Lucas tapped his fingers as he thought about what Dave had said. It was a possibility. After all, only robots would remain unaffected by CRX-21.
"There are three ways CRX-21 could have been released in the cities," Dave analyzed, stating his thoughts for everyone to consider.
"A resident of the city or someone who entered the city recently released it." Dave unfolded his index finger, looking at everyone. "Or someone who wasn't in the city entered the city and released it." He unfolded another finger before saying, "And the last and most likely possibility is the robots did it."
"You have a point," Vance agreed, drawing his brows together thoughtfully. "The humans, if they released CRX-21 in the cities, then they are vulnerable to it as well, unless their noses and mouths are covered. However, if the robots are doing the job, then...."
"Then they do not have to fear anything." Stinton finished the words and Vance nodded grimly.
"But that rises another question," the woman said, her face not that stern anymore. Her focus had shifted away from Lucas, much to his relief. "How did the robots enter the cities?"
Now, no one had the answer. Not even Lucas. Usually, he was quite acute. But this time, his mind couldn't exactly wrap around the situation. The puzzle looked convoluted, and he felt dizzy every time he thought about it, especially the robots that were close to killing him and his companions.
Vance felt like pulling his hair. Everything was a mess. The situation had suddenly turned so complicated that he was having a hard time dealing with it. How did a catastrophe suddenly turn into a pre-planned, man-made attack?
When I find out who you are, I'll punch you to death.
Feeling his head close to exploding, Lucas stood up, gaining everyone's attention to him. "I want to take a breather. My mind's a mess."
"I'll go with you." Ryker, too, couldn't handle the tension in the air. He hadn't spoken anything since they had entered the room, too wary of the man sitting in the center.
Lucas nodded and left the room while Patrick, Vance, and Dave stayed behind to discuss their next strategy. They first had to inform all the cities about CRX-21 and caution them to be prepared.
However, it was another headache, considering that most cities still assumed that the attack was as a ploy the other countries were using to harm them. It was nothing but a story tale, one that was said just to terrify others.
"I'll warn them about it. It's up to them if they want to believe me or not," Stinton said, not bothering much about them. He wasn't a saint. He couldn't bother with them if they decided to be stupid.
Stinton didn't hesitate anymore and called the leaders of all the cities. Being the leader of Velomore, his connections were extensive, and many had to give him some face.
Although a few people didn't receive his call, there were quite a lot of them who attended it.
"Stinton, you better have a good reason for calling me at this time," one of the men who seemed to have just woken up said, his voice heavy with sleep.
Vance watched the holograph that was showing all the faces of the people attending the call. He didn't care about their appearance. Given their situation, to hell with appearance. Surviving was more important.
"I do, I really do. I have some bad news for all of you," Stinton started when he was interrupted by a laughter filled with ridicule.
"Stinton, are calling us to convince us that the monsters will attack us soon and we need to move to your country? Is this your way of declaring a war against us?" he seethed, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Zelnar, will you wake up and look around you? Don't you know what happened at Orvale and Novastra?" Stinton shot back, too furious to deal with the man.
How could anyone be so stupid?
It was one thing to brush off the attacks in another country as a ploy. But his own countrymen had been attacked and that too, in no less than three days. Orvale and Novastra had been reduced to nothing but buildings. There were no humans in them now.
Stinton's eyes were trained on Zelnar. So, he didn't miss the minute flicker in his eyes when he had mentioned about Orvale and Novastra.
Not just him, few of the other people too had noticed the change and their faces turned dark instantly.
"Zelnar, do you have a hand in this?" one of the ladies, who seemed to be in her late forties, asked, looking at him with a profound gaze.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Zelnar became agitated at once and glared at the woman, whose shrewd eyes showed obvious signs of realization. "See, didn't I tell you that these people are trying to harm us?"
"We want to harm you? Well, why don't you tell us what happened in Orvale and Novastra, then?" Stinton shot back, too infuriated to deal with the man anymore. He just wanted to blow Zelnar's head off. What a menace!
"I know it's all your ploy. You want to move the people to your country so that you can out power us."
Stinton snorted, finding his deductions utterly ridiculous. Did he need to out power them? Velomore was a lot more powerful and resourceful than they, who had their eyes closed at the truth.
"Why don't you tell the people that you used this tactic to move the people of Novastra and Orvale to Velomore? It's all your devious plan. I'm not a fool to not understand your schemes."
Stinton felt his head ache. What kind of idiot I'm dealing with? I hope he gets attacked by a monster. At least, the world will be free of a stupid man.
"If you think Stinton is lying, how do you explain all the blood and the dead people in Orvale and Novastra?" the lady continued, unable to see her friend forced into a corner.
"Heh. Dead people? There aren't any dead people in Orvale and Novastra. It was your plan all along to trick everyone."
Although the cities were grouped into countries, they were their own authorities and had their own laws. So, no city could dictate over the other unless they annexed it by force.
"You want to conquer our country. So, you used this despicable method. There are no monsters or dead people. You spread the fear in people, making it seem like monsters were attacking them and they had no choice but to believe you."
"I did that?" Stinton was done entertaining the man. He was already being benevolent by calling him to warn him of the danger. He wasn't willing to accept humiliation in return for his kindness.
"Yes. Otherwise, where did all the monsters go? What happened to the dead humans? I know the blood is all fake and doesn't belong to our countrymen. So, explain to me what happened."