Chapter 471: "The Pirate Ship," "The Wolf's Den," "Interrupted" (Patreon)

"Attention passengers, the final station is approaching."

“...”

As the announcement echoed through the train car, Chirak Oran slowly raised his head, his expression utterly drained.

He looked like a ghost of himself, pale-faced and with bloodshot eyes.

Since boarding the train, the deep, sinister voice in his mind had clung to him like a nightmare, constantly issuing threats and commands.

What made it even more unbearable was how the voice "instructed" him on what to say when replying to his parents' texts and calls, forcing him to lie and conceal his situation.

During the ride, Chirak had received a message from his father, who had mobilized resources to investigate the person named Marur Concor after receiving Chirak's earlier text.

But his father’s findings plunged Chirak into deeper despair.

The police's investigation into Marur Concor, a senior high school student, revealed a spotless record.

From his academic achievements to his online activity and social background, Marur appeared to be a "model citizen."

Not only was he a top student, but he was also a popular figure at school, praised by classmates and teachers alike for his friendliness and helpfulness.

Even though the patrol units, aided by surveillance and android assistants, had tracked Marur’s movements with precision, they couldn’t take any coercive measures against him.

The reason was simple: Marur hadn’t issued any direct threats or caused any explicit harm to Chirak.

This left Chirak feeling helpless—not only could he not convince the authorities to dig deeper, but under the oppressive control of the voice in his mind, he couldn’t even provide his father with additional evidence or confide in him.

After all, if he so much as mentioned "voices" or "threats," the consequences for his parents and anyone close to him could be catastrophic.

On the other side, Chirak’s mother had called, concerned about why he hadn’t returned home so late.

Following the sinister voice's instructions, he had to fabricate an excuse, claiming he was at a friend’s house.

Listening to his mother’s caring words only deepened the sense of oppression weighing on Chirak’s heart.

His hand gripping the phone was slick with cold sweat, yet he couldn’t let it show, forcing himself to maintain a facade of calm.

As the train pulled into the final station and the doors opened, Chirak exhaled shakily.

He raised his head, looking out at the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind racing to figure out how to escape this nightmare.

But under the watchful influence of that cold voice, all he could do was step off the train as instructed, stepping further into the unknown.

The final station was located on the western outskirts of New Argos.

The scene outside was vastly different from the bustling city center.

Vast stretches of farmland extended in every direction, neatly organized into grids that reached the horizon. The outlines of modernized livestock farms were faintly visible in the distance.

Instead of traditional farmers tending the fields, automated agricultural machines moved efficiently through the rows, showcasing the peak of productivity.

Around the station, the buildings were sparse. Two towering skyscrapers stood out in the distance, surrounded by scattered residential homes, convenience stores, and small shopping centers.

The architecture was practical and minimalistic, blending seamlessly with the open natural environment.

Despite being a suburban area, the place was vibrant and lively.

The streets were filled with people, their daily routines playing out in vivid detail, while the sky overhead was streaked with the trails of passing maglev vehicles, casting soft beams of light.

Chirak stepped off the train, his exhaustion plain for all to see.

His eyes darted around the platform, scanning the surroundings with a mix of caution and desperation.

The oppressive voice that had haunted him was quiet for now, but Chirak knew this silence was only a façade.

"Keep walking—"

The voice suddenly returned, cold and commanding, leaving Chirak no choice but to comply.

He moved through the crowd and off the platform, his steps deliberate but tense, his gaze constantly scanning for potential threats.

After walking for about five minutes, he reached a large parking lot next to the station.

Here, everything was orderly: rows of maglev vehicles were parked neatly, with some undergoing automated cleaning and maintenance.

Chirak stopped, his heartbeat quickening as an ominous sense of dread washed over him.

"That one—the purple maglev van—get in."

The sinister voice echoed in his mind again, its tone brooking no argument.

Chirak’s eyes scanned the parking lot and quickly spotted a deep purple maglev van.

The vehicle’s sleek, flawless design and aerodynamic shape stood out prominently.

Gritting his teeth, Chirak hesitated, weighing whether or not to follow the command.

But the voice, as if reading his every thought, coldly added:

"Don’t even think about stalling—get in!"

Out of options, Chirak reluctantly obeyed and approached the van.

As he neared—

Swish!

The sliding door on his side automatically opened, revealing the pitch-black interior of the van. It looked like a void, swallowing all light.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Chirak steeled himself and stepped inside.

