Lying or hiding part of the truth could be considered deception. The chief of research who was talking on the radio was certainly hiding something.
So, Oliver had no reason to believe what he had heard.
Unless and until he verifies it, what he just heard would remain as something he could not trust.
"Activate the power. We will open the main door with our master key. With that, you can trust that we are from the base camp." The team leader finally said, convincing the man to activate the power to the door.
"Yes, give me a second." A reply came from the radio.
Soon, with a clicking sound, something activated inside the command center. The palm scanners and lights in the hallway connecting the tunnel to the command center light up.
Immediately, one of the soldiers used the master key to authenticate and open the door.
The giant metallic door slid away and opened to reveal the inside.
The command center was a large room filled with computers. However, there were barely any people inside.
Only a couple of people wearing lab coats could be seen standing inside, looking warily at Oliver and his group.
'Where are all the military personnel?' His eyes scanned to look around.
The outpost was a military installation. As such, the command center should have been under military control.
But why couldn't he see any inside?
Something was smelling fishy.
"Where is the commander of this base?" The team leader stepped forward and asked.
"..."
The chief of research and everyone else inside looked cautiously at the team leader and the group of soldiers without answering.
The team leader took a step inside when he realised they were not talking.
Immediately, all the people inside raised their weapons. Following suit, the soldiers also raised their guns and pointed at the people inside.
They were carrying semi-automatic rifles that were similar to the ones the soldiers were carrying. If fired in an enclosed space, it could be dangerous for both sides.
"No. Put them down." The chief of research ordered seeing the tense situation. "They are not our enemies."
"How can you be sure, sir? Maybe they are demons. We shouldn't have opened the door." A younger person wearing a lab coat said.
His eyes showed a hint of anger and caution as he gazed at Oliver and the soldiers.
"They can't be. No demon can get the master key to the outpost." The chief pushed down the guns his people were holding and said. "Don't worry, they are a little tense. We were sleep deprived, fighting against the demon the whole day."
"Hm." The team leader nodded and asked his side to put down their weapons.
None of the researchers inside were superhumans. The only danger they posed were the guns they had. And with it being put away, they didn't have to fear anything.
"Oliver, now it's your turn." The team leader said.
"Okay," Oliver looked at Achara as if asking for permission.
Once he got the nod, he stepped forward and began speaking.
"Everyone, it has been a bad day for us all. So, please cooperate." Oliver sprung into action and walked towards the researchers.
There were about six researchers inside the command center, including the chief. Most of them were in their thirties, the only exception being the chief, who was in his fifties.
"What are you doing?" Some of them asked when they saw Oliver walk towards them.
"Don't worry, I am harmless."
Oliver closed in on them and walked around. He was sniffing for demons.
The only reason for him coming on this mission was to detect demons. Which he does by smelling blood.
Currently, by walking around, he was trying to get a whiff of the demon's blood.
One by one, he walked around the people and sniffed. The minuscule open wounds they had sustained during their battle with demons allowed him to smell the blood.
He didn't have to injure them this time.
Suddenly, walking up to a person who was standing in the back, he smiled.
"Ha ha. This is fun." He signaled to Achara with his eyes.
The person seemed to have sensed something amiss when he heard Oliver speak.
Without a second of delay, he tried to raise his gun. But Oliver was one step faster. His fist slammed into the person.
This took everyone by surprise.
The researchers were panicking while the soldiers jumped into action to subdue them.
"What are you doing?" The chief screamed in anger.
The chief was held tightly by the team leader, stopping his movements.
"Wait a second." The team leader was kind enough to reply.
Meanwhile, Oliver smashed the person on the ground with pure physical force and held him in place.
"NO! What are you doing? I have rights. You can't do this to me."
The person screamed and shouted.
"Demons have no human rights." Oliver grinned and said.
"What are you saying? I am not a demon. I have been working with them all this time. I even helped them kill demons. How could I be a demon?"
"Yes, he was with us all the time. He didn't harm us." Another one of the researchers supported his claim.
"Yes. That's right."
The others chimed in.
However, Oliver ignored them all and only looked at Achara.
"I don't think this guy would admit it. But I can prove it by pulling out the brain."
"NO! Murder. Someone HELP!" The man cried out like a pig that was about to be butchered. "The camera is recording everything that's happening in the base. If you kill me, everyone will know about it. I have witnesses." He was trying to grab any straw he could get.
*SLAP*
"Shut the f*ck up, b*stard. You are too noisy." Oliver slapped him right on the face and said.
"No, Murderer."
*SLAP*
"NO."
*SLAP*
*No."
*SLAP*
"no."
The unrelenting sound of palm hitting cheeks sounded for a couple more seconds until the researcher's face turned into a bloody mess.
He was gargling down blood when Oliver was done.
"Now, finally, some peace and quiet." Oliver lifted his head and glanced over the researchers and said.
*Gulp.* Those who wanted to protest swallowed a big gulp of saliva and shut up.
The superiority they were feeling quietly disappeared, finally allowing them to understand the situation. Although they were skilled researchers working with the military and multinational business, out here amidst the wilderness, they were nothing.
"Now, I finally understand why Dharma wrote that on his grave," Oliver muttered under his breath.
Once it quieted, he could see sanity returning to everyone.
"Now, let's have a proper discussion." The team leader stepped forward to diffuse the tension.
The demon among them had been caught. And they have a lot to talk about.
Firstly, what happened to the outpost?
Why were there demons?
What happened to the military personnel stationed here?
Why were there monsters inside the outpost?
Did the monsters and demons kill everyone?
One by one, they had to collect information and unravel the mystery.