"Hello."
The man returned the greeting as the secretary entered the elevator. Reaching past him, the secretary pressed the button for the first floor.
His movements seemed casual, but from the corner of his eye, the Secretary tried to catch a glimpse of the figure standing behind him.
'It's him.'
The man of interest.
Seth Thorne.
'...I didn't expect we'd meet so soon, but this might not be a bad thing.'
The Secretary stepped back, his attention shifting towards the elevator's monitor. Having just gotten a glimpse of him, he seemed pretty worry-free. The Secretary's lips gently arched upwards.
'I wonder for how long he'll be like that.'
The higher one went, the greater the fall.
'Well, it'll mostly depend on which side he chooses in the end. I do hope to work with him in the future. After all, he's quite talented.'
But if he didn't...
"I've never seen you before. Are you new?" Seth's voice echoed in the otherwise quiet elevator, initiating small talk.
The Secretary was slightly taken aback, his eyes shifting to the phone in his grasp. The call was still on.
He smiled politely and turned around.
"How rude of me."
The Secretary extended his hand.
"I'm the new secretary hired by Section Chief Johansberg. Today is my first day, and I was just heading home."
"You're heading home now?"
Seth glanced down as he turned his wrist to check the time. His brow raised.
"Seems rather late. You must have worked quite a bit."
"I'm merely trying to familiarize myself with the new environment. Working under such an esteemed figure, it's only natural to put in this much effort."
"That's commendable."
Seth's praise was sincere.
"Thank you."
The secretary dipped his head, raising a hand as though attempting to return to his call. He clearly had no desire to prolong the conversation, but Seth didn't seem to read his actions.
He appeared completely oblivious to the obvious hints.
"He's a very capable man."
"Hm?"
The Secretary turned, watching Seth lean back.
"Section Chief Johansberg." Seth smiled faintly, keeping his eyes on the floor indicator above the door. "He managed to build the Hoarding Department into what it is today. To handle all of that alone. He's certainly capable, don't you think?"
"He is," the secretary replied with the same polite smile. "It's an honor to work alongside him."
"Though he isn't without flaws."
"Pardon...?"
"I've heard he tends to eat out quite a lot."
"....."
The Secretary paused, the smile on his face fading slightly.
"...He's a large man. He requires a lot of fuel."
"Right?"
Seth nodded easily.
"Yet he often overeats. He's never been particularly good at knowing when enough is enough. But then again..."
Ding.
The elevator chimed, the metal doors sliding open. Seth stepped forward, walking past the secretary.
"...He isn't the only one with that flaw. Plenty of people struggle to know when they've had their fill. When someone bites off more than they can chew, they usually end up sick. I happened to overhear this from some of my colleagues."
Seth paused just outside the threshold.
"I hope you'll keep that in mind when advising him."
The doors began closing as Seth turned around, facing the Secretary face to face.
His smile faded ever so slightly.
Enough for the Secretary to fully understand his message.
Curb your greed.
Consider this your warning.
This guy...
***
There was another thing that I had learned in my time in this world.
Problems became bigger problems when left unchecked. The earlier a problem was caught, the easier it was to get rid of. I had yet to reach the point where my influence ran through every corner of the Guild, but it didn't mean that I didn't know who to watch out for.
In order not to get caught off-guard, I needed to be prepared.
'It's obvious that there's more to it than he's showing. I'm rather curious to see where he comes from.'
This new secretary...
It was thanks to Sir. Jingles that I became aware of this new presence. Although I couldn't quite monitor the entire Guild as I pleased, I at least was able to monitor who came into contact with who.
I couldn't quite tap into phone conversations, but I had a feeling I'd be able to in the future.
"What are you doing?"
Not even a minute after coming into my office, I saw Kyle appear by the door.
I looked back at him.
"...Can't you see? I'm packing my stuff."
"I can see that. I can also tell that you're leaving for somewhere. Why are you leaving?"
"Hmm?"
I thought for a moment.
There were two answers. The surface answer:'I need to maintain a certain promise someone else made in my stead.'
Even though I hadn't been the one to make the promise, I still planned on fulfilling it. But above all, I was also interested in this new anomaly.
It had been known for quite some time, and yet...
There was hardly any information regarding it. It was to the point where it felt almost creepy. Especially since even a Paragon couldn't find an answer to such a mysterious anomaly.
I was really dying to see just what sort of entity I was dealing with.
'Of course, although I'm curious, it isn't to the point where I'd just drop everything and leave the safety of the Guild.'
The real answer, on the other hand, was something else entirely:'Things are about to become quite messy in the Guild, so I'd much rather leave until the first bloodbath has passed.'
With the death of the Guild Master, the snakes had come out.
A bloodbath was inevitable, and I didn't want to be a part of that.
By the time I returned, I hoped I'd have a better picture of the situation within the Guild and a clearer understanding of who the real players were. The scene at the Guild right now was too much of a mess.
I needed to give it some time to get a good picture of everything.
Only then would I react.
Naturally, I also planned on monitoring the entire thing and setting up measures to protect myself.
"So...?"
As Kyle's voice echoed again, this time sounding more annoyed, I simply waved him off.
"Well, it's nothing serious. I'm just going to catch a certain anomaly. Make up for the failure in Malia."
"And you're going alone?"
"Nope, not this time. I'm going with my team. It's been a while since we've done anything together. I think it's time that we go out for some field experience."
"Did you get the approval?"
"...On my way."
I flashed the paper in my hand.
"I already filled it in and everything. All I need to do is hand it to the Section Chief, and I should be good to go."
Kyle's eyes narrowed, alternating his attention between me and the paper.
In the end, he sighed.
"You don't sign it, did you?"
"No, no... I didn't."
I dropped my bag and took a pen, placing the paper down and filling in all the information.
'It's not like I forgot or anything like that. I was just busy.'
There were just a lot of things that I need to do.
"Well, at least this part of you is the same."
My hand paused.
Thinking about the true meaning about his words, I couldn't help but smile myself as I thought about his current nagging.
"...Same for you."
-x-X-x-
"You're planning on leaving the Guild? Hm? VILE - 1048? That's... quite an ambitious thing you're trying to look for. And with your team?"
At first, the Section Chief looked confused. But after a little thought, he seemed to realize something as he nodded.
"Actually, that might not be a bad idea. The situation is a little delicate at the moment with the Guild Master's death. You should leave the place before things get too bad. And given your current reputation, it's best that you stay out of this storm for now. This might also be a good way for you to improve your situation from the Malia incident. The internet and the papers do seem to have an agenda against you."
"Well, it's not just me. Anyone that is successful generally gets treated the same way."
"Yes, but it's also because you're not that likable."
"....?"
I'm not? What nonsense is this?
The Section Chief lifted his head slightly, giving me a look that seemed to say,'You really don't know?'
"You never stop for interviews. You're always hiding or staying inside the Guild. Whenever fans come up to you, you immediately run away or avoid making eye contact, let alone speaking to them. To make matters worse, in the few interviews you've actually done, you've often done nothing but provoke people. And then there's the incident your team caused in Congress. In other words..."
With his index finger, the Section Chief tapped the table once.
"Your reputation is the absolute worst. You're scum in the public's eye."
"....."
That...
"No, but it's like..."
The words stopped there. The more I thought about it, the more I found myself unable to answer at all.
This...
"I hate strangers."
Talking to them. Seeing them. Interacting with them.
I hated it.
"There you go."
The Section Chief tapped the table again, reaching for one of the papers from the numerous stacks piled on top of his desk.
"That, I can tell. I'm pretty sure the entire world can tell. And that's the problem."
"Ugh."
I scratched my chin.
There was a lot I wanted to say, but in the end, I decided to keep it to myself as the Section Chief nudged me with his chin.
"Give me your report. Let me sign it so that you can go."
Taking the document from my hand, he directly logged the details into the computer before handing it back to me.
"I'll send it over. There shouldn't be any problems for now. Try not to be away for too long. If anything happens, I'll make sure to contact you."
"...Yes."
A part of me was glad that he had approved of this expedition so quickly. In a way, I was afraid he would try to stop me from leaving, but it didn't seem like that was the case. I did, however, feel quite a bit of pity for the Section Chief.
Looking at his current state...
'Even people addicted to drugs look better.'
His cheeks appeared sunken, and the dark circles beneath his eyes reached all the way down his cheekbones.
When was the last time he had gone to sleep?
