The girl looked over her partner's shoulder. "A... secret passage?"

"An emergency exit—at least one is present in every industrial plant."

"Why hasn't anyone used it to escape?"

"Because I doubt the workers are even aware of its existence," Garreth sat on his haunches and examined the hole. "Factories aren't legally obligated to brief their employees on safety protocols. The mandate itself was only adopted to appease detractors of child labour."

"So... they purposely kept life-saving information from innocent children? For what reason?"

"Because that's how the hierarchy works. Those on top are prioritised over the disposable workforce that makes up the bottom. You read the location report, didn't you? All six overseers are hulking orcs. They couldn't possibly use this exit. If the workers got out safely, they certainly wouldn't."

Lynn cast her gaze on the gravelled floor beneath her feet. "Then... the bodies out front..."

"Lives offered up by those in charge in exchange for their own. And plenty remain."

"That's just..."

Sensing her indignation, the man let out a sigh. "Listen, rookie, before we slip in, I figure I'd remind you of our objective here. We're here for the bluebloods. Hostages come second. Whatever sentiments you may foster are irrelevant once we're in there. Just focus on securing the magi. Understood? You're a government agent now. Playing hero isn't in the cards for us."

"Understood... sir," Lynn bit her lip and crouched down beside him.

"Oh, one more thing."

"Yes, sir..?"

Garreth eyed the revolver hanging off his partner's belt. "Under no circumstances do you fire that thing in there. Even out here, I can tell this zone is just bursting at the seams. Remember your training, rookie."

"T... training?"

Again bewildered by his statement, Lynn could only give a slight bob of her head in return. Content with her reply, Garreth wordlessly crawled into the unlit brick tunnel; the girl followed closely behind. As the cement-paved ground was caked in dust and soot, a trail formed as the pair inched deeper into the building. Their movements stirred the tiny particles wafting about the narrow corridor, and it took every fibre of Lynn's body not to let out a sneeze.

Pushing through the many cobwebs, Garreth came upon a rusted ladder leading up. Months of neglect had discoloured it, but a quick tug proved it stable enough for use. He scrutinised the egress directly overhead. A wooden crate covered the hole. With nowhere else to go, the man firmly set foot on the bar and propelled himself, clinging to each subsequent rung with calloused fingers.

A low creak reverberated down the passage as Garreth ascended the old ladder. Slack-jawed, Lynn gazed up at him. The climb awaiting her was dizzying. Unwilling to be left behind, she lightly slapped her cheeks and shut her eyes. With her heart in her mouth, she clambered up the old bars, ignoring their metallic groans with concerted effort. Having reached the ladder's peak, Garreth spotted a sliver of light streaming through a gap between the surface and the container.

Silently, he drew his sabre and thrust it through the crack, prising the slatted wooden box off the exit using the sword's blade. With the ceiling fully in view, Garreth peeked over the floorboards and checked for signs of life. The coast was clear. Slowly, he sheathed his weapon and crept out of the hole. He found himself in the corner of an observation deck overlooking the plant, a wide glassless window across the room.

"The fuck did you just say?!"

Alerted by an unfamiliar voice from below, Garreth snuck over to investigate.

The atmosphere was heavier than usual. Casting a brief look through the window, Garreth confirmed his suspicions. Behind stacks of pots and barrels, both child workers and overseers lay bound and prone in the crux of the factory. Breathing down their necks was a spiky-haired man bearing the same porcelain mask as Ed. Hissing steam machinery and brick smelters flanked them, their fiery cores glowing an unnatural green; foul magicks were about.

Hauling herself out, Lynn caught her breath and espied her partner, his back glued to the wall by the window. He turned to the girl and gestured for her to keep her head down. Compliantly, she sidled beside him and eavesdropped on the conversation below.

"I told you," Ed reassured the masked magus. "I had a chat with a couple of Bureau agents outside, and they said they were willing to consider our request."

"And you took them at their word and let them go?! They could be breaking in as we speak!"

"Relax. My magick circles haven't been activated yet. Besides, I've already threatened to kill the hostages if they delay negotiations. We have the upper hand here."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"You just don't get it, mate. It's the bloody Bureau of Magickal Affairs we're talking about! They aren't the type to talk things out. Fuck, Edmund... I-I think we should cut our losses and call it quits while we still have the chance. I mean, Kaz is already out for the count..."

"You know we can't do that, Sif. We're past the point of no return. Didn't we all agree to see this through until the end?"

"But—"

"Your friend is right, you know?" One of the overseers cut in, his voice gruff yet dignified. "Once they have you in its crosshairs, your life is as good as over."

"Oi!" Sif barked at the bespectacled orc lying on his stomach. "Who said you could waggle your tongue, you oversized goblin?"

