Chapter 189

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> *What exactly are we up against?*
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*- Seraphina*

This is the 189th chapter of *unORDINARY*.

## Plot

Now finally confirmed as Joker and the true King of Wellston, John finds himself in a familiar situation. The uneasy stares and frightened whispers offer no more satisfaction now than it did back in New Bostin. Cecile walks up behind him and offers her congratulations on his official establishment as King of Wellston. John is disgusted by this sycophantic display and tells her to drop the act. He suspects that she was hoping he'd finally restore her to her previous position as head of the Press Team, and invites her to tag along on his visit to Isen.

At that moment, Isen was getting an update from Seraphina on her conversation with Claire. She explained that, during the year-long gap that was missing from the New Bostin records, John was being held in custody by the Authorities. Isen notes that only they would be capable of detaining someone so dangerous. Seraphina requests that Isen look into how the Authorities handle delinquent high-tiers, but he tells her ahead of time that he can't guarantee anything. He explains that such an endeavor would be incredibly dangerous for him, and Seraphina thankfully tells him she doesn't want to pressure him. Seraphina reflects on Keon, certain that he's deeply involved in John's history given how someone that powerful became a nervous wreck after a single interrogation session.

The two are then joined by Arlo, fresh from being officially ousted as King. Seraphina asks if he wants to talk about it, but Arlo says there's nothing left to say. The situation was always inevitable, and he claims that he can at least stop stressing over it now. Isen and Seraphina see that he's taking the matter suspiciously well. Arlo insists that they resume to the mystery surrounding Terrence, but he zones out of the discussion early on. Seraphina notices his lapse in attention and presses him to say what's on his mind. Arlo dryly points out that his last attempt to do a background check on a secret high-tier ended in disaster. Seraphina tells Arlo that he got what he deserved for antagonizing John, but the matter before them was different. There is a group out there who not only managed to disable her ability, but had plans to kidnap her at knife-point as well. Seraphina declared that she had every intention of finding out who they are, and asks Arlo if he's going to stand beside her. Determined to find out what involvement they had in the death of Rei, Arlo agrees.

The three begin trying to figure out just what connection Terrence may have with Seraphina's attackers. If such a connection exists, then the organization is being run competently. At this session, Isen is made privy to details about the attempt to kidnap Seraphina for the first time. He learns that the kidnappers managed to force three powerful high-tiers (though one's ability had been compromised beforehand) and Elaine into a stalemate with the help of an Ability Dampener. Learning of these details shocked Isen, but there something about all of this still seemed of to Arlo. If these attackers had access to ability amplifiers, then why didn't they use them during their ambush? It certainly would have allowed them to triumph. Isen doubts it was because the drug was in short supply, seeing as how Volcan had a ready supply for anyone who had the money for it. Seraphina said that the only thing these groups had in common were drugs that affected abilities. Their goals didn't seem to overlap in any way, and it didn't make sense that they wouldn't pool their resources for every endeavor. Isen brings up the possibility that the kidnappers were low-tiers who were boosted, but the other two considered it absurd, seeing as how it wouldn't be difficult to hire mid-tiers for the job.

Isen then proposes that this train of thought was leading them to the assumption that Terrence was a natural high-tier rather than a boosted mid-tier, and that his records were falsified. The very idea is unsettling to Seraphina. A man at a mall booth, attempted kidnappers, and Terrence, all spread out and working in unison. Along with a means of tampering with abilities, the group can forge entire personal backgrounds. She wonders just what they were up against.

Their detective session is suddenly interrupted when the door swings open. Isen quails in fright at the sight of John at the entrance, while Seraphina notices that Cecile was right behind him. She briefly wondered why they were together after she warned John about her before remembering the value John placed on the opinions of others. In turn, John sees her working together with the two individuals responsible for ruining his life, and determines that he was right about Seraphina betraying him. She greets the King with courtesy and congratulates him on his new title before he abruptly orders the trio to leave the Press Room.

## Appearing Characters

* John
* Cecile
* Isen
* Seraphina
* Keon (flashback)
* Arlo
* Rei (flashback)
* Ability Gauge Vendor (flashback)
* Roland (flashback)
* Evie (flashback)
* Terrence (flashback)