'No, but seriously. This is really bad. As things stand, there's a good chance he might quit or die by the time I come back. I'll mention this to Zoey and Kyle before I leave.'
The Section Chief was the only person within the higher management that I trusted.
I knew there was more to the Section Chief than what he showed, but for now, he had always helped me whenever I needed it. In my mind, he was someone that I wanted to keep working with for a long time.
"I'll be taking my leave."
I saluted the Section Chief, who waved his hand dismissively, his attention returning to the monitor as he sorted through the different files.
"Yes, yes. Do as I said. Don't be out for too long. Keep yourself safe. Eat properly, and drink lots of water."
"....."
What was it with his sudden nagging?
One would mistake him for my mom if they overheard it.
"Oh, and if you need any mone⎯"
"You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?"
"Hm? What?"
The Section Chief raised his head, tilting it slightly as he looked at me. Seeing his innocent expression, I really wanted to toss all the documents piled up on his desk into his face, but I held myself back before promptly leaving.
As I left, I couldn't help but smile.
'...At the very least, the situation isn't so bad that he can't make a few jokes here and there.'
Yes, Section Chief.
Please remain like that.
I really want to work with you for a lot longer.
***
The Guild was interconnected among the departments. While most departments usually didn't interfere with one another, they were still able to see much of what the others were doing. This was normal practice in most Guilds, as many of them needed to coordinate with one another based on their respective departments.
And for that reason, news of Seth's departure quickly made its way to the other Section Chiefs within the Guild.
Counting the Section Chiefs from the Branch Guild and the five departments, there were ten Section Chiefs in total.
These were the ten individuals with the highest chance of succeeding the Guild Master.
Among the many Section Chiefs, Carmen Johansberg, the Section Chief of the Hoarding Department, was considered the one with the highest chance of succeeding the Guild Master.
"You sure he said that?"
"...That's correct, sir."
"Ha."
A smile lingered across the Section Chief's face as he listened to the report given to him by Secretary Kim.
"He's become quite arrogant with his success. But I can't really blame him. The Containment Department has been on quite a tear lately. I tried to ignore it because the Guild Master was present, but with him gone, I can't leave this unchecked for any longer. I'm sure the other Section Chiefs agree."
The Containment Department's momentum was quite high.
Enough to make the other Section Chiefs feel threatened by it. And at the centre of it all was none other than Seth Thorne from the Containment Department, whose meteoric rise had become impossible to ignore.
"He did suffer a little setback, but if he continues at this pace, things will be quite difficult when the voting comes. We've got to cut him before things get too big."
"That's a wise decision."
The Secretary nodded. He took the opportunity to propose a plan. "If I may add, I can ask the'Guild' to handle the situation, and⎯"
"There's no need."
The Section Chief cut the Secretary off.
"That'd be too obvious."
The Section Chief's attention fell on Seth's leave permit, his eyes scanning the information provided.
"VILE - 1048, huh?"
His lips pulled into a smirk.
"He's really going for that?"
VILE-1048 was quite a renowned anomaly. There were countless anomalies scattered throughout the world, ranging from the extremely strange ones to the overwhelmingly powerful. However, among them were anomalies that almost no information existed on them.
All that was known was that they were dangerous, and that searching for them was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Assuming one could even survive the search.
"Is he really looking for it, or...?" The Section Chief's smirk widened. "I'm sure he's looking for an excuse to get away from all this chaos. In that case, I'll grant him a wonderful gift as well."
He turned to the Secretary.
"Tell them to spread the news everywhere."
The Secretary's brows shot up as the Section Chief continued.
"Get it into every major news outlet possible. Let the news spread. Let them... all learn about his appetite."
Just like he said...
"See if he can afford to fail now."
I, indeed, like to eat a lot.
-x-X-x-
By ██████ ██████, Guild Affairs
Before Malia, he was the Rising Comet. Then he vanished mid-operation, an S-Rank surfaced in his absence, and blood was shed.
Neither he nor his Guild has explained where he was.
Three weeks after walking away from Malia, Seth appears to have concluded that the problem was that he wasn't trying hard enough.
Sources at two Guild archives confirm that requests were filed this month for sealed materials on VILE-1048. One of the most enigmatic anomalies known to date.
Ambitious or biting off more than he can chew?
——
I set my phone down and stared blankly ahead.
It was an article that came out of nowhere. One that I didn't expect. It wasn't until the Section Chief explained the situation to me that I understood.
'I only thought I needed to hand in a leave request before leaving, but who would've thought the entire Guild would find out what I was trying to do?'
But that wasn't the thing that bothered me the most.
The Section Chief...
Was he so tired that he forgot that my leave would be shown to the entire higher management? Or did he...?
"Alright, let's not think about it."
Just the thought was enough to give me a headache.
This was a bit of a headache, but it wasn't that big of a concern for me. From the start, I did go with the intention of solving this situation. It wasn't like I cared much for my reputation, and with the Guild Master now'dead', it was even better for me.
'That's probably the one thing that they've miscalculated when doing this.'
I could more or less tell who had done this. Those from higher management. The attack wasn't directed at me, but mainly at the Section Chief, who, in their eyes, was probably their biggest threat due to my presence.
'...I also wonder if Myles has had any part in this.'
I still hadn't heard anything about him since last meeting him. I thought he'd make a scene immediately, but instead, things were rather quiet.
It made me very curious.
"Well, enough of that."
I picked up my phone again and placed my bag on top of my desk. As soon as I did that, the door to the office opened, and several figures walked in.
"Are you out of your mind?"
The first one to enter was Zoey. She was staring at me with an incredulous look.
"Do you even understand what kind of anomaly VILE-1048 is? It's been years since it was discovered, and yet nobody has managed to find a single clue about it."
"Yet."
I corrected Zoey.
Just because it hadn't been found yet, it didn't mean that it would remain like this in the future.
"That's quite a lot of arrogance that you have there."
"Some might say that it's confidence."
I retorted almost immediately. In all fairness, I was being a little arrogant. It was just that I needed the perfect excuse to get out of the Guild. I did also want to find VILE - 1048, but if I couldn't find it, I wasn't going to lose sleep over it.
There were thousands of other things that were more pressing to me.
"If you'll excuse me."
I tried to push my way out of the room when I heard a soft sigh coming from Zoey's direction as she turned to Kyle.
"You were right. There's no changing his mind."
Kyle shrugged as he muttered back, "What did I tell you? He's pretty stubborn in certain things."
"Ugh."
Zoey ruffled her blonde hair before tossing me something.
"...Here."
"Hm?"
I looked at the slip of paper in Zoey's hand. What's that?
I looked at her.
Her face looked strangely red.
"That's... ehm, my number."
"....."
"You blocked my number. In case something happens, you can at least reach out to me so that I can help. After all, you reflect the current Containment Department. A lot of eyes are on you."
"....."
I continued to stare at the paper slip.
"Are you not going to take it?"
Zoey's face scrunched up.
It looked like she was about to blow up.
I then looked at Kyle.
"Is she flirting with me?"
***
"This is bad! This is bad! This is really bad!"
A voice continued to screech across the room as Mia ran from one end to the other, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. From time to time, she'd stop before one of the members and show the articles on her phone.
"Look! Look! It's about us! They're talking about us! They know that we're going on a team expedition! This is bad!"
Mia fanned her face.
"...At this rate, we might not even be able to leave. I'm practically a celebrity at this point. Unless we go incognito, we'll never make it more than a couple of blocks."
"Ah?"
Nora looked at Mia as if she had said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
"Celebrity? What? You...?"
"Duh."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"I've got twenty thousand followers. I'm a hot commodity. This isn't something the likes of you would understand. Gosh~"
"This bit⎯"
"Alright, stop."
A figure rose from her seat, her silver hair falling around her features as she shifted her gaze between the two of them.
The place turned immediately silent.
First, she looked at Mia.
The atmosphere seemed tense, everyone unsure of what the crazy bi⎯was about to say. Only for her next words to make everyone's face crumble.
"Mia is right. We can't go like this. But if we had to compare followers, I have the most."
"⎯⎯!"
Then she looked at Nora, her lips curling into an amused smile.
"...And you too~"
"WHAT?!"
Both Mia and Nora shot to their feet.
Ariel smiled.
"Jealous?"
"YOU—!"
Mia grabbed the edge of the table.
"Come here! I'll show you how jealous I am! Seal, back!"
"Doesn't work anymore~"
"Agh!"
Ariel calmly pulled up her sleeves.
