is your second life, Terrence. Don’t waste it."
The group exchanged glances... They had varying thoughts about this decision from Kai.
However, this was also sothing that they liked about Kai. Even with the A.I. Apocalypse and so many deaths witnessed during this ti, Kai still knew the value of human lives.
"Hmph. Better hope that curse works." Wallace muttered...
At this ti, however, none of them noticed how Marissa winked at Kai before going to the Gene Trader’s treehouse.
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