Chapter 39

621 stood before a colossal stone door, a sense of familiarity washing over him as it slowly swung open, revealing the bustling activity within the hidden base. Figures clad in identical white masks moved about with purpose, their movements synchronized and efficient. The masks obscured their faces, rendering them anonymous and interchangeable, a feature which he found interesting no matter how he looked at things.

Wearing his own white mask, 621 blended seamlessly into the crowd of masked figures, becoming just another anonymous presence in the hidden hub of the Umbral Council.

He took a couple of moments spectating the entirety of the hub and noted that nothing much has changed since his previous visit. His gaze, however lingered on the distant building adorned with the banner of the "Esoteric Archives." It stood out amidst the uniformity of the structures, pulling him with a gravity of attention.

Without a second thought, 621 set off towards his destination, his steps purposeful and unwavering. As he walked, the cavernous walls echoed with the sound of his footsteps though soon after it was drowned out by sea of steps from those around him.

621 strode amidst the masked figures, his mind abuzz with questions about their unknown identities.

After all, behind each identical mask must lay a different story, a unique personality waiting to be uncovered. 621 even acknowledged the fact that perhaps he wasn’t the only pawn operating within this hidden society.

Though unlikely, 621 still refrained from completely disallowing that thought for he was keenly aware that he wasn’t special by any means. Thus, others like him must have infiltrated just as he did. In fact, 621 had a nagging feeling that the Order was well aware of their existence.

“It’s just not hidden enough,” he silently thought. 621 unconsciously compared the entry points between the council and the Order and felt that the former was more lax. There was no hidden dimensions or guardians, there was only a door, a flimsy one at that as he surveyed it with a knowing look.

As well as that, although the council wore masks to obscure themselves, 621 felt that there was a hint of irony in its purpose.

“It can hide intruders just as well as their members,” he thought with confidence, though there was another possibility which seemed plausible to him.

..

Entering the building, 621 found himself enveloped in an atmosphere thick with the weight of untold secrets. The air hummed with whispered conversations and the rustle of papers, punctuated by the occasional sound of footsteps echoing across the tiled floor. Masked figures moved about with purpose, their movements deliberate and measured.

As 621 scanned the room, his sharp eyes took in every detail, from the subtle gestures of the people around him to the way they carried themselves. He observed the way their eyes darted furtively from one corner of the room to another, as if searching for hidden dangers lurking in the shadows. He noted the tension in their shoulders, the tightness in their jawlines, all betraying the underlying sense of unease that permeated the room.

Despite his best efforts, 621's search yielded no results. The individual he sought was conspicuously absent, leaving him with a slight sense of disappointment.

“Looking for someone?”, a masked individual called to him.

621 stared at this individual, he looked at the red dash painted across the white mask and deciphered the latter’s gait and tone.

“Not him”, he commented internally as he pondered a decision, should he answer honestly or not?

“Santino.” 621 mentioned, his voice obscured by a layer of deception making his tone sound deeper and more refined. Though his small stature still begged to differ.

“Santino? Huh, he should be in a transaction with another weaver”, the individual commented. “Would you like to deal with me or would you prefer to wait for him?”

The man waited for 621’s answer, his host-like stance made him feel oddly at ease as if compelling him to choose the former but 621 had other reasons.

“I’ll wait, thank you” he said with tone of respect.

“That’s fine, he should be out any time now” the man commented as he strode off to speak with the other visitors.

621 watched after him with a curious glance, wondering what type of identity he had concealed behind that mask. He waited patiently by the side.

Seconds turned to minutes as he stood against a nearby wall, its cold surface attempting to breach through the defences of his warm robe. During this time, he observed the interactions of the other ‘weavers’ before him.

Each one conversed in hushed tones as they were led to different rooms completely muting their conversations within. Even with his enhanced level of perception, 621 found it difficult to surpass the noise cancelling effect of the very walls he leaned against.

Various types of individuals crossed his meticulous eyes, there were those that had confident strides, those of weak temperaments giving off submissive bodily movements. He recognized a few with hidden injuries as they limped or dragged a step too slow.

Cadence was something he learned to observe and distinguish.

There were even times when he was sure that an individual was hiding their true intentions, times when he knew the person behind the mask was a woman rather than a man; a youth instead of the elderly. Observing their nuanced movements was something that he did out of pure boredom, something that he found increasingly useful in the effort of discerning his targets.

Eventually, 621 found the person he was looking for, it was an individual with a sense of enthusiasm, someone who laughed often to dispel moments of awkwardness, a seemingly amiable person with a carefree demeanor.

621 approached him once the latter was finished with his other businesses. “Santino” he called out.