"Wait, you're actually fighting?!"
Someone in the back shouted.
Mia grabbed the table, and Ariel grabbed the other side. The table trembled immediately as Ariel laughed in amusement.
With the Guild Master's death, her seal had gone undone.
Nothing was holding her back any longer.
"Seal, go!"
"I said that doesn't work anymore."
And that was precisely when the door opened, and Seth stepped into the room. The first thing he did upon scanning the room was take in the situation before nodding and clapping his hands.
"Okay, enough fun. We're about to leave."
"But Squad Leader!"
Mia protested.
"News of our departure is all over the place. This is bad, isn't it?"
"What about it?"
Seth tilted his head, scanning every member from head to toe. Eventually, his gaze settled on Sarah, who had appeared next to him. For the briefest of moments, his eyes shook, but he collected himself really quickly.
"There's no need to bother with such stuff. Let's not waste any more time and depart. And..."
His eyes settled on Ariel.
She stared back at him. For a moment, neither said a thing. The more this pressed on, the more her brows furrowed. Until eventually, Ariel's lips parted to mutter,'Want to fight?'
Seth didn't answer.
Instead, he continued to stare at her.
Ariel's expression twisted further as she pulled at the sleeves of her shirt.
But just as she was about to lunge at him, Seth turned around and left.
Not before saying, "If we really had to compare followers, I have more. I'm just saying."
The reaction was immediate.
Almost immediately, Ariel shot up and tried to lunge at him as the others rushed in his direction, blocking her path.
"Hey! Hey! Let go of me! Let go of me!"
"Seal, go!"
It was total chaos.
And as all of this was happening, a figure stared at all of this in silence, shriveled up in the corner.
"This..."
Is this really a good decision?
-x-X-x-
'I'm actually surprised that she's still sticking around. Now that she's no longer under the Guild Master's control, she's free to go.'
Naturally, I was referring to Ariel.
Her situation was rather unique. Only a very select few were aware of the true circumstances behind her recruitment, and as such, it did feel odd to me that she was still sticking around. In the first place, she had only been with us because of the Guild Master's seal.
But now that the seal was gone...?
'The strange part is that the quest is also gone. Still, I don't remember ever receiving the rewards.'
This was weird.
My eyes squinted as I checked to see if I had received the rewards.
But it wasn't easy.
"Seal, go!"
"Stop that."
"Why is it not working? It used to work in the past."
"Let's do something even better. How about I seal your mouth? Here, come to me. I'll tape it shut alongside your nose."
"Wait, but won't I do that way?"
"Pfft⎯! You're overthinking. If I were to kill you, I'd make sure to make it extremely painful. This is too easy a way for you to go out."
"Hieek!"
I paid no attention to the chaos behind me, instead turning my attention toward Joanna, who seemed busy looking through several notes. I leaned a little closer to her, whispering so that only she could hear.
"What do you think?"
"Hm? Hmm? Squad Leader?"
At first, she seemed surprised. But then, as if realizing what I was talking about, her brows furrowed as she set the papers on her lap and responded.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. It doesn't seem like things seem to be off with her. We all more or less know about her circumstances, and so we're not quite sure about why she's still sticking with us. Maybe she got attached to us?"
"You think...?"
"....No."
Joanna replied after a brief moment of silence.
In the end, she gave me a meaningful look before going back to her papers.
"I think the main reason may be something else."
"Like?"
"Well, you know... I guess everyone has a thing that they fear."
Her answer took me aback.
Wait, was she saying that the only reason why Ariel was still with us was that she was still scared?
"I'm sure her seal has lifted. Even if the Guild Master is not dead, I'm sure that she can just leave. It's not like he'll be able to find her."
"Oh, but I'm not talking about the Guild Master."
"What? If it's not the Guild Master, who would she even be scared of?"
That girl...
She was fearless, and crazy beyond any means. I knew this extremely well. In fact, I'd argue that I was probably the only person in the world who truly understood just how crazy this girl was.
Joanna flipped through the next paper, her lips pulling upwards as she shook his head.
"Squad Leader, you're quite perceptive about a lot of things. However, there seem to be some things that you're quite dense about."
"What?"
What sort of nonsense was this girl spouting?
"I'm⎯"
"You."
Joanna cut me off, settling the papers down on her lap again.
"You're the one who she's scared of."
***
Beneath the Top Five stood the Guilds of the Oak Circle.
They were among the most elite Guilds in the entire world. Individually, each possessed influence and power that few organizations could match. Together, their combined strength was enough to rival even the Top Five.
It was because of them that the Top Five had never been able to monopolize the world of Guilds entirely.
And nowhere was that balance more apparent than in Sines.
The capital of Andora was divided into five districts, each serving a different purpose. At its heart rose the Apex District, all glass towers and government spires. Beyond it stretched the Guild District. It was a vast area divided into quadrants, each held beneath the influence of one of the Five.
Royal Chambers made its home in the northern quadrant.
The very same quadrant in which Obsidian Bastion was found.
"Alright, we're here."
Clank⎯
Hopping off the minibus, I stared at the massive building that loomed ahead. Despite the Guild purchasing an entire new building, it was still relatively basic compared to the major Guilds in the oak circle.
At least, that was what I thought at first...
A wide building of grey stone, around a dozen stories tall. There were no glass towers or fancy spires like the ones we had passed on the way here. Just thick walls, rows of narrow windows, and a set of stone steps leading up to an entrance framed by heavy pillars, the Guild's emblem hanging above them.
Honestly, if not for the emblem, I would've mistaken the place for a courthouse.
'So this is Royal Chambers...'
It was plain. Maybe even too plain for a Guild of its standing. But strangely enough, it didn't feel cheap. The forecourt was spotless, the guards by the gates stood in perfect order, and everyone walking in and out wore a suit.
The more I looked at it, the more pressured I felt.
It felt as though my every step was being judged.
'It's like I'm going to a court hearing.'
"This way."
A voice called out from the front, and I followed. Having already contacted Geneva in advance, the members of Royal Chambers had long been aware of our presence as we were escorted into the building from a secret passage.
Coming into the building, my previous assessment only grew stronger.
'It really does feel like I'm in a courthouse.'
Looking back, it seemed like I wasn't the only one who felt this way.
Everyone we crossed paths with looked incredibly serious, and the very air around the Guild felt solemn. It wasn't like the Severed Stars Guild, where things were a lot more lax. Over here, everyone seemed expressionless, all dressed in the same strict attire.
Dark grey suits and shades.
"Aish, I feel like wearing my own sunglasses now."
The moment I heard the words, I instantly turned around, but by then, it was already too late. Everyone besides the new recruit was already donning the sunglasses. It wasn't just Mia either. The moment they put them on, almost everyone's head rose as if they had suddenly gained a spike in confidence.
'Good lord, these guys are a mess.'
It felt as though I was the only sane person on the team.
No, but that aside, it kind of felt weird if I was the only one who didn't wear sunglasses, so I took out my own and put them on.
In an instant, the temperature dropped, and the world turned blue.
It was just as I donned the sunglasses that I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. With her long blonde hair flowing down her back and pretty features, she stood out almost immediately.
Like the rest, she was also wearing a dark suit, but last I recalled, she wasn't the type to wear such things. It almost felt strange seeing her like this.
As if sensing my gaze, her head turned in our direction as her eyes lit up.
"You're here."
She approached us quickly as she turned her wrist to check the time.
"Good, you're right on time."
Right on time?
For what?
"There's an anomaly hearing that is about to start. I'll fill you in on the situation as we go there. Let's go."
She was like a storm.
I didn't even get a chance to greet her properly before she suddenly dragged me away.
And what...?
What did she say?
An anomaly hearing?
There's such a thing?
-x-X-x-
"First of all, I'd like to thank you for coming. This means a lot to me."
Geneva's speech was a lot more polite than I recalled. Was she simply that moved by the fact that I was planning on helping her out?
She gave me a meaningful look as she walked ahead.
"Because of the current circumstances, I can't go ahead and tell you all the details. It'll have to wait until after the current hearing. This one is rather important, and I have no choice but to attend it. Since you're here, it'll also be a good opportunity for you to see it. Not many people get to witness a hearing live."
"...Alright."
In all honesty, I didn't know what she was talking about.
This was the first time I had heard of a thing like this, but looking behind me and seeing the others react normally, I figured that it was very likely just me who didn't know.
'It can't be helped. There's just a lot of things that I don't know.'
