Chapter 736 New Targets
Erik moved forward, his form barely discernible under the semi-transparency of the Chameleon Veil.
He approached the side entrance with cat-like steps. He glanced back one last time in June's direction.
The clone, despite not being able to see his master, was able to follow him thanks to his scent while in canine form.
Erik made quick work of the two guards, managing to not alert those inside the hall, and finally slipped past the side entrance.
The administrative offices of the Mercenary Guild were a testament to efficiency and modern design. The corridor that Erik moved through was wide and well-lit, making it simple for him to traverse the place.
The walls were a smooth, metallic gray, interrupted at regular intervals by doors leading to various rooms.
The corridor itself was silent except for the low hum of machinery and the occasional murmur of conversation that filtered out from the rooms.
As Erik moved down the corridor, he passed many rooms, each one a mirror image of the last.
The rooms weren't empty. Most of the rooms were being used as offices by the various workers, seated at enormous desks and engrossed in their tasks. Erik had to be extra careful not to be seen.
But they weren't the only ones. Other workers clad in the uniform of the Mercenary Guild moved around. Often carrying heavy boxes full of who knew what.
<Documents? But why would they resort to paper when they could send the files through the computer? >
Guards also patrolled the area. As Erik stepped inside the city, the people at the mercenary guild increased their surveillance several folds. Their fear was that Erik could infiltrate the place and steal information regarding his search.
After he was accused of having killed civilians in the slums, the missions Lyria entrusted secretly to him were inserted by the higher ups into his dossier.
As a result, it was known that he had the skill to enter buildings without detection and exit them with equal ease.
<They are moving following some patterns. That guy there goes left right and after having checked three corridors comes back. >
But Erik was careful to stay out of their path, using his Chameleon Veil to blend into the surroundings and the Instability power to know when to hide or when to change direction, occasionally to make them turn direction by messing with their brains.
As he moved further into the building, he found himself in front of a massive door.
It was guarded by a pair of mercenaries who stood like statues on either side. A label showed this as the "Server Room".
<I'm getting close, June, > he sent a telepathic message to his clone.
Then he turned inward, addressing the biological supercomputer.
<System, connect to the local server. Search the database for mercenaries with Brain Crystal powers. Specifically invisibility, shapeshifting, and healing powers. >
[ACKNOWLEDGED. STARTING CONNECTION.]
The connection had been established swiftly and with no hitches.
Erik could feel the supercomputer working inside his head, its processes rapid and efficient.
[CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. SEARCHING DATABASE NOW.]
Erik started feeling the usual weird rush as the supercomputer injected the information into his brain.
It was not painful, but it was intense - like a sudden rush of knowledge that filled his mind with images and data.
Within moments, he learned who to look for and where to find them.
Images of mercenaries with brain crystal powers had flashed in his mind - their faces, their abilities, their locations. Unfortunately, there was no one with an invisibility brain crystal power in Caelora city. The healers were few and not worth killing just for the sake of getting their brain crystal powers as they looked like decent fellows based on what the mercenary guild had about them. But the shapeshifters.
<Oh… some of these guys surely need for me to pay a visit…>
Among these people there were the scums of the scums. People accused of having shapeshifted into people to sleep with others.
Some that killed their comrades during quests just to get more money, others who harassed weaker teams and many more things.
The guild knew these people did those things, but most had connections with the guilds that made it hard for them to get publicly accused of something, or for an investigation to take place.
This was especially true when those ties were made to people with particular… tastes, especially for the ones regarding animals.
<That's disgusting. >
Equipped with this new information, Erik's confidence surged. He knew what he needed to do next. The act of eliminating these individuals would bring about advantages, not only to him, but even for society.
<June, I've found what we needed. I'm heading out now. >
<I'm waiting here, Master. >
Erik retraced his steps back through the maze of corridors, desks, and terminals.
His Chameleon Veil had kept him hidden from the workers and guards as he slipped back through the massive door and down the long corridors.
When he reached the entrance, June was waiting for him at a safe distance.
The clone's ears perked up at Erik's approach, his tail wagging.
Erik had given him a nod of acknowledgment, but he forgot he was invisible. Luckily, June noticed him because of the scent, and didn't see that awkward gesture.
<That was embarrassing. >
<What was embarrassing? >
<Nothing… Hey, I found a suitable place for us to sleep. >
<Really? Where? >
<You will see. Soon. >
With June at his heels, Erik had melted back into the crowd, his mission in the Mercenary Guild's administrative offices complete.
Erik brimmed with anticipation at the prospect of getting another shapeshifting ability, a tool he eagerly planned to use to sow chaos within the ranks of the Mercenary Guild and, by extension, the Blackguards.
The information he just got was a key to unlocking this potential, fueling his desire to unleash disruption and confusion among his adversaries.
For the moment, however, he recognized the need for discretion. It was a time for careful planning and staying under the radar, laying the groundwork for the impending turmoil he intended to bring upon his foes.
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