Transcendent Gene
Chapter 142: Departure [2]

Chapter 142: Departure [2]

Gio’s attitude was much calmer than Gregor expected.

This was new information to him, after all.

Arcadia wasn’t a small place. There wasn’t a situation in this world where people from the Lower Strata didn’t understand what the Upper Strata meant.

It was broadcast everywhere. The division of class between Strata was one of the most clear-cut hierarchies in human society.

As such, for someone from the Wasteland to be told that he was actually from Arcadia should have been preposterous.

No, Gio didn’t even question him that far. He didn’t ask a single question about how he ended up in the Wasteland or why his father was coming for him now.

He didn’t need to.

’I was livid in the past.’

He was absolutely furious when they came to him. He had been struggling to survive for so many years only for them to appear out of nowhere and tell him that he could live the easy life.

What was the point of everything, then?

’In the first place, if you’re going to abandon a kid, don’t ever think about taking them back.’

That was his thought.

After letting him live completely unaware of his family’s existence for so long, they wanted to barge into his life and change it "for the better."

He didn’t care if it really would be a better life. He almost outright refused help from the ones who suddenly appeared on his doorstep.

However, Gregor had been told to bring Gio to Arcadia and he wasn’t going to give up on that goal. He certainly wouldn’t do so considering what Gio’s circumstances were at the time.

Gio was a little surprised about how the current timeline’s interaction had gone.

’He did a lot less explaining off the rip, but that was probably more because of how many more ears were listening this time. The stranger part is that he gave me the option to stay here.’

That didn’t exist in the past.

’But that’s also because the reason changed.’

As Gio sat down at the table, he didn’t lead with greetings or anything of the sort.

"Why now?"

In the past, it was because the Wasteland was becoming too dangerous and the situation in Arcadia had stabilized a little.

This time...?

"There are a few reasons," Gregor said, nodding his head and accepting the conversation. He gave Gio a pass for his rudeness when he thought about the boy’s position.

"For one, the situation in Arcadia has become more stable. The circumstances behind your birth and the reason why you were left in the Wasteland are...a bit complicated. It would be best to hear about those directly from your father. However, just know that it is safe now so he decided it was best to bring you back."

"On top of that..."

Gregor took a sip from the cup of coffee in front of him.

"You’ve been overzealous recently. There are some matters that children shouldn’t involve themselves in, no?"

It sounded like a threat or a warning, but it was neither of the two.

’He’s just making it clear that they’ve been watching my movements.’

He was insinuating that if Gio were ever in real danger, they would have stepped in to save him. In the past as well, they used this method to coax him.

’He’s lying, but it’s fine.’

He was lying to give Gio a better impression of the home he already had a good impression of. In reality, they couldn’t do anything but watch his movements through screens and respond after the fact. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have intercepted him in the Wilds instead of waiting for him in Haven?

Nevertheless, it was all beside the point.

Gio knew it was strange for him to accept the change without any questions. He came here to ask them just for the sake of not raising any flags.

"What kind of place is the Atmos Clan?"

"It is...a place of family."

Gregor explained it slowly.

There wasn’t much he could say about the Atmos Clan’s power. He skirted around it and spoke more about the environment in the clan, which was indeed something to be proud of.

’When people say the word "clan," they’re usually talking about big families. Every member of the clan doesn’t have to be related to the main family, but the main family’s power is the reason why it’s a clan instead of a faction, a guild, or anything else.’

However, it was rare to find clans where the familial atmosphere existed in the main family. If it existed in the main family, it never spread into the branches and the lower forces.

Someone like Gregor, for instance, would never be able to call most clans warm places. The Atmos Clan was much more homey. Anyone who lived in the clan’s main estate grounds could proudly call themselves a part of the family.

’That environment exists because everything else went to ruin.’

It wasn’t always like that. The main family was always like a family, but it was a cold and powerful influence to everyone else.

"That event" changed everything.

Gio shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Bringing his clan back to its prior position of power was also one of Gio’s main goals.

After all, more than saving humanity, his goal in life was to give a proper life to those he loved.

He waited for Gregor to finish his explanation. He spoke of the massive mansion where the main clan’s members resided and of the thousands of acres of land it stood on.

The most influential branch families lived on the same land, separated by great distances so they only interacted when they wanted to. In a way, it was almost like the Atmos Clan’s land was a metropolis inhabited by only its own people.

The clan was big in both trading and military affairs. In particular, Gio’s father, Kyrian Atmos, was a prolific businessman who had many military achievements under his belt. Through these connections, he was able to properly establish the clan during his youth without facing much interference.

Realistically, there was a lot Gio needed to be taught. He wasn’t supposed to know a single thing about Arcadia or how it was structured. With his perception based on rumors and propaganda alone, there was too much he needed to slowly learn.

Gregor knew this and kept his explanations mostly about the plan. He assumed the Master already had a plan in mind to get his son caught up on the world.

Any questions or concerns Gio could have about the family he would be joining were answered.

Well, to an extent.

There were some things that Gregor simply couldn’t say. Those matters had to be discussed between father and son. It wasn’t his place to say anything.

Unfortunately, all of the important information was also a part of that future conversation.

Still, Gio’s decision to approach Gregor wasn’t for nothing.

Because while he was putting on a show, Gregor was watching it.

’Is he faking it?’

The questions he was asking were definitely ordinary, but the look in his eyes...

It felt like all of the childlike emotion within was a lie.

It was interesting, if nothing else.

Everyone was curious about what Gio would be like. Most members of the clan didn’t know he existed. Those who did last heard of him over a decade ago.

Gregor looked at Gio carefully as he spoke, trying to glean something.

All of the questions swirling around would be answered the moment the boy sitting in front of him reached that place.

It was only a matter of time before he proved whose blood was flowing through his veins.

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