Thankfully, the walk wasn't a short one. As we made our way down the massive hall, large wooden doors lined either side, with people dressed in suits moving about. Geneva's voice rang out as she began introducing me to the place.
"As you've probably noticed on the way in, this building wasn't always a Guild. Long before Royal Chambers existed, this place was called the Tribunal Annex. It belonged to the Bureau."
She gestured lightly at the walls around us as we walked.
"Back when the Union was still new, somebody had to decide what to do with all the anomalies that got captured. Whether they'd be locked away, put to use, or destroyed. Those decisions were made here. Our founder was one of the people who made them. In fact, you could say she was one of the first to do so."
"...And now?"
"Now, we make a different kind of decision."
Geneva slowed slightly, nodding toward one of the people standing by the wooden doors as we passed it. Unlike a normal office, there was no name on the side of the door. Just a long string of numbers etched into a metal plate.
[R - 108]
"You know the five classes, right?"
Geneva posed the question to me.
This one, I knew.
"Sigl, Elcid, Melas, Thrall, and Kermite."
"That's right."
Geneva nodded calmly as she continued ahead, her heels clicking against the marble floor beneath, the stale smell of paper reaching my nostrils.
"Everyone learns them in the academy. What they don't teach you is where the rankings actually come from. For example, Elcid is the name of the first person to have discovered anomalies in this world. Pretty near, right?"
Geneva paused for a moment, looking ahead with squinted eyes while muttering,'Ah, it looks like today is going to be quite a messy one.'
I followed her line of sight, spotting the numerous people crowding around one of the doors in the distance. From reporters to figures that seemed to belong to the major Guilds, there were quite a lot of people gathered.
"For the small cases, the Bureau handles them on its own. Sigl and Elcid get stamped at some field office without anyone batting an eye or looking at the file twice. But anything measured at Melas or above? Something like a contested case? Maybe even a reclassification? All of them end up here."
Geneva pointed right at the people in the distance.
"Evidence gets presented. Testimonies get heard. And at the end of it, the bench hands down a class. The Bureau signs off on the result, and that's a hearing for you."
'...So that's what she meant.'
I glanced into the distance as I waited for Geneva to move. In the meantime, I stared at each door, noticing that each one carried its own plate. Its own number.
Rather than rooms, they felt closer to files.
"Is it really that serious? It's just a ranking at the end of the day, no?"
I asked, mostly to keep her talking. The more she explained, the more this place started to make sense.
Geneva let out a small laugh.
"Just a ranking, sure.... Then let me put it this way. A Melas verdict means only the Guilds on the island can touch the case. The moment it becomes a Thrall, international Guilds gain the right to interfere. And if the bench ever calls something a Kermite..."
She paused.
"The whole world moves."
"...I see."
"A single class decides who gets to act, who profits, and who has to admit that things went beyond them. Guilds argue for higher classes because a Thrall capture pushes them toward the King Grade. The Bureau argues for lower ones because an escalation means admitting they lost control of the situation or that they've been negligent. Everyone who walks into that room wants something."
"And your Guild?"
"We hold the gavel."
Geneva's lips pulled into a smirk.
Her answer was simple, as if that explained everything.
In a way, it did.
'A Guild whose product is judgment, huh.'
No wonder the building looked like a courthouse...
But looking around, something within my mind started churning. I couldn't quite put it into words, but the more I looked at the place, the more my heart itched.
'Judgement...'
Reaching the end of the hall, we turned, and the space finally opened up. A pair of towering doors stood at the far end, guards posted on either side. The crowd was even clearer now, their voices and whispers reaching my ears.
"The Grand Gallery. Today's hearing will be held there."Geneva introduced, her hand fiddling with what looked like a pack of gum.
"...What kind of case needs a room that size?"
Geneva didn't answer immediately. Her eyes stayed on the doors ahead, her eyes squinting as she muttered her next words.
"A reclassification."
CLANK⎯
All of a sudden, the guards standing by the door pulled the doors open, and the noise of the crowd washed over us for a moment before dying down just as quickly.
"Let's go."
Under the watchful eyes of those standing outside, Geneva moved forward whilst I followed her from behind, alongside my team members.
All heads turned in our direction.
I felt the stares the moment I stepped through. Some were out of curiosity, others with clear caution. A few reporters raised their cameras, only to lower them right after as the guards shot them a look.
"...Isn't that Seth Thorne?"
"Why is he here? Those are his team members, aren't they?"
"Quiet. Don't cause trouble here, of all places."
The whispers followed us in, but I paid them no mind. I was used to it by now.
Rather than the people, my attention was on the room itself.
The Grand Gallery was massive. Rows of dark wooden benches descended toward the center like an amphitheater, enough to seat several hundred people with ease. The ceiling stretched high above, and the air carried that same stale smell of old paper, as if it had soaked into the stone itself.
At the far end stood a raised platform, and on top of it were five tall chairs.
All of them were empty.
Beneath the platform, two long tables faced each other. One side was occupied by people in gray uniforms, the Bureau's emblem stitched onto their shoulders. The other side held figures wearing emblems I didn't quite recognize, their expressions stiff as they organized stacks of documents.
And in the very center of the room, between the two tables, sat a circular platform surrounded by thick metal pillars.
It was empty.
'...That's not a witness stand.'
I didn't know what it was supposed to do, but somehow, I felt that I'd find out soon enough.
"This way."
Geneva led us up the side, toward a section of seats marked with the Royal Chambers emblem. Only after we settled down did she lean in slightly, her voice dropping.
"A few rules. Once it starts, don't speak. Don't stand. No matter what happens, and no matter what enters this room. There's..."
She stopped before repeating.
"Just stay put."
"...Okay."
She gave a small nod before straightening her back, her hands resting on her lap.
The pack of gum was nowhere to be seen.
Did she decide not to take one?
The hall slowly filled behind us. Guild representatives, Bureau officials, reporters guided into a sectioned-off corner. Hundreds of people, and yet the noise only seemed to shrink as the seats filled, conversations fading into murmurs before they faded into nothing as well.
By the time the last row was seated, the Grand Gallery had gone completely silent.
Ding—
A bell rang once, echoing off the walls.
A side door opened, and four figures walked out in a line, each dressed in a long dark coat. Without a word, they climbed the platform and took their seats.
The center chair remained empty.
"Rise for the Bench."
A voice called out, and the entire hall stood in unison. Guild masters, Bureau officials, reporters... All of them rose without exception.
I followed suit, my eyes fixed on the platform.
Then, I heard it.
Footsteps.
They were heavy. Each one pressed with a presence that seemed to press down on the room itself, and from the side door emerged a mountain of a man. Broad shoulders. A thick beard. A dark coat that looked a size too small for the body it was wrapped around.
He didn't look at the crowd, his gaze straight and unaffected by those around.
The pressure rolling off him filled the hall on its own, and I noticed several people around me stiffen, their breaths turning shallow.
'...I presume that's the Guild Master of Royal Chambers.'
Magnus Hale.
The man climbed the platform without a word and lowered himself into the center chair, the wood creaking under his massive frame. His gaze swept across the hall once.
Then, he reached for the gavel.
Bang!
The sound cracked through the silence like a gunshot.
Bang!
"The hearing begins."
At those words, the entire hall seemed to hold its breath.
And deep within my chest, that faint itch stirred once more.
Judgement...
-x-X-x-
"First docket of the day."
A voice rang out from beside the platform. A thin man with glasses stood at a podium below the bench, a stack of files resting in his arms as he read from the one on top.
"Case number, VILE - 1122. Designation, the Listening Set. Current classification, Sigil. A petition has been filed by the Silver Lantern Guild for reevaluation."
'Silver Lantern?'
I glanced at the table beneath the platform, where the group with the unfamiliar emblems sat. One of them, a middle-aged man in a navy suit, rose from his seat and bowed toward the bench.
Beside me, Geneva leaned in slightly, her voice just enough for me to hear.
"It seems like they want to drive up the anomaly's value in order to profit from it. There are always people like this, so it's not really surprising. This one isn't even about compensation, but likely because they plan on selling it."
"...Oh."
I gave a small nod, my eyes moving across the platform. I knew that most anomalous objects, such as the one in this case, could be sold to other Guilds if they turned out to be useful. Their classification also mattered when it came to the price.
"Bring it in."
Magnus Hale's voice carried through the entire hall. Despite it being low, it almost felt as though it thundered across my mind.
Clank.
