The windbreaker wizard's expression turned hard, his gaze sharp as he glared at his colleague.
"Tch. You think I'm scared? You lot really don't know who you're talking to. Sir Claremont's my uncle.
Give it time, I'll be one of the managers here. Before I got assigned to this dump, I was actually a division lead in The West Reich Initiative Society," he said proudly, chest puffed out.
His companion snorted in disbelief. "You? Management?" He shook his head.
"Plenty of Claremont's 'relatives' around here, mate. If you were actually important, you wouldn't be stuck out here walking patrols with the rest of us grunts. Let's be honest, you're just another pawn."
Without waiting for a reply, he strode off ahead, leaving the windbreaker wizard stewing. The hunting wizard, sensing the tension, scrambled after him, still trying to defend his point.
Meanwhile, Shalltear, hidden beneath the foliage, remained perfectly still until their voices faded into the distance. Only once the path was clear did she cautiously raise her head. Though it had only been a brief exchange between patrol officers, she'd managed to pick up a lot more than she expected.
From what she heard, the group worked under someone named "Claremont," and they mentioned the "West Reich Initiative Society." She remembered Alex saying something similar before, most likely referring to Milan Claremont, the society's leader.
Putting the pieces together, she guessed that this breeding facility was run primarily by West German staff, and many of them were tied to Milan Claremont either through family or his organization. Even if they weren't all top officials, it was clear that the influence of the Endeavor Society reached deep into this place.
Shalltear narrowed her eyes, thoughts swirling. 'Master was right,' she mused silently. 'These so-called "non-governmental organizations" in Germany are just another front for the Silver Wand. And this whole breeding base… it's probably run directly by Milan Claremont himself.'
That explained a lot, especially the strict protocols and the subtle air of danger hanging over the place. She also recalled something else the patrol wizards had mentioned: the young Thunderbird.
Apparently, it had been acting up a few days ago, agitated and nearly breaking free. Shalltear guessed that was around the same time Alex had been nearby.
Maybe the creature had sensed him. Perhaps when Alex opened the gap in the magical shield and connected with it, something deeper had happened.
The Thunderbird's sudden calmness might not be coincidence, it could mean Alex had left an imprint, even established some sort of magical link. If that was true, the young Thunderbird might not be just another creature in a cage. It could become an ally, possibly even a companion in the future.
That thought gave her a bit of hope, especially since she was now completely lost. When she'd first sneaked in, she'd been startled and didn't have the chance to mark her path properly. And now, despite retracing her steps, she couldn't spot the hidden entrance anymore.
She knew it was somewhere near the Mooncalf stable, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find the exact spot. It blended too well into the surroundings, clearly enchanted to avoid detection.
So she let go of the idea of getting out quickly. Instead, she shifted focus. The best thing she could do now was gather intel for Alex. She reached under her cloak and pulled out a small sensor.
It was compact but powerful, one of Alex's custom-made tools. Since the stone road nearby was too tough for her to scratch open, she chose a softer target: the animal pen.
Using both hands and feet, she quietly slipped inside and dug a shallow hole in the grassy patch just beneath the fence. She tucked the sensor in, packed the earth over it, and made sure it was completely hidden.
Just as she turned to leave, she nearly screamed in shock. Three Mooncalf were standing right behind her, massive, bulky creatures with heads the size of barrels, looming down like living boulders.
Their nostrils flared and their breath puffed against her cheeks. If any of them so much as opened their mouths wide enough, they could've swallowed her whole. Her heart jumped into her throat.
Fortunately, they were just curious and not dangerous. Mooncalf were strictly herbivores, bred for stability and calmness, but still, seeing them that close was terrifying.
Shalltear immediately regretted not dragging Fang's absurdly chatty dog along. That mutt could speak animal languages, and this would've been the perfect time for a translator.
Her own shapeshifting into a bat might help with sneaking, but it did nothing when it came to actual communication with magical beasts. Still feeling rattled and slightly embarrassed, she climbed out of the pen and brushed herself off, trying to calm her nerves and figure out her next move.
She still had twenty surveillance spiders left in her pouch, little devices enchanted to blend in and report movement. But she needed to deploy them smartly.
Looking up, she noticed something curious about the structure around her. The dome above wasn't just for weather control.
Its design blocked the view of the outside completely, making it impossible for the magical animals to see the forest or the sky beyond. That must be intentional, part of a containment method.
By cutting off their view of the real world, the creatures would be less likely to grow agitated or try to escape. The artificial lighting inside created a simulation of day and night, maintaining a steady timing to keep everything calm.
Shalltear frowned slightly. This entire facility was more than just a breeding ground, it was a carefully controlled prison. But with that realization, her determination only grew stronger. If they wanted to hide what was going on here, it only meant there was something worth uncovering.
Shalltear knew she needed a clear view of the entire base layout, and the best way to get that was from above. Down on the ground, her vision was too limited, and trying to map out the place by sneaking around on foot was risky and slow.
After weighing her options, she quietly crept a few steps up to a shadowed corner beyond the reach of the overhead magic lamps. Then, without hesitation, she transformed and launched herself into the air, wings slicing through the night sky.
Honestly, if it had been Alex, he might've played it safe and avoided the risk of being spotted altogether. But Shalltear was more daring, if she trusted her instincts and timing, she was willing to take a gamble.
Fortunately, it was well past midnight, and most of the staff were already asleep. A few guards patrolled lazily near the fences, but no one was looking up.