Upon turning the corner of the inn, Virno notices that the driver had gathered a small audience. Some of the inn's customers who were on their way out had stopped to watch, their interest piqued by the assortment of intriguing mechanical artifacts that littered the floor. They whispered among themselves as they curiously observed the vehicle's re-assembly.

Virno: Shit. Just what we needed...

The driver seemed to have already noticed their presence, as the tone of their voice was far beyond welcoming.

Driver: ALRIGHT! You've gawked enough, move along now. I'm serious, I need focus if I'm doing this properly. Would you all get lost already?!

Onlooker: Apologies good sir, but it is not every day that we get to bear witness of the innards of such bleeding edge technology...!

Virno walked toward the man, trying to keep his composure as much as possible.

Virno: Hello there, gentlemen. Is there a problem? Why are you all bothering our driver?

The onlookers' attention shifts to Virno, though only for a brief moment, as the sight of one as young as he did not inspire enough authority for them to disengage their eyes from the mysterious puzzle that was being assembled before them. Only the very same man who had commented before seemed to acknowledge him.

Onlooker: Greetings, boy. Quite a marvellous thing you have here! I know plenty of parties that would be interested in acquiring such a vessel. Is there any chance you would be willing to part with it...?

Taking a deep breath, he tries to reply as calmly as he can.

Virno: ... Sorry, it's not for sale. I have to apologize, but we really are in a hurry, and your presence is disturbing the ongoing repairs. I ask that you please be on your way.

Two of the three onlookers heed Virno's request, deciding to move along. The man interested in purchasing Clavia's invention did not budge, however. He turns to the two other well-dressed men, who seemed to be accompanying him.

Onlooker: Hang on there, boys. Everyone has a price, this is the sort of opportunity one simply shouldn't let slip between their fingers...

Virno sighs, becoming increasingly annoyed at the man's insistence.

Virno: It's one of a kind, sir. I'm not sure you can put a price on something like it...

The man smiles, raising his eyebrow.

Onlooker: Well, but that's the best kind of thing to buy... And the best to sell, too!

Sick and tired of their unwelcome observers, the driver aggressively slides out from under the vehicle.

Driver: Fucking pompous ass...

The man's eyes widen in shock, in utter disbelief of what he thinks he has just heard.

Onlooker: E-excuse me...?

Virno: H-he doesn't mean anything by it, he's just irritated. Look, it's really not mine to sell, no matter how much you offer for it... I'm afraid you're wasting your time if you're looking to bargain.

The driver quickly gets inside the vehicle, violently fidgeting around the vehicle's dashboard, their fingers searching for something. The man seemed to turn a blind eye to their comment, choosing instead to focus his attention on Virno.

Onlooker: Who may I speak with, then...? I would very much like to acquire one of these. I insist -- money is not an issue.

Closer to losing his patience, Virno spoke in between gritted teeth.

Virno: Sir, please-

Driver: I'll tell you where you can stick your money...

As the driver presses a switch hidden underneath one of the dashboard's panels, several hatches on the sides of the vehicle open up, letting out clouds of highly-pressurized steam. From these hatches emerge an assortment of mechanical turrets, their sights primed on the man. As the driver presses and holds another button, their barrels begin to spin.

Onlooker: W-WAIT, PLEASE!

Startled, the man jumps backward. The other two men that were with him quickly run out of harms way, towards their carriage.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Driver: Get out of here before bullets start flying, mister!

Onlooker: Of course, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

The man scurries away, fearing for his life. Vexed with their driver's actions, Virno turns toward them.

Virno: What the hell are you doing?!

Driver: Fixing our problems, you damn pussy. Picked a great time to act like a submissive little puppy... Should've just showed him you were serious from the start!

Virno clenches his fists, doing his utmost best to keep his anger in check. As soon as the man joined his comrades, their driver spurred the horses, and they rapidly abandoned the establishment.

Virno: Our goal is to move fast and move quiet, not make a scene like you just did! If I wanted to threaten his damn life I could've done so from the start, the point was to get him to leave peacefully...!

The driver calmly exits the vehicle and resumes the re-assembly.

Driver: ... Yep. Didn't work, better luck next time. You can go, now.

Virno takes a deep breath, calming himself down before replying.

Virno: ... I didn't come here to shoo seagulls away. There's been a slight change of plans, we're in a hurry. What can I do to make us get out of here faster?

Confused, the driver briefly stops tightening some nuts, devoting their full attention to Virno.

Driver: I thought we were already in a hurry. What gives?

He crosses his arms, looking away dismissively.

