Bermuda [bl]

The commanders, including Liner Molten, the Commander of the 9th Battalion, gathered again at the center for the immediately convened meeting. Liner seemed much calmer than before, perhaps because taking a short break had helped.

However, upon hearing the investigator's briefing, he frowned again as if in disbelief at the investigation results and asked,

"If there are matching traits between different species, does that mean interspecies mating is possible for monsters?"

"Hmm, unlike animals, monsters can willingly engage in interspecies mating and it is actually possible for them to reproduce naturally. However, they don't bother to do it unless it's a special situation, and in this case, the possibility of interspecies mating among monsters is also considered low."

"What's the reason?"

"It's because while there are monsters capable of interspecies mating, there are also those incapable of it. A typical example is the Worm..."

The assistant investigators hurriedly brought a diagram of the Worm's reproductive organ structure and fixed it on a stand. The chief investigator pointed at it with his hand and continued,

"As shown in this data, the structure of the Worm's reproductive organs is formed completely differently from other monsters. Therefore, mating is only possible within the same species. However, among the recently discovered mutants, a completely different individual possessing both the Worm's adhesion function and the unique functions of other monsters was also found."

Liner, who had been listening, narrowed his eyes. The investigator flipped a page of the data fixed on the stand and said,

"In other words, rather than saying that in this case, a Worm and a different species of monster engaged in interspecies mating and gave birth to a mutant, it would be more accurate to say that there is some species or individual on this peninsula that possesses the traits of the Worm, as well as the traits of other monsters, and mutants were born from that individual."

As the investigator finished speaking, the commanders stirred. Flynn observed them to see if anyone would speak up. It was because he had been recalling the conversation with Leonardo and waiting for his turn to ask a question for a while.

When Hugo lightly tapped Flynn's shoulder as he watched him, Flynn glanced back at Hugo once and hurriedly raised his hand to ask the investigator,

"Investigator, then what about the monsters that were known to inhabit the peninsula originally, not the mutant individuals? For example, monsters like Dermocas or Ilaptors. Do they also have matching traits with each other?"

"Ah, I was just about to mention that."

The chief investigator, who had been almost attacked with questions by Liner, seemed quite pleased when Flynn asked. Eventually, he picked up a sample next to him, showed it to the commanders, and spoke,

"First, before explaining the trait matching among monsters, I think I should mention that there is a difference in results due to the change in research methods between the previous and current studies. The research method of the data we had before was to randomly select only one or two individuals among the existing ones known to have long inhabited the peninsula and conduct an investigation."

Flynn recalled seeing similar content in the document he had seen earlier. There had been a previous study conducted on monsters inhabiting the peninsula, but at that time, the number of monster specimens was much smaller than now, so the reliability of the research results was low. The investigator's following explanation was coincidentally similar.

"The results at that time showed that the traits and components were so different that it was difficult to see a connection between each species, so it was concluded that there was almost no correlation. However, in this study, the number of individuals serving as specimens was greatly increased compared to before, and in the newly revealed results, it was confirmed that there is a certain rule in the genetic trait matching of existing individuals."

"A rule?"

"Yes, the older the individual and the fewer generations it has undergone reproduction, the more similar traits are found with other species."

The investigator took a sip of water placed on the podium and opened his mouth again.

"Our investigators speculated that the reason for this difference arising from the research method is that the existing individuals developed unique genetic traits to adapt to the peninsula environment while reproducing with the same species for several years. The younger the individual, the more strongly these unique traits stood out, creating differences between individuals. That's why in past studies, it was judged that there were almost no cases where genetic traits matched with other species."

"..."

"However, conversely, the closer to the 1st generation and the older the individual, the more common genetic traits were found with other species, which was confirmed through the large number of specimens collected this time. And this applies equally to all monster individuals discovered on the peninsula so far, not just the Dermocas and Ilaptors that Deputy Flynn asked about."

In other words, the investigator's words meant that the further back the generations went, the more the genetic traits matched or the higher the similarity between monsters, leading to the conclusion that in fact, all monsters inhabiting the peninsula originally possessed common genetic traits.

Hugo organized the investigator's words he had heard so far in his head and shifted his gaze back to the document in his hand.

Leonardo had said that he had been to this Elder Millie Peninsula before. He knew better than anyone about the individuals that had long inhabited the peninsula, but even he didn't seem to know much about the mutants. Then, the mutant individuals currently appearing were likely to not have existed when Leonardo visited the peninsula.

If he estimated the time he came to the peninsula to be around 5 years before now, it also meant that the time when new mutant individuals began to be born was within 5 years from then. They appeared relatively recently.

Moreover, the lifespan of high-ranking monsters, as commonly known, was at least 20 years or more in the absence of external factors, and reproductive activities were possible from the point when 10% of the total lifespan had passed, and the function remained intact until reaching 70%. Therefore, taking this into account...

Hugo closed the document in his hand, handed it to the investigator, and said,

"To summarize, the monsters on this peninsula actually share the same blood, and because of that, some genetic traits match. And the possibility exists that a progenitor or a group of individuals with reproductive functions that gave birth to them until recently is somewhere on this peninsula now."

