Chapter 834 Eve of the Court [1]

I could tell the Guild Master wanted to keep me in the Guild.

I could also see that if I told him, he’d hold the news back and keep me free.

But there was no need for that.

The dark SUV inevitably came.

Two agents stood beside it, both wearing dark suits and sunglasses. One held an umbrella, while the other looked towards me as I approached.

I stopped in front of them.

Then I looked from one to the other.

“Mr. Thorne?”

“That’s me.”

“Are you ready?”

“Just a moment.”

I reached into my pocket and took out my sunglasses.

Neither moved as I put them on.

A small chuckle escaped my lips.

“We’re the same now.”

“…..”

They didn’t laugh.

One of them opened the rear door.

“This way.”

I nodded and stepped inside, moving across the seat before settling near the window. The agent with the umbrella closed it and took the seat beside me. The other went around to the front. Although they didn’t say anything, it was obvious that they were moving like this in order to prevent me from escaping.

But I was a man who was used to being stuck.

The doors shut.

Shortly afterwards, the car started moving.

I leaned back against the seat, watching the entrance of Obsidian Bastion disappear through the rain.

“It’s been a while since I’ve gone to the BUA headquarters.”

The agent beside me turned slightly.

“I wonder how they’ll treat me this time.”

“You’ll be briefed when we arrive.”

“Ah.”

That was all he said.

I looked towards the window again.

Water ran across the glass, blurring the people standing beneath the entrance. A little farther ahead, the car stopped while the barrier opened.

Then we continued.

For a while, nobody spoke.

The agent in front occasionally touched his earpiece, giving short answers to someone. The one beside me kept his hands resting against his legs.

“Don’t do that.”

“…?”

“Your hands. Don’t sit like that.”

The agent frowned, but under my gaze, he eventually moved his hands away.

“Good.”

Outside, the rain kept falling.

*

The Bureau’s headquarters appeared beyond the surrounding walls.

Several massive buildings stood within the complex, each different from the next. But even through the rain, one was considerably easier to recognise.

The Shell.

Its enormous metallic structure curved inward on itself, resembling the shell of a snail. The layered surface reflected the grey sky in dull silver, with rain running down the curves before disappearing from view.

I leaned slightly towards the window.

It looked much the same as I remembered.

Unfortunately.

Didn’t really have many great memories of the place. In truth, it was probably the place where I had gotten stuck for the first time.

The car passed the main structure and turned towards another building. We stopped briefly at a checkpoint, where the driver handed something to the person waiting beside it.

A few words were exchanged, with the agent leaning down the window to look at me.

I waved them with a smile before they returned the documents and let us through.

Not long afterwards, the car stopped beneath a covered entrance.

“We’re here.”

The agent beside me stepped out first.

I followed, adjusting my sleeve while several people approached from inside the building.

The man at the front stopped a short distance away.

He was tall, with neatly combed black hair and a strip of grey above one ear. A deep crease ran beside his mouth, making his expression seem stern even before he spoke.

His suit was dark grey, and he had no sunglasses.

I took mine off.

“Seth Thorne?”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

He turned towards the entrance.

The others moved with him, leaving me little choice but to follow.

“Roland Venn,” he said as we walked. “Deputy Director of Anomaly Investigations. I’ll be overseeing your observation.”

I looked at him again.

A Deputy Director.

That seemed rather important.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

He gave a brief nod.

“We’ve reviewed the recordings and the information provided by the Guild. Before we proceed, there are a few things you need to understand.”

“Alright.”

“There will be no medical examinations during this period.”

My steps slowed slightly.

Venn continued walking.

“No routine checkups. No visiting physicians. Nobody will be coming to discuss treatment with you. I’m sure you’re aware of why we’re doing this, correct?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and looked towards the people following us.

“If someone approaches you claiming to be a doctor, you’re not to engage with them. Notify the observation team immediately.”

“And that would be…?”

