Chapter 94: Director

Chapter 94: Director

Reinhard’s breathing before putting the paper down and clenching his fist. He blankly stared at the paper before bringing one up and gently holding his face.

"Could it be that this report is stating how many souls are required to summon Beasts from the Throne of Myth...How did they..."

His thoughts paused before realization came with horrifying clarity. The letters from the previous building, workers who "couldn’t handle harsh treatment" and had to be "retired."

"Have they been sacrificing the people who don’t make it into their group?" Reinhard quietly muttered. "And then documenting the Beasts that come down from the Throne of Myth and the requirement..."

His hands trembled as he flipped through more pages, which were mostly blank. He realized it was space waiting for future documentation. The experimentation was ongoing while they continued building a catalog of what Beasts could be summoned and at what cost.

Then a page appeared that made his blood freeze.

No image, just a blank space where an illustration would eventually go. But the number was there, one that said 100,000.

Reinhard stared at the digits, his mind refusing to process their implication as he said. "Phineas said the performance is in the city... Could it be he planned to sacrifice the people in the city to summon a Beast? Just like how he did in Mensis Town..."

His entire body trembled, and the book in his hand also trembled as Reinhard’s expression shifted.

Looking at the number, that would mean Phane City’s population had to be at least that large or maybe more. All these people gathered in one place, unsuspecting, going about their lives with no idea they were meant to fuel something monstrous.

Shouts erupted from below, muffled by distance but clear enough to understand, and they brought Reinhard out of his thoughts.

"Miss Director!"

More voices joined and overlapped with each other. "Director! Director!"

Reinhard’s eyes widened before his hands moved immediately, gathering papers and returning them to exactly how they were. The red-tabbed file went back exactly where it had been, drawer closed without sound.

But instead of heading to the window, he moved toward the door.

He needed to see who the Director was, and he wanted to see if he could gain more information. While the risk would be enormous, they needed more information if they wished to stop Phineas and save Anasha.

Especially if they really plan to sacrifice the entire City.

Reinhard’s hand touched the door handle, turning it slowly. The door opened a crack, revealing the hallway beyond and the sounds of multiple people on the first floor. He moved through the hall before going down to the second floor, and to his surprise, none of the guards were there.

They must have gone down to greet the Director.

With this in mind, he continued making his way to the stairs, and then he headed down. When he reached the first floor, he ducked behind a row of stacked crates.

From the gaps between them, he caught flickers of movement, boots, cloaks, and gloved hands carrying clipboards. He could hear their chatter clearly now.

But as he leaned closer to peek out.

Reinhard’s heart trembled while every sense in his body screamed don’t move, leading him to freeze as he felt his instincts spiking up. He couldn’t explain why, but just that if he turned his head another inch, he would be seen.

Reinhard swallowed hard. "Damn it... I need to see the Director. Just one look."

But that instinct, which was that warning up his spine and shivering near the side of his neck and face, wouldn’t fade.

So instead, he exhaled quietly and raised his hand. "Mimir." He whispered.

From the back of his hand, a streak of black ink flowed out like smoke, twisting into a small form that perched on his shoulder before leaping up onto his head.

"Can you tell me how strong they are first?" Reinhard whispered, leading Mimir to nod its head.

"Most of them are normal humans, but the rest are Tier E Inquisitors." Mimir says, making Reinhard inwardly sigh in relief, but then recalls the previous feeling.

"Even that Director?"

"I can’t see her strength... It’s most likely she is using a Mythic Key to hide the information." Mimir says, leading Reinhard to fall silent before sighing.

Before, he would find such a thing hard to believe, but after seeing the Herald Mark that can share skills between Inquisitors. He became more open to the things a Mythic Key is capable of, with him slightly wanting his own.

"For now, focus on trying not to be seen and then read their lips for me." Reinhard whispered.

The familiar warmth pulsed against his scalp, then Mimir’s small mouth opened.

A soft, feminine voice came out. "I didn’t mean to interrupt your work. I just wanted to check in."

Reinhard stiffened. That’s the Director.

Another deeper voice replied, full of respect and restraint. "Ahh, it’s our pleasure to have the Director visit. It helps encourage us to know we’re being looked after. Now, could you please tell us what you’re here to check on?"

That must be the manager.

Mimir’s tone switched back to that of the woman. "Well, recently a lot of Phantasm Beasts have been running amok, and I got worried it might be the same here. So I came to see if any had appeared and whether countermeasures might be needed."

Reinhard frowned deeply. Phantasm Beasts? Here? Why would she expect them in a storage building? Unless... They’ve been summoning them here or storing the ones they summon over here.