At Hugo's words, silence fell for a moment. The investigator broke the silence as he received the document Hugo handed over.

"Yes, that's correct."

Flynn's mouth gradually opened wider as he heard the conversation between the two. The other commanders were the same. And at that moment, a certain possibility came to their minds.

The reproductive methods of monsters were inherently diverse, so it couldn't be called a perfect solution, but if they could find the individual possessing all the genetic traits of the creatures, they might find a new direction for subjugation that would greatly shorten the time in the endless swamp of monsters.

While the commanders were murmuring about that new possibility, Charlotte, the deputy commander of the 9th Battalion who had been quietly observing the meeting, glanced at the eggshells gathered in the corner and presented a question to those present.

"As a result of the subjugation so far, a food chain had already been formed among the monsters on the peninsula. But if we think about it again based on the topic that just came up, it means that even if they share the same blood, they still prey on each other..."

Eventually, she took a step forward, pointed to the side where the shells were, and continued,

"Then, what is the reason that the Dermocas, located at the top of the peninsula's food chain, tried to protect that egg that doesn't perfectly match their own species instead of using it as food? What on earth is the identity of that egg that made them show such behavior?"

At Charlotte's voice, Hugo and Flynn immediately paid attention. It was because it was a question they hadn't heard a clear answer to earlier.

As the gazes focused on him as soon as the question ended, the chief investigator held back his words for a moment. He seemed to fall into deep thought for a brief period, then eventually slowly opened his mouth and carefully began to speak his thoughts.

"In the current situation, I also cannot assert what that egg is. However, if I were to forcibly define it, saying that the individual inside the egg has not yet been determined to become anything would be closest to answering the question."

At the enigmatic words, Charlotte made an expression of not being able to understand and asked,

"What does that mean?"

"This egg had a slightly different nature from other typical monster eggs."

The chief investigator answered Charlotte's words and gestured to another investigator. Then, an assistant investigator approached, holding a specimen of the cross-section of the egg Charlotte had brought, cut in half and stuffed. In the very center of the egg specimen, something white was fixed, cut in half.

"Looking at the cross-section, you can see that this egg is quite large in size compared to other monster eggs, and the shell is also very thick. Also, the surface is quite hard, which is to protect the embryo inside more definitively and safely. Other monster eggs also serve a protective function, but the hardness of this egg is incomparably higher."

Flynn was inwardly surprised by the thickness of the shell as he looked at the cross-section of the egg cut in half from the front. It seemed difficult to even make a hole with a considerable force.

And if that was really a Dermocas egg, the stuffed corpse in the center should have been close to a dark color similar to their skin. However, what was visible now was close to white, and the appearance also looked quite different.

"The transparent layer at the bottom of the shell is the mucous substance that was inside, solidified into a specimen. This mucous substance is slightly acidic, although not to the extent of melting human skin when touched."

When the investigator brought litmus paper close to the cross-section of the solidified mucous substance, a small amount of liquid remaining on the surface stained the test paper red.

"This can also be seen as being formed to protect the embryo from bacteria that could penetrate, but in addition, this mucous substance contained condensed high-grade nutrients. In other words, the embryo inside this egg was receiving protection and nutrients of a different dimension compared to the offspring of other monsters."

Having finished the long explanation, the chief investigator took a brief breath and added,

"Perhaps the reason the Dermocas tried to protect this egg is that the individual inside the egg is the next progenitor."

"...The next progenitor?"

"Yes, usually when creating the next progenitor-."

Boom-!

At that moment, a huge roar was heard from beyond several ridges. Although it came from quite a distance, the sound quickly spread and resonated in the air, causing everyone who had been intently listening to the investigator's words to turn their heads toward the source of the sound.

Then, they saw a hazy cloud of dust rising in the area, as if a landslide had occurred on a peak quite far away. Because there had been such ominous signs before the appearance of the Dermocas horde a few hours ago, the commanders observing the situation tensed up, wondering if it was the creatures' doing again.

Flynn, who had been watching the direction the roar came from with a startled face, muttered in a small voice as he gauged the location of the rising dust cloud.

"The 1st Battalion members should be over there..."

As the word '1st Battalion' was heard, Hugo's eyes widened slightly.

When the sound of earth sliding down and cliffs collapsing followed one after another as if a landslide had really occurred, Hugo's face, who had been looking in that direction, hardened coldly. The ominous feeling creeping up intuitively evoked a single name.

"...Leonardo."

Flynn, who had heard that voice along with a faint breeze, turned his head towards him who should be next to him.

Then, with a puzzled face, he looked around.

"Commander?"

It was because Hugo, who had clearly been next to him until just now, was nowhere to be seen.

Liner, the commander of the 9th Battalion, who also felt that the situation was unusual, had been looking in the direction the roar came from, then turned his head to where the Council Commander would be.

"Council Commander, support-."

Liner, whose eyes met Flynn's as he was looking around, couldn't finish his sentence.

The Commander had already disappeared from that spot.