“VILE-1048. Unless we establish otherwise, that’s how we’ll treat it.”

“…..”

I nodded.

That sounded rather straightforward, but thinking about the dream I had not too long ago, I had a feeling I wouldn’t get to see the doctor in real life again.

“What if I don’t notice?”

Venn stopped beside a secured door.

He held his card against the panel before looking back at me.

“You won’t be relying on your own observations. We’ll have people watching continuously.”

“Right.”

The door opened.

He stepped through first, and I followed into a quieter corridor.

The sound of the rain disappeared once it closed behind us.

Now there were only footsteps.

The people following a short distance behind, and mine.

I looked towards one of the cameras near the ceiling. Its lens turned slightly as we passed beneath it.

Another waited near the end of the corridor.

They were everywhere.

Venn stopped at a second door.

One of the agents moved forward, checked something on the panel, and waited until a light changed before opening it.

“This is where you’ll be staying.”

I stepped inside, but soon stopped.

“…..”

A glass enclosure stood in the middle of the room.

A rather large one.

There was a bed inside, along with a small table and a chair. The glass extended from the floor to the ceiling, leaving a clear view of almost everything within it.

Beyond the enclosure, several monitors lined one side of the room.

Two people sat in front of them.

They looked up when we entered.

My attention moved towards the cameras.

There were several around the enclosure. One faced the bed, another covered the table, and a third looked down from above.

I shifted slightly.

On one of the monitors, a smaller version of me did the same.

“Hmm.”

Venn watched me.

“Is there a problem?”

“…”

How is this even a question? There was literally no semblance of privacy. I was monitored from every direction.

I looked towards the bed. At least, it looked comfortable. It sat almost directly in the middle, with enough space around it for the cameras to see from every side.

“You’ll remain here for monitoring.”

Venn said, his voice stern.

We won’t require you to undergo any testing. For the foreseeable future, our priority is to observe what happens when the anomaly approaches. Our main priority is to contain VILE – 1048.”

“And if it never shows up?”

“We can discuss that later.”

“…Right.”

One of the staff members stood and opened the door to the enclosure.

I looked at it for a moment before stepping inside.

My footsteps sounded a little different on this side. It echoed quite loudly within the glass chamber.

Venn remained outside.

“If you experience any changes, tell us. Dizziness, difficulty concentrating, or anything you remember differently from the people around you.”

I turned towards him.

His voice came clearly through a small speaker.

“Even if it seems unimportant you must tel us.”

He added.

“I understand.”

“Your phone can remain with you. We’ll provide whatever else you need after it’s checked.”

I looked down at the phone in my hand.

At least that was something. Then again, I was sure it was tapped. Whatever I did with it was probably going to be checked or monitored.

“If someone needs to enter, you’ll be informed beforehand. Don’t open the door for anyone simply because they ask.”

My gaze moved towards the door, and then I looked back at him.

“Someone will always be present outside. If you need anything, let us know.”

“Anything?”

“Within reason.”

“Ah.”

I nodded slowly.

It seemed like they were prepared for quite a lot.

Venn watched me for a few more seconds before turning towards the staff.

A short conversation followed. I could see their mouths moving, but the speaker no longer carried their voices.

I remained standing beside the bed.

One of the staff members looked towards a monitor.

Then towards me.

Venn gave another brief instruction before returning his attention to the enclosure.

“We’ll speak again later.”

“Alright.”

He left with the agents shortly afterwards.

The door to the outer room closed.

I listened to the sound settle before looking around again.

Glass in front of me.

Glass behind me.

A camera looking down from above.

“…I feel like stripping…”

The people outside all lifted their heads, alarm on their faces.

That…

I raised my hand slightly. Instantly, their expressions changed.

Oh…? Oh…?

I reached down for my shirt.

Then?

Ding!

My phone lit up, and I immediately glanced at the top notification. Opening the message and checking the sender, my lips pursed together.

“…..”

After a moment, my lips curled.

“Looks like my money is here.”