After returning from Lobo City, Byrne and Marco headed back to the base's operational briefing room. Thanks to her spatial teleportation abilities, Director Meow was already there waiting for them.
Entering the room, Marco spoke first. "Director, the follow-up matters in Lobo City have been settled. The Fifth Action Group has arrived and is currently clearing the Chaos residue in the Old District. Gary has also regained consciousness, though his mind was deeply eroded by Buer. He still needs time to recover."
Director Meow stretched and said, "Leave those trivial matters to the subordinates. What I need to tell you is something else: in three days, Governor David Rick will be inspecting the Lower District."
Marco asked with surprise, "Director, a governor's inspection of the Lower District is usually handled by the Security Force and the Governor's private guards. Why inform us specifically? Is there something unusual about this inspection?"
David Rick...
Hearing Director Meow mention the Governor, the information Byrne had gathered about this man immediately surfaced in his mind. Ten years ago, David Rick was the City Lord of Lobo City. He was promoted to Governor of Kolor after using iron-fisted methods to suppress the "Black Erosion" plague. However, public opinion of him was polarized. Some praised his decisiveness for saving Lobo City, while others believed his methods were too ruthless, as he had sacrificed nearly half the urban districts and their civilians.
Director Meow flicked her form and landed beside the holographic projector. With a light tap of her paw, a portrait of David Rick appeared alongside a detailed map of the Lower District. Red lines on the map marked the inspection route and key areas.
"Just this morning, the Governor's office received an anonymous tip. Someone intends to assassinate the Governor during his inspection of the Lower District."
An anonymous tip?
Byrne and Marco exchanged glances of doubt. Marco frowned. "If it's just an anonymous tip, it might just be a prank. After all, things like this have happened several times over the last ten years. Is it necessary for the Bureau to intervene?"
Director Meow licked her paw, a hint of gravity flashing in her mismatched eyes. "If it were a common anonymous report, it wouldn't be our turn to act. The key is that the report included a microchip containing energy from the Lord of Corruption. When the Governor suppressed the calamity in Lobo City, he destroyed a batch of unholy artifacts hidden by Nurgle's followers and executed many zealots. To the followers of the Lord of Corruption, our Governor is an arch-enemy. They are certainly capable of such an assassination. Furthermore, the Governor was targeted just last month. Therefore, this anonymous tip cannot be ignored regardless of its source."
Byrne realized that the assassination attempt Director Meow mentioned from "last month" was likely the one involving Keith. However, based on Keith's hatred for Nurgle, it was unlikely he would cooperate with Nurgle's cultists. This suggested it was either an independent move by Nurgle followers or a simple prank, though the latter seemed less likely given the chip.
While Byrne was deep in thought, Director Meow walked over to the two of them. "In any case, this matter must be taken seriously. In three days, I will arrange for both of you to join the guard detail to assist with security. Ensure the Governor's safety at all costs."
Both men replied in unison, "Yes, Director."
"Alright, Marco, you may leave first. I have a few things to discuss with Byrne."
Marco bowed slightly to Director Meow without asking questions. As he turned to leave, he shot a meaningful look at Byrne before exiting the briefing room.
Now, only Byrne and Director Meow remained. Byrne stood his ground, his hands tightening slightly. He knew that being kept behind for a private talk wouldn't be for idle chatter. He didn't speak, simply waiting in silence.
Director Meow paced slowly back and forth on the conference table. After a while, she leaped up and landed on the back of the high-backed chair at the head of the table. Her mismatched eyes stared at Byrne, her tail flicking rhythmically.
"During the battle in Lobo City, you used that energy in your body again, didn't you?"
The question was blunt, without any preamble. Byrne's heart sank. As expected, it's about this.
However, Byrne didn't panic. He replied calmly, "Reporting to the Director: when Buer betrayed us, I was forced into a corner. In a moment of desperation, that energy erupted on its own. But I still cannot actively control it."
Byrne didn't hide the fact that he used the energy. Director Meow's strength was unfathomable; she would have surely sensed the fluctuations. Rather than hiding it, honesty was a better way to reduce suspicion.
Director Meow stared at him for a moment and asked, "Byrne, I bet you're wondering how I can see the energy hidden inside you, right?"
Byrne remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the statement. Director Meow gave a low chuckle, a complex look crossing her mismatched eyes.
"I understand. Anyone hiding a power they can't control would want to keep it a secret. I can sense it not because my perception is exceptionally strong, but because I saw it in someone else thirty years ago."
What?
Director Meow's words startled Byrne. He never expected that she had encountered this energy before. He asked in disbelief, "Director, who was that person?"
Since the appearance of the golden light cluster, Byrne had been searching for its origin. Aside from knowing it could purify Chaos and allow him to enter the white mist space, everything else was a mystery.
However, Director Meow shook her head. "Unfortunately, I only met him once, and I never saw him again."
Byrne persisted, "Did he leave any clues?"
Director Meow began her tale. "Thirty years ago, I wasn't the Director yet. I was out on a clearing mission outside the city. That battle was brutal; I was the only survivor of my squad. Just when I thought I was dead for sure, that man appeared. The golden energy surging from him was more refined and powerful than yours. He dealt with those Chaos cultists in just a few moves. Before I could even say thank you, he left. Since he wore a mask, I don't know what he looked like, and I didn't have time to ask his name. I only remember that he wore a ruby ring on his hand. At the time, I didn't know that the pattern carved on that ruby was the crest of the Laenian family."