Khanh, Vy, and Minh Triet stood before a stone table stacked high with messy piles of documents. The air in the chamber was heavy, almost suffocating, as if infused with a constant flow of LINH pressing down on everyone present. Each of them pulled out their usual stone chair. Right in front of them, three or four sheets of paper were clipped tightly, placed neatly on the stone surface.
The moment Khanh touched the stack of papers, something unexpected happened. On the surface of the stone table, a tiny figurine—shaped exactly like him—appeared. At the same time, from the center of the table, the entire topography of Dai Long began to take form: mountain ranges, rivers, valleys, and rolling hills rose up like a living map. The little figurines of Vy and Minh Triet also appeared, aligning themselves with the terrain in perfect detail.
"Look at Khanh's clueless face. It's like this is the first time you've ever touched real technology," Minh Triet sneered, arms crossed and wearing a smug grin. "This table isn't one of those KIM toys you always tinker with."
Khanh's eyes widened, his voice almost breaking in surprise. "If it's not KIM, then… what is it made from?"
Minh Triet gave a mocking laugh. "It runs on LINH, but not in the same way as your KIM constructs. This was created by Master Bui To Nhu's black crows to simulate the entirety of Dai Long. The downside is that it requires a massive amount of LINH to keep functioning." His tone was filled with pride, as if he personally owned the artifact.
Vy quickly spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "Hey, it's normal for us not to know. We've only been here for a short while."
Then she turned to glance around the chamber. "But tell me—why does it feel like The Heaven's Fracture is just… us? I thought a guild was supposed to have dozens, maybe even hundreds of members."
Minh Triet hesitated. His lips opened as if to explain, but the words stuck. "Well… it's just that…"
"What? Spit it out," Vy pressed, her tone sharp.
Minh Triet shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. "Didn't the name already give it away? This so-called guild is nothing more than a collection of rejects. Failures. We do the dirty work the royal family can't be bothered with. Hate them all you want, but guess what? You're working for them right now. Hahaha."
Vy's face tightened in anger. She snapped back instantly, "I'm not working for the royals. This is just… a mission."
But even as she spoke, her inner thoughts burned hotter than her words: One day… I'll tear down every last corrupt official. I'll wipe away the rotten class system so no one has to live in chains again.
---
The three of them began reading the files assigned to them. Just as Master Tinh Hai had said earlier, each would now receive tasks under the supervision of their respective mentors.
Vy held a slim dossier in her hands. It contained the profiles of several suspicious individuals linked to rituals where common folk had begun worshiping Quỷ. Reading it immediately dragged her mind back to the mission in An Trach village, the one she had shared with Khanh.
Minh Triet's mission, in comparison, was far simpler. He would patrol the surrounding villages, checking shrines and temples for anomalies, and then report back to the guild. His stack of papers, however, was mostly filled with methods of propaganda: how to spread reverence for the gods and fear of the demons among the populace.
Vy and Minh Triet turned their eyes toward Khanh. "Well? What about you, Khanh?" they asked in unison, curiosity sparking in their voices.
Khanh hesitated, gripping his own file tightly. "I… I'll be staying here to craft magical tools." In his hands was a thick bundle of designs: sprawling blueprints of arcane devices, both large and small, each brimming with intricate details.
"Oh. So that's it, huh?" Minh Triet and Vy exchanged weary looks, their expressions clearly saying what a waste.
For a moment, silence hung in the chamber. Then Minh Triet smirked, shaking his head. "Good thing I was born a Moc type." And with that, he chuckled awkwardly.