Virno: Nothing you should be concerned about. Look, the old man has gone over this before -- don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. The less you know the better. Just know that we have to get out of here as soon as we can.

Driver: Less I know the better... Always the same damn bullshit, never take me serious...

He couldn't quite hear what they said -- it was spoken in a purposefully muffled manner.

Virno: What's that?

Driver: Nothing, suit yourselves... Want us to get there faster? You can hand me the remaining parts as I tell you.

He furrows his brow, slightly dissappointed.

Virno: ... That's all?

Driver: Unless you have worked for Clavia for as long as I have and know how to fix her machines, then yeah, it is all.

Virno: ... Fair enough. Let's make haste, then.

As Virno and Ballo do their best to cover their tracks and move as swiftly as they can, Nox doubles down on their efforts to pinpoint their location...

Hooded Figure: So this is it? This is the fruit of your precious research, Lunalus...?

Lunalus had brought Barr to an eerie, ruined cathedral. The air within was thick and gloomy, made even heavier by the presence of a menacing, gigantic hooded figure, sitting on a singular dark throne at the very back of the building. From the myriad holes that riddled the cathedral's decaying structure, glimpses of the outside revealed a pitch black sky, covered in stormy, grey clouds -- a hauntingly depressive picture.

Hooded Figure: Frankly, I find it repulsive. If only you had spent more time gathering intel instead of running your little experiments, perhaps Eclipse's plans would've already been laid bare. What you have brought before me is nothing short of an... Abomination. You disappoint me.

Lunalus' expression was entirely unfazed by the figure's comments. With his arm wrapped around Barr, he stands up for his work.

Lunalus: What I have brought before you is not so trivial that it should be embraced or cast aside by mere superficialities. It's appearance may be... Novel, but I believe wholeheartedly that what you see before you is the ultimate agent, perfect in almost every single way. He could be the first of many.

Unimpressed, the figure moves one of its hands in a dismissive motion.

Hooded Figure: Not if I have anything so say about it. If this is what perfection seems to you, I can only tremble at your notion of a flawed result. You have twisted nature's hand to create something that is... Disturbing. What I am looking at is not man. What lurks inside it... It is not will. It is not spirit. It seems...

The figure attempts to gaze into Barr's pitch-black eyes. For all this time, he had not moved. He resembled a marble statue, his skin pale as white snow, save for the veiny, black material that had replaced his arms, alongside several portions of his skull and face.

Hooded Figure: Hollow. It feels like I'm staring into the void itself...

Lunalus smiles proudly...

Hooded Figure: ... No. We cannot trust something like this.

... Although his expression rapidly sours.

Lunalus: Then we will be making a mistake, Dominus.

The hooded figure stands up, holding Barr's chin.

Dominus (Hooded Figure): To twist humanity in order to create a "superior" version of it... It resembles an awful lot something one of our enemies envisions to do. You do see this, yes?

Upon hearing this, Lunalus instinctively pulls Barr away from Dominus' grasp.

Lunalus: We are not like them. Barr was not created to give humanity some kind of renewed chance at life -- he was created to bring about its destruction in the least painful, most efficient manner. It is fundamentally different!

Dominus: Yet at the surface level, it seems practically the same. Other Nox members will have a hard time getting behind something like this... Especially without any presentable results to speak of. Am I wrong...?

Lunalus hesitates to answer.

Lunalus: I am aware that I have yet to come to you with anything palpable... Yet, today, I have brought this.

Lunalus extends the coin that fell from Anya's body toward Dominus. Immediately, he seems repulsed by it.

Dominus: Eclipse...

Lunalus: Indeed. We already knew Eclipse were looking for something important within the city... Yet we weren't sure what. However, in his final moments, Lacerbus showed me a glimpse of a boy... With Cabdan's help, I was able to identify his identity. He is the very same whose mother carried this coin...

Dominus seems intrigued.

Lunalus: ... And whose family name is von Virtus.

Instantly, his eyes widen.

Dominus: Von Virtus...? Charles' son?!

Lunalus nods.

Lunalus: Poor Charles managed to evade us for so long... Leave it to his son to ruin his efforts. Judging by Eclipse's interest in him, I assume that the curse is still beckoning. The sword of greed yearns for freedom, and that boy will be its catalyst. If we don't get him quickly, Eclipse will no doubt enlist him in their ranks, gaining the upper hand in the upcoming conflict.

The giant sulks back into his throne, looking somewhat concerned.

Dominus: Ever since the Leopard died, Eclipse have been awfully quiet. It won't be easy to get our hands on one of their agents... There is no telling when we'll be able to locate him.

Lunalus: That is where this coin comes in, Dominus...