Shadow Contract Chapter 45: Edward and the Archive

The vault was underground. It was located beneath a nondescript building in Seoul. There were no signs outside. There were no windows inside. The air was cool. It slled of old paper and preservation chemicals. Edward walked down the central aisle. His footsteps echoed on the concrete floor. Click. Click. Click. The sound was lonely. It bounced off the tal shelves. The shelves were filled with boxes. Cardboard. Plastic. Steel. Each one was labeled. Dates. Nas. Codes.

Edward stopped at the end of the row. He stood before a single steel box. It was larger than the others. There was no lock on it. It did not need one. The room itself was the lock. Edward placed his hand on the lid. The tal was cold. It chilled his skin. He lifted it. The hinges groaned. A heavy sound. Inside, there were files. Hundreds of them. They were organized by year. He reached for the top layer. The paper was yellowed. The edges were brittle. He pulled out a photograph. It was black and white. It showed a child. The child was sitting in a chair. Wires were attached to his arms. His eyes were closed. It was Dante. He was six years old.

Edward looked at the face. He rembered seeing this photo before. Many years ago. He turned the photograph over. There was writing on the back. Subject 01. Initial Integration. He put it back. He reached for another file. This one was thicker. It contained logs. Daily reports. dical assessnts. He flipped through the pages. The handwriting was familiar. It was Ogata’s. But there were notes in the margins. Different ink. Different hand. Edward traced the letters. They were sharp. Angular. He knew this handwriting. He had seen it on a letter. Ten years ago. He closed the file. He placed it on the table. He leaned against the shelf. The tal was cold against his back. He closed his eyes.

He rembered the day he received the box. It was raining. He was standing outside a café. He was alone. A man had approached him. He did not know the man. The man wore a gray coat. He held a briefcase. He did not speak. He handed the case to Edward. Then he walked away. Edward had opened it later. Inside was this box. And a note. The note was short. You see what they ignore. Use this. Edward had never seen the man again. He did not know his na. But he knew what he was. He was the first person who ever genuinely saw him. Not Dante. Not Sophie. Not Ogata. Soone else. Soone behind the scenes.

Edward opened his eyes. He looked at the box. It was not just data. It was a mandate. He was not just a rival. He was an auditor. He was chosen to watch the weapon. To ensure it functioned. To ensure it broke when necessary. He picked up the photograph again. He looked at Dante’s face. The child looked peaceful. He did not know what was coming. He did not know he was a project. Edward felt a pang in his chest. It was not jealousy. It was pity. Dante thought he was fighting for freedom. He was fighting for a script. Edward knew the script. He had read it. He put the photo down. He walked to the corner of the room. A phone sat on a small desk. It was a secure line. Red light blinking.

He picked it up. He dialed a number. He knew it by heart. It rang once. Twice. A voice answered. It was distorted. chanical. "Status," the voice said. "The archive is open," Edward said. "And." "I have reviewed the early files." "Your assessnt." Edward paused. He looked at the box. "The subject is destabilizing," Edward said. "Expected." "The bond is weakening." "Also expected." Edward gripped the phone. His knuckles turned white. "There is another variable," Edward said. "Define." "The benefactor." The line went silent. The hum of the connection filled the gap. "Who," the voice asked. "I do not know," Edward said. "But he gave the keys. He gave the truth." "Why." "To ensure the protocol is followed."

The voice laughed. It was a dry sound. "The protocol is all that matters," the voice said. "Sentint is irrelevant." "It is not sentint," Edward said. "It is accuracy." "Accuracy is achieved through removal." "Of what." "Of the obstacles." "Edward." "Yes." "Do not forget your role." "I have not." "Good." "Complete the audit." "Then terminate the subject." The line went dead. Edward lowered the phone. He placed it on the desk. He stood in the silence. The vault was cold. The boxes were quiet. But the truth was loud. He was not the master of this ga. He was a piece. Like Dante. Like Sophie. Like Ogata. There was soone above them all. Soone who moved the pieces. Soone who watched the board.

Edward walked back to the box. He closed the lid. The tal clicked shut. He locked it. He turned away. He walked toward the door. His footsteps echoed. Click. Click. Click. He reached the exit. He placed his hand on the scanner. The light turned green. The door hissed open. Light from the hallway spilled in. It was bright. It hurt his eyes. He stepped out. The door closed behind him. The vault was dark again. The boxes slept. The docunts waited. Edward walked down the hall. He adjusted his coat. He checked his watch. Ti was running out. The audit was nearing its end. The termination phase was next. He did not feel joy. He did not feel sorrow. He felt purpose. He was the hand that turned the page. He was the one who closed the book.

He reached the elevator. He pressed the button. The doors opened. He stepped inside. He pressed the ground floor. The elevator moved. Up. Up. Up. He looked at his reflection in the tal doors. He looked tired. He looked old. He looked like a man who knew too much. The elevator stopped. The doors opened. The city waited outside. Rain was falling. He stepped into the rain. He did not open an umbrella. He walked into the night. He had work to do. The archive was closed. The ga was open. And the final move was coming. He touched his pocket. The note was there. You see what they ignore. He smiled. It was a small smile. Cold. He saw everything. And soon. They would see him.

A/N Thank you for reading Chapter 45! Edward’s origin is deeper than we thought. Who is the benefactor? Who is above Ogata? The conspiracy expands. Drop your theories in the comnts! Don’t forget to add Shadow Contract to your library and vote with power stones. See you in Chapter 46!