Swish—Bang!

The sliding door shut swiftly behind him, sealing him off from the outside world.

Darkness enveloped the entire cabin, with not a single ray of light seeping through. The silence was broken only by the sound of his own rapid breathing and the pounding of his heart.

Whirr—~

The deep hum of the maglev engine came to life, and the van began to vibrate gently before ascending smoothly.

At that moment, Chirak realized he had completely lost control of the situation. He was now, quite literally, aboard a "pirate ship."

"Huff... huff..."

His breathing grew heavy and erratic, almost drowning out the sound of his own heartbeat.

No matter how hard he tried to calm himself, the tension wrapped around him like a cold wind, refusing to let go.

He thought about pulling out his phone but stopped himself, fearing the consequences of the voice monitoring his every move.

Time passed agonizingly slowly.

The engine's hum shifted as the van began to decelerate, eventually descending and coming to a stop with a soft thud, signaling it had landed on solid ground or some sort of platform.

Swish!

The sliding door opened once more.

Purple light spilled into the cabin, and Chirak squinted against the sudden brightness as he cautiously stepped out.

He immediately sensed something was off.

The air was thick with the cloying scent of perfume, and the eerie purple glow bathed everything in an unnatural hue.

Chirak found himself in a massive warehouse.

It was crowded with men and women swaying to the rhythm of heavy metal music.

Electronic synthesizers blared, the intense beats practically tearing through the air and vibrating through his chest.

The sheer volume left Chirak dizzy and disoriented, his vision beginning to blur.

"Well, hello there, newcomer."

A sultry, teasing voice broke through the chaos, snapping Chirak back to reality.

He spun around to face its source, only to see a woman approaching him.

She was wearing an elegant deep V-neck evening gown that accentuated her confidence and poise.

Her silver-white hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her striking eyes sparkled with an inexplicable allure.

Her movements were graceful yet predatory, like a panther stalking its prey. Her aristocratic demeanor left Chirak momentarily stunned.

"You’re quite the difficult one to invite," the woman said, her tone soft but laced with amusement.

"Such a young age, yet such a strong sense of vigilance."

Her gaze swept over Chirak, scrutinizing his every move, but her smile never wavered.

Chirak stood frozen, feeling as though invisible chains were holding him in place. His heart raced, and his nerves were on edge.

"Relax, child. I had no choice but to use threats and warnings to guide you here, to this true ‘family.’"

The woman’s smile deepened, her voice gentle yet imbued with an undeniable authority.

Raising her hand, she lightly brushed it over Chirak’s head. The touch sent a shiver down his spine—not out of comfort but from an instinctive fear of the unknown.

"Join us," she whispered, leaning closer. Her words carried an almost hypnotic allure.

"You still have the chance to become something truly supreme, the pinnacle of perfection—to become an Astartes."

"You?! It was you!"

Chirak’s pupils constricted, his voice trembling with disbelief.

His mind raced, piecing everything together.

The deep, commanding voice that had haunted his thoughts now perfectly matched the woman standing before him.

Chirak stumbled back half a step but resisted the urge to flee, knowing there was nowhere to run.

What terrified him more than this revelation was her choice of words.

She not only admitted to "guiding" him here but also tried to entice him with promises of supremacy and perfection.

Even more absurdly, she claimed he could still become an Astartes.

Chirak’s brow furrowed, and a defiant, disdainful look crossed his face.

From a young age, he had been inspired by the legendary tales of the Astartes and knew how these heroic warriors were forged through rigorous selection and enhancement to become humanity’s protectors.

The woman’s offer sounded utterly ludicrous and deceitful.

Inside, Chirak’s turmoil grew. He realized the situation was far more dangerous than he’d imagined.

Though he didn’t fully understand psychic phenomena, the

fact that this woman could communicate with him telepathically over vast distances and exert such influence over his mind was proof enough that she was no ordinary human.

And her ability to bypass physical barriers and invade his thoughts made Chirak instinctively classify her as a "demonic entity."

"You think you can tempt me?" Chirak finally said, his voice filled with scorn. "I’ll never betray the Emperor or humanity!"

The woman laughed—a high, sharp sound that seemed to mock him.

"Oh, child," she said with a smirk, "You truly have no idea what you’re up against—"

BANG! BANG!

But her words were abruptly cut off by the deafening roar of boltgun fire.