"Please, let's not resort to petty insults. I am merely helping your leader here see reason."

"That ain't any of your concern! Now, put a sock in it before I put a foot up your ass!"

"Whatever you do to me won't change the fact that you've garnered the attention of the Bureau. And going up against them? Suicide."

Edmund folded his arms, taking an interest in the orc's warning. "You talk as if you've experienced it firsthand."

"Because I have. Do you all genuinely think you're the first to try this nonsense? There have been many before you. And all met their ends the same way. This is business as usual."

"We're not like them."

"If you'd like to take your chances against the famed magi hunters, be my guest. It isn't me whose life is on the line."

Edmund studied the loose-lipped hostage from head to toe. While the overseers were by and large similar in build, this orc was markedly different from the rest. He was smartly dressed but dishevelled; his shoulders were broad, but he didn't look the fighting type. Yet the confidence he exuded was intimidating. Edmund couldn't help but feel unsettled by the orc's rigid composure. "And what do you propose we do?"

"Take your friend's advice and make yourself scarce. If you start running now, you should be able to skip town."

"Yeah, that's not happening," Edmund sneered. "There are a lot of folks back home whose lives hinge on this. We aren't backing out because some government dogs caught on to our scent."

Arms still tied to his back, the overseer rose to his knees. His greasy combover corrected itself as he looked up at Edmund. "Then what about an offer to sweeten the deal?"

"An offer?"

"Twenty-five thousand alons to leave the factory this instant."

"T... twenty-five grand?!"

"You can split it amongst yourselves as you see fit. You're doing this as a means to feed your families and such, no? A sufficient amount of capital should be a remedy for such desperation."

"A-and what do you stand to gain from this? Why not wait for the Bureau to wipe us out and save yourself the trouble?"

"Because time is money. And right now, we're wasting a lot of both. Consider this an investment. Moreover, how the Bureau handles things is a little too destructive for me. I don't care how much the state reimburses us. Damaged properties still lose money in the long run."

Thunderstruck, the two magi exchanged glances. Edmund, in particular, was stunned by the overseer's generous proposition. Swallowing hard, he contemplated taking the coin.

"So, what'll it be?" The orc pressured him, his loose tie swaying like a clock's pendulum. "The sooner you choose, the better your odds of fleeing. We're burning daylight here."

"I..."

"Do you think us cheap?!" A masked girl flounced out from behind one of the boilers and strode toward them. Her snow-white robes were soaked red, yet she carried herself unhurt.

"N-Naomi..."

"I overheard everything. Edmund, you can't actually be entertaining this... this bribe!"

"I-I wasn't, alright? The amount just threw me off, is all."

"What we're doing here goes beyond ourselves. To give that up for a paltry sum of gold is..."

"I know, I know! It was foolish of me to even think about it."

"O-oi, Naomi," Sif interjected, his body taut with worry. "What about Kaz? How's he looking?"

The girl turned to him, her porcelain visage bespattered with blood. "Bleeding's stopped. But the bullet's still lodged in his chest. I can't do much since it's made of mithril."

"That sounds pretty bad... "

"Given the unpredictable nature of mithril poisoning, getting him to a qualified surgeon would be the most ideal step to take. But... no, I'm confident he can stick it out for—"

"Confident, but not certain," the overseer interrupted. "Why risk it when you can retreat and guarantee your friend's recovery? You're turning your back on the safest prospect here."

"Kaz would never forgive us if we abandoned the operation for his sake. Too much blood has been spilt. Going home empty-handed wouldn't sit right with him... or us, for that matter."

"So you sent those kids to their deaths and won't give up until you gain something worthwhile. Is that it? Even if it means giving up one of your own?"

"You're wrong!" Naomi snapped back at him. "Kaz won't die. And those children... they were murdered by those uniformed brutes outside, not us!"

"Regardless, lives have been and will be needlessly thrown away because of you."

"T-that isn't... true..."

His patience lost, Sif stormed up to the orc and seized him by the collar. "Alright, that's enough out of you!"

"You're making a big mistake here. I implore you to think about this."

"Another word, and I'll knock your fucking teeth out!"

The overseer glanced at Edmund, expecting him to intervene. Instead, he was fronted with a lily-livered look. Interpreting this inaction as refusal, the orc made a toothy grin. "So be it."

"I warned you, asshole!" Sif balled his fist tightly and moved in to strike the overseer.

A pang lanced through his flank before his punch could connect, however. Pivoting his head to his right, Sif was greeted by a wide-eyed little boy clutching a jagged piece of hardened clay, its sharp edges deeply embedded in the magus' waist. "W-when did you—?" Sif glared at the child and seized up. He shakily held onto the orc, only to let go as all strength drained from his body. Paralysed by the pain, the magus fell to his side.