A section of the floor beside the circular platform slid open, and from below, four figures in dark, heavy uniforms rose along with a sealed metal case. Without a word, they carried it up the platform, placed it down in the center, and unlocked it.
The moment they stepped back beyond the pillars, a low hum filled the air. Faint light ran along the metal, and a transparent layer flickered into place between the pillars.
'A cage? Right, that makes sense...'
The case opened on its own, its walls folding down flat.
And sitting there, in the middle of the Grand Gallery, under the gaze of hundreds...
Was a radio.
It was an old wooden box, its dial was cracked, and its speaker was covered in a thin layer of dust.
"...That's it?"
"That's the anomaly?"
Whispers rippled through the benches, only to die instantly as Guild Master Hale's gaze swept the room once.
The man from the Silver Lantern Guild cleared his throat before speaking.
"Esteemed Bench. The Listening Set was recovered eleven weeks ago from a residential building on Harmia Island, following a noise complaint. Since its recovery, our Guild has confirmed the presence of thirty-one distinct voices transmitting from the device."
He paused.
"All thirty-one have been matched to standing missing person reports. Across Harmia, Sirmia... and Malovia."
Malovia?
My ears perked up.
'It's been a while since I've gone back. I wonder when I'll be able to get back...'
In the midst of my thoughts, I felt a few gazes flick toward our section, but I kept my eyes forward.
"The Silver Lantern Guild requests permission to demonstrate."
The old woman on the bench gave a slow nod.
"The Bench will allow it."
The man stepped toward the pillars, stopping right at a white line drawn onto the floor. Then, facing the radio, he spoke clearly.
"State your name."
Krrrk—
Static crackled from the old speaker. It was harsh and uneven. Then, through the noise, a woman's voice bled out.
"Mara... Mara Ellis. Please, I don't know where—Hieeeek! Hieeeeeek!"
A heart-wrenching scream reverberated across the entire hall.
"No! No! No!"
Each scream was louder than the last, as if trying to claw directly at my soul. It was disturbing, until...
Krrrk—
The static cut her off.
The hall had gone completely silent. Even the reporters in the corner had stopped moving, their pens frozen above their notepads.
The man stepped back from the line, and just as he opened his mouth to continue—
Krrrk.
The radio spoke on its own.
"Sister... where are you?"
It was a child's voice this time, the sound bouncing off every wall of the room.
The man from Silver Lantern stood there, his lips pressed thin, before he quietly returned to his seat. Somewhere behind me, I heard someone exhale shakily.
'...I see. So this radio seems to be able to transmit the emotions into whoever is listening.'
My eyes drifted toward Geneva. Her expression hadn't changed, but her hands, resting on her lap, had curled slightly. I had a feeling the reason for it was not because of the radio, but because it reminded her little brother.
"The Bureau may respond."
At the clerk's words, a woman in gray rose from the opposite table, adjusting her glasses.
"The Bureau does not dispute the recordings. However, we remind the Bench that not a single body has been recovered. As far as we're aware, the radio could just be a medium that shares records of incidents that have occurred in the past. Nothing about the radio suggests that it was responsible for the thirty one victims. The Bureau's assessment stands at Elcid."
"Elcid?"
"Well, it makes sense. I did feel something, but it wasn't really anything crazy."
"I agree."
The murmurs around us continued. I listened in without making much noise myself.
The Silver Lantern representative shot up from his seat.
"Permission to rebut. Three days ago, one of the voices referenced the collapse of the Verne Bridge in Sines. An event that occurred two days prior. These.. are not just recordings from the past, but from the future. Imagine what will happen if we hear the voices in advance and prepare for what is to come? This is by no means a simple item; it's—"
"Which is precisely the classification you're after, isn't it?"
The voice came from the bench.
The old woman was looking down at the file in front of her, flipping a page with a wrinkled hand.
"The recovery occurred eleven weeks ago. Your petition reached this building eight days ago. For a Guild so concerned with the lives of thirty-one people, you certainly took your time."
"We... were gathering evidence, esteemed Bench."
"Gathering evidence?"
She repeated the words flatly before looking up.
"You state that the voices reflect the future, but if that's the case, why haven't you been able to save any of the people that you heard inside of the radio?"
The man's jaw tightened.
"It's not exactly easy to... determine the location of the victim and what is happening. We've also only just found out about this feature."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes, yes it is."
Silence.
The man had more to say, but after opening his mouth, he closed it and slowly sat back down without saying anything else.
'Both sides get cut down, huh.'
The Guild wanted a higher verdict for the price increase. The Bureau wanted to maintain the classification to save face...
'This is really a mess.'
Then, for the first time since the case began, Magnus Hale spoke.
"Bureau."
The woman in gray straightened.
"The device was logged eleven weeks ago. A field office on Harmia received it and filed it as Sigil. Correct?"
"...Correct, your Bench."
"Of the thirty-one missing, how many disappeared after those voices were heard?"
The woman hesitated. Her eyes dropped to her documents, though it was clear she already knew the answer.
"...Nineteen."
The hall erupted.
"Nineteen?!"
"Are you saying that nineteen of the thirty-one voices belong to people who eventually disappeared?"
Bang!
The gavel came down once, and the noise died as quickly as it had risen. Hale hadn't even raised his voice. He simply sat there, elbows on the bench, staring down at the radio in the center of the room.
The radio sat there quietly.
As if it was listening.
"This Bench finds as follows."
Everyone straightened.
"Thirty-one individual voices have been confirmed to be present in the box. Of those, nineteen appear to be voices that were heard before the incidents even occurred. Nevertheless, since the radio poses no real threat, and the amount of information that can be gathered from the box is difficult to determine, the classification of VILE-1122 is to remain as..."
A pause.
"Sigil."
Bang!
The gavel fell.
The reaction was immediate. Reporters scribbled furiously, and the Silver Lantern table turned grim, one of the younger members covering their face in frustration.
Bang!
The gavel struck again, killing the celebration on the spot.
"Disposition. The Listening Set will remain under the Jurisdiction of the Silver Lantern Guild, unless they wish to transfer the rights to other Guilds or individuals. Priority investigation into the whereabouts of the thirty-one will be transferred to international authority."
Hale's gaze then shifted, landing squarely on the Silver Lantern table.
"Furthermore. The Silver Lantern Guild's eleven-week delay in reporting a suspected mass abduction will be referred to the Bureau for review. As will the Harmia field office's original filing. This Bench expects both findings on its desk by the next session."
The atmosphere turned even grimmer for those from the Silver Lantern Guild.
"...The nineteen who vanished on your watch have names. I suggest both parties learn them before we meet again."
Bang!
"Verdict rendered. Take it away."
The four figures in dark uniforms climbed the platform once more, sealing the radio back into its case. As they carried it down and made their way along the side of the hall, the case passed directly by our section.
Krrk—
A short burst of static escaped through the seal.
Just one.
Then, silence.
Until—
"BANG!"
A loud strike echoed from within the radio, causing everyone to pause.
The workers all stopped working, attention shifting to the radio as it continued to crackle.
And eventually—
"BANG! BANG!"
The sound of something smacking down echoed twice more, followed immediately by a deep voice.
"I hereby declare you... Guilty!"
"BANG!"
The entire room flinched.
-x-X-x-
It was as if the entire room had frozen in place.
For a few seconds, nobody moved. The workers in dark uniforms stood frozen around the case, their eyes turned toward the bench, waiting for someone or anything to shatter the silence.
Magnus Hale stared at the case in silence.
"...Take it away."
That was all he said.
The workers didn't need to be told twice. The case was hauled through the side door at nearly double the pace from before, and only once the door shut behind them did the hall seem to remember how to breathe.
Murmurs broke out across the benches.
"What was that at the end...?"
"Did it just copy the Guild Master?"
"It was probably just mimicking the sounds. Like a parrot."
Maybe.
But my thoughts remained on the voice itself.
'That voice... it sounded very similar to his. However, the words said by him weren't the same.'
My thoughts crossed back to everything that had happened as my heart skipped a beat. Could that voice be a representation of what the Guild Master was going to say in the future?
'Yes, that's in line with what was being said...'
In that case, whose verdict was that?
The itch in my chest stirred once more, scratching faintly at something that rested at the tip of my tongue.
'Judgement, huh...'
"Excuse me. I just need a minute. All I need is a minute."
"Huh?"
My thoughts were shattered as something was shoved near my face. Lifting my head, I saw one of the reporters standing before me, and as I turned, I found a wave of reporters pushing up the stairs, cameras and recorders already raised.
