The boy who had been held back was quickly let go, and he took a moment to taunt the man who had restrained him. "Told you not to mess with me," he said with a smirk before turning to Arias, his expression shifting to one of awe. "Mr. Markovich! Mr. Markovich! I'm Billy Batson, the unofficial student body vice president."
Arias raised an eyebrow. "Unofficial?"
Billy nodded eagerly. "Yeah, the president, Barbara Gordon, lets me help out. Since there's been no formal election to choose a student body yet, I act as the vice president."
"I see," Arias said thoughtfully. "In that case, can you lead me to the labs."
Billy's eyes lit up, and he awkwardly saluted. "Yes, sir! Follow me!" He turned and started yelling for his fellow students to move aside as Arias began following him. "Clear the way, everyone! Mr. Markovich coming through!"
As they walked through the campus, numerous students snapped photos and murmured among themselves. Some went as far as to follow closely, especially girls who yelled questions like insane fans.
"Mr. Markovich! It's really him?!"
"Can we get a selfie?"
"Is it true what they say about you?"
Billy struggled to hold them back, shouting for them to step back. "Come on, guys! Give him some space!"
Arias walked without any apparent difficulty, the students finding themselves mysteriously repelled from getting within a certain range of him. Despite this, they continued trying, undeterred by the invisible force.
Arias, acting as if he couldn't see this, turned toward Billy. "Is it always this lively in the evenings here?"
Billy laughed nervously, still trying to manage the crowd. "It's Friday, so a lot of students are out. Otherwise, there'd be more. The only reason they're out in the first place is because they wanted to try and see you by waiting near the Leviathan Tower. Joke's on them, though. I wanted to go too but I'm not allowed out since I'm not over 18 yet."
"I see," Arias replied again, nodding. As they neared the labs, separated from the rest of the campus by a wired fence and gate, Billy hesitated.
"So, Mr. Markovich, did you really do everything the media accuses you of?" Billy asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Arias smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What do you think?"
Billy didn't hesitate. "I think it's a lie."
Arias chuckled softly. "There's truth to everything," he said enigmatically as they reached the gate, which were separated from the rest of the campus by a wired fence and a sturdy gate.
"This is where you have to stop. You can't go any further."
Billy's face fell with disappointment. "What's in there?"
Arias looked at the gate, then back at Billy. "Work hard and join Leviathan when you graduate. Then you'll find out."
He walked towards the gate, raising a hand in a casual wave.
Billy opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the crowd of students surged forward, overwhelming him with their questions and excitement. Arias watched for a moment, a satisfied smile on his face, before turning and entering the labs.
The security guards stationed at the gates of the labs quickly moved to open them as they saw Arias approaching. Their expressions were a mix of awe and nervousness, his imposing presence far more daunting in person than they had anticipated.
"W-welcome, Mr. Markovich," one guard stuttered, while the other managed a shaky nod.
Arias acknowledged them with a nod of his own. "You might want to close the gate quickly," he suggested calmly.
It was only then that the guards noticed the throng of students, mostly girls, sprinting towards the gate, yelling Arias's name. The guards exchanged a panicked look.
"Shit! Close the gate!" one of them shouted, fumbling with the controls.
The other guard tried to push back the advancing students, but they were determined, their voices a chaotic chorus of excitement and desperation. "Mr. Markovich! Just one photo! Please!"
With a final heave, the guards managed to close the gate, holding it firm against the press of bodies. The students pushed and shouted, but the barrier held, keeping them at bay.
Arias walked past the scene with an air of unbothered calm, entering the laboratory complex made up of several interconnected buildings.
The architecture was sleek and modern, with a façade of reflective glass and steel that shimmered under the evening light. The buildings were linked by elevated walkways, and the main entrance led to a large atrium filled with natural light and verdant indoor plants.
Approaching one of the entrances, Arias paused as a biometric scanner embedded in the doorframe began a full-body scan. The door slid open seamlessly, allowing him entry.
Inside, the lobby was pristine and clinical, dominated by a single receptionist desk. Behind it sat a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, casually blowing bubblegum and filing her nails, clearly bored. At the sight of Arias, she sat up abruptly, almost choking on her gum.
"M-Mr. Markovich!" she stuttered, her face flushing with sudden recognition.
Arias offered her a charming smile. "Do you work here? You look quite young."
She laughed awkwardly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I-I'm a student, actually. I'm just doing an internship here since I want to major in biotechnology and work for Leviathan in the future."
"Impressive," Arias remarked. "You must be very talented to have secured an internship already."
She laughed again, more nervously this time. "O-Oh it's probably because of my mother."
Arias raised an eyebrow. "And who might that be?"
"Veronica Cale," she revealed, her tone a mix of pride and frustration.
Arias recognized the name. "Veronica Cale, the co-founder of Empire Enterprises? I'm surprised. Your mother is quite publicly against Leviathan Inc and myself."
The girl nodded. "Yeah, she is. I actually enrolled here to get away from her at first—she can be really overbearing. But I love this place and definitely want to work for Leviathan in the future."
Arias nodded approvingly. "Well, Isadore," he said, reading her name from the identification badge around her neck, "I wish you good luck in your endeavors."
"Thank you, Mr. Markovich," she replied, visibly brightening at his words.
"Could you tell me where I can find Dr. October?"
Isadore nodded quickly. "She's in Building 5 of the complex, but I'm not sure which sublevel she's on."
Arias nodded, turning to leave. "Thank you, Isadore. Have a good day."
"You too, Mr. Markovich."
Arias walked through the interconnected buildings. The complex was full of activity, with scientists and researchers moving quickly through the corridors, engrossed in their work.
The interior was state-of-the-art, with transparent walls revealing cutting-edge laboratories filled with advanced equipment.
Reaching Building 5, Arias approached the main entrance, where another biometric scanner awaited. He stood still as the scanner did its work, then proceeded through the door as it opened with a soft chime.
Inside, he made his way to the central elevator, ready to descend to whichever sublevel housed Dr. October.