669 had been deep in meditation on his cell cot that he barely noticed the guards coming and going from his cell with food trays. So, he didn’t notice the guards and let in guests. It was late in the evening when 789 and 777 paid a visit. Although, they had received some reluctance from the Dungeon administration. If it hadn’t been for Shiyan’s authority from 007, the Royal Guard would have denied them visitation rights. 777 found the resistance surprising. Even if 669 was held for a supposed a suspect to a supposed suicide, it was just hearsay.
“Well, you look way too comfy.” 789 wryly said with a click of her tongue and arms folded over her chest.
“What else is there to do?”
777 grumbled something and flashed him a doubtful expression. “You’re a parasite mage. Come on, there are lots of particles here to learn things from. You haven’t mediated on your surroundings?”
“Pfft.” 669 turned up his nose at the thought.
It was a wild known fact that organism mages with parasite control had the ability to tap into surroundings at a microscopic and particle level. So they could form an impression of events from surroundings by focusing on particle patterns through spells and meditation. The most effective way to get a good layout of the environment and spy on what was going out without moving a muscle was through closed-door meditation. But the perk was useless if there was a strong protection barrier in place that countered with distortion.
“And I really want to lose half my brain cells scoping this place. Nope, but fortunately the Royal Guard patrols like to chat really loudly. I don’t need to bother,” 669 smugly said as he cockily whipped out his hand fan to cool his cheeks.
He further explained that there was so dissatisfaction between the Enforcement and Forensic departments with a lot of miscommunications between both. And inciting the discontent between the two Royal Guard functions was the Superintendent for each department. But both department leads shared a common dislike - Skeleton Palace Henchmen. Specifically, the operation henchmen who were given more liberties to perform their scout, commercial contract and private security roles.
“Hmm. I wonder.” 777 grunted with a deep frown and mind ticking over a thought.
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“Wonder what?”
He stared at 669 for a moment before brushing off what he was going to say and didn’t. “Nothing. Don’t worry. Shiya House is sorting this out.”
“Right.” 669 sighed. His mind wandered to Miki and that mousy Miller guy being at their headquarters. “How’s our guests? Is Miki okay?”
777 gave a brief summary of the girl being cared for by Reddy and not leaving his side.
“Did you find out who her family is?”
789 stepped closer with a troubled expression that made her face ugly with a frown and scrunched nose. “Yeah. Get this, the girl’s family is Finch. Her dad’s a water seller from what gossip Reddy got from the granny grocers at the market stall.”
“Finch?” 669 thought the name over and gasped when he recalled seeing the name on the pay orders.
“It seems we have a connection.” 777 nodded.
The cell door creaked to an open with a hiss and sigh from the cell’s magic array being temporarily repealed. Detective Morse and two Royal Guard lackeys entered.
“Thank you. I’ll take it from here.” Detective Morse dismissed the guards who were all too happy to get back to the drudge of their patrolling and slacking off.
“And that would mean?”
“You’re free to go. I have a Dismissal order signed by the Court Guard for your release.” A scroll materialized before them and magically transferred the words on parchment to letters of light to illuminate the space before their faces with the release order details.
“Well, finally someone saw reason.” 669 loftily said as he stood and straightened up his image.
“And just how did you manage to pull that off in record time?” 777 eyed the man carefully.
“Internal politics and your boss. Let’s go.”
777 nodded, accepting this answer with a grin.
They casually strolled out of the Royal Guard’s dungeons and headquarters to enter a new day of Crossroad Village. But 669 looked worryingly at the storm clouds forming in the skies ahead of them. They had successfully jumped over this hurdle, but how many more others were out there for them.
Well, at least he should appreciate this victory and temporary calm before the storm rolled in.