"Mr. Thorne! A moment of your time!"
"What brings the Severed Stars to a hearing? Are you cooperating with Royal Chambers? Is it related to case 1048?"
"Is it true that some of the voices came from Malovia? Do you have a statement—"
"Mr. Thorne!"
'...Give me a break.'
Before I could say anything, a figure smoothly slid between us.
"Everyone, thank you for coming today."
Geneva stood in front of me, her lips curved into a thin, graceful smile. It was a completely different person from the woman whom I had encountered back in Malovia.
"All questions regarding today's hearing will be answered at the official press briefing in an hour. As for our guests, the Guild asks that their privacy be respected within the Annex. Thank you for understanding."
Her tone left no room for anyone to argue. Between her smile and the guards stepping in from the sides, the wall of reporters reluctantly parted, and a hand pressed lightly against my back.
"This way."
I turned to see one of the guards trying to escort me out of the place.
My lips crossed together.
It felt as though they were treating a very important VIP.
'Well, maybe I am.'
"Wait, wait... You want to interview me as well? Well, haha... What? You want to hear about the Squad Leader? How he is? Well⎯Wait, no! Joanna! I was about to speak!"
We slipped through a side passage, my team members following close behind, albeit some were a little reluctant. Mainly Mia.
The noise of the Grand Gallery faded with every step we took.
Only after we had moved to a different area and the noise had died down did Geneva finally relax. She eventually led us into a fairly sizeable room. It was nothing fancy, but looking around, it was obvious it was a sort of waiting room.
A few old paintings hung along the walls, stone pillars lined the sides, and beneath them stood a row of wooden chairs with red cushions.
Pop!
Something popped next to my ear. When I glanced over, Geneva was already popping bubble, her jaw working as though she had just eaten after not eating for years.
Wait, when did she...?
"Sorry...Numm! It's always like this after a big case."
"I see."
"Wait here for a bit. I need to report in before I can show you around. It won't take long."
Right as she said that, a staff member hurried over from down the hall, whispering something into her ear. Geneva's brows furrowed slightly before she gave me a look.
"Ten minutes."
"Take your time."
With that, she disappeared around the corner, leaving us in the room.
"...What are we waiting here for, exactly?"
At Nora's question, I felt everyone turn their attention towards me.
I could only shrug.
"I know just as much as you. At this point, I'm just waiting for Geneva to fill me in on 1048."
"Oh, alright."
Mia dropped onto one of the chairs, her eyes scanning the room.
"Where exactly is this place, anyways?"
"Some sort of waiting room."
Nora answered as she sat next to her.
"Mainly to keep us away from the reporters."
"Well, I guess it makes sense... I am pretty popular after all."
I leaned against the wall, letting my thoughts settle. There was a lot of things that I needed to sort out in my mind. But most importantly, my mind couldn't help but think back to the recording box.
Something about it really intrigued me.
Especially those last words.
'Was that really the Guild Master's voice?'
It sounded like it, but a part of me thought differently.
I couldn't quite put it into words, but it felt as though the words belonged to someone trying to copy the Guild Master's tone.
'I might be going crazy.'
But I wasn't.
Not yet.
"Hm?"
It was then that I noticed a familiar group gathered further down the hall.
Wearing the familiar navy suits, I instantly recognised them.
They were the people from the Silver Lantern Guild.
Their earlier composure was nowhere to be found. The middle-aged representative stood with a hand pressed against his face, while the younger members huddled around him, their voices were low but sharp enough to reach me in pieces.
"...a review, on top of everything..."
"...the price is finished. Who's going to buy a Sigil..."
"...stuck with that thing..."
'I see. So that's where they stand.'
It made sense. They had gambled on raising the classification and lost. The radio's value had crashed. Furthermore they now had to undergo a strict review from the Bureau, and at the end of the day, they were left holding an anomaly that kind of did nothing useful besides giving faint clues about potential victims in the future.
Useful to some, but for large Guilds...?
Practically useless.
Nobody would want it.
Nobody sane, at least.
'.....'
I stared at them for a moment.
Then, before I even realized it, my body had already pushed off the wall.
'...What am I doing?'
I didn't have an answer to my own question. My feet simply carried me forward, one step after another, until the group noticed my approach and stiffened all at once.
"Aren't you...?"
The representative straightened, his face immediately turning grim. The younger ones behind him went quiet, their eyes darting between one another.
I stopped in front of them.
"The radio."
My eyes scanned the box, the words simply laving my mouth on their own as I heard the surprised sounds coming from behind me.
"...Are you willing to sell it?"
"...Sell it?"
The representative repeated the words slowly, as if he had misheard them. He seemed completely taken aback by my sudden proposition.
And to be honest, I was too.
Nevertheless, since I had decided to commit, it was only right that I saw things through to the end.
"That's right."
"....."
The group exchanged glances. The younger members behind him straightened one after another, their earlier grim expressions replaced by cautious ones.
I couldn't blame them.
From their perspective, the value of the object had fallen, and having seen just how'useless' it kind of was, having someone suddenly buy it made little to no sense.
'I mean, it's not entirely useless, but it's also not entirely useful.'
Anyone would be suspicious.
"...May I ask why?"
The representative finally spoke, his eyes narrowing as they studied my face.
"Does the reason matter?"
"Considering who's asking... yes, it does."
He wasn't wrong to say that. My name carried a certain weight these days, and a lot of it was actually quite negative. Still, I was one of the most renowned Paragons in the world. If I saw something in it, then maybe...?
"I found it interesting."
"...Interesting." The representative cocked his head, his narrowed eyes scanning me from top to bottom. I kept my expression the same.
Behind me, I could hear the whispers coming from my team.
'What is he doing?'
'...Do you think he might be a compulsive buyer?'
I ignored their whispers and smiled.
"That's all."
"....."
The representative stared at me for a long moment, searching for something in my expression.
"...Did you find something in the item?"
One of the younger members suddenly blurted out from the back, only to receive a sharp glance from the representative. The young man shut his mouth immediately, lowering his head.
Still, the question brought several stares directed my way.
I simply looked and smiled.
"Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you~"
Eventually, the representative let out a slow breath. His hand slipped into his suit, and after a brief pause, he pulled out a small card, holding it out toward me with both hands.
"This isn't a matter I can decide on my own. The rights belong to the Guild, and after today, there are... procedures we need to sort through first."
"I understand."
"If the higher-ups approve of it, we'll reach out to discuss the details."
I took the card. A navy emblem of a lantern was printed at its center, with a single line of numbers beneath it.
"We'll get in touch with you, Mr. Thorne."
The group proceeded to leave right after that. I could see that they had all grown more curious about the radio, but even if they studied it further, they probably wouldn't find much. Especially since I myself didn't know why I was interested in the strange little box.
'Well, I guess I'll contact them later.'
Fiddling with the card in my hand, I was just about to turn when I heard a sudden voice.
"Are you... seriously going after..." But the words came to a stop the moment I turned, the representative pulling the member away as he hurriedly apologized to me.
My brows furrowed at the sight, but I didn't say anything else. I then turned around to see Geneva and the others staring at me with weird looks.
I paid no mind to them as I settled my gaze on Geneva.
"Well, I guess we're done here. Please lead the way."
*
In order to learn more about [VILE - 1048], it was important that I talk to Geneva, who seemed to be the leading expert regarding the case. It was the entire reason why I had gone all the way to Royal Chambers.
Past the main Guild, and a little bit further down the street, we were brought to a different facility.
"I'm sure you guys have this as well, but this is the Medical Ward of the Guild. It's where... all the patients affected by anomalies stay. It's also where The-my little brother is staying."
The Medical Ward was quieter than I had expected.
White halls, pale lights, and the faint smell of disinfectant that clung to everything. Our footsteps echoed as we followed Geneva through the corridor, and for once, nobody in the team spoke.
She hadn't said much since we left the Annex either.
"Miss Geneva."
A nurse passing by stopped and bowed slightly. Geneva returned the gesture right away, her head dipping lower than the nurse's.
"Miss Erin. How did your daughter's entrance exam go?"
"Ah... she passed! Thanks to the charm you gave her."
"That was her own effort. Tell her congratulations for me."
The nurse smiled brightly before hurrying off, and we continued forward. It didn't end there. An older doctor by the station, a young man pushing a cart, another nurse by the elevator. Geneva greeted every single one of them by name, asked about small things, and bowed each time.
