Chapter 25
ANYONE MIGHT THINK that a woman in the heart of the War-Torn Burial Ground, with its hidden entrance in Melville Commerce’s storage compound, was worthy of capture, an elite member of Chimera Clausen. Scorpion and Mira certainly had.
But Millene wasn’t just not an elite; she wasn’t even a member of Chimera.
In her underwear with hands and feet bound, she answered every question asked of her.
First, she explained that she was an alchemist in training.
When asked what she’d been doing at the catacombs, she explained that her instructor had asked her to collect necessary materials for alchemy.
When asked if she knew what those black bones were, her terrified reply was simply, “My instructor told me that ancient mummies have special mana in them!”
The coat she’d worn was powerful spirit equipment, but when asked where she’d obtained it, she said that her instructor had given it to her as a gift. They'd claimed that the coat would protect its wearer when it sensed danger, but she had never run into danger until now. Given the outcome, Millene grumbled that it hadn’t helped at all.
It was starting to sound like her instructor was actually the suspicious one, so they steered their inquiries in that direction.
They asked what this mysterious person was using black mist ore for, and Millene answered that they were mixing it into sand and various metals. Black mist ore was a very unique material that could not be combined with other substances without the power of alchemy.
No matter what the base material was, once they added the ore, the completed product would end up a deep black and envelop itself in its signature black mist. Millene added that, according to her instructor, it could produce powerful armaments. Her instructor would then sell the transformed materials to Melville Commerce, who paid quite handsomely.
They continued to ask more detailed questions.
Scorpion asked if she knew who was entombed in the War-Torn Burial Ground.
Millene only knew that they were “super, super ancient people,” and added that this was another thing she’d been taught.
Scorpion observed as Millene said she did not know of oni. Then Scorpion asked a few questions that she thought elites would know the answers to and watched her expression closely.
By her judgment, it was extremely unlikely that Millene was an elite.
Mira occasionally lobbed some questions in, as well. Her favorite foods, where she washed herself first in the bath, if she liked anyone, if she liked liked anyone, her bra and panty sizes—despite the clear sexual harassment, Millene answered every question honestly.
Once the questioning was mostly over, Mira put a finger to her chin and concluded, “It’s as if she knows nothing at all about Chimera.”
“Seems like it…” Scorpion agreed.
“Excuse me? What is that ‘Chimera’ thing you’ve been mentioning?” Millene asked, relieved to know that they wouldn’t do anything more to her now. This situation was the result of her being mistaken for a “Chimera,” so naturally she wanted to know what exactly that was.
“They’re called Chimera Clausen, and…” With cold eyes full of suppressed rage, Scorpion counted off Chimera Clausen’s misdeeds.
***
Upon learning just what sort of organization Chimera Clausen was, Millene was furious as well. “That’s awful… Just awful! Is that why I’ve been doing this?!” Learning that she’d been supporting their heinous acts, she was lost for words due to a mixture of disgust and shock.
She told a story of how a spirit had saved her life when she was a child. She agonized—how could her teacher create things that hurt such sweet beings?
Even to the suspicious Mira and Scorpion, it seemed she truly had no idea and was genuinely horrified to hear what she’d become caught up in. But on the other hand, it was clear that whoever was teaching her alchemy was involved with Chimera.
Mira crouched down to eye level with the sitting Millene and asked gently, “Your instructor may be working with Chimera. Would you tell us where we can find them?”
They may be working with Chimera. Millene couldn’t stand the thought, and her shoulders began to quiver.
But soon enough, she raised her head, gazed into Mira’s eyes with resolve, and spoke: “He has a big mansion on the northeastern outskirts of town. It has a huge garden with lots of different kinds of plants. I…I think you’ll recognize it easily.”
Millene offered to do anything in her power to help. Scorpion requested every last bit of information she had, adding that she would keep her captive until that information had been confirmed.
Whether she was aware or not, it was true that she had been an assistant to a Chimera co-conspirator. Furthermore, Scorpion still couldn’t say with certainty that she wasn’t lying. No matter how superb her observational abilities were, she would not put her full faith in them except in the worst of circumstances.
Millene understood. She accepted her lot without resistance.
***
After consulting a map, Mira and Scorpion left Millene with Snake and departed for the mansion. It was already well into the night, but they didn’t know where the enemy’s security might be, so they jumped from roof to roof under Wasranvel’s concealment as they headed toward the outskirts of town.
Scorpion could already run on walls and ceilings, and Mira used her sage powers to run on air, so they both were swift. Wasranvel was no slouch either; he used his full power as an advanced spirit to keep up with them without hesitation.
Unlike the busy streets, the outskirts of town were cloaked in quiet dark. The stars that were invisible from the busy city center now stood out brightly, even though the sprawling residential district ahead was lit by faint streetlights. A discerning eye would see that, unlike the spirit lights downtown, these lights were quite normal magical items.
At times, the chittering of small animals could be heard. Other animals seemed to answer their calls.
There was almost no pedestrian traffic, save for the occasional red-faced drunk stumbling home.
“There it is,” Mira declared.
Beyond the quiet residential district, in an even quieter area, was a luxurious garden of trees and flowers nestled in the dark. At the very center of it, standing tall among its surroundings, was the mansion Millene had described. She was right; it had been very easy to find.
