Blue Preservation? It's a really fancy name, though I've never heard of it before...
"Alright then, it is decided, let's go," Thisia said, her tone had a hint of excitement.
"Now? Is your base or meeting spot or whatever close by?" Caleric asked.
"Close by? It's right here."
Thisia stood up, walking toward a corner in the dark. Caleric was unable to see anything because it was too dark. She made her way to a shelf where various items were kept and picked out a book.
She then walked over to another corner. Caleric could only partly see her figure moving in the dark. He was amazed by her ability to navigate in the pitch-black.
Thisia made her way to another corner where several things were scattered on the floor. She picked up an object; it was a silver key.
She then came back to the table. Placing the book right in front of Caleric, she opened it specifically to page number 456. The page had a small cutout, a keyhole-shaped cutout.
Thisia gently pressed the key she had just picked up into the keyhole, and as she did, the wall behind her started moving and opened. It was a secret entrance!
"Follow me," Thisia said.
Caleric didn't say anything; he simply stood up and followed her inside. The narrow corridor ended at an elevator. Both of them got in, and the elevator descended to the floor below.
"Welcome to Blue Preservation's hideout," Thisia said, her tone brimming with pride.
As the elevator door opened, Caleric found himself in a big room. Unlike the room above, this one had several lights. Caleric could now tell that the room was indeed spacious.
The room had a couch, several chairs kept in a corner, and a round table in front of the sofa. The walls had paintings hung on them, and on one side there was a countertop with a sink, with a few cabinets hung above it.
There were two other doors in the big room, perhaps leading to other rooms.
Isn't this a bit too fancy for a hideout? Why is there everything one could want to live permanently?
A crying sound came from behind one of the two doors. By then Caleric had finished looking around the big room and saw that it was very different from what he had imagined a secret hideout to be.
Thisia walked into the room. It was a baby, a little girl who was crying nonstop while a man was trying to calm her down. The man was rocking the baby in his hands, however his efforts were futile as she only cried louder.
"Corvin! How do you mess up the easiest possible task? You just had to put her to sleep!" Thisia scolded him.
"Just a minute, Caleric, we have some problems." Thisia took the baby from Corvin, kicking him out of the room and closing the door shut.
"Um?"
"Ah right, you must be the new recruit. Welcome," Corvin said.
"What was that?" Caleric was confused.
"A crying baby, terrifying isn't it?"
"I meant what is a baby doing at your hideout? Isn't this dangerous?"
"Hideout? Ah right, this is a hideout. Well, it is her home."
"Thisia's?"
"The baby's."
"So that means Thisia's, right?"
"No? How did you get that?"
"So whose baby is it, yours?"
"No... it's Mariel's daughter."
What is this man saying, can he be any more confusing than this?
"Let's wait a moment, can you explain everything? Because I am completely lost."
"What's so confusing about this?"
This man... why is he so annoying? No wonder the baby didn't like him.
When Caleric thought he was about to lose his sanity, the door opened again and Thisia walked out.
Her dress was covered in redish gooey liquid like substance. Her face was full of frustration as if she was about to burst out in anger.
"Is that blood?" Corvin asked.
"It's vomit..." Thisia seemed very angry.
"What did you feed her?"
"Redflare stew..." Corvin answered.
"Why the f**k would you feed her redflare stew!?"
Then the other door, which was right beside them, opened and a man walked out. Arven had been in the bathroom the entire time; he could faintly hear shouting and screaming noises from outside, which made him curious. He hurried out.
As the scene came into view, Arven saw Thisia covered in red, and right in front of her was an unknown man.
"Intruder!"
As soon as Corvin heard Arven shout, he swiftly took out his knife from his waistband, did a backflip mid-air, and landed on the sofa, looking around frantically.
"Where?"
Thisia had seen enough. She could not tolerate all of this anymore. Caleric was utterly clueless about what was happening. What was supposed to be a meeting with a secret organization had turned out to be a chaotic mess.
"Everyone stop!" Thisia shouted.
"No one will move until I come back. If I see anyone doing anything, I will kill you!" Saying that, Thisia went inside the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Thisia returned. After checking on the baby, who was sleeping soundly on the queen-sized bed in the bedroom, she finally gathered all of them at the couch.
"Caleric, first of all, we apologise. It was a bit too chaotic. Secondly, let's finally start with introductions."
"Before that, can you explain what exactly is going on? What exactly is Blue Preservation? You guys seem a bit too laid back for a secret organization that works in the underworld," Caleric asked.
"Heh, it's these two idiots, but don't worry about it, our other members are better..." she thought for a moment... "Or maybe not..."
"Anyway, you already know me. I am Thisia, all mighty Thisia, your guide and your compass, your seer and diviner.
"This is Corvin." Thisia pointed at the man sitting beside her. He had messy hair and a wound on his neck, perhaps a mark from something sharp.
"And this is Arven." She pointed toward the man wearing a monocle; he had a thin mustache.
"Our other members are not here at the moment, but we have a meeting tomorrow, so you can have a formal introduction with everyone."
"Ah right, you've probably met one of our other members already. Mariel, the woman at the reception. You should greet her while you leave.
"So, Caleric, would you join Blue Preservation?" Her eyes were shining with hope.
"Not yet. Our deal was that I would be provided with 48 hours to decide. I will tell you... uh, tomorrow. You have a meeting tomorrow, right?"
"Alright, 6 in the evening. Don't be late."
Caleric nodded.
"So I should be leaving now..."
Thisia glanced at the wall clock that hung behind her.
"That's right. I also have to get back to my job. Arven, don't leave the baby alone, and Corvin, please don't do anything stupid."
After that, Thisia and Caleric left the way they had arrived, going up the elevator into the dark room. Thisia closed the secret entrance while Caleric made his way through the several scattered objects.
This time he managed to stop right before stepping on Chameleon, which was actually a cat, and made his way outside the room.
He went through the long hallway of Fine Divine and finally arrived at the reception. He walked over to the counter, glanced around, and whispered,
"121456."
Mariel, who was behind the counter, the receptionist at Fine Divine, quickly recognized Caleric as a member of their group after hearing the code. She slightly bowed her head in greeting.
Caleric greeted Mariel and left Fine Divine. He walked through Moon Lane, and after a few minutes, he got into an arcavel.
"Western Upper Street."
...
What did I just witness today? Blue Preservation? I don't think they are any reliable. Their hideout is literally someone's living place. Before, I was scared of them being a dangerous organization, but now I am worried about their capabilities.
What should I do next. I can't join them, right? There is no way they will be of any help to me. I should instead focus on finding information about the murder. I am wasting my time messing with these people.
Caleric had made up his mind about declining their offer. He wasn't too scared about the group hunting him down. From his experience, he had inferred that the group might have dangerous people like Corvin or mysterious people like Thisia, but they were not bad people.
Caleric wouldn't even have to contact the police, although he had planned to inform his sister just in case. If he were to get in trouble, she would know what to do.
They are not bad people... The underworld is full of way worse. Am I planning to venture alone?
The thought had stumped Caleric for a moment. It made him reconsider whether Blue Preservation was really not worth it.
Well, they are not bad people. They might be a little clumsy... and I've only met a few members, maybe the others are better.
What am I doing? Judging a book by its cover? How can I forget my own principles? Their first impression was bad, but since when did I start caring about first impressions?
Maybe I can give them a second chance. Though it is only because I have no other option.
With that, Caleric decided to attend the meeting the next day at 6 in the evening.