&*^&*^#*&#
@*(*(^%%#!$
T@*((&^@U*(#*(*(R&^&^#&^@$@@!N
#&&#*^^I(@&(&@@@&##&&!***T
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Damn it!!!
Who is in charge of this branch?!
@#$@
AARRGH
SPEAK UP!
"Sir, Osbern is in charge of branch 10t 34."
Get that four-legged bastard here right now!
...
A four-legged creature — indescribable in human terms — slinked into the room and materialized before the desk.
"Callusk, you called for me. Do you have an issue with 10t 34?"
"Yes, if you look up right now, there are a lot of strange symbols. What in the world are they?"
Osbern looked on, genuinely confused. Surely the symbols spoke admissibly.
"Whatever. On branch 10t 34, some sort of ancient magic is hindering the proper consumption of the material. As a monitor, you should be more on top of things like this."
"I-I am aware of this, sir. It seems like 'that' tribe has been interfering with the situation once again. Even their thousand-year-old artifacts still seem to affect the current d&^$#ay.", Osbern responded.
Callusk brightened up immediately.
"Aha, what did I say?! You see that? What the hell is that?"
"^&^4#$#$#&^&#^&^*#*&#(&#(&(&(#&(&#&%%%%%%#&^*@*^*@**()&. It seems like xxxxxxxxxx is tampering with things again. Should I take care of them? This time, for good."
"No. This... might actually be more entertaining. They've been warned many times before. They've been using causality to cover up their actions for far too long. I feel like this time, their own creation shutting them up should be more than enough," Callusk pointed out, tapping the desk thoughtfully.
"I understand, sir. But I assume that artifact is to be destroyed? The backlash from interfering will be drastic. Are you sure about this, sir? We can for sure punish xxxxxxxxxx later. It's not like you're harboring feelings for that bunch, are you?"
Callusk laughed — a deep, rumbling sound that shook the walls.
"Nothing ever escapes those compound eyes of yours, does it?" He snorted.
And as quick as the wind, the smile on his face was gone. Callusk went on, his voice dropping low.
"Yes, let's say that. Let's say that I am much attached to this underdog story. I will personally bear the backlash. Take that artifact away and let everyone see what is happening. A rebirth of a long-lost hope — one that can even alter the future."
Osbern was visibly shaken, now that her secret was out in the open.
"Y-You k-know, sir? That the other branch is rotting?" she said, embarrassed and trembling slightly.
"I'm not mad, but I am deeply interested. How did a mortal see what had happened eons in the past so clearly? That incident was hidden well from us watchers. To make it even worse, branch 10t 34 is growing into xxxxxxxxxx's branch, and it seems that two more bRaNch^%*&#*&^(&^^&&*@@!@@@???? and maybe even become one."
"It seems like the rot has even go%&$%$^##@^tten here. Be quic&^&*%#^%k and get rid of this dial&^&*%%$#ogue, Osbern. The outside readers are getting bored."