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/Earlier that day…/
/Shaa… Shaa…/
While Philip slept like a log, a gentle rain drummed against the cobblestone streets as the sun slowly climbed above the horizon.
Far from his manor, somewhere amidst the bustling streets of the City of Freedom, a blond-haired girl stretched her arms with a languid yawn.
Still rubbing at her back with a drowsy expression, she trailed behind another young woman who looked remarkably similar to her, following her through the modest halls of an inn.
"Yawwn… do we really have to wake up so soon?"
"We do Fyr, I imagine that brat will complain a lot since we didn't meet him yesterday…" Lalta said with a slightly cruel smile as she turned her head slightly
'Though, of course, it was his mistake.'
After meeting Philip and parting ways, the two elves, Lalta and Fyr, made their way to the meeting place, but even after waiting an hour past the designated time, there was no sign of their companion.
So they gave up and found an inn to spend the night in, since their other option was… not exactly comfortable.
Lalta felt terrible knowing there were many eyes around her observing her movements... Thanks to this, she barely had any time for herself.
Paradoxically enough, the only time she felt free of their gaze was during last night, likely thanks to her companion's assistance.
Either way, if they went back now, they would never let them go again.
"Urg… the time is so damn terrible." Lalta complained as she looked outside
'I don't mind rain... when it comes at the right time.
'What's with this damn skinny rain in the morning?'
"Hm... it seems it will not rain for long, its probably just a quick morning… Huh?!"
Fyr walked close to her, but she stopped talking as she noticed something very conspicuous!
"Isn't that…"
Standing in the rain was a single male Elf with dark black hair, wearing a mix of leathery goth clothes and holding a bloody sack in his hand.
His expression was gloomy, making him look almost like an abandoned cat in the rain…
"Who?... Ha… I thought this would happen." Lalta said with a slight smile as she brushed her hair aside with elegance, almost pleased to see him like that
"Come, let's go greet him."
She turned around, letting her gorgeous hair fly in the wind like a model in a shampoo commercial.
"Uh? Really?..."
"Humph, if not now, then when? I have an inkling he'll stay there forever until we go meet with him, that's how petty he is."
'Although I'm very inclined to just leave through the back door... I'm 100% sure he didn't account for that.'
Fyr sighed as she lowered her arms, faintly glancing at the city through the colored window.
'Why do they hate each other so much?...'
…
/Shaaa…/
They stepped outside.
/Snap!/
Fyr snapped her fingers, pulling something like a large flower from thin air, using it as an umbrella, and sharing it with Lalta.
It was oddly cute, and very stereotypical of her, an Elf, to pull such a stunt off. At least that was what Lalta would say had her attention not been on something else entirely.
Stepping out into the road, they stood face to face with the man.
"Look who it is, the late boy… by quite some time at that."
Lalta tried to take the initiative by speaking first, but the man wasn't in the mood to discuss anything.
He scoffed at her words, "While I have a lingering desire to forcibly close that mouth of yours, I'm not really in the mood to entertain you."
"Hum? You think you can brat?"
/Tug…/
Fyr pulled her friend's shirt, smiling helplessly as she told her to bring it down a little. There was no point in fighting over such petty reasons in the middle of a busy city.
"Whatever, Miss Perfect, just listen to what I have to say." The boy said dismissively as he brushed his lightly wet hair back
"Does that include what you were doing previously? You didn't cause trouble, did you?"
She had a reason for her aggression. Working with this boy was too taxing for her… sometimes making her feel the only reason they were put together was so they could look over this troublemaker.
'Last time we were assigned on a mission with him, we failed it immediately because he got into a fight with our informant, and the informant knocked him unconscious.'
'It was just a training mission, but we failed miserably regardless. It was honestly so embarrassing… Why were we deployed with him?... Why do they insist on putting us together?'
He smiled sarcastically, "Heh, are you my mom by any chance? I do think you're old enough for that, but I'm sorry, I don't need a stepmother."
"##!!"
