At 36 Zouteland Street. Selina entered Blackthorn Security Company, greeted Rozanne and afterwards was led to the basement and to the duty room outside Chanis Gate.
Rozanne sized up Selina and expressed her discontent, "I never would've thought becoming a Nighthawk was that easy nowadays! I had great expectations on you before Ms. Roy!"
Neither was I... Selina's mouth lifted up as she replied, "I share the same sentiment..."
Rozanne sighed while saying despondently, "I will be looking forward for lunch with you..."
Selina chuckled mildly, "Don't be disheartened, if you want I can still be a concierge or exchange turns being the receptionist."
"That's how it works..." Rozanne spoke in a lowered tone. "You have to become a civilian first and then be assigned. I had been proactively petitioning for your role as a concierge you know! It would most certainly reel in more commissioners than those detectives!"
But isn't the point of disguising as a commissioning company was to rule out suspicions? Selina reigned her thoughts and consoled, "There's no rule about taking turns, I for one knows a thing or two about tending guests."
Or even more if we count as being both a secretary and authorized proxy. My boss back then is really lazy...
This thought settled at the back of her mind while she adds, "Besides, I don't think I'll be dispatched anytime soon as my combat training hadn't finished. Klein mentioned it."
Speaking of Klein, I wonder what he had in mind regarding me, Miss Lover's ally, obtaining the Sequence 9 Monster from her. Well, I already sought his suggestions. I'll wait until it's evidently safe to hint it for the Nighthawks... then one scene surfaced after another.
And he said that a week from now he'll introduce me to a professor. I do hope it's from Teine University. The original Selina once dream of meeting one there, I can at least fulfill it...
"Hmm?" Rozanne's brows suddenly lifted up, her emotion changed on a whim as she grinned. "Have you two been seeing each other?"
Selina was taken aback before following it with a heave of breath. "You are too 'cheeky' Ms. Rozanne."
The word she used to referred was spoken as culotté. Due to this, Rozanne looked at her in a daze while reckoning what the word meant.
She watched her entered the room. There, Captain Dunn and members Frye, Seeka, Royale, Leonard, Kenley and Klein are all present.
His gray eyes glanced at the newly promoted Nighthawk, Dunn smiled and said, "As you already know, we have a routine meeting every Thursday to summarize past missions and discuss various challenges."
Selina nodded and took a seat next to Klein. Of course, she was already acquainted with everyone in the room, introducing herself wasn't needed.
Dunn smiled and turned to Frye.
"Briefly tell us about Morroy Roundel's autopsy."
Frye was the pale gentleman who greeted her at the reception hall. With a skin that almost reflects a blood disorder. He looked to be in his thirties with black hair and blue eyes.
He thought and said, "The body of the former tycoon five years prior had gone into a grotesque transformation. However, I managed to salvage as much as I can from the fragmented lingering spirit. It was...
Frye hesitated. "Something that can only be explained in analog. An eye in a myriad of planes depicts a spirit touching it, that spirit was Morroy.
"I suspect that the eye is what Morroy call the Single Eye. Responsible for the power called 'Shaman' that he'll receive. However, there is another object with him that he mentioned.
"He described it as something that radiates an 'imaginary' color, breaching the color spectrum. There was no such object after the forensic."
No object? Selina felt like she was hearing a cosmic horror tale. Not only that, her hairs stood on ends when she realized that over the past days, Morroy had no visitors.
The proximity is so close yet she failed to be alerted!
Frye continued, "Thankfully because of the fragment of Morroy's spirit, Old Neil was able to extract a few things to the best of his abilities. On his behalf, I will explain.
"Morroy told that before it landed to his hands, it was auctioned at a gallery. Evident in his diary.
"The origin of the meteorite was explained to him. Beyond the Sonia Island's coast, there is another island bounded by the extremities of the weather casted by the Sea of Ruins.
"It does not appear merely by just scouring it. The auctioneer described its formation as 'something painted into reality'. It does not exist yet it enabled a piece of rock, undeniable to have space origin to be drifted to the coast."
After Frye is finished. Selina couldn't help but feel unsettled. Because at the end, he told them one crucial detail about what's happening.
The meteorite was sold as a mere collection.
Not as a mystical item but a display. Morroy had a collection fanatic that he likely bought the origin and purchased the auctioned item at an astounding price. Now in his pit of fall, he tried to allocate his faith to this meteorite's origin, hoping that if it's true, he can pry and activate it, giving him a power and bypassing the requirement of becoming an official.
If Selina did not find him, the Nighthawks Captain Dunn, Klein, Leonard and the rest wouldn't be aware that he's here. Not only that, the collection item will perhaps remain dormant with only just a strange origin.
This is probably the reason why he had no beyonder related records in his life. Because he indeed, had no relations with it!
Internally, Selina tried her best to ease the flashes of her life, the resurfacing of the nightmares that took following her near death.
It's fine... it's over now...
Frye finally ended his explanation.
Dunn nodded lightly and shared his findings.
"Although the meteorite mysterious disappeared. The Holy Church have uncovered several key points from just his diary.
"To summarize it. Morroy began using the title 'Single Eye' because the entity did not disclosed its existence and..."
Suddenly, he turned to Selina and smiled.
"Ms. Roy, I recalled something. Could you leave shortly and fetch the document at my office table?"
Selina felt a tug of familiarity. It's part of being a Nightmare?
