William looks at this sudden appearance of a cloaked man. Although his cloak hides his features, his face is still visible beneath the lights of this room.

It is a face of a man named Richards, but that is not important to William, who remembers this man, as the one who ended up being beat up by Mi-Yung a month ago.

“W-wowo.. What is this? How come there is someone here?” he blurts out in surprise as he almost fell from his chair. William pulls himself forwards while catching himself on the table with his hands.

“Unimportant. I am sure you recognize me.” Richards states with a calm voice.

“A cloaked figure in today's age? I guess I do.” William comments, while not being at all polite with his words.

This leaves Richards a bit depressed, but a bit more understanding of his image. He wears cloaks because he likes this style. He should not need to, but he adores the stories from the Cultural settings of the comics and mangas alike. So he came to love the cloaks very much.

Looking a little mysterious and medieval, it goes along with his power of Emblem quite well. Although, not like the choice of the outfits matter much for the noncombatant style of a Walker.

“I am here for a small discussion. Not including sir Kaufman, of course.” Richards states his premise of appearing in front of William.

“Go on. I am interested if it doesn't involve him.” William lies in curiosity.

“Oh? In that case, that is good. I am here representing the Academy's interest. One which is of a certain regime there. It is unlike the leadership of the Academy. Do you know about it?” Richards states his purposefully chosen words. Ones that are full of meaning and reason alike.

“Academy?” William asks while scratching his chin.

“Yes. Emblem Academy, what you must already know.”

“Of course, I know it, but its internal structure of politics is not something I know. The library doesn't have detailed reports about it here at all.”

“Here in the library? You are on the 6th floor, which has plenty of materials regarding the Academy.” Richards states in surprise.

“Really? Where?” William asks in total ignorance and a bit of a try to dig for more information.

“... Don't tell me you didn't even use your full pass for basic stuff only.” Richards seriously says, as if he couldn't believe it himself.

“I am not saying anything.”

“. . .” Richards looks at William with obvious mockery and doubt.

“I did, alright? Why should I bother myself with some problems of things that are out here? Kaufman caused so many troubles for me. He even attacked me... I don't care about knowing things outside of my reach.” William says in a hurry.

“Don't run into conclusion, boy. Sir Kaufman has his reason, that you don't have to understand at all. In fact, it was beneficial to you.”

“What benefits are there to gain from pain alone? If there is something that I don't like, I will say that I don't like it.”

Richards leans back in his chair while pulling his upper cloak down from his head. Revealing his face, he massages his temples as if he gives up on life itself.

“I am done with this topic... For the reason of my appearance, can you at least guess what I am here for?”

“What's up with people expecting answers for questions that I have no clue about? What sort of reason is that?” William says while standing his own against this man, who came here, looking for whatever... That frustrates William since everything he told so far is unimportant.

“Try to answer it,” Richards says in a bored face of emptiness.

“Academy is recruiting young walkers as well, so that must be the reason, or the Examination itself?” William guesses after a few moments of thinking. He could obviously tell a few things from his previous words. Although, it seems this man in front of him is rather depressed from his little play so he gives up playing dumb.

“Exactly...”

“So?”

“Interested in joining the Academy?”

“I thought the Academy is a rather higher echelon of Walker's organizations. Is it not hard to join them?”

“So you know a few things about the Academy...” Richards gazed at William, who fakes his innocence while looking away.

“You piece of cake... Do you think the involvement of sir Kaufman is anything simple? I know how much... Nevermind. Since he is interested in you, why should I be polite while I am working for the Academy itself?”

Richards asks in importance and a tone of a senior Walker. William could guess it from his appearance, even though he doesn't show his Emblem.

In truth, Richards is a semi-important member of the Academy, with the title of a Butler. Such people deal with the informal and formal tasks for the leadership of the Academy. Richards himself is a Rank 5 Walker, but unlike many, he has a Mutant kind of Emblem. He has a small number of offensive means, but he has one very crucial skill that is rare in the world of Walkers.

Like the reason, he appeared in this room, with no speck of reason or clue how.

“That... that doesn't answer anything to my wonders. Why you are seeking me out before even knowing if I ended up good in the examination? For all I know, I could end up with poor quality Emblem.” William states while understanding more about the status of Emblems and their qualities.

It is one of the more prominent pieces of information in the rooms on the 6th floor. One that he read over restricted places, and layers of locks. It caused no problems in William's opinion, while he learned more pieces of information that should be useful for him.

Such an example is the Examination. An event that happens 3 to 4 times a year in the Federation. William learned there are some ways, in the Emblem's Awakening, that could reveal flaws.

A certain amount of force and affinity of powerful Systems can awaken more, while some less. That could make the Arcanite flawed.

Low efficiency of the Arcanite's flow would lead to a lower aptitude for Walker's path.

That is, the matter inside the Emblem, which could not be manifested in proper ways. It is also a fact, that none could breach the emblem themselves by any human means. Drill, nail, saw, nothing could break the insides of the Emblems.

The gem-like Emblems are the most common appearance of the Emblem. They are home to a magnificent-looking matter of unknown origin, but a name of Arcanite.

Although, there are some Emblems that manifest, and appear different than others. Most often they have gem-like appearances so that makes it a norm. On the other hand, the different appearances of the Emblems could lead to different effects.