She clenched her hands. Her age was perhaps the most sensitive subject of all to raise in her presence. He knew, and loved to brush it on her face whenever he had the chance.
Fyr tugged at her hand, "Lalta… please…"
/Inhale…/
/Exhale…/
"Fine, then… speak."
'I'll crush his spine later.'
He rolled his eyes, playing with his fingers as Lalta's expression kept growing darker by the minute…
Seeing she was about to lose it, Fyr stepped forward, "S-Shouldn't we talk inside?" She pointed out as she looked around, noticing something strange.
'Hm? Why's no one looking at us? Yesterday…'
The boy finally cut through the silence as he swung his right hand to the side, causing a small dark droplet to ripple on the stone beneath them, "You think I've been sitting here for fun? Do I have to do everything around here?"
"While you two were getting your hair ready and putting on your skin cream, I got ahead and set up a small perception barrier; no one will look at us for the time being."
He shrugged, "If they still can, then hiding inside that shabby inn will not really make a difference."
"Shabby? Where did you sleep then?" Lalta asked with a cheeky smile as she crossed her arms
"..."
"Silence? I thought as much… when you go back home, don't forget to take out the trash while you're at it. Treat it as decoration."
"You think I slept in a dumpster?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow, "Please, we all know I wouldn't infringe at your dinning place."
"#!!"
He ignored her reaction as he raised his right hand, pointing at a large manor in the distance.
He reached out for his coat, taking a small insignia from his pockets, together with a small sack full of clinging coins.
"There, I helped a young lady with a problem, and she let me sleep in her home. I even gained some money and a connection."
He looked at the distance, "Im so resourceful, aren't I? Trully, I'm the only one who does anything around here."
'Look at her facial distortion, priceless.'
"... So you made use of a young lady's naivety for your own benefit? As expected of you."
He looked at her with pity, scoffing at her words, "... You're so insufferable, no wonder you didn't find a partner despite being well over your adult years. Do you think others don't notice?"
"You should stop trying to pose as a teen, it is quite evident that you're middle-aged." He added in a smug tone as he walked away
"##!!!"
This time Fyr had to hold Lalta's clothes, else she would rush ahead and do something most unladylike indeed…
…
After a moment of tension, Fyr calmed Lalta down, and that was when he contined:
"Either way, I found our contact."
""!""
The two of them were rather surprised. Out of everything he could've done, he actually proceeded with the mission?
It was frightening even. They felt as if they were looking at an alien.
"So? How was it?"
He shrugged as he kicked a stone into a puddle, "They're dead."
""???""
They were shocked, but to some degree, they felt a little better… perhaps such an outcome was more welcoming to them than seeing this boy work…
Fyr crossed her arms, blowing air at her hair, "Did you do it?"
He laughed dry, "Unfortunately, I didn't have the pleasure of seeing how capable they were."
"By the time I arrived, everything was destroyed, some rubble here and there, and even if there were some evidence, it was buried ten feet under, and digging isn't my forte, you see."
It was Lalta's turn to be upset, "Isn't that just an excuse?"
'He's just lazy, with his powers, clearing some rubble is no problem. Besides, if our contact is dead, what do we do? We'll get called back at this rate!'
He dismissively waved his hand in their direction, "I was preoccupied with other things, you see. I had no time to search for crumbs amidst that mess."
"Besides, with how intense things seemed to have been before my arrival, I would not risk being associated with it all by the rushing authorities. Though if either of you feel like digging around, I can tell you where it is."
He then threw his sack on the ground, "Instead, I saw this on the ground next to the site…"
"I think whoever did this is trying to provoke them, since it would be illogical for them to target us, despite the awful timing of everything." He said as he scratched his chin
'For us to be the targets... it would mean something really convoluted is happening. Although it isn't beyond my conjecture that such is the case.'
'Now, is this just another front in the fight between the Elven royalty and those snooty kids? No thanks, if that's the case I'll be leaving as soon as today.'
'I have no time to be used as a tool for political prestige.'
