Chapter 1536 (2/2)
Suspicion flickered in Chairperson Loyola’s eyes, but she ultimately didn’t bite. She just stared at the bearman in front of her with a frightful intensity.
The Commandant smiled very slowly, dragging the moment out. “...oh, hadn’t you heard? Recently, Overseer Octavius Shrike came to Military High Command with evidence of large amounts of corruption in the NLC. Fearing that he would be used as a scapegoat, he had no choice but to utilize the organization with the most sterling reputation to exonerate himself from these obvious misdeeds. We’ve been investigating the Seventh Cohort personnel for several weeks now; the results should be announced to the public later today. Let me say… the truth seems to be… pretty damning.”
Emotions flickered across the Chairperson’s face so quickly that Elohamore couldn’t follow the tiny movements at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her wrinkles rapidly expanded then shrunk. Gradually, she seemed to realize that the Commandant was no kidding. She pressed her lips together. “You… you have no right to investigate the NLC, you bloodthirsty pig. We have an audit department-”
“How could the people guarantee that the investigation was completely unbiased,” The Commandant interrupted. “If we allowed the ones being investigated to investigate themselves? Do you take the people of the Nexus to be fools, you oversized slut? This is what justice looks like.”
Elohamore couldn’t help but shiver. When both sides are so obviously determined to find fault with each other… can either one really be trusted…? But if there definitely was corruption in the Cohort…
Once more, the Chairperson’s face was mercurial and inscrutable. But finally, she snorted. With the issue behind her forgotten, she strode forward past Commandant Wick and the watching Security personnel and disappeared.
The Commandant chuckled lightly and gestured at the Ghosthound. Instantly, the man walked to the Commandant’s side and the two turned and left without giving the security personnel a glance. Neither Elohamore or Kadan had the energy or capability of stopping them, however; both didn’t dare move until they left, unwilling to attract the attention of these powerful figures.
“That was…” Kadan whispered. She shook her head several times, as though she didn’t quite believe her eyes. “And then they left without saying anything. It’s like…”
“It’s like this wasn’t about that poor fool at all,” Elohamore said with a sigh. “This was just a piece in a bigger game across the Nexus. I have a feeling… what we heard was legitimate. There is going to be news about corruption in the Seventh Cohort soon. As for what happens after that…”
Both fell silent. Both were scared. This was definitely above their pay grade.
In the middle of the demolished club, the four-armed man’s body finally overbalanced from his position. With a thump, he slid off of the couch and onto the cracked floor.
*****
Honestly, Randidly was extremely grateful that the Chairperson had arrived at the club when she had. He was running out of ideas of how to stall for more time by inflicting non-fatal damage on the unfortunate Drill Sergeant. To ease his conscious and put on more of a show, Randidly had rather secretly injected minute amounts of Nether into the Drill Sergeant’s body during his grand and overly aggressive attacks. While he tossed his unfortunate victim around, he wove that Nether together into a near-invisible flow through his body.
The effect would be minor, but an astute man would notice that his attacks and images would be just a smidge heavier in the future, now grounded by his own significance.
Randidly glanced forward at Commandant Wick as they walked. He considered saying something but decided against it for now. It was clear from the emotions around the man that he was in a good mood. Randidly wasn’t going to risk spoiling that for now reason.
That thought earned a small smile from Randidly as he reflected both on his wariness toward the Commandant and his forced retreat before the image released by the Chairperson. Truthfully, I’m still coming up short. Even with the new Grim Chimera… even utilizing three images at once… I might have reached a point where I can reliably survive, but victory is out of my grasp. Which means… His mind returned to the Nether he had seen in Neshamah Rex and Randidly’s gaze sharpened. But if I ask for help with Nether… what will she ask for in exchange…?
The duo proceeded through the Nexus Ways while Randidly mused to himself, swiftly arriving at Military High Command. Soldiers leapt to their feet and saluted as the Commandant glided confidently forward. Randidly followed in his wake. Military High Command was situated in a massive black castle, directly below the ‘surface’ of the Nexus, where only those who possessed the requisite qualifications could go. Security at the perimeter was tight, but the interior of the castle was hauntingly deserted.
Randidly idly wondered if he satisfied the conditions for going to the surface yet, but he didn’t possess much curiosity toward that location. Especially not when he finally had a lead on meaningfully increasing his power.
He didn’t want to waste any more time.
The duo passed through the cookie-cutter hallways quickly, the only detail that distinguished that they were moving was the fact that the faces in the hundreds of portraits along the walls were of different people. To see all these stern faces as they moved forward, it really put into perspective how long the Nexus had been in existence.
The ambiance wasn’t helped by the fact that the lighting came from torches with maroon flames placed periodically along the walls. It cast a strange light over everything, as though the entire place was crusted with dried blood.
They finally arrived at the Commandant’s office and once the door was closed behind Randidly, the bearman didn’t waste any time. “Heh. This was an unexpected boon, Mr. Ghosthound. Even beyond protecting Shrike… I owe you a favor. And I don’t say that lightly. Also, I believe there is an easy favor I can give you.
“You are trying to reinforce your images, right? Allow me to help. I have a… particular knack for regulating unruly forces. With my assistance… I can near double your power, immediately.”