William at least did not discover too well-written documents regarding the talk of the Emblems. It was mostly what Mi-Yung told him in the past that he discovered on the 6th floor as well.

Richards nod to himself, as William's answer, is for once to his satisfaction. Yet, he has more topics and things to say.

“Do you know about your father, Victor?”

“My father? I think sir must know more than myself... But, I know about my father through some answers from Mi-Yung and Luke.” William answers as the gaze of Richards turns cold. He doesn't want to joke around with this person whose face turned serious.

“Tsch... Luke... Alright then. As you know, the reason is your father, who reached Rank 6 in his 20ies. You must have some talent after him, so I am forcing myself... no... to be specific, I am doing my part as a medium for the Academy, and my leader.”

“So for the political side of the Academy? Is that true? You said it yourself before. Why are you saying something different now?” William seriously adds.

“You... clever boy. You are nothing like you were when you came here. That is true. I want you to be part of our power. There are few divisions within the Academy with powerful Walkers in the leadership. That makes the Academy the most powerful place for Walkers in the world. I serve one division, while my job is on guiding others for our causes.”

William falls silent for a couple of moments. Richards's words surprise him even more than he makes it out in his appearance. It seems the politics of the Academy are even crazier than the Federation itself.

“There are even freaking political divisions or sides? What in the actual hell are Walkers doing? Isn't it better to be a singular and powerful organization with a single reason of getting rid of all the Dark beings...” William laments for himself, while still doesn't understand human nature. They could not change just because of the apocalypse.

Ego and power are sides of the coin that go along with the vast history of mankind. William has yet to understand a lot about it.

“Since you put it that way. What is the goal you are speaking about?” William asks after thinking about it for a moment.

“Goal is a broad term. The goal of most divisions within the Academy remains the same, while their policies and power can differ. Each is led by power on par with a whole Federation. Under them are a lot of missions, goals, and things that go along with the task of the Academy as a whole. That is to exterminate the Dark and solve the riddles of the Emblems.” Richards says while leaning forwards with cross-crossed fingers on his palm. Appearing more mysterious than he should, he is quite good at this.

“So... that is the reason?”

“It doesn't need to sound complicated. Trust me on this one. It is hardly something achievable at the moment. You have no idea what is out there, in the wild words of the Walkers and the Dark Age.”

William opens his mouth as if wanting to vent another one of his opinions but his words are stopped by Richards.

“...even if you grew up in the Outside. I don't care either way. It's not like the camps outside are very important points for the Dark beings.”

“They are not? How many people died because of your so-called unimportant points? How many people died because of those unimportant points which lack the defensive means? Huh?” William shouts in unlike anger that appears all of a sudden.

“Calm down. It is the truth. No need to be angry about it. The Dark beings are interested in many things, including normal people, but... There is one significant thing that is higher than anything else.”

“Emblems, isn't it?” William answers before Richards spoke. Appearing still pissed, he crosses his arms while looking away from this man.

“Yes. Dark beings like the Walkers the most. Same with Walkers who like the Dark Beast as well. It is like a cat-and-mouse game, but this time, everyone is a hunter. Killing each other for the survival for the price of the survival of the stronger one.”

“Anyway... I am talking and getting ahead of myself... You are very soon becoming a Walker yourself. I revealed myself to contact you without any obscurities from anyone else. What do you say about joining such a cause?”

“That.. depends on what will happen after the Examination. Is it not better that way? I won't promise anything. Why should I?” William bluntly says while knowing very well not agree with anything.

A month ago, Mi-Yung made herself very clear. Every week she is asking William whether there has been any trouble coming his way. Be it Kaufman or any other like him who she thought would come to William. Since she became his proxy. William chose to believe in her words without a speck of hesitation.

There have been no lies, and she takes good care of him, considering the circumstances. It makes William rather disgruntled how he treated her in a worrisome manner when he knew little about her.

“You... Is it because of Mi-Yung?” Richards asks while clenching his hands. His face even contours in unknown emotions.

“Well... I, in fact, remember quite well the situation a month ago. I trust her.” William says the truth while looking at this man's reactions.

This man before him won't be another case of Kaufman. At least, that's what William hopes for.

From his words alone, William understands that Richards came here as a representative of the Academy, while some... personal matters are involved as well. Whether that means by the orders of the Academy, or by his own violation of the cause that he does for his division. Other thing could be the relationship he had with Mi-Yung, but William cares little about that.

“Fine. Fine. I trust your choice after the examination will be over. Either way, I made my message clear, while the information I provided should be a payment for this conservation. Don't tell Mi-Yung, alright?” Richards gets up from his chair and talks straight to William while leaning forward.

It seems, that someone is afraid of Mi-Yung, and he doesn't want to get in trouble with her.

William sneers inside, but in the end, agrees. Richards told him many interesting facts he did not know before. That leaves him in satisfaction, regarding the Academy which he hopes to reach out, or try to, at least.

“Good. I won't bother you again. See you in the Examination, or afterward.” Richards says at last and snaps a finger right when William blinks.

Opening his eyes, there is no one before him in a blip of a second. As if no one and nothing was here to begin with.