Mimir continued, voice now deep and steady, "Everything’s fine, Director. The Phantasm Beasts have been sleeping soundly. No signs of waking."

Then Mimir’s voice shifted again. "Are you sure? I heard that some Phantasm Beasts, even low-tier ones, can fake their death or sleep to catch their enemies off guard."

A pause, then the deeper voice answered with uncertain humor, "They do? Isn’t that just a bedtime story? You know, to keep kids from poking at dead Beasts?"

"It’s real," Mimir said in the woman’s voice, playfully. "What do you think, Hel?"

There was silence with the occasional creak of the floorboards.

Then, after a pause, Mimir spoke again, in the same feminine tone. "Huh? It wasn’t real? What a shame. It would’ve been interesting if it were."

Another brief silence.

Then Mimir’s tone softened. "Oh? You’re saying that while there aren’t any that are intelligent, some have instincts sharp enough to feel like it? Now that’s interesting. I’d like to meet one of those someday."

Reinhard listened with his brow furrowed. Hel? She’s... talking to someone? But who?

The manager’s voice rang out from Mimir again, but it was careful and weary. "Uh... Miss Director?"

"Ahh, my bad," Mimir said, voice cheerful again. "I was rambling with Hel. Now then, there’s another reason I came here. The supplies for the other Bolner Storage Buildings have been consistently sent out, but this one hasn’t. That’s odd, don’t you think?"

"It’s Beast Academy recruitment month." Mimir said in a steady voice and then continued. "Those academies take most of the teens who usually help us. The rest refused because they wanted to try the Beast Master Academies."

Reinhard nodded faintly, that made sense. The Academies were famous for taking anyone with even a spark of talent. It didn’t matter your background, as long as you have the talent, then they would scoop you up once found.

Then Mimir’s tone turned light with a tinge of nostalgia. "Beast Master Academies, huh... I used to want to attend one too and become a student."

Another pause, then the deeper voice returned, which was hesitant. "Wait... Miss Director, you weren’t a student? But you’re so... Amazing and so strong."

A small laugh escaped Mimir’s lips, which was gentle and warm. "You managers really know how to flatter people. But no, I never went to an academy. I learned through my family, missions that I was given, and the adventures I took."

Reinhard’s eyes narrowed. So she’s self-taught? And strong enough to lead a Bolner facility? That’s rare...

Then Mimir’s tone deepened again. "Well, that explains a lot. But yes, the delay’s just temporary. Once this month ends, we’ll make up for the lost shipments."

"Unfortunately." The feminine voice said. "We need those in five days. But... I might be able to make something work." A faint pause. "What do you think, Hel?"

This time, Mimir went silent.

Reinhard’s brows furrowed. Why isn’t he speaking? Can he not see the person? Or their face hidden by a mask?

Seconds passed.

Then Mimir’s mouth opened again, voice still feminine. "Using Phantasm Beasts? That’s a clever idea. Most of them are stronger and more reliable than people anyway."

Another silence.

Then her tone shifted slightly, faint amusement beneath it. "Oh, right, I shouldn’t say things like that. But really, Hel, you’ve gotten so rebellious lately."

Reinhard blinked. Hel again... She’s talking to someone, but no one’s replying out loud.

Then Mimir’s male voice cut in. "Excuse me, Director, but... Who are you talking to?"

"What do you mean?" Mimir said in a light and amused tone. "Of course, my dear Hel. No need to pretend, Manager. Hel is right here."

A long pause.

Then Mimir’s voice deepened again, the tone uneasy. "Director, there’s... no one there."

Reinhard paused as his eyes slightly widened. What?

He barely had time to process it before.

A scream tore through the air before a sharp and wet sound rang out. Then a body slammed through the wall beside him, smashing crates and sending splinters flying. Blood spattered across the floor, dark and steaming.

Reinhard stared blankly for a second before he realized it sounded like the manager.

Reinhard frowned as he lightly whispered. "He... He died because he questioned her?"

Then his instincts roared, and then he didn’t think as he activated Drasil Step.

Time began slowing down before Reinhard grabbed Mimir in his hand and rushed away, dashing up the staircase in silence. He leapt over broken crates and dove behind a stack on the second floor just as.

An ear-splitting boom rang out that lightly shocked the building.

Then a familiar voice rang out. "Huh? I thought there was a rat around here." A pause. "Must’ve been my mistake."

Reinhard pressed himself against the crate, as his entire body trembled from almost being discovered. He listened to the footsteps downstairs, the panicked voices, and people shouting down below.

Then he pushed himself up before he made his way back up to the third floor and into the office. He opened the window, slipped out, and stood on the narrow ledge outside.

Reinhard took one deep breath as time slowed down before heading down and towards the Alleyway.