However, he kept his true desires and goals at the back of his mind…
/Thud…/
The bloody sack landed before them, opening…
/Roll…/
"!..."
'Disgusting.'
"How terrible…"
'Those people...'
Before Fyr had the time to mourn, Lalta touched her shoulder, "Dont say that Fyr, these people likely deserve no such thoughts." Lalta replied with a cold expression.
'The timing is a bit too coincidental for it to be more than a mere gang fight.' Lalta thought as she raised her head to face the smiling man, 'Could he really be innocent? Things just don't add up properly.'
'This mission was already confusing as it was. Without our contact, we're stranded on what to do… I can tell from his face that he finds this situation quite amusing.'
'Staying around after this isn't beneficial, but…'
"As you can see, I imagine you already understand what's left to do now, do you?" He asked as he looked at Fyr, "Proceed as you wish, my mission here is over."
'I have better things to do, such as finding the maniac who did all of this. To some degree, that could be considered performing my duties, no?'
'Indeed, I'm too smart. Two birds with one stone.'
Lalta gulped down as she crouched, "I can try to reanimate them to figure out what happened… but its been a while since they died, I'll likely be unable to do much."
"Well, that's your problem, not mine." He added as he kept walking away
Lalta shook her head in disapproval, while Fyr sneered, "As expected of you, just when you do something useful, you somehow find a way to make it worse. Would it be difficult to sit down and discuss the mission like a proper adult?"
"Also, did you stay outside in the rain out of pettiness? How did you hide these awful things from the authorities? And…"
He grunted, "Stop nagging at me… You know what, you're not at my mom's level, this is almost equal to my grandma's… And I have my ways to hide these from others…"
/FWOOSH!/
A bolt of purple thunder flew over his head, striking against an invisible barrier as he chuckled.
/Chuckle…/
"And yes… I did it because I hate you. Your annoyance fills me with glee." He said as he turned his head cutely as he evaded her blow
"... You genuinely piss me off sometimes." Fyr proclaimed as she turned her head from him
"The feeling is mutual."
Fyr raised her hand, lifting the sack through what seemed to be telekinesis, "Let's go back inside. We have to discuss what to do now that the contact is… dead."
He cleaned his ears, "It's just one of their branches, we can always contact their main headquarters, so it will not be a problem."
"##!!! So why did you bring their heads with you?!" Fyr asked as she dropped all pretence, frowning, "So all of this talk about a mere branch?!"
He laughed even harder, "Branch or not, they were our contacts. We can likely make do with their headquarters, but honestly, I wanted to see you squirm at the prospect of fucking things up again!"
Fyr clenched her hands as Lalta's forehead also tensed…
He raised his head, looking at the dark clouds above, "Haha… I really want to see the bastard who did all of this!"
"Let me guess, you want to fight him? Are you crazy? Do you want to die? Please, do so, but not while you're under my jurisdiction!"
"In fact, how are you so sure it was done by a single individual?… Have you discovered something you're hiding from us? Again?"
His eyes flashed with amusement, "Why do you ask? I'm a resourceful man... but not almighty."
"You have ten seconds to share what you know before I turn you, together with half of these streets, into cinder." Fyr proclaimed as her eyes turned chilly, and the surrounding air boiled…
"Humph, not one for jokes. It's nothing much, I just went after some eyewitnesses."
"According to them, the entire uprising came from the escapees themselves. There was no invasion or anything of the sort… it was just a revolt. I searched for some of them, but they were utterly inconsequential."
"Within an hour of their revolt, the entire base just went -Boom-, erasing most of the clues, so there isn't much we can do about that. My guess is that they captured someone they shouldn't have…"
His smile twisted, "Or perhaps even… he let himself be captured to tear everything from the inside out."
Lalta and Fyr had nothing to say…
Lalta was the first to break the silence, "How frustrating! Just why are we here in the first place? They could've just sent anyone else, but now we have to play detective with a bunch of criminals and goons." She complained as she looked around.
'This entire situation is so messy... even yesterday...'
