Jack kept a composed facial expression as he answered. “The information I have about my master is limited. He is the founder of the Federation and his goal is to establish an absolute meritocracy where the powerful can be free to realize their dreams and improve the world beyond the imagination of the weak. I also know that his strength is immense, more than any hero or Federation member, that he can bless his powers upon others, and that he calls himself the Crimson King.”

That isn’t very helpful… we could surmise all of that about the Federation leader on our own. At least it’s confirmed, that is, if Jack is telling the truth, Hoarfrost thought. It seems like we’d have to extract information from someone higher up on the ladder to learn more…

However, Thirteen nodded as if the answer satisfied him.

“Next,” Thirteen said, “What information do you have about me?”

Jack hesitated. “The information I had was that you were nobody to worry about specifically. The mystery around your powers was analyzed to be nothing more than a fear tactic to threaten enemies into not bothering to fight with the League. You did the dirty work of the Twelve behind the scenes and had significant power, but not close to the level of the others.”

“I understand,” Thirteen said, expressionlessly, “Next. What do you know about the plans the Federation has for Twelve and me?”

“I was told to fight the heroes and confirm their strength, power levels, and attitudes in any way I wanted to give as much information as I could for Sarah Muse to observe.”

Sarah gave her signature small smile at that.

Again, he doesn’t know anything of use. He’s a general, most likely far above the ranks of a normal soldier, but even he is still this much of an obedient pawn to the bosses of the Federation. That must mean they have an order of magnitude more power as well as information, Hoarfrost thought.

Thirteen nodded curtly, “Your answers were truthful and satisfactory. That is all.”

Jack turned around and walked off of the arena without a glance backward. He was thoroughly defeated, but he had taken pride in admitting his loss and taking the penalty with dignity.

“Well,” Sarah said to the two heroes after Jack had left, who both looked lost in thought, “Those two generals performed wonderfully in giving me all sorts of information about you two.”

That challenge was almost certainly not just for show. Whatever information Sarah Muse was looking for was probably very important, though worrying about that now is a waste of time.

Thirteen didn’t respond. Hoarfrost looked at him, then started, remembering that he was the one who was supposed to make the main decisions on this mission, including directing the conversation.

Well… at least I have a pretty good idea of what to do next.

“I’m glad we were able to learn about each other’s organizations through that challenge,” Hoarfrost said, “However, though I understand its necessity to your organization it didn’t exactly sit well with me. Challenging us immediately and coming at us with such unapologetic violence makes me wonder if we really are honored guests to you…”

“I apologize if our actions made you uncomfortable. Of course, we will try our best to rectify this poor impression we made,” Sarah Muse said.

“In that case, we would like to take your original hospitable offer of showing us on a tour of the operations of this base so we can understand each other a little more before our meeting,” Hoarfrost said.

“Very well,” Sarah Muse said with her small smile, “Please follow me to the elevator once more.”

There must have been a reason that she suggested the tour at the beginning, so this is most likely within her plans, Hoarfrost thought. However, any information about this base of operations is still very valuable, especially if we give it to our analysts in the Information Sector.

The three of them walked to the elevator and entered.

“This tower is the Federation’s main headquarters in this city,” Sarah Muse said, “It’s a multipurpose stronghold that holds educational, training, storage, and meeting facilities as well as spaces for many different specialized Federation workers.” She looked straight into Hoarfrost’s eyes as she said this, “Would you like me to take you to each place?”

“I would appreciate it,” Hoarfrost said.

Sarah nodded, then looked down and clicked a button on the elevator. “Very well. Please don’t hesitate to ask any question you may have about the facilities.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

They stopped at an underground floor above the arena.

“First, these are the training facilities,” Sarah said, stepping out and leading them forward.

She showed them around shooting ranges, sparring rooms, and even an obstacle course lined with borderline deadly traps along the way. Similar to the arena, it was incredibly spacious for something that was underground. On top of that, everything was simultaneously large-scale and state of the art.

Red-uniformed Federation soldiers swarmed through the facilities, training with quiet focus. If possible, they stopped what they were doing and saluted Sarah as the three of them passed. Nobody said anything to Hoarfrost and Thirteen. When Hoarfrost met the eyes of a soldier, they would look calmly back.

There are so many of them and their attitudes that are all the same… they’re all proud warriors.

I wonder what about the Federation’s ideals is so attractive to them?

“Here’s the recreation area,” Sarah said as she led them off at another elevator stop.

Hoarfrost heard laughter before he entered the game hall. The three of them stood at the entrance, looking into the large room filled with members out of their uniforms playing a variety of sports and tabletop strategy games.

