As Tirandel's back vanished in the packed streets, Noah turned back and started making his way back to the safehouse. Since going through the main route would've taken him longer, he decided to map his way through the smaller streets.
As he passed, someone closed a window of their house, while others simply stared at him.
Walking through the narrow path, he was once again reminded of how this city worked.
Other than the church, there were three other places that could be considered important in Venis: the Lighthouse near the docks, the Count's estate, and the City Hospital.
While the lower classes were situated near the church, the Count's estate was surrounded by other noble estates, with the Revolutionary Front clustered around the hospital. Because of this, the docks—not the hospital—served as neutral ground.
Seeing the city from this perspective, Noah couldn't help but chuckle, "What a devious man that mage is. He brought us to a place that could blow up from the smallest provocation."
As he walked, he noticed another drunk man lying on the side. The stench from the man made Noah hesitate to even pass by him. Even after he walked by, the man lay there motionless, as if it was a corpse.
'Hmm… there was that case as well. Several people had gone missing in the lower district. The Investigation Bureau had to close the cases due to insufficient evidence.'
Noah was once again reminded of the many variables they had to keep in mind during their mission. One of them was the mysterious disappearances in the lower districts. But since most of the victims were adults, the cases were dismissed without further investigation.
'I guess this is why everyone was so hell-bent about gathering their own people at the academy. If the outside world is this bloated with politics, the academy is just a playground.'
Reaching a crossroad, Noah stopped and tried to recall the direction he was supposed to follow. But after turning almost every minute through the streets, he had already lost his sense of direction.
He considered asking someone for directions, but there was no one near him at all. The streets were completely empty as far as he could see.
"Should've just taken the main route." Scratching his head, Noah started thinking about which way to go.
On both sides of him were the backs of buildings or houses. Seeing one of the larger buildings on his right, he thought, 'Let's take a higher view. I can at least figure out where the church is from there.'
Just as he was about to gather the Aether around him to reinforce himself, he was reminded of one of the laws that had been implemented only recently.
'I can't use Aether inside the city, at least not in a public area.'
Instead of stopping, he glanced around once. "Well, there is no one around."
Crouching low, Noah lunged at the wall. The wall cracked slightly, and then it simply crumbled when he launched himself toward the roof. Before gravity could pull him down, Noah kept moving up.
In just a few steps, he landed on the roof.
'That was much harder than I expected,' he thought as he exhaled.
The building wasn't tall, but it seemed like a good vantage point for the area. A bit further away, he could still faintly hear the bustling streets he had just left behind. Across the way, the tall spire of the church stood proudly as always, looking over the entire city like a guardian.
Turning around, a chilly wind made him shiver slightly. He couldn't see the docks from his position, but the vast sea made him feel smaller than ever. Several ships either arriving at the docks or leaving for long journeys were a sight to behold.
'I almost got distracted. Well, 'almost' would be an understatement.'
Refocusing on his objective, he started searching for a route to the safehouse once again.
"Block the exits! Don't let him get away!" A sudden shout cut through his thoughts.
Squinting, he looked toward the source of the sound. A few streets away, half a dozen men, donned in similar uniforms, were standing at both ends of a small alley.
Inside the alley, a hooded man frantically searched for a way out. The men closed in and forcefully pinned him down. Before long, he was shackled and restrained without much resistance.
'What the hell was that?'
Suddenly, Noah felt something cold and sharp against his neck. From the corner of his eye, he caught his own reflection along the blade.
"State your identification," a sharp voice demanded from behind.
'Tsk, I didn't even sense her until now. Veteran Adept… no, possibly a Master Adept.' Noah's thoughts raced, but the blade at his neck kept him grounded.
Unconsciously, his hand drifted towards the hilt of his sword. But before he could even fully grasp it, the blade buried deeper into his neck, forming a tiny cut.
"I won't ask again. Who are you? What is your business here?"
Whether it was the skill gap or the sheer difference in strength between the two, Noah realized he couldn't brute-force his way out of this. Her pressure alone made him break into a sweat.
'If I reveal my true identity here, the mission could be compromised. But I don't think I can lie in front of her.'
Noah hadn't seen many Master Adepts in his life, but he knew they were not to be underestimated. Though they weren't true Ascendents, they were the closest to that realm. That fact alone changed everything.
With the sword already having cut his skin, he knew the person behind him could decide whether he lived to see another day.
Releasing his hand from his sword, he raised both hands and said, "Um, I think there's a misunderstanding here. I was just passing by when —"
Before he could continue, the woman drove her knee into his back. What looked like a simple strike sent pain rippling through his body. It was so heavy that he couldn't remember the last time he had been hit that hard.
Gasping for air, Noah leaned forward and muttered, "Curses…"
Sheathing her sword, the woman said plainly, "You're under arrest for using your Discipline in the public sector of the city. Any further retaliation will result in your execution."
Having calmed down after a few moments, Noah couldn't help but laugh.
'So much for a discreet mission. Ah, I need to lie down quick.'
Without resisting, he accompanied the officer to the Investigation Bureau's Venis branch. Reading the signboard over the building, Noah felt a subtle sense of irony.
'I guess no one really knows about this mission. Otherwise, I doubt she wouldn't have recognized me.'
While he didn't consider himself noteworthy, he expected that at least the higher-ups in this branch would know about the mission. Now that he'd been arrested, he understood that letting any information slip to them could be dangerous.
Seeing that they had already faced assassins once, as well as how Iriel's kidnapping had been vaguely leaked, Noah knew someone on the inside was trying to mess with their mission.
Soon, he was pushed into a cell deep within the building. All he could tell was that it was on the first floor.
The shouts and screams of the other inmates echoed through the hallway. Inside, it was just as bad. Water dripping off the ceiling, a dead rat in a corner; just the sight was enough to make him regret his actions.
He glanced around the dimly lit cell. In one corner, someone sat wrapped in a tattered robe.
The man looked a little over twenty, still young by most standards. Yet Noah immediately noticed his malnourished frame and the dark bags under his eyes. Even so, there was something stubborn in the way he held himself.
It took him a bit, but Noah soon realized that it was the same man who had gotten arrested right in front of him.
Noah was about to speak when someone entered the cell again. It was the woman who had arrested him.
Now that he was facing her directly, he noticed the three stars on her epaulette. He'd assumed she was a senior officer, but he hadn't expected her to be barely in her mid-twenties.
But despite her heavy presence, he could feel something else weighing on her shoulders.
Instead of stepping inside, she stood by the door, her gaze heavy as it swept over both of them.
'Why does every strong person I meet end up bullying me? Am I really that easy prey?!'
Looking at the man behind Noah, she finally parted her lips. "I'm really tired today. So, let's do this quick. Where are you keeping them captive?"
Instead of answering, the man burst into laughter. Wiping a tear from his eye, he said, "Why don't you ask that count of yours?"
The officer simply stared at him for a few moments.
Instead of pressing him further, her gaze shifted to Noah.
"You two must be working for the same organization. But you're not affiliated with the Revolutionary Front. How much do they pay you there?"
'P-pay? Revolutionary Front?!' Noah nearly spiraled at how far off the mark the officer was.
Massaging his forehead, Noah said hastily, "Wait a second. Don't you think you're going too fast here? Who said I'm working with him? Also, who's paying me?"
Noah was ready to turn their conversation into a verbal duel, but it seemed the officer had different plans.
She raised a hand and exhaled slowly. "As you wish. Let me know when you're ready to confess."
Before Noah could object, she left the room, the doors locking behind her.
'Tirandel was right about one thing. There's no plan. We're all screwed.'