Her expression softened a little, 'Speaking of him, I would've preferred a talk with that man over this... excuse of one. At least I felt like he'd entertain and respect me if we conversed for a little longer.'
"Heh, perhaps we're here to deal with this bastard, doesn't it all make sense?"
He walked around the edge of the barrier, "Think about it, only a crazy son of a bitch like that guy back there would predict something like this to happen. It can only be this."
"Our mission is to intercept this fucker that's messing around with our plans… and because of you two lagging around all morning, we missed him by a hair!"
Fyr didn't believe it, "... That can't be it."
"We were sent here to collect information about a certain series of events and confirm another conjecture, this something would be relayed to us once we met with the contact."
"It was a predetermined mission, not an investigation."
"Is it now?…" The man said with a cryptic smile, "Perhaps both are right at the same time, they're not mutually exclusive…"
'But knowing that crazy guy, maybe this entire situation is the very thing we were meant to confirm. Which only makes me more interested in the one who did it!'
Lalta sighed, "Whatever the reasons for our deployment... you should share your view on the subject. We're already pressed as is, and the last thing we need is to divide our manpower into individual operations."
"But please don't distort the truth any more than you already have, my head is already spinning from what happened yester… anyway…" She muttered as she looked away
"Hm?"
The boy noticed their expressions, it was hard to miss... 'They both reacted a little when she said yesterday, did something happen while I was away?'
'Ho… looks like I'm not the only one with secrets.'
After standing there for a few seconds, Lalta had enough, getting inside the inn without an extra word.
"Look at what you've done, you upset her."
"Me? I did nothing, it must've been your brute personality."
"#!! Are you sure it wasn't your smell? Carrying those heads around must've been tough, you don't really smell like flowers. But to you, I guess they'd count as perfume."
"Speaking of it, stand a few feet away from me, your breath stinks."
He raised an eyebrow at her comments, "You're not much better, are you sure you didn't gargle with perfume? Your breath is so strong I'm afraid the plants around us will wither."
/Bla bla bla…/
They bickered with each other for a little longer, but their day was far from over.
…
/Later that day…/
"What?! I… understand!"
/CRASH!/
"Fucking Stone Asses!"
Deep inside a complicated laboratory, a Dwarf holding something similar to an old-style telephone smashed it against the table in a fit of anger.
After hearing what the person on the other side had to say, he couldn't help but almost pull his beard again.
Next to him, his son looked at him with a tense gaze as he heard his father scream nonstop throughout the night and for almost half a day.
"… Was that really the right reply?"
There wasn't a single moment his father had smiled or remained calm... Was it really the right choice to antagonize all of his superiors?
But he shared much of his anger… after all, his mother had been involved in such a mess because of their extreme demands and wavering support.
"You don't understand, Gert, their... his words… they were everything I needed to hear." Tredis said as he got up from his office chair
"We're on our own. They never cared, they only want this project to end and rake in the profits or whatever they want to collect... I'm afraid they don't even know what we're working with here!"
'This entire ordeal… I should've ditched them for other investors when I had the chance, looked for someone else! Used my connections to get back with the Council or one of the Great Clans.'
Gert frowned, "Does that even make any sense? You've been reporting everything you've been doing for years. They have to be aware, they're not ridiculous… I say this is more like malicious ignorance."
"Are you saying they're deliberately compromising my research? The very thing they've been funding for decades?! That makes even less sense than mere incompetence!"
'But… why do I feel like it could be possible?'
He was frustrated, scratching his head, "… Who knows what they have on their agendas? Whatever it is, it certainly doesn't take us into consideration."
Tredis walked away from his desk, opening the door by smacking a button on the side, before leaving his office with heavy steps.
His son ran after him, listening to him along the way.
"At least they didn't persecute us, so one of my fears was soothed." Tredis said amidst his grunts
"But they will not offer us any protection either, much less any help or compensation, they instead told me to hurry up! The gall in those smooth hammers! Coal-faced slobbers!"