'...This is also a different Geneva.'
It wasn't the graceful smile she had shown the reporters. It was also different from the rebellious version of her that I had seen in Malovia.
It made me wonder...
Which one was the real her?
Ding!
Once took the elevator up, and the atmosphere changed. The floor we arrived at was far quieter than the ones below. There were fewer staff, and most noticeably, there was a guard seated by the entrance who stood up the moment he saw Geneva. She pressed her card against a panel, and the glass doors slid open.
"Miss Geneva. Good timing."
A middle-aged doctor approached from down the hall, a clipboard tucked under his arm.
"Doctor Keller."
Geneva bowed once more.
"How is he?"
"Stable, as always. His results came back clean again this week." The doctor paused for a brief moment, flipping a page. "Though... his heart rate has gotten a little lower this month. Nothing alarming. We'll keep monitoring it."
"....."
Geneva didn't reply immediately. Her expression didn't change much either, but I noticed her hand tighten slightly by her side.
"...I see. Thank you, as always."
"Of course. Ah, the head physician looked in on him this morning as well. We've tried our best to preserve the muscle tissue, but with such a prolonged stay in bed, all we can do is slow down the degradation."
"Please thank him for me."
With a final bow, the doctor left, and Geneva led us to the end of the hall.
The door there was like the others. It was plain and white, with a small metal plate on its side. No name was written on it.
Just a number.
'...Like the doors back at the Annex.'
Geneva opened it quietly, and we stepped inside.
The room was larger than a normal patient's room, with sunlight pouring in through a wide window. It was warm and tidy, with a shelf lined with books standing against one wall, alongside a small potted plant that had clearly been watered recently. If not for the bed in the center, it would've been hard to call this a hospital room at all.
There were barely any machines. Just a single monitor beside the bed, its screen dark.
And on the bed, a boy was sleeping.
He couldn't have been older than thirteen or fourteen. Short blonde hair, the same shade as his sister's, rested against the pillow, and his chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths. His complexion was slightly pale, but he otherwise looked quite healthy.
If nobody had told me anything, I would've assumed he was simply napping.
My gaze drifted to the nightstand. All I saw was a single book.
There was no illustration on the cover.
'.....'
For some reason, my eyes lingered on the book. Something about it bothered me, but I couldn't tell what.
"I'm back."
Geneva's voice pulled my attention away. She walked over to the bed, and gently fixed the blanket over the boy's shoulders.
"Sorry it took a few days. Work's been... well, you know how it is."
Her voice was soft. Softer than I had ever heard it.
"I brought guests today. A lot of them, so don't be startled when you wake up." She brushed a strand of hair from his forehead before gesturing toward us. "This is Seth. Yes, that one from the news. He's a lot less scary than they say. Probably."
"....."
Probably?
What?
"Well, he can be quite scary."
"Yup, I agree."
No, don't agree with her.
I turned to look at my team members, who immediately looked away.
"Everyone."
Geneva turned to us.
"This is Theo. My little brother."
She looked at him for a moment longer. Then, pulling a chair from the corner, she sat down beside the bed, facing us. Her hand reached into her pocket, taking out the packet of gum, but she didn't open it. She simply turned it between her fingers, over and over.
"Right, it's time to fill you in, then."
Her eyes lifted toward us.
"I'll... tell you all about VILE - 1048."
"It was about five years ago when it happened. Maybe a little bit longer..."
Geneva started without any buildup.
"There was nothing out of the ordinary. No gate or anomaly was detected. He went to bed on a school night, and the next morning, he just... didn't come down."
Her fingers slowly turned the gum packet resting on her knee.
"I thought he was faking it to skip school. I even pulled his blanket off and counted to three."
"....."
"His eyes never opened."
"....."
"Regardless of how hard I tried, they just didn't open, and..."
Geneva stopped, her hand coming to a stop with her as she turned to look at her little brother. For just a moment, nobody said a single word, but as the silence continued and everyone grew confused, I found myself turning to look at her little brother.
The first gasp came before I realized it, and as I looked, my heart suddenly stopped.
He was staring right at me.
His eyes were wide open, completely unblinking, while his lips had been pulled into an extremely wide smile that seemed to almost stretch out of his face.
"This is one of the side effects."
Geneva's voice carried through the room as she raised her hand, stopping us from doing anything.
Moving closer to him, she placed her hand over his eyes and gently closed them. But despite this, his smile remained.
It seemed even wider than before
Nobody said anything.
"The hospital ran every test they had, but nothing came of it. He wasn't sick, nor was he poisoned. There didn't even seem to be any neurological damage. He's perfectly healthy by every metric they could measure. Back then, I didn't understand. If he's healthy, then why wasn't he waking up?"
Geneva looked at us, her voice lowering.
"I only realized what had happened when the Bureau showed up."
"The Bureau?" Nora asked.
"They have a checklist for these types of things. They've been looking for it quite some time, and with the hospital report coming directly to them, things became pretty clear to them."
Geneva looked at us.
Her voice lowered even further.
"VILE - 1048."
I pressed my hand against my lips and pinched
"Just like the story suggests... even after all this time, nobody has found a single clue about VILE - 1048. It's completely different from the other anomalies. It's completely undetectable, and even after spending the last several years looking for it, I've yet to get any closer."
"Never? Like, not even once?" Mia asked.
"Not once."
Geneva shook her head, her expression grim.
"There's been no sightings, no witnesses, no photographs, not even sketches or rumors. The only thing we know is that all of its victims appear to be the same, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern to who becomes its victim."
Pausing slightly, a bitter smile formed across Geneva's lips.
"There are people inside the Bureau who argue that it doesn't even exist. That 1048 isn't an anomaly at all. Just a disease nobody has discovered yet, with a fancy number slapped on top so they can pretend it's no longer their problem."
'An anomaly that nobody knows anything about... and which might not even be an anomaly at all, but a disease.'
Now I truly felt like smiling.
Especially as I remembered the doppelganger.
Motherfuc—
"But it exists. I'm sure of it."
My head rose as I looked at Geneva, her eyes no longer looking at us but down at the floor.
"I haven't been able to find much, but I'm sure of it... I'm really sure of it. VILE-1048 is real. It's not just some hidden disease, like some people suggest."
"....."
"How many are there? I mean, victims..." I suddenly asked.
"Confirmed? A hundred and ninety-three. The real number is probably higher. They appear a few at a time, every couple of years. Different islands, different towns, different ages... Rich, poor, young, old. The Bureau spent decades trying to find a common thread between the victims, but..."
"But...?"
"There isn't one."
Geneva leaned back slightly.
"About ten years ago, four people fell asleep in the same town within a single month. The Bureau locked the entire place down. Patrols were sent everywhere, and cameras were checked in every corner of the place. This went on for an entire year."
"Did they catch anything?"
"Three more people fell asleep. Right under their noses." She let out a dry breath. "The footage recorded in that time showed nothing unusual. Their last days looked completely normal. School, work, groceries... There was nothing about their situation that seemed odd. Nothing approached them either. They had dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. That was it."
Geneva shrugged before taking out her phone and scrolling through several images. She paused, her expression stiffening for a moment, before turning the phone around. A photo of three people appeared on the screen.
All of which stared right at us.
Smiling.
Their smiles so wide that it felt incredibly unsettling.
...Just like her little brother.
'.....'
"That's the scary part about 1048. It's rare for an anomaly to stay hidden for this long. Even with the Bureau and several top Guilds searching for it, they've found nothing. With most anomalies, you have a way to stay safe. Stay away from the gates, follow the warnings, and you can live your whole life without ever meeting one. But this one...?"
Geneva pursed her lips, putting her phone away.
"There's no place it lives. No time it comes. No sign that it's chosen you, and the first clue that you've ever come in contact with it..."
Her eyes moved to the bed.
"...is a person close to you who won't wake up."
A steady silence settled into the room as all eyes turned towards the little boy on the bed, his quiet breathing the only sound echoing across the room.
"There's more."
Breaking the silence was Geneva, her voice noticeably quieter than before.
"The part that hasn't really been shared in the reports. It's more something that I found after a long time investigating."
Pinching her mouth, she turned to face her brother.
"Their neurological activity never stops even if they fall asleep. It's like... they're all dreaming. Deep down, they might be carrying on with their lives, not knowing that they've fallen into a state of coma. And that's..." Gevena's voice quivered slightly.
"That's what's scary."
