Chapter 84

William kept glancing up as she talked before him like a teacher. Although young, she was close to William's age, but her clothes were formal, adding some years. That was a weird assumption that William thought of just once, and it wasn't good, let alone correct.

“I am curious about history,” William said the truth, unsure why she was questioning him so much. As an employee of this place, this girl was doing her job, so he didn't do anything wrong, or make his situation worse. Or significantly better.

“History? What kind? The library is all about it. History is past. Past can't be back, so it is written and preserved. It is like a library. History is kindly interconnected to it.”

“I am pretty sure the regular history of time is enough for me. Most libraries have many sections for historical books, and this one should be the same. Last century was tough, so how about the one before that? Is it bad to look at it here, or am I wrong?”

“Well, you aren't wrong to want it, but you need access beforehand. History floors are not free. Does young man have such a thing? You can’t buy them from me, do you know that? First, you have to register and proceed as a citizen, get some pass, or purchase them.”

“I don't need that, I think.”

“Oh?” She was quite surprised to hear his confident refusal.

”I’ve got this.” William swiftly pulled Kaufman's card from his pocket.

The girl looked at it in confusion, trying to discern if it was fake, or if he was joking because she had never seen this card before. So she took it from his hands and gazed at it from an inch away. Every pass had some code, words, and distinct patterns. This one was wooden, which was no longer up to date.

And there were no expiration dates or limitations. A simple wording about the full pass was carved into the wood.

She kept looking at it for ten seconds until she looked at questionable William with bewilderment. He remained impassive when he faced her with such an unclear innocence that she wondered if he even knew what this was. He looked like an idiot who knew nothing of the secrets of this place, this world, or the people involved with this place.

“Where did you get this?” she asked, visibly calming down.

“From a person. Is it wrong or fake?” William asked two questions that might not be far-fetched. He was a little uncertain about taking advantage of something that Luke described as insane, so some doubts escaped from his words.

The girl wasn't sure if she should believe him, but this card was the top tier of all passes that ever circulated this place. This one was from years back, depicting rewarding passes that were handled by the previous headmaster of the library, and every one of them was sensitive, invaluable, and hard to get. They were around but not in the hands of some questionable lads.

If that's the case, she knew how to solve this thing straight away. “Can you wait a bit? I will ask around and see what this pass can do for you.” She jogged to not-so-far offices that were stationed on the ground floor, right behind the staircases that went to the first floor.

William waited since she left far too quickly. Meanwhile, he marveled at this massive building to pass the time and decided to walk around. There was something good at the front of the stairs. It was a stone wall that had carved names of floors and what they had to offer.

Floor 1-2: Technology

Floor 3-4: Academic Foundation

Floor 5: Culture

Floor 6-7: Museum

Floor 8: History

Floor 9-12 The Dark World

The last one was foreboding as he expected. Restricted and carved with dark red accents, they looked menacing.

“So it has twelve floors? I thought more, or... less? I guess this one isn't counting, or is it part of the Technology Floor in some way?” William guessed and read the floor plan, but soon afterward, the girl from before came back.

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She wasn't alone. There was a pair of men before her, looking serious as if they went to hunt some criminal while looking formal at the same time. Their faces were serious, eyes sharp, and clothes simple yet strange.

Had he seen such clothes before? Perhaps on pictures. Each of them had the same-looking clothes, illustrating a uniform of black high-quality fabric of simple design and certain elegance. For William, both looked like higher-position people who liked to show off.

Unbeknown to him, it was quite false. This was normal. No. Perhaps it wasn't important at all because even some leaders of camps were like this.

“Young man?” the front-facing middle-aged man asked, speaking calmly and stopping a few steps before William to take a better look at him. His colleague behind him remained silent, looking younger and inferior to him.

“Greetings. Is the card fake? I just accepted this card out of courtesy and thought I might look around. If it is wrong to have it, I will give up on it.” William went straight to the point and expressed himself without a shred of doubt or confusion. The girl behind these people seemed surprised about it. Who would give up on this treasure? Was he dumb? Well, she certainly didn't know the depth of this youth that would change her mind sooner or later.

“No.” the stern-looking middle-aged man said in a vicious tone hidden behind an indifferent face. “Things like this can't be fake, young man. They have signatures and splendid history and authority. This is a highly valuable access pass that can let you go anywhere in this building, which.... doesn't suit the occasion. There are only a few such things in the entire Federation, and they aren't granted for nothing. May I ask where you acquired this?”