"I don't care if its just for us, but we aren't alone! We represent an entire team, this whole research institute! How can they be so heartless to abandon everyone and request results under such a convoluted scenario?!"
He swung his hands around angrily, "Fine then! Is that how they play? Their workers are abused because of their own power plays, and we get nothing in return apart from a measly salary and constant abuse from their end?"
"Father…"
"So I'll play their little game!"
...
/Step step step!/
Tredis turned several corners, entering a small room at the end of a hallway.
/Ding!/
[Identity confirmed]
Using a small metallic card to open a metal door, he got inside the locked room.
It was dark, with only a few red lights to illuminate the way.
The passage was like any other hallway, but Gert could see dozens of items stored behind glass windows embedded in the walls, illuminated by a light so weak that even while squinting, he could barely see their outline.
He didn't know what they were, but they looked more like relics than anything else.
"What's this place?"
'I've never been here before… Father was always very adamant about having me go through every step of the way… It seems he's truly appalled by what happened.'
"My personal collection. Most of it is just a bunch of junk."
"Let's go, I'll show you the rest later."
...
As they walked, Trevis talked, "Your mother has already recovered and any mishaps with your... brother, have been averted… thanks to his early warning."
His voice was really soft as he said that, "She had a few internal injuries, which led to her condition being unstable, but it's all fine now."
"But now… what guarantees us that we'll remain safe?" He asked out loud
There was a momentary silence, almost as if he was asking his son for a solution. So he closed his eyes, thinking before answering:
"Perhaps we… should ask him for help?"
His father went silent, the atmosphere around him heavy. From his tone, he didn't seem surprised.
Gert understood that what he wanted wasn't a solution, but reassurance, for Tredis had already considered such… likely many times throughout the night.
"... Perhaps we really should. I'm not going to be stubborn and put you all at risk over some measly pride. Even if his origins and morals are dubious, even if it means selling ourselves to another… what's one gang over another?"
"I'd rather have one that shows compassion than one that shows nothing."
Trevis stopped, putting his hand on the wall and pulling a small hidden lever.
/Clank!/
Something seemed to move behind the walls, but nothing happened.
/Cronk!/
With the sound of gears turning, he took a step forward, and the wall molded itself around him, allowing him to pass through as if it were water.
Gert was hesitant, but he followed his father with hurried steps.
...
After a few more steps and a few more security measures, they reached the true end of the hallway.
"Regardless of our decision... before anything else, I need to make sure we have some wiggle room for... negotiation."
He turned to his son, saying, "And don't misunderstand me son, I have nothing against him."
"I'm not some ungrateful wet-mudder. I merely believe we shouldn't blindly trust anyone that easily… Not anymore."
"I trusted them with my everything, and what did they do with it? Humph!"
"So… Son, the lesson here is… always have a backup plan." He said as he raised his card above his head
/DING!/
[Identity confirmed]
"…"
'How many security checks are there? I didn't know father was this paranoid…'
The metal door in front of them opened, revealing a rather simple room with vintage wooden shelves and stone counters, covered head to toe in dust.
"Cough!"
/Clack!/
While Gert choked on the dust, Tredis grabbed something that looked like a long, rectangular metal box.. with a hole in the middle... like some kind of rifle — or so Gert thought after he took a deep glance at it.
"… to think this would be my last resort." Tredis muttered to himself while Gert approached him
"Ahem… Hm? Another rifle? Didn't you already have Darka or whatever it was named?"
"HUMPH! Old Darka is a trusty companion… but its not enough." He said softly as he stroked the metal engravings on the strange box, "This is no rifle."
/Cathing!/
He looked at it with a slight smile, "This is a military prototype I smuggled from my division during my last days on duty. It's a heavy-artillery, portable, tractor cannon… a heavily modified one at that."
"Part of a scrapped project of the Schistar Clan. After I finished my apprenticeship, I was deployed as a junior assistant in the laboratory… a long story from a time I've left behind."