She let out another laugh.
"As far as I'm aware, it's very much possible that I could be the victim and not my brother. That all of this is just a dream. It's crazy, but..."
Geneva looked at me, her head tilting.
"It's not impossible."
"....."
My lips parted, but nothing came out.
Geneva pulled her gaze away from me.
"There are also times he talks."
"...What? He talks?"
"At times, but it's not clear. It's like hearing half of a phone call."
Her thumb pressed against the packet of gum resting in her lap.
"Like they're talking to someone."
Joanna quietly hugged her own arms. Even she was starting to find the story creepy.
Geneva didn't stop.
"The oldest recorded case was an old woman on Harmia. She slept for sixty-two years. In all that time, she only ever said one thing. The nurses wrote it down every time it happened. Across six decades, it never changed."
"...What did she say?"
"'Not yet. It's not my turn yet.'"
"....."
"Three years ago, the staff found her one morning. Passed away in her sleep. Her vitals were just fine the day prior..."
Geneva's fingers stopped moving.
"You know what the night nurse said afterwards? The part that scared her the most?"
My ears strained.
"In her death, she was still smiling."
A chill crawled up my arms.
I glanced at Theo, his lips still pulled into a smile.
'It's not my turn yet...'
The itch in my chest scratched once more.
"And Theo?" Nora asked carefully. "There was really nothing before it happened?"
"Nothing."
Geneva shook her head.
"The Bureau asked us a hundred questions. Where he went, what he touched, what he ate. It was all normal. He went to school just like usual. He wasn't even sick." She paused for a moment. "Well. He had a small cold that week, but it was barely even a cold. It cleared up on its own after a day or two."
"Yeah, I have those too..."
Mia spoke weakly.
"Right."
Geneva let out a small breath through her nose.
"It happens..."
She stared at her brother for a moment longer before turning back to us.
"Everything I just told you took me five years to dig up. From favors to records I wasn't supposed to see or people I shouldn't have talked to. And even then, the sealed file is still above my clearance. I've requested access four times now."
"...What? Denied? Aren't you a Paragon?" Mia asked in surprise.
"That's hardly worth much these days." Geneva spread her hands slightly. "So that's it. That's everything the world knows about VILE - 1048. A few cases... a number to associate it with, and a hundred and ninety-three people who won't wake up. In other words... nothing. Nobody knows what it is. Nobody knows what it wants. Nobody even knows if it's real."
"....."
"That's the case you chose to help with."
Geneva looked at me, her eyes staring straight at me. As if I was the last hope she had.
My lips quivered.
I swear. Fucki—
"Mm..."
A small sound came from the bed.
Immediately, the room froze.
Theo shifted slightly, his head tilting against the pillow. His lips parted, and a faint murmur slipped out.
"...Okay... I'll wait..."
Then he settled back down, the corner of his lips curving into that same wide smile.
Nobody moved.
Only Geneva reacted as she stood up and fixed his blanket.
"...He does that sometimes." She said quietly, her hand reaching down for his lips and pulling them down.
For some reason, that last part felt creepier than everything that had happened.
"Squad Leader... Are you sure about this?"
After hearing everything Geneva had to say, we all left the room. The first thing I heard as we stepped outside was Mia's questioning voice. I sat down on one of the metal benches outside the room, still trying to process everything Geneva had told us.
"Did you hear the stuff that she said? This isn't something that we can just tackle because we want to? Where would we even start? It's like searching for a needle in a haystack... No."
Mia stopped herself.
"...It's not even that. I think finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than this."
I know.
I fucking know.
I really wanted to hold my head in my hands at that moment, but I had to maintain some semblance of composure.
'To be honest, I feel like this isn't an accident.'
This entire case and scenario...
No. The more I thought about it, the more I felt that was the case. In the first place, the doppelganger didn't really do much with Geneva back in Malovia. It felt oddly strange that it had told her to cooperate with him.
It never needed her help from the start. And even if it did, wasn't it weird that it knew all about her circumstances from the start?
'Then again, the "system," or whatever this thing is... it feels almost omnipotent to me. I've always assumed it knew things because it knew everything. But what if it had orchestrated this entire situation from the beginning? What if it wanted me to find VILE-1048 all along?'
Yes, that would make sense...
The system had been unusually quiet ever since what happened in Malovia. It probably realized that it couldn't control me the way it wanted, so it decided to work through other means instead.
I pursed my lips tightly.
'Ah, fuck.'
To make matters even worse, it wasn't like I could simply back out like before.
"Squad Leader?"
"Right."
I lifted my head and looked back at the others. They were all staring at me.
I rubbed the back of my head.
"Even if we wanted to quit, it's not like we have much of a choice. The entire world already knows what we've set out to do. Our people in the Guild have made sure we can't really back out of this one."
"What? You mean the news about us doing this?"
Ariel was the one to speak up this time as she gave me a strange look.
"Who cares about that? Just quit. The worst that can happen is that you take a hit to your reputation. This quest is obviously just going to be a waste of time. We can easily recover our lost reputation if we handle other cases. Plus, can't you just say it was a misunderstanding?"
"...I can't do that."
I shook my head.
"I personally handed in the request form. That got leaked too."
"Can't you just say that it was a fake?"
I smiled at Ariel.
"We're not dealing with simple nobodies. These people are coming after us because we stand in the way of them becoming the next Guild Master. It won't just be the Section Chief from the Hoarding Department. The other departments will probably find ways to make sure none of our excuses hold up."
All of a sudden, I started to miss the Guild Master. I had my apprehensions about him, but it only now became clear to me just how much better life was when he was present.
'This entire political mess is giving me one headache after another.'
"In that case, let's just say we changed our minds. We can take the reputational hit."
Niel suddenly said, lifting his glasses.
"It'll hurt our reputation, but we hardly started. The longer we drag this out, the more it'll hurt us. And as the others said, we can always make up for it later."
I wish that were the case.
I really did.
But there was an issue.
I was in no position to do something like that. At the moment, I couldn't show any semblance of weakness. My every movement and action was being closely monitored by'them'. The moment I showed even a moment of weakness was also the moment that I'd be attacked by them immediately.
I was in a position where I couldn't reject this proposal at all.
As if... someone had orchestrated this entire thing from the start.
But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. How could anyone have orchestrated this? Especially when even I had no idea what I was going to do next.
'Whatever the case is, I don't like this.'
I stood up from my seat and sighed.
"Well, it's not like we have much of a choice, if I'm being honest. We could do what you guys suggested, but we might as well give it a shot."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Squad Leader..."
Joanna and Ariel were the first to protest, but I raised my hand to stop them.
"The more you tell me not to do something, the more I want to do it. Since things have already turned out this way, then we might as well just go for it. Who knows...? We might be able to find something."
I forced a smile, but just as I did, something warped across my vision, followed by the familiar sound of a notification ringing inside my head.
Ding!
[Quest Activated]
Difficulty:???
Reward: 8, 500,000 SP + Rank Anomalie — VILE - 1048
Objective: Find the anomaly.
Location: N/A
Failure: N/A
Description: One hundred and ninety-three ■■■■■■■■ are currently waiting for their turn. Locate the entity designated VILE - 1048.
Warning: No data regarding this entity exists.
Time Limit: N/A
[Will you accept the quest?]
▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
[If you accept this quest, a clue will be provided.]
The sight of the quest window made me stop dead in my tracks as I silently read through each section. My eyes immediately fell on the blurred-out section, but after reading the last part, I almost burst out laughing.
I mean, my thoughts were already made up.
There was no way for me to reject the quest.
And yet—
Right as my hand hovered over the option below, I stopped. For just a brief moment, my hand hovered over the [No] option before I accepted the quest.
Ding!
[You've made the rich choice.]
Skrr—
A static sound suddenly echoed across my ears.
It was a familiar static sound that brought me back to the time I was in the hearing.
My heart skipped a beat.
But just as it did, a new notification appeared before me.
It was blurred, but I could still make out the words.
[You've... already...]
Skrr—
What's going on?
I almost spoke aloud as the static sound grew stronger, and the notifications grew blurrier.
Skrr—!!
The static grew, and my surroundings seemed to blur alongside the static.
Regardless, I kept my eyes open. It was as if everything would disappear if I closed my eyes.
Skrr—
[...M]
A sudden sting came through my vision as I forced my eyes open.
The static was all I could hear as the notification grew even blurrier.
Come on!
[...Met...]
Skrr—
[It]