Once or twice, William laughed and took care of such people. Dealing with them was frequently mixed with anger or death, while this one was docile like a dog with a nasty face but softer sides. He swore that this man wanted to scare him away but couldn't.

“Apologies, but I just got here. I met a person called Kaufman who gave it to me out of some... respect? I think he thought it was good because I am lacking certain, respect?” William answered as best as he could and assessed the people in front of him. He couldn't call himself stupid. That would make a bad impression.

The older man didn't take his words that well and grunted. In fact, both men changed their faces, while the girl took it the worse. She gasped and hid her mouth with her palm. Her eyes widened and her mouth quivered, whereas her superiors were rather focused and confused, forgetting about their tough appearances.

“Oh, dear Moon, Kaufman is here?” the younger man said, seeming terrified but his superior took it better.

“Get a grip, Rob. We are in the company of our appointment.”

Such change would surprise any ordinary person, but not William, who didn't care if their problem was about him or this card. If he had to, he could leave and look for answers somewhere else, or wait for Mi-Yung.

“Mister Kaufman?” the middle-aged man said and turned to his colleague. “Rob, I told you to don't mess with strange sentiments. You idiot. It is about Kaufman of all people! Who else would have this card and let it roam out of his hand? His ideas are like cats. And he... met him?”

“What if it was about Miss Kaufman?” his colleague, Rob, argued but got a light slap to his head instead.

“I am very sorry, sir Burton,” Rob bowed and backed away, embarrassed, and weak. Many apologies came out of him like smoke out of a campfire, and he was even ashamed to consider his past mistakes. His ideas were honest, but dealing with this card was way out of his pay grade. Even when the uncertain girl showed it to him first, it was quite stupid to act without seeking superiors, let alone question that youth behind a closed door.

Thankfully, Burton was quick on his feet and sharper in his eyes and ears. He handled Rob with a cold gaze until he disappeared away, leaving the girl alone, who was next in line. “Rob was wrong, while you, Ellie, have done nothing inappropriate. Letting it go unnoticed would be the first step to do if one meets somebody fitted for this card, but you assessed it well, even if it is very early for you to deal with them.”

Ellie strained her face and firmed her eyes, acknowledging her superior as if she were a soldier before a general.

“You did well handling this with a coolheaded mind. Who would do it worse or better? Well...it is a shame because this isn't simple either. Kaufman, was it?” Burton turned his attention away from her and looked at William, who was almost close to tensing up as well, if not making a salute.

Burton had a trimmed beard and sharp hairline in a thin cut. He didn't look too old, but his wrinkles showed and gave him a colder look. William coughed lightly to get some attention that he had done no wrongdoings. Perhaps. “So, can I have it back, or is it pointless matters outside of my hand? I thought that old man was serious. Sorry.”

“I have spoken with a different kind of Kaufman right before we met, boy. It is no small matter to deal with multiple of them, so count yourself lucky.”

“Even Miss Kaufman got involved?” Ellie exclaimed and clutched her mouth between both palms.

Burton didn't mind her. “Involved? Ha! She laughed out loud, so I guess that card is yours, but you spoke and met the other Kaufman. Where was it? When?” Burton demanded and was the one holding the wooden card.

“Yesterday, close to evening. Where? Some embassy, I suppose. As I said, I am new here so I don't know much.”

“Hm. What have you spoken with him? Why?”

“Isn't it rude to be so curious? Isn't it private business?”

Burton stepped forward, towering over William who was quite a few inches smaller than him, frowning, and not blinking. William felt cold sweat on the back of his neck and firmly clutched his fist. This hadn't happened in a long time. For a normal human...

“Young man, do you know the definition of utter freedom?”

William gulped. “It is nothing but a dream.”

“No. That's incorrect.” Burton said, tapping the card to William's chest. “That card gives you that. Anything here is yours. Isn't that wretched and nonsensical? It is like poison to young minds and they could give you more issues than new horizons.”

“What? No. I don't plan to look at it like that. I am here just to take a look and learn some things.”

“HM!” Burton stepped forward again and William was forced to take a step back. “You would refuse such a prospect?! This place has the most thrilling history recorded! Lives spent their future for this course!”