“Oh?”

Santino who stood before a door, looked towards his way with a slight shuffle, he then turned around with a chuckle.

“Thought I’d recognize that tone”, he voiced out as observed 621’s stature. “Artem right?”

“That’s right.” 621 replied.

“Well come on in” Santino expressed with an outstretched hand, “I expect you have business with me dare I say”, he continued with a hearty laugh.

621 proceeded to comply with the latter’s invitation as he strode on over, sitting across a seat from familiar looking table. Santino walked in after him, closing the door firmly shut behind him.

“Artem, my friend; I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” Santino remarked as he sat himself opposite 621 with a sigh of relief.

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Despite Santino’s words of small talk, Artem simply stared at him as soon as the figure came into his view, his gaze carried a peculiar gleam that seemed to reflect an unknown motive.

“Still the muted character that I know of, I see” Santino tried to dispel the tense atmosphere directed at him. “So, what do you need of me this time?” he chuckled.

However, Artem had other thoughts plaguing his mind rather than immediately answering the latter’s question.

“Did you, do it?” he mentioned, his tone a curious effect.

Santino stared at him through the two little holes of his white mask, “Do what?” he questioned, “You’d have to be more specific, if you want me to answer.”

Artem tilted his head with a thought, “Little birdie” he remarked, “That was you, right?”

Santino looked at him for a little longer before a laugh escaped from his lips as he lazily put his hands up in a guilty manner, “You got me!”

Soon after, Santino leaned forward with his chin now resting against his hands, “So, what happens now weaver?” he continued, his tone now devoid of jovial pretence.

“Nothing much” Artem responded, his eyes still piercing through the latter, “Just curious” he continued.

“Curious as to why I informed Vulture of your existence?” chuckled Santino with a sigh of nostalgia. He stared back into Artem’s eyes with joyful look in his own eyes.

“Normally I wouldn’t be bothered telling you this but since you’re curious enough, I’ll tell you,” he began.

“You see, Vulture was a dear friend of mine; I dare say we had a few misgivings here and there, but I digress since a friend is a friend, don’t you agree?” he seemed to pause for an effect, studying Artem’s entire being.

“Right, well I think so” he answered his own rhetoric. “Anyways, as his friend, I felt the need to inform him of your questioning on that very day.”

“BUT!” he voiced aloud, “Don’t think that I didn’t see you, yes you! As my dear friend too,” he paused. “To a different degree mayhaps but surely you’d understand, correct?”

“Don’t worry, I made sure not to tell him the specifics of your request, I have my reputation as a weaver to uphold after all, it was just business,” Santino finalized with an equally peculiar gleam in his eyes.

Artem digested everything before him with a look of understanding but of course, internally there was a different mindset urging him to ‘Eliminate’ the target before him, but he supressed that urge for he wasn’t confident of escaping the hub with his life intact.

He felt that the figure before him was a person solely driven by personal gain, his thoughts about ‘friends’ was naught but a mere excuse.

“He saw an opportunity to play both sides and he took it”, Artem internalized with a logical analysis of Santino’s façade.

“Besides” Santino continued to explain, “It would seem that you were successful in your goals, right? He is still missing after all” he stared at Artem with a playful glance.

“Well at least that’s what they say” he ended with a laugh.

“So how about it? You’re here, alive and well by the looks of things, and he’s missing. What say, you forgive me, and we’ll carry on as usual? Tell you what, as a man of principles, I’ll even help you out on your next request free of charge.”

“What do you say, Artem?” he leaned even closer.

621 thought for a moment before deciding to comply, in truth he didn’t see anything wrong with Santino’s actions, there was a necessity to his decisions, and he understood them. From a young age and even up until now, 621 was acutely aware of the cruelty of humans. In fact, 621 even felt that he’d likely do the same thing if it was him.

“That’s fine with me” Artem responded willingly.

Although, he said so, 621 already had plans operating deep in the abscess of his mind for Santino’s demise.

“That’s great! So, tell me What can I do for you this time?” Santino seemed to smile, whilst taking the initiative.

Artem looked at the latter with a scoff before shaking his lingering thoughts away, he found him to be truly interesting and distasteful. But he found that such is the life of information brokers as he carefully chose his next words.

“Do you have information on the Empire’s forces?” he questioned with a thoughtful; expression.

“Why of course I do, we’re the Umbral Council, I get that you’re only a newcomer here, but you shouldn’t underestimate the reach that our organisation oversees. Not only are we well informed of the Empire’s forces, but we also hold secrets pertaining to every major forces here on Greiss” he explained confidently.

“Is that so…” Artem thought silently as he wondered about the Order, “are they aware?”