He was evidently proud of his actions, "Long story short, I slowly brought out its pieces after they scrapped it, completing it with scrap parts I had lying around."
Gert was baffled, "When did you make all of this?" He asked as he looked at all the strange objects on the shelves.
"Always have a plan B, though honestly speaking, these are just the things your mother never let me keep back home. Said they were "too dangerous" to have around a toddler and that it was "immature" to have "criminal" items lying around our "stable family"… or some nonsense like that."
"…"
'I'm not versed in military paraphernalia… but isn't a tractor cannon something that could blast a hole all the way to the surface from here? If I remember correctly, they are military assets used to pressure colonies deep underground…'
Tredis scoffed, "... It was a pastime at first: Gather this, fix that, buy this... improve that... We had materials lying around too poor to be used on the reactor, so I… repurposed them."
"…"
'Noble way to say you diverted research funds…'
Tredis remained glued on his weapon, "Whenever I felt too tired and exhausted from working in the reactor and the other projects, I just worked on these old tools of mine… I'll agree that I went a bit over the top…"
'How can I not work on these beauties? If it weren't for their stupid demands… I wouldn't be opening these old memories with this expression.'
"I didn't expect to use them, they were supposed to be a decoration, nothing more."
"But now… I'm afraid…"
/CATHING!/
He grabbed a small ball from the side, loading it inside a compartment before pulling a side lever on the gun. "I'm afraid that I may have to take things into my own hands… and show them some good old Dwarven engineering!"
"Directly at their faces, if they wish!" He proclaimed as he pointed the gun forward
"..."
'Please don't load it up and point it forward… if that shoots, it'll blast another smaller ravine through the city…'
Before Junior could say anything, his father grabbed a few more things, throwing them at him.
"Hold that for me, we need to move."
"Wh-What's all this?" He asked as he grabbed a small ball-shaped object
"Thermal Ignition Chargers… Well, they're zeroth generation so they're a bit clunkier than the second-generation ones they use way back there at the homeland."
"????? W-Why do you have such things absurd things…?!"
The old Dwarf let out a small chuckle, "What are you talking about? I was the one who invented them in the first place… a few years before I met your mother… They're a childhood project, if you mean."
"Your dad wasn't the youngest member of the research team for nothing."
"Childhood project… these things?"
'Sometimes I'm afraid of what Grandpa and Grandma had to go through… I understand why mother says I'm cute compared to how father was in his youth.'
Tredis continued to rummage through his old stuff, "Be careful, if they fall on the ground I can not guarantee their integrity."
"Wait… that means…"
"Boom."
Gert's expression twisted as dread took over his body. He held onto all of that junk with everything he had… more tightly than a mother holding her baby… scared to even move.
…
/A few minutes later…/
A girl with platinum hair stared at the lit complex of buildings that composed Tedris' research institute.
Her sky-blue eyes were serene as she stared from the window of a nearby apartment, letting out a soft sigh as she walked away.
"... What do you think?"
From the side, a small green spider crawled out from a shelf, staring at her with its cute, big, round eyes.
"Something just doesn't connect." The girl replied as she rested her elbows on a balcony
"That does seem to be the case. We came here to find the hidden project the Pyke Family was investing in, but instead, we found something that doesn't quite fit with their standards."
'Like it wasn't them, to begin with. I didn't know the Pyke's had such projects running behind the scenes. They tend to claim credit for everything they do, so its strange to see them pushing forward a project that doesn't belong to their family nor claim any sort of credit for it.'
'One might think this is some sort of shell company meant to receive diverted funds…'
The girl took off the small hair scrunchie to untie her hair, letting it flow all around. While she did that, the spider went on with its narrative:
"At first, I came to think they were keeping tight seals on their operations, trying to keep it hidden… but that doesn't quite fit it either. This is so well-hidden that if not for the Lady's assistance, we wouldn't have found this place."
'Though that raises the question of how the madam even knows such things…'
"... Sigh…"
The girl let out a tired sigh, exhausted from staying up all night long… and the others before as well. Ever since her arrival, she hadn't been able to sleep properly, insomnia plaguing her every step.
