Chapter 89: Next Day"
Still very early, when the old alarm clock rang, its shrill sound echoed through Smile's small house, which he now occupied in place of his friend, Lowo. Or rather, he was disguised as Lowo.
Smile's confused mind played tricks on him, but the mission to honor his friend's memory kept him focused. Today, he would face the Central Pharmacological Research Center (CPF), the place where Lowo had been turned into a test subject.
By his side was Ylsean, disguised as Smile, watching him with concern. It was clear to her that her friend wasn't in his normal state, but she couldn't blame Smile for being emotionally shaken. He was now wearing the skin of the man he believed to be his savior.
"We need to go now, 'Lowo,'" Ylsean said, her voice deep as she attempted to mimic a grave tone.
"I know, 'Smile,'" he replied with irony, adjusting the suit he was wearing for the first time in his life.
Pretending to be Lowo gave him a strange, almost furious confidence.
When they arrived in front of the imposing CPF building, Smile—or Lowo, as he wanted to be called at that moment—stared at the dark windows and the giant letters above the entrance. That polished façade cruelly contrasted with what happened inside.
Behind the sign promising "Better health for you," the place harbored a true hell for human experiments, and he knew that better than anyone.
As soon as they entered, the usual security check took place. A grumpy guard ordered Smile to place his hands against the wall to be searched. The cold, indifferent touch of the agent brought his anger to the surface.
"Hands on the wall!" the guard commanded, his tone automatic and harsh.
"Don't touch me like I'm just anyone," Smile snapped, his voice rough yet maintaining the calm demeanor of Lowo. "Remember, I am the priority experiment here."
The guard glared at him with barely contained anger but stepped back, realizing that this Lowo was no longer the submissive young man who used to frequent that place. Something about him had changed—or at least, that's what Smile wanted them to believe.
They passed through the security checkpoint and were escorted to the upper floor, where the head, Ramisk, was waiting for them.
The middle-aged man had a cynical smile on his face, as if he were about to meet an old acquaintance he couldn't care less about.
"Lowo!" Ramisk exclaimed, spreading his arms theatrically. "Welcome back, boy!"
Lowo—or rather, Smile in Lowo's role—stood still, glaring at Ramisk with disdain. He didn't offer a handshake, merely looked the man in the eye with contempt.
"Don't call me a boy, Ramisk. We're past that," Smile said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and aggression.
Ramisk, surprised by the change in behavior, frowned momentarily but quickly forced his smile back.
"Ah, it seems our number one experiment has developed a new attitude, hasn't he?" Ramisk attempted a casual tone, but the latent threat was unmistakable. "That's good, Lowo. We need strength here, not weakness."
Smile shook his head, breathing deeply to suppress the bubbling rage. He recalled Ylsean's words: "Don't lose your head. We need to play their game."
She was right, but it was hard to hold back when everything around him made him want to explode.
Before they could proceed, Smile noticed something strange. Ylsean, who had been by his side just moments ago, was gone.
"Where's 'Smile'?" he asked abruptly, looking around.
Ramisk shrugged as if it didn't matter.
"Oh, your friend? He was taken to another room. Separate matters, you know how it is..." the chief said with disdain, his voice dripping with contempt. "Nothing for you to worry about."
The reaction was immediate. Smile felt his blood boil, and his fists clenched. How dare they separate them? Ylsean was disguised as him, and if anything went wrong, she would be in danger.
"Where did you take him?" Smile's voice echoed down the corridor.
The threatening tone was palpable now, much closer to the Lowo Ramisk knew but with an even sharper edge.
"Calm down, Lowo. Your friend is safe. Let's focus on what matters, okay? We don't want anything… to get out of control, do we?" Ramisk took a step back, noticing the fury building in Smile's eyes.
Lowo—or Smile disguised as Lowo—took a deep breath and smirked, a half-smile that made Ramisk retreat even further.
"You think you have control over anything here, Ramisk?" Smile said, his voice now low and lethal. "The only reason you're still breathing is because I allow it. And what I want, I get."
Ramisk stayed silent for a few seconds, his hesitant smile fading. He knew this Lowo wasn't the same anymore. Something was different, and it unsettled him.
"Come on, Lowo. Let's get to the point. We have work to do." Ramisk tried to shift the focus of the conversation, opening the door to the lab.
Upon entering the room, Smile saw the machine where he would undergo another experiment. The energy pod was ready, waiting for him.
Memories of Lowo and how his friend had been treated there came rushing back like a tide.
"This will be the last time you strap me to that thing," Smile said, his voice cold and cutting.
"Oh, will it?" Ramisk teased, trying to regain control of the situation. "You know that without us, you're nothing."
But Smile grinned, a smile filled with irony and disdain. He knew something Ramisk didn't. He had a plan, and he wouldn't be their puppet for much longer.
"We'll see, Ramisk. We'll see."
As he prepared to step into the pod, one thought stayed vivid in his mind: Ylsean, separated from him, possibly in danger. That only fueled his determination.
Smile was no longer just a man trying to honor Lowo's memory. He was fighting against a system that had destroyed his friend's life, and he wouldn't stop until he brought it all down.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone