I walk out of my office after giving an inspirational speech to the newest sprout in the posy. As usual, they remain agitated at my presence and notably violent as of recent. But that is for future me to be concerned about, today is a special day for me, my heart races with anticipation at what Stephany has planned for me. She was a prick in all honesty but she had perfect figure for such a young lady, now is the day of when she'll tell me her secret so that I may prolong my own youth. I step through the small steel hallway connecting to my office as a rotten stench catches me by surprise, I track the scent to the surface behind the walls and cover my nose. I swear I told them to not let that smell escape, I'll make a mental note to ask the fortification manager about it when I see him.

I make my way through several intersections taking chance glances at the various activities my co-workers preform around the facility. I continue my stride only slowing down a few paces when the sight of a member from the extraction team catches my eye. They spoke with Jacob, the head of the Magical Research Department and a close friend about something in their usual coded language. It was a rare sight to see an extraction member out in the open, their usual duties keep them so busy it's a special treat to see one talking so freely. They must've noticed me staring at them as the extraction member approached me with an unnatural swiftness with the magical research head lagging behind a few steps.

Extraction personnel: "Miss Briarheart, I would like to ask you a few questions"

Jacob: "You really don't need to-"

The extraction personnel silences Jacob with a wave of his hand, puddle green pulses emitting from his fingertips making Jacob bleary eyed and limping. I was startled to say the least, extraction teams are known for the silent cooperative nature when they are deployed and their imposing figure radiated a submissive aura. Whatever they were was hidden in a full suit of discolored armor wearing a serpent-like helmet with several thin tubes attached from their backside to their shoulder blades, a constantly flowing slime green liquid flows within those pipes briefly sparkling into a crimson red shade before the dominant green assimilates the emerging crimson. Toping off their battle ready appearance are the claws they are the weapons they wield at their waists, unlike normal guards who use a standard issue firearm or the feral beasts that live outside this city that use magic, they arm themselves with twin pairs of curved sickles each adorned with their own thin empty tubes connecting to the backside of their wielder.

All of this made my response come out with a weakness I had not intended, only allowing a short one-word studder to slip through.

Yan: "S-sure"

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Extraction personnel: "We've heard you had a history of gardening, meeting with several influential figures in your endeavors and making a name for yourself in due process. Is that correct?"

Yan: "Y-yes"

Extraction Personnel: "We've also heard that you have a particular fondness with plants holding supernatural ability. Is that correct?"

Yan: "T-that is correct" She says with more confidence then before, the frequent mention of her hobby returning her vigor.

Extraction Personnel: "This fondness would not extend to monsters categorized under plants or any sub-category of plant as well would it?"

Yan: "Of course not!" Her tone rises instinctively as she gives an abashed response.

The extraction personnel gives a short nod at me and his arm motions towards the direction of my office.

Extraction Personnel: "Everything matches with the report, miss Briarheart, the council has reason to suspect you of harboring a monster within an unauthorized area of the facility. It is within my duty to search your office, belongings, and the stasis chambers you reside over until you are cleared of suspicion."

That came as more than a shock to me, I always kept my collection a well hidden secret from any other department. It is improbable that after all the precautions and late hours I spent that something would leak. I tried to think back at what could have gone wrong and my thoughts were traced back to my last birthday party where I told Victor about the Genie Sprout's. It must've been him, my face flushed with anger at his betrayal but after noticing the extraction member start his pace towards my office, my anger quickly turned to panic.

Yan: "It's preposterous to think that I would hang on to such lowly specimen in my office with no authorization no less." Despite my excuse, the extraction personnel kept his march and I ran in front of him blocking his path. "Do you take me for some grunt? I am nearly an arbiter in Grove Studies and Practical Application and I frankly find it disrespectful that you would suggest that I would sacrifice my career for such a pitiable reason!"

Extraction Personnel: "Any role or authority have no weight against the decree of the council, impeding any more will count as a resist against council decree and you will be detained for the obstruction of justice."

The personnel pushed me aside with heavy steps and continued walking towards my office and I dared not stop him again only allowing my dread to grow with each intersection we crossed. Any feeble resistance I put up, any half-baked excuse I conjured would all be met with the stern gaze behind the thin vizor of his helmet and an eerie silence. I braced myself as we approached my office door, the acrid smell permeating from the walls only amplifying the anxiety welling up inside me as the personnel twisted the knob and stepped inside.