Even their games are hypercompetitive…

The atmosphere of laughter quickly died down as they saw the trio standing at the entrance. Everyone had paused their games and saluted.

“At ease,” Sarah Muse said. The soldiers turned and resumed their activities.

They left the recreation hall and went to the mess hall next, which had a great variety of nutritious food at the line and rows of enormous cafeteria tables with only a few soldiers eating spaced out from each other since it was not a mealtime.

As they toured, Hoarfrost looked at Sarah suspiciously out of the corner of his eye. She didn’t show any ulterior motive as she showed them around and answered Hoarfrost’s basic questions about the facilities.

What is she trying to gain from this? Hoarfrost thought.

As if reading his thoughts, Sarah gave him a small smile, something that had finally begun to irritate Hoarfrost.

Hoarfrost kept himself from sighing. I’ll stop worrying about it and keep focused on the tour information. I’ve been getting a weird feeling that I can’t put my foot on…

Then they visited some storage units and examined the array of guns, ammunition, food, fuel, and all other sorts of supplies. As they walked through the warehouse aisles, Hoarfrost realized what had been bothering him about the Federation building.

The layout of this building and how it’s run… it’s a copy of Twelve Tower. It’s not exact because it’s expanded for the use of many more soldiers so I didn’t immediately notice it.

The thought sent a sudden chill down Hoarfrost’s spine.

He remembered Six’s words from his meeting with the Twelve.

…there have been inexplicable security breaches on the complex...

Perhaps the League isn’t as watertight as we thought. Could there be a leak? How deep does it go?

And on top of that, building this facility in the same way as Twelve Tower gives me a very ominous feeling about the message they’re trying to send…

“Twelve?”

Hoarfrost shook himself. Sarah had called his name, interrupting his thoughts.

“Is there a problem, Twelve?” Sarah said, a faint glint of mockery in her eyes as she met Hoarfrost’s gaze.

“No,” Hoarfrost said, quickly wiping any expression off of his face. He suppressed yet more frustration at Muse once again piercing his composure. It was like she could see right through him with those eyes and play him however she wanted.

On the other hand, Thirteen stood slightly behind the two others, like a shadow. He hadn’t said anything throughout the entire tour and Muse had hardly paid him any mind. Hoarfrost had stopped looking back at him after a while since his expression didn’t change anyways.

“Is there anything else you would like to see?” Sarah said, “I believe we’ve gone through the main facilities…”

“There is nothing else.” Hoarfrost said, “Thirteen and I have a sufficient understanding of this base of operations.”

I’ve seen enough to truly understand that the Federation was not bluffing about its strength. They have unity, loyalty, efficiency as an organization as well as raw strength. And this is far from the only facility they have. They’re not a weed that can be easily uprooted by the League, they are more like a large, poisonous tree with deep roots that will take much time, effort, and even sacrifice to deal with.

And that’s just what’s on the surface. My instinct tells me that there are also much larger, sinister forces at work behind the scenes here too. There are just too many foreboding clues…

“If you’re satisfied then it’s finally time, isn’t it?” Sarah said, “To get down to business.”

“That’s right,” Hoarfrost said.

“This way then,” Sarah said, once again leading them to the main elevator.

Sarah didn’t press any buttons once they had stepped into the elevator. Instead, she pressed her hand against the elevator wall and let animus flow out of her palm. A wave of energy that looked like liquid gold spread through the walls of the elevator, causing them to glow.

This animus… is it deconstruction, creation, or something in between? Hoarfrost thought.

The elevator seemed to accelerate upwards rapidly, humming and vibrating intensely with its speed, far past what would be normal on a building. The walls of the elevator glowed yellow-gold with increasing intensity and wind seemed to swirl inside the elevator cabin.

Space manipulation? Hoarfrost guessed, looking around while trying to conceal his awe.

Then everything stopped. The elevator doors opened.

In front of them was a dimly lit, cavernous hallway of obsidian tile lined with black pillars and crimson torches.

Just as I thought. We teleported. Hoarfrost thought. We didn’t sign up for that though. We could be anywhere now…

“Welcome to the honored Hall of the Crimson King,” Sarah said to them from the front of the elevator, “Come this way. Our leader is waiting… ”

She trailed off as Thirteen brushed her aside and stepped out of the elevator first.

The moment he put his foot down on the glossy black floor, the room came alive around them. The torches flared up to twice their height and glowing red lines snaked along the floors and walls, pulsing as if to a heartbeat.

“Impossible,” Sarah breathed.

“There’s no need to show us the way,” Thirteen said, “I know this place.”