“So, throw me the bone, who or what do you want to know about the Empire, weaver?” Santino commented with interest. “Although my rank only accesses a certain amount of information,” he paused. “I’m sure that I can at least give you something useful.”

Artem decided not to beat around the bush and said it outrightly, “Marcus” he demanded.

“Marcus who? You know that doesn’t really narrow it down. There are hundreds of Marcus’ out there, be more specific; any last names or anything?”

621 sighed mentally, even he was confused on who this Marcus was, the handler had merely given him a few words regarding the target and not even the last name was given to him.

“An officer” he voiced out.

“That’s it?” Santino seriously questioned, “that’s all you can give me? An officer named Marcus?”

Artem nodded.

Santino furrowed his brows before reaching out to the void and pulling out a thick ledger before him. Artem stared in silence as Santino perused its contents.

“Alright, so there’s about four Marcus’ holding positions of interest within the Empire’s forces,” he looked towards Artem with a frustrated glance. “I know I said that I will give you information free of charge this time, but this isn’t exactly fair at all.”

“I’m practically giving you, four different types of information.”

Artem logically thought for a moment before replying, “Any recent developments among these four?”

Santino deeply sighed before reaching out to the void once more, this time taking out an even bulkier book, he patiently read it in silence, this time taking longer before he mentioned anything to Artem.

“There’s two who have recent endeavors,” he looked at the latter once more as if contemplating his decision before reading them out, “Marcus Opel, logistics officer apprehended for internal corruption and Marcus Cornelius, captain of the ‘Faelius hounds’ recently awarded for heroic merit in the current Byzantine war.”

“So, which Marcus do you want? Choose one, I can’t exactly give you anything detailed for the price of one” Santino remarked, “Besides I’ve already given you plenty of extra information.”

Artem took a moment to decide, in his mind he calculated which person carried a greater attention to assassination, “A willing soul seeks his demise.” He recalled the handler say. “Demise…” he whispered silently.

“Marcus Cornelius”, Artem made his decision.

“Are you sure?”, commented Santino, “You don’t want the corrupt Marcus?” he stared at Artem, waiting for a couple of seconds before proceeding, “Alright…then Cornelius it is.”

Santino incanted words of incoherent magic as his eyes glowed bright purple causing a shift to occur within the muted room as a slot in the wall behind him protruded outwards. From his place, Artem could see the outline of something being taken out with the slot.

Next, he observed as Santino motioned for the ‘thing’ to move towards him, it was metallic sphere of unknown means, it lay there hovering above Santino’s hand as the latter incanted once more.

As soon as he did, the metallic sphere seemed to open ajar from many seams as a bright blue glow began emanating from within. And just as quickly as this occurred, a sudden outburst exploded from the sphere covering the entire room with illusory words and sentences.

With a clap of his hands, Santino performed hand seals causing the surrounding words and phrases to be absorbed into a single point. Santino whispered another verse of incoherent blabber until the condensed point of words and sentences began shifting and merging together to form an outline of a thin book.

Artem watched with wide-eyes as he attempted to decipher everything occurring before him, his shock was evident. His meticulous eyes observed as the ‘book’ formed pages before being reinforced by a simple hardback.

Santino exhaled at the end of the book’s creation as he took it in his hands and began reading it silence as if checking the contents of the object before him. After a while, he simply gave it out to Artem.

“As promised, all of his details are enclosed in there,” he said with a chuckle, “Don’t worry, I won’t sell you out this time.”

“In fact, I don’t think I need to”, he declared mysteriously. “What I am curious about, is why you’re seeking out a Marcus, exactly what are your plans I wonder?”

Artem stared at the book before glancing at Santino, “I’m not inclined to tell you.”

“Ah, you’re no fun at all”, he chuckled heartily, “That reminds me, I do have to thank you for being truthful about Hubert’s location or should I say grave, Ha! Poor bastard, though he should be pleased to not witness what is happening at his house.”

“Don’t you think so?” he seemed to smile. “Anyways, your information happened to help me obtain some amount of contributions, so I’ll have to thank you for that I suppose.”

“You are aware of our Contribution system right newbie?” Santino questioned in passing.

“No, I’m not, do tell me” Artem responded, seemingly uncaring about Hubert’s passing.

“I expected as much, well its nothing much; you give the council something they want and in return you get contribution points which are exchanged for many things in the Sacred Vault given that you can afford them that is” Santino stated matter of factly.

“Though, I doubt you have anything of worth,” he continued, “You can go to any establishments here in the hub to gain contribution points. So for example, here in the archives, you can exchange information for contribution points and yadayada” Santino remarked lazily.

“You get it don’t you?”