Despite only having arrived in the city a few days ago, she felt it had been months.
The spider crawled around the bench, "Eri… you've done enough."
"I have an inkling that there's far more to this that meets the eye. It would be best to return and report this to your father first, let them deal with the rest."
"Your father didn't send you here to dig this far. You've already exposed an inconsistency, that's enough."
But the girl was unwilling to let her efforts go like that, "No… it's my job, so I'll get it done with."
"If I can't even face this much… then what about the future? A noble lady must bear as heavy a burden as a gentleman. Mother would be disappointed to see me give up here."
"Your duty might be heavy as the heir, but please, don't be stubborn when your safety is at risk. Madam would not accept such from you. This was meant to be a learning experience, not a deadly mission."
"You're far from home, this place…"
But she interrupted him, "I don't want to remain inside that box forever."
"Dont be dramatic, you're growing by the minute, and soon enough you wont need protection, you'll be the one doing it... But that's not now."
She took a deep breath, "... Sigh. You're right… Yet it leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth to just stop here."
Eri went through everything she had found so far, 'This situation is too strange… outside of their norm.'
'It's as if it isn't them, but someone else is using their name… But our sources show this operation is indeed being overseen by the Pykes to some extent.'
Originally, this situation presented itself as this:
- Pyke Rafiel was sent to the City of Freedom to learn how to operate the family business on a small scale. She determined it to be but a ploy to hide their other operations... but was that truly the case?
Pyke himself seemed unaware of it all, treating this business venture for what it was: a chance for him to prove himself… And regardless of his previous blunders, he treated it all very seriously.
'I'm starting to think that was a misconception from father... was there really anything being hidden here by the Pykes? This fits to some degree, but does not explain father's reasons.'
'Perhaps he knew it wasn't anything of importance but sent me regardless to test my worth? Uncovering a hidden funding of the Pykes… seems like a small enough mission for an heir in training.'
'However, this leads me to another problem, how did he learn about this? The more I think about it, the less it makes sense.'
'Even mother just recently found this place… Is there some sort of misunderstanding between them? Perhaps father kept this a secret from Mom too?'
'Something's not connecting here.'
The spider gave her some time to think before speaking its thoughts out loud, "Hm… What if its not the family per se, but an individual funding this institute?"
Eri cleared her convoluted thoughts, "... If that's the case… it would fit somewhat. However, for that to work, it would have to be one of the higher decision-makers. There's simply too much funding for a single individual to meddle with."
"If we go by the sources… then its likely…"
She looked at the little spider that had climbed onto her hands, "Let's assume this is all being led by someone, a lone figure. Why would that be the case?" It said as it moved its front legs to gestured at her.
"Well… I find it strange for that to happen."
Elyria crossed her arms, "The only way the family would accept that is either because the truth is too heavy for them to bear, so they have to hide their involvement in case someone tracks it down…"
"… or they have no idea this is happening in the first place."
"Honestly, it could be either, perhaps even the personal greed of an individual." The Spider said with an inquisitive look, "Someone that holds enough power to divert funding and keep it hidden, while also possessing the necessary traits to coordinate and oversee an operation of this scale…"
"There's only a few that could fit our description… "
She smiled, "Head of administration of the Pyke Family, Ezekiel Perfor, bla bla bla, Pyke." Eri said with a straight face as she remembered the papers she memorized just a few days ago.
"Only he would qualify to hide such a thing… but why would he do so? You mentioned greed, but I find it difficult. What could entice such an old man who already has everything at his disposal?"
The spider shrugged, "I can think of many things… but we can leave the details for another time."
"Let's extrapolate things a little… If we can't find a reason for his actions, then perhaps… there simply is none. For a man of his power and reach, perhaps he indeed has no reason to oversee such an operation."
"Which could mean someone is making use of him and his position, willingly or not."
"Are you insinuating there is another force behind this?"
"Not really, I'm just having fun thinking a bit too far."
