The air within the departnt grew tenser by the day.
This beca more evident with each passing day, as the departnt grew increasingly quiet, with more teams heading out through the gates. This was sothing that even I managed to notice, despite spending a lot of ti in my own office or with the team.
"Just what in the..."
"The teams are most likely getting ready for the upcoming departnt trials," Joanna answered, noticing my confusion. Her face was slightly pale, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot.
This was most likely because she had just co out of the VR capsule.
I honestly didn’t want to enter another gate. At least, not yet. This was mainly due to two factors. One, I was just tired. Two, because I knew that the rank would increase the mont I entered.
This was just sothing that I was pretty much certain of.
And for that reason, I decided to stay still for now.
’But then again, it’s not like I can’t go in again.’
The doppleganger had actually made things a little easier for to so extent. Not only had it helped fill the monthly quota, but it also helped get rid of any suspicion, if there was any.
Just one look at the logs, and I could tell that the gates that it had dived in had remained of the sa rank.
’That’s good and all, but the sa can’t be said for .’
I was still sure the gates increased in rank the mont I entered them. That was why I needed to be extra careful when entering.
"By the way, Squad Leader..." Speaking in a hesitant voice, Joanna scratched the side of her face as her eyes darted away from . I tilted my head at the sight.
What was she trying to say?
"Well..." She scratched her face again. In the end, looking at , she sighed.
"Do you think it’s a good idea to spend ti doing this? With the upcoming trials, wouldn’t it be better if we spent that ti training in the gates?"
"You want to go into the gates?"
"Err..."
Joanna stuttered for a mont. But only for a brief mont as her face turned resolute.
"More than wanting to go into the gates, I just want to do well in the trials. I heard that those who will do well will be able to enter the World Conference. I’d like to make it there. This is sothing that I’ve been trying to achieve for quite so ti."
I stood silent upon hearing her words. After a mont, I turned my head to see the others all looking in our direction, their expressions quickly changing the mont I looked at them, as they all hastily looked away a mont later.
They looked like frightened little birds, and for a mont, I almost felt like laughing.
I still retained my expression.
"...I see. I get what you’re trying to say."
"Then...!?"
Joanna’s eyes lit up, but I soon shook my head.
"No, we’re still doing this."
"....!"
"Squad Leader!"
".....!?"
I could see the imdiate change in the faces of everyone as I rejected their request. But it wasn’t because I didn’t understand them or didn’t want to go to the gates.
It was mainly because there was no better training than this.
"There’s no need for our team to enter the gates. The departnt trials are right around the corner, and the best training you can get is continuing exactly what you’re doing now."
I paused, looking at everyone present before taking out my phone. Seeing the ssage written on it, I slowly turned away from them and headed for the door.
"...What’s the point of entering a gate if you can barely keep yourself from screaming at a ga?"
To that, everyone fell quiet.
Indeed...
There was no better training for them than this.
*
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out.
The mont I did, I paused for a mont as I looked around .
’So this is the true Containnt Departnt?’
[-3]
This was the first ti I had stepped onto this floor. This was also one of the most important floors within the departnt, as it was where all the anomalies that were contained were placed.
At the end of the corridor from the elevator, a vast marble reception opened up, lined with seats along the sides and intersected by corridors extending in each cardinal direction.
People in white lab coats and mbers dressed in black security attire appeared everywhere.
This place was even more crowded than the main area.
I stopped by the reception.
"I have an appointnt. If you could please check it."
"Yes, no problem. What is your na?"
"Seth Thorne."
"I see. Let check with the database."
The receptionist was a relatively tall man wearing a crisp black suit. He looked rather serious, and after doing a couple of checks, he nodded, pointing towards the corridor behind him.
"Please head that way. I’ve already notified the security in there. You may go whenever you wish."
"...Thank you."
Thanking the man, I proceeded to follow his directions and headed towards the corridor behind him.
Stepping into the corridor, it was almost as if the entire atmosphere had changed.
The air grew colder, and the noise that had been present monts prior had completely faded. Instead, a certain chilling quiet had replaced it.
*Step*
My footsteps echoed sharply through the hall, flanked on either side by towering white tal doors, each marked with labels like [VILE - 794] and [VILE - 805], and so on... The numbers felt infinite.
’Just how many anomalies are contained within here?’
Furthermore, each couple of doors was guarded by one of the security guards. It made question just how many people the Guild employed, and also made understand the enormous expenses the Guild had.
Eventually, as I continued forward, I stopped before a certain door.
[VILE - 819].
"This should be it."
Staring at the door, I swallowed nervously.
Unknowingly, my heart started to speed up as I ca face to face with the door. Thinking back to the Twisted Man and my encounter with it, I started to feel nervous.
But I was quick to push it away as a man in a lab coat approached a few monts later.
"You must be the one who requested to see 819, correct?"
"...Yes."
I handed over my Guild ID.
Following a brief check, the man handed the ID back before briefing on the rules.
"You are not to directly engage with the anomaly. Caras are installed, and we’ll be monitoring your every movent. If you so much as try to do sothing with the anomaly, you will be eliminated on the spot. Do you understand?"
"I understand," I replied, my lips twitching slightly. Pretty harsh...
"Okay."
The man in white reached for the door and pressed his badge to the pad next to it.
A loud tallic clank echoed as the door creaked open, dragging against the silence with agonizing slowness. The air turned cold, biting at my skin, and every hair along my body stood up.
From the widening gap erged a tall, lanky figure, wearing a tall top hat and suit, its presence stretching the shadows until they seed to crawl toward .
Clank!
Eventually, the door opened fully, and I stood face to face with an old acquaintace.
The Twisted Man.
User Comments
0 comments from readers