Abelino opened his eyes. I was still holding my arm around his neck, with a knife just centimeters away from his carotid.

“The People’s Unity Government thanks you,” Abelino said, between gritted teeth. “Release me, so I can see to my arm.”

It seemed that a part of Abelino’s increased Physical Defense was that there was less blood than you would expect, considering I had cut off his hand. And somehow, he seemed to be dealing with the pain just fine.

I let go of Abelino, and he immediately opened an Interdimensional Pouch and drank a healing potion.

It didn’t regrow his hand, but it did stop the bleeding, and a layer of skin grew rapidly into a stump around his wrist.

“They are friends,” Abelino called to guards in Spanish. “Secure the area. If there is any sign of General Scott and my clone, let me know.”

Then he turned to me. “What kind of sword is that? And who are you?”

“It’s called Ghost Biter,” I said, not seeing any reason to hide it. “It deals spiritual damage. My name is Jarek Novak, leader of the Novak Alliance and ally to Daybreak. I was the one who killed the Zone Lord.”

I had never even thought of a Novak Alliance before this moment, but between the People’s Unity Government and Daybreak, it looked like people were creating organizations. I might as well join in.

Abelino studied me with a thoughtful gaze.

A guard approached him, and said, in Spanish, “The General and your clone took the portal to Fayette City.”

Abelino nodded. “Come,” he said, to Alex and me. “We have much to discuss.”

We walked back into the cathedral-like building, and sat at the large, circular wooden table.

“Leave us,” Abelino said to his guards. To my surprise, the guards didn’t protest, leaving immediately.

I was hopeful that Abelino didn’t realize how weak I was right now—I had used up a huge chunk of my mana in our battle, and if he attacked right off the bat, he could easily kill me, if he wanted.

“I will take back my clone and kill the ones responsible,” Abelino said. “Your help would be appreciated.”

Alex frowned. “We are barely holding on as it is. We cannot spare anyone to fight against ourselves.”

“Then allow me to travel through the cities that you control. And give me a map of the locations of the Armed Forces cities.”

“I need to check in with Dawnbreaker,” Alex said. She took out a Communication Amulet, and laid it on the table in front of us.

“Make it fast,” Dawnbreaker said, her terse voice coming through the Amulet just a second later. It somehow made me feel better, that she used the same tone with Alex that she used with me.

“You’re on speaker phone. General Scott successfully mind-controlled Abelino, who can make clones of himself that retain his stats. Jarek subdued the original Abelino and I freed him from the mind control, but General Scott fled with a mind-controlled clone. Abelino wants to be able to travel freely through our cities, and he wants information on the Armed Forces bases. We are not under duress.” Alex said. She reminded me of a lawyer, the way she spoke on a controlled, fast tone with all the most essential details.

There was a brief pause on the line. “President Torres, can you hear me?”

“Abelino, please,” Abelino replied.

“Why is it urgent that you recover your clone?”

Abelino licked his lips. “Each clone keeps my memories. The mind-controlled clone has much sensitive information.”

“What type of information? I’m sure you understand why I am so hesitant.”

“City and towns locations and defenses, mines, ways to contact my enemies,” Abelino said. “The knowledge a clone has could bring down the People’s Unity Government.”

“What is your plan?” Dawnbreaker asked.

“I would try to be secret,” Abelino said. “I need information and your Teleportation Circles.”

“And once you’re inside?” Daybreaker pressed.

“I will do what it takes to find and kill my clone.”

“Jarek, can you hear me?”

I started to nod, and then I realized that Dawnbreaker couldn’t see me. “Yes.”

“Do you think you can defeat Abelino in a fight?”

“Maybe?” I said. In one sense, I already had. But if Abelino had time to prepare, I could have to fight four Abelinos, all equipped in gear that would boost Agility and Strength…probably not. Although, Abelino was missing his right hand. So probably?

“Abelino, I have two conditions,” Dawnbreaker said. “My first condition is that if you weaken a town or city to the point that it may fall, that you provide temporary support against monsters for the duration of this monster wave. My second condition is that you take Jarek with you.”

“Agreed,” Abelino said, immediately.

Samantha said, immediately.

The idea was tempting, though. The US Armed Forces likely held my sister. And Abelino might just be able to help me find her.

“My time is valuable,” I said. “What do I get out of this?”

There was an awkward silence between Dawnbreaker and Abelino that extended for several seconds.

Abelino relented first. “I have some D-rank items. You have a sword, but you seem short armor.”

I snorted, taking the next few seconds to equip my full load-out. “Try again.”

Dawnbreaker cut Abelino off. “Abelino, I trust you will find suitable payment. Keep in mind that you will not be permitted to travel through any Teleportation Circles without Jarek. Alex, keep me updated.”

With that, the Communication Amulet went silent.

Abelino spread his arms in defeat. “Jarek. Could you can tell me what you are looking for?”

At Samantha’s suggestion, I responded, “I want a chance to kill your Zone Lord.”

Abelino’s face froze in surprise. “If I knew where the Zone Lord was, then it would be dead already. And if it does appear, and attacks a city, then I will of course kill it right away. This is not something I can promise.”

“But that is what I want,” I said. “Let’s make it official. In your capacity as President of the People’s Unity Government. I want to be contacted the moment you have an inkling for where it might be. And I want claim to all the loot, except the Capital City Token.”

“You ask too much,” Abelino said, shaking his head.

“And you are asking me to attack my own government,” I shot back.

Abelino sighed. “First choice of the loot,” he said.

“Half the value of the loot,” I shot back. “Including the Capital City Token. And if possible, I want the killing blow.”

Abelino sighed. “Agreed.”

He must have been pretty desperate, and rushed, to agree to this. Or, maybe he didn’t realize what he was giving up.

Ironically, though, he likely wasn’t giving up very much at all. If I did give the killing blow, then the loot was certain to be exceedingly generous. I had tasted that generosity before, when I killed the Imperial Scouts.

It was very possible Abelino would come out ahead, due to this deal—except for the generous Stat Points that he was forfeiting. Fortunately, this was a win-win scenario.

It was just as we were putting on the finishing touches on this deal, that the massive door to the courtroom opened.

I stood immediately, drawing my sword. It was another Abelino. This Abelino, though, was fully decked out in light-weight, C-rank leather armor. Two twin swords were sheathed at either hip, and a longbow was slung over his back. Unlike the Abelino in front of me, this Abelino had two healthy, strong hands.

His whole body was glistening in a light sheen of sweat, and he seemed slightly out of breath.

“Fade,” he said, in Spanish.

I raised my sword warily.

The Abelino at the table smiled tiredly. “Allow me to introduce the first Abelino.”

With those words, the Abelino at the table—the same Abelino that had been mind-controlled, and then freed—shimmered slightly, and disappeared.

The D-rank weapons and armor fell to the ground, and the Abelino at the door strode over—making full use of his beastly Agility—and collected his equipment.

“Don’t worry,” the only remaining Abelino said, smiling at the hint of fear in my eyes. “I remember everything. The deal still stands. I am ready to find my clone.”

Somehow, this Abelino exuded far more power than the previous clone, and it wasn’t just because of the C-rank items.

How many clones do you think he can make?

What kind of broken class is this? I felt sweat beading on my forehead.

Samantha said.