Klein mentioned during their meeting at the cafe about certain characteristics of a Sequence 7: Nightmare. One prominent trait is occasional memory loss.
Now I'm second-guessing if I would pick Sleepless as a secretary back home...
"Alright." Selina nodded, stood up, and said to Klein. "I'll be right back."
Klein nodded and watched her close the door. However, he was not amused.
This stemmed from his intuition telling him that Dunn deliberately left those documents on his desk. His usual abstraction convinced specifically Ms. Roy, Captain Dunn's intent is to exclude her.
He turned around and saw his captain's usual gray eyes deepened.
"Alright..." Dunn tried to lighten the mood with a smile. "I assume you're already aware Ms. Roy's case?"
Seeka Tron nodded. She was the first to respond. "Is she in danger?"
Klein instinctively perked up.
"Quite possibly so..." Dunn minimized the graveness of his words. He averted away and then said.
"During the time I invaded Morroy's dream. He discussed to me about his goal of staying in his residence and his answer... blood, most specifically from Ms. Roy."
Unknown to Klein. His hand subconsciously twitched and the solemness of his face betrayed his feigned indifference.
"What measures can we propose?" Seeka Tron asked with a hint of unease and concern.
Dunn fixed his gaze and said, "I have already contacted the Awwa county police. The only solution I can think of without alarming her is to relocate her nearby or in the vicinity of another member.
"The former is an issue. Many units around Indus Region have already been occupied, even clearing one out would require the tribunals."
This fact demonstrates the clear gap between the hierarchical class of the lower and middle.
"That would leave us with deciding who will have her as their neighbor." Seeka Tron muttered and the rest of the Nighthawks followed this thought.
Leonard, Frye, Royale and Kenley all exchanged looks. Leaving Klein silent.
...
At the office.
Selina was perplexed because according to Dunn, the documents should be on the desk. Being forced to rummage some drawers made her frustrated.
Where is it!?
As she checked every compartment there is. One documents caught her attention just now.
Investigation report... Selina read the front cover.
It only had that Loenese title and number, 034.
Perhaps this is what captain intends me to retrieve? Why is it on the desk's drawer when he told it was 'on' the desk? Selina sighed and chose to sympathize with their forgetful captain.
After taking it, she went back to the Chanis Gate and arrived at the duty room.
There, just as she opened the door. She heard Leonard's voice muffling behind it.
"You'll rarely see me at my own residence. I'll suggest myself out."
Hmm, looks like they continued... I'll ask Klein for details later... With this mind, she slowly opened the door.
Dunn, Klein and the rest each turned their gazes to her.
This particular timing made her unsettled. Like her first time arriving in Tingen and boarding a carriage. Their gazes lingered at her.
Uhm... Did I do something wrong? Please don't stare too much... Selina lifted the document in her hand. "Uh... here's the documents captain."
Dunn exhaled.
After inspecting it, he expressed gratitude, "Thank you, hope that didn't bothered you."
I missed on the intel! Selina roared inside while maintaining a smile. "Not at all!"
Dunn's mouth curled up, nodding he proceeded to say, "You can all decide who until the end of the month."
All of the Nighthawks nodded except for Selina.
During this, she felt excluded. So instead, feeling like she would disrupt the meeting if she asked for briefing.
Selina snickered to Klein's side and whispered without looking. Saying in softer more hushed tone.
"What did captain meant by deciding until the end of the month?"
Rather than answering blatantly. Klein adjusted his voice and leaned closer. He told her while whispering, "It's about our turns guarding Chanis Gate. We're both excluded because for the time being, we're fixed to one day."
"I see..." Selina murmured.
Dunn held the folder and before opening it, he said, "This contains the details of the remaining vampires that have chased Ms. Roy in the past.
"Share with us the relations of these creatures to a man named Oxson from Besik Street." he added after turning to Kenley.
...
After the meeting and their mysticism lessons with Old Neil. Klein and Selina managed to burrow the few Roselle's notes from Old Neil.
Driven by promise during that cafe meeting. Klein had no choice but to comply, perhaps even regretting the fact that he mentioned his nationality. By the afternoon they went over to their combat teacher, Gawain, to do basic strength, endurance, and overall coordination training.
...
In the dark room underneath a floorboard of a deck.
Sweeping cries and muffling sobs echoed as cacophony of grief. Orola returned back, her mocha skin had prominent bruises and bite marks, she dressed anew once or twice since after their abduction.
Jean looked at her and immediately knew what happened. She caressed her bloated stomach and said sparingly, "They... did something to you again, are you alright? Do you want a hug?"
Orola's eyes had lost luster long ago. She spitted to the side and grunted, "Keep your mouth shut and just curl there. Those disgusting men wouldn't bat an eye on you if you do as I say."
"Y-You're hurt..." Jean said worriedly.
Plap! Orola swiped Jean's hand away and said gravely, "Your child will save me here. You're just the mother! With enough time, the Goddess will bring divine retribution to these filthy wrenches of the sea."
"My child...?" Jean's voice became brittle and confused.
Splash! Thud! Suddenly, the whole basement shook.
Orola and Jean was startled. The rest of the prisoners echoed shock, fear and dread.
The candlelight flickered, the furnishings trembled then a muffled, distant shouts reverberated across the whole ship.
"The vessel of the Admiral of Stars is approaching!"