A grove stretched through the property, which was encircled by a stone wall. Mira and the others followed the wall, then used Wasranvel’s ability to simply open the front gate unheard and stroll into the property.
They walked up the long approach to the mansion. When they arrived, they found security guards stationed around it. Nobody noticed the party as they stopped before the front door.
Mira and Scorpion turned and calmly surveyed the security around them. Something was off; the people here didn’t seem like they were watching for intruders.
“Weird. They’re all staring at the mansion, huh?” Scorpion said.
“Right… You’d be free to steal all of the alchemical materials in the garden at this rate,” Mira added.
There were five security guards stationed here, but none of them paid any mind to their surroundings; every one faced the mansion.
Mira hadn’t felt any other presences since the gate. The mansion’s guards were all accounted for. Mira was right; the plants were fair game.
However, the guards didn’t seem to be slacking off. They were watching something.
“Well, we’ll be fine as long as we’re concealed.”
“Yep. Let’s hurry!”
Mira and Scorpion turned back to the mansion. Despite the expansive size of the garden, the mansion itself wasn’t large. However, it was clearly too big for a normal person. Assuming he had secured this property to prioritize space for cultivating materials for alchemy, one could easily guess that the owner was a powerful man.
Mira used total concealment to the fullest and flung open the front door. It hadn’t been locked…though perhaps that wasn’t necessary given all the security. They entered without difficulty and began a leisurely search for the man himself.
There was no light on in the mansion, so the small entrance hall was pitch black. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time to turn on a light.
“I can’t even see my feet…” Mira complained.
“Take my hand. I can see just fine in the dark, so I’ll lead the way.” Scorpion held out her hand, unfazed by the total darkness.
“Oh, really? Thank you.” Mira graciously accepted and reached out, grabbing the first thing her hand met.
“Ack! Mira! That’s my tail!” In the impenetrable dark, Scorpion’s back jolted straight as she yelped in discomfort.
With an apology, Mira let go—for now. Mira narrowed her eyes mischievously.
Soon Scorpion calmed down and focused on searching the mansion. She ran her eyes around the room, searching for any traps.
Mira used the pretense of searching for Scorpion’s hand to cop a few more feels of her toned body. Her hand gradually traveled up, but just as she set her sights on Scorpion’s bicep…
“I’m right here, Mira! Here.” Scorpion snatched Mira’s hand, bringing an end to its wanderings. The summoner would have to be satisfied for the moment.
***
There were neither traps nor servants in the mansion. Mira used her Biometric Scan and got only one response, for a person on the second floor. That must have been the master that Millene spoke of.
The entrance hall was dark and quiet—almost as if no light had ever been lit here. Scorpion guided Mira through and up the staircase.
At the top, hallways extended in either direction. Windows along the long walls allowed some of the night’s light inside, just enough for Mira to see vague outlines. The dim lighting gave one the feeling that something was lurking in the shadows, even eerier than complete darkness would have been.
“Mira, look.” Scorpion stared deep into the hallway and tightened her grip on Mira’s hand, unconsciously pulling her closer.
“What? Did you find something?” Mira obediently sidled up and stared down the hallway. Her eyes were adjusting to the dark now, but it was so dim she still couldn’t see much. Now that Scorpion mentioned it…there seemed to be something up ahead. What was it? Curious, Mira stepped forward—but she stopped at once. Scorpion grasped Mira’s hand and refused to move.
Mira turned. “Could it be…that you’re afraid?”
After an uncomfortable silence, Scorpion answered, “No!” She threw her chest out in defiance, tail standing on end. Then, she pushed Mira forward.
Mira and Scorpion proceeded down the hallway opposite the room Mira had gotten the biometric response from. Not even their footsteps could be heard, thanks to Wasranvel. Only the faint starlight lit their path.
Usually, you see people putting expensive knickknacks all over places like this. I’m amazed by his restraint.
Mira’s idea of rich people’s mansions included carpets, vases, and gaudy jars. Their absence here was a little distracting. To be honest, the place didn’t seem lived-in at all. Is the person living here truly human? Mira wondered.
But that feeling faded when they reached the end of the hallway.
Scorpion stepped out from behind Mira, suddenly brave again, and said proudly as she gazed at the two-meter-tall object, “No traps!”
It was a fine suit of armor, so brightly polished that it reflected the starlight. From afar, it had almost appeared to be a human standing there—especially to someone who could see in the dark.
Visibly relieved, Scorpion turned and guided Mira onward again. This time, they made their way toward the target.
Suits of armor are another staple, aren’t they? What a lovely decoration, Mira thought to herself as she turned and gazed at the suit of armor again. But when she looked forward, something suddenly felt wrong.
The hallway up ahead was uniform in one way: it had no furnishings whatsoever. It seemed very much like a rich person to have a suit of armor in their home…but wasn’t it odd that it was the only thing in the home? Especially since it had been shoved to the end of a hallway.
Then again, this was someone else’s house. Who knew? Perhaps the man was a minimalist.
While Scorpion pulled her ahead, the summoner glanced back. The suit of armor standing behind them looked even eerier now than it had before they’d gotten a close look at it.
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