She tapped her forehead, "... Alright… I understand that part."
She pushed the window, stepping back as she stretched her arms, "I suppose we have everything we need. Let's leave the rest of the conversation for another time."
"Alright then, but since we're moving away, how about I tell you about the other possibilities I thought of? I have quite a few."
"... Sigh… be my guest." Eri replied with a yawn as she stepped away from the window
Better have that done with, else Im sure hes going to pester me about it later on.
"Well then, let's start with my political fight theory, the hidden force behind the Conjuction…"
…
/Later that day…/
/Knock knock…/
Viera waved her hand, pushing the holograms around her aside, "Yes, you can enter."
"… Miss, have you seen the Lord?"
A maid stepped into the office as Viera rubbed her eyes.
She sighed, "You know how he is. He came here a few hours ago, but ever since then… I haven't heard even a single word from him."
"Why? Is there an issue with the construction crew? I can sign anything in his stead if necessary."
The Maid shook her head, "Not at all, everything is progressing under the Head Butler's supervision."
She raised a small parchment:
"A letter addressed to the Lord has arrived."
"A letter?"
…
"Hmmm…"
Viera stared at the letter resting upon the table, her brows knitting together ever so slightly.
It was unmistakably the work of a noble household. Thick white paper, edges adorned with delicate golden lines, and a purple wax seal pressed with an unfamiliar crest that gave it an air of refinement the likes of which reminded her of the party she had attended days before.
Even unopened, a faint floral fragrance drifted from it, subtle yet persistent, as though whoever had sent it had been intent on ensuring their presence lingered long after the letter had left their hands.
It reminded her of the tailor, the old woman who visited the manor to help her dress…
"... Philip knows a woman who sends scented letters? Is it one of those Noble Ladies?" She muttered under her breath, her expression growing increasingly dubious
She lifted it between her fingers, turning it over once before bringing it closer to her face. The perfume was sweet, very expensive, and distinctly feminine.
For some reason, she suddenly felt much more awake.
But then, she put it aside, trying to act mature despite being visibly shaken, "Humph… its fine. It's not like it matters anyway, we're only keeping formalities after all… he has his own life after all… he is a young man after all… he rarely asks for my opinion on things after all... he barely ever..."
As Viera muttered countless words under her breath, MT… had enough.
[Are you interested in its contents? I can bypass its restrictions if you want]
"H-HUH?!"
'I-I forgot she was here!'
Viera put the letter aside, "No… no need. It is not my business to pry." She said as she tried to keep her "professionalism"...
'And if I wanted to, I could've read it myself through magic…'
[… The letter was sent by a woman. It briefly mentions their meeting last night...] Mt said all of a sudden, freezing her over
/Twitch…/
Viera's years twitched, but she didn't turn her head.
[There's significant filling in the letter. Very formal… Its writings, especially its calligraphy, suggest the sender is of Elvish origin, and of quite high pedigree]
"An Elf? A Noble-Lady Elf?" Viera mumbled as she jutted out her lower lip, an image of a mature, busty Elf forming in her head for some reason
[The letter eventually adds where she currently resides, and her desire to come visit… Not only hers, but her companion as well]
"There was another?!" She exclaimed as she turned to the floating halo, only to turn away in embarrassment
[So you were interested after all]
"Mnnn… I'm not!" She claimed as she pushed her chair away and got to her feet
[Why are you leaving? Our lesson isn't over yet]
"Toilet!"
She bolted outside, leaving MT on its own.
[… Envy… Jealousy… The answers come to me, but somehow… I arrive at different conclusions]
[Why?]
.
.
.
Notes
An interlude of sorts for future chapters. I plan to release the next few in quick succession, so stay tunned.
Since we have (should have) 4 chapters per month, I'll drop 3 more. That will cover the month of May. I'll try to release them before the month rolls by at least.
Then I'll drop 4 more, those will cover the late month of June. And that's about it for my schedule.
Thank you all for waiting, I'll be releasing the next few shortly.